2018 AFCON Women's Build Up: Kenya out of Women’s AFCON; Nigeria and South Africa name squads

“The player Annette Jacky Messomo is eligible to play for the National Team of Equatorial Guinea.   ”

— Confederation of African Football

AFCON 2018 latest developments; Equatorial Guinea joins Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Mali, Algeria, Cameroon and South Africa as Kenya makes an humiliating exit from Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. CAF has overturned a decision to ban Equatorial Guinea from the competition after Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol appealed the October 2018 ban imposed by CAF’s Disciplinary Council for allegedly fielding an ineligible player for a second leg tie of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers. CAF announced in a statement that an enquiry into the case of Annette Jacky Messomo who had been previously deemed to be ineligible to play for Nzalang Nacional because the footballer was a Cameroonian, had led to the decision to reinstate Equatorial Guinea.

Miriam of Equatorial Guinea issues instructions during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Group D match between Equatorial Guinea and Brazil at FIFA World Cup stadium Frankfurt on July 6, 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

(July 5, 2011 - Source: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images Europe)

Equatorial Guinea have won the tournament twice in the past and once finished as runners up to Nigeria. In 2016, Nzalang Nacional was also banned after it was discovered that they fielded ineligible players against Mali in the qualifiers. Accusations of an identical offense in this year’s qualifiers against Kenya brought a fresh ban that saw them disqualified from the tournament. The Harambe Queens of Kenya had taken the remainder of the eight spots after the exit of Equatorial Guinea. Now that the decision has been overturned, Equatorial Guinea will replace Kenya in Group B where they will face Zambia in their first match on the 18th of November.

Meanwhile, Group B rivals South Africa and Nigeria have announced their 21 women squads that will be in Ghana. The Super Eagles who are now in training camp in Ivory Coast have announced a squad that consists of 13 overseas players including star player Asisat Oshoala, who is currently with Dalian Quanjian F.C. in the Chinese Women’s Super League and  Desire Oparanozie who plays for French side En Avant de Guingamp. South Africa are set to face hosts Ghana in a friendly at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium this Sunday in Accra .

Equatorial Guinea will face tough challenges from Nigeria and South Africa in the group stages. After a rocky start, they now have a chance to play for the championship title and for a third place qualifying finish for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

2018 CAF Champions League Final: North African date on the books

All the draws, travels, cheers, cries, outbursts and many other priceless moments that always come with the CAF Champions league have once again led up to this moment, the grand finale. The biggest club football tournament in Africa, that pitches the best form each country has reached the climax and just like last year, two North African clubs will got to war for the ultimate prize.

Esperance Sportive team discussing tactics before the FIFA Club World Cup 5th Place match between Club de Futbol Monterrey and Esperance Sportive de Tunis at Toyota Stadium on December 14, 2011 in Toyota, Japan.

(Dec. 13, 2011 - Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)

One of the biggest stories leading to the final has been that of Angolan club, Primeiro de Agosto. Primeiro were eyeing their first CAF Champions League since their inception in 1977 and had indeed moved mountains to achieve just that. They knocked out the likes of 5 time champions TP Mazembe and fellow dream chasers, Mbabane Swallows of eSwatini in the running to the semi-finals. With exciting attacking football and underdog status, Primeiro had become everyone’s favorite in the semifinal mix of dominant North African clubs. However, they respectfully bowed out last night in Tunisia after an eventful second leg semi-final against Esperance Sportive de Tunis.

Primeiro headed into the leg with a narrow 1-0 advantage and doubled that lead, seven minutes after kickoff. Esperance quickly responded with two goals before half-time to bring the tie down to the wire. An unfortunate second half for Primeiro saw them score one more to turn the tie on its head to their favor before Esperance struck twice again, courtesy of defensive errors by the away side. The tie ended 4-3 on aggregate and Primeiro’s manager bemoaned a hostile environment with lit flares, limited visibility, noise and explosives in the stadium by the home fans.

“It was everything but not football, many things happening off the field, bombs exploding off the field, there was an invasion of the pitch 20 came onto the field, It is a shame for me it’s a shame for the organisation - it’s not like football it’s like a terror film.”

— Zoran Manojlovic, Primeiro de Agosto Manager

Al Ahly's Ahmed Mohammed celebrates his winning goal during the international friendly match between AS Roma and Al Ahly on May 20, 2016 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

(May 19, 2016 - Source: Chris Whiteoak/Getty Images Europe)

In the other semi-final, the most successful club in the history of the competition, Al Ahly cruised into the final after seeing off ES Setif of Algeria, 3-2 on aggregate. The Egyptian club opened the scoring in Algeria to triple their advantage before ES Setif scored two second half goals to fight back. It was all too little to late for Setif, as Al Ahly booked a consecutive final spot. The Red Devils will be looking to put behind the disappointment of the 2017 Champions League final loss to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

The 2018 CAF Champions League final will be two legged, to be played on the 2nd of November in Egypt before the return leg, a week later in Tunisia.

Who are you rooting for?

European clubs plot to sign Usain Bolt after debut goals

People change careers all the time but not so much in sports entertainment. The Olympic sprint legend that still lives, Usain Bolt, hung up his running spikes in 2017 and picked up soccer boots. The 32-year-old Jamaican looks like he is not just writing his name in history books but creating new books to write history. His desire to become a professional footballer has not been a secret and the eight time Olympic gold medalist is surely getting some traction now.

Usain Bolt of the Mariners controls the ball during the pre-season match between the Central Coast Mariners and Central Coast Football at Central Coast Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Gosford, Australia.

(Aug. 30, 2018 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

The world record holder for the 100m and 200m sprint currently training with the Australian top flight side, Central Coast Mariners scored two goals for the club in his first full professional match as the A-League side cruised to a 4-0 pre-season win. Though he is still not yet a finished product in football, signs signalling the existence of the talent are evident, passion is unquestionable and speed is in abundance. For Lightning Bolt, the idea of forwards lurking on the edge of a defensive high line seem not to be important to him. For his first goal, Bolt was like two bodies away from the defensive line, obviously outran the centre backs who had a good head start to finish off a delicious pass in typical striker style. Fans present got to witness the infamous lightning Bolt celebration once more, but this time on the football pitch. The second goal was much easier to finish as he capitalised on a miscommunication between the Macarthur South West United defender and goalkeeper, slotting the ball into an empty net.

After training with both Borussia Dortmund and Norwegian side Stromgodset, Bolt was obviously delighted to get off the mark at Mariners. Speaking to Fox Sports, Bolt spoke his heart:

“It was my first proper game with the first team, I’m just happy I got the chance and I’m proud of myself. It was a big deal. I think scoring a goal in your first proper match, it’s a big deal. Your first start and scoring two goals, it was a good feeling. This is what I worked towards, I tried to improve myself, I tried to get better, and I’m on the way to doing that.”

— Usain Bolt, Olympic Champion

Usain Bolt of the Mariners thanks Mariners fans after debuting in the pre-season match between the Central Coast Mariners and Central Coast Football at Central Coast Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Gosford, Australia.

(Aug. 30, 2018 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Bolt’s agent in Australia has also come out to announce that an unnamed club in Europe with new owners, chasing UEFA Champions League football has made an approach for the former Olympian. He shared that the club are willing to offer Bolt a two-year professional contract. Usain’s future at the Mariners is still uncertain as the club is yet to offer him a contract with the new A -League season just a week away but still remains patient and hopeful something can be worked out with the club that offered him a fighting chance at becoming a professional footballer.

In other news for Bolt, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority made known their intentions of testing the Olympic champion for doping to which he reacted angrily and the authority clarifying it as a standard operating procedure for all athletes.

To all the Bolt fans, the reincarnation of your champion might have just dawned.

Relive the Weekend’s Best Moments: Mane Marches On

Is Sadio Mane’s new number 10 shirt working the magic?

Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane seems to be enjoying the new shirt number he is wearing this season. The number that is synonymous to greatness in modern football, offered to only those with the guts to walk the talk.

He continued his wonderful 2018/19 form, showing incredible physicality to stay on his feet after a challenge by Van Aanholt in the box, rounding off the goalkeeper to score the Reds’ second in their 2-0 win away at Crystal Palace. He is currently sitting pretty on the scoring charts, top with three goals after two matches. The same number as Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on August 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 19, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

Are we in for a real African treat with Mohamed Salah, Aubameyang and Mahrez also expected to make a mark? I guess we will soon find out.

Relive the Weekend’s Best Moments: Iwobi’s shaku-shaku

Iwobi shows off some slick trendy dance moves after scoring against Chelsea

Unai Emery’s start to life at the Emirates has not been the best. The Spaniard is still waiting for his first Premier League win with Arsenal, post-Wenger era. One player who has shown signs of more life and perhaps hinting at unleashing the potential which many believe he has is Alex Iwobi. Just a few weeks after signing a contract extension at the Emirates, Iwobi took it to the pitch and backed up his credentials on the pitch. After being awarded his first start under Emery against Chelsea, Iwobi delivered an encouraging performance that included rapid dribbling on the left wing, menacing runs and all crowned by a super right-footed finish in the box after a string of about nineteen passes by the Gunners.

My highlight was the trending Naija shaku-shaku dance moves he showed off after the goal that lighted up his Nigerian brothers and sisters, at home and abroad. Even though the dance was short-lived with counter-celebrations by his teammates, Nigeria got enough to feel proud.

Arsenal players celebrate after Alex Iwobi's winning penalty after a penalty shoot out during the Pre-season friendly International Champions Cup game between Arsenal and Chelsea at Aviva stadium on August 1, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland.

(July 31, 2018 - Source: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images Europe)

Iwobi had the option to represent his country of birth, England, internationally but chose to wear the Super Eagles jersey, the country of origin for his parents. He has actually made a debut appearance in a Nollywood movie called Inpadisu whose release date is yet to be announced.

Do you remember the Ivorian, Gervinho? He’s back in the Italian Serie A

The 31-year-old Ivory Coast international is still in the football world, as a player in case you had forgotten about him. The former Arsenal forward has returned to the Italian Serie A, signing for new boys, Parma after he was released by Hebei China Fortune.

Gervinho of the Ivory Coast in action during the International Friendly match between the Netherlands and Ivory Coast held at De Kuip or Stadion Feijenoord on June 4, 2017 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

(June 3, 2017 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

The forward who neared legend status, at least in my opinion is back for a second spell in Italy having previously played for AS Roma. He appeared 88 times for Roma, scoring 26 goals in three seasons before moving to the Chinese Super League side, Hebei China Fortune where he only found the net 4 times in two-and-half years.

Gervinho has been capped 80 times for Ivory Coast and counting. He scored some 22 goals in those caps and won the African Cup of Nations trophy with the Elephants in 2015, having missed a sudden death penalty in the 2012 final when the Ivorians lost to Zambia. He played at two FIFA World Cups, 2010 and 2014 scoring some great goals as well.

He is apparently not done with the Italian Serie A. Will he create more moments magic before he calls time on his career?

Just in case you forgot what he can bring, check out the video below.

Ivory Coast’s Zaha commits to Palace ending months long speculation

Many of you know him for the edgy haircuts,  some for the ear to ear smile, diving criticism and quite a number of you for the “stop it bro” captions on our FirstTouch Instagram page for embarrassing defenders.  Yes, the amazingly talented forward who has terrorised Premier League defenders in the Eagles colors has penned a new deal keeping him at Selhurst park until the 2022/23 season.

The 25-year-old has really become the backbone of the Crystal Palace side that survived a relegation scare in the 2017/18 campaign after a poor start that saw them lose all of their opening seven matches with scoring a single goal. The fans actually came for the eighth match wearing 007 shirts telling the story of their mishap, only for Zaha to return and break the curse by handing them a 2-1 win over the then Champions Chelsea. In total, he netted nine times in the 2017/18 EPL season and started of this campaign in the similar form, scoring in their 2-0 win over Fulham to become the club’s joint English Premier League top scorer. He has been a subject of speculation with the likes of Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea being linked to the forward whose reported price tag falls in the region of £70 million. It could be much more now because of this new contract.

Cyrus Christie of Fulham and Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on August 11, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Europe)

Here is what Wilfried had to say after putting pen to paper.

“I just wanted to get it over and done with, so I can focus on the season. I’m buzzing that we managed to get it sorted.”

— Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace and Ivory Coast

Even the club chairman admitted that the team is to be built around the Ivorian:

“It’s the last piece of the jigsaw in the transfer window. One of the important things for Wilfried is that we can compete at this level. It’s important that he stays, but we have to put a team around him. ”

— Steve Parish, Crystal Palace Chairman

For Crystal Palace's sake, hopefully Zaha can stay healthy. The Eagles were winless in Zaha's injury absences at the start of last year's campaign and will be hoping for a better start this season. With a 2-0 win on opening day against Fulham, it's safe to say they are on the right track.

Moses will not be seeing the ‘promised land’ with Nigeria after international retirement

On Wednesday, Chelsea’s Victor Moses shook most in the footballing world after announcing his retirement from international football at the age of 27. Most footballers usually hang up their boots at an average age of 34 or 40 if you are Italian. But Moses’ one is a rare find, even Mesut Ozil’s early retirement at 29 was astounding but maybe justified because of the racism claims he fired against some officials in the German Football Association. Could there be more to Victor’s decision?

Moses was capped 37 times for the Super Eagles and scored 12 times including in the most recent world cup appearance in Russia from the penalty spot in their 2-1 loss to Argentina. Nigeria eventually failed to reach the knockout stages of the tournament after that result. He played at two FIFA World Cup tournaments and won the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa. Moses has chosen to take a bow at a time where most are expecting the Super Eagles to continue building from recent positives and soar to new heights. Could he be missing out on sweeter times in the Nigerian camp?

The Chelsea player who will be under new management in London after the arrival of Maurizio Sarri did not forget to explain his decision.

Victor Moses of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

(June 25, 2018 - Source: Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images Europe)

“I have experienced some of the best moments of my life wearing the Super Eagles shirt and have memories with me that will last a lifetime. However, I feel that now is the right time to step away in order to be able to focus fully on my club career and young family, as well as to allow the next generation the opportunity to step up and to flourish. Thank you for the memories and good luck to the team for the future.”

— Victor Moses, Chelsea and former Nigerian International

Atletico Madrid fire warning shots with Super Cup triumph over Real Madrid

Who is the ‘realest’ in Madrid now? Perhaps Diego Simeone’s men can claim this accolade proudly created by me I suppose. The Europa League champions began the 2018/19 campaign on a high after getting one over the UEFA Champions League holders who also happen to be local rivals with a 4-2 win after extra time in Estonia.

It was the first competitive match for the 13 time European champions in the Cristiano Ronaldo-less and post-Zidane era after the former joined Juventus in the summer whilst the latter seemed to have journeyed to the Middle East or maybe Manchester as we speak. It took less than a minute for Diego Costa to put Atleti ahead with a sublime finish from a tight angle. It was really a half chance but the Spaniard did what he does best, conjuring a goal seemingly out of nothing. Benzema then equalised for Los Blancos in the 27th minute before Captain Ramos deservedly scored from the penalty spot to put the men in white ahead, after a good spell when they seemed to have controlled the match. It had to be that man again, Costa. The 29-year-old finished from close range, 11 minutes from time after an eye-catching movement spearheaded by Juanfran from the right which also caught the eyes of some Real Madrid defenders.

Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid lifts the trophy as Atletico Madrid celebrate victory in the UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Lillekula Stadium on August 15, 2018 in Tallinn, Estonia

(Aug. 14, 2018 - Source: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images Europe)

Things really went from bad to worse for the Bernabeu residents in extra-time. Two great goals from Saul Niguez and Koke put the match beyond Real and perhaps started exposing some ailments of the new Lopetegui era. I saw some high school defending moments by two of the best centre backs in the world, a spineless but Modricfull midfield and many other things that would piss Real fans. It really was surreal and I hope it was just a one day thing for the European Champions. Ronaldo fans are well in their right enjoying an “I told you so moment right now.”

In summary, Real Madrid were not at their best but Atletico were scary good as well. New signing, Thomas Lemar enjoyed a free role on the pitch for Los Rojiblancos and this performance could really be building up to the FirstTouch ‘prophecy.’

Make no mistake, this was definitely a statement to the rest of Europe. Atletico is ready for anyone.

FT English Premier League Preview: Can Pogba Help Lead Man United To The Title?

Paul Pogba of Manchester United celebrates scoring the first goal during the Quarter Final Second Leg match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old trafford on April 10, 2018 in Manchester, England. “Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe”

Surely this has to be the Frenchman’s season, or so we think. His heroic exploits in the World Cup where he helped the French national team claim football’s greatest prize, have not gone unnoticed. Paul Pogba’s time to shine is now. The Manchester United talisman has received his fair share of criticism both at the club and national level for all the wrong reasons. Some cite his failure to offer more defensive work in his game, some criticize him for trying to do too much (or little) with the ball, and lest we forget, he’s also received stick for his numerous hairstyles which have been said to somewhat contribute to his disappointing displays at times. Nonetheless, the real question to be addressed right now is can he replicate his France form to the Red Devils’ midfield, going into the new season? Let’s wait and see.

Paul Pogba’s time at Manchester United has been rather bittersweet. Carrying a record-breaking $90 million price tag on his shoulders, the stakes were bound to be high for the Frenchman and they surely have been. In his first season, Pogba had quite an average season by his standards, chipping in with 5 goals and 4 assists in the league. Fast forward to the 2017/18 season, the stats didn’t change much, though we did see some improvements. Pogba managed to score 6 goals and provided 6 assists in what was rather a mixed season for him as his problems and consistency with fully expressing himself on the field continued.

Pogba’s season was filled with loads of activity, good and interesting. For instance, his perceived “fallout” with Jose Mourinho in the middle of the season affected the player’s morale as criticism of his play flew in left, right and center. The bone of contention about Pogba’s play has been more about his failure to assist his teammates defensively, exposing the already suspect Man United defense with the inconsistent midfield cover. This was largely attributed to the way Mourinho was deploying the charismatic Frenchman, playing him in a two-man defensive midfield alongside Nemanja Matic. This made Pogba get caught out of possession countless times, something that infuriated Mourinho who is a master of keeping things tight with his teams. As Pogba”s struggles continued to haunt him, Mourinho set tongues wagging when he started benching the Frenchman in a couple of United’s games, opting for the young Scott Mctominay instead. Many assumed Mourinho was trying to teach Pogba “a lesson” for his disappointing and inconsistent displays, but the Portuguese coach was quick to squash those allegations, citing that Pogba had not been playing at the level he wanted him to play at.

Most Manchester United fans were hoping that Matic’s signing would “unlock” Paul Pogba’s offensive prowess and enable him to provide those key passes and open up defenses with his defense-splitting passes. However, that wasn’t necessarily the case. The glimpses of what he can do were existent nonetheless. A good example that comes to mind was during the Manchester derby where Pogba played a pivotal role in helping United overcome runaway title winners City in a 3-2 victory. In that game, Pogba looked like his former Juventus self, winning balls and initiating attacks for the Red Devils, doing pretty much what we expect of him in every game.

In the lead up to the World Cup, there were worries that Pogba’s place in the France team was not guaranteed due to his poor form at United with some of the French fans even turning against the player. However, coach Didier Deschamps showed Pogba support and assured him of his key role in the French midfield. And indeed he seemed to be proven right as Pogba’s World Cup displays started to accrue more consistency and effectiveness. He was a threat going forward, always looking for the likes of Mbappe and Griezzman with his inch-perfect passes to unlock defenses. Defensively he also did due diligence as he was constantly falling back to assist Kante and company. Moreover, he also scored some crucial goals for France, including one in the final. Overall, Pogba’s World Cup play was a refreshing reminder of the talent he possesses and how impactful of a player he can be when motivated. It was like he had something to prove to the world and especially his critics, those of whom have been on his case for some time now. He definitely proved us wrong (his celebrations at the end of the final said it all). Every Manchester United fan was most definitely pleased with Pogba’s World Cup showing and are surely hoping that he can bring that form to the United team when the season commences.

With the World Cup being signed, sealed and delivered (to France), the focus has now shifted to club level for all players, Pogba included. As mentioned before, the expectations remain high for him and rightly so. I personally believe Pogba has all the attributes to become the best midfielder in the world and emulate the midfield greats such as Luka Modric and Andres Iniesta. Some blame his poor form at club level on Jose Mourinho’s defensive tactics which do not allow Pogba to have the freedom he needs in order to thrive. The validity of that assertion is rather open for various interpretations. But what I know for a fact is that Manchester United can get the best out of Pogba with him playing further up the pitch where he doesn’t have to worry too much about defensive duties. Perhaps the arrival of Brazilian midfielder Fred is the right tonic for Pogba’s chance to shine. It is expected that United will mostly play a three-man midfield with Fred and Matic taking care of the defensive duties and Pogba being the man more responsible for the creativity going forward from midfield. This is what most United fans want, for Pogba’s sake but it all boils down to Mourinho’s preference and we all know he can be very unpredictable with his lineups. Nonetheless, the presence of Fred should surely be the key to unleashing Pogba.

Above all, Pogba’s potential cannot be overlooked. We know he’s one of the best passers of the ball and on his day can make the tightest of defenses look ordinary with his mouth watering passes. His switch of play, footwork, and flair make him lethal and a threat against anyone. As such, coming off a successful World Cup, things look promising for Pogba and many believe the real Pogba will be unleashed this season. Great times lie ahead in the Premier League and many will be keeping tabs on Pogba’s performances. Hopefully, he will shame his critics and earn the respect he deserves with some outstanding performances throughout the season. More importantly, I believe Pogba is the one man who can help the Red Devils wrestle the title away from their cross-town rivals Manchester City and finally satiate the hopes of United fans longing for Premiership glory, a triumph of which they last enjoyed during Sir Alex Ferguson’s era.

FT English Premier League Preview: Can Unai Emery Get Arsenal Back to Top 4

Unai Emery head coach of Arsenal interviews during the International Champions Cup match between Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain at the National Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Singapore. “Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images AsiaPac'“

Long-serving Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, ended his stay at the helm of the London club in May after leading the team for over 20 years. He pointed out that he did not want things to turn out as they did where the Arsenal fans were seen protesting in the stadiums and some flying planes over the pitch with quotes “#WengerOut” and “Thank you for the memories, but it is time to say goodbye”. The Emirates Stadium became hostile even for the Arsenal players who were bashed by the fans for ‘not being worthy to wear the shirt.’ All these challenges were faced by the club less than three months ago before the club appointed the new head coach, Unai Emery. His task is to make sure that all this does not happen and also make sure that the team performs on the pitch. Here’s how we think he will fair this season.

Since the fans were divided on their opinion over Wenger, the atmosphere created in the stadium did not help the players on the pitch. Now, with the appointment of Emery, we see the fans of Arsenal united once again behind the club, and they look like they are ready to back the manager in this post-Wenger era. The new boss has since thanked the fans for supporting him and asks them to be patient and help the team in the upcoming season. He promised them some entertaining football which is part of the identity of the club. By doing this, he has curbed any form of negativity which affected Arsenal’s performances on the pitch last season. This is an excellent step towards success.

Also, he is dealing away with some aspects of Wengerball which frustrated the fans in recent years. Arsenal was playing sideways passes whenever they ran out of ideas and Unai identified this problem before stepping into the big shoes left by the Arsenal legend. In the recent pre-season friendlies, we have already noticed some changes in the style of play as the club is trying out new things like putting the ball over the top which was hardly seen at the Emirates. New signing Matteo Guendouzi released Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through on goal with a delightful lobbed pass, which the Gabonese forward subsequently failed to convert. Sead Kolasinac also did the same for Mkhitaryan in the match against Paris-Saint Germain, which the London club won 5-1. It is these passes that will cause havoc in the EPL and bring them more goals to the ones they scored last season.

Apart from that, Arsenal conceded the most goals (51) out of all the teams in the top 6 last season. They have had challenges with defending for quite some time now, and captain Koscielny’s injury does not make the situation better. However, Emery with the help of Sven Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi, has invested in new defensive options through the purchases of Stephan Litchsteiner and Sokratis. These players have a defensive mindset and are ready to be physical as opposed to most of the Arsenal players who are very laid back and quoted by Troy Deeney as to be lacking ‘cojones’. The hope is for them to help stop the gaps at the back in the club’s search for a top 4 finish.
 

Furthermore, coach Emery has introduced a new way of working at the club. He is seen taking the players for double training sessions and spending more time in the gym with them. He believes in having a squad full of players who work hard throughout the 90 minutes. This requires a lot of preparation, and he has been doing just that. When Arsenal played against Boreham Wood, there was a sense of urgency to get back the ball as soon as they lost it which is different from Wenger’s style. The Arsenal team was vulnerable when they lost possession of the ball and were prone to conceding on the counter. Now, they fight as a team to get the ball back before attacking. This style of play is encouraging to see for the Arsenal fans and has raised their hopes as the 2017/18 season draws near. For the first time in years, the Arsenal fans are optimistic that their team will perform well.

It seems as if the boss has identified the weaknesses of the squad and is working on improving them before the season starts. Do you think Arsenal will be ready to push for top 4 finish let alone mount a challenge for the title? Drop your comments below.

FT English Premier League Preview: Can Salah replicate his form from last season?

I imagine this question has been on everybody’s mind since Liverpool’s Champions League Final against Real Madrid. People are wondering if the Egyptian wizard Mo Salah can replicate his performances from last season. There is no simple answer to this question, but I will try to break down my thought process and let you in on how I think the forward can be a threat in the coming 2018/19 EPL season.

2017/18 was a fairytale season for new summer signing Mo Salah who arrived at Liverpool from AS Roma for a fee believed to be around £35m. Many thought it was an expensive purchase for a player who was most likely going to be a substitute when Klopp’s workhorse, Adam Lallana, returns from injury. Little did we know that the African star sought to challenge the records not just for the club but the historical competition dubbed ‘the most competitive in the world’. Mo Salah grew week by week into a fierce striker capable of scoring against any opposition placed in front of him. If you were not following football last season, you definitely need to know that he scored a record-breaking 32 league goals as well as providing 10 assists in the process. Perfection personified!

Now, the talk has been going on about whether he can grow from this season and replicate this performance especially after seeing his World Cup dreams dashed early in Russia. The Liverpool forward had suffered an injury in the UEFA Champions League final against 13-time champions Real Madrid. This meant that he arrived at the tournament in Russia not fully fit and was unable to make it past the group stage. Many believe that this dented his confidence and could affect his performances in the upcoming season commencing on the 10th of August. Some even drop in the issue of fatigue and say that he has not had enough time to rest which means that he is most likely going to burn out. All these arguments are fair and point to the direction that our bets should not be on the 24-year old Egyptian to star again under Klopp.

But what about the other side of it? What does history say about people like him who dramatically exceed expectations in their first seasons at big clubs? Players, who build year-on-year? Let me help you. Think of Tottenham’s Harry Kane. The forward shocked people when he scored 21 goals in the 2014/15 season. Some even called it a fluke and were convinced that the striker would never come close to those numbers again. Well, they were right. Not in the sense that he failed to reach 21 goals again, but that he has consistently scored more than 21 since that season. He went on to score 25, 29 and just recently reached the 30 goal-mark in a heated race for the golden boot with Salah. This is evidence of a player playing in the same league who managed to produce the goods after an unbelievable season.

Apart from that, Salah’s performance against Manchester City in the International Champions Cup on the 26th of July, 2018 shows that he has not let his foot off the gas. The player was brought onto the pitch in the second half with their team trailing by one goal to nil. It took him only 3 touches in just 53 seconds to find the back of the net and draw Liverpool on level pegging against Pep Guardiola’s side. The Egyptian headed past the helpless Joe Hart despite there being calls for him being offside. His presence inspired the Merseyside club into a victory as Sadio Mane finished off the comeback with a calmly taken penalty on the 94th minute.

What else did they talk about? Oh, yes. Fatigue. They say he is not going to be fit throughout the season. I think these comments are premature as well. Liverpool now have the strength in depth that they have lacked in recent seasons. They recently acquired the services of a certain Swiss talent called Xherdan Shaqiri. The man is short but can give you problems on the flanks and cutting in on his favored left peg. He is most likely going to be taking over in the matches that are not a top priority to the club which especially the cup games. If not him, then Lallana as well will be ready to prove to everyone that he is still a capable team player. All these options mean that Salah can afford to rest and be recalled in the big games to terrorise the defence like he is capable of.

Finally, he must be hungry for success. After witnessing his team bow out to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, Mo Salah must be bitter about that loss, and his lack of contribution due to his injury. His dream, like every other player, is to win the biggest competition in Europe and shine on the biggest stage. After having tasted the fruits of hard work by reaching the final, he must be ready to push again, create chances, and score more goals for Liverpool to realise his dream. Antoine Griezmann is an example of a player who cried countless times after being eliminated by Real Madrid in the competition. But that pushed him to work harder and await his opportunity, and now he is a World Cup champion. Salah is ready for success. I believe he will replicate his performance. What’s your take?

FT English Premier League Preview: How will Aubameyang fair during a full EPL season?

Some call him Arsene Wenger’s gift to Unai Emery. Pierre Aubameyang was the last (mid-season) signing made by the Frenchman before he called time on his long career at Arsenal. There is a lot of hype around the forward and what he is capable of doing. I guess this comes naturally after he claimed Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry’s famous number 14 shirt. The question we try to answer here is how will he fair in a full English Premier League season as compared to other forwards.  

The Gabonese international is a well-known predator in front of goal. He scored a total of 23 goals in 29 matches across all competitions in the 2017/18 season. This obviously includes his contribution in Germany before the turn of this year and his record-breaking start in the EPL for Arsenal. He was brought in with a huge pedigree because he managed to outscore some of the best strikers in the world like Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga. Now, he has moved to England for a new challenge.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang #14 of Arsenal and Juanfran #20 of Atletico Madrid completes for the ball during the International Champions Cup 2018 match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal at the National Stadium on July 26, 2018 in Singapore."Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images AsiaPac"

The top goal scorer in the previous season was a fellow African, Mohamed Salah, of Egypt who scored 31 goals in 38 matches. Although he scored more than Pierre, the Arsenal man has a better shooting accuracy with 61% and also a better goals-per-match ratio with 0.77. Salah stands at 44% and 0.69 respectively. This on its own, proves that the Gabonese forward is a more efficient goalscorer than the person who lifted the Golden Boot accolade at the end of last season.

It is undoubtedly going to be interesting how Aubameyang will fair in a full season against other top goalscorers in the league including Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane, the above mentioned Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku. The new Arsenal coach, Unai Emery, has been preaching about hard-work and is trying to find a new way for the team to play after being used to the tactics of Wenger for 22 years. The recent pre-season friendlies have shown that the team is becoming quicker in transition, which makes them deadlier on the counter. These tactics certainly suit a player of Aubameyang’s abilities whose pace is unquestionable. He managed to score a hattrick against Boreham Wood in a thumping 8-0 victory for the Arsenal. He managed to achieve all of this without the creative genius of Ozil and Mkhitaryan on the pitch. Just imagine how much more he can accomplish with those deadly passers of the ball on the pitch.

I think that Pierre will be a contender for the Golden Boot award in the English Premier League this season. He has already proved that he can do it in England, and can do it better than Salah so there should not be any reason to doubt his abilities in front of goal. However, there are some worries about his contribution in recent weeks after seeing that the new Arsenal coach is deploying the striker on one of the flanks. Against, Boreham Wood, he played on the left and against Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup, he was drifting to the right. This might limit his chances in front of goal and might affect his final standing as far as the top scorers' list is concerned. Who else will be the part of the attacking squad this season?

Romelu Lukaku is also in his second season with Manchester United and has adapted well to Jose Mourinho’s style of play. He scored 16 goals and provided 7 assists for the runners-up in the league. His position in the team is almost guaranteed as the club does not have another out-and-out striker to compete with him for his place in the squad. If he remains fit this season, he will certainly challenge Aubameyang to the top spot on the scoring charts.

Harry Kane is a proven goalscorer in the English Premier League. He has scored more goals in every season since the 2013/14 season. He was the top goal scorer for two years running before Salah came back to England. His Tottenham side is suited for a striker of his abilities and he will be sure to bang in goals. The Englishman seems to be more motivated by goals than trophies which makes him a threat to Aubameyang. He will give it his all to be the highest goalscorer in the league after managing to achieve this feat in the previous World Cup hosted by Russia.

Last but certainly not least. Sergio Kun Aguero. He plays for the defending champions, Manchester City, who won the league with 100 points last season. He scored a total of 21 goals in the league despite being dropped to the bench for Gabriel Jesus on a couple of occasions. Some pundits argued that he was the best finisher in the league, and rightly so, but that was before Salah and Aubameyang came onto the scene. Will he have enough to lift his first golden boot award since 2015?

Top Goal Scorer Predictions:

1. Aubameyang

2. Salah

3. Kane

4. Aguero

5. Lukaku

FT World Cup 2018 Recap: Nigerian Pride

As a kid, I have always been a football fan. The first football team I ever supported was the Nigerian Super Eagles. I was such a super fan that, whenever they lost a game, I used to cry so much, my parents would have to console me and tell me, “Its just a game”. Even though it was just a game, I was so passionate about the Super Eagles. I have watched them play in the world cup on TV in the previous year. This year, I got the opportunity to watch them play live, in Russia. I got my ticket as early as December 2017. Going to Russia became a dream come true. Something I never really wished as a kid but became a reality.

Once arriving in Russia, I had my ups and downs. Following Nigeria all around for all the group matches was tedious. According to the ranking, Nigeria would be the second most traveled team, Egypt being the first.

The first match was against Croatia. It was in a city called Kaliningrad. The train ride was 23 hours but I deferred to flying into Kaliningrad and then, taking the train back. It was a two-hour flight from Moscow, which was my base, where I was with my friends. On match day, I was not too happy because I got to the stadium late. I missed the Nigerian National anthem. Listing to your countries National anthem during the World Cup definitely gives you the jitters but, I missed it because our flight was delayed and the shuttle from the airport to the stadium was driving at the rate in which a snail moves. Nigeria ended up losing the match 2-0 to Croatia. The energy was CRAZY. I was surrounded by a pool of Croatian fans. Around me was probably about 10 Nigerian fans. This was the ratio all throughout the rest of the matches. After the loss, to my surprise, the Croatian fans were super nice to me. I was expecting to be heckled but, they showed sympathy towards the loss and said to me, “Nigeria played a good game”. I ended up taking loads of pictures and heading back to my Airbnb.

The following day, I decided to take the 23-hour train ride back to Moscow. Once I arrived at the train station, I was not allowed to board due to the fact that, I had a Nigerian Passport and didn’t have a Schengen visa. Kaliningrad was a city that is sandwiched in between Schengen state countries. So to get to Moscow from Kaliningrad, I would have to go through immigration in Latvia, and some other countries. So, I had to go back to the airport and get a flight back to Moscow. I got to the airport at about 5 pm and only one flight had seats back to Moscow going for about $450. I had to pass on the seat and get a ticket that left for the following evening for about $90 so, I had to sleep at the airport overnight. I was not alone in the predicament because about another 30 Nigerian fans slept in the airport with me due to the same Schengen visa situation.

Nigeria Vs. Iceland was a much better story. I decided to take the train from Moscow to Volgograd. It was an 18-hour train ride, a cabin with 4 beds, bunk style. I roomed with three Russians. Fortunately for me, two of them spoke English and we were able to conversate throughout most of the train ride. The ride was not so bad, I slept for about 5 hours and enjoyed the fascinating countryside view of Russia. We got to Volgograd in the morning and toured the city until the fan fest opened. The Icelandic fans flooded in to celebrate before the game while the Nigerian fans came in a very light but, it was still a very friendly environment. The match was great, Nigeria ended up winning 2-0. As a fan, I had high hopes we would go to the round of 16 because Argentina tied with Iceland and lost to Croatia so Nigeria was sitting in second place. All we had to do was a tie or beat Argentina.

Nigeria Vs Argentina was played in the beautiful city of Saint Petersburg and to me, it was the most beautiful city I visited from all the 5 cities I visited. I took an 8-hour train from Moscow to Saint Petersburg. I was in a cabin with 4 other Argentine fans. It was an overnight train that departed from Moscow at about 8 pm and arrived in the morning. 

The Nigeria game started with Messi scoring in the early minutes. Being a fan, I was down but I knew we were not out of the game. At the beginning of the second half, Victor Moses converted a penalty to make the scores 1-1. I was exciting sitting next to a pool of sad Argentine fans until Marcos Rojo scored at the end of the match and Nigeria, went home packing.

An interesting moment happened after the game. I left Saint Petersburg at about 3 am to head back to Moscow. Once arriving in Moscow in the morning, I was doing some souvenir shopping in the train station and an Argentine fan walked up to me and said “Change Shirt?”, he wanted to swap his Argentina jersey for my Nigeria jersey. I replied, “No”, and walked away but, about 5 seconds later, I thought to myself, I get to experience this kind of feeling once every four years, it’s just a Jersey, I could always buy another Nigeria jersey online but I don’t want to miss out on saying, I swapped a Nigeria jersey for an Argentina jersey with an Argentine fan. So, I walked back to him and we swapped jerseys.

All in all, the World Cup 2018 was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I enjoyed every moment of it and don’t regret any single moment. I made friends, shared drinks with strangers, sang songs and mingled with football fans all over the world. All I can say now to the World Cup is not goodbye, but so long, see you in Qatar in about 4 years.

FT World Cup Recap: Top 5 U23 Players From The World Cup

We all know that football is a collective goal and one man’s loss leads to everyone’s loss. That philosophy, however, should not make us overlook the efforts of the individuals and give the credit where it’s due. Even though the World Cup eventually went to our African brothers in another continent, there are still some U23s that made us proud and here are they below in no particular order.

1. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

He is just 19 years old, he is a Real Madrid player who is on loan to Borussia Dortmund for two years. That kind of CV is not earned by just anyone, and moreover, he displayed an incredible level of versatility at the World Cup 2018 this summer in Russia. For the FIFA World Cup Group B clash with Iran, he was a right center back in a defense of three. He also performed well as the left back in the following games against Portugal and Spain. This level of versatility is really commendable in a player because it ensures that they are able to grow different skills within the same tournament. He was born in Spain and is the son of Moroccan parents, he roared with the Lions of the Atlas and made them proud.

2.  Peter Etebo (Nigeria)

One thing that most people would most likely remember him for is the “own goal” that he had in the Group D 2018 World Cup match against Croatia. That was not enough to destroy the player’s morale in the tournament. The 22-year old showed that he has the talent to keep moving his career in the right direction. Even though he was known for his abilities as a winger, he strengthened the Nigerian defense line at the tournament which was a sign of flexibility. The player’s speed when charging towards the ball was quite evident in his games. In the Nigerian game against Iceland, he proved that beyond his tenacity in tackling, he is also great at initiating attacks.  He recently signed a 5- year contract with Stoke City where he will take the next step in the development of his career. 

3. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)

Any ordinary 20-year old’s dribbling skills would not match Sarr’s skills. His tenacity on the field was unquestionable during the 2018 FIFA World Cup as he dribbled his way out of his competitor’s traps. His performance made the just the right amount of noise and caught the attention of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool. All teams have been making inquiries with the hope that this youngster will soon grace their squads. The price at which the player is estimated to be purchased for is around 50 Million Pounds. This young player has been dubbed “one of Senegal’s brightest young attacking prospects”.

4. Francis Uzoho (Nigeria)

In the early stages of his career, he was determined to be a center-forward, but his coach saw beyond what Francis thought was his dream at that point. Today, the 19-year-old stands between the goal posts of the Nigerian team. While the other Nigerian goalkeepers could not be at the tournament, he gave a brilliant performance and only conceded 4 goals throughout the tournament. It was quite commendable that at his age, he was able to take up the task of being a first-choice goalkeeper, which is something that has been dubbed as a task for the mature. Thank you, Francis, for teaching us to always be ready to rise to the occasion when the need arises! If there is a memorable experience that we are taking away from this is that fingertip save from Messi’s free kick during the Group D match between Nigeria and Argentina.
 

5. M’Baye Niang (Senegal)

He may have been at fault with his two yellow cards that cost Senegal qualification into the knockout stage, however, he is the reason why the team was tied with Japan in the Group H standings of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As controversial as his goal might seem to have been, Niang was behind why Senegal was able to get away from Poland with a 2-1 victory. Poland fans were infuriated by the way the referee made a ruling on this goal, but this was a typical demonstration of a beautiful mistake. He had been out of the pitch for a short injury break and the Polish players did not notice it. He swiftly accepted a misplaced Polish back pass and went past the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into an empty net. This was indeed the highlight of his appearance at the World Cup. His performance in this match, specifically, also earned him the Man of the Match title.

Percy Tau Is One For The Future

The inevitable has happened, the hottest South African football talent might have just widened his circle of influence with his recent move to the English Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion. Percy Tau has penned a four year deal with the Seagulls, who are reported to have paid £2.8 million for his services, a record-fee for a South African.

A few months before today some thought the Senegalese legend, El-Hadji Diouf had gone mental. Diouf remarked that Percy Tau’s move to the big European leagues was long overdue and even went further to draw a comparison between the Witbank-born player with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. As the 2017/18 South African PSL season drew to a close, it becomes even clearer just how much potential the 24-year old possessed as he proved to be a special ingredient in Mamelodi Sundowns’ title-winning campaign. Tau capped off the season by winning three of the most coveted individual awards in South African football; South African Player of The Year, Players’ Player of The Season and joint-top scorer award. The move could not have come at a better time, especially since Percy had won all there was to win with Bafana BaStyle, including the CAF Champions League. This step up is actually less about him and more about his country’s progress and his role in charting it.

The Twitter community showed just how much the move means to South Africa as a people, who have been criticised for creating a haven of mediocrity by not allowing their players to seek new challenges. Even rivalries were put aside as fellow footballers and clubs took turns to congratulate Percy. Most remarkably was the top SA top-flight side, Polokwane City’s tweet, “Minus one problem! Hamba Kahle Simba (Go well, Lion).” Even the country’s top goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune who plays for a rival club in Kaizer Chiefs tweeted,

“All the very best in your new journey #KingTau @percymuzitau22 fly the SA high #ProudlySouthAfrican #GodIsGreat ”

But the journey is far from over for the speedy forward as he now follows the footsteps of the likes of Quinton Fortune who played for Manchester United, Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers & West Ham United) and most recently, Steven Pienaar, who played for Everton. He might just have a whole lot more to prove given the nation’s hopes pinned on him in an ever-increasingly competitive world. Percy will have to adjust to the new surroundings, new football style, make new friends and prove his worth. He will begin his Brighton career with a loan move in the upcoming Premier League season to “get an experience of European football” and actually allow room to have his work permit finalized.

“Percy is a player we have highlighted for the future, and there is no doubting his talent, having been voted South African player of the season. Percy will go out on loan this season, play regularly and get some experience of European football. We will be watching his progress and monitoring his development over the season.” - Chris Hughton, Brighton & Hove Albion Manager

All South African eyes and many new eyes are on him now and he seems to be embracing the challenge and poised to do well.

“Going out on loan is always good to help a player develop and get better. It’s new for me to be in Europe, and I’ll get to work on myself and a few things that I need to improve...Last season was great, I got a few personal achievements, but we won the league as well, which is something that means so much to me. I’m happy to have gone down that path, but it’s over now and it’s time to make new memories.” - Percy Tau

Adjusting to life at Brighton could actually be aided by the African connection building up at the club with the arrivals of the Malian midfielder, Yves Bissouma, Nigeria’s Leon Balogun who will meet the Cameroonian, Gaetan Bong who has been at the club since 2015.

Let us know just how high you think Percy will fly the South African flag in the comment box below.

FT Post World Cup 2018: The Day Morocco Bullied Portugal

A Few Weeks Before This Day

At the end of the 90 minutes, I was kicking myself trying to conceive how Morocco lost that Group B clash against the European champions, Portugal. In fact, I am still questioning myself hoping to get answers on the Lions of the Atlas’ ordeal. I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the match, cheering on, commentating and at times giving instructions through the television, as if they could actually hear me. That is just some hindsight into the level of passion I felt, which can be hardly described with words. At the end of the day, I was thoroughly entertained but walked away with a sinking feeling which has driven me to reflect in this piece.

Numbers Don’t Lie

Objectively, this is not just a “make Africa look good piece.” I am not a data junkie but let us look at the stats of the match for a second. Morocco had more of the ball with 55% possession, they also had five more shots than Portugal with a total of 15 shots with twice as many on target than their opposition. They had a superior passing accuracy of 76.4% compared to Portugal’s 71.7%, more passes in the attacking third, more key passes, more corners, more dribbles, more recoveries; essentially more of everything in attack. I am sure you are getting the picture now, Morocco actually bullied the 4th ranked team in the world. Hakeem Ziyech literally owned the midfield cutting inside from the left flank, Nordin Amrabat was unstoppable and the defense marshall, captain Mehdi Benatia adopted a second role - heading the ball goalwards at the wake of the countless opportunities, almost like a second striker.

The Significance

This was really huge to me as far as breaking stereotypes is concerned. African teams have been overtime described as “physical” which actually implies that they lack tactical awareness, organization, and are void of the ability to entertain. For the first time in my life, on the biggest stage of them all, I witnessed a European team pushed to the brink and made to defend in numbers, in other words, “park the bus”. Let me be clear, I do not see it in the view of the underappreciated rising to the occasion to prove haters wrong - shouting “I told you so,” but rather, in the light of football is a testament that no particular group of individuals has the inalienable right to mastery and dominance. Everyone can master and dominate, not just in sport but in everything. Allow me to echo the timeless declaration that all men are created equal with the hope that the more we roar it out, the more we move to actualize it.

Every Team Needs A Ronaldo

I am always reminded by my peers that in the end “football is about scoring goals.” Well, I actually concede to that fact but I cannot be robbed of the celebration of broken stereotypes. This gets me to the next point in moving past the “feel good dimension” to that of winning. Arguably the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo actually won that particular match and many others for his country. The recent addition to the Juventus squad delivered a lightning header in the 4th minute from a corner kick, which sealed the points for the European champions. As we celebrate the progression of African football in the context of the Moroccans, I suggest we also aspire not to just do enough but be the best. My hope and prayer are that the small boys and girls in the forgotten and well-known parts of the continent may grind as much as Ronaldo with the belief that they will seize even the smallest of opportunities, become the best players in the world and win battles for their nations.

Morocco finished the 2018 FIFA world cup campaign in Russia, bottom of Group B with a single point after having lost the opening match to Iran courtesy of an injury-time own goal, another loss to Portugal and drew 2-2 with the 2010 World Champions, Spain. The Moroccan matches were some of the most breathtaking matches of my 2018 World Cup experience.

Continue roaring, Lions of the Atlas! 

FT World Cup 2018: Live From Russia - Cristiano Proves Decisive Against Morocco

FirstTouch is in Russia for the World Cup 2018. We will be attending multiple games and celebrating the world’s game with fans from all across the world! Enjoy our blogs that document some of our experiences.

The most riveting thing about experiencing the World Cup 2018 in Russia has been seeing world class players up close and personal. When you watch the game on television, it is completely different from seeing the movements and progressions that occur in a game. This experience is especially highlighted when witnessing one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football. We have been fortunate to see both players on either side of the debate of which is the GOAT. Lionel Messi came first, and although he was breathtaking to watch live, his missed penalty against Iceland proved decisive for all the wrong reasons, unfortunately. Cristiano Ronaldo, however, proved decisive for all the right reasons as Portugal defeated a Morocco team that largely outplayed them for most of the match. His fourth-minute header was the only goal in a 1-0 victory and when he scored it, the Luzhniki Stadium erupted with a roar equally mixed with cheers and boos. And this moment best encapsulates all that is Cristiano, in my opinion. A player with adoring fans worldwide, but also a player some fans love to hate.

Morocco, to their credit, played excellent football. Their build-up play was measured and their comfort on the ball was impressive, particularly against the reigning European Champions. The Portuguese manager, Fernando Santos, is famous for producing tactically disciplined teams that are resolute in defense and equally impressive in their attacking moments. So to see Morocco have Portugal against the ropes for large parts of the match was at times surprising, but to a devout Moroccan fan, it would not have come as a surprise perhaps. I must admit to not having seen too many Moroccan games before this one, but I am familiar with some of their standout players. Medhi Benatia and Younes Belhanda are two of the most successful Moroccan exports, but as a team, there were skillful players in each position. All that was unfortunately lacking was a decisive attacker to seize the chances that Morocco was able to create against Portugal’s defense. Pepe and his fellow defenders bent but did not break. Rui Patricio came up with several key saves, and one wonders if not for the early goal from Cristiano, would the game have assumed a slightly different dynamic. Portugal, at times, was more than happy to sit deep and absorb Moroccan attacks wave after wave, only to then counter with quickness, using Cristiano as the perfect release outlet.

Cristiano Ronaldo showed all 80,000 fans packed into Moscow’s biggest stadium why he commands all the attention and adoration he does. Earlier in his career, he used to run defenders ragged and confuse them with an array of skills performed at breathtaking speeds. Now, he chooses his moments, his endless runs are now decisive sprints and quick bursts of movement in the box. He has become a world class striker and for all of Morocco’s guile and creativity, they sorely lacked a player with the ruthless efficiency of Cristiano. As an attacking player on a counter-attacking team, there are inevitably moments in the match he must wait and defend more than he would like to. However, when called into action, a hush would come over the crowd as Cristiano would explode into action. His movements are much more intentional at this stage of his career and his decisions much more direct and decisive. Every time he had the ball in Morocco’s final third, one sensed a goal could come of whatever he created. Cristiano was also incredibly selfless in his efforts to defend set pieces, with the irony being that he of all people understands the importance of staying focused for those several moments in a match when an accurately delivered ball can affect a change or provide the decisive moment. Having seized the first moment that arrived on his head after a sharp, quick movement in the box to lose his defender, it was admirable to see how often he won defensive headers as well.

Overall, it was an excellent match for the neutral to watch, but as a long-time Cristiano fan, I was finally afforded the pleasure of seeing why he proves so decisive so often. Whereas Lionel Messi controls the game, Cristiano decided his game. Portugal left the pitch with all three points, albeit a draw or even a Morocco win would have been a more fair result. But football is rarely fair. It is a cruel sport that sometimes robs the better team of any tangible satisfaction. Morocco played excellent football but left with 0 points. And Portugal, as well as all football fans were again reminded how decisive and crucial Cristiano Ronaldo is.