Author: Olukayode Oke

Argentina manager German Portanova told his team to “play with the love that optimises our football” before they produced a stunning comeback from two goals down to draw with South Africa. South Africa were on course to pick up a first ever Women’s World Cup victory in a pulsating encounter in Dunedin but in the end they had to settle for their first point after Argentina scored twice within five second-half minutes. Knowing defeat would take Argentina to the brink of elimination, they threw everything at Desiree Ellis’ side in the second half and were rewarded for their endeavour. Substitute…

Former Manchester City playmaker David Silva has announced his retirement from football. The 37-year-old Spanish great spent a highly successful decade at City and won four Premier League titles before joining Real Sociedad in 2020. However, Silva suffered a serious knee injury during pre-season and has decided to call time on his 19-year playing career. “Today is a sad day for me,” Silva said on social media. “Today it is time to say goodbye to what I have dedicated my whole life to. Today it is time to say goodbye to my colleagues, who are like family to me. I will…

Barcelona and Nigeria Forward, Asisat Oshoala was among the goal scorers as Nigeria secured a hard fought 3-2 win against co-hosts Australia on Thursday in the Women’s World Cup, a win that saw Nigeria move to the top of Group B. Australia jumped ahead in the first half with a beautiful goal from Emily van Egmond following a quick series of decisive passes through the Nigerian defense. Cortnee Vine played in a perfect cross to fellow aussie Caitlin Ford who laid it on For Emily to finish. But Nigeria equalised soon afterwards with Uchenna Kanu’s fast reaction to a loose…

Telma Encarnacao scored one goal and assisted on another as Portugal defeated Vietnam 2-0 on Thursday in the Women’s World Cup, a win that ensured Vietnam will not advance to the knockout stage. Portugal jumped ahead in the seventh minute following a quick series of decisive passes through the Vietnamese defense. Lucia Alves dropped in a perfect cross to Encarnacao at the top of the six-yard box for a simple finish. Portugal still has a shot to advance out of the group stage but will need to win or draw against the United States, with a Netherlands loss next Tuesday against Vietnam. In the 21st minute, Portugal turned a goal kick…

The Nigeria Professional Football League has announced that the winners of the 2023-24 season will smile to the bank with a jumbo prize of N150 million. The winning prize for the last season was N100 million which was won by Enyimba. The Chairman of the NPFL, Gbenga Elegbeleye disclosed this at the inaugural meeting of the newly appointed board. He also declared that the new NPFL season will kick-start on August 26. Enyimba won their ninth NPFL title at the Super Eight playoffs in Lagos last month. Remo Stars came second in the campaign.

Real Betis have signed former Sevilla and Real Madrid midfielder Isco on a one-year contract. He has been a free agent since December when Sevilla terminated his contract four months after joining. The 31-year-old has 38 Spain caps, the last coming in 2019, and scored one goal in 19 games for the La Liga club. More than 10,000 fans attended Isco’s presentation as a Sevilla player in August, before coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked in October. His move to Sevilla followed nine successful years at Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League five times and three La Liga titles. Isco…

Captain Lindsey Horan came to the rescue of defending champions the United States after the Netherlands had threatened an upset at the Women’s World Cup. New Manchester City signing Jill Roord put the Dutch on course for a famous win after a clinical finish from the edge of the box. The Stars and Stripes have been a superpower on the world stage, winning their previous 13 matches spanning three tournaments, but they struggled to break down a resolute Netherlands defence until Horan equalised with a header from a corner. In a repeat of the 2019 final – which the USA…

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham scored his first goal and was named man of the match in a 2-0 win over Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in Houston, Texas. The 20-year-old England midfielder, playing just his second game since an £88m move to the Spanish champions, produced a delicate lob in the sixth minute to beat United’s debutant keeper Andre Onana. An acrobatic Joselu finish sealed the win two minutes from time in front of a 67,801 crowd at the NRG Stadium. “There is a lot to aim for,” Bellingham said after the match. “It is the biggest club…

Australia will be hoping to have a better second outing of the FIFA Women’s World Cup than their co-hosts New Zealand, who followed up a 1-0 win in their opening game against Norway with a 1-0 loss to tournament debutants the Philippines. Australia also secured a 1-0 win in their first game, with Steph Catley’s penalty enough for three points against the Republic of Ireland. Should they beat Nigeria as well, Australia will have won their opening two games at a Women’s World Cup for the first time. Following the 0-0 draw with Canada in their opening game, Nigeria will…

Declan Rice takes a look behind him at the mountainous Californian landscape in a quiet corner of Arsenal’s team hotel in Los Angeles and says, “It’s mad, the whole thing is mad.” The 24-year-old’s circumstances certainly have changed. Rice has always been hugely respectful of West Ham United, the club where he transformed himself from Chelsea reject to club captain and England international over a 10-year period. Released by the Blues aged 14 amid concerns over his physicality, Rice was snapped up by the Hammers and rose through the ranks to captain the side at the age of 20 and lift the club’s first trophy in 43…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the talent at the club’s academy is “exceptional” after his side beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in Tokyo. Midfielder James McAtee, 20, opened the scoring in the first half following good work from 18-year-old Rico Lewis. Mathys Tel equalised for Bayern on 81 minutes before Aymeric Laporte restored City’s lead five minutes later. “It’s unbelievable – the guys who are in charge and the recruitment,” Guardiola told the club’s website. “The new generation is coming and they told me it is really good. There are three or four players that are exceptional.” City secured their…

Samuel Chukwueze has arrived at La Madonnina clinic to undergo his medicals ahead of his move to AC Milan. Chukwueze, according to Football Italia, arrived at the clinic on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old will sign a five-year contract after completing his medicals. AC Milan will pay €28m including add-ons for the player. Chukwueze will become Milan’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window, following Marco Sportiello, Luka Romero, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tijjani Reijnders, Christian Pulisic and Noah Okafor. He spent four years at Villarreal.