Sports

Napoli’s Nightmare Continues After Crumbling At Torino

Published

2 years ago

January 7, 2024

Napoli plunged deeper into crisis on Sunday after crashing to a 3-0 defeat at Torino which ended with fiery protests from fans and humiliation for the troubled Serie A champions.

Furious supporters launched flares onto the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino during the latest embarrassing loss which left Napoli languishing in ninth place.

Last season’s historic Scudetto has now been forgotten as Napoli sink further into the abyss with each passing week, their third defeat in four matches in all competitions fully deserved after a shambolic display in Turin.

Without Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, Walter Mazzarri’s side failed to score for the fourth straight match and are completely unrecognisable from the team which charged to title glory last term.

“We have to apologise to the fans for the performance… we’re trying to find ways to stimulate the team and get back to some sort of normality,” said Napoli’s sporting director Mauro Meluso.

Meluso spoke to DAZN after a series of post-match summits with Mazzarri and the team, and insisted that the coach — who was suspended for Sunday’s match — would not be sacked.

“I, the club and the team have total faith in the coach, so we’re not having thoughts in that direction,” he added.

Mazzarri was brought in to clean up the mess left by predecessor Rudi Garcia but Napoli are now a full 20 points behind league leaders Inter Milan and closer to the relegation zone than the top of the table.

Antonio Sanabria got the ball rolling two minutes before the break when he scored from close range, and things went from bad to worse in the 50th minute when debutant Pasquale Mazzocchi was sent off for a wild challenge on Valentino Lazaro.

Mazzocchi, who signed from Salernitana on Friday, had only been on the field since the start of the second half and two minutes later Nikola Vlasic doubled Torino’s lead with a brilliant low strike from outside the area.

Napoli were all over the place and they should have been three down just after the hour mark when Sanabria hit the post and Duvan Zapata somehow didn’t finish on the rebound.

However Alessandro Buongiorno made sure of an emphatic victory in the 66th minute when he thumped a bullet header past Pierluigi Gollini.

– Milan cruise –

A sumptuous early strike from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Olivier Giroud’s 31st minute penalty set third-placed AC Milan on the way to a 3-0 win at Empoli which was sealed by Chaka Traore with two minutes remaining.

Missing a host of players to injury and the Africa Cup of Nations, Milan took advantage of their closest rivals for the top four dropping points.

Stefano Pioli’s team are six points ahead of fourth-placed Fiorentina who lost 1-0 at Sassuolo on Saturday, and a further point in front of Bologna in fifth following their draw at Genoa.

Milan have had a bumpy campaign riddled with injuries and questions over Pioli’s future but Sunday’s win was their fifth in six matches in all competitions.

“We went through a bit of a difficult period… We never listened to what other people were saying, we got down to hard work and that’s why we won today,” said Theo Hernandez, who was again deputising at centre-back.

France international Hernandez is a buccaneering left-back by trade but has been forced to move to the centre of defence by an injury crisis which has left Pioli without defenders Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw and Pierre Kalulu.

“It’s in the difficult moments that you learn if people have given up on you, and that wasn’t the case here,” said Pioli.

“When things don’t go well we stay together and we give each other a hand.”

Milan trail city rivals Inter by nine points and are four behind second-placed Juventus, who play Salernitana later on Sunday.

Lazio warmed up for their midweek derby with Roma in the Italian Cup quarter-finals by winning 2-1 at Udinese and moving up to sixth.

Sports

Ikpoba-Okha Trade Tackles With Ovia N-East As Benin Unity Cup Kicks Off

Published

3 hours ago

November 21, 2025

Editor

Ikpoba-Okha LG traded tackles with Ovia North-East LG at the opening match of the maiden edition of the Benin Unity Cup held at the Crescent Sports Club in Irhirhi, Benin City, on Thursday evening.

The seven local government councils in Edo South Senatorial District are expected to participate in the tourney sponsored by Neda Imasuen, the Senator representing the district at the National Assembly.

The match between the two LGs saw the players from both sides showcasing tactical organization, intensity, and individual brilliance, but neither team could find the breakthrough despite promising chances.

The draw sets the tone for what promises to be a competitive and talent-rich tournament, with scouts already keeping close watch on standout performers.

Both sides played out a cagey 0–0 draw, setting the tone for what promises to be a competitive and talents-reach tourney.

‎In his remarks earlier, the tournament sponsor, and vision bearer Senator Imasuen, appreciated participating teams and officials for embracing the initiative.

He explained that the Unity Cup was designed to discover, nurture, and create pathways for grassroots footballers across Edo South, revealing that scouts from other parts of Nigeria — and possibly abroad — will attend live matches during the tournament.

READ ALSO:Senator Imasuen Kicks Off Benin Unity Cup To Foster Unity
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‎Imasuen encouraged all players to give their best, emphasizing discipline, fair play, and sportsmanship as the core values of the competition.

Imasuen, who promised to make the football tournament an annual event, assured to consider other sports including boxing, cycling, tennis ,and basketball in the nearest future.
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‎ Addressing the crowd at the opening ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, applauded Senator Imasuen for investing in grassroots football, describing the competition as a timely platform for youth development in Edo State.

‎He appealed to Senator Neda Imasuen, individuals and corporate bodies to extend similar support to other sporting disciplines, stressing that Edo State is home to many gifted athletes outside football who are yet to be discovered.

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Sports

EPL: He Has No Replacement – Alan Smith Names Arsenal’s Most Important Player

Published

5 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

Former Arsenal striker, Alan Smith has suggested that Declan Rice is Arsenal’s most important player this season under manager Mikel Arteta.

Smith insisted that Rice has no replacement in Arteta’s squad, adding that it would be a big loss if he got injured.

Asked how Arsenal will cope with any injury blows in their bid to become Premier League champions this season, Smith told Metro UK: “We have seen Arsenal lose a couple of key players, haven’t we?

“Martin Odegaard was perhaps the main one, but [Eberechi] Eze came in and we have not really seen a drop-off.

“Declan Rice would be a big loss if he got injured because you would lose that drive in midfield and his set-piece ability which has become so important. They have not really got anybody to replace Rice.

“The defence has been superb but even at the back, [Cristhian] Mosquera has come in at times and they have got [Piero] Hincapie as well, so Rice would be the biggest loss for me.”

Sports

AFCON 2025: Asamoah Gyan Names Three Favourite Countries To Win Trophy

Published

15 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

Ahead of the December 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, former Ghana International, Asamoah Gyan, has named three favourite countries to win the trophy.

He believes that Nigeria, Ivory Coast and the host nation, Morocco are standing out as favourites.

Gyan stated this during the CAF Awards in Morocco on Wednesday night.

The former striker expressed disappointment over his country’s failure to qualify for the continental tournament.

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“We have a lot of giants who are going there. Ghana is out which we are very disappointed but it is okay, we qualify to the World Cup,” he said.

Gyang, who captained the Black Stars for many years, noted that Nigeria was outstanding at the last AFCON Cote d’Ivoire.

“Nigeria did well, they were close the last two years. Ivory Coast did well, we have a lot of teams,” he said.

“Morocco is also a strong contender, who are also doing well. I will say these three countries that I have mentioned, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Morocco,” he added.

Nigeria lost the final of the last AFCON to the host nation, Ivory Coast, in a game that ended 2-1.