Sports

Why Chelsea players, fans don’t wish Arsenal well- Ex player

Published

2 months ago

April 14, 2026

No fan or ex-player of the Chelsea would want Arsenal FC to win the Premier League title, former Super Eagles captain and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has said.

Mikel made the remark on his Obi One Podcast released on Monday as the Premier League title race intensifies, insisting that the long-standing rivalry between both London clubs makes such support impossible.

He said, “No Chelsea ex-player or fan will ever want to see Arsenal win the Premier League.

Responding to criticism from Arsenal supporters, Mikel dismissed claims that such sentiments reflect a “small club” mentality. He recalled that interactions between players and fans of both clubs were often hostile, even outside match settings.

To all Arsenal fans saying, ‘Mikel, you are too harsh on us,’ I’m Chelsea, and you can take it personally. I don’t want you to win the Premier League.

“We hated each other; the rivalry was crazy [back then]. We smashed each other. And when I went out after the games in London or whenever it was, when I saw Arsenal fans or players, we never spoke to each other. Sometimes, even our friends got into fights.”

He also warned that if Arsenal fails to win the Premier League this season, it would be the biggest disaster in the history of the competition for the Gunners.

“These Arsenal players, they have to understand that this is their probably, if they don’t win it (Premier League) this season. It’s probably going to be the biggest disaster in the history of the Premier League for them.

“It’s going to be the biggest disaster for them because right now, if they had won that game [against Bournemouth] on Saturday. It will be 12 points.

“They took their foot off the gas over the weekend, and Man City came right back, and right now it is 6 points.”

“Arteta has to find a way, because right now they look like a team that are out of sorts; they don’t know what to do, and he [Arteta] looks out of ideas.”

Arsenal missed the chance to extend their lead at the weekend after a shock 2–1 defeat to Bournemouth, while Manchester City closed the gap with a 3–0 win over Chelsea.

With six games remaining, Arsenal sit top of the table with a six-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Both sides are set to meet this weekend in what could prove decisive in the title race.

Related Topics:Arsenal Chelsea Featured Mikel Obi

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Cape Verde goalkeeper goes emotional

Published

2 hours ago

June 16, 2026

News Diggers

Cape Verde goalkeeper, Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha has spoken emotionally about the personal sacrifices behind his country’s historic FIFA World Cup debut, revealing that he broke down in tears after their stunning draw against Spain because some of the people closest to him could not witness the moment.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper emerged as one of the standout performers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after producing a series of crucial saves to help Cape Verde secure a remarkable 0-0 draw against Spain in the nation’s first-ever World Cup match.

Vozinha’s heroics captured the imagination of football fans around the world, particularly in Brazil, where commentators on broadcaster Caze TV urged viewers during halftime to help boost the veteran shot-stopper’s Instagram following to 100,000.

The response was overwhelming.

Within minutes, the goalkeeper’s follower count rose to 220,000 and continued to increase rapidly as the match progressed. By the 60th minute, the Chaves goalkeeper had attracted 350,000 followers. At the final whistle, the figure stood at 389,000 before surging by another 500,000 within five minutes.

By the time Vozinha returned to the dressing room, he had surpassed one million followers on the social media platform.

Despite the newfound fame, the Cape Verde international reflected on the emotional weight of the occasion.

“I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid, and they could not be there. They passed away a few years ago,” Vozinha said.

“My mum could not be here either for a visa issue, and the money we had to pay for it. We did not manage to do this in time.”

The experienced goalkeeper, who earned an 8.4 rating from WhoScored and made seven saves against the Spanish side, was embraced by teammates after the final whistle as Cape Verde celebrated a memorable result on the biggest stage in world football.

Vozinha, who has represented Cape Verde since 2012, earned his 89th international cap in the match against Spain.

Speaking to Caze TV after the game, the veteran goalkeeper was informed about the extraordinary growth of his social media following.

“I had almost 50,000 followers [before]. Wow…” he said in disbelief.

When told that his followers had reached around half a million, Vozinha appeared stunned. Moments later, he was shown a phone displaying more than one million followers.

“That’s crazy,” he said.

“Thank you so much. Brazilians have always been very affectionate towards us.

“We have felt this during our qualification campaign, we have felt this support and affection from Brazilians.”

Vozinha’s inspiring performance and heartfelt remarks have since resonated with football fans worldwide, turning the Cape Verde captain into one of the breakout stories of the tournament.

Sports

Protests over Black Stars midfielder’s fate

Published

20 hours ago

June 15, 2026

News Diggers

The Government of Ghana has expressed strong dissatisfaction over Canada’s decision to deny a temporary residence visa application submitted by Black Stars midfielder Thomas Teye Partey ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a statement issued by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, the government described the decision as “high-handed and extremely unfair,” noting that Partey is a key member of Ghana’s senior national football team currently preparing for the global tournament.

According to the ministry, Canadian immigration authorities based their decision on provisions relating to inadmissibility under paragraph A36(1)(c) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Ghana said it understands that the ruling was linked to ongoing criminal proceedings involving the footballer in the United Kingdom, despite the absence of any conviction or judicial finding of guilt.

The Ghanaian government stressed that the presumption of innocence remains a fundamental principle of justice and due process in democratic societies.

“While respecting Canada’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Ghana considers that reliance on unproven charges in the absence of a judicial determination raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality,” the statement said.

The government disclosed that it has initiated diplomatic engagements with Canadian authorities to seek a review of the decision. It revealed that on June 11, Ghana’s Foreign Ministry sent an official note of protest to Global Affairs Canada, requesting a reconsideration of the visa refusal.

According to the statement, Ghana is prepared to explore all available diplomatic, legal and administrative channels under Canadian and international law, including the possibility of seeking judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada, to ensure that all relevant legal and factual issues are fairly considered.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has also been in discussions with Canadian officials, including Canada’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, since becoming aware of the matter.

The government further highlighted Partey’s selection for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, arguing that the case carries significant national and international sporting implications. It urged Canadian authorities to reverse their decision in line with principles of fairness and common law traditions.

“Ghana remains committed to constructive engagements with Canadian authorities and to upholding the rule of law, human rights, and the presumption of innocence,” the ministry stated.

The government also underscored the longstanding bilateral relationship between Ghana and Canada, expressing hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts would lead to an amicable and timely resolution.

Concluding its statement, Ghana appealed to the unifying spirit of football, saying the sport should continue to foster friendship among nations while promoting fairness and respect for the rules both on and off the field.

Sports

World Cup: Why Davido excites Obi

Published

23 hours ago

June 15, 2026

News Diggers

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has praised Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, for using his global platform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown concert to draw attention to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and the plight of abducted schoolchildren.

In a statement shared on his official X handle late Sunday, Obi described Davido’s actions as a patriotic gesture that went beyond entertainment to demand international attention for the country’s security challenges.

Davido had performed at the FIFA World Cup countdown concert wearing a customised leather jacket adorned with buttons bearing the names of pupils and teachers recently abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The back of the jacket carried the bold inscription, “BRING THEM HOME.”

Reacting to the singer’s symbolic protest, Obi said Davido deserved commendation for spotlighting the country’s security crisis on a global stage.

“Davido’s impactful gesture in drawing global attention to Nigeria’s security challenges warrants commendation. He prominently displayed the names of schoolchildren who had been held captive for an extended period, advocating for their safe return,” Obi wrote.

“By utilising his international platform, Davido effectively highlighted Nigeria’s security crisis, transcending mere entertainment.”

The former Anambra State governor argued that the level of insecurity across the country required urgent international scrutiny, especially in light of what he described as the government’s inability to effectively address the situation.

Obi also revisited his earlier comments on Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that the country’s absence from the tournament was not due to a lack of talent but rather poor political leadership.

According to him, the presence of Nigerian artists on the global stage and Nigerians representing other countries at the tournament demonstrated the immense potential of the nation’s youth.

“Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup, as I previously stated, stems not from a lack of talent but from a conspicuous deficiency in political leadership that has failed to create an enabling environment for talent development,” Obi stated.

“This assertion is underscored by two notable occurrences during the tournament: the vibrant participation and impressive performances of Nigerian artists, and the presence of numerous Nigerians representing other nations on the field.”

He added that these developments should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s leaders to create conditions that would enable young Nigerians to maximise their talents and contribute meaningfully to national development.

“These observations present a significant imperative for Nigeria’s political leaders to actively foster an environment in which the nation’s youth can fully realise their potential,” Obi said.