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Pochettino leaves Chelsea by mutual consent
President Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have joined the long list of people, especially in the football family, in paying tribute to late Super Eagles hero Christian Chukwu, who died on Saturday.
“Chairman,” as the late Nigerian football icon was called, died at 74, throwing family, friends, and the entire nation into mourning.
In his tribute to the former centre defender, Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, hailed the patriotism of Chukwu.
“Christian Chukwu was more than a footballer and coach. He was a symbol of excellence and patriotism. He brought joy to millions, mentored a generation of footballers, and stood as a pillar of Nigerian brand and sportsmanship on and off the pitch,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.
“His legacies will continue to live on in the trophies he won, the lives he touched, and the exciting moments he provided to football fans and spectators on the field and in the technical area. We are forever grateful for his contributions to the sport we all love, and we will always remember him with great respect and admiration.”
President Tinubu eugolised the former Rangers defender as a trailblazer whose career was defined by passion, discipline, and commitment to national pride.
He consoled the family of the bereaved, praying for the repose of his soul and comfort for those Chukwu left behind.
NFF mourns as ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, 1980 AFCON-winning captain, dies at 74
The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep sorrow after it was confirmed that Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, who captained Nigeria’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad pic.twitter.com/8UMRatCivF
On its part, the NFF, in a statement on its official X handle, said Chukwu’s death is a big loss to the country’s football fraternity.
“We have lost a good and great man. Chukwu was the definition of a strong, dedicated, and disciplined leader on and off the field. He was not nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for nothing. He embodied strength, vision, and consistency,” the General Secretary of the football body said.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant his soul eternal rest, and also grant the family and friends he has left behind, and Nigeria football’s fraternity the fortitude to bear this big loss.”
Chukwu captained Nigeria to their first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy in 1980 and was also a former coach of the side between 2002 and 2005. He led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2004 edition of the continental competition in Tunisia.
He devoted his club career to Enugu Rangers, where he won multiple national titles and led the club to continental glory with their 1977 African Cup Winners’ Cup triumph.
Liverpool FC has officially confirmed the signing of a new contract for Mohamed Salah, ending months of speculation regarding the future of the club’s third all-time leading goalscorer.
Salah has committed to a new deal that reportedly extends his stay at Anfield until 2027, when he will be 35 years old.
This announcement follows extensive negotiations and growing apprehension that the Egyptian forward could leave the club as a free agent upon the expiration of his previous contract. The news brings a wave of optimism as the champions-elect head into the summer, ensuring that Salah will continue to be a crucial part of Arne Slot’s plans moving forward.
In revealing the details of his new contract, Salah expressed his ambition to secure more trophies at Liverpool, stating, “If I didn’t believe in our potential, I wouldn’t have signed. I truly believe this team can achieve great things. With the unwavering support from our fans and the city, I am confident we can win many trophies in the coming years.”
If Salah completes the next two years of his contract, he will reach a remarkable ten seasons with the club, having already outperformed all but two players in Liverpool’s storied history. Only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt have scored more goals than Salah, who now has his sights set on surpassing Hunt for second place on the all-time list.
At 32 years old, Salah also ranks sixth in all-time assists, and at his current pace, it is plausible he could surpass club legends Steven Gerrard, Billy Liddell, Ian Callaghan, and Alan A’Court, ultimately positioning himself just behind Kenny Dalglish.
These statistics highlight Salah’s extraordinary contribution since his transfer from AS Roma in 2017 for a bargain fee of £43.9 million, making it imperative for Liverpool to secure new terms with their prolific No. 11.
As Slot nears the conclusion of their first season together, Salah has already recorded the second-most goal contributions of any player in the Dutch manager’s career, trailing only Santiago Gimenez, who played two seasons under Slot at Feyenoord.
### Potential Vice-Captaincy for Mo Salah
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, February 16, 2025: Mohamed Salah celebrates with captain Virgil van Dijk after netting the second goal during the FA Premier League clash between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield, where Liverpool triumphed 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to depart, a vacancy for a new vice-captain has emerged within the squad. Salah has already demonstrated significant leadership capabilities, alongside Andy Robertson and Alisson, making them the prime candidates for the role beneath the captain.
While Salah’s on-field responsibilities will likely remain unchanged, being appointed vice-captain would enhance his standing within the squad. Retaining both Salah and Van Dijk is crucial for maintaining continuity both on and off the pitch.
As the club anticipates several player movements this summer, preserving the core group that has achieved remarkable success will be vital in the early stages of the upcoming season. With Robertson and potentially Alisson spending more time on the bench, having seasoned winners like Salah on the pitch will be advantageous.
Contracts, Mohamed Salah.
Rice scored two majestic free kicks in the second half of the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Merino added Arsenal’s third goal before Real’s Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for kicking the ball away in the closing minutes to leave the Spanish giants in disarray.
The brilliance of Rice’s brace cannot be understated, with even Real keeper Thibaut Courtois — usually so inspired on Champions League nights — unable to get anywhere near the England midfielder’s thunderbolts.
Incredibly, Rice had never scored a free-kick in his career before the first of his missiles hit the back of the Real net.
It was no more than Arsenal deserved for a mature performance that exposed injury-hit Real in ruthless style.
Mikel Arteta’s men will travel to the Bernabeu for the second leg on April 16 as firm favourites to advance to a semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa, who meet in their quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
The Gunners have not reached the Champions League semi-finals since 2009, but that target is now within their grasp after an evening that will go down as one of the most memorable in the club’s storied history.
Arteta had labelled the clash with Real as the “biggest night” of his career as he urged his players to write their own history by winning Arsenal’s first Champions League crown.
They rose to the challenge so successfully that even Arteta might have been surprised.
Arsenal trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by 11 points and look destined to finish as runners-up for a third successive season.
But the Champions League now offers Arteta genuine hope of a first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, providing they can finish the job in Madrid next week.
Beaten by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals last season, Arsenal’s only Champions League final appearance ended in defeat against Barcelona in 2006 — a run that included a last 16 victory over Real.
For Real, it was a chastening defeat as the 15-time European champions were punished for the flaws that had already seen them beaten 10 times in all competitions this term as they lag four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Arsenal in dreamland
Jude Bellingham was largely anonymous and Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior posed only sporadic threats after a promising start.
Vinicius Junior threatened in the opening stages, curling wide after Mbappe picked him out inside the Arsenal area.
Mbappe’s electric pace took him clear of the Arsenal defence in another lightning raid, but the France star shot straight at David Raya.
Arsenal showed no signs of being cowed by Real’s star-studded attack and Rice’s towering header from Jurrien Timber’s cross forced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois, who scrambed across to keep out Gabriel Martinelli’s effort from the rebound.
Mbappe lashed into the side-netting from an acute angle, but Real were unable to match Arsenal’s intensity in the second half and the Gunners deservedly took the lead in the 58th minute.
Rice stepped up 25 yards from goal and whipped a sublime free-kick around the Real wall and into the far corner.
It was a stunning strike that even former Real defender and set-piece maestro Roberto Carlos, watching from the Emirates stands, would have been proud of.
Arsenal almost struck again in a remarkable sequence that saw Courtois save Martinelli’s blast before Merino’s shot from the rebound was hacked off the line by David Alaba and Courtois again denied Merino.
Real were on the ropes and Rice landed another devastating blow in the 70th minute, lashing an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards as Courtois grasped at thin air.
As the ecstatic Arsenal fans roared “Declan Rice, we got him half praise”, that reference to his £105 million fee didn’t seem like hyperbole for once.
Arsenal weren’t finished yet and Merino put Arsenal in dreamland five minutes later with a clinical finish from 12 yards as the Emirates turned into a roiling red sea of celebration.
AFP