“From Recovery to Red Card: Liam Delap’s Nightmare Return for Chelsea”

“Liam Delap Sent Off on His Injury Return as Chelsea Defeat Wolves in Carabao Cup”

Things have not been so rosy for Liam Delap since he joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town. The number 9 hasn’t really experienced much stability since his transfer to Chelsea, as he has been out with a hamstring injury.

However, Delap’s return from injury has been one of the worst possible. He came on as a substitute in Chelsea’s narrow win against Wolves in the Carabao Cup fourth round. Delap, who was subbed on in the 60th minute, picked up a second yellow card in the 86th minute and was sent off.

Delap is now set to miss Chelsea’s next Premier League game against Spurs. Many Chelsea fans have called the striker out for being undisciplined.

“Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid 4–0: Arteta Wins the Haram Ball Derby”

Arsenal has won their Champions League group-stage game against Atlético Madrid by scoring four goals in just 13 minutes. The match was highly anticipated by football fans, as both sides are known for playing a “defensive-minded” style of football, also known as haram ball. However, Mikel Arteta proved that he was more Bin Ladined than his Atlético Madrid counterpart, Diego Simeone.

According to reports, a day before the game, Atlético Madrid players were denied access to hot showers at the Emirates. Looks like Arteta’s shithousery worked wonders, because they were absolutely terrible.

Martinelli opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 51st minute, with Timber making it two in the 63rd. Then Gyökeres ended his goal drought with a brace in the 67th and 70th minutes. He was also named Man of the Match for his performance.

Guess Arteta can definitely be crowned Mr. Haram. I mean, there was absolutely no way Arsenal — a team with up to eight solid defenders — weren’t going to haram their way to victory. One can safely conclude that if everything were up to Arteta, he’d probably buy 11 defenders as players. But I guess he isn’t totally in charge, because the people around him definitely understand that he’s not entirely normal — so impulsive!

20.10.20 — The Day Nigeria Died #EndSARS

Some of us may argue that Nigeria died years ago, long before the Lekki Toll Gate incident — and that the incident was simply the burial of an already dead country. However, the death of the nation became manifest on 20-10-2020, when the Nigerian Army opened live ammunition on innocent young people whose only “crime” was a dream — a dream of a better future, a future their forefathers once had access to.

Simple people with simple dreams, carrying the flag of our country — the green, white, green, a symbol of hope — had their blood stain that flag. A symbol we should call our honour is now stained with the blood of our people.

That was the day the country, and everything about it, collapsed. They didn’t care that the people gunned down were singing a song of unity — the national anthem — a song that turned into a dirge when it became the last words of a people who had carried the fire of hope and faith.

Till today, no one knows the shooters.

There is still no justice for the End SARS victims.

20-10-20

We will never forget.

We will never forgive.

Who gave the order?

#EndSARS

World Cup: No Agenda Fashioned Against Victor Osimhen Shall Prosper

Nigeria has qualified for the African playoffs through Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick. While we would have gotten a direct qualification if we had played the way we played against Benin Republic in other matches, I am still very happy that there is still hope. Though, as they say, it’s still the hope that kills.

However, what’s paining me is how Nigerians tried to slander Victor Osimhen for Nigeria almost not making the cut for the World Cup. According to them, he is the star player and he always gets angry at his teammates after any match that doesn’t go their way, so they’re trying to create an agenda. These guys are forgetting that Victor only played 5 games—sorry, 4 and a half games—because he was subbed off early with an injury against Rwanda.

In all the games he played, he had a goal contribution. Even in the Zimbabwe match we drew, it was after he was subbed off—just 5 minutes after—that captain Ekong, senior man Ndidi, and that werey Nwabali couldn’t defend the backline. But Victor shouldn’t be angry, right? If only we had won that match, we would have gotten direct qualification. But it’s okay; at least we still have a chance.

Victor has 7 goal contributions in 4 and a half games—6 goals and 1 assist—yet you say he’s not world-class? He is exactly what you call him: Jagun Jagun Turkey ooh, PJ Mask! He keeps delivering. He has 29 goals and 12 assists in 44 games for Nigeria, so better put some respect on his name.

I like the fact that he silenced all his haters by even opening the scoring against Benin Republic in the 3rd minute. Now, all we have to do is play like this in our other games, and I promise you there’s no way we won’t qualify.

Another thing—God bless our coach, Eric Chelle.

Super Eagles Forced to Make Emergency Landing in Angola After Plane Suffers Cracked Windscreen

According to a report by The Punch, the Super Eagles are currently stuck in Angola after being forced to make an emergency landing. The chartered Value Jet aircraft carrying the Super Eagles reportedly suffered a cracked windscreen shortly after takeoff from Luanda, Angola, where it had stopped to refuel.

Fortunately, all the players are safe, thanks to the professionalism of the pilot who landed the jet safely.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in a statement, revealed that the same plane had earlier conveyed some officials to Polokwane on Friday, where the match against Lesotho was played. However, while carrying the Super Eagles back to Nigeria, it suddenly developed a cracked windscreen.

The statement read in part:

“However, after a routine refueling stop in Luanda, Angola (where the plane also stopped to refuel on Thursday night, and where the same plane had stopped to refuel to and from Bloemfontein in South Africa for the Matchday 8 encounter between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana last month), the aircraft suffered a cracked windscreen mid-air after takeoff, and the pilot did well to guide the airplane safely back to the airport in Luanda.”

The NFF also emphasized that it is working with the Minister of Transport, the Chief of Staff to the President, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to secure the necessary landing permit for another aircraft to pick up the Super Eagles and fly them safely to Lagos, Nigeria, before heading to Uyo.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to play their last World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, October 14th, against Benin Republic in Uyo. They must secure a convincing win to qualify directly for the World Cup if South Africa fails to beat Rwanda, or settle for a playoff spot if South Africa wins.

Nigeria To World Cup: It’s The Hope That Kills

On October 14th, I’m going to be off the Internet. Don’t ask me why.

Okay, ask me why.

The Super Eagles are playing football. Apparently, Nigeria is set to play its last World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo — and we need a win to secure first position if South Africa loses, or at least a playoff spot if we beat Benin.

Now, you might wonder why I want to disappear from the Internet that day. Simple: the Super Eagles are the kings of disappointment.

First of all, we shouldn’t even be in this situation. What exactly was the plan? To struggle for qualification like amateurs? And then there’s the painful truth: the Super Eagles always disappoint when it matters most.

Just look at AFCON 2024 — wahala talah! Nobody expected Nigeria to even cross the group stage with that confused tiki-taka football, yet somehow we reached the finals. And then, as usual, we bottled it against Ivory Coast — the same team we had beaten 2–0 in the group stage.

What still pains me is Ola Aina’s confession after the final — that he played with a Grade 2 hamstring injury. Nigerians were all over social media calling him “patriotic” and “selfless.” Abeg, that wasn’t patriotism. That was stupidity — foolish and selfish behaviour. Why didn’t you say you couldn’t play? Both goals we conceded came from his side.

As for this World Cup qualification, I had already given up hope. The way these players have been performing, it’s like they’re on a playground. But somehow, despite everything — the heartbreak, the trauma, the disappointment — there’s still that tiny flicker of hope in me.

And you know the saying: it’s the hope that kills.

Because the Super Eagles have this insane habit — they give you hope on a platter of gold today, and snatch it away the next day.

Oh, and by the way — that Uyo Stadium is cursed.

Even If Nigeria Qualifies by Mistake, Ibrahim Gusau Still Needs to Step Down

If Nigeria doesn’t qualify — sorry, when Nigeria doesn’t qualify — for the World Cup, heads need to roll. People need to resign, and the first person that should heed the call is the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, who has achieved nothing since he took office. Only the devil — sorry, God — knows how he won the election to lead the NFF after not achieving anything during his years as the head of the Zamfara FA.

I mean, this is someone who made our U-20s play like they hadn’t kicked a ball in their lives. We all know that Nigeria is on the verge of missing another World Cup, though permutations and calculations might still find a way to help us finish among the best second-placed teams. However, my point is that when the Super Eagles draw against Lesotho today, everybody’s eyes will clear.

But if the Eagles win their remaining matches with a very good goal difference — even if South Africa don’t drop points — Nigeria still has a chance to qualify. This is because, among the second-ranked teams, and due to Eritrea’s withdrawal from the qualifiers, Group E has only five teams. To balance this, CAF decided that the games against the bottom teams in each group would not count.

For this to favor Nigeria, we have to pray that Zimbabwe, who haven’t won any of their games, finish bottom. This is because we only managed two draws against Zimbabwe, which means we’d lose just two points. Meanwhile, other second-placed teams in different groups would be deducted more points because they won their matches against the bottom-placed teams.

However, if we want direct qualification, we have to pray that Zimbabwe beat South Africa, who are on 14 points after being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho.

Now, we need to win our game against Lesotho but also pray they don’t finish bottom. In fact, even if we qualify by mistake — maybe God wants to punish South Africa for something — Ibrahim Gusau still needs to step down, first for making me start learning Further Maths that I didn’t even do in secondary school.

What pains me most is the fact that he has the effrontery to be gunning for a second term despite his glaring failure.