Category: ⚽Supers Sport

Mikel Arteta labelled Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to Bournemouth as “an accident waiting to happen.”

The game took a turn after William Saliba’s first-half red card left the Gunners in a difficult position on Saturday.

The dismissal, which came after a challenge on Evanilson in the 30th minute, led to goals from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert, handing Arsenal their first Premier League defeat of the season.

Arteta expressed frustration over his team’s ongoing discipline issues, as this was the third time Arsenal had to finish a match with 10 men this season.

He acknowledged the difficulty of competing under such circumstances. “Playing for 65 or 68 minutes with 10 men at this level is just an impossible task,” Arteta said.

Recall the Gunners had similar challenges earlier this season, with Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard both receiving red cards in separate matches.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed his frustration over the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules affecting the Red Devils.

The Dutch coach claimed the rule forced the club to part ways with midfielder Scott McTominay, now excelling at Napoli.

“I didn’t want him to leave, but it is the rules,” Ten Hag stated. “The rules are bad… they forced us to make this decision.”

As United struggles with their worst-ever Premier League start, Ten Hag faces mounting pressure ahead of Brentford’s visit to Old Trafford.

United sit 14th in the table with just two wins from seven games.

“We have a mountain to climb,” Ten Hag admitted, but added, “I am sure we will make it a success as we did the last two seasons.”

The match kicks off on Saturday at 3:00 p.m., with United aiming to snap a five-game winless run.

Meanwhile, Brentford, seeking their first away points this season, will recall their only win over United in the past 11 meetings—a 4-0 thrashing in 2022.

UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has opened up on a dark period in his career when he was left financially poor following a loss to Alex Pereira during his kickboxing days in China.

The Nigerian-born Kiwi UFC star and former middleweight champion, known for his flashy style and confidence in the octagon, shared a surprising tale of hardship on The JRE podcast, narrating how he found himself in dire straits after the promotion he was fighting for suddenly stopped offering him bouts.

“When I was fighting in China and I lost to Alex, they stopped giving me fights. I think, at the time, I was the highest-paid foreign fighter in China, but then they stopped giving me fights,” Adesanya revealed.

He pleaded with the promotion, saying, “Look, I have seven more fights on my contract. Can I at least just get three? I just need three,” as his funds were rapidly depleting.

The situation became so desperate that Adesanya was down to his last $500, barely enough to cover a week’s groceries. It was at this low point that his coach, Eugene Bareman, stepped in as a financial lifeline.

Adesanya recounted the emotional moment when Bareman instructed him to check his bank account, leaving the fighter in tears of gratitude.

This revelation sheds light on the unpredictable nature of a fighter’s career and the importance of having a supportive team. It also contrasts sharply with Adesanya’s recent high-profile UFC career, which has seen him win and lose the middleweight title multiple times.

Despite recent setbacks, including losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, ‘The Last Stylebender’ is not ready to throw in the towel.

In a recent interview on The Adam Carolla Show, Adesanya expressed his desire to fight once more before the year’s end or early next year.

“At the moment, I want to fight one more time before the end of this year, or early next year. But I don’t know yet. I’m just training, building off where we left off,” Adesanya stated.

The fighter also candidly addressed his recent loss to du Plessis, admitting to a tactical error when he pointed at the ground after slipping.

As Adesanya plots his comeback, fans and pundits alike are eager to see what the next chapter holds for the dynamic fighter who has proven his resilience both in and out of the octagon.

Ademola Lookman delivered a standout performance as Atalanta cruised to a 3-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League group stage match.

The Nigerian winger provided a goal and an assist, helping the Italian side secure their first win of the competition.

Atalanta, battling a series of injuries, started aggressively, with Lookman setting up Berat Djimsiti for the opener in the 15th minute.

Djimsiti’s chest and flicked volley gave Atalanta an early advantage and marked his first-ever Champions League goal.

Lookman, who had earlier struck the crossbar, doubled the lead in the 58th minute, finishing a well-worked team move with a smooth strike into the bottom corner.

It was his first Champions League goal as well.

Raoul Bellanova capped off the night with a third goal, heading in a Davide Zappacosta cross to seal the victory.

The win takes Atalanta to four points after two games, keeping them well in contention for a knockout spot.

Aston Villa sealed a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, thanks to a stunning goal by Jhon Duran.

The win sent Villa Park into a frenzy in their first Champions League match there in over 40 years.

Duran’s 79th-minute strike from 30 yards, which soared over Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer, was enough to give Unai Emery’s side a memorable victory.

Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez made critical saves late in the game, including a close-range Harry Kane header, to preserve the lead.

“This is the loudest I’ve ever heard Villa Park,” said Martínez. “At one point, it was hurting my ears.”

Despite the loss, Bayern manager Vincent Kompany brushed off concerns, citing it as just one of many challenges in the competition.

With two wins from two games, Villa now set their sights on qualifying directly for the knockout rounds.

Carlo Ancelotti admits criticism of Real Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League loss to Lille was “fair” after Jonathan David’s penalty sealed the win for the French side.

Eduardo Camavinga’s handball, spotted by VAR, led to the decisive goal just before halftime.

Despite efforts from Endrick, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, Madrid struggled to break down Lille’s defense.

Ancelotti in his post-match presser acknowledged the team’s poor performance, saying, “We were bad with the ball, lacked aggression and struggled to transition.”

Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin echoed the same sentiment, adding, “We needed more fight and creativity.”

Madrid now sits in 17th place with three points from two group-stage matches.

Ancelotti emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “We shouldn’t look for excuses.”

One bright spot was Endrick’s first Champions League start, becoming the youngest to do so for Madrid at 18 years and 73 days. “It’s a great feeling, but I’m not happy with the defeat,” he said.

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has expressed his desire to return to the Octagon before the end of 2024, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Nigerian-born fighter, who recently dropped out of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings for the first time in five years, is eager to prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Adesanya’s exclusion from the rankings came after his submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305, where he failed in his bid to reclaim the middleweight title. The defeat marked Adesanya’s second consecutive loss, following a shocking upset against Sean Strickland that cost him the belt.

Despite these setbacks, ‘The Last Stylebender’ remains optimistic about his future in the sport. In a recent interview, Adesanya revealed his comeback plans.

He said, “Right now, after I just fought him (Du Plessis), I don’t think it’s going to be immediately. I’d rather just fight—not really for the belt, just fight for fighting’s sake. I want to fight one more time before the end of this year or early next year.”

The 35-year-old fighter’s coach, Eugene Bareman, has also hinted at a potential return in 2024. Bareman disclosed that Adesanya has remained active, training with other fighters at City Kickboxing.

Adesanya’s focus appears to be on regaining his form rather than immediately challenging for the title. He expressed interest in seeing how upcoming fights in the middleweight division unfold, including the potential clash between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, as well as the bout between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.

“I’m just training, building up where we left off. I’ll get the call at some point with a few options. I think Dana will hit me up at some point,” he said.

While Adesanya contemplates his next move, the middleweight division continues to evolve. The likes of Islam Makhachev and Alex Pereira now occupy the top spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, with Aljamain Sterling replacing Adesanya in the list.

Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen has unveiled his starting lineup for Nigeria’s crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Nigeria face the Cheetahs of Benin Republic by 5:00pm today, with a formation 3-4-3.

Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been given the nod to start in goal.

Captain William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey will form a three-man defense. Ola Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi will take on wing-back roles.

In midfield, Wilfred Ndidi will pair up with Alex Iwobi, providing stability and creativity in the middle of the park.

Leading the attack is Bayer Leverkusen’s striker Victor Boniface, with Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze supporting him from the flanks.

Victor Osimhen, who joined the squad late Thursday evening after completing his loan move to Galatasaray, has been dropped from the starting lineup, but could join from the bench later in the game.

Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise is no longer eligible to play for Nigeria following his competitive debut for France’s national team.

The 22-year-old was cap-tied to France after starting in their UEFA Nations League match against Italy at the Parc des Princes.

Before committing to France, Olise was eligible to represent Nigeria, England, and Algeria due to his Nigerian father and French-Algerian mother, as well as England through his birth in London.

The former Crystal Palace star’s decision to play for Les Bleus ends any possibility of representing the Super Eagles in the future.

Several boxers have backed Anthony Joshua to beat Daniel Dubois in their upcoming IBF heavyweight title bout at Wembley Stadium on September 21.

Joshua, a former unified heavyweight champion, is regaining form after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Since then, the British-Nigerian has secured three consecutive stoppage victories over Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, and Francis Ngannou. The 33-year-old will be looking to extend that streak when he faces Dubois live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Many in the boxing community believe Joshua will reclaim the title, including European champion Tyler Denny, who sees Joshua’s power as a decisive factor.

“If I had to pick, I’d pick Joshua. They’ve both got the destructive power to knock each other out, which is why it’s so fascinating. But I think AJ has the edge,” Denny said.

Former world champions Liam Smith and Josh Warrington echoed this sentiment. Smith said Joshua’s style is better suited for this matchup, while Warrington highlighted Joshua’s renewed confidence.

“Confidence-wise and results-wise, they are in great form. But I think it’s a style that’s probably suited for Joshua more than Dubois,” Smith said.

“Both are big punchers. I’m leaning towards AJ because he’s got that demon look in his eye again, and he’s been here before,” Warrington added.

Frazer Clarke says losses to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk have made Daniel Dubois a more mature fighter and a dangerous threat to Anthony Joshua.

South African heavyweight Kevin Lerena, who faced Dubois in 2022, believes the 25-year-old will be a formidable challenge for Joshua.

“Dubois is riding the crest of a wave. He’s got a lot of power, and confidence is sky high. But AJ is phenomenal, and that makes this a great fight,” Lerena said.

Lerena believes the fight is difficult to predict, with both boxers carrying knockout power. “It’s a tough fight for both guys,” he added.

Joshua and Dubois are both hungry for victory, making their September 21 showdown one of the most anticipated heavyweight clashes of the year.