Category: Sports

Chelsea captain, Reece James, has claimed they don’t have an idea what the club is doing to replace Enzo Maresca.

The Blues are expected to appoint a replacement for Maresca before their midweek Premier League clash with Fulham.

Strasbourg’s Liam Rosenior has reportedly arrived in the UK to finalize an agreement with the Stamford Bridge club.

Chelsea’s U-21 coach, Calum MacFarlane, took charge of the dramatic 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.

Speaking after the game, James said: “We know nothing at the moment. This whole week was about this game.

“What happens behind the scenes is not down to us. We focused on the game. We will see what happens in the coming days.”

EPL: We know nothing – Reece James speaks on Chelsea’s new manager

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has revealed his team is facing a defensive crisis following injuries to key players.

Guardiola was speaking after the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday.

City lost Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, who started the game as a centre-back partnership, to injuries in the second half.

Nico O’Reilly barely managed to finish the game at the Etihad.

Guardiola has had John Stones missing for a while, while Nathan Ake cannot play a lot of minutes at the moment.

“We have a lot [of defensive injuries],” Guardiola said.

“John Stones is missing for I don’t know how many months, Ruben now will be out, and Josko will be out. Always we know with Nathan, he cannot play regularly.

“But at the same time, what happened last season – stay strong and we’ll find a solution. The spirit will be there. If the spirit is there, we will be there.”

EPL: Guardiola confirms Man City’s defensive crisis after 1-1 draw with Chelsea

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will look to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they take on the Mambas of Mozambique, DAILY POST reports.

Eric Chelle’s side can make history by becoming the first team to make it to the quarter-finals for a record 18th time.

The West Africans have only failed to reach the quarter-finals three times in the history of the competition.

The first time was on their debut in Ghana 1963, Libya 1982, and four years ago in Cameroon.

Nigeria also have a rich history at  the AFCON with three titles, five runner-up finishes and eight bronze medals.

The Super Eagles have an hundred percent record in Morocco, with three  wins from three matches.

AFCON 2025: Super Eagles target record 18th quarter-final against Mozambique 

Galatasaray is coming up with a project that will overshadow Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane in the summer transfer window.

This was disclosed by HT Spor commentator Oğuz Altay, who was assessing Galatasaray’s transfer agenda.

Altay also added that, apart from Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, Galatasaray might only sign a left winger amid the ongoing January transfer window.

“Apart from Ugarte, Galatasaray might only sign a left winger. Whoever is doing something should act quickly, right now,” Altay said via Habersarikirmizi.

“If you can take Galatasaray out of the championship race, do it. At the end of the summer, Galatasaray is coming up with a project that will overshadow even Osimhen and Leroy Sane; they are talking about transfers.

“There is a project that will take Galatasaray to a completely different level.”

Transfer: Galatasaray coming up with project that’ll overshadow Osimhen, Sane

Results of yesterday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Round of 16 fixtures are out.

DAILY POST reports that Morocco defeated Tanzania 1-0 in the AFCON Round of 16 tie played on Sunday evening to qualify for the quarter-final.

In the other Round of 16 tie played on Sunday night, Cameroon won 2-1 against South Africa to progress to the next stage.

Both Cameroon and Morocco will now face each other in the last-8 clash in the coming days.

Meanwhile, more AFCON Round of 16 games will be played later today, Monday.

The Pharaohs of Egypt will tackle the Benin Republic at Stade Adrar, Agadir on Monday evening.

On Monday night, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Mozambique in the other last-16 fixture at Fez Stadium, Fes.

AFCON: Results of yesterday’s matches, all fixtures for Monday

Nigeria defender Ryan Alebiosu has stepped up his recovery from injury, DAILY POST reports.

Alebiosu sustained a leg injury in the Super Eagles’ last group game against the Cranes of Uganda.

It was his maiden appearance for the three-time African champions.

The 24-year-old was involved in a light session with the team on Saturday.

The Blackburn Rovers player is now in a race to be fit for Nigeria’s Round of 16 fixture against the Mambas of Mozambique.

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle will be hoping Alebiosu recover in time for the next stage of the competition in case his side scale through to the quarter-finals.

AFCON 2025: Alebiosu steps up recovery from injury

Egypt midfielder, Emam Ashour has singled out four teams for praise ahead of his side’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Round of clash with the Benin Republic on Monday.

The teams are Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

According to Ashour, the aforementioned teams have top players and coaches.

Speaking to CAFOnline, the Al Ahly star stated that it is natural for Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to always reach the AFCON Round of 16 stage.

“Teams are performing at a high level, and there are no longer any weak sides. The group-stage results clearly show that,” Ashour said.

“Football in Africa is developing for the better, and it is only natural for big teams like Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to reach the Round of 16, as they have top coaches and top players.”

AFCON: They’ve top players – Egypt midfielder, Ashour singles out four teams

Manchester City became the latest team that failed to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this season.

Pep Guardiola’s men were held to a goalless draw on New Year’s Day.

The implications of that result became more obvious on Saturday, after Arsenal battled to a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth.

Powered by the drive and quality of the fit-again Declan Rice, the Gunners took maximum points from the Vitality Stadium and are now seven points clear of City.

So City know that only a win against Chelsea will do.

The Blues arrive at the Etihad without a permanent manager, after the club parted ways with Enzo Maresca earlier this week.

Chelsea’s U-21 coach, Calum McFarlane, will lead the team out against the former champions.

Although McFarlane is likely to be in place for just one game, his plan will be to get a decent result against City and keep Chelsea in the running for a top-four finish.

It will indeed be a tricky one for Guardiola, who was preparing to face his former assistant.

However, whatever the Spaniard comes up against on Sunday, he must find answers to, or Arsenal will start getting out of sight.

EPL: Man City vs Chelsea – A tricky game for Guardiola

Victor Ikechukwu has left Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side El-Kanemi Warriors.

Ikechukwu’s contract was terminated by the Maiduguri club.

The striker joined El-Kanemi Warriors at the start of the 2025-26 NPFL season.

Ikechukwu managed only six appearances for the coach Suleiman Dogo’s side in the first round of the season.

The decision to leave Maiduguri marks a new chapter in his career, allowing him the opportunity to explore new prospects and challenges in the football landscape.

Ikechukwu previously played for Kun Khalifat FC.

NPFL: Ikechukwu leaves El-Kanemi Warriors after six months

Liverpool midfielder, Alexis MacAllister, has ruled out his team from this season’s Premier League title race.

Arne Slot’s men began their title defence in impression fashion recording five straight wins at the start of campaign.

With Arsenal beating Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday, the Reds travel to Fulham on Sunday sitting 15 points off the top.

“There are not many chances of Liverpool retaining the title. I hate to say it, but it is quite clear,” MacAllister told Sky Sports.

“Arsenal is in a really good moment, Manchester City is quite close, but we are not close in terms of performances, or results, so I do not see us becoming champions again.”

EPL: MacAllister names two teams to win title, rules out Liverpool