Author: Gabby

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has decided to leave out Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Manchester City’s Phil Foden from his 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The official squad announcement is scheduled for Friday.

In addition, Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has also been omitted from the selection. Foden was included in Tuchel’s previous squad for the March friendlies against Japan and Uruguay, while Palmer started the match against Japan. Tuchel noted that both players “struggled to make an impact” during those games.

According to BBC reports, several players are in line for call-ups, including Newcastle’s Dan Burn, Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly, Arsenal’s Noni Madueke, and Brentford’s Jordan Henderson. The final squad will be revealed later this week as England prepares for the World Cup.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has declared Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as the greatest coach in Premier League history, placing him above legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Merson argued that Guardiola’s revolutionary impact on football outweighs Ferguson’s longevity.

In his Sportskeeda column, Merson stated, ‘Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy is built on longevity, but Guardiola has truly transformed the game. If I had to choose the top five managers in Premier League history, I’d pick Guardiola first, followed by Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, and Jurgen Klopp. These five have dominated English football over the past two decades.’

Guardiola, who is set to leave City after their final match against Aston Villa, has won six Premier League titles during his tenure at the club. Merson’s ranking sparked debate among fans, with many questioning whether Guardiola’s success is enough to surpass Ferguson’s 13 league titles.

Ashifat Suleiman, the technical adviser of Kwara United, has emphasized his squad’s readiness to secure a positive outcome in their season finale versus Bayelsa United. The encounter is set to take place at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa this weekend.

Kwara United require just a single point from this fixture to guarantee their continued presence in the top flight. Suleiman stated that the players fully understand what is at stake. He revealed that some key performers were rested during the President Federation Cup to ensure freshness for this decisive league match.

Speaking with Radio One, Suleiman acknowledged the expected difficulty of the contest. He noted that despite Bayelsa United already being relegated, they will be motivated to deliver a strong performance for their home supporters. The Kwara United tactician expressed confidence in his team’s motivation and focus heading into the game.

We anticipate a fierce encounter because they want to please their fans after the disappointment of relegation, Suleiman remarked. Our aim is clear, and the players are fully committed to achieving it.

Finidi George, the technical adviser of Rivers United, has turned his attention entirely to their upcoming league fixture against Katsina United. The Pride of Rivers secured a 2-0 victory over non-league side G12 FC in the Round of 64 of the President Federation Cup in Benin City on Tuesday.

Speaking to the club’s media, Finidi expressed satisfaction with his squad’s performance against the academy side but emphasized that the focus has now shifted to the crucial NPFL match. “I’m pleased with how the players performed against G12,” he said. “But that game is in the past. My full concentration is on the league clash with Katsina United.”

The upcoming encounter, set to take place in Port Harcourt on Sunday, carries immense significance for Rivers United. To clinch the NPFL title for the second time in club history, they must defeat Katsina United and hope that league leaders Rangers slip up in their away game against Ikorodu City in Lagos. Currently, Rivers United trail Rangers by a single point on the standings, making this final battle a must-win scenario.

Cristiano Ronaldo has finally secured the Saudi Pro League trophy, marking a historic achievement for Al-Nassr. The club was officially crowned champions on Thursday after a decisive 4-2 victory over relegation-threatened Damac.

Following a dramatic slip against Al-Hilal in the previous match, the title race came down to the final day. Under the guidance of Jorge Jesus, Al-Nassr knew they could not afford any mistakes against a Damac side desperate to avoid relegation.

Ronaldo played a pivotal role, scoring a brace to seal the win. Sadio Mane opened the scoring in the first half, and Kingsley Coman added a goal after the break, complemented by Ronaldo’s two strikes. The victory ensured Al-Nassr finished ahead of their fierce rivals Al-Hilal in the standings.

The 2025/26 Europa League campaign concluded with Aston Villa’s dominant 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the final held in Turkey. Following the match, UEFA’s Technical Observer Group announced the official Team of the Season, highlighting standout performers across the tournament.

Unsurprisingly, the champions Aston Villa lead with four representatives in the star-studded lineup. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez earns his place after a string of crucial saves throughout the competition. The midfield is bolstered by John McGinn and Morgan Rogers, while Emiliano Buendía features among the forwards.

Freiburg, the runners-up, contribute two players: defender Matthias Ginter and midfielder Maximilian Eggestein. Braga’s Victor Gómez, Nottingham Forest’s Morato and forward Igor Jesus, Celta’s Oscar Mingueza, and Real Betis’s Antony complete the list.

The selection recognizes individual excellence across the season, with Aston Villa’s triumph underlining their collective strength.

Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh has shared his forecast on how long Jose Mourinho will remain at Real Madrid during his anticipated second stint. According to Oliseh, the Portuguese tactician is unlikely to last beyond three years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mourinho is set to return to the LaLiga giants this summer, leaving his current role at Benfica. The 63-year-old is expected to sign a three-year contract with Los Blancos.

Quoted by Soccernet, Oliseh pointed out a recurring pattern in Mourinho’s career: a burnout typically occurs around the third year. He cited examples from the manager’s tenures at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, where similar declines happened.

Oliseh remarked, “Sadly, there’s the third-year burnout, like at Manchester United and Spurs. Mourinho needs external enemies to thrive, and when he has none, he looks inside.” The Nigerian legend suggests that without a clear adversary, the coach tends to turn his focus inward, which often leads to friction within the squad.

Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer has shared his thoughts on which English players might be left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming World Cup. Among those he believes could miss out is Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, despite the youngster scoring the first goal of Tuchel’s tenure against Albania.

Lewis-Skelly’s playing time at Arsenal has fluctuated this season, leading to his exclusion from recent international camps. However, a late-season resurgence under Mikel Arteta saw him shift into central midfield alongside Declan Rice, showcasing his versatility. Yet Shearer doubts this will be enough to earn him a spot on the plane.

Speaking to Metro, Shearer analyzed the left-back competition, noting that Tuchel has used Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall there. He predicts two of the three—Nico O’Reilly, Livramento, or Hall—will make the cut. Regarding Lewis-Skelly, Shearer stated, “He hasn’t played much this season; despite his recent strong performances in midfield, I don’t think it’s enough to secure a place.”

Another likely omission is Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, who has voiced concerns about being left out. Shearer suggested that Dan Burn’s familiarity with Tuchel from recent camps might give him an edge over Maguire. He also listed Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, and John Stones as certain inclusions, leaving Maguire and Burn to battle for the remaining defensive spot.

Reports also suggest that high-profile names like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Gibbs-White may be absent from the squad, adding to the surprises expected when Tuchel announces his final selection.

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has shared his thoughts on how incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso might approach his new role. Merson suggests that if the Blues secure a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League, Alonso could use the competition to experiment with tactics and evaluate his squad depth.

In his column for Sportskeeda, Merson highlighted that the Conference League offers a low-pressure environment where Alonso can try out different formations and give playing time to fringe players. “The Conference League will give Xabi Alonso the chance to improvise stuff,” Merson wrote. “He can use that competition to find out more about his squad. For a new manager at a big club, that is an asset.”

Alonso was recently appointed as Chelsea’s head coach and will officially take over after the current season concludes. The Blues are currently battling for a European spot, and Merson believes the Conference League could be pivotal for Alonso’s early tenure. Merson’s prediction comes ahead of Chelsea’s final Premier League match of the season against Sunderland on Sunday.

Nigerian music star Mr Eazi and his wife, Temi Otedola, have revealed that they are expecting their first baby together. The couple shared the heartwarming news on Thursday through a joint Instagram post, featuring clips and photos from a baby shower that highlighted Temi’s growing baby bump.

Their announcement quickly went viral, amassing nearly half a million likes and over thirty thousand comments within just a few hours. In the caption, Temi quoted a Bible verse from Jeremiah, expressing her faith in God’s divine plan and protection for their unborn child.

Among the flood of congratulatory messages, Temi’s sister, DJ Cuppy, joyfully exclaimed that she is about to become an aunt. Other notable figures from the entertainment industry, including Cute Abiola, Toke Makinwa, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Veekee James, Banky W, Falz, Bisola Aiyeola, Aisha Lawal, Jide Awobona, Toyin Adewale, Chizzy Alichi, Moyo Lawal, Kiekie, and Broda Shaggi, also sent their best wishes.