Verdict: Nigeria win
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In what is seen to be the glamour tie of the African Cup of Nations so far this summer, former champions Nigeria and Cameroon will meet at the Alexandria Stadium on Saturday evening.
Nigeria
Starting with Nigeria, after coming off the back of a huge shock in their 2-0 loss against a Madagascar side ranked 108th in the FIFA rankings and making their African Cup of Nations debut, there is no doubt that Head Coach Gernot Rohr will demand immediate response on Saturday. While the Super Eagles do boast a squad that is glittering with talent from across Europe, the three-time AFCON champions have failed to find their best form out in Egypt this summer. While back-to-back close-fought 1-0 wins over Guinea and Buru…
Romelu Lukaku expects an update on his future next week as Inter look to lure the striker away from Manchester United.
Lukaku joined United from Everton in 2017 and has scored 28 Premier League goals across his two seasons at Old Trafford, but he has been a regular target for criticism from fans.
The Belgium international has received flak for his technical ability, control and perceived lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, finding himself usurped as first-choice striker by Marcus Rashford last term after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho as manager.
Inter have made no secret of their interest in the 26-year-old, but their reported offer of €70million (£63m) – comprising of a two-year loan and a €60m obligation to buy – is said to have fallen…
Gareth Southgate has no concern about calling upon Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka to take a penalty in a shootout at the World Cup.
The pair were among a trio of players to miss from the spot in the European Championship final defeat to Italy last year, along with Jadon Sancho, who was not selected for the tournament in Qatar.
Rashford has been a fine performer for Southgate s side, scoring a trio of goals to sit joint-top of the scoring charts, while Saka netted a brace in the demolition of Iran in the opening group match.
Now into the knockout stage, with a round of 16 tie against Senegal on the horizon, the prospect of penalties continues to be a talking point – particularly regarding who could be called upon.
Asked if he had any reservations about …
Another three Barcelona players have tested positive for COVID-19, the club confirmed on Thursday.
It means Barca have seen as many as 10 players return positive results this week alone.
Sergino Dest, Philippe Coutinho and Ez Abde are the latest to go into quarantine, with Barca s numbers dwindling ahead of Sunday s trip to Real Mallorca.
Dani Alves and Clement Lenglet were the first two to test positive on Monday, followed by Jordi Alba and Alex Balde the following day.
Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti and Gavi were then added to that list on Wednesday when they also returned positive tests.
[MEDICAL UPDATE]
Sergiño Dest, Coutinho and Ez Abde positive for COVID-19.
The players are in good health and self-isolating at home.
…
Carlo Ancelotti has backed Toni Kroos for this year s Ballon d Or if Real Madrid and Germany win the Champions League and Euro 2024 respectively.
With another LaLiga title under their belts, Madrid are into the Champions League final after they overcame Kroos former club Bayern Munich in the last four.
Borussia Dortmund stand in Los Blancos way of a record-extending 15th European crown.
And Kroos, who has come out of international retirement in order to boost Germany s Euro 2024 chances, has played a key role in Madrid s success this term.
In fact, he has been so good, that Ancelotti cannot see why the Ballon d Or would not be a possibility.
The Ballon d Or for Kroos? Well, anything can happen, Ancelotti told reporters after Madrid hammered Alave…
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers sang the praises of Daniel Sturridge after his fine goal led them to a 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
An excellent Sturridge strike fired Liverpool to victory for the second game running, as they edged Paul Lambert s side in a tight tussle at Villa Park.
The former Chelsea striker showed exceptional skill to dance around Villa defender Antonio Luna and goalkeeper Brad Guzan before netting from an acute angle.
And the England international, who has scored eight goals in his last seven Premier League games, came in for special recognition from his boss afterwards.
Daniel s a player that I believe will prove, when he is fit and playing, (to) be one of the top strikers in this division, Rodgers said.
He s got all the att…
that former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue is training with Sunderland.
The thirty-two year old has been without a club since leaving Galatasaray in the summer, and is now working on his fitness as he looks to find a new club.
He has not played a competitive match since May, and while it is understood that he is only with Sam Allardyce’s side to train, they do have the option to sign him despite the transfer window having closed.
He played just over one hundred times for Gala, scoring five times while he notched up two hundred and twelve appearances for the Gunners in all competitions.
Internationally. Eboue has been capped seventy-nine times for the Ivory Coast, scoring three goals and was part of their squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Afric…
Borussia Dortmund gained vital ground on Bayern Munich ahead of Saturday s Der Klassiker with a 2-0 win over Darmstadt on a night when their arch-rivals slipped up.
While Bundesliga leaders Bayern were stunned by a 2-1 home defeat to Mainz, Thomas Tuchel s side dominated struggling Darmstadt and scored either side of half-time to claim a victory that moves them to within five points of the reigning champions.
And that gap could be down to just two points at the weekend, with Bayern visiting Signal Iduna Park for a mouthwatering clash that looks set to go a long way to deciding the destination of the title.
A win for Dortmund at Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor rarely looked in doubt, but the visitors were made to work hard before Adrian Ramos opened the scorin…
Mauro Icardi has no plans to leave Inter and appreciates the club s determination to keep him happy at San Siro, his wife and agent Wanda Nara has said.
The Argentina international has been linked with clubs including Chelsea in recent seasons but was handed a new five-year contract with Inter last October to ward off potential suitors.
Nara says Inter s treatment of the striker has helped to foster a strong relationship with the board and makes it unlikely that he will seek a move.
We ve renewed his contract with Inter three times because, when other clubs have wanted Icardi, they ve done everything to keep him, she told Telefe.
Our relationship with the board is great, especially on a personal level. For example, when the girls were born, the club ga…
Kwadwo Asamoah has urged Juventus to keep giving their all in the remainder of the Serie A season as they prepare to take on Verona on Sunday.
Massimiliano Allegri s men have already clinched the Scudetto, but their season is by no means over just yet at they meet AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final in two weeks time.
But matches against Verona and Sampdoria are on Juve s agenda first and Asamoah has stressed the champions cannot afford to take anything for granted.
I m delighted to be back in the action and working with the rest of the squad every day. I want to keep winning titles here, Asamoah told Sky Italia.
My goal is to win back-to-back domestic doubles. Lifting the Coppa Italia again would be a great achievement but we re not taking anything for …