Sports

Liverpool, Bayern Munich join Forest in battle for Nigerian midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi

Published

8 months ago

August 30, 2023

Nigerian midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi is at the centre of a transfer tussle as English Premier League side, Liverpool and perenial German Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich attempt to hijack his move to Nottingham Forest.

According to renowned transfer news reporter, Fabrizio Romano, both Liverpool and Bayern have expressed interest in luring the Leicester City defensive midfielder away from Forest who were thought to have wrapped up the deal for the Nigeria player from relegated City.

Romano wrote in his popular column that Liverpool were reportedly investigating if they could make another late move for a midfielder in this summer’s transfer window and the 26-year-old Ndidi had been identified as Jurgen Klopp’s preferred player.

“The Reds have lost five midfield players this summer, with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho leaving for Saudi Pro League clubs, while Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left on free transfers,” the respected journalist wrote.

“Although Liverpool have signed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo, there is probably still room for another addition to Jurgen Klopp’s squad and one surprise option could be a move for Wilfred Ndidi from relegated Leicester City.

“The Nigeria international has had some fine moments in his King Power Stadium career, though his form last season wasn’t the best as the Foxes got relegated.

“Nottingham Forest had already submitted an opening proposal to Leicester City for Wilfred Ndidi transfer.

“The East Midlands club have been linked with an interest in the Nigerian in the final days of the transfer window with some reports earlier this week even suggested that a deal was close”, he said.

Apart from the rumoured interest in Ndidi by Liverpool and Forest, there are also reports that Bayern is also weighing up a move for the player and have identified him as the man to add steel to their midfield.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.