Former international, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has showered encomium on two Super Eagles players for their impressive performance in the 2-1 victory over the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, Ekwutos reports.

Aiyegbeni  picked Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze as the two players, who were outstanding for the Super Eagles against the Taifa Stars.

Iwobi provided the assist for Ajayi’s opening goal, and was impressive throughout the game.

It was the Fulham’s star one of the best performances for the Super Eagles.

Chukwueze also impressed in the game, coming close to scoring just before the break.

Iwobi featured for the entire duration of the game, while Chukwueze was replaced by Moses Simon in the 59th minute.

Aiyegbeni said the duo played well in midfield.

“You have in Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi, and so far so good, you know. Better than they try to create chances and they create some chances for Osimhen and is just unlucky today, you know, but we still need creativity in midfield,” Aiyegbeni told News Central TV.

Iwobi is currently the most capped player in the Super Eagles with 92 appearances.

The 29-year-old has netted 10 times for Nigeria.

Chukwueze has made 52 appearances for the Super Eagles, with seven goals to  his name.

Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that they will face weight checks when they return from their Christmas break, as he looks to ensure they are fit for the Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on December 27.

Man City closed out their pre-Christmas fixtures with a 3-0 victory over West Ham on Saturday, but Guardiola said discipline around fitness would remain non-negotiable during the festive period.

As reported by BBC Sports on Monday, the City boss revealed that players were weighed ahead of the West Ham match and met the required standards, stating that the same checks will be carried out when they return to training next week.

“When they arrive after three days off, I want to see how they come back. “They can eat, but I want to control them.

“If a player comes back with three kilos more, he will stay in Manchester. He will not travel to Nottingham Forest,” Guardiola said.

Guardiola is well known for his strict approach to conditioning. Earlier in his tenure as City manager, several players were excluded from first-team training until they met fitness targets. Former City defender Gael Clichy previously revealed that Guardiola advised players to avoid pizza, juice, and other heavy foods.

The manager has also addressed the issue publicly in the past, apologizing to midfielder Kalvin Phillips after describing him as “overweight” following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Despite Saturday’s comfortable win, Guardiola admitted he was not entirely pleased with his team’s performance.

He said the players requested Sunday off, but the session went ahead instead.

“They asked for Sunday off, and I said no, because they didn’t play well enough,” he said. “Sunday recovery, train the guys that didn’t play, and then after three days off, they have two days to prepare for Nottingham Forest.”

City sit two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and will face Forest before travelling to Sunderland on New Year’s Day.

Guardiola said he has no major concerns about his squad’s fitness or work rate but believes improvement is still needed.

“We have to play better,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of giving players time with their families during a demanding schedule.

“I’ve learned in England that as many days off as you can give, you give them,” Guardiola added. “The calendar is so tight, and players need to switch off. When it’s time to play, they will be fresh.”

At the free OLM Souissi Fan Zone, Afrobeats superstar Davido took the spotlight, performing alongside French Montana, Douaa Lahyaoui, and Lartiste, delivering an electrifying fusion of music and football excitement in anticipation of AFCON Morocco 2025.

Fans sang along to hits like ‘Fall,’ ‘With You,’ and ‘Unavailable,’ creating an energetic atmosphere that set the tone for the tournament running through January.

Davido’s performance continues his tradition of thrilling shows at major football events, with fans eagerly anticipating his role in the official opening ceremony.

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