SportsNews

The son of a Barclays hero is writing his own story at Man City one hat-trick at a time

Published

1 year ago

November 3, 2024

The rise of social media wasn’t kind to Emile Heskey, but before the memes, he was genuinely one of the most talented strikers in the Premier League.

Injuries and a decline in the unforgiving eyes of a new, chronically online generation made it easy to forget about the good times, but when Heskey was at his best, there were plenty of times where he was unplayable.

Goals, assists and an iconic celebration, the multi-faceted striker was perhaps even a little ahead of his time with the way he’d work in specific systems these days.

If you don’t want to take our word for it and you’re somehow now moved by the tapes, you needn’t look any further than his youngest son Reigan, who has clearly inherited the football gene from his father and is now flying for Manchester City.

Liverpool fans will be aggrieved knowing a former player’s son is doing the business in a rival’s academy, but their loss isn’t just City’s gain.

Reigan Heskey – an England under-17 international – has all the tools and potential to be doing the business for the Three Lions in the future if all goes to plan.

The sickener? He wasn’t even one when his father moved to Aston Villa in January 2009. Yes, you are that old.

Why are we telling you this? Because he’s good at football. Just like his dad. Like, really bloody good. To the point where his most recent 22-minute hat-trick in the Premier League 2 – an under-21 competition – has us convinced that he’s going to be a second-generation England star.

Watch the video through the link below:

https://twitter.com/explore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1852463245967167546%7Ctwgr%5E8ec22f7b85f7df4b8edceb97df04874b21d49830%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.planetfootball.com%2Fmanchester-city%2Fthe-son-of-a-barclays-hero-is-writing-his-own-story-at-man-city-one-hat-trick-at-a-time

Generational in every sense of the word, rumour has it that Cody Rhodes is jealous of how the Heskey name is about to hold a stronger sporting legacy than his own family.

And with that outrageous hat-trick from the substitutes bench, you can see why. This kid is a freak.

Comfortable on both feet, Heskey possesses a wicked drop of the shoulder and hips that can send any unfortunate defender spinning to the floor.

His hat-trick was the perfect showcase of his abilities. Impact from the bench, a constant goal threat and a nightmare for defenders and a goalkeeper to anticipate, with his balance complimenting that brilliant shooting.

The Norwich goalkeeper could’ve done better with Heskey’s third, but when he’s shifting the ball and finding an angle that quickly, it’s honestly difficult to put too much blame onto him.

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name the 25 worst teams in Premier League history?

Heskey is already punching well above his weight and will continue to do so with such technical excellence. Emile’s youngest son has six goals and four assists from seven Premier League 2 appearances this season and doesn’t turn 17 until January. That is absurd.

Telling Manchester City’s website that it was a good performance, young Reigan added: “I came on and made an impact which is what I try to do every time so it was a good performance.

“The pressure of having them [other teams] behind us gives us motivation to play well every week.”

Not only does he play well, he speaks well too. And with older brother Jayden also balling out for City’s youth sides, it’s abundantly clear that football is in the Heskey blood.

Emile was once the head of the table, but we predict Reigan will be taking over as the leader of the bloodline – and perhaps City and England’s front line – before we know it.

SportsNews

EPL: Full list of players leaving for 2025 AFCON

Published

4 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.

FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.

Full list of players confirmed

Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).

Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).

Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).

Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).

Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).

Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),

West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)

Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).

Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).

Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)

Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)

SportsNews

NNL bars fans from Ranchers Bees vs Adamawa United

Published

4 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.

The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.

Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.

Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.

The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.

The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).

SportsNews

Nigeria vs Egypt Friendly Gets New Date

Published

1 week ago

December 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.

EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.

Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.

Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.

Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.

The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.

Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.

The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.

Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.