Sports
Blow for Leicester City as Wilfred Ndidi faces three-month absence
Blow for Leicester City as Wilfred Ndidi faces three-month absence
Leicester City and Nigerian midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, are set to endure a significant setback as the player is sidelined for a minimum of three months due to a muscle injury, confirmed by Leicester City coach Enzo Maresca.
The 27-year-old missed Leicester City’s recent Championship victory over Huddersfield on New Year’s Day and has been forced to withdraw from Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad. Alhassan Yusuf has been named as his replacement.
With 15 of the Foxes’ remaining 20 league games in jeopardy for Ndidi, Maresca expressed concern over the extensive recovery period. Ndidi, who has been a consistent performer this season with 24 appearances, four goals, and six assists, faces a challenging rehabilitation.
Maresca, addressing the media during a pre-match conference, stated, “The situation for Wilf is the clearest one. Probably for Wilf, it will be a long time. It could be three months. It looks like a muscle problem, but an important one.”
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The absence of Ndidi poses a notable blow to Leicester City’s campaign, especially considering the midfielder’s influential role in the team. Currently topping the table, Leicester will have to navigate a significant portion of the season without one of their key players.
In addition to Ndidi’s injury, Maresca also provided an update on Kelechi Iheanacho, stating that the forward is still not fit to play. This raises uncertainties about Iheanacho’s participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, remains optimistic about Iheanacho’s recovery, stating, “I have spoken to Iheanacho; he’s recovering fast and has even started running. He will most likely join us in Lagos, where the team will be hosted to a dinner on January 9.”
As Ndidi faces a lengthy recovery, Leicester City must recalibrate their midfield strategy, and Nigerian fans eagerly await Iheanacho’s potential return for the AFCON tournament.
Blow for Leicester City as Wilfred Ndidi faces three-month absence
Sports
Iheanacho, Ndidi’s Leicester City secure promotion back to EPL
Iheanacho, Ndidi’s Leicester City secure promotion back to EPL
Leicester City were promoted to the Premier League on Friday after rivals Leeds United crashed to a shock 4-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.
The result leaves Leicester City top of the Championship with 94 points with two games to play while Leeds stay second on 90 but with just one match left.
Third-place Ipswich Town can pip Leeds to the second automatic promotion place as they currently have 89 points with three matches still to play.
Enzo Maresca’s Leicester City achieved promotion at the first time of asking having been relegated from the Premier League last season following a third-from-bottom finish.
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Their final two games begin with a trip to Preston on Monday, before they round off the season with a home finale against Blackburn on May 4.
Leeds will find themselves outside the top two if Ipswich beat Hull on Saturday, or Coventry win their game in hand on Tuesday.
Should Ipswich win both, they will be promoted while Leeds will have to enter the play-offs.
On Friday goals from Ilias Chair, Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field gave QPR victory and guaranteed their survival in England’s second-tier.
Iheanacho, Ndidi’s Leicester City secure promotion back to EPL
Sports
Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo
Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo
Ex-Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has disclosed that the decision of Cristiano Ronaldo and other top footballers to ply their trade in Saudi Arabia was informed by pecuniary motives.
Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr last year in a stunning three-year deal that would see him earn €210.704 million in total.
Other top footballers, who have made names for themselves in Europe, have also moved to Saudi Arabia as the the oil-rich middle east nation injected massive cash into league in order to make it a football powerhouse.
Reacting to the move of Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia and the influx of big players to the Saudi league, Ighalo said the motivation behind these moves was money and not passion.
Ighalo made this known during an interview with sport journalist, Oma Akatugba.
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He said. “See people that are going to Saudi Arabia, big players. Is Ronaldo still playing for passion? He has made more than 100 times what I have in my life, but he still went to Saudi. You want to tell me that is passion? No, it’s for money.
“It’s only when we Africans say it they will say we like money. But these people don’t care, some of them want to be highest paid and all that,”
Ighalo left mainstream Europe for Chang Chung Yatai in 2017 after playing for Lyn, Udinese, Granada, Cesena, and Watford.
At Yatai, he earned a reported €200,000 weekly salary, before moving to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua where he also commanded a similar wage.
Ighalo spent one year in Shanghai before moving to Manchester United on a six-month loan deal.
After that, the 34-year-old joined Al Shabbab, where he started earning €170,000.
Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo
Sports
MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table
MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table
Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance with a double and an assist for Sergio Busquets as Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday, keeping them at the summit of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.
Despite a shaky start that saw Franco Negri inadvertently deflect a corner into Miami’s net within two minutes, Messi swiftly equalized in the 11th minute after Luis Suarez redirected a rebounded shot from the Argentine.
Messi continued to menace Nashville’s defense, narrowly missing another goal before providing an exquisite cross for Diego Gomez, whose header was denied by Nashville keeper Elliot Panicco.
Miami capitalized on their momentum as Busquets, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, nodded in a corner just before halftime, giving Miami a well-deserved lead.
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However, Miami suffered a setback as Gomez was stretchered off with an ankle injury, adding to their injury woes.
Although Nashville dominated possession in the second half, Miami remained resolute defensively. In the 81st minute, Messi sealed the win by converting a penalty after Leonardo Afonso was fouled in the box.
With this victory, Messi extended his impressive goal-scoring record to nine goals in as many games across all competitions for Miami.
Reflecting on Miami’s performance, manager Gerardo Martino praised his team’s resilience, particularly considering their depleted squad due to injuries.
Despite Miami’s success, Columbus Crew faced a tough battle, twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati clinched a 2-1 win over Atlanta United, with Luciano Acosta playing a pivotal role in their comeback victory. This highlights an eventful day in Major League Soccer.
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