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‘Chelsea will still sack Potter’ – Africans react after Brighton coach replaced Tuchel
The 47-year-old took up the hot seat after leaving the Seagulls and signing a long-term contract at the Bridge
Chelsea supporters across Africa are predicting newly appointed manager Graham Potter will not last at the club after he replaced the sacked Thomas Tuchel.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion tactician was on Thursday confirmed on a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge, thus taking over from the German, who was sacked on Wednesday after a disappointing start to the 2022-23 campaign.
The 47-year-old departed Brighton after three years in charge at the Amex Stadium where he left his mark, having guided the Seagulls to their best-ever top-flight finish in the 2021-22 season as they finished ninth.
In the current campaign, Brighton have also posted a positive start under his watch and are currently fourth on the 20-team table with 13 points from six matches.
They have managed four wins, one draw and one defeat and are one place above Chelsea, who have garnered 10 points from six outings. Brighton’s only defeat of the campaign came at Craven Cottage where they lost 2-1 against Fulham.
Meanwhile, Tuchel’s tenure at the Bridge came to an end after the Blues suffered a 1-0 Champions League defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb earlier this week.
Despite arriving at Chelsea while enjoying a good run of form with Brighton, a cross-section of fans on social media are not convinced Potter will last for more than six months in charge of the team.
“They will still sack him,” Mary Dennis opened a debate on GOAL Africa Facebook page which confirmed the arrival of Potter at Chelsea while John Sim opined: “He is hired only to be fired… Never forget.”
Napoleon Onyemezie wrote: “They will still sack him ok….” while Favour Ile Sunny said: “There is nothing like permanent manager in football. Managers can be sacked at anytime, if he fails to perform to the taste of the owner, he will be sacked within six months.”
Potter has also been warned to be careful with his job with this particular fan reminding him Chelsea is a team where winning matches is a top priority for any coach.
“Mr Potty or Potter what do you call yourself, please notice this is Chelsea where winning is our top priority,” Steaven J Sunny said, adding: “Be careful with your job man, and best of luck.”
Sunny’s sentiments were echoed by Charles U. James who said: “All Chelsea need is to be winning games, if you can’t win you will be sacked,” adding: “You are welcome if you are a winning coach. I wish you success.”
Tin Can wondered whether Potter was a downgrade to Tuchel: “We need to win trophies regardless of who the coach is…,” he explained adding: “That’s our culture. We hope he is not a downgrade to Tuchel.”
Meanwhile, another fan defended the appointment of Potter and called on those against it to give him time to prove his worthy.
“Some are already skeptical about his appointment, his records speaks volume, he needs to be given a chance,” opined Nzubechukwu Abumchukwu Ezeiru while Swaleh Abdallah wrote: “I hope Potter comes with a magic wand because this Chelsea team needs it now more than ever.”
Anthony Emmanuel praised Potters’ courage to take up the hot seat: “I love his smart courage to take up the job. Always daring the impossible!”
Potter’s first assignment will see Chelsea travel to face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday before they host RB Salzburg in a Group E Champions League fixture at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Source: Goal.com
Harry Maguire, a Manchester United defender, has accepted Hon. Isaac Adongo’s apologies for dragging him through the dirt.
The Ghanaian politician previously rated the former Leicester City captain as the worst player recruited by the Red Devils.
Adongo was discussing the budget when he likened Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic management to Maguire’s on-field performances.
Mr Adongo, however, apologised to Maguire in Parliament on Tuesday, saying the Manchester United defender now performed better for his club than Dr Bawumia, whom he said had repeatedly supervised the country’s economic incompetence and had subsequently gone to the (IMF) for a bailout.
“I was very quick to compare my big brother Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to Harry Maguire. Mr. Speaker, I now apologize to Harry Maguire…Today Maguire has turned the corner; he is a transformational footballer. Maguire is now scoring goals for Manchester United.”
“Mr Speaker, Harry Maguire is now a key player for Manchester United. As for our Maguire, he is now roaming at the IMF with a cup in hand,” he stated.
Following the apology, Maguire stated on social media, “MP Issac Adongo apology accepted.” “Hope to see you at Old Trafford soon.”
Meanwhile, Everton will play Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday at Goodison Park.
Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, has indicated that he is considering stepping down after five years in charge.
Scaloni made the stunning statement following Argentina’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Brazil on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.
Before winning the World Cup in Qatar last year, the 45-year-old guided Argentina to the Copa America in 2021.
“Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well,” said Scaloni.
“I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time.
“It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning.
“These guys are making it difficult, so I need to think about it for a while. I will talk to the FA president and the players afterwards.”
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After a brief stint in command of Argentina’s under-20 team, Scaloni took over as manager in August 2018.
Argentina’s 2021 Copa America victory was their first major championship in 28 years, and it qualified them for the Finalissima against European champions Italy in June 2022, which they won 3-0 at Wembley.
Later that year, they won their third World Cup in Qatar, and first since 1986.
“We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue,” said Argentina and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.
“Let’s see now he will have time to think, he didn’t say anything in the dressing room about it. We will try to convince him.”
Argentina’s victory against Brazil on Tuesday was their first-ever away win over their rivals in World Cup qualification, and it took them two points clear at the top of the table.
The game at Rio’s Maracana stadium was delayed for 30 minutes due to a scuffle during the national anthems.
Chris Hughton’s Black Stars suffered their first competitive loss as head coach, falling 1-0 to Comoros in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Myziane Maolida’s first-half goal was enough to give the hosts their second straight victory over the Black Stars.
Ghana is now in fourth position, three points behind early group leaders Comoros, who have won both of their initial qualification games.
Following a tense, late win against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi last Friday, there was some hope that the Black Stars may capitalise on Mali’s slip-up against the Central African Republic to grab the group lead.
Ghana could have grabbed an early lead in Tuesday’s encounter when Inaki Williams set up Antoine Semenyo for a goal, but the Bournemouth striker hit the crossbar.
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