Sports
World Cup: Jay Jay Okocha Predicts Winner Of England Vs Senegal Clash
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has tipped Senegal to beat England in their Qatar 2020 World Cup knockout game on Sunday.
Okocha said it would not be seen as an upset if Senegal, the number one footballing nation in Africa, beats England.
The Lions of Teranga and the Three Lions of England will tread tackles in a battle of Lions at the Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar and the United Kingdom side has been widely tipped to win the day.
Senegal made it to this stage by beating Ecuador 2-1 with Kalidou Koulibaly netting the game-winning goal, while England easily topped Group B after thrashing Wales.
Okocha told SuperSport, “Number one team in Africa, I think they have what it takes to win the game because I don’t think it will be an upset if Senegal wins.
“They have got players that play in the Premier League, players that know the English players and they know what they are coming up against, and they have looked at them.
READ ALSO: jayJay-Jay Okocha Reveals His Most Memorable Goal At PSG
“The England team is predictable in my opinion. They don’t have players that have got so much flair to decide games so they rely on that team structure. Senegal has a good chance.”
The former Bolton Wanderers star went further to explain that the English side is not the physically aggressive team it used to be but has now adopted a form of complete football.
Senegal, who are already without their talisman and Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane due to injury, will not also have the services of Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye when they face the Three Lions today.
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Sports
Why I’ll Never Advise My Son To Visit Nigeria – Taribo West
Published
1 day agoon
August 22, 2025By
Editor
A former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, on Friday, berated the Nigeria Football Federation and Lagos State Government for allegedly abandoning the family of late goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.
Speaking at Rufai’s burial in a video posted by News Central on Friday, the ex-Inter Milan star expressed disappointment over what he described as the neglect of Nigerian football heroes after their death.
“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family. I felt in my spirit that there is nothing to put your life for. That’s why I say I have to shift back so that I will not implode. It’s grieving.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Ex-Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, Is Dead
“My mother passed on. I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands. I never shed tears. When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I’m speaking to, there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?” he said
The former international recalled similar situations with late football icons such as Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, stressing that the treatment of ex-players discouraged him from encouraging his children to serve the country through football.
READ ALSO:Ex-Super Eagles Coach, Monday Sinclair, Is Dead
“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Send me out! Do we have a Football Federation or do we have a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way in his family.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit in within our groups to ask for money? That is madness. Look, please let me go. I don’t want to pour my heart,” he stated.
Rufai, fondly called “Dodo Mayana,” was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and the country’s debut at the FIFA World Cup the same year.
He passed away in July 2025.
Sports
CHAN 2024: Top Scorers Ahead Of Quarter-final Fixtures
Published
3 days agoon
August 20, 2025By
Editor
Uganda’s Allan Okello and South Africa’s Thabiso Kutumela are currently joint top scorers at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), with three goals each as the tournament heads into the quarter-final stage.
The group stage concluded on Tuesday, with Sudan holding Senegal to a 0-0 draw to finish top of Group D, while Nigeria defeated Congo 2-0.
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Here are the top scorers going into the CHAN quarter-finals:
Allan Okello (Uganda) – 3 goals
Thabiso Kutumela (South Africa) – 3 goals
Abdelrazig Omer (Sudan) – 2 goals
Kaporal (Angola) – 2 goals
Austin Odhiambo (Kenya) – 2 goals
Clement Mzize (Tanzania) – 2 goals
The quarter-final fixtures are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
Sports
Isak Breaks Silence, Insists On Leaving Newcastle; Club Disagree
Published
3 days agoon
August 20, 2025By
Editor
Alexander Isak believes his departure from Newcastle is “in the best interests of everyone” after breaking his silence on the saga of the Premier League transfer window amid speculation over a move to Liverpool.
The Swedish international, who was the second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League last season, has not featured for the Magpies in pre-season or their opening game of the campaign, a 0-0 draw away at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Liverpool have reportedly had a £110 million bid ($149 million) rejected for the 25-year-old, with Newcastle holding out for a British transfer record fee of up to £150 million.
Isak released a statement on Tuesday after deciding not to appear at the Professional Footballers’ Association awards event despite being selected in the Premier League 2024/25 team of the year.
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“I’ve kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn’t reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors,” Isak posted on Instagram.
“The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
“When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.”
According to reports, Isak had been promised an improved contract only for northeast side Newcastle to hold off due to pressures of meeting financial sustainability rules.
READ ALSO:
Newcastle responded with a statement late Tuesday saying that while they were saddened by Isak’s comments, they could yet welcome the 25-year-old back into the squad.
“We are disappointed to have been alerted to a social media post by Alexander Isak this evening,” the club wrote. “We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.
“We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views.”
The statement added: “This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates.”
READ ALSO:
Isak has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances since joining from Real Sociedad in 2022, including the winner against Liverpool in the League Cup final earlier this year that ended Newcastle’s 70-year wait to win a domestic trophy.
Liverpool have already spent around £300 million overhauling a squad that romped to the Premier League title last season.
But they have also recouped over £200 million in sales and are still in the market for attacking options after the departures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez and tragic death of Diogo Jota.
Any deal is unlikely to be done before the two clubs face off in their next Premier League game on Monday at St James’ Park.
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