Nigeria's Ngozi Ebere signs a one-year contract with top Norwegian Club

“Nigerian players are highly sought after, abroad and history has shown that foreign-based players bring knowledge and greater quality to their national teams’ play. ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Norwegian club Arna Bjornar has signed Super Falcons defender and the 2018 AWCON champion, Ngozi Ebere. Ebere’s career began in the Nigerian Women’s League where she won six titles with former club River Angles. The three-time CAF woman of the year has signed the year-long contract with Arna Bjornar after a one-year stay at Barcelona FA.

Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria celebrates her game-tying goal against Sweden with Asisat Oshoala #8 and Ngozi Ebere #23 during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.

(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

In 2015, Ebere made a major career move to PSG from the Nigerian Women’s League on a two-year contract. The year 2017 saw her leave PSG and the French Ligue unsatisfied, immediately moving to Cypriot side, Barcelona FA. The latest transfer to Norway has been highly praised with the 27-year-old defender touting the move to the Topperserian side as a fresh new challenge. The former PSG player told the media that joining the highly competitive Norwegian league offers the Nigerian an opportunity to grow as a player and added that, "As a professional, you want to keep testing yourself among the best, right now I am prepared for that."

Ebere has played for the Nigerian U-20 and appeared 20 times for the Super Falcons. In 2015, she was an integral part of the Super Falcons’ World Cup campaign and brings her experience to one of Europe’s top flight Leagues in Norway, where she will be a great asset for Arna Bjornar.  

Nigerian players are highly sought after abroad and history has shown that foreign based players bring knowledge and greater quality to their national teams’ play. The Super Falcons currently have a big pool of foreign-based players including former Arsenal Women player Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie and Onome Obi just to mention a few. Currently having a sorority of foreign-based players is best practice for the top teams on the continent.

The Norwegian league resumes in March. Ebere will join her new club for the pre-season training camp in Turkey in preparation for the fresh challenge in the Scandinavia.

Vitesse, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord opening academies in Zimbabwe?

“Ajax already has it with Ajax Cape Town and I am thinking about a partnership with either Vitesse, PSV or Feyenoord. I want to go to PSV and ask head coach Mark van Bommel and his advisor Bert van Marwijk to work with us.”

— Clemens Westerhof, former Nigeria and Zimbabwe Head Coach

It’s of no doubt that football in Africa has been lagging behind on many aspects. The number of quality players that make it to the professional scene versus that of those that fail to find opportunities and are forced to change professions before their mid-twenties is astonishing. Many have talked about these things and some have even suggested solutions which are yet to yield impactful results. Clemens Westerhof, the former Nigeria and Zimbabwe national football coach has something brewing for Africa.

Background

Thulani Serero of Ajax in action during the pre-season friendly match between Norwich City and Ajax at Carrow Road on July 31, 2012 in Norwich, England.

(July 30, 2012 - Source: Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe)

Apart from the fact that the Dutchman has coached the national teams of Nigeria and Zimbabwe, the 78-year old football veteran has had some experience in coaching at club level in Zimbabwe. He coached one of the biggest clubs in the country, Dynamos, who have a rich history admired by many.

His plan

The Netherlands born coach, Clemens Westerhof is contemplating the possibility of coaching at a telecom club in Gweru, Zimbabwe and taking up a challenge of building an academy ground-up. The latter is the more interesting part which has been touched by some football greats like Johan Cruyff who influenced the structure and style of play at Ajax, a successful club and academy that has a rich scouting network. Westerhof admires how Ajax have setup a network in South Africa i.e. Ajax Cape Town which has developed players like Thulani Serero. This partnership has brought some developments to the country through the spread of high-quality training techniques applied in other parts of the world.

Clemens Westerhof assumed an advisory role at the Peter Mubi Academy. The football academy wants him to improve their academy and hopefully achieve what he achieved in Nigeria in the past and improve the level of football in Zimbabwe. He is looking to collaborate with Dutch football clubs. The experienced coach wants to take advantage of his network and approached PSV Eindhoven, coached by a football great in Mark Van Bommel who played for Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. He is quoted as having said the above.

Could this be it? The breakthrough that Africa needs. Are partnerships with bigger clubs in the world the solution to Africa’s football ills?

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?

2018 Women's AFCON: 3 Lessons to learn from COSAFA 2018

“The players were exposed to so much pressure as the coach needed to trim the squad from 29 players to 21 players as per the requirements of the tournament. That, on its own heightened the pressure as the team members needed to prove that they are worthy of retainment.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

When South Africa decided to call herself using the name of a region, the other countries in the Southern part of Africa then seemed to be invisible. Even those that know about this region easily associate it with Nelson Mandela.  Fortunately, the COSAFA Women’s Championship showed that Southern Africa has more incredible things to offer. This September, the tournament which is organised by the Council of Southern Africa Football Association gathered the 10 teams from Southern Africa. They also invited Uganda and Cameroon not miss out on what the South has to offer.

Our interest is beyond the wins that were accomplished here but it is deeply in the three lessons that we could derive from from the battle that these ladies fought on the field. Lessons difficult to ignore as the 2018 Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations looms.

1. In the modern day of GOATs, the old adage of teamwork prevails

Desiree Scott of Canada and Andisiwe Mgcoyi of South Africa contest for the ball during the Women's Football first round Group F Match of the London 2012 Olympic Games between Canada and South Africa, at City of Coventry Stadium on July 28, 2012 in Coventry, England.

(July 27, 2012 - Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Europe)

The tournament reminded us that if anyone is to succeed in anything they do, they should leverage the strength of other people. This was a lesson that was echoed by winner of the player of the match award in the final, Kaylin Swart, who was quoted saying “I want to say thank you especially to the girls as we could not have done it without each other..and honestly, it is a team effort.” South Africa (Banyana Banyana) walked away from the tournament with the 2018 COSAFA title and they accredited that to the fact that they were willing to close the gap for each other and most importantly, were ready to accept each other’s lesser strengths which is basically what teamwork is about.

2.  Competition Brings Out the Best in You

Ideally, this tournament is meant for the Southern part of the region, but as mentioned two nations were brought in as guest nations. They were Cameroon and Uganda. These two teams outdid the Southern teams with Cameron making it to the finals while Uganda snatched the bronze medal. Had these teams not been here, countries like Zambia would have ended at a higher position. These guest nations came in for the competition, revealing to sides like She-polopolo of Zambia that that they still had something to work on. Sometimes we dislike competition but it is losing to teams like the Cameronian team that will enable Southern African  teams to work on their weaknesses in preparation of the 2018 Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

3. Status Cannot Substitute Hard Work

Andisiwe Mgcoyi attends the Team South Africa Training Session at Sportschule Hennef on July 11, 2012 in Hennef, Germany.

(July 10, 2012 - Source: Mathis Wienand/Getty Images Europe)

More than any other country, Banyana Banyana has won the Women’s COSAFA Cup a record, five times. They walked into the tourney as undisputable favorites also boasting of Olympic Games appearances. With such an impressive track record, one could think that South Africa should have rested and not worked as hard in the 2018 edition. However, ahead of the tournament, the Banyana Banyana coach called the team to a gruelling training camp in Johannesburg from the 5th to the 10th of September. The players were exposed to so much pressure as the coach needed to trim the squad from 29 players to 21 players as per the requirements of the tournament. That, on its own heightened the pressure as the team members needed to prove that they are worthy of retainment. The hard work invested into this tournament paid off for South Africa as they were able to defend the title. Surely, yesterday’s victories do not guarantee today’s victory if hard work is eliminated from the process.

FT Hidden Gem Series: Who is Tinotenda Kadewere?

More often than not, people focus on the players that are already known in the most famous leagues in Europe. Not many of us take time to appreciate a rare talent that continues to escape the radar. Look at Jamie Vardy for instance, he shined in England at the age of 28, but who knew about him before then? In this piece, we look at a certain talent from the country of Zimbabwe before he blows up and becomes one of your favorite African players in no time. Here’s what Tinotenda Kadewere is about.

Background

Tino Kadewere was born on the 5th of January in 1996. He started his career at Harare City in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League at the age of 18 where he scored 7 goals just halfway into his debut campaign. In 2014, he left Harare City for Djugardens on a loan deal with an obligation to buy him on a 4-year-long deal. It is at the Swedish club that he started to grow not only in terms of his technical abilities but also his physique. Two years down the line, the Zimbabwean striker was a few inches taller and staking a claim for a place in the AFCON games played in Gabon. Although he failed to make an appearance in the tournament, he was inspired by his involvement in the dressing room and he sought to use that experience to push for further success at his club, Djugardens. Tinotenda famously scored 4 goals for Djugardens in a single league match which is a record that had not been matched since 1978. This summer, French Ligue 2 side, Le Havre scooped him from the Swedish team for a fee reported to be in the region of $2.5 million.

Photo: Kenta Jönsson/Bildbryan

On his move

Tinotenda was excited to take the next step in his football career by moving to the French side in July 2018. Who wouldn’t be? This is the country where players like Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, George Weah, Didier Drogba etc. made a name for themselves. This league also worked as a stepping stone for them when they eventually made their big moves to clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Chelsea. This should be very encouraging to the young player who is hungry for success. He said, “It’s good news for me as a footballer to make another step, but it’s also bad news because I don’t know how I will live in France without all these Djurgardens people.” He was obviously emotional about leaving the club that showed faith in him when he was just a teenager and gave him the chance to play European football.

On his attributes

Tino Kadewere’s favorite position is centre forward. He is an Aubameyang-type of a striker who works best on the shoulders of the defense and can use his lethal pace to beat his markers before scoring goals. It is no surprise that he had already scored 8 goals in 12 matches this season with his pace a menace for defenders in the Swedish First Division. His physique has been growing by the years and he no longer looks like someone who could be budged off the ball like many strikers of his age.

Just like many talented players, he is also capable of playing in a number of positions on the pitch. His pace and trickery also warrants him a place on either flanks because Kadewere is confident that he can beat any defender as long as he has the ball in his feet. These attributes are the reasons why he was deployed on the flanks during his High School years. Obviously, he is no Jay Jay Okocha with the ball yet but the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old Zimbabwean. It is easy to see how this type of player can fit in the squads of the big teams around Europe. Real Madrid have one in Lucas Vazquez who comes off the bench as an impact player. Even Arsenal have that in Alex Iwobi who offers something different from the flanks. Maybe Tino could be that for a team like Chelsea in England or Atletico Madrid in Spain.

On his Injury

If you did not know, Tino Kadewere picked up an injury which was later revealed to be internal ligament damage in his left knee. He had this to say about his injury, “It is obviously boring but it is also part of the football at the same time. Now, the only thing that matters to me is to fix this and come back even stronger.” This injury did not scare off interest from Le Havre who still invested in his services despite the fact that the player was facing 8-10 weeks on the sidelines. It is quite rare to find in football that a club pays so much money for a young player let alone someone who is injured. However, they are confident in his ability and potential to become a great player for the club and rightly so. Tino is a player on the rise.

Achievements:

1. The 22-year old guided his old club, FC Djugardens to the 2017/18 Svenska Cupen on the 10th of May, 2018. He scored four of the 14 goals by the club in the tournament. This trophy was the first title for the club since 2013.

2. Kadewere won the COSAFA Cup (a tournament organized by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) with his nation on the 9th of June 2018 just a month after lifting a trophy with his club. The young forward scored a brace in the final against Zambia and provided one in a 4-2 victory for the Warriors of Zimbabwe.

Is Senegal's Koulibaly the best CB in Italy?

Often times soccer fans debate about the best players in the world which usually boils down to either Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo who recently joined Juventus in Italy. This is usually because these players are consistent in scoring goals and matches are won by goals. Consequently, not much recognition is given to midfielders who create those chances let alone defenders who protect the back as the team attacks. Because of that, FirstTouch makes a conscious effort to appreciate the contribution of defenders to the game. In this piece, we look at a certain Senegalese centre back by the name Kalidou Koulibaly and compare him among the best defenders in Italy and the rest of the world.

Background

“Napoli conceded only 29 goals in the 38 matches that they played and the Senegalese defender was intelligent in his play. He was tasked with stealing the ball from the strikers and stifling any threats just in front of the arch and he did just that. He only committed 8 fouls in the process which is significantly low as compared to other defenders like Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus who committed 27 fouls and Bonucci with 25.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

The Napoli defender currently valued at €100m was born in France to Senegalese parents and identifies as African. He began his professional career at Metz in 2010 before joining Genk, the club that nurtured other world class talents like Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois in 2012. He pledged his allegiance to Senegal in 2015 although he had represented France at the Under-20 football level. He was eventually picked to solve the defensive situation at the Naples side, where he has been a consistent performer since 2014.

Koulibaly’s Strengths

Organizing the defense is part of the requirements when comparing the very best of defenders in Italy. The players have to be great at communication with their goalkeeper and the rest of defenders playing on the team. Kalidou Koulibaly is a leader in that Napoli team and has helped his team throughout the 2017/18 campaign. The best way to assess a defender’s ability to communicate is by looking into the individual errors committed by the player leading to a goal. Koulibaly was not culpable of such mistakes in the previous season and has started this 2018/19 season very well. He looks sharp and commanding at the backline next to Raul Albiol.

Robert Lewandowski of Poland is challenged by Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Poland and Senegal at Spartak Stadium on June 19, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.

(June 18, 2018 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Europe)

Besides, the primary role of a defender is to shield the goal and prevent the ball from going in. Koulibaly was exceptional in the 2017/18 season where he led his team to a second placed finish in the Italian Serie A. Napoli conceded only 29 goals in the 38 matches that they played and the Senegalese defender was intelligent in his play. He was tasked with stealing the ball from the strikers and stifling any threats just in front of the arch and he did just that. He only committed 8 fouls in the process which is significantly low as compared to other defenders like Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus who committed 27 fouls and Bonucci with 25. It is clear that the African defender would be the best bet among these Italian defenders because he is less likely going to put the team in trouble through committing unnecessary fouls in dangerous positions. This season as well, he leads the pack in terms of interceptions (6), blocks (2), tackles (8) and clearances (7) in just the three games that he has played. Both Chiellini and Bonucci, the so-called best defenders in the league are far behind the African star which makes us question the criteria used by the relevant authority in determining the best defender in the country.

According to Pep Guardiola, defenders in the modern era have to do more than just defending. They have to instigate the attack which means that they need to have the quality to pass the ball from the back. We also looked at this part of Koulibaly’s game comparing him to the Juventus pair. His ball playing abilities were above every other defender in the league. He made 3324 passes across all competitions compared to Chiellini’s 2196 and Bonucci’s 1951. If that is not enough, he also had the most completed passes pegged at 91%. Chiellini and Bonucci were at 87% and 86% respectively. These numbers are out of the ordinary and it is no surprise that Chelsea were rumored to have submitted a €100m bid in the summer of 2018 which was turned down by Gli Azzurri (The Blues). Kalidou Koulibaly is just quality!

Limitations

Kalidou Koulibaly of S.S.C Napoli during the international friendly game between Liverpool and Napoli at Aviva Stadium on August 4, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland.

(Aug. 3, 2018 - Source: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images Europe)

The only explanation for being snubbed from the conversation of the best defenders in the world boils down to the fact that Koulibaly last won a trophy 4 years ago. Many debates about the very best include the aforementioned individual statistics as well as the accolades won collectively. His club has not done him justice and he must be disgruntled seeing players like Sergio Ramos win the UEFA Best Defender Award ahead of him when he conceded more goals than him and was nowhere near the numbers achieved by the 28-year old. Maybe if Napoli become more ambitious and stop selling their best players, he might be able to mount a challenge for the biggest titles in Europe and earn his status among the best defenders.

Also, Koulibaly has had little success so far in trying to create a formidable partnership at the back with Lamine Sane at the back. The Senegalese team looks very strong on paper but somehow, they still lack that competitive edge when it matters the most. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, they were the best African team at the tournament, arguably the best team in the group but they still failed to make it past the Group Stage. A lot more is expected of him from his national side.

What’s next?

Catch Koulibaly in action this international break when his side, Senegal, plays against Madagascar in the AFCON Qualifiers. He must be disappointed by his nation’s early exit from the biggest individual sporting competition on the planet. Koulibaly will be looking to guide his team to victory against the Southern African team. Senegal currently lead Group A with 3 points after having beaten Equatorial Guinea by 3 goals to nil back in June 2017. We anticipate this to be an easy victory for Senegal.

Will Siphiwe Tshabalala succeed in Europe?

The old adage “age is nothing but a number” has been proven true now and again by some of football’s biggest stars. From Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock move to Juventus, then Gianluigi Buffon’s surprise switch to French giants PSG, our football stars seem far from hanging up their boots. That said, even our own African superstars have also followed suit in their hunger for more success and new challenges. South African legend Siphiwe Tshabalala has also been a focal talking point following his departure from Kaizer Chiefs to Turkish outfit Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor.

Shabba’s time at Amakhosi

Siphiwe Tshabalala of South Africa scores the first goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(June 10, 2010 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe)

Siphiwe Tshabalala joined South African giants Kaizer Chiefs back in 2007 from a first division club at the time, Free State Stars and went on to have a great deal of success with the Soweto club. At Chiefs, “Ntho tse monate”, as Shabba is known in the football circles won two ABSA premiership titles with Amakhosi as well as six domestic cups with the club. Shabba also won the coveted Kaizer Chiefs player of the season back in the 2008/2009 season after an impressive showing in the season. The 33-year-old dreadlocked winger made a total of 358 appearances for the mighty Amakhosi and also went on to score 58 goals overall.

Apart from being a popular premier league player, Tshabalala also made headlines for some moments of brilliance on the international stage. A big moment that elevated his popularity in the football circles was his outrageous long range goal that he scored for Bafana Bafana, the South African national team, back in 2010 during the opening match of the FIFA world cup against Mexico. It was an emotional moment not only for Shabba but the African continent as a whole as it was the first ever goal to be scored in a world cup hosted on African soil and it surely had the characteristics of a classic goal. As if that was enough, Shabba’s goal was nominated for the FIFA “puskas” award as a strong contender for goal of the year in 2010. Tshabalala made 91 appearances for Bafana Bafana and went on to score 12 goals of which  most of them were from set pieces as he was a dead-ball specialist with his revered left foot.

Style of play

SiphiweTshabalala (L) of the Chiefs runs with the ball during the Nedbank Cup Final between SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 25, 2013 in Durban, South Africa.

(Dec. 31, 1999 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Shabba’s style of play was loved by most South African football fanatics, especially the Kaizer Chiefs supporters. His flair and pace on the left wing, coupled with his trickery and ability to shake off a defender in one-on-one situations, made him a nuisance to many defenders. Shabba was more of a short passer and always tried to find spaces between defenders. In his later years at Chiefs, Tshabalala began playing more of a central role where he played just behind the strikers and was the one tasked with creating chances for the Amakhosi forwards. Apart from his crossing ability and his sheer pace, Shabba is widely respected for his dead-ball abilities where he has scored a sizeable number of goals from set-pieces with his deadly left foot.

International dream becomes a reality

The 2018/2019 season didn’t quite kickoff well for Shabba as he wasn’t starting much of the opening games particularly due to the arrival of the new Kaizer Chiefs coach. As such, Shabba’s role had become more of him coming on as an impact player in most games. As such, Shabba was able to get an offer from Turkish outfit Erzurumspor which provided him his long-time dream of playing in Europe. So far, "Ntho tse monate” has started one game with his new team as he is still settling in. Nonetheless, much is expected from Shabba and many believe he has the experience to take the Turkish league by storm. The question on football fanatics minds is that will Shabba succeed, or has his time passed?

Post-Ronaldo Real Madrid: Can they compete?

Julen Lopetegui, manager of Real Madrid instructs his team during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Getafe CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 19, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Aug. 18, 2018 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe) 

The 2018/19 season commenced less than a month ago and the departure of Real Madrid’s greatest ever goalscorer made the headlines. Not many expected the player to leave the club that he claims to love, but who could blame him if he was not feeling wanted anymore. The Portuguese star averaged at least 40 goals per season since 2009 when he moved to the club from Manchester United and has been the focal point of the club’s successes in the past decade. He picked up 5 Ballon D’Or (World’s Best Soccer Player) Awards in his career to date which is the same as fellow GOAT, Lionel Messi of Barcelona. Tinotenda Magiya writes how Real Madrid plans to cope with the loss of their greatest asset.

Gareth Bale seems to be the answer to many questions. The Welsh forward was brought to Madrid in a world record transfer from Tottenham Hotspur back in 2013. It is only when he arrived that the club managed to win the UEFA Champions League after 9 failed attempts. Bale was brought with the expectation to rival Ronaldo for the best player within the camp and ensure that healthy competition translated to trophies. It is fair to say that the Galactico signing has not quite lived up to those expectations as he suffered many injuries throughout his time in Spain. Instead of scoring those huge number of goals, Bale was turned into a provider for the Portuguese No.7 because the team was built around him. His goal scoring contribution was a bit limited which saw his pedigree fall from being one of the best players in the world to being an impact substitute under Zinedine Zidane’s tenure. Ronaldo’s departure means that the player is granted the freedom he always desired, and he has since scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in just 3 appearances so far this term. If the Spanish giants put their faith in the Welsh wizard, they will surely get the best out of the player who has that fear factor that can only be found in the best attackers in world football.  

Benzema is another player whose style of play suffered for the good of Ronaldo. The striker also focused more on assisting Ronaldo than doing his primary job which is to put the ball into the net. Opta Stats reported in April that he assisted Ronaldo’s 23 goals in La Liga, more than any other player. No wonder Ronaldo did not object to Higuain’s departure because Benzema was unselfish and was always ready to feed him the ball in dangerous positions and allow him to shine. Now that Ronaldo is gone, the French striker is also looking like a more effective player ready to compete for the Golden Boot (highest goal scorer) award. He looks potent in front of goal and does not think twice when the ball falls at his feet. He has scored 4 goals already in La Liga and another in the UEFA Super Cup to make it 5 goals in 4 appearances. Real Madrid will need these goals if they are to compete against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for the domestic titles as well as to defend their European crown. There is more to come from the 30-year-old, and his style of play has been restored to default settings.

“They managed to achieve this over many generations even when they lost players like Di Stefano, the Brazilian Ronaldo, Raul, Casillas, and now Cristiano Ronaldo. They seem to always find a way to exist and dominate. They have, and always will. Be sure to hold your heart in your hands when your team is matched against Real Madrid”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Karim Benzema #9 of Real Madrid celebrates with Gareth Bale #11 after scoring a goal during the first half of the International Champions Cup match against Manchester United at Hard Rock Stadium on July 31, 2018 in Miami, Florida.

(July 31, 2018 - Source: Rob Foldy/Getty Images North America)

Real Madrid head coach, Lopetegui, is certain that his youthful talent will play an integral part in their quest for success during his tenure. He has since deposed the young Vinicius Jnr on the left of an attacking three for the La Liga opener before playing Marco Asensio and Isco Alarcon in the other two matches. The club has maintained a perfect record since the start of the competition and does not look like they miss Ronaldo. It is not the first time that the young players have delivered for Real Madrid. Even during Zidane’s time, Asensio shined against Barcelona in 2017 when they beat the Catalonians by 2 goals to nothing in the Spanish Super Cup. Gerard Pique of Barcelona was quoted as having said, “I feel inferior to Real Madrid for the first time,” and Ronaldo was not on the pitch on this night. There were signs that the club could live without the aging striker and the new coach has gone with that strategy. Dani Ceballos has also been used in midfield in place of the UEFA Best Player of the Year, Luka Modric who is turning 33 years in a few days. On other parts of the pitch, the club also acquired Mariano Diaz to provide competition for Benzema up front and Odriozola to compete with Dani Carvajal at right back. The club’s latest recruitment strategy could prove to be a masterstroke if they go on to win the La Liga trophy this season.

Besides, Courtois signature fits into the plan of making a competitive team post the Ronaldo era at Real Madrid. The club finished third behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona conceding 44 goals in the process. This was twice as many goals that Atletico conceded and the club sought the expertise of the Belgian goalkeeper to prevent conceding so many goals. If the above-mentioned players maintain their current form and Courtois shields the goal-line like he knows how to, Real Madrid will definitely be a force to reckon this season and beyond.

In essence, Real Madrid does not look doomed now that they have lost a player who is arguably the greatest of all time. The status of the club does not allow it. Real Madrid has existed since 1902 and is the most decorated club in European soccer with 13 UEFA Champions League trophies. They managed to achieve this over many generations even when they lost players like Di Stefano, the Brazilian Ronaldo, Raul, Casillas, and now Cristiano Ronaldo. They seem to always find a way to exist and dominate. They have, and always will. Be sure to hold your heart in your hands when your team is matched against Real Madrid because they will have enough to deal with anyone they face.

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates with Marco Asensio after scoring his teams second goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Getafe CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 19, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Aug. 18, 2018 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe) 

FT Hidden Gems Series: Despite AC Milan's troubles, will Franck Kessie succeed in Italy?

Ivorian talent Franck Kessie moved to AC Milan in the summer of 2017 with a lot of hype around him in the Italian league. The midfield enforcer looked to emulate the influence created by legends who played in his role at the club which include Seedorf, Pirlo, Gattuso, among others. In this piece, we look at where Kessie came from, what he brings to AC Milan and how the club has let him down in terms of his career progression.

Franck Kessie 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)

Brief Background

Franck Kessie initially joined AC Milan from Atalanta on a two-year loan deal. This was in the summer of 2017 when the club went all in with their transfers that summer in a bid to fight for UEFA Champions League qualification. Kessie came in as a raw talent but with a lot of promise to become a regular first team player in one of the biggest teams. He had scored goals from midfield like Yaya Toure did during his stint at Manchester City. The 21-year-old was also trusted with some penalty kick duties in a star studded team with players like Suso, Andre Silva, Bonucci, Rodriguez and Calhanoglu at AC Milan. He helped his team during the season especially in the UEFA Europa League before they got knocked out of the tournament by Arsenal. Nonetheless, Gattuso reserved some praise for his young successor who fought hard in the middle of the park against players of the calibre of Mesut Ozil. In the end, AC Milan, failed to lift a trophy in the 2017/18 season on top of their failure to qualify for the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League tournament. They finished 6th in the Serie A which left many disappointed.

Kessie’s Abilities

If you did not know what he brings to the table already, it is great to know that he is comfortable with protecting the defence. Kessie is a no-nonsense type of midfielder who draws comparison only to a few players in his position today. The closest one, I could think of is World Cup Winner, N’golo Kante who annoys his opponents by tracking them down and shrugging them off the ball. It is no surprise that WhoScored identified one of his weaknesses as being the protagonist that commits too many fouls. Professional fouls if you ask me because he gets away with them and saves the team from counter attacks. He also averages 3.3 interceptions and 3.2 tackles per game. This type of player is rare to find in the current market. Teams like Liverpool and Manchester City lack that type of a traditional defensive midfielder that Kessie is and it’s only a matter of time before they come calling for the young African’s service.

Franck Kessie (R) of AC Milan competes for the ball with goalkeeper Keylor Navas (2ndL) and his teammate Marcelo (L) during the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy between Real Madrid CF and AC Milan at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 11, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

Besides, limiting a player of Kessie’s calibre to focus solely on defensive duties would be a waste of his talent, and AC Milan have since noticed that. He offers so much more on the field of play with his fantastic ball control, dribbling ability and power to bomb up and down the pitch. Kessie can easily suit as the modern ‘box-to-box’ player who supports the team when in attack and also being the first to fly into a tackle when out of possession. His distance covered per 90 minutes averages at around 12.1km which is the third highest behind Vecino and Marco Benassi in Italian soccer. Kessie has the legs to roam the pitch and influence matches for AC Milan. He just needs quality players around him to keep developing his game.

Also, he comes to the rescue with his odd goals here and there. Franck Kessie has already scored 6 goals for AC Milan and has the potential to add more if he gets through on goal. Barcelona fans might not like hearing that Kessie has that striker’s instinct that their former player, Paulinho, has – probably because they are probably bitter that the Brazilian left them for China after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. The youngster is not scared to make forward runs and create options for his teammates in the penalty box which is an asset for his team who need the goals if they are to compete with the best teams in Italy.

Finally, his all-round play and defensive contribution gives license to other players like Higuaín and Suso to play freely and express themselves in the last third of the pitch. Kessie’s work rate basically relieves them of defensive duties which is every playmaker’s dream. This brings out the best in those players and it would not be a surprise to see Higuain topping the scoring charts once more this season in the Italian Serie A despite the arrival of the Portuguese goal machine, Cristiano Ronaldo.

How AC Milan failed Kessie

Franck Kessie #79 of A.C. Milan battles for the ball with Luke Shaw #23 of Manchester United in the second half during the International Champions Cup 2018 at StubHub Center on July 25, 2018 in Carson, California.

(July 24, 2018 - Source: John McCoy/Getty Images North America)

The club’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League denied the young talent an opportunity of a lifetime to showcase his skillset against the very best teams in Europe. Kylian Mbappe, for example, played at this grandest stage at just 19 and went on to have an amazing World Cup in Russia thanks to the level of competition in the tournament which raised his game. Kessie cannot continue to work his socks off for a club that lacks the ambition to compete against the best in the world.

Apart from that, they sold Bonucci back to Juventus in the following season. This move shocked many fans who know what the Italian brings to the team. He is a defensive rock at the back and losing him could worsen their defensive record this season. This means that Kessie will be asked to do a little bit more to protect the defenders now that a legend has left the club and AC Milan failed to find a proper replacement.

Final Question

Do you think Franck Kessie should remain in Milan when their rivals are moving forward and continuing to make the right investments which beef up their squads? He is only 21, maybe he can learn a lot more from this experience.

Give us your verdict. We want to hear what you think about this young man’s future.

Liverpool making the right noises – Thanks to the Africans

The English Premier League is back with a bang, and some teams have already started looking promising. Manchester City shuttered Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in Matchday 1 and thrashed Huddersfield in a 6-1 win at home the following week. These results are not surprising at all considering how the Cityzens ended their season last year with a record-breaking 100 points after 38 games. Liverpool however went all out in the transfer market to beef up their squad after their bitter loss at the hands of Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League final a couple of months ago. Since then, there has been talk about them being ready to mount a title challenge in the league this year. Rightly so because they have already picked up wins in the first two matches they played against West Ham United and Crystal Palace. One thing that has been quite interesting though is their core of players who are of African heritage. Let’s look at what these players bring to the table.

Naby Keita of Liverpool is closed down by Andros Townsend of Crystal Palace 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: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Naby Keïta is the latest addition to the Merseyside team after he joined the club in a $67.6 million deal from RB Leipzig. We wrote earlier, about how the 23-year-old midfielder from Guinea was the missing piece of the spine of the Liverpool after they sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January 2017. We are starting to see the signs of a midfield general that dictates play when in possession and is not afraid to instigate the press whenever the team loses the ball. Keïta looks ready to emulate Steven Gerrard’s role in the team where the Englishman was the pinnacle of all the attacks in the team. Keita looks to have the engine to bomb up and down the pitch which has become one of the most significant assets of modern midfield players. Think of the likes of N’golo Kante.

Mo Salah. Not much needs to be said about him other than that he looks as sharp as ever. The Egyptian forward will bring the goals to Liverpool. That is certain after watching him bossing the best of defenders last season and scoring a record 31 goals in his first season in Liverpool. Although he could have a tough time this round now that the players know him and how he plays, still he poses a threat to any team with his blistering pace. Liverpool will be looking to pick another 3 points this weekend against Brighton, a match that will be aired at 12.30pm, Washington DC time, and you can bet on the African superstar to score.

Next up, there is the new Number 10, Sadio Mane from Senegal. The forward did not have the greatest time at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia tournament because his team was knocked out in the group stages but only just. He has since returned to the club that pays his bills, and he has been showing the hunger that Jurgen Klopp wants to see in all his players. His persistence can be seen in Liverpool’s most recent game, against Palace when he burst forward and kept going especially after some contact from Van Aanholt. He set his mind on the goal, and he saw to it when he rounded past the Palace keeper to score Liverpool’s second of the night. Mane’s creativity will be of great importance throughout the season and it is an added bonus for the club that he will not be leaving for the AFCON tournament in January like before because the tournament has been moved to September 2019. (Be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter where we keep you up to date with the build up to this tournament)

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool is fouled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Crystal Palace leading to a red card 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)

In essence, these three players will be crucial to Liverpool’s fortunes if they remain fit because they have the quality and are delivering at the highest level. They are setting the bar high for other African players who wish to play in the best soccer leagues in the world. Do not be surprised if Liverpool wins it this year because their core of players is hungry and is willing to work tirelessly for that silverware that has eluded them for over two decades now.

Pep’s oiled City machine is not too far from being Europe’s best

Change is everywhere. A Ronaldo-less Real Madrid whose reins Zidane left for Lopetegui, a star-studded Barcelona figuring out their style and philosophy, a Juventus adjusting to life with Ronaldo but without Gigi Buffon, laughable Manchester United, Bayern Munich also adapting to the new manager in Niko Kovac and many more countless examples. Who then is the new king of football or rather who is lurking to be? Here are three fast reasons detailing why I think Manchester City is going to give many teams a run for their money and outcompete the best.

1. Pep Guardiola

Manchester City Manager Josep Guardiola on stage during the Manchester City Trophy Parade in Manchester city centre on May 14, 2018 in Manchester, England.

(May 13, 2018 - Source: Lynne Cameron/Getty Images Europe)

It’s safe to say that the Spaniard has stamped his authority at the Etihad heading into the third year at the club. His players understand him more and will be more eager now to listen to his ideas after witnessing just how much greatness he can cook up, racking up a record 100 Premier League points in the 2017/18 title-winning season. Pep has won it all with Barcelona and Spain but still remains hungry for any kind of trophy, which happens to be the same hunger and energy he transfers to his players, approaching every match as a final and staying focused without growing complacent. An ideal recipe for repeated success. More than his personal intelligent football mind and passion, Pep has just the right staff to complement him. In particular, his assistant, Mikel Arteta is reported to be Guardiola’s secret weapon. When the going gets tough, Pep is never shy to take a back seat and allow Mikel to express himself for the benefit of the team. Just recently, Mikel Arteta’s plan for Mendy and Sterling is reported to have led to City’s second goal against Arsenal in their 2-0 win in the opening match of the campaign.

In a nutshell, I think the rapport and understanding that he has with his players is second to none. It’s the kind that makes a team Europe’s best when combined with quality players who have a fantastic attitude and experience.

“Look at Benjamin Mendy for example, in these first two matches of the season, he has been adopting a hybrid left-back, wingback/ central midfielder position, something thrilling at the sound of it. Wait until you watch him play.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

2. Squad depth and experience

Manchester City pose for a team photo prior to the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on April 10, 2018 in Manchester, England.

(April 9, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

Manchester City’s bench over the weekend in matchday 2 of the Premier League comprised of 50 million fullback Kyle Walker, 60 million winger in Riyad Mahrez, the 2017/18 PFA Young Player of The Year in Leroy Sane, the club’s second top goal scorer in the previous campaign in Raheem Sterling, former Barcelona goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo and 2014 FIFA World Cup finalist Nicolas Otamendi. It’s not like they were resting their main players, the first eleven of that day played and brushed aside Huddersfield, 6-1 as if it were that easy, they just make it look easy. That City team that consisted of two world cup winners, finalists, semi and quarter-finalists. Even of the just ended 2018 FIFA World Cup. They have enough winners to win anything in that squad who have the years, talent and passion on their ‘rap sheet.’ The agonizing loss to Liverpool in last year’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final loss to Liverpool would have taught them plenty and will be undoubtedly gunning for the UEFA gold medal this campaign. Man to man, they can match any European team right now, just pick and choose any of their players at random.

3. An ever-evolving playing style and identity

Pep’s arrival at City did not only commence the reformation of the Manchester club but football as a whole in England. Guardiola made the attractive way of playing football great again after Chelsea and Leicester had won the EPL title employing quite defensive tactics. Now, everyone wants to play. Chelsea parted ways with Antonio Conte for that reason and acquired Sarri, Liverpool continues to enjoy Klopp’s talents, Everton sacked Sam Allardyce for the same boring football, Arsenal is learning to do the same with Unai Emery and Mourinho’s Manchester United seem to be ailing as a result of refusing to dance to the new song. Man City’s style is not only fun to watch but delivers results by reason of it being a system where he can plug and play any of the players who are happy to delivers exactly as per the prescribed requirements. When many teams are struggling to maintain a certain identity and character as a team, we see Pep do it and dynamically so. Look at Benjamin Mendy for example, in these first two matches of the season, he has been adopting a hybrid left-back, wingback/ central midfielder position, something thrilling at the sound of it. Wait until you watch him play. Many thought the champions will falter without the injured DeBruyne but Bernardo Silva is stepping up also bringing in a new dimension to the squad. City are stable and continuously innovating. They will be hard to stop, quite hard to deny anything.

“I wouldn’t say we waited, but it was clear when we saw the starting XI, the teamsheet, they would change their formation from what they’ve usually done in the past.”

— David Wagner, Huddersfield Manager

Leroy Sane of Manchester City celebrates the third goal with Kyle Walker during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on March 1, 2018 in London, England.

(Feb. 28, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

How far do you think they will go this season? Share with us in the comment box below.

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.

FT Hidden Gems Series: Remember the name - Adama Traore

The outspoken Tim Sherwood who managed Tottenham and Aston Villa said he had a bit of both Ronaldo and Messi. The Belfast Telegraph pointed out that, "he's built like an absolute tank. Size of the arms on that man. One drive and it would be lights out". Catherine Wilson of ESPN FC commented on his remarkable “athleticism” also highlighting that his "footballing brain and teamwork skills are definitely up for debate." If you know Adama Traore, you probably understand what these people said and why I wrote this feature. If this is your first point of contact with the 22-year-old, you may realise that he is a work-in-progress, excellent work-in-progress. Note down the name of this Malian, he probably rock the football world quite soon. But who is he?

Adama was born in Spain to Malian parents and began his footballing career at Barcelona at the age of eight. Things didn’t work out as he might have envisioned as he managed to make a few countable appearance for the B-team as well as the first team. Perhaps, one of the Catalonia highlights for Adama was coming in late for Neymar in Barca’s 4-0 over Granada FC in the La Liga. He was just 17, at the time.

In 2015, the Spain youth team international arrived in the Premier League, signing for Aston Villa under Tim Sherwood. Times were hard at Villa Park. Traore appeared eleven times for the team that was eventually relegated to the Championship, scoring zero goals in the process. The winger then joined Middlesbrough a year later and was unfortunate to take part in 32-scoreless matches for the club which also got axed from the English Premier League. Stuff is beginning to take shape now for the young winger.

Adama Traore of Middlesbrough controls the ball as Jack Grealish of Aston Villa looks on during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final second leg match between Aston Villa and Middlesbrough at Villa Park on May 15, 2018 in Birmingham, England.

(May 14, 2018 - Source: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images Europe)

He was named Middlesbrough Fans Player Of The Year, Players Player Of The Year and Young Player Of The Year in the 2017-18 Championship season where he scored five times and served up ten assists. Premier League newcomers, Wolverhampton Wanderers acquired his services in the just ended summer transfer window for a fee reported to be in the region of £18 million pounds.

“In three more years, I think this buzzing around Zaha will be just a pin in the haystack compared to that we will hear of Adama Traore. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Now, what do I think of this player? He has come to the EPL for a second time when he is familiar with the league’s demands and playing for a club with big ambition to stay, demonstrated by their summer spending. He will get regular game time playing alongside some quality and experienced players in the form of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho - players who will really bring out the best of Adama. I mean, this guy might outpace Aubameyang in a foot race and his ability to take on players makes me think of Zaha. In three more years, I think this buzzing around Zaha will be just a pin in the haystack compared to that we will hear of Adama Traore. Of course, I probably exaggerated, but that’s just how exciting he is. I literally feel butterflies in my stomach.

Adam is yet to make the Wolves debut as he is still getting back to fitness after the holiday and an shoulder injury, but the hype around him is already of the charts. His new teammate and defender, Matt Doherty, described the winger to be “unplayable.”

“We played against him last season and at times he’s unplayable – I’ve not seen that type of running with the ball, pace and power, from anyone.”

— Matt Doherty, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Having been capped only by Spain’s youth teams, Adama is still eligible to choose either Spain or Mali for his international career. At FirstTouch, we are really watching Adama Traore’s space.

Enough talking. You may want to check the video below to see what the kid is made up of.

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.