Germany reached the Nations League semi-finals on Sunday after a rollercoaster 3-3 draw with Italy gave them a 5-4 aggregate triumph.
Germany led 2-1 from the first leg of the quarter-final and they appeared to have the tie comfortably wrapped up by half-time when Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst put them 3-0 ahead on the night.
However, Moise Kean hit two second-half goals before a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time by Giacomo Raspadori gave Italy a glimmer of hope.
Nations League holders Spain reached the final four with a 5-4 win on penalties against the Netherlands, after a thrilling 3-3 quarter-final second leg draw on Sunday (5-5 on aggregate).
In sudden death Donyell Malen missed and Barcelona’s Pedri slotted home to settle a gripping match in which the Netherlands came from behind three times to force the shoot-out.
With the March 21 and March 25 fixtures approaching, Super Eagles head coach Finidi George is set to trim the squad to 23 players. Ahead of the March 17 announcement, here are the players who might miss out.
The squad features NPFL standouts, including Remo Stars’ goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, Enugu Rangers’ defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, and Niger Tornadoes’ forward Papa Daniel Mustapha. Despite their domestic performances, they might not make the final cut due to stiff competition from overseas-based players.
Several players are battling injuries, making their selection unlikely. Maduka Okoye (Udinese) underwent wrist surgery in December and isn’t expected back until April. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio) suffered an ankle sprain on February 25, and while reports suggest he could return early, his chances remain slim. Akor Adams (Sevilla) has yet to make his Super Eagles debut and remains out with a training injury from February.
Some players may be excluded due to lack of form or irregular playing time. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) struggled at Sevilla before moving to the Championship in January, raising match fitness concerns. Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars) may lose his spot due to limited game time and rising competition. Paul Onuachu (Southampton) has struggled for consistency in England, while Cyriel Dessers (Rangers) has had mixed performances, making his selection uncertain.
Others who may miss out include Umar Sadiq, Joe Aribo, Chidera Ejuke, Alhassan Yusuf, Christantus Uche, and Igoh Ogbu.
With a talent-packed squad, Chelle faces tough decisions before finalizing his 23-man squad for the crucial fixtures.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has pledged to restore the club’s dominance after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
A 12th-minute goal by Erling Haaland proved decisive as City moved into fourth place in the Premier League standings, strengthening their bid for a Champions League spot. However, the narrow win highlighted the club’s struggles this season, as they remain far from the dominant force that has won four consecutive league titles under Guardiola.
Despite their recent success, Manchester City has endured an underwhelming campaign, currently 20 points behind league leaders Liverpool. Their hopes of retaining the Champions League title were dashed following elimination by Real Madrid, leaving the FA Cup as their only shot at silverware this season.
Guardiola acknowledged the decline but expressed confidence in his team’s resurgence.
“Never will be this season the old City. Old City were too good, but we will be back,” he stated.
City controlled the first half, creating several chances to extend their lead, but missed opportunities kept Spurs in the game. Tottenham, struggling in 13th place, grew into the match and dominated possession in the second half, but failed to break through City’s defense.
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou admitted his team’s early struggles cost them the game.
“We were too wasteful in the first half. Against City, that lets them get into a rhythm,” he said.
Despite another defeat, Postecoglou was encouraged by his side’s second-half display.
“It’s disappointing to lose again, but it did look more like us today,” he added.
With City still fighting for a top-four finish, Guardiola is expected to make significant squad changes in the summer to strengthen the team. Addressing defensive vulnerabilities and regaining consistency will be key to City’s ambitions next season.
Meanwhile, Tottenham will shift their focus to the Europa League, as their chances of a strong league finish remain slim. The club is expected to make key reinforcements in the summer transfer window to improve their squad for the next campaign.
As both teams enter the final stretch of the season, City will look to secure Champions League qualification while Spurs aim to salvage their season through European competition.
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has expressed regret over his decision not to strengthen his squad during the summer transfer window. In hindsight, he believes that rejecting the opportunity to revamp his team was a mistake, especially given the impact of injuries on their disappointing start to the season.
Guardiola had initially decided against making new signings, relying on his existing players, with only Savinho and a returning Ilkay Gündogan joining the team. However, the club has since moved to refresh their squad, agreeing a deal for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov and negotiating with Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush.
Reflecting on his summer decision, Guardiola said, “I relied on the team and thought we could do it again with the same players. But after the injuries, wow, maybe we should have done it differently.”
With Premier League Matchday 21 approaching, football fans can expect some thrilling action this midweek. After a break due to the FA Cup, here are four matches where shock results could be on the cards:
1. Chelsea vs Bournemouth
– Date: Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge.
– Current Form: Chelsea is coming off a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, while Bournemouth secured a 1-0 win over Everton.
– Upset Potential: Bournemouth’s recent strong away form could see them spring a surprise at Stamford Bridge. Their consistent ability to score away goals makes them a dangerous opponent.
2. Brentford vs Man City
– Date: Tonight.
– Current Form: Both teams enjoyed emphatic wins in their last matches—Brentford defeated Southampton, and Man City triumphed over West Ham.
– Upset Potential: Though Man City is higher in the standings, Brentford will be aiming to capitalize on their home advantage and their solid recent form.
3. Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
– Date: Midweek.
– Current Form: Liverpool leads the Premier League but was held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester United. Nottingham Forest, in third, beat Wolves 3-0 in their last outing.
– Upset Potential: Nottingham Forest’s strong performance could lead to a surprise result, especially as they’ll be eager to avoid a defeat against the league leaders at home.
4. Manchester United vs Southampton
– Date: Midweek.
– Current Form: Manchester United is favored, coming off a draw with Liverpool, while Southampton is at the bottom of the table after a loss to Brentford.
– Upset Potential: Despite being underdogs, Southampton could cause an upset at Old Trafford, potentially securing a point or even all three.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to extend his stay at Al Nassr with a groundbreaking contract that will make him the highest-paid player in football history. According to reports, the Portuguese striker is close to finalizing terms on a deal worth £173 million per season.
Ronaldo’s current contract is due to expire in the summer, but the 39-year-old appears determined to remain with the Saudi Arabian club. Despite rumors linking him to other teams, including Al-Hilal, where Neymar Jr currently plays, Ronaldo has made it clear he wants to continue competing with them, rather than join them.
Ronaldo is reportedly seeking assurances from Al Nassr that they will invest heavily in the upcoming summer transfer window. The forward has already made a significant impact, scoring 81 goals in 90 appearances for the club, following successful stints at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, where he became a centurion in goals.
Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has acknowledged Nottingham Forest as legitimate Premier League title contenders ahead of their clash at the City Ground. Forest, who sit third in the league, have been a surprise package this season, especially after narrowly avoiding relegation last year. Slot praised their impressive rise, highlighting their solid style of play and results, which put them alongside top clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City in the title race. Slot stressed that Forest deserves to be considered serious challengers in the competition.
Ibrahim Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has expressed confidence in the capabilities of newly appointed Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, to take the team to greater heights.
Speaking after Chelle’s unveiling in Abuja, Gusau highlighted the coach’s passion and dedication to the role, describing it as his “dream job.” He believes Chelle’s right spirit and attitude will be key in propelling the Super Eagles forward, particularly in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Gusau assured that the NFF would provide the necessary support to ensure Chelle’s success.
