Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has issued a stark assessment of football in West Africa, pointing to poor player salaries, weak structures, and inadequate infrastructure as key reasons the region continues to lag behind leagues in South Africa and Morocco.Speaking in an interview with Brila FM, the Nigerian shot-stopper gave a frank evaluation of the challenges facing domestic football across the region, stressing that many players are forced to leave in search of better conditions abroad.“In West Africa, our leagues are not as good. We want to go to Europe, we want to come to South Africa, we want to go to Morocco,” he said.Nwabali explained that only a few clubs can offer competitive wages, leaving many players with limited financial security during their careers.“The league, the pay is a little bit nice for a certain level of your team,” he added.Beyond financial issues, the goalkeeper highlighted the clear gap in infrastructure and organisation, noting that leagues in countries such as South Africa and Morocco benefit from better stadiums, stronger administration, and more professional setups. He argued that these advantages make their domestic competitions more attractive and sustainable compared to many West African leagues.In...

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President Fred Pappoe has called on Ghanaians to throw their full support behind newly appointed Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz as the team intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The Portuguese tactician has been handed a short-term contract to lead Ghana at the tournament, replacing Otto Addo after a difficult run of results that included defeats to Austria and Germany in March, as well as Ghana's failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.Speaking on Adom FM, Pappoe stressed the importance of unity and collective backing given the limited time before the World Cup.“We have limited time for the World Cup, and if you look into the list available and you check our pocket, I believe we have to rally behind whoever has been appointed,” he said.Pappoe added that Queiroz’s extensive experience—including four World Cup appearances—should be seen as a major advantage rather than a point of criticism.“We were all clamouring for a respected coach, and someone who can transform the team has been chosen, so we must support him,” Pappoe stated.Queiroz is expected to meet the Black Stars squad next month during a...

Manchester City could be set for a midfield revamp this summer, with Bernardo Silva set to leave and uncertainty surrounding Rodri’s future. City are exploring the market for several midfield targets and have now been linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza and Hertha Berlin’s Kennet Eichhorn. According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, City are […]

IAN LADYMAN AT ANFIELD: So now we know that there is another side to the champions of Europe. PSG of France can defend, too.

Liverpool have crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield against PSG in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. After losing the first leg 2-0 away from home, they were hoping to overturn the deficit at home, but the defending European champions have managed to get the job done at Anfield, and they […] The post Shearer reveals “exactly what Liverpool have been missing” against PSG tonight appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League, earning a significant financial reward in the process. On Tuesday, the first two clubs secured their spots in the semifinals of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. Atletico Madrid lost 2-1 to Barcelona but still advanced thanks to their first-leg victory, while Paris Saint-Germain extended their advantage against Liverpool. Both clubs will receive a substantial financial prize for progressing to the next round. Simply for reaching the Champions League semifinals, UEFA awards each club €15 million — approximately $17.6 million. While that alone represents a major boost for Europe’s top four teams, it is only part of the total revenue clubs generate from a deep run in the competition. UEFA’s distribution system is made up of several components: participation bonuses, performance-based rewards, and milestone payments. As a result, each club’s total earnings vary depending on how far they advance and how they perform throughout the tournament. The Champions League prize money structure Each of the 36 clubs that participated in the UEFA Champions League league phase received a base payment of €18.62 million, roughly $22 million. From there, performance in that stage determines additional earnings. Paris locked in for the semi-finals 🔒#UCL pic.twitter.com/O3eBTXtXCf — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 14, 2026 During the league phase, teams earn an extra $2.48 million for each win and $0.83 million for each draw. That is why the top-performing team in that stage — Arsenal — collected $19.8 million from eight wins, bringing their total to nearly $42 million when combined with the base payment. How much do clubs earn for advancing in the Champions League? Once in the knockout stages, teams also receive payments based on their position in the standings. On top of that, there are additional bonuses for advancing through each round: $13 million for reaching the Round of 16 and $14.7 million for making the quarterfinals. As mentioned, the semifinals are worth an additional $17.6 million. Reaching the final brings in $21.8 million, and winning it adds another $7.6 million. That title also grants access to the UEFA Super Cup, which can be worth up to $5.9 million more. Finally, each club receives a “value pillar” payment tied to broadcasting rights and other commercial revenues related to the UEFA Champions League. The amount varies by club, based on a coefficient that considers performances over the past 10 years. Taking all these factors into account, the Champions League winner this season could earn around €150 million (approximately $175 million) in total, combining performance-based prizes and commercial revenue.

Jude Bellingham has said that he, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior can deliver together on the pitch for Real Madrid ahead of an "all-or-nothing" Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Howard Hamilton previews all 16 matches from Match Day 2 of the 2025 Copa Libertadores group stage, with the top two seeds playing their first home matches of the competition. Featured matches include Flamengo hosting Independiente Medellín at the Maracanã, Boca Juniors welcoming Barcelona SC to La Bombonera in a storied Libertadores rivalry, and Liga de Quito hosting Mirasol in a battle of Match Day 1 winners at altitude in Quito. Howard also breaks down key suspension news across the groups, including absences for Platense, Corinthians, Cerro Porteño, Independiente del Valle, and Bolívar, and previews a Group F clash between Palmeiras and Sporting Cristal that follows one of the most lopsided results in recent Libertadores history. All 16 matches can be followed on Fanatiz, Fubo Sports, or YouTube. The SoccerMetrics Copa Libertadores Show is proudly part of the SDH Network, the home of English-language coverage of South American soccer. Send questions and comments to @SoccerMetrics on X.

The Anfield outfit are expected to sign at least one new central defender in the summer transfer window, and could end up landing one of the very best in Europe