Hilary Ekawu has agreed on a move to reigning Nigeria Premier Football League champions, Rangers....Read Full Article

DAILY POST reports that Ekawu is expected to replace Rangers captain Chukwudi Nwodu who is on the verge of sealing a move to Enyimba.

The midfielder turned down the chance to extend his contract at Doma United for a move to Rangers.

The player was one of the standout performers for the Savannah Tigers last season.

The 19-year-old scored three goals in 53 appearances for Doma United.

He joined the Gombe- based club from non-league side, FWC Champions FC in 2022.

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has named Arsenal defender, William Saliba as the best centre-back in the world right now....Read Full Article

Ferdinand believes the France international is better than Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez.

Ferdinand’s fellow Vibe with Five presenter Stephen Howson suggested Martinez was at an even higher level than Saliba but Ferdinand dismissed the claim, saying:

“No man, come on. That’s bias, that’s bias.

“They [Saliba and Martinez] would be an unreal partnership by the way but he’s not [better than Saliba], he’s not.

“If you ask any centre forward who’s better, I don’t think many will say Martinez over Saliba.”

He added, “I think if you were going to pick the best centre-half in the world right now. You’d go with William Saliba.”

Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has insisted Lionel Messi will be fit for their Copa America semi-final against Canada....Read Full Article

Scaloni, speaking to reporters said there is “no doubt” about Messi’s availability.

According to him, he will always pick the 37-year-old, even when not quite fully fit.

Messi was an injury doubt for the quarter-final clash against Ecuador due to a thigh injury.

But he was able to play 90 minutes in the game, although he missed a penalty during the shoot-out to decide the game.

Scaloni said: “99% of the time, [Messi] is fit to play. It’s never happened to me that he’s not fit to play. Every time he’s come out on the pitch, he’s fit to play.

“For [Canada], he’s fit to play, without a doubt. It’s a very easy decision for me, because it’s a very frank decision, that if he’s fine, he plays; and if he’s not fine, he plays the last 30 minutes. It’s that easy.

“When he’s fit, he always plays. There are no doubts.”

Sunshine Stars are determined to keep hold of their top stars for the new Nigeria Premier Football League season....Read Full Article

The Owena Waves managed to beat the drop last season.

The Akure-based outfit stated that none of their players still under contract are negotiating with other clubs.

“This is to notify the general public, especially fans of our dear team that NONE of our players who have contracts with us are moving out of the team.

“None of them are negotiating with teams elsewhere. We are determined to keep hold of our best legs,” the club wrote on X.

Sunshine Stars players and officials will resume for pre-season training next week.

The club have also retained head coach, Kennedy Boboye for the 2024/25 season.

Former England striker, Gary Lineker has warned goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford to ditch his water bottle cheat sheet should the Three Lions face another penalty shootout at Euro 2024....Read Full Article

Pickford was England’s hero at the weekend as he made a crucial penalty save against Switzerland to send Gareth Southgate’s side to the Euro 2024 semi-finals.

The Everton shot-stopper denied Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji’s spot kick with a super stop down to his left side.

It emerged after the penalty shootout that Pickford had a helping hand, with photographs capturing a cheat sheet stuck on his water bottle that indicated where each Switzerland player was likely to shoot.

Next to Akanji’s name was the instruction ‘dive left’, which eventually led to Pickford’s vital stop.

However, Lineker has now warned Pickford ahead of England’s semi-final tie that “one player” is going to look at his water bottle.

“One player is going to look at that bottle,” Lineker said on the Rest is Football podcast.

“If you are listening do it differently, do it on a different piece of paper or do it on the post.”

Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has been warned he is “playing with fire” with his new coaching appointments at Old Trafford....Read Full Article

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake are set to join Man United’s backroom team as part of Ten Hag’s coaching staff.

The pair had agreed a two-year deal to become Ten Hag’s assistant at United.

However, former Dutch footballer Johan Derksen has now sent a warning to Ten Hag, telling Voetbal: “He (Ten Hag) is playing with fire.

“I understand it all. The English staff apparently doesn’t appeal to him, that is why he wants all Dutch people.

“Hake doesn’t make you a champion. (Van Nistelrooy) really is a star there. He will be the first assistant, he must have forced that.”

Renato Veiga is set to undergo his Chelsea medical on Wednesday in a bid to move to Stamford Bridge this summer....Read Full Article

Recall that Chelsea have agreed on a deal to sign Veiga from FC Basel.

However, according to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, all the documents will be signed between Chelsea and Basel for Veiga’s transfer to the Premier League west London club after the medical.

“Renato Veiga’s final part of medical will be done on Wednesday then documents will be signed between Chelsea and Basel,” Romano wrote on X on Monday night.

Veiga is a 2003-born left-footed versatile defender and midfielder.

Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Atlanta United star, Caleb Wiley, this summer....Read Full Article

The Premier League west London club have already made five signings this summer under their new manager Enzo Maresca.

They have signed the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Estevao Willian and Omari Kellyman.

However, according to The Athletic, the Blues are now closing in on signing Wiley.

The 19-year-old United States international is expected to join for a fee of £8.5million.

But the left-back is likely to head straight out on loan to French club, Strasbourg next season.

Manchester United have sent a new bid to Everton as they seek to sign Jarred Branthwaite this summer....Read Full Article

United boss, Erik ten Hag, is a keen admirer of the defender and wants to add him to the squad.

The Red Devils have seen an initial bid rejected, but on Monday returned with an improved offer.

Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, wrote on X: “Manchester United have sent a new bid to Everton for Jarred Branthwaite tonight: £45m fixed fee plus £5m add-ons.

“The proposal is formal and official, as @ChrisWheelerDM has reported.

“Everton insist on a £65/70m price for Branthwaite, no deal again at this stage.”

United are also trying to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich.

The Euro 2024 has reached its climax as Spain, France, England and the Netherlands battle for final spots....Read Full Article

There is anxiety among the four teams as they prepare for their semifinals fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday in a bid to make it to the Euro 2024 final.

The Euro 2024 final will take place at Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany, on Sunday, 14 July.

Spain vs France:

The first semi-final match will take place today, Tuesday, by 8pm, Nigerian time.

Spain progressed to the last-4 after eliminating the host nation Germany from the competition.

La Roja won 2-1 against Germany in the quarter-final encounter to book their place in the semi-final.

France, on the other hand, qualified for the semi-final stage after beating Portugal.

The Les Blues won the quarter-final tie against Portugal 5-3 on penalties after the match ended in a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes.

Speaking with DAILY POST ahead of the Euro 2024 semi-final fixtures, a sports analyst, Stanley Smart, said:

“Well, I expect a very tough and close encounter between these two European giants.

“Spain is the only team that have won all their matches in the competition so far. They are obviously the favourite to win the competition due to their performances.

“But you cannot write off the French team. France have not been convincing with their performances so far, but they have world-class players and individual talents like Mbappe and Dembele who on a good day can break any defense.

“They also have a solid midfield and defense, so I don’t expect many goals in this encounter.

“I think the team that takes good chances in front of goal by converting it will win the match.”

Netherlands vs England:

The second semi-final match will take place on Wednesday by 8pm, Nigerian time.

Netherlands progressed to the last-4 after eliminating Turkey from the tournament.

The Dutch team won 2-1 against Turkey in the quarter-final encounter to book their place in the semi-final.

England, meanwhile, qualified for the semi-final stage after beating Switzerland.

The Three Lions won the quarter-final tie against Switzerland 5-3 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.

Making his prediction, Smart added: “Prior to the competition, England were tipped by many as the favourites to win the Euro 2024. But that has changed as Spain is now widely seen as the number one favourite because of their hundred percent winning record so far.

“They [England] will face Netherlands who a lot of people don’t expect to reach this stage of the competition. I call them the dark horse of this year’s Euros.

“Their coach [Ronald Koeman] is a well-known respected manager who has coached Barcelona before. So I expect them to give England a tough time.

“I think the match, just like Spain versus France, will be very tough and a close affair. Any lapses or little mistakes from any of the teams could lead to a goal.”

When asked to pick two teams that could play in the Euro 2024 final, Smart said: “This is a tough question. To be honest, at this stage of the competition, all the four teams deserve to play in the final. To reach the semi-final of any major tournament is not easy.

“At this stage, any little mistake can cost a team. However, based on performances so far in the competition, I tip Spain to edge France.”

“As for England and the Netherlands, well I see a very close contest. I give the Netherlands 55 percent winning chance and England 45 percent,” he further stated.