Milan wasted valuable funds buying Chukwueze— Milan legend, Maldini

Published

1 year ago

December 2, 2023

AC Milan legend and former Technical Director, Paolo Maldini, has blasted the club for spending €30 million to purchase Nigerian winger,
Samuel Chukwueze, describing the deal as a waste of funds.

The veteran defender, in an interview with Italian daily, La Repubblica on Friday, said he could not have sanctioned the deal if he was still at the club.

He noted that the 24-year-old Nigerian star had failed to justify the huge transfer fee splashed on him by the club in the summer.

Chukwueze joined the Italian giants from Spanish club, Villarreal in a five-year deal that saw him become the club’s most expensive signing in the summer.

However, he has not lived up to expectations as he has only scored one goal and assisted only once in 12 games for the Rossoneri.

The Nigerian winger was in superb form for Villarreal in the 2022/23 season, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists, becoming one of the most sought-after players in the last transfer season.

Apart from Chukwueze, the Rossoneri legend also had harsh words for other signings made by the club, including Chelsea rejects, Christian Pulisic and Rueben Loftus-Cheek.

“There was no need to sign Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic and Chukwueze,” Maldini said in the interview.

“You cannot compare the previous four transfer windows to the last one. Milan had different quality options unlike this summer.

“I would like to point out that all the players who arrived were approved by me, nothing or no-one was ever imposed on me, also because I would’ve left the next day,” he said.

Click to comment

Coach of Mamelodi Sundowns female team suspended over sexual harassment allegations

Published

13 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns women’s team, Jerry Tshabalala, has been suspended indefinitely amid allegations of sexual harassment of players.

A statement by the management of the top South African team said the 44-year-old Tshabalala, who has been in charge of Sundowns’s women’s team for over a decade, has been accused of a number of allegations, including making inappropriate sexual comments to his players, as well as entering the dressing room and refusing to leave while players are completely naked.

In a statement released on Saturday, Sundowns said they had appointed a law firm to investigate the allegations against the coach with specific instructions to unravel allegations of improper conduct by the Tshabalala.

The club said it views the allegations in a very serious light and has relieved the coach of his appointment pending when the investigations are concluded.

“Sundowns has, in the interim, put Coach Jerry Tshabalala on special leave pending the outcome of the investigation,” the club statement said.

“This is not done to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation, but to ensure that the investigation can proceed expeditiously and protect the rights of all parties.

“In the event that the investigation establishes facts that warrant action, the Board will immediately take such steps as are appropriate.

“Mamelodi Sundowns will in due course make announcements on the findings of the investigation and the action to be taken,” the statement concluded.

The Sundowns female team have been a dominant force in women’s football in South Africa and on the continent since Tshabalala took over in 2012, winning seven domestic league titles, as well as two CAF Women’s Champions League crowns.

Sports

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria ends 2024 as fifth best team in Africa

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigeria’s men’s football national team, the Super Eagles, ended the year 2024 as the fifth best team in Africa in the latest FIFA world ranking for the month of December.

According to the rankings published by the world football governing body, Nigeria remains unchanged from its previous position, despite having a challenging international break.

The FIFA rankings also reveal that Nigeria suffered a significant decline this year, dropping eight places to end 2024 ranked 44th globally.

The decline follows disappointing performances during the final AFCON qualifiers for 2025, where the Super Eagles struggled against the Benin Republic and Rwanda, resulting in a lack of wins.

However, some of the Super Eagles bitter rivals like South Africa’s Bafana Bafana experienced a resurgence, climbing three positions to finish the year ranked 57th in the world, showing a marked improvement in their recent form and successful matches during the qualifiers.

It was a woeful year for West African rivals Ghana who ended the year in 77th position, which highlights the challenges the Black Stars have encountered in the outgoing year in its bid to maintain its positions among Africa’s elite teams.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan national football team, the Atlas Lion, retained its 14th position in the in the world while still maintaining its number one spot in Africa, holding the first position for the third year in a row.

In the world ranking, Morocco is followed by Senegal on 17th position, Egypt, 33rd, Algeria 37th, Nigeria, 44th, Côte d’Ivoire, 46th, Cameroon, 49th, Mali, 51st, and Tunisia in the 52nd position.

Top 10 African teams in 2024

1. Morocco – (14th)

2. Senegal – (17th)

3. Egypt – (33rd)

4. Algeria – (37th)

5. Nigeria – (44th)

6. Côte d’Ivoire – (46th)

7. Cameroon – (49th)

8. Mali – (51st )

9. Tunisia – (52nd)

10. South Africa – (57th)