Big hitters of football will be on show as African World Cup qualifiers resume this week
African champions Ivory Coast host Gabon and then play away against Kenya in Group F where they have already won their opening two games. Sebastien Haller, who came on as a substitute for Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s Champions League final loss to Real Madrid, is included.
Kenya, 16 other African nations forced to host World Cup qualifiers on foreign soil as CAF cracks down on tardy stadia
CAF have taken a firm line on tardy facilities over the past two years in an effort to force countries to improve pitch conditions and other facilities like changing rooms and stadium lights. While it spurred some into action and led to stadium renovations, other countries have moved slowly, or not at all, and with-it lost home advantage for competitive qualifiers.
Real Madrid win 15th Champions League to signal start of new era of dominance in Europe
Off the pitch, Madrid topped Deloitte’s Football Money League 2024 with the highest revenues across the game over 2022-23. Another more recent study by data analytics company Football Benchmark puts their ‘enterprise value’ above all other clubs – and predicts they will soon have the most valuable squad in football.
Champions League: Real Madrid diehards believe a form of mysticism stalks the team’s European success
Mystic Uri Geller claims to have powers of psychokinesis – the ability to move objects without physical interaction with them – and over a 50-year career, has become involved in football on several occasions. He placed energy-infused crystals behind the goal to help Exeter City in 1997 – although they lost the game concerned 5-1, but swears to have helped Reading earn promotion in 2002. Most famously, he flew over Wembley in a helicopter during England’s Euro 96 match against Scotland, claiming he moved the ball just before Scotland’s Gary McAllister missed a crucial penalty.
After two decades in the doldrums Arsenal managed by Arteta, has joined Europe’s elite clubs
Arsenal’s average age this season, weighted by minutes played, was just 25, making them the seventh-youngest team in Europe’s top five leagues. Of their 15 top players by minutes played, only two — Trossard and goalkeeper David Raya – are older than 26.
German juggernaut Bayern Munich appoint Vincent Kompany, with roots in DR Congo, head coach
There is no question that Bayern Munich are taking a leap of faith with Kompany. A 38-year-old head coach who has never worked at a major club anywhere, let alone one of Bayern’s size and scale; clearly it’s a risk.
Kenyan long distance runner Rodgers Kwemoi banned six years for blood doping
Kwemoi, whose signature event is the 10,000 metres, took bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and finished fourth at the 2019 world championships.
He infused technical sophistication in EPL football, but ‘financial doping’ might just erode Pep Guardiola’s success at Man City
And although this is another question entirely, City fans are entitled to question why spending regulations suddenly became a preoccupation for England’s and Europe’s dominant clubs in the late 2000s. It doesn’t affect the rights or wrongs of their case, but it does serve as a reminder that the principles of Financial Fair Play were not exactly carved on tablets of stone. If Barcelona can’t sign Messi and PSG can, what does that tell us after 10 years of FFP?
Man City on cusp of 4th straight EPL crown but the imminent glory is overcast by 115 grave financial sins
One year on, why have Man City’s charges not been dealt with? All of this is damaging for the Premier League brand. How could it not be when its dominant club of this era has had these allegations hanging over them for so long? Whether your view is sympathetic or hostile to City, what does this situation say about the Premier League and – a hot topic these days – its ability to regulate its clubs and its competition?
Theirs to lose: How Man City’s second half onslaught against Spurs fastened grip on fourth straight EPL title
The centre of the pitch was congested, so City started to spear passes out to the wing, with Kyle Walker the main beneficiary in the opening 20 minutes down the right. Up against Micky van de Ven, a centre-back covering at full-back, the space opened up as the Dutchman instinctively shuffled inside.
