NEWS – Page 58 – Football Flame

11Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Thomas Tuchel arrives in Abu Dhabi ahead of Chelsea’s Club World Cup final

Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea reacts towards the fans during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on January 02, 2022 in London, England. Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has arrived in Abu Dhabi ahead of Saturday’s Club World Cup final.Tuchel, 48, tested positive for COVID-19 last Saturday, forcing him to miss the London side’s FA Cup win over Plymouth and the start of their Club World Cup campaign.The German hopes to be back in the dugout for Chelsea’s final against the Brazilian side Palmeiras, providing he returns a negative COVID-19 test ahead of Saturday’s game.Chelsea beat Al-Hilal 1-0 on Wednesday thanks to Romelu Lukaku’s goal. Assistant manager Zsolt Low was in charge of the team, assisted by sporting director Petr Cech and first-team coa...

10Feb

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NEWS

Coppa Italia: Olivier Giroud double leads AC Milan to Lazio rout

Olivier Giroud of AC Milan #9 celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 05, 2022 in Milan, Italy. In-form striker Olivier Giroud followed up his double in the Serie A win over Inter Milan with two more goals as AC Milan defeated Lazio 4-0 in the Italian Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.Rafael Leao opened the scoring in the 24th minute and then created Milan's second for French international Giroud after 41 minutes.Giroud made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time with Franck Kessie completing the rout 10 minutes from time.He had started the season very well, but had problems with his back and ankle, so needed time to get back into shape, said Milan coach Stefano Pioli of Giroud.He is a strong c...

9Feb

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NEWS

Lukaku ends drought as Chelsea reach Club World Cup final

Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea during the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021 Semi Final match between Al Hilal and Chelsea FC at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on February 9, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Romelu Lukaku scored a much-needed goal as Chelsea beat Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 1-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Club World Cup final against South American champions Palmeiras.Chelsea's club-record signing had failed to score in five games before arriving in Abu Dhabi, and the Blues are looking for the 28-year-old to find his best form in the second half of the season.The Belgium international swept in from close range on 33 minutes after a defensive lapse to send Chelsea through to Saturday's final, the second in three years between English and Brazilian teams.Chelsea can join Manchester Un...

9Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

West Ham fine Kurt Zouma “Maximum amount” for abusing pet cat

Zouma of West Ham United warms up prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Watford at London Stadium on February 08, 2022 in London, England. West Ham on Wednesday fined defender Kurt Zouma the "maximum amount possible" for mistreating his pet cat as the RSPCA charity said it had taken two animals belonging to the France international into care. The 27-year-old, who played against Watford in the Premier League on Tuesday, has been widely condemned after a video circulated online of him dropping, kicking and slapping the animal. West Ham issued a fresh statement on Wednesday saying they were supporting an investigation by animal welfare organisation the RSPCA into the case and that Zouma was complying with the process, including delivering his two cats t...

7Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Nike end their Mason Greenwood deal after Manchester United player’s arrest

Mason Greenwood of Manchester United warms up prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on January 22, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Sports giants Nike have axed their sponsorship of Manchester United's Mason Greenwood.Nike has ended the agreement with Greenwood following his arrest last week on suspicion of the rape and assault of a woman.Greenwood has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.The England striker has been suspended by United until further notice and will not train with the team or take part in matches.Now Nike have made it clear to Greenwood they will no longer be sponsoring him moving forward.A Nike statement on the 20-year-old forward said: Mason Greenwood is no longer a Nike athlete.Greenwood has b...

7Feb

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NEWS

Messi scores as leader PSG wins 5-1 at defending champ Lille

Gabriel Gudmundsson of Lille OSC challenges Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Lille OSC and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Pierre Mauroy on February 6, 2022 in Lille, France.Lionel Messi had one of his best games for Paris Saint-Germain as the runaway leader profited from bad goalkeeping to win 5-1 at defending champion Lille and move 13 points clear in the French league on Sunday.The first two goals were gifted while the third was well taken by the record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi in the 37th minute for only his second league goal since joining from Barcelona. Lille caused PSG problems but defended poorly.PSG drew and lost to Lille last season without scoring a goal. Lille conceded only 23 goals during that victorious campaign, but stan...

7Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Sadio Mane hands Senegal AFCON crown

Senegal's forward Sadio Mane holds the trophy prior to the ceremony after winning after the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 final football match between Senegal and Egypt at Stade d'Olembe in Yaounde on February 6, 2022. Sadio Mane overcame Mohammed Salah in the battle of Liverpool’s superstars to help Senegal to their first African Cup of Nations victory.A penalty shoot-out decided the outcome after a goalless 120 minutes in Cameroon on a night of fluctuating and extreme emotion for the Anfield strikers.For Mane – already a national hero – there was the ecstasy of converting the winning penalty to end his country’s excruciating wait to be African champions. His moment of glory came after he had earlier missed from the spot during normal time.By contrast, Salah was left in tear...

6Feb

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NEWS

Chelsea to visit Luton Town in FA Cup fifth round

A fan in the stands holds up a foil FA Cup trophy during the Emirates FA Cup third round match at City Ground, Nottingham. Picture date: Sunday January 9, 2022.Chelsea have been drawn away to Championship side Luton Town in the FA Cup fifth round.Manchester City and Tottenham have also been handed away ties to second-tier opposition, visiting Peterborough and Middlesbrough respectively. Middlesbrough qualified for the fifth round after beating Manchester United on penalties on Friday evening.Boreham Wood, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, will travel to Everton if they beat Bournemouth on Sunday evening.There is one definite all-Premier League tie with Southampton hosting West Ham United, while Liverpool host Norwich City should they overcome Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon....

5Feb

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NEWS

Man Utd 1-1 Middlesbrough (7-8 on pens) / FA Cup exit ‘our own fault’, insists Rangnick

Manchester United's Anthony Elanga is consoled by team-mates and manager Ralf Rangnick after missing the decisive penalty in the shoot-out after the Emirates FA Cup fourth round match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Friday February 4, 2022.Ralf Rangnick blamed Manchester United for their 8-7 penalty defeat to Middlesbrough, the interim manager saying that being knocked out of the FA Cup was “our own fault”.The fourth-round loss at Old Trafford all but ends United’s hopes of ending a five-year trophy drought as Rangnick’s misfiring team are outsiders for the Champions League and 19 points behind Manchester City in the Premier League.While Anthony Elanga missed the crucial spot-kick, Rangnick contended that Matt Crooks’s second half equaliser should not have stood after Duncan Wat...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Real Madrid dumped from Spanish Cup

Alex Berenguer of Athletic celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Copa del Rey Quarter Final match between Athletic Club and Real Madrid at Estadio de San Mames on February 3, 2022 in Bilbao, Spain.A stunning last-minute strike by Athletic Bilbao substitute Alex Berenguer has eliminated Real Madrid from the Spanish Cup.Berenguer scored in the 89th minute to hand giantkillers Bilbao a shock 1-0 win over Real, knocking the European giants out of the Cup in the quarter-finals on Thursday.Athletic, who knocked out Barcelona in the previous round, ended a run of three successive defeats by Real in all competitions over the last two months thanks to Berenguer's last-gasp goal.The home team dominated the game from the start and piled on the pressure on Real until they finally br...

3Feb

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NEWS

Mohamed Salah to face Sadio Mane in AFCON Final after Egypt win penalty shootout

Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah (L) fights for the ball with Cameroon's defender Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 semi-final football match between Cameroon and Egypt at Stade d'Olembe in Yaounde on February 3, 2022.Mohamed Salah will face Sadio Mane in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, after Egypt defeated Cameroon on penalties on Thursday.In a tense game, the semi-final finished 0-0 after extra-time before Cameroon missed three penalties in the shootout to send Egypt through, without the Liverpool forward having to step up to the spot.Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski proved to be the hero on the night as he saved penalties from both Harold Moukoudi and James Lea Siliki, before Clinton N’Jie sent his decisive effort wide - sending the Pharaohs through with tw...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Sadio Mane scores as Senegal reach AFCON final

Burkina Faso's defender Issa Kabore (L) challenges Senegal's forward Sadio Mane during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 semi final football match between Burkina Faso and Senegal at Stade Ahmadou-Ahidjo in Yaounde on February 2, 2022.Liverpool star Sadio Mane led his Senegal side to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Sunday with a comfortable 3-1 semi-final success against Burkina Faso.Mane scored in the 87th minute after goals by Abdou Diallo and Idrissa Gueye put Senegal in charge before Blati Toure narrowed the deficit late on.The Liverpool forward showcased his class with a stylishly dinked effort past Soufiane Ouedraogo to send Senegal to their third TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations final.Senegal's forward Sadio Mane (R) scores his team's third goal during the Africa Cu...

2Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Eguavoen submits AFCON 2021 technical report to NFF

Nigeria's head coach Augustine Eguavoen speaks during a press conference in Garoua, January 22, 2022, on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Nigeria and Tunisia.The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), yesterday, confirmed that it has received an in-depth technical report on the Super Eagles’ outing at the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroun from the team’s technical crew, led by Augustine Eguavoen.We have received the technical report on the AFCON 2021 and we are currently studying it, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. Once the study and appraisal are done with, we will make known our position, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said.Nigeria's head coach Augustine Eguavoen and Nigeria's midfielder Wilfred Ndidi ...

2Feb

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NEWS

South Korea qualify for World Cup

Kwon Chang-hoon of Korea Republic celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-2 during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifier match between Syria and South Korea at Al Rashid Stadium on February 1, 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.South Korea have become the 14th team to join hosts Qatar and book a place at the 2022 World Cup following a 2-0 defeat of Syria in Dubai.They join Iran as the two automatic qualifiers from Asian group A - Australia are in group B.Two matches remain to be played in the group but South Korea cannot now be caught after goals from Kim Jin-su and Kwon Chang-hoon in the 53rd and 71st minutes earned victory.Qatar will be South Korea's tenth successive appearance at the finals.Kwon Chang-hoon of Korea Republic and Hosam Aiesh of Syria during the FIFA World Cup Qata...

1Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Gareth Bale signs up as golf ambassador

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is seen prior to the La Liga week 22 match between Real Madrid and Elche at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain on January 23, 2022.Real Madrid and Wales winger Gareth Bale has taken his love of golf to the next level by agreeing to become a global ambassador for the Royal and Ancient (R&A), the sport’s governing body says.Bale’s enthusiasm for golf was often mocked by fans in Spain as injuries frequently kept the Real Madrid star away from the football pitch but rarely proved a problem when it came to playing on the greens.The 32-year-old had even questioned critics of his golf hobby and became the subject of fan backlash when he posed with a banner reading: “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order” after Wales qualified for the 2020 European Championship.Gareth's ...

31Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood arrested on suspicion of rape and assault of woman

Mason Greenwood of Manchester United during the warm up before the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on January 22, 2022 in Manchester, England.Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood has been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault after allegations were posted on social media.Photographs and recordings uploaded to the alleged victim’s Instagram account early yesterday morning appeared to show her bleeding from the mouth and named the England international.Within hours, officers had attended the woman’s family home in Manchester and she gave a statement about the alleged abuse.Police later confirmed that a man, aged in his 20s, had been arrested.In the wake of the allegations Manchester United confirmed that the 20-year-old “will not re...

31Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

French Cup: Saint-Etienne loses to amateur side, Monaco wins

Bergerac' French Romain Escarpit (R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the round of 16 French Cup football match between Bergerac and Saint-Etienne (ASSE) at the Francis-Rongieras stadium in Perigueux, southwestern France, on January 30, 2022.Struggling Saint-Etienne's season took an even worse turn Sunday as the top-tier team was knocked out of the French Cup 1-0 by amateur side Bergerac. Fourth-tier Bergerac reached the quarterfinals of the competition for the first time while six-time Cup winner Saint-Etienne returns to its relegation fight. Les Verts have won a record 10 French league titles but are in last place and this humiliating exit will do nothing to boost morale. Bergerac striker Romain Escarpit scored in the 76th minute after Saint-Etienne had fluffed chanc...

31Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Senegal move into Afcon semi-finals

Equatorial Guinea's defender Carlos Akapo (L) fights for the ball with Senegal's forward Sadio Mane during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Senegal and Equatorial Guinea at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022.Senegal overcame Equatorial Guinea to set up an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Burkina Faso.Ex-Bristol City forward Famara Diedhiou put Senegal ahead with a first-time strike following Sadio Mane's pass.Equatorial Guinea were awarded a penalty before the decision was overturned, but then equalised soon after through Jannick Buyla's low shot.But substitute Cheikhou Kouyate volleyed Senegal ahead, with Watford's Ismaila Sarr side-footing a late third.Sadio Mané of Senegal during Senegal versus Equatorial Guinea, African ...

30Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Egypt 2-1 Morocco: Trezeguet seals comeback win to reach semi-finals

Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022.Trezeguet scored an extra-time winner as Egypt came from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 and reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.It was Morocco who got off to the perfect start, when Sofiane Boufal scored an early penalty, his third goal of the tournament, following a VAR review. But Mohamed Salah’s goal early into the second-half took the match to extra-time, and the Liverpool man provided the assist for Trezeguet to complete the comeback.Egypt will face hosts Cameroon in the semi-finals, as they look for their first AFC...

30Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Senegal star Sadio Mane returns to AFCON training after head injury

Guinea's defender Issiaga Sylla (down) tackles Senegal's forward Sadio Mane during the Group B Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 football match between Senegal and Guinea at Stade de Kouekong in Bafoussam on January 14, 2022.Senegal and Liverpool star Sadio Mane returned to training ahead of Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Equatorial Guinea despite sustaining a head injury in the previous match.He's doing well," Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was quoted as saying by AFP on Saturday. The Liverpool forward is likely to be available despite taking a heavy blow to the head in a 2-0 win over Cape Verde in the last 16.He resumed training yesterday. We're gradually following his development and he's going to train today.Mane was hurt following a collision with Cape Verde goalkeeper...