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Netizens hammer Allardyce for describing Okocha as David Beckham of Africa

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Some Nigerians and football fans on social media have turned the heat on former England coach Sam Allardyce over some comments he made regarding the brilliance of former Nigerian footballer Austine Jay Jay Okocha.

Sam Allardyce, who worked with Okocha at Bolton Wanderers, made a comment which he viewed as an appreciation of Okocha’s incredible talent.

In a Sky Sports interview, Sam Allardyce referred to Okocha as the African version of Manchester United and England legend David Beckham.

“He was the [David] Beckham of Africa,” Sam Allardyce said during the interview.

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Sam Allardyce also expressed shock that Okocha did not feature for any of the top clubs in the Premier League.

“To this day, [I am] massively surprised that it wasn’t the Man Uniteds, or the Arsenals, or the Chelseas, or the Man Citys, or the Liverpools that didn’t come in and sign him, particularly on a free transfer.

“Jay-Jay mastered the fact that when the trick came, it was the right time to do it, in the right place. Don’t do it at the edge of our box in case you don’t get it right.”

His comments, which were intended to be a positive appraisal of Okocha, have been rejected by some Nigerians who believe that Okocha was a better footballer than Beckham.

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While there are no contestations over which one of the two had a better career, they differed from Sam Allardyce’s claim that stylistically both players were similar.

Okocha joined Bolton in 2003 and spent four seasons at the club, where he became a cult hero.

Read the comments below:

He was better than Dinho. What’s he on about Beckham. They rate their players so much these English guys

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— Enkidu (@nkrumahboateng)

Was he bollocks, he was leagues above Beckham for ability, Beckham made a career crossing balls and taking free kicks. Okocha’s all round game was at a different level.

— Richard Atherton (@rmabolton)

What a player, pure natural ability and skill. Not many players possess what he had. Ronaldonho maybe but Jay Jay was a pleasure to watch

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— Borgy (@__Borgy__)

Okocha was far far better than Beckham.

— Brian O’Flaherty (@Flatsy1)

No, Sam. He was the Jay-Jay Okocha of Africa. And had far more skill than Beckham.

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— COUNTRYfive (@Iamstill_les)

Disrespectful. Okocha was better

— GOOD CITIZEN (@OchaduAchadu)

David Beckham? I think he ment ” He was the Ronaldinhoo of Africa”? 😉

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— Mike H (@Mikehiyab)

Beckam was the JJ of England

— Baba Lungile (@SirSfc)

David Beckham wasnt skiilled

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— sonderkommando (@255Charming)

He was nothing like David Beckham.

— Dave (@KawidDubica69)

Was David Beckham as skilful as this? 🙄😒
Joe Cole is the only English player who was a little bit close to him. Beckham has no skills at all.

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— ‘Kanmi Bhadmus (@MrGabby008)

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

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Racism probe: Mourinho gets 4-game ban for Galatasaray comments

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Fenerbahçe manager, José Mourinho, has been handed a ban for his comments following their 0-0 draw with Galatasaray last weekend.

After the Istanbul Derby on Sunday, Mourinho criticised the Galatasaray bench for “jumping like monkeys” following an early challenge.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss also claimed the match would have been a “disaster” if a Turkish referee had been put in charge instead of Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić.

Galatasaray later issued a strong statement accusing Mourinho of racism and threatening legal action.

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In response, Fenerbahçe hit back with a statement of their own, insisting their coach’s comments were “completely taken out of context and an attempt was made to deliberately distort them”.

Now, according to Sky Sports, the Turkish Football Federation has decided to punish Mourinho with a two-game ban for racist comments and a further two-match suspension for offensive remarks made about the fourth official.

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Chelsea emphatic win against Southampton gives them hope of top four finish

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Chelsea stormed back into Premier League top four with a commanding 4-0 victory over struggling Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The emphatic win lifted Enzo Maresca’s side to fourth place, reigniting hopes of a Champions League return after three consecutive defeats had cast doubt over their campaign.

Amid growing frustration among supporters—who gathered pre-match to chant for former owner Roman Abramovich—Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring with a courageous header, marking his 14th goal of the season.

The French star celebrated in trademark style, blowing a blue balloon, signaling a return of belief at the Bridge.

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Pedro Neto doubled Chelsea’s lead with a clinical strike before Levi Colwill powered home a header from a Neto free-kick just before halftime.

The Blues capped their largest Premier League victory since 2022 when Marc Cucurella slotted in the fourth late on, ensuring the dominant display didn’t go unrewarded.

Facing pointed questions after defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton, Maresca insisted Chelsea were “on the right track.”

His side answered emphatically, though critics might note Southampton’s woeful form—bottom of the table with just nine points from 27 matches.

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For Southampton, the defeat further deepened their crisis.

With 11 goals conceded in their last three league games and manager Ivan Juric branding the season a “disaster,” the Saints look destined to replicate their 2022-23 relegation woes.

While Chelsea’s top-four hopes received a boost, their position remains precarious.

For now, though, Chelsea can take solace in a performance that suggests Maresca’s project may yet bear fruit.

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Manchester City and Newcastle could reclaim fourth spot with wins in their midweek fixtures.

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Sad! Uganda based Nigerian footballer, Lawal falls to death from shopping mall

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Police on Monday said they were investigating the death of Nigerian footballer Abubakar Lawal who fell from a shopping mall balcony in Kampala.

The 29-year-old striker played for local premiership club Vipers.

He fell from the third floor of Voicemall Shopping Arcade early on Monday, police said in a statement.

He had been visiting a Tanzanian friend staying in one of the residential apartments that form part of the mall.

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The friend told police she had left him alone shortly before the fall.

Authorities are retrieving CCTV footage and conducting thorough interrogations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident,” police said.

The Vipers Sports Club said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden and untimely passing of our beloved player, Abubakar Lawal, who left us this morning.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Lawal’s family, club fans, friends and loved ones during this difficult time,” it added.

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Lawal had been the team’s striker since joining the club in July 2022 after two years with AS Kigali in Rwanda.

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