William Troost-Ekong Bows Out In Emotional Goodbye

Super Eagles fans woke up to unexpected news as captain William Troost-Ekong officially announced his retirement from international football. Despite being listed in Eric Chelle’s 54-man provisional squad for AFCON 2025, the 2023 AFCON MVP revealed via a heartfelt video on X (formerly Twitter) that his journey with Nigeria had reached its final chapter.

The announcement came with a touching message:
“HONOURED. GRATEFUL. FOREVER A SUPER EAGLE. Playing for Nigeria has been the greatest privilege of my life. The journey may end here, but my support never will. Here’s to the next chapter.”

With 83 caps in 10 years, Ekong leaves behind a legacy of leadership, consistency, and unmatched patriotism. He was instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 AFCON final and became one of the most respected voices in the national team.

Why Now? A Transition Already In Motion

In recent months, Troost-Ekong’s role had gradually shifted. The impressive rise of 20-year-old Benjamin Fredrick pushed him out of the starting XI, reducing the captain to a bench role. One of the most emotional revelations was his admission that he was supposed to take a penalty in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier shootout against DR Congo—but being benched meant he couldn’t step up.

Still, Ekong showed class:
“I wasn’t frustrated; I just wanted to win this game… My role is to support the team as much as possible, both on and off the pitch.”

He had also hinted earlier this year that AFCON 2025 might be his final tournament, showing that this transition wasn’t entirely sudden—it was coming.

Ndidi Tipped To Take The Captain’s Armband

The big question now is: who leads the Super Eagles?
Former coach Sunday Oliseh believes the answer is simple—Wilfred Ndidi.

Ndidi has captained the team in recent matches and commands full respect in the squad. According to Oliseh:
“Nobody doubts the respect the players have for Ndidi. And he’s a player that plays every game.”

With AFCON 2025 approaching quickly, stability is crucial—and Ndidi might be the perfect bridge into Nigeria’s next era.

A Legacy Forever Etched In Nigerian Football

Troost-Ekong leaves as a true patriot: admired, respected, and loved. His leadership transcended the pitch—he was the voice of calm, the anchor in tough moments, and the embodiment of commitment.

For the Super Eagles, a new chapter begins.
But for fans, William Troost-Ekong will always remain a Super Eagle—forever.

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Chelsea had a night to forget at Elland Road as Leeds United outclassed, outran, and outright bullied the Blues in a bitter 3-1 defeat that leaves serious questions about their Premier League title credentials. For a team that showed grit and high-level intensity against Arsenal just days ago, this performance felt like a dramatic crash back to reality.

From the first whistle, Leeds came out flying, throwing everything at Chelsea’s backline. Within five minutes, they had already forced multiple corners and attempts on goal — and the pressure paid off. Jakob Bijol rose highest from a brilliant Anton Stach corner to give Leeds a deserved early lead.

Chelsea tried to keep the ball but created little. The back three of Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Benoit Badiashile spent most of the first half passing sideways with no real penetration. The midfield looked disconnected, and Leeds took full advantage.

Just when it looked like Chelsea might limp into halftime at 1-0, disaster struck. A sloppy square pass from Tosin put Enzo Fernandez under pressure. The Argentine was dispossessed, the ball fell to Jayden Bogle, and Ao Tanaka unleashed a rocket into the top corner from distance. Suddenly, Chelsea were 2-0 down and deservedly so.

Enzo Maresca made changes at halftime, and the introduction of Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto sparked some life. Neto smashed home a well-worked goal early in the second half, offering hope — but only briefly.

Another Tosin error killed the momentum. The defender hesitated in his own box, was robbed by Noah Okafor, and the chaos ended with Dominic Calvert-Lewin tapping in from close range. That was the final blow. A night of mistakes, missed opportunities, and mental lapses cost the Blues dearly.

Despite their heroic effort against Arsenal days earlier, Chelsea’s lack of physicality and defensive composure at Elland Road was alarming. A team chasing the title cannot afford performances this fragile. As it stands, they now sit nine points behind the league leaders and must regroup quickly.

Below is a quick look at the standout player ratings from the match:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Robert Sanchez — 5/10
Couldn’t do much about the goals. Made a few sharp saves but was unlucky with the third.

Trevoh Chalobah — 4/10
Decent blocks but struggled to contain Leeds’ movement.

Tosin Adarabioyo — 2/10
A nightmare outing. Two costly errors and little confidence on the ball.

Benoit Badiashile — 4/10
Uncomfortable and unsure. Substituted at halftime.

Marc Cucurella — 4/10
Roamed a lot but didn’t offer much end product.

Midfield

Andrey Santos — 5/10
Tried to progress play but often looked uncertain of his role.

Enzo Fernandez — 3/10
Poor touches, dispossessed for the second goal, and looked rattled throughout.

Joao Pedro — 4/10
Never really found his rhythm.

Attack

Estevao — 3/10
Direct but ineffective. Poor decision-making.

Liam Delap — 4/10
A quiet night and struggled to connect with teammates.

Jamie Gittens — 5/10
Wasteful early, but improved to assist Neto’s goal.

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Beckham Links Up With The New Generation

Adidas just pulled off the ultimate fusion of eras — pairing Real Madrid legend David Beckham with modern-day stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold to unveil the new throwback Predator Mania Gunmetal.

The visual alone is powerful:
Beckham, the man who helped define the Predator legacy, standing alongside the players shaping a new generation at the Santiago Bernabéu.

It’s nostalgia meeting modern football culture in the cleanest way possible.

How Beckham & Zidane Made The Predator A Cultural Icon

In the 2000s, football boots had personalities — and none louder than the Predator.

Thanks to players like:

• David Beckham

• Zinedine Zidane

• Steven Gerrard

…the Predator brand became more than footwear — it became a symbol of confidence, control, and creativity.

Beckham’s signature whip-your-free-kick technique and the unforgettable fold-over tongue made Predator Mania one of the most legendary boots ever created.

And now in 2025, it’s back — reborn with purpose.

A Historic Gunmetal Colourway Returns

The 2025 Predator Mania comes in a stunning Gunmetal grey, blending early-2000s nostalgia with fresh modern flair.

Adidas describes it as:

• “Metallic, polished and aggressive”

• Featuring crisp white Three Stripes

• And the iconic red fold-over tongue — embroidered and unapologetically bold

Beckham famously wore this colourway during his early Real Madrid days.
It quickly became a cult favourite, often called “one of the most photogenic boots of its era.”

Now it’s back — and it looks better than ever.

Engineered For Today’s Game

While the look is faithful, adidas didn’t simply remake the past — they improved it.

The 2025 Predator Mania is crafted in the historic Scheinfeld factory in Germany, the birthplace of many legendary Predator lines.

Key enhancements include:

• Upgraded comfort

• Subtle structural refinement

• Increased responsiveness

• Modern fit for today’s style of play

In short:
Old-school swagger meets high-performance engineering.

Back On The Bernabéu Grass

The revival feels even more fitting because two current Real Madrid stars — Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold — will bring the Gunmetal Mania back to the Santiago Bernabéu pitch.

From Beckham’s free-kick artistry to Bellingham’s midfield dominance and Trent’s laser passing…
the Predator legacy remains in elite company.

Adidas couldn’t have scripted a better generational handover.

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