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Adesuwa Sonia, the estranged wife of Super Eagles forward Jude Odion Ighalo, has found love again.
She disclosed this recently via her Instagram story. The mother of three shared a photo of her new lover, concealing his face. She, however, revealed that the mystery man is a lawmaker.
Sharing the photo, Sonia wrote: “One of the most handsome lawmakers in Nigeria. #myguy.”
In another post, she described the mystery man as “Mi Amor,” which translates to ‘my love’ in Spanish.
Meanwhile, Sonia has detailed her separation from Ighalo.
According to her, they “divorced” without the footballer signing the divorce papers.
In an Instagram story post, she wrote: “Separated 2019, got back 2021. I divorced him 2022 (without his signature).
“They crawled back again I said OK for the sake of our children. We’ve been doing it lowkey (Despite their foolish display on IG with different women).
“I was doing Saudi, Dubai, Naija with the kids to see him..But he didn’t want his family to know. Cox they would reinforce spiritually to separate us- He said.
“I got tired.
“Since he was scared to let Mama Mama know I’m happily back with my family
I’m like f*ck off bro. I no fit break covenant wey I no de there him enter.
“Good luck to my successor.”
The Super Eagles finished 2023 in 42nd position after the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) released its end-of-the-year men’s ranking on Thursday.
The Super Eagles were also ranked in the same position last month.
The latest ranking was published on FIFA’s website.
Jose Peseiro’s side also maintained sixth position in Africa.
Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia Algeria and Egypt are the top five teams on the continent.
The Super Eagles will be hoping to improve their position on the ranking with a good performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire next month.
The European Court of Justice on Thursday ruled in favour of the Super League and handed a fresh blow to both FIFA and UEFA.
The court said the two football governing bodies cannot abuse their power, block the formation of the new league or ban the clubs planning to participate in the competition.
“The powers of FIFA and UEFA are not subject to any such criteria. FIFA and UEFA are, therefore, abusing a dominant position. Moreover, given their arbitrary nature, their rules on approval, control and sanctions must be held to be unjustified restrictions on the freedom to provide services,” the statement read in part.
“That does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved. The Court does not rule on that specific project in its judgment.”
FIFA and UEFA had argued that A22, the backers of the Super League, were breaking the law.
However, the ruling today by the highest court in Europe has gone against them.
Recall that Real Madrid and Barcelona are the only clubs remaining from the twelve clubs who joined forces to form the new Super League.
The likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan were also involved but left the table soon after their fans protested against it.
Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano has said that Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz remains Arsenal’s top midfield target ahead of the January transfer window.
Luiz has been regularly linked with Arsenal.
He was the subject of three bids worth up to £25 million in the summer of 2022.
But Aston Villa rejected those offers, wanting to keep hold of the Brazilian, According to Sky Sports.
Providing an update for the 25-year-old, Romano wrote on his X account on Wednesday:
“Douglas Luiz remains Arsenal fav option as midfielder, he is considered the perfect player but Aston Villa remain on their position as they don’t want to sell Douglas.
“No changes since November, yet.”
[DailyPost]
Liverpool destroyed West Ham 5-1 to reach the League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, easing the frustration of their weekend Premier League stalemate against Manchester United.
Curtis Jones scored twice and Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah were all on the scoresheet for Jurgen Klopp’s dominant team.
They join Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough in the last four of the competition.
No team have won more League Cups than Liverpool, who lifted the trophy for the ninth time in the 2021/22 season, and they tore into the visitors from the start at Anfield.
Liverpool, who had 34 shots against United on Sunday without finding the net, launched wave after wave of attacks, with West Ham struggling to lay a glove on their opponents.
Harvey Elliott blasted over the bar in the 14th minute and Szoboszlai fired wide but the Hungary midfielder gave the home side the lead they deserved shortly before the half-hour mark.
It came after Said Benrahma lost the ball carelessly in midfield, squandering a chance for a rare West Ham break.
Jarell Quansah fed Szoboszlai on the right of the Liverpool attack and he let fly with powerful shot from outside the area that flew into the far corner, giving goalkeeper Alphonse Areola no chance.
The game continued in the same pattern, with West Ham forced to feed off scraps — a familiar feeling for a team who have won just once at Anfield since 1963.
The home side, who had Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench, could have doubled their lead in the final moments of the opening period but Gakpo headed narrowly wide following a fine cross from Elliott.
Liverpool had 11 shots in the first 45 minutes to West Ham’s zero.
The London side also had a clutch of star players on the substitutes’ bench, with Lucas Paqueta and James Ward-Prowse omitted from the starting line-up.
The second half unfolded in a similar way to the first, with Liverpool probing and David Moyes’ men looking toothless.
Darwin Nunez, who started the game without a goal in his past 10 games for Liverpool, got a shot away after wriggling clear in the box but Areola was equal to the task.
However, Jones gave Liverpool a buffer in the 56th minute, firing the ball through Areola’s legs at the near post.
Moyes threw on Paqueta but Klopp countered by bringing on Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool made it 3-0 when Konate surged forward before finding Gakpo, who took a touch on the edge of the box and fired home.
Bowen pulled one back, cutting inside Quansah and producing a fine curling finish but Salah restored the three-goal margin and Jones scored his second of the night to complete the rout.
Struggling premier league club, Nottingham Forest have appointed former Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo as their new head coach.
The Portuguese coach replaces Steve Cooper, who was sacked on Tuesday with Forest picking up just one win in 13 matches to leave them in 17th place - five points above the drop zone.
Nuno has signed a two-and-a-half year contract at the City Ground, taking his deal up until the summer of 2026.
This is Nuno's first managerial job since being sacked by Saudi Arabia club Al Ittihad in November.
Before the job, the 49-year-old Portuguese tactician took Wolves from the Championship to the Europa League in four years between 2017 and 2021, before an ill-fated three-month spell at Tottenham after leaving Wolves.
The new Forest manager will take charge of his first training session on Wednesday morning and will be in the City Ground dugout for Saturday's visit of Bournemouth, kick-off 3pm.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is a few weeks away, but few countries have been dealt with huge blows before the competition kicks off in Ivory Coast next year.
Some of the countries that qualified for the biggest football tournament on the continent will be without their key players.
Taiwo Awoniyi
The Nigerian striker was the first top player to be ruled out of the competition after it was confirmed by Nottingham Forest that the Nigerian striker aggravated his groin injury in the Super Eagles 1-1 draw with Lesotho in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Bryan Mbeumo
The Brentford forward was one of the top players to look out for in the competition, but he won't be part of the Cameroon squad due to an ankle injury.
Gift Orban
The Nigerian striker was one of the big names that was excluded from Jose Peseiro's 50-provisional list for AFCON next year.
The Gent striker is automatically ruled out of the competition after failing to make the list.
Lebo Mothiba
The South African striker made Hugo Broos' 50-man preliminary list for the tournament but was ruled out of the competition after he was diagnosed with a fracture on the patella of his left knee during RC Strasbourg game against FC Lorient in the French Ligue 1, according to a report by iDiskiTimes.
Senegal has been tipped as the favourite to retain the title they won for the first time in 2022, but the Teranga Lions will face stiff competition for the title from teams like Egypt and Morocco.
According to Euronews, Egypt is the most successful team in the Africa Cup of Nations as the Pharaohs boast a remarkable seven-time championship record and will hope to extend that in Ivory Coast.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has less than a month to go as the 24 qualified countries prepare their teams for the tournament in Ivory Coast.
The prestigious tournament has in the past unearthed new talents while also giving others the opportunities to shine with their country.
Victor Boniface - Nigeria
The Super Eagles star has taken the German Bundesliga by storm, winning the Rookie of the Month for every month since the start of the new campaign. Boniface has scored 15 goals across all competitions for the Bundesliga leaders this season.
The skillful and tricky forward is expected to propel the three-time champions to a potential fourth triumph in Ivory Coast as he makes his first appearance at the competition.
Mohammed Kudus - Ghana
The Black Stars of Ghana will rely heavily on the West Ham star following his bright start to life in England. Kudus has been in phenomenal form for the Hammers since joining the club from Ajax. Kudus has scored nine goals across all competitions for the London club.
The Right to Dream Academy was denied a place at the tournament in Cameroon due to injury, but he is expected to make the trip to the Ivory Coast.
Lamine Camara - Senegal
Currently, the best young player on the continent. Camara will be making his first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Camara was part of the Senegal team that won the Africa Nations Championship, a competition reserved for playing plying their trade on the continent.
He now plays for French outfit FC Metz. He has made 16 appearances, scored a goal and provided an assist in Ligue 1.
Abdessamad "Abde" Ezzalzouli - Morocco
The former Barcelona player rejected the chance to play at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon due to club commitment. Ezzalzouli was fighting for a place in the Barcelona team at that time.
However, a year later, he joined the team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was also a member of the U23 team that qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris, starring as Morocco won the tournament. He now plays for Real Betis in La Liga.
Patson Daka - Zambia
Patson Daka is the most experienced among the list of players making their debut at AFCON 2023. The Leicester City forward has made 40 appearances for the Chipolopolo and scored 18 goals for his country.
However, the 2012 champions' failure to qualify for the tournament since 2015, has seen the striker fail to make an appearance at the tournament.
Serhou Guirassy - Guinea
The Stuttgart striker only decided to play for the country of his parents in 2022, and has since made 12 appearances and scored three goals, helping Guinea qualify for AFCON 2023.
Guirassy has been in prolific form in the Bundesliga, scoring 16 goals in 13 games, making him one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe. He is expected to lead the West African nation in Ivory Coast.
Carlos Beleba - Cameroon
The Brighton youngster is yet to make an appearance for the Indomitable Lions but his performances for the English club has prompted Rigobert Song to include him in his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. The defender could make a huge impact for the five-time African champions.
Simon Adingra - Ivory Coast
A teammate of Baleba at Brighton, Adingra is enjoying his debut season in England with the Seagulls. Adingra was Kudus' teammate at the Right to Dream Academy and FC Nordsjaelland. He spent a season on loan at Union Saint-Gilloise, where he played alongside Boniface. The talented forward has scored four goals in 16 Premier League matches this season.
Adingra has made four appearances for the AFCON host and could make his debut at the tournament on home soil.
Jay Jay Okocha is unimpressed with the Super Eagles' efforts
Nigeria runs the risk of missing out on back-to-back FIFA World Cups after a slow start in the 2026 tournament qualifiers which saw them record two consecutive draws.
The Super Eagles lie third in Group C behind Rwanda and South Africa with two points from their opening two games, after consecutive 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and they run the risk of missing out of the 2026 edition. Photo by Carlos Rodrigues.
Source: Getty Images
According to Soccernet, former Super Eagles captain, Jay Jay Okocha has slammed the team, claiming they have been focused on rivalry and underrating other teams in their group.
He acknowledged the Nigerian national team did not get off to a good start and said they were ultimately fortunate that Bafana Bafana lost their second qualifier, per Sunday World.
"I think we are focusing more on the rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria instead of focusing on qualifying. It’s a big surprise that Rwanda is topping the group."
Nigeria, who failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after being knocked out by Ghana, will face Bafana Bafana on June 3, 2024, when the qualifiers resume after the Africa Cup of Nations.
Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, in an interview with ObiOne Podcast has revealed why he turned a fine attacking midfielder Mikel Obi into a defensive midfielder.
Known for his long-range pass and silkiness on the ball during the early stage of his career, the former Super Eagles captain saw his role reversed under the Portuguese manager at Stamford Bridge.
Only bettered by Lionel Messi at the 2005 U-20 World Cup in Holland, Mikel finished as the second-best player of the tournament following a fine performance where he helped Nigeria to a second-place finish with his two-goal contributions.
Mikel became one of the most sought-after players immediately after the tournament with the player said to have already signed a deal with Manchester United, who were looking for a midfielder to replace the aging legendary Paul Scholes.
But after some drama, the Nigerian made a switch to the Stamford Bridge in what till today remained one of the most bizarre transfers in the English Premier League.
After his transfer to Chelsea, Mourinho surprisingly converted Mikel to a defensive midfielder.
Unperturbed by the 36-year-old goal contributions, Mourinho revealed his admiration for the Nigerian.
“I liked everything about Mikel. If you go through all the positional [defensive] midfield players that I have had during my career, there are lots of similar things,” Mourinho said on the ObiOne Podcast.
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Victor Osimhen and his Napoli teammates have a tough Champions League round of 16 draw as they will take on Barcelona.
The draw for the round of 16 took place on Monday, 18 December 2023.
Barcelona have had the upper hand against Napoli having never lost to the reigning Serie A champions.
In the six encounters between the two teams, Barcelona have won four and drawn two against Napoli.
The last time the two teams clashed was in the Europa League in February 2022 in Italy with Barcelona winning 4-2.
Napoli will host the first leg before traveling to Spain for the second leg.
Another Super Eagles player Umar Sadiq and his Real Sociedad teammates will have their hands full in the round of 16.
The LaLiga club will take on French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in the first knockout round.
Meanwhile, Zaidu Sanusi’s FC Porto will take on Premier League heavyweight Arsenal.
Other draws will last season’s finalist Inter Milan take on Atletico Madrid, PSV will battle Borussia Dortmund, Lazio will face Bayern Munich, reigning champions Manchester City will tackle Copenhagen and Leipzig will slug it out with Real Madrid.
The first legs of the round of 16 will be played on 13, 14, 20 and 21 February, and the second legs will be played on 5, 6, 12 and 13 March 2024.
The final of this season’s UEFA Champions League will be played at the Wembley Stadium in London, England.
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw:
Porto v Arsenal
Napoli v Barcelona
PSG v Real Sociedad
Inter v Atletico Madrid
PSV v Borussia Dortmund
Lazio v Bayern Munich
Copenhagen v Manchester City
RB Leipzig v Real Madrid
The Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Mr Kalilou Traore, has said that the 2024 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, will create relevant avenue for his country to further strengthen cooperation with Nigeria.
Traore stated this in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, sequel to the country’s preparation to host the AFCON tournament from Jan. 14 to Feb. 13, 2024.
He said it has become necessary for the two countries to use the opportunity to further boost diplomatic ties between them.
“The AFCON is also a big occasion for us to deepen cooperation.
“So, we as an Embassy, we are organising with our partners, we are packaging for those who want to participate in Abidjan at AFCON,” he said.
The envoy added that leaders of both countries at levels of Heads of State and Heads of Ministries have mutual relationship, saying: “We have strong agreement, many agreements between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire government”.
[Leadership]
Arsenal are ready to sign £51million Sporting CP centre-back, Goncalo Inacio for their manager, Mikel Arteta.
Inacio has established himself as a vital player at the heart of Sporting’s defence since making his first-team debut in 2020.
The 22-year-old has been extensively scouted by Arsenal’s Premier League rival Liverpool in recent months.
However, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Arsenal are ‘tightening their siege’ on signing the Portugal international ahead of the Reds.
The report added that the Gunners are already aware of the €60 million (£51.5m) release clause in the player’s deal with Sporting and are prepared to pay the fee for him to switch to Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window.
[DailyPost]
Rebecca Welch to make history as the first female referee of a Premier League game as she has been selected to officiate Fulham’s match against Burnley on December 23, 2023.
Welch became a referee in 2010, juggling the job with her work in the British National Health Service.
She officiated a Football League match between Harrogate and Port Vale in 2021, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
In addition, Welch was the first female official to officiate games in the FA Cup’s third round and the Championship.
She made history last month when she became the first woman to act as fourth official in a Premier League game as part of the team for Fulham’s match against Manchester United.
Welch is also in charge of several high-profile women’s fixtures, including games at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.