Author: Xoxo

 Chelsea advanced to the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid, while Paris Saint-Germain’s third straight victory left them in sight of the knockout phase.

Guro Reiten’s penalty gave Chelsea the lead at Stamford Bridge just past the hour. Substitute Athenea equalised for Madrid but goalkeeper Mylene Chavas turned Erin Cuthbert’s shot into her own net as the English champions clinched top spot in Group D.

Swedish club Hacken are second in the section, a point above Paris FC after the two sides drew 0-0 in Gothenburg. Already-eliminated Madrid suffered their fourth defeat in five matches.

PSG, who began the competition with back-to-back losses in Group C, took over first place after a 3-1 win over Ajax that denied their opponents the chance to qualify with a match to spare.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto struck twice for the hosts at the Parc des Princes before Romee Leuchter pulled one back for the Dutch side.

Captain Grace Geyoro restored PSG’s two-goal lead prior to half-time, with the French outfit needing a draw away to Bayern Munich next week to seal a spot in the last eight.

Bayern snatched a point in a 2-2 draw at Roma courtesy of Lea Schuller’s 96th-minute header.

Roma led through Valentina Giacinti’s first-half effort before Schuller equalised three minutes from time.

The Italians looked to have won it when Manuela Giugliano scored in the third minute of added time only for Schuller to deny them at the death.

 

Real Madrid have climbed to the top of football’s ‘Money League’ as the Spanish side surpassed Manchester City to become the highest revenue-generating club in 2022-23.

For the first time since 2017-18, Real are in pole positon in Deloitte’s financial rankings with a reported record revenue of 831 million euros ($905 million), an increase of 118 million euros over the previous year.

Although they failed to win La Liga last season — finishing 10 points behind champions Barcelona — and lost in the Champions League semi-finals to Manchester City, Real’s growth is largely attributable to strong retail performance, higher stadium attendance and recovery of sponsorship income following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

Manchester City, who won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup last season, fall to second place in the 2024 rankings.

The club reported its highest ever revenue for a season, 826 million euros, and bolstered both broadcast and commercial revenues by 50 million euros and 26 million euros respectively.

French champions Paris Saint-Germain broke into the top three for the first time, with revenues of 802 million euros.

Barcelona are in fourth position as their 800 million euros revenue lifted them from seventh place, with club record licensing and merchandising revenues and fans returning to stadiums.

Commercial revenue represented the largest income stream for ‘Money League’ clubs for the first time since the 2015-16 season, excluding the Covid-19 impacted 2019-20 season.

Seventeen of the top 20 clubs reported a year-on-year increase in commercial revenue, with growth largely attributable to improved retail sales, revenue from non-matchday events and recovery of sponsorship income which had been impacted by the pandemic.

Tim Bridge, lead partner in financial experts Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said: “Another record-breaking year for Money League clubs represents the ongoing financial might of the football industry.

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned the Super Eagles to change their tactics, fire on all cylinders and do better in the final stages of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ongoing in Cote d’Ivoire.

President Tinubu passed this message through the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, who spoke to the players from Abuja via Zoom on Wednesday night in Abidjan.

Enoh said: “I had a meeting with the President yesterday. I went to the villa for something else and the President cornered me and said we (Eagles) managed to qualify and I said that’s how we are going to keep going until we win the tournament.

“He said that I should tell the players that he wasn’t too impressed with the last match but he knows that now that they are off the group stages, they are going to impress him more. “That’s what the president told me and it means that the president is actually watching your matches. Would you believe this? And the president is urging you and also showing an understanding of the game because he knows that there is a lot of caution at the group stage and from the round of 16, you are going to be more impressive.

“I remember that in 2022 in Cameroon, Egypt as a country struggled to qualify but they went ahead to play the finals.”

Responding team captain, Ahmed Musa, thanked the sports minister and President Tinubu but also called on Mr President to do the team a favour.

“We want Mr. President to stop watching from the television, we want him to join us here live to see our games. This will be a big motivation for us,” Musa said.

 Cleveland Cavaliers centre Tristan Thompson has been suspended 25 games by the NBA for violating its anti-drug program on Tuesday.

The league said that Thompson, from Brampton, Ont., tested positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033. His suspension will begin with Wednesday’s game between Cleveland and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ibutamoren is a growth hormone stimulator. SARM LGD-4033 is still in preliminary clinical trials but early studies have shown that the drug improves lean body mass and muscle strength.

During the suspension, Thompson is allowed to travel and practice. The only restriction is that he must be out of the arena at least two hours prior to tipoff for any games.

Thompson is in his second stint with the Cavs, who originally drafted the Canadian with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 draft. The 6-foot-11 Thompson has become a beloved player in Cleveland. He was a member of the 2016 NBA championship team, which won the city’s first major pro sports title since 1964.

He has played for the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers between 2020 and 2023 before returning to the Cavaliers this season.

The 32-year-old Thompson is averaging 3.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 12.4 minutes per game this season. He has averaged 8.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, one assist and 0.7 blocks per game over his 11 NBA seasons.

 

Manchester United’s new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has said he must approve every sporting decision at the Premier League club.

Ratcliffe, the chairman of Ineos, last week agreed to a $1.3 billion deal to buy a 25 per cent stake in United.

The British billionaire has now taken charge of football matters.

According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, even the future of manager Erik ten Hag is in the hands of Ratcliffe.

Romano tweeted on Wednesday: “Manchester United must consult INEOS on every player transfer whilst their investment is being approved by Premier League authorities.

“The same applies to the futures of Erik ten Hag and John Murtough: INEOS must be consulted ahead of any decision.”

 

“We No Go Gree!” – Nigerians Insist They Want Onana To Play Against Them.

Serious drama as Nigerian football fanatics insist Onana must play for Cameroon in the rounds of 16.

Nigerian netizens via Twitter, insisted that Cameroon must let André Onana man their goalpost.

This comes as a result of Onana’s poor performance for Manchester United in the English premier league this season.

Nigerians believe that if Song plays Onana, they would have greater chances to score more goals..

 

Former Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthäus has hit out at Lionel Messi, claiming that the Argentina captain did not deserve the Best FIFA Award for 2023.

Speaking on Sky Deutschland, Matthaus insisted that Messi did not deserve the FIFA award, adding that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland should have won the prize.

Messi recently won the FIFA Best Award ahead of Haaland.

“He can’t be the winner this time. I think he was the best footballer of the last 20 years, but he has been in Paris and Miami, where he is now creating hype, and not won any major titles,” Matthaus said.

“If you look at the great successes, there is no way past Manchester City and – when choosing the best player – Erling Haaland. He won the most important titles with Man City. His strike rate was impressive.

“That should be decisive when you choose the best and most important player – and that was Haaland.”

 

Former Manchester United attacker Andy Cole has urged the Red Devils to sign former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema before the January transfer window closes next week.

Benzema, who currently plays for Saudi Arabia club Al-Ittihad, has been linked with a move away from the club this month.

When asked if he would have signed the Frenchman had he been in charge of transfers at Man United, Cole told Betfred:

“150%. I would sign him if it was only for a training session. I was very surprised when he left Real Madrid in the summer, but I understand why it happened.

“That money he is earning in Saudi Arabia is generational wealth. It is for his kids and his kids’ kids.

“When you are at that age in your career and you have already won four La Liga titles, five Champions League trophies and the Ballon d’Or, I can understand why he went to Saudi.

“Could he do it in the Premier League at his age? 100% considering the way he looks after himself. If Manchester United have the opportunity to sign him, then they should definitely try and make that happen.”

 

Brazil defender Eder Militao has signed a contract extension to 2028 with Real Madrid, the Spanish giants announced on Tuesday.

Militao, 26, arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu from Porto in 2019 but has played just one game this season due to a knee injury.

Militao has won the Champions League once and La Liga twice during his spell in the Spanish capital.

According to Spanish media, Militao’s new contract includes a release clause worth hundreds of million euros, similar to those of team-mates Vinicius, Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde.

Last month Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti signed a new deal to stay with the club until 2026, ending speculation that he would take over the Brazil job.

 

Ghana have sacked coach Chris Hughton after their early elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Hughton’s side failed to win any of their three group-stage matches in Cote D’Ivoire, picking up only two points and finishing third in Group B.

Although despite the disappointing draw against Mozambique on Monday, Ghana still had a chance of qualifying for the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.

However, Cameroon ensured that never happened as they beat The Gambia 3-2 on Tuesday to confirm the elimination of the Black Stars from the tournament.

“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) wishes to announce that Chris Hughton has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the senior national team with immediate effect,” a GFA statement late on Tuesday read.

“The executive council has also taken a decision to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars.

“The Ghana Football Association will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars.”

The Black Stars, under Hughton’s management, suffered a 2-1 loss to Cape Verde, drew with Egypt, and experienced a bizarre turn of events in their must-win game against Mozambique. They surrendered a two-goal lead in the last three minutes of added time.