Manchester United’s midfielder, Donny van de Beek, is currently engaged in discussions with two clubs for a potential loan move as the transfer window approaches its closure.
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United is in talks with Galatasaray and Lorient regarding the possibility of loaning out the Dutch midfielder.
Van de Beek has faced challenges with injuries during his time at Old Trafford and has been informed that he is not a part of manager Erik ten Hag’s plans, indicating his likely departure from the club.
While there were previous reports linking the midfielder to a return to his former club, Ajax, interest in that direction seems to have diminished.
Nevertheless, the Turkish club Galatasaray appears to be leading the race to secure Van de Beek’s signature, although there has also been interest from an undisclosed club.
Having not been included inManchester United’s matchday squad for the initial three Premier League fixtures, Van de Beek is now faced with a decision about his future as the transfer window deadline on September 1 draws near.
After a transfer worth €22 million (£19 million or $24 million), the United States international bid farewell to Stamford Bridge and embraced a new chapter at San Siro.
Despite facing challenges related to form and fitness during his time in England, Pulisic has swiftly made his mark in Italy, notably scoring goals in consecutive Serie A appearances.
Former Italy international Zola holds the belief that Pulisic has the potential to flourish in his new environment.
Speaking to DAZN, he highlighted the key to the 24-year-old’s consistent excellence: “Christian Pulisic is a player who, if he avoids injuries, is very strong and very important; he has remarkable qualities.
While talking up Pulisic’s potential, Zola believes Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be the man to make the biggest impact for Milan in 2023/24.
He added: “Another new AC Milan signing who has never been considered for his value is Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
He can play in different positions… mezzala, midfielder… he has impressive technical and physical qualities, he can become the player of the season.
When he was at Chelsea with Maurizio Sarri, he was the player who made them change gears, because he’s someone who has so much physicality and quality that he’s the one who really allowed them to break up the games.
He received the ball, beat a man and created superiority: he was really decisive.”
Milan, with Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek looking to make it three wins in a row at the start of the new season, will be back in action on Friday when they take a trip to the Italian capital to face Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
Vice Chairperson of the Ghana Women’s Premier League, Madam Rosalind Amoh, has strongly criticised former Black Queens goalkeeper Memunatu Salemana for attributing her current situation to earning meagre wages during her football career.
In an interview with Original TV, Memunatu Sulemana disclosed that she is currently residing in a kiosk in Kaneshie, Accra, due to financial challenges stemming from her football career.
However, Rosalind Amoh contends that Sulemana’s current circumstances are a result of her own life choices and behavior.
Speaking to Rainbow Radio, Amoh stated that Sulemana has made false claims and insinuated that there are undisclosed truths she could unveil.
“I didn’t want to bring it up, but I believe Sulemana’s current situation is the result of some life decisions and choices.” This is what will happen if you decide to live your life in a certain way and do not listen to advice.
“I’d be lying if I said Sulemana couldn’t make money while playing; aside from the amount the government gave to the players during the 1999 World Cup, she also made a lot of money from donations as a result of her exploits in the national team.”
“She had the chance to live outside of Ghana, but her life choices, which I won’t discuss, have gotten her to that position.”
Sulemana was a member of the Black Queen’s FIFA World Cup teams in 1999, 2003, and 2003.
She shared the stage alongside footballers like Adjoa Bayor, Alerta Sackey, and Mercy Tagoe Quarcoo. She also played club football for Post Ladies in Ghana and Pelican Stars in Nigeria’s Women’s Premier League.
Ansu Fati is reportedly prepared to depart fromBarcelona before the imminent closure of the transfer window this week. Brighton is actively engaged in pursuing an ambitious loan agreement for the Spanish forward, according to sources confirmed by ESPN.
Meanwhile, Tottenham has engaged in discussions with Barcelona as well.
However, Tottenham is also focused on securing the signing of Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson.
At 20 years old, Fati is open to the idea of a season-long loan move to the Premier League, which would allow him to maintain his connection with Barcelona.
Despite this inclination, no definite arrangement has been reached as the transfer deadline approaches on Friday.
This development marks a significant change in Fati’s stance, as he had previously been hesitant to leave the Catalan club this summer, despite external pressures.
Notably, Barcelona, his agent Jorge Mendes, and his father Bori have all been advocating for Fati to spend a year playing elsewhere in order to gain regular playing time and experience.
While both Spurs and Chelsea were linked with Fati earlier in the week, Brighton, under the guidance of coach Roberto De Zerbi, have emerged as the leading contenders to finalise the deal as of Wednesday
Bayern Munich is reportedly placing a €30 million price tag on midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as potential suitors, including Liverpool, show interest.
According to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland, the Netherlands midfielder has communicated his wish to leave Bayern, pending approval.
While Liverpool remains interested in the 21-year-old, they have yet to finalise terms with Gravenberch or agree on a fee with Bayern.
Amidst these developments, Bayern has been linked to a few options for a potential replacement, including Fulham’s João Palhinha, Manchester United’s Scott McTominay, and Tottenham’s Eric Dier.
Gravenberch originally joined Bayern from Ajax for €18 million last summer, but his impact has been limited, with just one goal and one assist across 33 appearances in all competitions last season. In the current season, he has only made a single appearance as a substitute.
Liverpool is actively seeking to bolster its midfield after the departure of several key players from Anfield.
Notably, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho moved to Saudi Arabia, while James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita also left the Premier League giants.
Olympique Lyonnais has completed the signing of Ghanaian forward Ernest Nuamah, who is a graduate of the Right to Dream academy.
The announcement was made on Wednesday night, confirming that Nuamah will sport the number 37 jersey during his time with the club.
Notably, this is the same jersey number he wore during his stint with FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga.
The talented player’s move to Lyon comes on the back of his transfer from RWD Molenbeek in Belgium.
Although Nuamah initially joined RWD Molenbeek on a permanent contract from the Danish club, he has now been loaned to Olympique Lyonnais until June 2024.
Notably, RWD Molenbeek is owned by Eagle Football, the same entity that owns Olympique Lyonnais.
Ernest Nuamah’s exceptional performance in the 2022–23 season did not go unnoticed, as he clinched multiple awards, including Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year in the 3F Superliga.
The new season kicked off in remarkable fashion for him as well, with a hat-trick and the prestigious Player of the Month accolade.
In making this move, Nuamah joins the ranks of Abedi Pele, John Mensah, and Michael Essien as the fourth Ghanaian player to don the Olympique Lyonnais jersey.
Ghanaian musician and rapper, Maradona Yeboah Adjei, known in entertainment circles asGuru NKZ, has cautioned footballers against having sex before stepping onto the field to play.
While most footballers believe it keeps them fit before games, others believe it brings down one’s performance and concentration before and during games.
According to Guru, it is only ‘unserious, aimless, and visionless’ footballers who indulge in such an act, adding that it is prudent to concentrate on relevant issues rather than worldly stuff.
Speaking to Kumasi-based Angel FM, Guru said “Every football player with aim and vision will never have sex with a woman before going onto the field to play. We do what is more important than what pleases the world”,
It will be recalled that former Black Stars defender, Muhammed Gargo, as quoted by Modern Ghana, debunked the widespread belief that sex weakens players.
Gargo said players should not abstain from sex for an extended period of time because it limits their flexibility.
Some sports fitness coaches are also of the view that sex is good for footballers, as they need it to balance themselves.
The announcement was shared by the Accra-based club through their official social media channels on Wednesday, August 30th.
Having showcased an impressive performance in the 2022 Division One League, Yahaya Mohammed garnered substantial interest from multiple clubs. His remarkable abilities and goal-scoring proficiency have earned him recognition as a potential standout in Ghanaian football, having remarkably netted 17 goals in just 22 matches.
The potential of the talented striker did not escape the notice of Accra Lions’ scouts, who were attracted to his profile. Having previously represented Tamale City FC, Yahaya’s capabilities were swiftly recognized by the club’s management. Consequently, they acted promptly to secure his services, aiming to enhance the team’s offensive capabilities.
During the previous season, the Accra Lions successfully navigated the relegation challenge and finished 15th with 45 points from 34 games. With the inclusion of Yahaya Mohammed, the Accra Lions aspire for his goal-scoring prowess to significantly contribute to their performance in the 2023–24Ghana Premier League season.
After a challenging period last year that saw the Phobians finishing 12th in the Ghana Premier League, Quaye, a former Ghana international, is urging the devoted fans of the Ghanaian giants to leave the past behind and offer their unwavering support to the team in the upcoming season.
In an interview with Kessben FM, which was reported by Footballghana.com, Dan Quaye conveyed his confidence that positive changes are on the horizon for his former team in the upcoming campaign.
“I will urge the fans to rally behind the team in good or bad times. We need to forget about the past and cheer the team on in the upcoming season to honour Togbe Afede for contributing immensely towards the development of the club”
“We need to commend him for embarking on a lot of infrastructural development at Pobiman. Previously, it was WAFA and Ashanti Gold who had good infrastructures but the narrative has changed because of the good work of Togbe Afede”
“The fans should consider the good work of Togbe Afede and support the team and I am 100 percent sure that things will change for Hearts of Oak next season. So the fans should fill the stadium in their numbers in the forthcoming season.”
Marca claims that Manchester United asked about Villarreal defender Alfonso Pedraza amid a hunt for a new left-back.
Pedraza, 27, played for Leeds United on loan in 2017 and made his way onto United’ radar after injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
However, Villarreal would not negotiate and the report claims that United quickly moved on.
Indeed, Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella is now one of a number of short-term options identified by United, along with Marcos Alonso, Nicolás Tagliafico and Sergio Reguilón.
In the upcoming November, the initial phase of the qualifiers is set to commence, with the Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Sports Stadium being the sole Ghanaian venues approved for these matches.
Ghana finds itself placed in Group I, alongside Mali, Madagascar, the Central African Republic, the Comoros, and Chad.
With a revised format featuring nine groups, as announced on May 19, 2023, the qualification dynamics have evolved. In this updated structure, five teams will now secure qualification instead of the previous four.
The teams have been allocated to nine groups, each comprising six teams. The victor of each group will earn a direct slot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Meanwhile, the four most outstanding group runners-up will engage in playoffs to determine which team will progress to the inter-confederation play-offs.
These nine groups will participate in a home-and-away round-robin contest. The group winners will secure their places in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Simultaneously, the four most impressive group runners-up will be selected for playoffs, to determine theCAF representative for the inter-confederation play-offs.
Ghana’s World Cup qualification journey will commence with a home match against Madagascar, followed by an away fixture against Comoros, scheduled between November 13-21, 2023.
A Ghanaian-born player hailing from Spain and affiliated with Atletico Club,Nico Williams, has been nominated for the prestigious 2023 LaLiga U-23 Player of the Year award.
This annual accolade, known as the Mejor Jugador Sub-23, is bestowed upon players under the age of 23 who have exhibited exceptional individual performances and contributions to their respective clubs.
At 21 years old, Nico Williams finds himself in competition with four other outstanding talents: Pablo Barriors from Atletico Madrid, Kubo representing Real Sociedad, Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, and Savinho from Girona FC, for the coveted title.
During the 2022/23 season, Nico, who is the younger sibling of Ghanaian forward Inaki Williams, delivered an impressive performance, scoring six goals in 36 matches for the Lions. However, in the ongoing 2023/24 season, he has yet to hit the back of the net after three games.
Nico Williams initially showcased his skills with Spain’s under-18 squad in 2020, where he netted two goals in four matches. He subsequently earned a call-up to the Spanish under-19 team in February 2021 and made his debut for the Under-21s in September of the same year.
In a notable milestone, Nico received his first senior squad call-up from Coach Luis Enrique for the UEFA Nations League in September 2022. During his international career, he scored his inaugural goal for the national team in a friendly match against Jordan. This achievement led to his inclusion in Spain’s squad for the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.
Barcelona is considering the possibility of parting ways with defender Eric Garcia, as Girona expresses interest, as per Calciomercato’s report.
Despite manager Xavi’s desire to keep the 22-year-old player, Girona is reportedly making strong efforts to secure a deal for the Spanish international.
Should Barcelona aim to bring in new players before the transfer window closes, they may need to facilitate the departure of some of their own players, which might open the door for Garcia’s potential exit.
This season, the defender has been primarily used as a substitute, a situation that could enhance the likelihood of a transfer occurring. Garcia is in search of more consistent opportunities forfirst-team action.
Managing Director for Ghana Publishing Company Limited, has sent a passionate appeal to the presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with the exception of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to be careful of delegates seeking favours to cast their ballots for them.
The polling agent of Dr Bawumia made this appeal during an interview on Asempa FM on August 30, 2023, on the just-ended NPP Super Delegates Conference.
Speaking in disagreement with the popular narrative of a possible turn of events in the outcome of the just ended elections, where Dr. Bawumia secured about 68% of the votes, Mr Boateng believes that the 629 votes garnered by Dr Bawumia indicate that he has already won in the November 4 polls.
Hence, he advised the other aspirants to be “weary of political merchants” who tickle them about a possible flip-flop later this year.
“I would like to make a passionate appeal to the leadership of the party and the dignified men of integrity that is the presidential aspirants contesting with Dr Bawumia to be weary of political merchants and entrepreneurs.”
“If you contest in an election and in the stronghold of the party and the biggest region, that gives the party the best political support and endorsement; out of over 120 votes, you secure just 10 votes, really? If they have very close relatives around them, they should advise them. “Having people cheer you on about your victory doesn’t guarantee a win that is clearly not yours,” he said.
Additionally, he called on the aspirants to “think about the progress of the NPP’s progress for the 2024 election,” acknowledging that it would be a difficult for the NPP to win but that a win is definitely guaranteed.
On his part, the party’s victory in the 2024 elections is highly dependent on an “NPP with a unified front.”
The NPP’s Super Delegates Conference held on Saturday, ,August 26, 2023 was aimed at reducing the number of candidates in the party’s flagbearer contest from 10 to 5.
Kennedy Agyapong secured the second position with around 132 votes, trailing behindVice President Bawumia, who garnered 629 votes out of a total of over 900 votes while former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen placed third with 95 votes, or 10.29%.
Following the tie by Boakye Agyarko and Francis Addai-Nimoh, a run-off election will be held for both of them on Saturday, September 2, 2023, to decide which of them will join the primaries.
However, manager Parkinson was extremely dissatisfied with the referees’ call to award the opposing team a penalty within the first three minutes of the match.
The decision was made after Aaron Hayden was deemed to have committed a foul against Jamie Walker, and the manager expressed his belief that the referee had made a “guess” in this situation.
“For an absolutely nothing incident, the ref has given a penalty. He’s got four players in between him and the incident and he’s told me it was him who gave it, but there is absolutely no way he can see it so he’s clearly guessed”.
“The linesman has got the best view of all and is mic’d up and is supposed to communicate and the officials are supposed to work as a team.
“I feel a little bit aggrieved by how that decision has come about, but we have to take it on the chin and we had to respond and I thought the lads responded really well.”
In the shootout, Wrexham experienced two missed penalty attempts, as both Luke Young and James Jones were unable to convert. This loss signifies that the team has managed to secure victory in only one out of their previous five matches.
Rigobert Song has provided insight into his choice toreinstate Andre Onana, the goalkeeper from Manchester United, to the Cameroon national team.
During the 2022 World Cup, the United goalkeeper returned home prematurely due to a purported disagreement with the Cameroon manager regarding tactics.
According to Song, Onana had requested not to be considered for the final two group stage matches against Serbia and Brazil.
This led to the goalkeeper leaving the team’s camp and announcing his unexpected retirement from international football, despite being only 26 years old.
Nevertheless, Onana has since reversed his retirement decision, and both Song and Onana have decided to set aside their differences.
Song told reporters after including Onana in his latest Cameroon squad: “It all depended on him.
He knew what he had to do. If he’s on the list, it’s because he did the right thing. He’s one of the best goalkeepers, and the door was always open. There was never a problem with André. Today, we are satisfied that he is reunited with the group.”
Since the World Cup, Onana’s reputation has significantly grown, highlighted by his participation in a Champions League final with Inter Milan. His impressive development has not escaped attention, prompting Manchester United to make a substantial investment in the goalkeeper during the summer transfer window.
The club paid a significant £48 million ($62 million) to Inter Milan as a transfer fee, securing Onana as a replacement for the former No.1, David de Gea.
Before departing for international duty, Onana is set to don theManchester United jersey and face Arsenal over the upcoming weekend. Upon fulfilling his club obligations, he will then shift his focus to representing Cameroon.
It is anticipated that Onana will reclaim his position as the goalkeeper for The Indomitable Lions during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi scheduled for September 12.
Embattled chief of the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation), Luis Rubiales, has been harshly criticised by La Liga president Javier Tebas in a shocking statement.
Rubiales has faced significant backlash following an incident where he was observed grabbing and kissing Jennifer Hermoso after Spain’s victory over England in the2023 World Cup final.
Numerous individuals from the football community have expressed condemnation for Rubiales’ actions, including the England Lionesses, who were the runners-up in the final match.
The Spanish government has initiated an investigation into Rubiales’ conduct, and La Liga’s president has now delivered a scathing critique of his counterpart at the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Aside from the “kiss-gate,” Rubiales was also seen making an offensive gesture during the match against England. Tebas has asserted that these actions have “undermined the dignity” of the entire nation.
In a post on X, formerly referred to as Twitter, Tebas wrote,”It is unworthy to coerce the players of the National Team and focus on them or on their reaction. They are not guilty of the image of Spain given by Rubiales.
“No opportunism or political hypocrisy justifies that the image of Spain has been represented by a madman touching his genitals, forcing kisses, carrying players like sacks, and touching (Hermoso) inappropriately at such an important moment.
“It is not a question of left or right, Rubiales not only undermined Jenni’s dignity with his attitude, but also that of Spain.”
Chelsea are prepared to challengeManchester City’s determination to retain Cole Palmer before the upcoming transfer deadline on Friday, sources have informed ESPN.
Although Chelsea has not yet formally submitted an offer for the 21-year-old forward, their head coach, Mauricio Pochettino reportedly favours the idea of pursuing Palmer. This move aligns with Chelsea’s intention to enhance their attacking options by adding another player to their roster.
At present, Palmer remains under contract with Manchester City until 2026. He commenced the season on a positive note, displaying his capabilities by scoring in both the Community Shield match against Arsenal and the UEFA Super Cup triumph against Sevilla.
The course of action that Manchester City would take in response to a potential Palmer departure remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Chelsea intends to explore the opportunity and bring the England Under-21 international to Stamford Bridge if they receive enough encouragement that a deal can be successfully negotiated.
While evaluating options, Chelsea has also considered alternative prospects, such as Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal and Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest. However, it’s worth noting that Tottenham Hotspur is now making progress in its pursuit of Brennan Johnson.
Tottenham Hotspur hasentered the competition with Chelsea to secure the signature of Barcelona’s winger, Ansu Fati, as per information from Fabrizio Romano.
Sources suggest that Tottenham have initiated talks regarding the 20-year-old player, considering him a viable option should they not secure Nottingham Forest’s talent, Brennan Johnson.
In parallel, Chelsea is also exploring the possibility of acquiring Fati, following an offer from agent Jorge Mendes earlier this week.
With Barcelona aiming to offload one of their forwards before the transfer window concludes, they are open to the idea of parting ways with Ansu Fati.
The young winger made his debut as a substitute during a 5-2 victory against Real Betis in August 2019.
Despite his potential, Ansu has faced challenges in securing consistent starting positions, notably making 24 of his appearances from the bench in the previous season.
This trend has persisted into the current 2023–24 LaLiga season, with a substitute featured in all three of the defending champions’ matches.
It has been reported that Ansu Fati is now inclined to seek a new opportunity elsewhere, prompting Barcelona to explore a solution that can alleviate their financial concerns.
Barcelona’s defender, Clement Lenglet, is on the verge of joining Aston Villa on a loan for the duration of a season, according to sources closely involved in the negotiations, as confirmed to ESPN.
On Wednesday, Lenglet, who is 28 years old, was present at Barcelona’s training grounds. During this time, he expressed his preference for a move to Aston Villa among the various options available to him. It is anticipated that he will soon make his way to Birmingham to finalise the agreement.
Other clubs, such as Al Nassr, Sevilla, Real Betis, and Lyon, had all shown interest in acquiring the services of the French center-back. However, Lenglet was particularly keen on returning to the Premier League.
Having fallen out of favour at Barcelona subsequent to his €35 million transfer from Sevilla in 2018, Lenglet had spent the previous season on loan at Tottenham.
Aston Villa intensified their quest for a new defender after their player, Tyrone Mings, suffered what the club termed as “a significant knee injury” during their inaugural match against Newcastle.
In their recent fixture against Burnley, the defensive trio of Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, and Pau Torres were fielded. Lenglet’s arrival is set to bolster the depth of Unai Emery’s squad, especially considering their participation in theEuropa Conference League this season.
Sources within Manchester United have indicated to ESPN that the club is not pursuing a potential deal for Tottenham’s midfielder, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Despite rumors linking the Danish international to a loan move at Old Trafford, the focus for United is currently centered on acquiring a left-back.
This urgency is driven by the injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Manchester United’s primary target for the left-back position is believed to be Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella.
Alongside their pursuit of a new full-back, the club is actively working on offloading players such as Donny van de Beek, Eric Bailly, and Scott McTominay.
It’s worth noting that even though Erik ten Hag, United’s manager, has a prior connection with Hojbjerg from their time at Bayern Munich II, approximately a decade ago, the sources have confirmed that Manchester United does not have any intention of pursuing the formerSouthampton player.
A scuffle erupted between Al-Nassr’s star player, Sadio Mane and Al-Shabab’s defender, Iago Santos, during a Saudi Pro League match between the two teams.
Mane, the Senegalese star who managed to score in his team’s 4-0 victory, confronted the Brazilian defender following a tough tackle that occurred moments earlier. The situation escalated to the point where the linesman on the far side had to swiftly step in to separate Mane and Iago Santos.
In a video circulating on social media, the two players were seen pushing each other aggressively and appearing to exchange words before the match official intervened.
Surprisingly, both players avoided any punishment, and the game ultimately concluded with a 4-0 victory in favour of the Knights of Najd.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the veteran forward, played a significant role in Al-Nassr’s win by scoring twice from penalty kicks, granting his team a two-goal lead before the 38th minute. Just two minutes later, Mane extended the advantage, leading the visitors into halftime with a comfortable three-goal lead.
In the second half, Sultan Al-Ghannam added another goal, securing the victory for Al-Nassr. It’s worth noting that Al-Shabab played the final 12 minutes with only 10 players after Ever Banega received a red card, according to ESPN.
Mane finishes off from Ronaldo’s assist Earlier, Sports Brief reported onMane and Ronaldo combining once again as the Senegalese star scored yet another Saudi Pro League goal.
The 31-year-old forward brilliantly finished off an assist from the Portuguese veteran to extend Al-Nassr’s lead to three goals against Al-Shabab.
In addition, Sports Brief highlighted that Mane secured a Saudi League accolade for Goal of the Week, thanks to his spectacular goal in Al-Nassr’s emphatic victory over Al-Fateh in recent times.
The ex-Liverpool forward outshined Abdul Razzaq Hamdallah from Al-Ittihad and Mateus Castro of Al-Taawoun, securing the award within his new Saudi Pro League environment.
Holding the draw for the Rugby World Cup in 2020 has meant that the tournament has a bizarrely skewed look where three of the sport’s top five teams are in the same pool, while one of the next five is virtually guaranteed a semi-final spot.
The early draw, made on the back of dubious “administration” requirements when the rankings looked very different, means that two of the top-four teams—Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and France—will not make it into the semi-finals.
It does, however, also mean that the pool stage will have meaningful match-ups and the quarterfinals already look hard to call.
In a sport where only five countries have reached a World Cup final since the tournament began 36 years ago, to have three of the world’s top five facing off in the preliminaries is nothing short of bizarre and has led to a change of plan for the 2027 edition in Australia.
For now, though, world number one Ireland, defending champions South Africa and Scotland, enjoying their best form for decades, will battle it out for two places.
The reward for the top two will almost certainly be a quarterfinal against France or New Zealand, who should get the World Cup off to a cracking start when they meet on September 8.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, a group of teams going into the tournament in various levels of disarray, can plot a realistic path to Paris and the semi-finals.
One of England, Argentina, Australia or Wales is highly likely to get to the semis, where in a one-off against one of the high-fliers, anything can happen.
Ireland go into the tournament on the back of a fabulous run where they have not only claimed big wins against the best in the world, but have backed it up with repeats.
DIFFICULT CHALLENGE However, the elephant in the room is the fact that they are the only one of the “big nine” never to have won a knockout game and that, despite their peerless form, they face a monstrously difficult challenge to end that curse.
Even getting out of their group is likely to require victory over a resurgent Scotland. If they manage that, whether they have already beaten or lost to South Africa, they will probably land a quarterfinal against the host nation or New Zealand.
Three wins in their last four meetings with the All Blacks have removed any inferiority complex for Andy Farrell’s team but the three-time champions remain a team nobody wants to meet in a quarter-final, as Ireland know all too well from the 46-14 thrashing they suffered at that stage four years ago.
South Africa has added more variety to the power-packed forward game that rolled them to victory in Japan four years ago but their frightening forward strength and depth were there for all to see in their remarkable 35-7 demolition of New Zealand at Twickenham last week.
They and Ireland should get through, though a Scottish backline led by the mercurial Finn Russell undoubtedly has the talent to beat either of them, though probably not both.
France are nominal favourites on the back of their talented and settled side and a long run of great form but the weight of the draw undermines that position.
HIGH-PERFORMING Losing flyhalf Romain Ntamack is a blow but with Antoine Dupont as the main string-puller at scrumhalf and settled and high-performing combinations throughout the team, they still look to have more than enough to win the tournament after losing in three finals.
England, runners-up four years ago, could not be in a more different position, with question marks over half a dozen positions, let alone how they are going to play.
New coach Steve Borthwick has been unable to build the forward-powered machine he promised after taking over from Eddie Jones and their warm-up campaign, in which they barely fired an attacking shot, showed absolutely no progress from another dire Six Nations.
They have lost six of their last nine games and head to the tournament following a first-ever defeat by Fiji.
England start with a tough game against Argentina but even if they lose that, it is hard to see them faltering against a Japan team that are nowhere near their 2019 levels. That would earn a probable Marseille quarterfinal against Wales or, deliciously for Jones, Australia.
The Wallabies have been similarly poor and Jones has made left-field selections but they have a knack for turning it on at the World Cup and, like everyone else in that half of the draw, they will have real hopes of making the last four, where anything can happen.
A much-improved Fiji, grouped with Wales and Australia, probably looks best-equipped to fly the flag for “Tier Two,” and recent results for all three will give the islanders real hope.
Buoyed by their Twickenham triumph, they will also summon memories of their famous win over the Welsh the last time France hosted the tournament in 2007, and the last time Fiji reached the quarterfinals.
However, Fiji is now ranked seventh, above England, Australia and Wales, so who is to say what constitutes a shock?
French forward Randal Kolo Muani (24), who is an international player, was absent fromEintracht Frankfurt’s training session on Wednesday morning as he continues his efforts to push for a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
In an official statement on Wednesday, the German club acknowledged that Kolo Muani had chosen to skip the training session due to his explicit desire to secure a transfer to another club before the closure of the transfer window on Friday evening.
The club further confirmed that Kolo Muani would not be participating in the upcoming Europa Conference League qualifier against Levski Sofia scheduled for Thursday.
In the first leg of the tie played in Bulgaria, the match concluded with a 1-1 draw, with Kolo Muani contributing Frankfurt’s goal.
Kolo Muani absent from training ℹ️
The striker informed the Eintracht sporting mangement today that he will not take part in the final training session before Thursday’s play-off match against Sofia.#SGEhttps://t.co/EsresOkcUL
Frankfurt’s sporting director, Markus Kroesche, issued a statement, remarking, “We have a different understanding of Randal’s character from what we are witnessing,” emphasising that his recent behaviour does not affect ongoing transfer activities.
The forward is under contract with Frankfurt until 2027. The German club is reportedly holding firm for a bid of 100 million euros ($108 million) from PSG for Kolo Muani.
Kolo Muani, who moved to Germany from Ligue 1’s Nantes on a free transfer in 2022, enjoyed a standout season with Frankfurt. He notched 23 goals and contributed 17 assists in a total of 46 matches.
Ange Postecoglou defended his choice of squad selection after his first defeat as Tottenham manager, as Fulham emerged victorious with a 5-3 penalty shootout win following a 1-1 draw in the League Cup second round on Tuesday.
Having orchestrated a promising beginning to his inaugural season in charge of Tottenham, securing successive Premier League victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth after a draw with Brentford, Postecoglou faced criticism for making nine alterations to his starting lineup at Craven Cottage.
Postecoglou introduced a full debut for Manor Solomon, while Giovani Lo Celso and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg started despite ongoing speculation regarding their futures.
In a parallel move, Fulham manager Marco Silva made six changes to his own lineup, but it was Tottenham’s understudies who grappled.
A 19th-minute own goal from Micky van de Ven granted Fulham the lead when the defender inadvertently turned Tom Cairney’s cross into his own net, past goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Tottenham capitalised on an unusual occurrence that saw Fulham reduced to 10 players, enabling them to equalize in the 56th minute. An issue with Kenny Tete’s boot prompted the Fulham defender to rush down the tunnel in search of a replacement in the dressing room.
Swiftly thereafter, Ivan Perisic delivered a cross from the exact spot Tete would have been positioned, and Richarlison scored with a headed finish from a tight angle.
However, Tottenham failed to secure a winning goal, leading to the penalty shootout. Marek Rodak thwarted Davinson Sanchez’s attempt, while Kenny Tete, now properly equipped with boots on both feet, struck the decisive kick, sealing Fulham’s victory.
“How am I going to find out about my players? It doesn’t mean the cup, or any game, isn’t a priority for us,” the Australian said.
“We are very much at the discovery stage and we need to give the players the opportunity.
“We are going to need these guys if we get disruptions along the way with injuries.”
‘Absolutely incredible’ Fourth-tier Salford, co-owned by former Manchester United stars David Beckham, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, beat Leeds 9-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with the Championship club.
“Absolutely incredible. I would have never imagined this game to go so far, never mind to go to penalties and to win. Such a big night for all these Salford fans,” Neville said.
Hoping for a reunion with his old club in the third round, Neville added: “Us lads as owners, we love Man United and we love this club as well.
“To have the opportunity to play them is the special night that we want.”
Luton beat fourth-tier Gillingham 3-2 at Kenilworth Road to win for the first time this season.
After losing to Brighton and Chelsea in their first two Premier League games, Jacob Brown, Alfie Doughty and Cauley Woodrow scored for Luton, who are playing in the top-flight for the first time in 31 years.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola earned his first win in English football as Ryan Christie’s last-gasp goal clinched a 3-2 victory at second-tier Swansea.
The Spaniard had overseen a draw with West Ham and defeats by Tottenham and Liverpool in his first three league games. Brentford needed a 3-0 penalty shootout victory to advance after a 1-1 draw at fourth-tier Newport.
Crystal Palace survived a scare as they fought back from two goals down to win 4-2 at second-tier Plymouth thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s hat-trick.
Defender Raphael Varane (30) will missManchester United’s Premier League game at Arsenal on Sunday as he will be out for a several weeks with an unspecified injury, the club said on Wednesday.
“The France international came off at halftime in our 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday due to the complaint, which is expected to keep him out for a few weeks,” United said in a statement.
On Saturday, Victor Lindelof (29) took Varane’s position, and manager Erik ten Hag (53) explained that it was due to an injury.
“He had complaints, we didn’t want to risk him, we have Harry Maguire (30), Victor Lindelof, who could replace him, so we don’t want to take a risk,” Ten Hag said after the game.
ℹ️ Our defender is ruled out of Sunday's trip to the capital.#MUFC || #PL
This adjustment will be implemented immediately, beginning with the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, commencing on Thursday.
This decision comes in the wake of the remarkable turnouts at the Women’s Ashes series held in June and July, with a total attendance of 110,000 spectators and all three one-day internationals being completely sold out.
“It’s fantastic to see equal match fees,” England women’s captain Heather Knight said. “I’m sure this will make cricket an increasingly attractive sport to girls and young women as we continue to grow the game.”
The change was recommended in a report released last month by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which said the women’s match fees were 25% of the men’s for white-ball matches and 15% for test matches.
“We are currently considering all the recommendations made by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, but equalising match fees is one immediate step we are pleased to make now,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said.
“We all want cricket to be the team sport of choice for female athletes… However, we know there is still much further to go as we ultimately strive for equality across the game.”
The modification was suggested in a report published last month by theIndependent Commission for Equity in Cricket. The report indicated that the women’s match fees were 25% of the men’s for white-ball matches and 15% for test matches.
Both individuals have been considered contenders for the Ballon d’Or following exceptional individual performances during the 2022-23 season.
They have been recognised as the standout talents of their era. However, what would the outcome be if they were to face off inside a boxing ring?
This query was posed to the Norwegian player during his appearance on Logan Paul’s ‘Impaulsive’ podcast on YouTube.
The Manchester City star responded with laughter, dismissing the idea and stating that he would rather communicate through words than resort to physical confrontations.
The Norwegian was asked that question in an appearance on YouTube and WWE sensation Logan Paul’s ‘Impaulsive’ podcast, and the City star laughed it off, insisting that he prefers to speak instead of using his fists.
Paul’s co-host Mike Majlak asked Haaland: “Could you ever see yourself stepping into the ring and going up against like [Kylian] Mbappe or just not anybody specifically…”
Haaland tried to play it safe and responded while laughing: “No… I’m not, I’m not really into fighting uh, to be honest. I prefer just to speak so no, not really, no not really.”
Despite being recently honored with the 2022-23 PFA Player of the Year award, Haaland has seldom engaged in on-field altercations with opponents. Remarkably, he has never received a red card throughout his career.
Now, Haaland’s focus will shift back to his primary strength: goal scoring.Manchester City is set to return to the field on Saturday, facing Fulham in a Premier League match.
Women’s Soccer Africa, a group, has made an appeal to former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to arrange for psychiatric assistance for former Black Queens goalkeeper, Memunatu Sulemana.
This appeal follows John Mahama’s recent initiatives to support Sulemana, who is facing difficult circumstances.
Sulemana and some members of Women’s Soccer Africa were part of the same Ghana squad during the 2003 World Cup in the United States. However, the group has noted that Sulemana faced challenges in managing her resources effectively, resulting in her current predicament.
In a statement to Angel TV, Women’s Soccer Africa revealed that, despite receiving contributions from various former players during her tough times, Sulemana did not make optimal use of the assistance.
According to the group, Sulemana’s challenges necessitate psychiatric support to address her issues and prevent her from slipping back into poverty.
The collective emphasised that the former president and well-intentioned individuals in Ghana should work together to ensure that Memunatu Sulemana receives the necessary mental health treatment.
“She was in the US at the end of the 2003 World Cup, just like some of us. Ask her how many times her mom died and how many times her grandmother died? She made money through her funerals.
“She … from her teammates and for all you know, outside women’s football circles. Advise the president and all well-meaning people of Ghana because what she needs is psychiatric treatment,” the statement from the group read.
The call from the group comes after the former president, John Mahama, came to the aid of theex-Black Queens goalkeeper.
After learning about Sulemana’s unfortunate, poverty-stricken conditions, the ex-president took action to improve her situation.
He secured a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment for Sulemana and announced plans for a cash donation to support her on her journey towards success.
Representatives of former President John Dramani Mahama have provided a rented two-bedroom apartment to former Black Queens goalkeeper Memunatu Sulemana, who gained attention for her difficult living conditions post-retirement.
In a video that has surfaced online, Sulemana, who previously lived in a makeshift wooden kiosk in Kaneshie, Accra, was shown touring her new residence.
Contrary to reports indicating that John Mahama was arranging for a one-bedroom apartment in Dansoman, an Accra suburb, for Memunatu Sulemana, it appears that the National Democratic Congress flagbearer actually offered her a two-bedroom apartment.
Mahama’s intervention comes after GhanaWeb highlighted the distressing living conditions of the former goalkeeper, who was residing in poor conditions in Bubiashie, a suburb of Accra.
Sulemana had a diverse career playing for different clubs, including Post Ladies in Ghana and Pelican Stars in the Nigeria Women’s Premier League.
While some of her peers transitioned to various professions after retiring from football, the 45-year-old Sulemana has been struggling with severe poverty.
Despite earning money from her football career, a significant portion was used to care for her grandmother, who was dealing with diabetes and required medical attention.
Up until her recent challenges, Memunatu Sulemana had been serving as the goalkeeper’s trainer for the Black Maidens of Ghana.
Recent comments from Arsenal defenderOleksandr Zinchenko about Thomas Partey’s exceptional abilities have reignited the discussion about the Premier League’s top holding midfielder.
Zinchenko shared his perspective on the “Vibe with Five” podcast hosted by Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, stating that Partey is the most underappreciated player in the Premier League.
“I think Thomas Partey,” he said when asked who is the most underrated player in the league.
His answer triggered a question from Ferdinand, who asked whether Partey is better than Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.
“He’s absolutely world-class as well, Casemiro; he’s won five Champions Leagues but for me, if you want me to choose one, it’s Thomas Partey.”
The Ukrainian further chose Partey over his former Manchester City teammates Rodri and Fernandinho as the best holding midfielder he has played with
“I have a debate in my head: Who is actually the best holding midfielder I ever played with? The debate was between Fernandinho, Thomas Partey, and Rodri, but Thomas Partey, I don’t know, but it is.”
While answering a follow-up question on who is better between Rodri and Partey, Zinchenko said Partey has everything, while Rodri is a perfect fit for Manchester City’s system.
“He (Thomas Parety) has everything. Rodri is absolutely fit so well for the City’s system. If you take him out, it’s a different City. He is like the main detail there because for me at City, it is the hardest position to play.
“It’s the hardest and Rodri suits it so well. Yes, honestly.”
The debate over the finest holding midfielder in the league, involving Partey, Casemiro, and Rodri, seems to be an ongoing one since it originated during the 2022/2023 season.
These three players showcased remarkable performances throughout the previous season and have already begun the new season impressively.
According to sources, Kurt Okraku’s report to the CID states that an individual named David confessed to him that he had been hired by Wilfred Kwaku Osei to carry out a plot to end Okraku’s life.
Reportedly, David revealed that he was promised GHS200,000 as payment for carrying out this “job.”
David, as per Kurt Okraku’s account, confessed his involvement due to his admiration for Okraku and asked for compensation for revealing the assassination plot and sparing Okraku’s life.
After investigating the details provided by Kurt Okraku, the CID informed the accused, Wilfred Kwaku Osei, about the allegations against him and officially invited him to the Regional Headquarters on August 25, 2023.
In response, Wilfred Osei Palmer consulted his legal representatives, who informed the police that he could only attend the invitation on August 28, a request that the CID reportedly accepted.
On the designated day, Wilfred Osei Palmer, accompanied by his legal team, including former GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi, appeared at the CID Regional Headquarters.
After providing his statement, he was asked to return for further questioning on September 7, 2023.
Meanwhile, GFA President Kurt Okraku is presently at the CID headquarters, presumably assisting the police in their ongoing investigations.
Rubiales has found himself embroiled in a significant controversy in Spain following the Women’s World Cup final, in which Spain emerged victorious with a 1-0 win.
After the triumph over England, Rubiales kissed Hermoso without her consent, sparking a backlash.
Hermoso later expressed her discomfort with the kiss, and 81 players have since declared their refusal to play for the Spanish team until Rubiales is removed from his position.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Rubiales’ mother has initiated a hunger strike, urging Hermoso to “tell the truth” about the incident.
Rubiales has consistently maintained that the kiss was “consensual”, although an ongoing investigation is examining his behaviour.
Now, fresh footage has surfaced from the Spanish team’s bus, showing Hermoso seemingly amused by social media memes arising from the kiss incident.
She displays an image of the moment juxtaposed with a picture of Iker Casillas kissing reporter Sara Carbonero after the Spanish men’s team won the 2010 World Cup.
Subsequently, Rubiales is captured boarding the bus, while the team appears to chant the word “beso,” which means “kiss” in Spanish.
While Rubiales has been suspended by FIFA, he has sent the video to the organization as part of his efforts to defend himself, as reported by El Espanol.
The Republic of Ireland’s women’s team will see the conclusion of Vera Pauw’s four-year coaching tenure at the end of August.
The country’s football association (FAI) confirmed on Tuesday that a new contract will not be extended to her.
Having taken over from Colin Bell in September 2019, Dutch coach Pauw guided Ireland to their first major tournament appearance in this year’s Women’s World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand.
However, their journey came to an end in the group stage.
Earlier this month, the FAI announced their intention to conduct a thorough review of the team’sWorld Cup campaign prior to determining Pauw’s future.
Following an extensive meeting of the FAI board on Tuesday, it was decided that Pauw’s contract, set to expire at the end of the month, would not be renewed.
Vera Pauw's reign as manager of the Republic of Ireland is over after the FAI decided not to offer the Dutch woman a new contracthttps://t.co/dFXd2S7j8s
“On behalf of the Football Association of Ireland, we would like to thank Vera for her hard work and commitment over the past four years and wish her well for the future,” Jonathan Hill, the FAI chief executive, said in a statement cited by RTE.
“In particular, I wish to acknowledge the role she played in leading Ireland to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, where our women’s team made history and inspired a nation.”
Ireland will host Northern Ireland in theWomen’s Nations League on September 23 in Dublin.
Amidst speculation of a transfer to treble-winning Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ manager, Gary O’Neil, has expressed his strong belief that Portuguese midfielder Matheus Nunes (29) will remain with the Premier League club even beyond Friday’s transfer window.
The midfielder, originally from Brazil but with 11 caps for Portugal, made the move to Molineux from Sporting Lisbon in August of the previous year.
The club-record transfer was reportedly valued at approximately 45 million euros, securing Nunes on a five-year contract, with an added option for an additional 12 months.
Nunes has taken the step of halting his training with the Wolves as part of his effort to push for a transfer to Pep Guardiola’s team. This move comes after reports indicated that City’s initial bid of approximately 47 million pounds, was turned down by Wolves last week.
With Kevin De Bruyne facing an injury that will sideline him for at least four months, defending champions Manchester City are actively seeking to bolster their midfield.
“He’s not with the group at the moment; it’s his choice,” O’Neil told reporters after his side advanced to the third round of the EFL Cup following a 5-0 victory over League One club Blackpool.
“After the bid from Manchester City, he decided it was best for him not to be with the group. Club policy and how we deal with things like that are set in place.
“As far as I’m aware, there’s been no improved bid. Matheus Nunes is still our player. We have a long contract still with him, and at this moment, I fully expect him to be here come September 2.”
O’Neil said he is confident that they will find a solution.
Aged 23, Codina was a key player in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign, starting in all four of their knockout matches, culminating in a 1-0 victory over England in the final earlier this month.
Primarily a centre back, Codina has represented Spain on seven occasions at the international level. During her time at Barcelona since her arrival in 2019, she made 32 appearances, contributing to the team’s achievements of two Champions League titles and three LaLiga championships.
Notably, she spent the 2021-22 season on loan at AC Milan, where she featured in 14 matches.
“Laia is a world-class defender and I’m delighted to be working with her here at Arsenal,” coach Jonas Eidevall said.
“She has a great mix of technical ability and physical presence and we believe this will allow her to adapt to our style here quickly.
Laia Codina played a crucial part in the Spain side that lifted the Women’s World Cup earlier this month.
“She has considerable experience of playing at the highest level and winning trophies, so I’m confident that she will be an excellent addition to our squad moving forward.”
In the voting, the 23-year-old surpassed his teammates Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones, as well as Martin Odegaard from Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, and former Tottenham player Harry Kane, now with Bayern Munich.
Haaland’s exceptional performance resulted in him scoring 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions in the past season. His contribution played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s triumphant campaign as they secured the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.
Notably, the Norwegian international received further recognition in May, clinching the titles of Premier League Player of the Season and the Football Writers’ Association’s Men’s Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Saka achieved his first PFA Young Player of the Year award after being nominated for the fourth consecutive season.
On the women’s side, Rachel Daly, the Aston Villa striker, clinched the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award by emerging as the top scorer in the Women’s Super League with an impressive 22 goals.
In a field that included last season’s leading Premier League goal scorer Erling Haaland and the former Brighton, now Chelsea, midfielder Moises Caicedo, Saka emerged as the standout player to claim the esteemed accolade.
The talented Arsenal winger personally accepted the award at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester on Tuesday.
Upon receiving the accolade, Saka wrote on social media, “PFA Young Player. It’s an honour for me to accept this award and have my name alongside the previous winners.
To have your peers acknowledge you is a very special feeling! Thank you to the PFA and congratulations to all the other winners and nominees this evening.”
PFA Young Player 🏆 It's an honour for me to accept this award and have my name alongside the previous winners. To have your peers acknowledge you is a very special feeling! Thank you to the PFA and congratulations to all the other winners and nominees this evening 👏🏿 #GodsPlanpic.twitter.com/ZbWbAlYPh0
With 14 goals and eight assists, Saka played a crucial role in Arsenal’s best Premier League finish in over two decades. The Gunners led the title race for the majority of the season but eventually lost the trophy toManchester City, who caught up with them in May.
The English international will return to action on Sunday when Arsenal face Manchester United in the Premier League.
Despite Gabriel Jesus, the first-choice striker, being sidelined due to injury, Balogun hasn’t made an appearance in any of Arsenal’s Premier League squads this season.
Instead, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard have been given the starting positions.
Balogun emerged from the Arsenal academy and exhibited remarkable performances at junior levels for both the club and his country before deciding to represent the USA in senior football.
His prowess garnered attention not only from London rivals Chelsea but also from Inter Milan during this summer.
Having enjoyed a successful loan spell at Reims last year, the 22-year-old striker netted 21 goals, placing him fifth in the race for the golden boot.
Meanwhile, interest surrounds Arsenal defender Rob Holding as Luton Town expresses its interest. Real Mallorca and Sevilla are also eyeing Holding.
According to reliable sources like Fabrizio Romano, Holding is anticipated to depart from Arsenal before the transfer window concludes.
Finding himself lower in the team’s hierarchy, he has not been part of the matchday squad in any of Arsenal’s three Premier League matches this season.
Polling agent of Honourable Kennedy Ayapong in the North East region, Humudeen Sayed, popularly known as Hajia Ken, has revealed how the IGP, Akuffo Dampare, allegedly shut her down on Saturday, August 24th.
This was after she tried to dispute the account of the North East police commander about events that led to electoral disturbances at the Nalerigu polling centre during the NPP Super Delegates Conference.
During a press conference, organised on Monday, August 28, by the campaign team of the New Patriotic Party’s presidential aspirant and Assin North MP, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, to address the public on reports of threats, intimidation and assault during the electoral process.
After trying to draw the attention of some electoral officials and police officers, which proved futile, Hajia Ken stated that she resorted to raising an alarm after she observed some electoral irregularities and malpractice happening at the polling centre and dining hall of Nalerigu Senior High School.
According to her, a TV3 reporter walked up to her to grant her an interview.
Before the interview could happen, a group of men approached her and pushed her to the ground, questioning her status and asking if she knew where she was.
Subsequently, her campaign manager, Kwame Owusu, held a conference call with the North East Police commander, Shaibu and the IGP, Akuffo Dampare.
According to Hajia Ken, Commander Shaibu was giving a contradictory account of the happenings at the polling station. In her bid to draw the IGP’s attention to the commander’s supposed ‘lies’ the IGP allegedly shut her down consequentially.
“Campaign manager held a conference call for myself, the IGP and the police commander, which makes us four. The police commander began giving a wrong account of what was happening at the station, it was wrong, it wasn’t tallying.
He wasn’t giving the right information to IGP, so I interjected by screaming, No, that’s not true, that’s not true, three times”. “Then the IGP, in turn, shut me up three times, ordering the campaign manager to take me off the line”, she said.
Meanwhile, a few hours into the election, a video of NPP presidential aspirant and Assin North MP, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, surfaced online, in which he was heard swearing to give President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia “a showdown.”
The NPP’s election on Saturday wass aimed at reducing the number of candidates in the party’s flagbearer contest from 10 to 5. Kennedy Agyapong secured the second position with around 132 votes, trailing behind Vice President Bawumia, who garnered 629 votes out of a total of over 900 votes.
Eintracht Frankfurt has reportedly rejected Paris Saint-Germain’s offer of €80 million (£68.57 million/$86.49 million) for Randal Kolo Muani.
Sky Sports has stated that the German club turned downPSG’s recent proposal, which included an upfront payment of €70 million (£60.57 million/$75.67 million) and an additional €10 million in bonuses.
Eintracht is firm in their stance, demanding €100 million (£86 million/$109 million) for the player and declining any lower offers.
The negotiations between the two clubs will continue in hopes of reaching an agreement for Kolo Muani before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Earlier reports indicated that the striker had informally agreed to terms with PSG, potentially aiding the negotiations for a reduced transfer fee.
The report also suggests that including Hugo Ekitike in the deal might sway Eintracht’s position.
However, the club is not prepared to cover Ekitike’s entire salary, implying that the player would need to accept a pay cut to join the Bundesliga team on loan.
Kolo Muani is eager for the transfer to be completed before Eintracht’s match against Levski Sofia in a Europe Conference League playoff fixture on Thursday evening.
Mauricio Pochettino has mentioned that he will feel content with his Chelsea team, even if the club doesn’t manage to secure any additional signings before the transfer deadline on Friday.
Chelsea has invested over £320 million ($400 million) in acquiring 10 players, but they are still exploring options for more signings.
They are currently considering Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe and Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson as potential additions to the squad.
There are also likely to be several departures, with Romelu Lukaku expected to move to Roma on loan. Additionally, fringe players like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Marc Cucurella could also leave the club.
“I am really happy with the squad that we have got at the moment, so far,” Pochettino said ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Cup second round match against AFC Wimbledon.
“If we add someone that maybe can improve different positions of course, it is welcome. If not, I am happy to be how we are now.
“To be honest, we are so focused on trying to recover players and to be focusing on the game we are ging to play tomorrow in the Carabao Cup against Wimbledon. I know very well that the club is working really hard to try to finish our business. There are still a few days.
“Something might happen. Maybe, yes. At the moment, the club are trying to deliver what we want. There is still nothing to communicate at the moment.”
“I cannot talk about supposition, I cannot talk about rumours,” he said. “At the moment, nothing changed, for tomorrow he [Cucurella] will be available to play. At the moment, the club have not informed anything about this situation.
“All the players in the squad are players in our plan. Then, like always, it is about situations, players and club, club and players and then there is a decision.”
Pochettino said the transfer window should be shortened in future — while admitting the current duration has benefitted Chelsea given the sheer scale of turnover within their squad.
“It is long enough,” he said “Already, we are crazy. With a few days more, we become crazier also. It is too long, the transfer window. OK, for a club Chelsea now in the process we are, all the circumstances, three months is helpful.
“For a different club that are working in a different way, or at a different level or a process, it is crazy. But it is helping us do what we want to do. I am not going to complain. Maybe in the next few years, I will complain more but for now I think to have time is always good.”
Pochettino has stated that Armando Broja (knee) and Benoit Badiashile (hamstring) won’t be available for play until after the international break. Additionally, Mykhailo Mudryk’s condition will be evaluated on a daily basis following a minor muscle issue.
Vincius Junior is expected to be absent for eight upcoming Real Madrid matches, including their derby match against Atletico Madrid, as sources have informed ESPN.
This comes after he sustained a thigh injury during the 1-0 LaLiga victory against Celta Vigo on Friday.
“Following tests carried out on Vini. Jr. by the Real Madrid Medical Services, the player has been diagnosed with an injury to the right biceps femoris muscle,” Madrid said in a statement on Monday. “His progress will be monitored.”
According to information provided to ESPN, Vinicius, who is 23 years old, is expected to be unavailable for around six weeks due to his first-ever senior career muscle injury.
During this period, the forward is likely to miss six LaLiga matches against Getafe, Real Sociedad, Atletico, Las Palmas, Girona, and Osasuna. Additionally, he would be absent for Real Madrid’s initial two group stage matches in the Champions League.
Moreover, Vinicius would also be unable to participate in Brazil’s World Cup qualifying games against Bolivia and Peru scheduled for September.
Vinicius had to be substituted during the 18th minute of the match in Vigo due to experiencing discomfort while sprinting.
Vinícius Júnior suffered a thigh injury during Real Madrid’s win at Celta Vigo. Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
“He wanted to carry on. It wasn’t very serious,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the game. “Then he tried [to run] and it hurt, and we took him off. I think he’ll be back after the [international] break. It’s a shame; he started well; he looked unstoppable.”
Madrid went into the 2023–24 season with just three senior forwards in their first-team squad: Vinicius, Rodrygo and summer signing Joselu.
Ancelotti has responded by adopting a 4-4-2 formation rather than his habitual 4-3-3, with Vinicius and Rodrygo paired in attack.
The team’s top scorer so far is another new arrival, Jude Bellingham, who has excelled in a No. 10 role with four goals in three league games.
Ancelotti said on Friday that Madrid would not look to strengthen in the last few days of the transfer market, despite Vinicius’ injury.
“The attack is covered,” Ancelotti said. “The data speaks for itself. We’ve scored six goals. Without Karim [Benzema], without Vinicius, we have resources up front.”
Liverpool’s defender Virgil van Dijk might face an extra one-game suspension due to his response after being sent off in his team’s 2-1 victory against Newcastle on Sunday, as informed by sources to ESPN.
Referee John Brooks showed the Liverpool captain a red card for a foul on Newcastle’s forward Alexander Isak, which the referee deemed as stopping a goal-scoring chance.
Van Dijk disagreed with the decision and stayed on the field while the VAR team reviewed the incident.
After the VAR confirmed and supported the red card, Van Dijk reacted with frustration to the decision. He was observed expressing his disagreement verbally to fourth official Stuart Attwell as he made his way to the players’ tunnel at St James’ Park.
In the event that it’s determined that Van Dijk used offensive or insulting language or refused to leave the field after being sent off, he might face charges from the Football Association (FA).
This could potentially lead to an extra game being added to his automatic one-match suspension for the red card.
The FA will review Brooks’ account of the incident before deciding on any further steps, sources have told ESPN.
The new contract also includes a higher release clause of €400 million.
López, who is 20 years old, had his official debut for Barça recently when he came in as a substitute during their 4-3 victory over Villarreal. After performing well in the preseason, he’s expected to be part of Xavi Hernandez’s plans for this season.
Originally, López joined Barcelona’s academy from Real Betis in 2016.
He spent the last year on loan at a third division team called Linares, where he scored 12 goals in 37 games.
López was one of the young players selected by Xavi for the preseason. He did well during the United States tour, even scoring a fantastic goal in a 3-0 win against Real Madrid in Dallas.
This performance earned him a spot in the first team.
In the first two games of the season, López was on the bench but didn’t get to play. However, he came in as a substitute against Villarreal.
With Pedri injured for more than a month, López might get more playing time if Xavi continues using a four-man midfield system.
Spokesperson for Alan Kyeremateng, Yaw Buaben Asamoah, has offered his perspectives on the developing political situation.
Buaben Asamoa pointed out that while the outcome of the Super Delegates Congress was not surprising, it carries significant implications.
Considering the historical dynamics of the party, he emphasised that this outcome was fairly expected.
We’ve been down this road before,” he said, referring to their assistance in Bawumia’s successful campaign, which unintentionally hurt Alan Kyerematen’s hopes. “Yaw Buaben Asamoa told Kwaku Owusu Adjei (Patoo) on Adwenekasa on Accra-based Original FM 91.9.
He pointed out that this course of action has now gotten them to the current situation, where the party’s presidential campaign is in full gear.
He acknowledged those who had helped them by attributing some delegates’ votes for Mr. Kyerematen to a higher intervention.
He stressed, “I extend my salute to those who stood firm in their support for Alan,” appreciating their dedication despite the shifting political climate.
Despite these concerns, he expressed contentment that Mr Kyerematen’s position in the top five contenders had been secured, highlighting their collective satisfaction with this achievement.
He expressed his gratitude for being chosen as one of the contenders for the upcomingNovember 4 primary.
Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is looking for ways to make their attack stronger before the transfer deadline this Friday. He seems ready to start discussions with the current LaLiga champions about a deal for these two players.
Ferran Torres, who is 23 years old, has scored in two games at the beginning of Barca’s season. However, he has only played as a substitute because Poland’s Robert Lewandowski has been chosen ahead of him. Raphinha, on the other hand, didn’t play in Barca’s win over Villarreal on Sunday.
Chelsea’s higher-ups are talking about whether to try to bring in Raphinha, who used to play for Leeds United.
There are reports saying that Barcelona would need to let go of a player if they want to sign João Félix from Atletico Madrid. They are also trying to bring in João Cancelo from Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is also working on selling players. They are discussing a deal with Bayern Munich for their 24-year-old defender, Trevoh Chalobah.
Thomas Tuchel, who used to be Chalobah’s coach at Chelsea, wants to get him. However, there seems to be some disagreement among the members of Bayern Munich’s transfer committee.
Chalobah hasn’t played in the Premier League this season and has been linked with a move to Inter Milan in the past.
Lionel Messi might find himself reuniting with yet another former Barcelona teammate as Arturo Vidal expresses openness to the idea of joining Inter Miami.
Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, has already been accompanied to Florida by familiar faces like Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba since his move to the United States.
Speculation has arisen regarding Luis Suarez potentially following a similar trajectory in the near future.
Before any such deal materialises, discussions have arisen about the prospect of Vidal making his way to America.
The 36-year-old Chilean international midfielder, who was with Barcelona from 2018 to 2020, is on the brink of ending his association with Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense, having left Flamengo in July.
He has told TNT Argentina of heading to MLS: “I would happily go and play with Messi.
With him, it’s very easy, you just have to pass him the ball. In the United States, there are several rules that prevent more older players from going, that’s why it hasn’t happened before. I would be delighted to play with Leo, Busquets – they play by heart and now Inter Miami plays like that too, with a good coach [Tata Martino].”
Vidal, who has earned 140 caps for his country, has also discussed the possibility of lining up against Messi at the 2024 Copa America – which will take place in America.
He added on the all-time great, who has suggested that he will not be defending a global crown with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup: “I see Messi playing for a long time with the Argentine team. He enjoys it and is happy wearing the Argentine shirt.”
Messi’s pace at the club level remains undiminished, as he clinched a record-breaking 44th trophy mere weeks after joining Inter Miami.
In addition to propelling them to victory in the League Cup, the South American icon played a pivotal role in securing a spot in the U.S. Open Cup final and achieving a crucialMLS triumph over the New York Red Bulls.
Police investigating alleged attack on Jamaal Lascelles after gang of men ‘threatened to shoot’ Newcastle captain in city centre brawl Police are investigating a brawl inNewcastle’s city centre in which Magpies captain Jamaal Lascelles and his teenage brother were allegedly attacked.
The 29-year-old defender had been on a night out with his younger brother on Saturday, August 19, during which they attended the Chinawhite nightclub, when a fight broke out in the early hours.
Footage of the incident in question has been circulated on social media.
In the video that has been released online, Lascelles and his 19-year-old brother appear to be caught up in an altercation with an angry gang. It is claimed that Lascelles’ sibling was elbowed in an “unprovoked attack” before bottles were thrown and “six to eight” men joined the argument and threw punches “from all angles”.
According to witnesses cited by the Daily Mail, the assailants targeting Lascelles allegedly threatened to “shoot” the player, a native of Nottingham, as he intervened to safeguard his brother.
Following the altercation,a companion of Lascelles required hospitalisation, with the group responsible for the physical harm having departed the scene before emergency services could respond.
The previously planned GFA Elections, slated for September 27, 2023, have been postponed due to the injunction obtained by King Faisal Football Club.
Alhaji Grusah’s concern centres around his aspiration for a revised approach to the election process. He advocates for a bottom-up methodology, wherein district-level leaders are elected before the selection of higher-ranking officials.
In an official announcement released on Tuesday, the GFA acknowledged the injunction’s existence, confirming it after weeks of speculation.
“This follows a Motion for Injunction filed at the High Court by King Faisal FC, a Division One League Zone 2 club. The GFA therefore wishes to inform all its members and stakeholders (especially Applicants who have filed their Nomination Forms for various positions) of the suspension of the 2023 GFA Elections process until the hearing of the motion on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.
“The announcement of the Decision by the Elections Committee following the Vetting of the Applicants has therefore been put on hold.
“The Association wishes to urge all members, clubs and applicants to remain calm. The Association will endeavour to seek appropriate legal redress for the prompt return to the 2023 Election Timetable and ensure that the calendar is not further disrupted.”
