Chelsea fell 2-1 to Sunderland after squandering an early advantage that could have lifted them to second place in the Premier League standings. Manager Enzo Maresca told reporters his squad performed below acceptable standards following the defeat on Saturday.
Alejandro Garnacho put the Blues ahead within five minutes before Wilson Isidor equalized in the 22nd minute. Chemsdine Talbi scored the winning goal for the Black Cats in stoppage time after a counterattack.
Maresca criticized his team's inability to secure a draw when victory was no longer attainable. The Italian coach pointed to defensive failures that allowed Sunderland to exploit transitions and set pieces throughout the match.
The manager said his defenders mishandled a...
Nigeria's under-17 women's team defeated Samoa 4-0 in their final group match at the 2025 World Cup. The Flamingos advanced to the knockout round as one of the tournament's best third-place finishers under manager Bankole Olowookere.
Queen Joseph scored twice in the opening half while captain Shakirat Moshood converted a penalty kick. Moshood missed a second spot kick after halftime before Azeezat Oduntan completed the scoring with 12 minutes remaining.
The African side will meet Italy in the round of 16. Nigeria dominated possession and created multiple chances against their Pacific opponents at the youth championship.
FIFA selected the Birnin Kebbi Stadium as its social media banner image, triggering widespread criticism of Nigerian football administration. The partially finished facility received joint funding from FIFA and the Nigeria Football Federation through the Forward Programme that began in 2020.
Football analyst Chinedu Mobike accused federation officials of misusing $1.2 million allocated for stadiums in Kebbi and Delta State. The organization denied wrongdoing on October 24 and stated that international auditors review all project expenditures in accordance with compliance standards.
Many Nigerians interpreted the banner selection as an indirect form of censure of local management practices. The $1.18 million project opened in 2023 when...
Alex Iwobi reached 300 Premier League matches when Fulham faced Newcastle United at St James' Park on Saturday. The Nigerian midfielder became the first player from his country to achieve this total in English football's top division.
Iwobi made his Arsenal debut in October 2015 against Swansea City. He accumulated 100 appearances for the Gunners before moving to Everton, where he played 123 games, and then joined Fulham for 77 more contests.
The 29-year-old has scored 32 goals and provided 37 assists across his career. He ranks fifth among African players who have passed this threshold.
Kolo Toure leads all African competitors with 353 appearances. Mohamed Salah follows with 309, while Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew both recorded 305...
Eric Chelle supported Stanley Nwabali after fans demanded the goalkeeper's removal from Nigeria's national squad. The Chippa United player faced harsh criticism for mistakes during World Cup qualifying against Lesotho and reportedly clashed with teammates over his performances.
The coach told former player Segun Odegbami on Eagle FM that observers misunderstand his instructions to players. Chelle prefers aggressive personalities to passive ones, and recalled playing alongside a volatile Serbian keeper whose intensity heightened defensive concentration.
The 29-year-old commits fully to each match despite occasional adjustments in composure. Chelle acknowledged errors happen, but values Nwabali's competitive mentality and total...
Eric Chelle confirmed his squad stands prepared to face Gabon in their World Cup playoff semifinal on Thursday, March 13, in Morocco. The Super Eagles manager told Eagle FM that he respects the opposition's technical staff and player quality, but remains focused on Nigerian preparations rather than the opponent's strengths.
The winner advances to meet either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo for a spot in the intercontinental playoffs. Chelle said his tactical approach remains flexible as he studies Gabon's patterns and personnel led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The coach may employ deep defensive positioning for the full match or press aggressively to disrupt Gabonese buildup play. His analysis will determine which...
Eric Chelle told Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami that adding foreign talent requires finding players superior to Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze. The Super Eagles coach appeared on Eagle7 103.7 FM to discuss his roster strategy ahead of World Cup qualifying matches.
Chelle receives frequent recommendations about overseas prospects but questions whether newcomers can surpass established stars. He cited Osimhen's three goals per week as evidence that current selections already meet championship standards.
Nigeria faces Gabon in Morocco for a 2026 World Cup playoff berth. A victory would pit the three-time African champions against either DR Congo or Cameroon for a place in the intercontinental playoff.
The...
Real Madrid players expressed anger after Lamine Yamal suggested the club pressures match officials and protests decisions. The Barcelona forward made the remarks when a Kings League YouTube host compared Madrid to Porcinos, a seven-a-side competition team.
Yamal responded that both steal through referee favoritism and complain frequently. Marca reported that the 18-year-old's statements frustrated the Madrid squad ahead of their meeting on Sunday at the Bernabeu.
Barcelona trails its rival by two points in the standings before the contest. The Spanish winger's accusations have intensified tension between the sides as they prepare for the league clash.
Ruben Amorim dismissed comments from Arne Slot about Manchester United's tactics after their weekend victory at Anfield. The United manager said he focuses on Brighton's upcoming challenge rather than Liverpool's assessment of his team's approach.
Slot criticized the visitors for defending deep and relying on long passes following their 2-1 defeat on Sunday. Harry Maguire scored the decisive goal after Cody Gakpo equalized Bryan Mbeumo's opener.
Amorim acknowledged his squad needs better possession play but rejected external criticism. The Portuguese coach said he evaluates performance independently and praised his team's adaptability across different match situations.
United prepares to face Brighton on Saturday as Amorim seeks...
