We had known for a while. We’d started believing them a long time ago. Before the dystopia of Project Restart, we knew it was only a matter of time. Yet, when the moment finally crystallized on Thursday at Stamford Bridge, there was an overwhelming sense of wonder. They actually did it.    Liverpool is an…

When football fans think of African success stories in the World Cup, many look towards Cameroon in Italia ’90 and Ghana in South Africa ’10. Some would think the Indomitable Lions in 1990 were the first African side to reach the World Cup knockout stages. That is not the case, for such an honour was…

When David Beckham’s newly founded Inter Miami signed Rodolfo Pizarro, many questions were raised.   Pizarro was regarded as one of the brightest talents in Liga MX, playing for Monterrey CF, who were the reigning CONCACAF Champions League holders and even reached the semi-finals of the Club World Cup at the end of 2019, losing…

Several great players have announced themselves on the international stage in youth tournaments for their country – Robert Prosinečki for Yugoslavia in the 1987 World Youth Championships, Lionel Messi in the 2005 U20 World Cup and Paul Pogba in the 2013 edition. Among such a list would be Andrea Pirlo who announced himself at the…

Consciously or unconsciously – we’re always borrowing from the past. We channel Aristotle every time we use deductive reasoning in even the most trivial of arguments. Half of the words on this page come from a single ruff-necked bard and the rest from ancient tribes in continental Europe. The false 9 had been around for…

“From the dome of St. Peter’s one can see every notable object in Rome…He can see a panorama that is varied, extensive, beautiful to the eye, and more illustrious in history than any other in Europe,”-Mark Twain.   The Eternal City, a melting pot of history, a homage to the beauty and elegance of civilisation.…

Known for the lake it shares its name with, the city of Como in northern Italy is a tourist attraction and a place where celebrities have their holiday houses, none more famous than American actor George Clooney.   Photo: Hello Magazine   From a footballing perspective, Como does not resonate a lot. The Lariani were…

It’s the dawn of a new era at Loftus Road. In the next few minutes, the navy and white-hooped Wimbledon Rangers will kick off the first game in their history. The club is desperate to move on from the summer of controversy and focus on the future and promotion to the Premier League.   Wimbledon…

An idol in Spain and a champion in Nigeria, ex Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare faced racism and prejudice throughout his seven years in Spain, before retiring at 31 years old due to a lack of teams that were willing to take a chance on him. After his retirement, the Lagos native settled in Madrid…

When sifting through the history of African football, rich in its moments of liberated passion and glory, there are many great unforgettable stories that come to mind. However, for many football fans, even those with an interest for football in a continent where these singular stories of splendour; so anomalous, so exhilarating, the story of…