Sports
Nicolas Jackson Turns Down Chelsea’s No 9 Shirt
Leading the forward line at Chelsea presents a daunting challenge, as evidenced by the struggles of past players like Romelu Lukaku, Fernando Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Alvaro Morata, all of whom bore the infamous No 9 shirt, considered cursed at the Cobham training ground.
Upon his arrival from Villarreal, Jackson had the opportunity to claim the number but declined, despite having worn it for Senegal. This decision left Chelsea among the few Premier League clubs without a designated No 9, along with Aston Villa, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Wolves.
Instead, Jackson opted for the unconventional No 15, the same number Didier Drogba wore when he initially joined Chelsea. Given this choice, comparisons to Drogba were inevitable, given the digits on his back.
Drogba scored 10 Premier League goals in his debut season, helping Chelsea clinch the title under Jose Mourinho. Jackson, currently on nine goals from 24 games, finds himself in a campaign where Chelsea sits 11th. Mauricio Pochettino believes that with time, Jackson will develop composure in front of goal, despite spending this season urging supporters to be patient with the Premier League newcomer.
Jackson’s most commendable trait may be his willingness to acknowledge his mistakes and refuse to let them impede his progress. In a match against Brentford, he stumbled while attempting step-overs in the box, a moment that fueled social media memes. However, Jackson responded by scoring a powerful header, silencing the Brentford fans who had been taunting him.
In another match against Newcastle, he scored a cleverly disguised flick after just six minutes, initially confusing even the Stamford Bridge announcer, who attributed the goal to Cole Palmer. Although a second goal was disallowed due to offside, Jackson’s flicked header set up Raheem Sterling for a one-on-one chance, showcasing his potential for assists.
Despite facing criticism, Jackson, at 22 years old and in his debut season with Chelsea, is proving why it would be premature to dismiss him as a failure. He is leading the line for a club undergoing significant changes and holding his own on the pitch.
Hugo Broos, the head coach of South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, has unveiled a preliminary squad of 36 players for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Bafana Bafana will first play against the Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, June 7. Subsequently, they will host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Broos is expected to reduce the squad to 23 players in the coming days. Presently, Bafana Bafana holds the second position in Group C with three points garnered from two games, while the Super Eagles are in third place with two points, also from two matches.
Victor Osimhen and Bruno Onyemaechi have been added to the Super Eagles’ list of injured players ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.
According to a report from DAILY POST, Osimhen was absent from Napoli’s training session on Monday following an injury sustained during their Serie A match against Bologna over the weekend. Napoli’s official website indicated that the forward was undergoing recovery work for a muscle strain, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming league clash against Fiorentina.
Meanwhile, left-back Bruno Onyemaechi has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze is also uncertain for the two upcoming games due to an injury concern.
Furthermore, Moses Simon, Zaidu Sanusi, and Tyrone Ebuehi have already been sidelined from the qualifiers due to long-term injuries.
On a positive note, vice-captain William Troost-Ekong has recently resumed training after undergoing surgery following the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Real Madrid has clinched the LaLiga championship for the 2023-2024 season, officially confirmed following Girona’s 4-2 victory over Barcelona in the late match.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad secured a 3-0 home win against Cadiz, courtesy of goals from Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham, and Joselu.
With these results, Real Madrid now holds 87 points from 34 matches. Barcelona’s defeat places them in third position with 73 points, one less than Girona.
This marks the 36th occasion that Los Blancos have claimed the league title.
Ahead, Real Madrid is set to host Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final encounter, with the tie currently level at 2-2.
FG unveils logo of project dedicated to youth, police collaboration
Isaac Boro Day: Presidential Amnesty Programme boss urges Niger Delta youths to shun violence
Billionaire Kidnapper ‘Evans’ Seeks Plea Bargain
What we know about Israel’s war with Hamas
LaLiga: Everyone want to play with him – Vinicius on player Real Madrid should sign
Iran calls on Islamic, Arab countries to confront Israel
-
World News7 months agoWhat we know about Israel’s war with Hamas
-
Sports7 months agoLaLiga: Everyone want to play with him – Vinicius on player Real Madrid should sign
-
World News7 months agoIran calls on Islamic, Arab countries to confront Israel
-
Tech7 months agoTop 10 AI Skills to Learn in 2023
-
Entertainment7 months agoBET Hip-Hop Awards: Black Sherif wins big as Burna Boy loses seven nominations
-
ICT8 months agoApple Bows To EU, Unveils iPhone With USB-C Charger
-
Entertainment7 months ago‘Black Panther’ star Lupita Nyong’o breaks up with boyfriend, Selema Masekela
-
World News7 months agoZelensky seeks defences for winter on visit to NATO