Sport
Maresca Admits He Could Have Risked Chelsea’s Victory with Late Substitutions
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admitted he may have risked his team’s chances of holding on to their 1-0 lead over Tottenham Hotspur after making defensive substitutions late in the game.
Reflecting on the moment, Maresca acknowledged that his decision to make changes before seeing how much stoppage time would be added was a mistake. “We created plenty of chances in the first half, but when I saw 12 minutes of extra time, I realized it might have been too soon to make those changes,” he told reporters.
With the game nearing its end, Maresca swapped Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez for defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and midfield anchor Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which allowed Spurs to intensify their attack in search of an equalizer during the extended stoppage time.
Thankfully for Chelsea, the strategy paid off as they managed to hold on for the win. “We’re happy we won, but it was a close call,” Maresca added.
Nigerian player Frank Onyeka speaks on the recent match of the Super Eagles against Tunisia and shares what made the difference in our victory at AFCON 2025.
While interviewed, the player stated “I think our game plan worked really well. The way we pressed them high didn’t give them any chance to play, so that is what made the difference.”
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about a difficult period in his career, revealing that he almost stepped away from football.
Speaking during a recent interview, Bassey shared that he once made a personal promise to himself to quit pursuing football professionally if he failed to secure a spot at a professional club.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get into a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise.”
It has been reported that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined Egypt $5,000 following their clash with Zimbabwe for failing to manage post-match media obligations.
It was noted that after the match, the Egyptian players ignored the media. This action was said to be a violation of CAF’s media regulations, which led to the fine being imposed.
“Our Game Plan Worked”: Frank Onyeka on Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 Victory
The Year Isn’t Over Until You Stop Trying: Entering 2026 With Renewed Hope
“My Greatest Fear Has Happened”: Lizzy Gold Mourns Father’s Death
-
Lifestyle & Culture3 hours agoThe Year Isn’t Over Until You Stop Trying: Entering 2026 With Renewed Hope
-
Entertainment3 hours ago“My Greatest Fear Has Happened”: Lizzy Gold Mourns Father’s Death
-
Sport3 hours ago“Our Game Plan Worked”: Frank Onyeka on Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 Victory
-
News3 hours ago979 Forests to Be Taken Down as Northern States Intensify Security Efforts