2026 Ballon d’Or: ‘He deserves it’ – Gerrard names player to win award

Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman has been included in the Confederation of African Football, CAF, group stage Best X1 of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.

Lookman enhanced his status as one of Africa’s best players with his remarkable performances in Nigeria’s opening two games against Tanzania and Tunisia.

The Atalanta winger has so far registered two goals and two assists in Morocco.

DAIlLY POST recalls Lookman was named in the Team of the Tournament at the previous AFCON hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.

Hosts Morocco have two representatives –  Noussair Mazraoui and Brahim Diaz – in the team.

Sadio Mané (Senegal), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) are the other top stars who made the selection.

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle was named the group stage best coach.

AFCON 2025: Lookman named in Group Stage X1, Chelle Best Coach

Chelsea manager, Liam Rosenior, has confirmed that Enzo Fernandez will not play against Manchester City, despite apologising for his recent comments to the media.

The Argentine was dropped for last weekend’s FA Cup game with Port Vale and the Premier League match with City on Sunday.

This was punishment for his comments over his future during the international break.

Fernandez and his agent – who initially criticised the punishment – have said sorry to the club but the sanction stands.

“I’ve had a really good conversation [with Enzo], I’ve had three or four with Enzo. He’s apologised to me, to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday,” Rosenior said.

“It’s a serious meeting about something very serious to Enzo. I said every single step along this way I’m not questioning Enzo’s character, I’m not questioning who he is as a person. I believe people make mistakes and you can’t overstep the punishment for the mistake.

“We’ve made a sanction. We made a decision, I made a decision and what I want from Enzo is for him to go on from here and have an outstanding career.

“No he won’t play on Sunday. But hopefully after that he’ll be a massive part of the group moving forward. There are still a few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into. But at the same time I want every player really, really focused on a huge run-in.”

EPL: Rosenior confirms Chelsea player that is banned for Man City clash

Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has discussed Lionel Messi’s exit from the club in 2021.

He said he was right to let the legendary player leave due to the financial difficulties the club faced at the time.

Messi is often considered the greatest player in the history of the Blaugrana.

Nevertheless, he had to depart from the club in 2021 because of its financial constraints and LaLiga’s salary regulations.

He subsequently signed with Paris Saint-Germain before transferring to Inter Miami two years later.

Laporta justified his decision to part ways with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, telling Marca:

“I had to make a decision, and I believe it was the correct one; the outcomes are evident.

“We managed to restore the club’s financial health, assembled a competitive team, and it was time for a generational shift.

“Leo was nearing the end of his career, and we needed to build a new team. Would I have preferred to create a new team with Leo’s assistance? Yes. We attempted that, but it was not feasible.”

In 2023, Lionel Messi was also rumored to be making a return to Barcelona, but he ultimately chose to join Inter Miami instead.

I was right to let Lionel Messi leave Barcelona – Laporta