SportsNews
Apologies – Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola apologises to Kalvin Phillips for publicly calling him out for being overweight
Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola has apologised to Kalvin Phillips for publicly revealing the midfielder was overweight last season.
Phillips was told to stay away from Manchester City over Christmas on failing to hit target weight after returning from a post-World Cup holiday to New York.
The 28-year-old, who is now on loan at West Ham United, recently admitted that he felt hurt by how Guardiola announced the issue in the public.
His mother, Lindsay, stopped attending City matches. Phillips has said that he didn’t disagree with Guardiola’s assessment but that there are ‘different ways to go about’ things. The pair have never since discussed the issue.
‘Yeah, I’m sorry,’ Guardiola said. ‘[Apologising] once in eight years is not bad. But I’m so sorry. I apologise to him. I do apologise. I’m so sorry.
In an interview with Mail Sport last summer, Phillips claimed that he was unaware of Guardiola’s comments until he had already returned to training.
‘Oh no I spoke about that,’ the City boss added. Asked when they spoke, he replied: ‘Before. I spoke to him. I never before said something here [before I] speak with the players in that case.’
The England international has maintained that he ‘laughed’ at the public furore around his weight last year, adding to Mail Sport that: ‘It doesn’t faze me. I’m the footballer and living my dream, doing the thing I love.
‘I’d gone to New York for three or four days after Qatar. I’d flown all day.. I’d had breakfast, lunch, dinner and landed. Slept during the flight as well. And straight into football.
‘I’d had a full day of eating. There is water retention and stuff on a flight. It was a misunderstanding really.’
Guardiola, who bristled at questions around pressure on City after their 1-1 draw against Chelsea, can take his side back to second with victory over Brentford on Tuesday night.
SportsNews
PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES SEATTLE SEAHAWKS’ PLAYERS OF NIGERIAN DESCENT ON SUPER BOWL WIN
President Bola Tinubu congratulates players of Nigerian descent who led the Seattle Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday.
The Seattle Seahawks routed the New England Patriots 29–13 to claim their second Lombardi Trophy.
Players of Nigerian descent on the team’s lineup who helped achieve this victory include Jalen Oluwaseun Milroe, quarterback; Nick Emmanwori, a defensive standout; Uchenna Nwosu, a veteran linebacker; Boye Maye, a linebacker; and Olu Oluwatimi, an irrepressible offensive lineman.
The President also congratulates Michael Onwenu, who played for the other side, the New England Patriots, and is regarded as one of the most dominant offensive linemen.
President Tinubu commends all the players for the pride and honour that they have brought to their country of descent, especially Emmanwori, Nwosu, and Maye, who raised Nigeria’s flag after winning the Super Bowl with the Seahawks.
The President states that these players and their accomplishments affirm Nigerians’ global reputation for excellence and talent.
President Tinubu wishes them continued success and more victories in their respective careers.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
SportsNews
‘Powerful left winger’ – Eric Chelle names Super Eagles star he’s happy with
Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle is happy with how Moses Simon played, calling the Paris FC player a strong left winger.
Simon was placed lower than Ademola Lookman in the list of top wingers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and Simon only played in two matches during the tournament in Morocco.
The 30-year-old was included in the starting lineup for the group-stage match against Uganda and the third-place playoff against Egypt, with Chelle deciding to let several important players rest.
In an interview with RMC Sport’s After Foot last Friday, Chelle talked about Simon’s skills and how important he is tactically.
He said, “Moses Simon is a powerful left winger, and that’s the main thing he contributes to the team. He does well in one-on-one and two-on-two situations. In Nigeria, we usually play with a diamond.
“When we play deeper, we use a flat 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 formation, and he usually helps us keep stability on the wing and add width to our play.
“When you play through the wings, the opposing team’s defense moves toward the center, and then you can spread the play back out to the sides using Simon, Chukwueze, or Ejuke.”
After six years at Nantes, Simon joined the capital club Paris FC last summer and signed a three-year contract.
The winger had a great beginning in the capital, making four goal contributions in his first seven games in Ligue 1.
Chelle thought about Simon’s time at the club and said that the winger started the season very well at Paris FC.
“I watched some Paris FC games at the start of the season. He began well when he got there. When he played in Nantes, the play usually focused on him. The plan was to move the ball to the sides and get Moses Simon into one-on-one situations.
“At a new club, the approach is different, and he needs to move more towards the center before getting the ball. It is a bit complicated. I am happy with what he is doing for the national team,” he said.
Moses Simon was used majorly as a substitute by Eric Chelle at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
SportsNews
2026 World Cup: Super Eagles waiting for FIFA’s decision – Iwobi
Super Eagles playmaker, Alex Iwobi, has admitted they are waiting to see if the team would still play at the 2026 World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is optimistic of a potential lifeline from FIFA, after it submitted a petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Iwobi was asked by SuperSport if he would rather lift the AFCON 2025 trophy or qualify for the World Cup?
The 29-year-old, who played at the 2018 of the World Cup, replied: “I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.
“It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have like in your career, a memorable moment.
“But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one. I don’t know. I don’t know.”
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GOVERNOR FUBARA APPOINTS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR KEN SARO-WIWA POLYTECHNIC BORI
