Sport
Ronaldo Will Miss Al Nassr Game as Coach Gives Him Rest for Champions League
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of Al Nassr’s squad as they take on Damac in their upcoming Saudi Pro League match. The 40-year-old captain has been left out of the 20-man list, with the club choosing to rest him ahead of their important AFC Champions League fixture.
Ronaldo’s absence is a strategic move by head coach Stefano Pioli, who is focusing on keeping his key players fresh for Saturday’s quarter-final clash against Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos. The decision marks only the second time this season that Ronaldo has missed a league game, the first being back in October 2024 when Al Nassr played out a 3–3 draw with Al Kholood.
Sadio Mané will also miss the Damac game due to suspension. In their absence, Colombian forward Jhon Durán will step up to lead the attack.
With big games ahead in the Champions League, Pioli is clearly putting long-term goals first, prioritizing fitness and form over short-term league fixtures.
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.
Head of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, shared that the big-name players on the team are not happy about being benched.
He recalled when he took out Samuel Chukwueze during the match against Tanzania.
“Yes, of course, we’ve in this team a lot of big names. They are competitors; they aren’t happy when they go to the bench,” Chelle said at his post-match interview.”
“My job is to make choices, and we’re playing a 4-4-2 diamond, and at this moment I feel we have to protect the wing.”
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Super Eagles Star Calvin Bassey Opens Up on Nearly Walking Away from Football
