Blog - Football Castle

November 19, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, International Football

Cameroon-Bound

It’s been a long time coming but Nigeria are through to AFCON 2019. The Super Eagles qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations with a game to spare. They return to AFCON for the first time since they won it in 2013 under the tutelage of the Late Stephen Keshi in South Africa. Qualification was…

November 15, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, International Football

International Glory

The international break is upon the football universe for the final time in 2018 and competitive campaigns in Africa arrive at the business end. The South Africa versus Nigeria match at FNB stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday by 2pm Nigeria time in the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 qualifiers is one with so much at…

November 12, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Bundesliga, Features, Ligue 1, Premier League, Serie A

Maintaining or Upsetting the pattern

Neymar celebrates his goal (AFP) The past weekend had some titanic European clashes in store but we were treated to more of the same really. PSG blitzed past a hapless Monaco to add to new manager Thierry Henry’s woes. This game couldn’t have come at a worse time for Monaco, who are in an injury…

November 8, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, UEFA Champions League

League of Champions

(GETTY IMAGES) The Champions league fourth round of group matches this week offered a number of spectacular results. You can’t look beyond Serbian Champions, Red Star Belgrade’s 2-0 win over Liverpool as the performance of the round. Crvena Zvezda have a remarkably intimidating home support at the Marakana stadium but Liverpool weren’t at the races…

November 5, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

Top, Only Just

Everton players celebrate with Richarlison (REUTERS) As usual, The Premier League offers unique entertainment this season. Pep Guardiola and his Manchester city side continue to school the rest of the league and Liverpool and Chelsea just about equal their efforts with admirable unbeaten starts to the season. I have been thoroughly impressed though (and few…

November 1, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, La Liga, Tactical Analysis

Moving Forward

Real Madrid interim manager Santiago Solari. (Reuters) Managers hoping to make their mark and the rumbling of battle drums here in Africa grab the attention. Santiago Solari’s appointment on an interim basis might well do the trick for Real Madrid. The man who started the move for Zidane’s famous volley for Madrid in the 2002…

October 29, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, La Liga, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

Refusing to Disappoint

Getty Images As the switch to daylight saving across Europe officially signifies the end of the summer season. The switch to the use of yellow match balls usually signifies the start of winter and the belated marking of the start of the second quarter of the season for me. There’s always a deeper competitive feeling…

October 25, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, La Liga, Tactical Analysis

THE RIVALRY OF OUR LIVES

Barça players celebrate a goal against Madrid last season- www.independent.ng The euphoria of a local derby win gives bragging rights over anything else for the fans involved. Getting one over your local rivals does a world of wonders for any football club; it sets confidence sky high and creates an ecstatic buzz with the fans…

October 22, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Ligue 1, Premier League

The New Breed

As a host of retired footballers take their baby steps into management this season, my curiosity as to how they’re shaping up to become the main man bears snippets of their progress so far . Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and most recently Thierry Henry have traded their football boots for trainers and with the memories…

October 18, 2018

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Premier League, Serie A, Tactical Analysis

Facing the Challenges

Skysports.com The international break is over and club football is back on the menu. Things are taking shape in Africa and Nigeria now top their group in the 2019 AFCON qualifers after South Africa were unable to maintain the form that saw them thrash Seychelles 6-0 after labouring to a nil-nil away draw. As expected,…