SPORTS

Christian Atsu insists he always knew he wanted to return to Newcastle United permanently this summer. The 25-year-old initially joined the Magpies on a season-long loan from Chelsea 12 months ago, scoring five league goals as he helped United lift the Championship title. Rafa Benitez subsequently opted to activate the permanent-purchase clause in his contract and Atsu signed for £6.5million ...

JOSE MOURINHO suffered a double blow in the Super Cup in Macedonia. Manchester United were beaten by Real Madrid in the UEFA Super cup final before Mourinho admitted it was “game over” in his pursuit of Gareth Bale. Goals from Casemiro and Isco put Real in charge before Romelu Lukaku made amends for an earlier bad miss by pulling a ...

Former Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou on Tuesday slammed his successor Ahmad Ahmad over claims that Cameroon is not ready to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Malagasy Ahmad, who ended Hayatou’s 29-year reign as CAF president last March, had said that the country’s infrastructure “wasn’t ready” to host the 2019 CAN and even suggested he may ...

Nigeria’s Jay Jay Okocha is arguably one of the most talented African footballers of all time. Blessed with sublime footwork and a mesmerizing dribbler, he was one of the golden generation of Nigeria players and a pillar of the Eagles side that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and graced three successive FIFA World Cups between 1994 and 2002. ...

Real Madrid beat Manchester United 2-1 on Tuesday to lift the European Super Cup for the fourth time as they became the first team to retain the trophy since AC Milan in 1990. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro struck the opener with a left-foot strike midway through the first half while Spain midfielder Isco consolidated Real’s advantage with a slick finish in ...

BARCELONA are reportedly set to sign Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho. Barcelona have been in talks with Liverpool for Coutinho following the sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in a £200million deal. And now ESPN claim Coutinho is set to be announced as Neymar’s replacement. The Catalan giants are said to have agreed an initial £81.6m fee with Liverpool, which could ...

Cameroon’s football federation expressed their “consternation” on Monday in response to criticism from African Confederation president Ahmad Ahmad over their prospects of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Ahmad had said on Saturday that the country’s infrastructure “wasn’t ready” to host the 2019 CAN and even suggested he may open a bidding process to other countries to help in ...

Tottenham sold Kyle Walker to Manchester City for £50million in July and look set to start the season with just one fit recognised full-back in Ben Davies due to injuries to Kieran Trippier and Rose. Rose missed the end of the 2016/17 campaign because of a knee injury but is expected in full training soon. Manchester United were linked with ...

MANCHESTER UNITED are considering a £90million bid for wantaway Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, according to reports in Spain. Gareth Bale is reportedly unhappy at Real Madrid and is keen to leave the La Liga champions this summer. Real’s president Florentino Perez is said to want to offload the Welshman to pave the way for Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe. Manchester ...

When Kwadwo Asamoah won CAF Most Promising African Player in 2010 the future did look very bright. His future looked even brighter after joining European giants Juventus in 2012. Kwadwo Asamoah’s dynamism was crucial in his berth to gain regular first team action at Juventus. He could either play as a left back, central midfielder or on the left side ...