Sportz Phagocyte Corner

  OGC Nice's defensive midfielder Alexis Beka Beka reportedly threatened to commit suicide due to a recent romantic breakup. Multiple reports from France detailed his harrowing moment as he stood on the hard shoulder of the A8 motorway, Magnan viaduct, a daunting 100 meters above the ground with thoughts of ending his life. It was an intense scene that prompted an immediate response from firemen, emergency services and the military who rescued and ensured his safety and later referred him to the club's psychologists In a statement issued by OGC Nice, they expressed immense relief that no casualties occurred during this ordeal. The club earnestly urged the public to respect medical confidentiality and give the young athlete the privacy he deserves.  We’re above all relieved that everything ended well today for Alexis, it was taken care of. We will continue to respect medical confidentiality and we ask everyone to do the same and respect their privacy. We support him. A member o...

  Damian Lillard, a 7-time All-Star player, is making a major move to the Milwaukee Bucks. He'll be teaming up with Giannis Antetokounmpo, a 2-time MVP winner, in a three-team trade that's making headlines. Back in the summer of 2023, Lillard told everyone he wanted out of the Portland Trail Blazers. It had been an 11-year ride with them, and he was ready for a change. At first, he had his sights set on joining the Miami Heat. The idea was to win an NBA championship, which the Trail Blazers hadn't come close to since they got bumped out of the playoffs in 2021. But Lillard didn't get his ticket to Miami. Instead, he's packing his bags for Milwaukee in a pretty complex trade. This isn't just a simple one-for-one deal; it involves three NBA teams and lots of players. Damian Lillard is heading to the Milwaukee Bucks. In exchange, the Bucks are saying goodbye to Jrue Holiday, who's off to the Trail Blazers, and Grayson Allen, who's now with the Phoenix Suns....

The landscape of African football is set for a major overhaul as Morocco have today clinched the hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Simultaneously, a compelling co-bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda emerged victorious, granting them the privilege of hosting the 2027 edition. Morocco's triumph was effectively by default, as Algeria, Zambia, and a combined effort from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew their hosting bids before the final decision, which unfolded during the Confederation of African Football's executive committee meeting in Cairo. The North African nation, long regarded as a frontrunner, now envisions this as a significant boost to its ambitions of co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain. However, the unexpected joint East African bid's success for the 2027 tournament has thrown an exciting curveball into the mix. For East Africa, this marks a momentous occasion as it regains the AFCON finals for the first time sinc...

  In a startling turn of events, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen's agent, Roberto Calenda, has fired a warning shot at the club, asserting his intention to pursue legal action following a video that was posted and subsequently removed from Napoli's official TikTok account. The contentious video, which allegedly ridiculed the player, has sparked outrage. Calenda conveyed his concerns via the messaging platform X, emphasizing the severe damage inflicted upon Victor Osimhen by the now-deleted video. He strongly condemned the incident and branded it as unacceptable. What happened today on Napoli's official TikTok profile is entirely unacceptable. A video that appeared to mock Victor was allowed to circulate before being, albeit belatedly, taken down. We stand ready to take legal action and explore any necessary measures to safeguard Victor's interests. At the time of this report, Napoli had not responded to requests for comment, despite the incident occurring outside of regul...

  In a surprising twist, Algeria has gracefully bowed out of the race to host the prestigious 2025 and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, under the direction of the newly elected president of Algeria's Football Federation (FAF). This stunning announcement came just a day before the highly anticipated reveal by the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), where the fortunate hosts for these AFCON editions were to be unveiled. Mark your calendars for September 27 in Cairo, Egypt, as the date for these momentous proclamations. The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) revealed in a communique released today that their decision to withdraw their candidacy was motivated by a new approach to the football development strategy in Algeria. The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) officially sent a letter to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) informing it of its decision to withdraw Algeria's candidacy for the organization of the African Cup. o...

In the midst of the 2023/24 Premier League season, Chelsea Football Club finds itself locked in a struggle that extends beyond the pitch. Under the stewardship of new manager Mauricio Pochettino, the Blues are on a mission to rebuild after a nightmarish campaign that saw them finish a shocking 12th in the previous season. However, their journey towards redemption has been far from smooth. With just one victory in their first six games of the season, Chelsea's performance on the field has been plagued by inconsistency. But perhaps the most telling story of their season so far lies in the treatment room, where an ever-growing list of injured players has become a testament to their ongoing struggles.  A staggering total of nine players are currently out through injuries, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Stamford Bridge. Among those sidelined is the newly appointed captain, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and shotstopper Marcus Bettinelli. The ramifications of this injury crisis are m...

Nsoatreman FC's coach, Maxwell Konadu, acknowledged that Hearts of Oak rightfully earned their victory in the recent match. During the second matchday, Nsoatreman suffered a narrow defeat, with Kashala Ramos Wanet, the Congolese forward, netting the lone goal of the game in the 3rd minute. This loss marked the first time that Maxwell Konadu experienced a defeat against the Phobians in his coaching career. Prior to this encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium, the former Ghana international had maintained an unbeaten record against the Ghanaian giants. Speaking after the match, Maxwell Konadu conceded that his team was outperformed on the day, and he recognized that Hearts of Oak deserved their victory. He also touched on the need for improvement in his side's away performances.  Good game. Very difficult one. We had a red card and we brought in fresh legs to augment the squad. It was a good game for Hearts. You can't take anything away from them. They deserved to win. We did ...

  The 2023-24 UEFA Champions League season is set to kick off this week, featuring some exciting matchups. Manchester City begins their title defense with a home game against Crvena Zvezda, while Manchester United faces Bayern Munich. Newcastle is also in action against AC Milan in a challenging group that includes Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund. Here are all the key details of this season's highly anticipated competition: THE GROUPS A~H. • Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen, Galatasaray • Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Lens • Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin • Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, FC Salzburg, Real Sociedad • Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic • Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle • Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Crvena zvezda, Young Boys • Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Antwerp GROUP STAGE FIXTURES  The group stage fixtures begin this week...

  Across Europe's Top Five Leagues (ie: England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France) here are my picks for this week's Phagocyte's Eleven highlighting their outstanding performances over the weekend; Norberto Murara (GK) - 9.5 The Brazilian shotstopper was simply unbeatable on the day as his quick reflexes earned Bournemouth a point against Chelsea. Neto's 6 saves on the day made sure that AFC Bournemouth kept their first Premier League cleansheet in 13 games. Mats Hummels (CB) - 8.5 The experienced German defender was pivotal in Borussia Dortmund's 4-2 victory away at Freiburg. Hummels' intricate passing display saw him complete a game-high 76 accurate passes with a success rate of 89%. He also made 3 tackles and 2 interceptions and capped it all off with a beautiful brace. Jonathan Clauss (CB) - 9 The French defender was key for Olympique de Marseille in their goalless draw game against Toulouse. With over 70 attempted passes in the game, Clauss achieved 81% pas...

  The manager of Accra Hearts of Oak, Martin Koopman, expressed his disappointment after experiencing his first loss in the Ghana Premier League. A late Owusu Afriyie header ensured that the Pride of the North took all three points at the Aliu Mahama Stadium. Speaking after the game, the Dutch gaffer said that his side's inability to take their chances in the first half ultimately cost them at the end in what was a feisty encounter. If you lose then you're always disappointed but I think it was a very nice game for the public to watch. We had a lot of chances in the first half that we didn't take and they scored in the last second of the game so I think they deserved the win. Koopman also pointed out that he was pleased with the overall contributions of his young side and will be looking forward to the next game. The Phobians return to their favourite Accra Sports Stadium on matchweek 2 against Nsoatreman FC. The second half we came back from what you see in the first half ...

  Kumasi Asante Kotoko has officially announced the appointment of goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim as the new captain of the club. The seasoned goalkeeper, who is embarking on his eighth season with the team, previously filled in as captain on a temporary basis during the last season. However, the 2021 AFCON U-20 champion and now a member of the senior national team, the Black Stars, is set to assume the captain's responsibilities on a permanent basis. This change comes in the wake of the departure of the former captain, Richard Boadu, who has joined Libyan club Al Ahly. Additionally, head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has designated Cameroonian player Georges Mfegue and Richmond Lamptey as vice-captains, further solidifying the leadership structure within the team. The player in an exclusive with the club's media expressed his utmost delight and vowed to give his all for the club. It’s a huge honour for me to be named the new club captain. I will say it’s a blessing, and I give thanks t...

  The 2023-24 season of the BetPawa Premier League is set to kick off this weekend after a gruesome and captivating transfer window and pre-season tours for the various teams. Can Medeama defend their title or will the big guns in Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko under new guidance reclaim their glory?. Newbies, Nations FC, Tano Bofoakwa and Kpando Heart of Lions will be seeking to stake a claim at the expense of the old guards. Here is what to expect on the opening weekend of this season's BetPawa Premier League. The action commences at the Aliu Mahama Stadium on Friday September 15, as Real Tamale United play host to Accra Hearts of Oak. The Phobians are yet to beat RTU at their backyard since their return to the topflight but an impressive pre-season run will keep Dutch gaffer Martin Koopman's side in high spirit ahead of their clash in the North. Rustum Gameli will be the center referee on the day assisted by Eric Ndebugri and Ernest Akatey. The Accra Sports St...

 Football as a premier sport maintains strict drug testing protocols to ensure a level playing field and prevent any unfair advantages gained through performance-enhancing substances. This mandates players to exercise great caution in managing their diets and medications, especially considering the toll of injuries and illnesses that can accumulate during a significantly extended football season. Consequently, footballers must prioritize their well-being with utmost diligence. This diligence involves vigilance in avoiding a comprehensive list of prohibited substances.  Regrettably, some prominent players have found themselves in violation of these regulations, either accidentally or intentionally. As a result, they have had to confront the consequences of their actions. Juventus and France star Paul Pogba could be the latest victim to this menace. The Italian side has taken the step of provisionally suspending the 30-year-old midfielder following a drug test that detected elev...

The all-new 'Team Of The Weekend' dubbed "Phagocyte's Eleven" will focus on highlighting outstanding performers across Europe's Top Five Leagues (ie: England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France). A team comprising of 11 players will be released every Sunday to accentuate brilliant individual performances across Europe's elite leagues. Below is this week's Phagocyte's Eleven; Rui Silva (GK) - 8 The Portuguese shotstopper was the difference on the night when Real Betis escaped with a narrow 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. Silva ate-up everything thrown at him saving all of Vallecano's 6 shots on target. He helped the Verdiblancos in buildup as well completing 3 accurate long ball in the game. Wilfried Singo (RB) - 7.8 The young Ivorian defender was immense for Monaco in their 3-0 thrashing of RC Lens. Singo opened the scoring for the Monégasques in the 24th minute to set them unto the path of victory. He also attempted over 58 passes with a success r...

Ghana's Ampem Darkoa Ladies have been crowned winners of the WAFU B Women's Champions League Qualifying Competition earning them a place in the 3rd Edition of the CAF Women's Champions League. A captivating final against Delta Ladies of Nigeria was decided by Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah's 42nd minute header. The win ensured that Ampem Darkoa became only the second Ghanaian side to qualify for the pinnacle of women's club competition on the continent. This feat had previously been achieved by Hasaacas Ladies who went all the way to the final only falling short against inaugural winners Memalodi Sundowns. Ampem Darkoa's run to qualify for this year's edition has been really impressive after falling at the last hurdle in their previous attempt last year. In a group with Togo's Academie Amis du Monde and As Garde Nationale of Nigeria, Ampem Darkoa Ladies exerted themselves as the pace setters making light work of their West African neighbors. In the semis, a com...