It could be recalled that Chelle unveiled a list of 39 players for the World Cup Qualifiers last week. That list had eight new boys, while the bulk of the players had been involved with the Super Eagles before. On Tuesday, coach Chelle unveiled the final list, with 16 players removed.
Category: Football
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I’m working hard for my day with Super Eagles – Chrisantus Uche
Chrisantus Uche has spoken out after being left out of Nigeria’s final 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The midfielder has scored 3 goals and appeared in 26 matches for Getafe in the 2024/25 La Liga season.
Former Moralo player Chrisantus Uche has addressed the statement attributed to him regarding his exclusion from the 23-man squad.
Reports claimed that the 21-year-old had informed coach Eric Chelle to leave him out of the squad. Uche clarified that he is a full-blooded Nigerian, raised in Nigeria, not abroad.
The former Ceuta player emphasized that he will continue to work hard and patiently wait for his opportunity to represent the Super Eagles in any competitive match.
He said: “I do not know where these lies are coming from. How can a true Nigerian like myself, an Owerri boy, say no to representing the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifiers? I’m perplexed when people claim I was born abroad. I made my first trip outside the country only two years ago to pursue my dream of playing football at the highest level.
“I can only continue to work hard, and my chance will eventually come. I can’t wait to play for the Super Eagles, and hopefully, the team will win both games,” he concluded.
Nigerian journalist Tobi Samuel Adepoju affirmed Chrisantus claim on his X handle. Adepoju whrote, “The 21-year-old is a midfielder. Uche played grassroots football in Nigeria before moving to Spain. He played for lower-division clubs in Spain, Moralo and Ceuta.
Uche joined Getafe in 2024 making his rise from lower-division football to LaLiga within two years in Spain.
The attacking-midfielder has featured in 30 games for Getafe in all competitions this season. He has scored three goals with three assists.”
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WCQ: Chelle’s bold gamble and Nigeria’s World Cup ambition
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will open camp tomorrow, ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali, before facing Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday, March 25.
Sitting fifth on the log with three points from four matches, Nigeria will reopen their World Cup qualifier campaign on 21st March against Rwanda before hosting Zimbabwe four days later at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo at 5:00 pm. The two games are a must-win for the 2013 African champions.
Coach Eric Chelle released the final 23-man squad for the crucial 2026 World Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday. The list has been received with quiet optimism. The squad which is made up of youth and experience have three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders, and eight attackers.
Chelle called up three centre-backs, one left-back (Bruno Onyemaechi), and two right-backs (Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel).
However, Calvin Bassey, traditionally a centre-back, can provide emergency cover at left-back if needed.
The midfield selection includes two defensive midfielders (Wilfred Ndidi and Alhassan Yusuf), two central midfielders (Joe Aribo and Papa Daniel Mustapha), and one attacking midfielder (Alex Iwobi).
Among the eight forwards, there are four centre-forwards (Victor Osimhen, Umar Sadiq, Tolu Arokodare, and Victor Boniface) and four wingers (Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, and Nathan Tella).
All three goalkeepers ply their trade on the African continent: Stanley Nwabali (South Africa), Omas Obasogie (Tanzania), and Kayode Bankole (Nigeria, Remo Stars).
Maduka Okoye, despite impressing in Udinese’s Serie A draw against Lazio on Monday night, missed out. Cyprus-based Adebayo Adeleye also failed to make the final cut.
Remo Stars’ Bankole is one of only two Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players in the squad, alongside Niger Tornadoes midfielder Papa Daniel Mustapha. The two NPFL players and the other first timers are clear gambles Chelle took that could turn out to be the turning point in Nigeria’s bid for the 2026 World Cup ticket. Meanwhile, Tanzania-based Obasogie, one of the three goalkeepers who made the cut previously played for Bendel Insurance before moving abroad last year.
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Guardiola hits back at Capello over ‘arrogant’ jibe
Pep Guardiola has slammed Fabio Capello’s claim that he is “arrogant” by insisting Manchester City’s success in his reign has raised standards in the Premier League.
Capello, a former England, AC Milan and Real Madrid boss, said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo this week that Guardiola’s “arrogance has cost him several Champions League titles”.
The 78-year-old Italian also said Guardiola was “way too arrogant and presumptious” because he wanted to prove his tactics were the reason for City’s remarkable success.
Capello claimed the City boss, who previously managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich, had “ruined” Italian football because too many managers tried to copy his fluid, possession-based style without having good enough players to do so.
Guardiola, however, is proud of his record, having guided City to six Premier League titles and a first Champions League crown since his arrival in 2016.
The Spaniard believes the strength of the Premier League has improved in his time in Manchester, with City now facing a challenge from several teams, including Saturday’s opponents Brighton, just to secure a top-four place this season.
City have endured a difficult campaign after winning the previous four Premier League titles and currently sit fifth in the table.
“Naming one of the big managers, one of the exceptional managers, in Fabio Capello – it doesn’t look like it’s arrogant, I would say, but we helped to raise the bar in the Premier League,” Guardiola said.
“The teams had to go to the transfer markets, right? People want to do good, people are well organised, have good structures, make good decisions, have good players everywhere.
“I went to Bournemouth in the beginning, and now it’s different. I went in the beginning to Brighton, and now it’s different. And I went to Fulham in the beginning, and now it’s different.
“I’ve been here, I’m an old guy, I’m the oldest manager here, nine years. I know the evolution of the Premier League has been massive.
“It’s incredible how they’ve changed and it’s good, really good, for the Premier League.”
Capello argued that because Guardiola “always wanted to be the protagonist” he had made unnecessary selection or tactical calls in certain big games that had backfired.
It is not the first time the pair have not seen eye to eye.
Their differing footballing philosophies clashed when Guardiola played under the pragmatic Capello at Roma more than two decades ago.
Capello could not find an effective role for the Spaniard and repeatedly left him out of his side.
Asked specifically about the Italian’s comments Guardiola had just a short answer.
“I listen to everything that people say about me, everything, so be careful!” he said.
“It’s not the first time Mr Fabio Capello has said that. I’m not good enough to ruin Italian football, it is very important. A big hug for Fabio.”
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Arsenal & Bayern keen on Williams – Saturday’s gossip
Arsenal and Bayern Munich are in competition to sign Spain winger Nico Williams, while Newcastle striker Alexander Isak says he is likely to speak to the club about a new contract.
Bayern Munich have renewed their interest in signing Athletic Bilbao and Spain winger Nico Williams, 22, but will face competition from Arsenal. (Bild), external
In-demand Newcastle and Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25, says he will “probably” speak to the club about a new contract in the summer. (Mail), external
Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Portugal Under-21 midfielder Dario Essugo, 20, from Sporting for £21m, following his loan spell this season at Las Palmas. (A Bola – in Portuguese), external
Real Madrid are looking at Tottenham and Argentina defender Cristian Romero, 26, and Everton’s England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 22, to reinforce their defence. (Teamtalk), external
Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk, 33, who will be out of contract at Liverpool in the summer, says he must remain calm about his future at the club and that negotiations were being affected by “multiple factors”. (Express), external
West Ham are plotting a move to sign Roma’s English striker Tammy Abraham, 27, in the summer window. (Football Insider), external
AC Milan will not take up an option to buy Portugal forward Joao Felix, 25, from Chelsea for between 41m to 45m euros (£34.6m-£38m) when his loan deal finishes at the end of the season. (Calciomercato – in Italian), external
Everton are plotting a move to sign Moroccan forward Hamza Igamane, 22, from Rangers in the summer. (Football Insider), external
Liverpool will face competition from Arsenal to sign Germany winger Leroy Sane, 29, when his contract expires at Bayern Munich this summer. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Brighton expect offers of more than £20m for their Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari, 21, who is attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. (Football Insider), external
Barcelona are open to discussing a new deal with Polish former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, 34, in the coming weeks. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs keen on signing Lyon’s Belgian winger Malick Fofana, 19, this summer. (CaughtOffside)
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Abuse would lead me to walk away from Man Utd – Ratcliffe
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he would walk away from the club if he gets “abused” by fans in the same way the Glazer family have.
The 72-year-old last year spent £1.3bn for a 28.94% stake in the club, in a deal which led to his company Ineos taking control of football operations.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, external Ratcliffe said he “doesn’t mind being unpopular”.
Last month, it was confirmed there would be a second round of redundancies at the club, which will result in up to 200 people losing their jobs in addition to the 250 who departed last year.
There has also been a mid-season rise in some ticket prices, affecting under-16s and pensioners.
On Tuesday Ratcliffe announced plans to build a new £2bn stadium with a 100,000 capacity.
The unpopular Glazer family bought the club in 2005 via a leveraged takeover and retain a majority stake.
“I mean, I can put up with it for a while,” Ratcliffe said. “I don’t mind being unpopular because I get that nobody likes seeing Manchester United down where they are, and nobody likes the decisions we’re having to make at the moment.
“If I draw a bit of the ire, I can put up with that. But I’m no different to the average person. It’s not nice, particularly for friends and family.
“So, eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I’d have to say, look, enough’s enough guys, let somebody else do this.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: The Interview
“They can’t really come to a match, the Glazers. They’ve retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I’m getting all the stick.
“We bought in and I haven’t seen them since. It’s, ‘thank you, Jim, you’re doing a really good job’.
“At the moment, I don’t have security, I don’t have to walk around like that. But it would defeat the object, wouldn’t it? You couldn’t tolerate it at that level, it just wouldn’t be fun.”
When Ratcliffe and Ineos joined the Old Trafford hierarchy, many fans welcomed the arrival of a boyhood fan and billionaire to help restore the club’s former glories.
However, a year on, the relationship with some supporters has soured.
Several moves taken by the club which have attracted criticism, with cost-cutting measures including the removal of free lunches for staff, culminating in a protest against United’s ownership by fans last weekend.
Banners saying “we want our club back” and “£1bn stolen”, referring to the amount spent on servicing the debt loaded on to United when the Glazer family bought the club in 2005, were on display at the protest.
United’s current total debt, including £300m in outstanding transfer fees, is in excess of £1bn. In the last financial year they paid £37m in interest on the debt.
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Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final
Liverpool can win the first trophy of the Arne Slot era in Sunday’s League Cup final against a Newcastle side desperate to end the club’s 56-year wait for major silverware.
In the first final of the English domestic season, runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool head to Wembley aiming to erase the bitter taste of their Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
The Reds were beaten 4-1 on penalties by PSG in the last 16 second leg at Anfield.
It was a rare blow in what has been a successful first season in charge for Slot, who arrived from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp last year.
Sitting 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, the Reds are within touching distance of a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020.
That will be the culmination of Slot’s seamless transition to life with Liverpool.
But first the Dutchman has his sights set on putting yet another League Cup in the Anfield trophy cabinet.
Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in last season’s final, have won the League Cup a record 10 times and are looking to lift the trophy for a third time in four years.
“You play games like this to win it, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” said Slot, who will be without injured right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“We’re really looking forward to it because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams.”
Slot, who will be making his first ever visit to Wembley, hopes Liverpool can recover quickly from having their treble bid shattered by PSG.
“It’s a great occasion to be in and especially after losing against Paris Saint-Germain. It’s maybe the perfect game,” he said.
– ‘Chance to make history’ –
Aside from a brief period when Kevin Keegan’s team challenged for the title in the 1990s, Newcastle have endured decades of underachievement and self-inflicted wounds that rendered them a laughing stock for long periods.
All that changed in 2021 when a Saudi-backed consortium completed a takeover from unpopular owner Mike Ashley and quickly made the decision to hire Eddie Howe as their manager.
Newcastle have been transformed from relegation candidates to contenders for silverware, with a Champions League appearance in 2023-24 underlining their revival.
However, Newcastle are still waiting to win their first major trophy since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup — the predecessor to the Europa League.
The Magpies’ last significant domestic prize was the 1955 FA Cup and they have lost a combined five finals in that competition and the League Cup since then.
They have never won the League Cup, most recently losing the 2023 final against Manchester United.
Since the Magpies lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, 30 different English teams have won silverware, while Liverpool have clinched 38 major trophies in that time, including an FA Cup final success against Newcastle in the clubs’ last showpiece meeting in 1974.
With the weight of history against them, Howe has urged his players to embrace the chance to become Newcastle legends by ending their trophy drought.
“We want to break that wait for a trophy. It’s not a negative, he said.
“We’re trying to look at it the other way round, it’s the chance to make history and be remembered positively.”
Liverpool eased to a 2-0 win in their most recent Premier League clash with Newcastle in February.
And the Magpies’ task is made even harder by the absence of suspended England forward Anthony Gordon and injured defenders Lewis Hall, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.
But Howe is confident Newcastle will not freeze in front of a sell-out crowd and a television audience of millions around the world.
“We’ve stayed competitive, in the main, in big games,” he said. “Our style, we have adaptability, but also we have a clear method.”
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‘Ball didn’t move’ – Simeone on controversial Alvarez penalty decision
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone cast suspicion on the decision to rule out Julian Alvarez’s penalty in his team’s Champions League defeat by Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Los Blancos won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw in the last 16 tie, with Alvarez slipping as he scored in the shoot-out. VAR ruled it out for a supposed double touch on the ball.
“The referee said when Julian got to the penalty spot he touched the ball with his standing foot, but the ball did not move,” Simeone told reporters.
“But beyond that, which now just serves to argue about whether it should have counted or not, I am proud of my players, I am happy, truly.
“Why? Because we competed in an exemplary way. And yes, we could not beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, sure, we could not, but they had a really bad time (against us) again.”
The Atletico coach said he wanted to believe the officials got the penalty decision right.
“I’ve never seen a penalty where they’ve called the VAR, but well, they would have seen that he touched it, I want to believe, I want to believe they saw he touched it.”
The coach asked members of the media to raise their hand if they had seen a replay in which it was clear Alvarez had touched the ball twice.
“Raise your hand, anyone who saw Julian touch it twice, who is going to raise their hand? Nobody has raised their hand,” shouted Simeone.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said he felt the former Manchester City striker did touch the ball twice as he slipped.
“In the end it’s a lottery, I felt a little that he had touched it twice, that’s what I told the referee, it is clearly not easy to see, but it’s a bit of bad luck for them there,” Courtois told Movistar.
The Belgian goalkeeper criticised Atletico for complaining about the decision, but also appeared to take a swipe at his own club, who have been relentlessly attacking Spanish refereeing in recent weeks and claiming it is “rigged”.
“I think UEFA saw it clearly — I’m sick of this victimhood, always crying about stuff like this, the refs don’t want to help particular teams, not in Spain, not in Europe,” Courtois told reporters.
“They saw it clearly and that’s why they made that decision… they saw it clearly with VAR, they have a lot of images and cameras.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also believed it was the correct decision.
“They detected it, when we realised there was this doubt they had already detected it on VAR,” said Ancelotti. “I saw it, I think he touches it with his left foot, a second touch.”
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UCL: Liverpool ‘ran out of luck’ against PSG, says Slot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot called his side’s Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday the “best game” he has been involved in, but conceded the Premier League leaders ran out of luck in a penalty shootout.
PSG had dominated the first leg a week ago but arrived at Anfield 1-0 down after Harvey Elliott’s late winner snatched victory for the Reds at the Parc des Princes.
The roles were reversed on Tuesday as Slot was left to bemoan Liverpool’s finishing either side of Ousmane Dembele’s 12th-minute opener.
PSG then prevailed 4-1 on penalties after Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones saw their spot-kicks saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“It was the best game of football I have ever been involved in. It was an incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week,” said Slot.
“It had everything you wanted from a game. From a Liverpool perspective, we could have at least wanted a draw after 90 minutes.
“We were creating chances and then we were 1-0 down. We ran out of luck after last week.”
Liverpool topped the table in the new-look Champions League group phase after winning their opening seven games.
Slot, though, questioned whether the new format rewards finishing top after being paired with one of Europe’s form sides in the last 16.
“We go out in a way that we impressed Europe, but it is something to take into consideration how much it is worth to finish first in the league table if you face PSG in the next round,” added the Dutchman.
“Of course it is a shock (to go out). I can say last season we weren’t involved in the Champions League, two seasons ago we went out against Madrid losing 5-2 at home.
“If you have to go out, go out like we did against one of the best teams in Europe, making such a fight of it.”
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Cash-strapped Man Utd turn to Europa League to save season
Manchester United’s financial crisis, exposed by co-owner Jim Ratcliffe this week, has heaped more pressure on Ruben Amorim’s men to deliver Europa League glory and a return to Champions League revenues next season.
United host Real Sociedad on Thursday with their last-16 tie finely poised after a 1-1 draw in Spain last week.
The Red Devils sit 14th in the Premier League meaning their hopes of salvaging a miserable season depend on European glory.
Ahead of announcing plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium to replace Old Trafford on Tuesday, Ratcliffe defended the ruthless cost-cutting he has implemented throughout the club during his first year in charge.
United have not yet detailed how they plan to finance the reported £2 billion ($2.6 billion) cost of the new stadium.
Last month, the club announced that up to 200 further redundancies were anticipated after 250 jobs were cut last year.
Ratcliffe claimed the club would have “run out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things” in a series of media interviews.
The English giants have made cumulative losses of £410 million in the last seven years after a series of expensive mistakes in the transfer market and in managerial hires.
However, only once in the past 35 years have they missed out on European football entirely.
That fate looks almost certain this season unless United lift the Europa League in Bilbao on May 21.
“It’s massive,” said United midfielder Christian Eriksen of the Sociedad game.
“We know there’s a lot of pressure on that game, but it also comes with being at this club.
“You play for trophies so we have to play well to go through.”
Sociedad are also dreaming of making the short trip to Bilbao for the final to salvage a disappointing campaign.
Imanol Alguacil’s men sit 11th in La Liga and lost the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final 1-0 at home to Real Madrid.
– Postecoglou on the brink –
Tottenham, 13th in the Premier League, also desperately need Europa League glory to save their season.
Rumours suggest manager Ange Postecoglou’s job depends on turning around a 1-0 first leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar in London.
Postecoglou has been hampered by a lengthy injury list for most of the campaign, but has few excuses with Spurs finally approaching full strength.
First-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven made their return in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, while record signing Dominic Solanke played 90 minutes for the first time in nearly two months.
“We need everyone. From the supporters, players, staff, from the club, we need everybody with that game to turn it around,” said Spurs captain Son Heung-min.
“Quality doesn’t bring the wins. The games always need a mentality and the care and the performance. Hard work always matters.
“We need to be focused, take it seriously, respect our opponent and do everything we can to turn it around, especially at home.”
Rangers already have one foot in the last eight after a stunning 3-1 first leg win away to Fenerbahce.
“I don’t think it’s over,” said Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho. “The only thing I tell them is, don’t celebrate too much. Because there is a second match. It’s my only advice.”
Athletic Bilbao must overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit against Roma to maintain their dream of playing the final in their home stadium.
Lazio, Lyon and Eintracht Frankfurt are strong favourites to make the quarter-finals after away wins at Viktoria Plzen, FCSB and Ajax respectively last week.
AFP