The Saudi side announced on Wednesday that Al Nasr and their Italian coach Stefano Pioli have parted ways.
Pioli’s name has been linked with joining Fiorentina for a second spell in charge of the Serie A side despite the fact that no official explanation for the split after only nine months in the position.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s team announced on social media that Al Nassr and his staff no longer lead the first team.
Al Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Pro League, thanked Mr. Pioli and his staff for their hard work last season.
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Only joining Al Nassr in September 2024 was Pioli, who won the 2022 Serie A title for AC Milan.
In a 3-0 victory over Tunisian champions Esperance on Tuesday, Liam Delap scored his first goal for Chelsea, moving them into the last 16 of the Club World Cup.
Tosin Adarabioyo and Delap scored two goals in stoppage time in Philadelphia to cap a game that was played in sweaty conditions at the end of a blisteringly hot day.
At the conclusion of the game, when Enzo Maresca’s side recovered from a 3-1 defeat to Flamengo, Tyrique George added the third in injury time in front of 32,937 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.
While Esperance were eliminated, Chelsea moved into second place in Group D, behind the Brazilian giants.
When Delap was asked about his first goal in his third game, Maresca responded, “He has three clear chances to score goals against Flamengo, so that means he is there, in the right position, and doing well.”
We have no doubts about Liam’s ability to score goals with us.
The Premier League side will now travel to Charlotte on Saturday to face Benfica, who had earlier defeated Bayern Munich to take the top of Group C.
The winners of that tie will face either Brazil’s Palmeiras or Botafogo of Brazil in the final eight of the club’s first meeting since Chelsea beat Benfica in the 2013 Europa League final.
“Benfica is a top club with a top manager and top players, and it will be difficult,” Maresca said. “We are currently in the last 16 and the next goal is to try to be in the last eight.
After the Flamengo defeat, Maresca made eight changes to his starting lineup, making Chelsea only need a draw to advance.
Josh Acheampong was one of the few unheard faces who had a chance, while Delap, Enzo Fernandez, and Malo Gusto kept their places.
Maresca explained that Chelsea’s squad rotation was unavoidable due to the heat wave that existed in and around Philadelphia.
Because playing every three days in these circumstances is impossible, I said yesterday, “It was impossible to not rotate players.”
“The players were good, and it’s important to regain our energy and try to win the following game.”
We need to be proud and happy because 32 clubs were present at this tournament, and they are now 16 and represent organizations that have competed in the Champions League finals for the past five or six years, like Atletico Madrid, who are already (back) in Spain.
Acheampong, who is making his 10th start of the season, had a low-pass saved by Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said on 36 minutes to make it close.
Chelsea controlled the opening period until the third minute of stoppage time when Fernandez fired wide from the edge of the box.
Adarabioyo scored with a header into the bottom corner after Fernandez floated a free-kick into the area.
READ MORE: Atletico Crash Out Of Club World Cup Despite Win Over Botafogo
difficult situations ,
Chelsea’s English defender #04 Tosin Adarabio (2nd L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with fellow teammates #09 Liam Delap, French defender #05 Benoit Badiashile, and Belgian midfielder #45 Romeo Lavia on June 24, 2025 at the Philadelphia Lincoln Financial Field stadium as a group d match between Tunisian Esperance Sportive de Tunis and England’s Chelsea in Group D football at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group D match. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP photo)
Esperance needed to win, and Chelsea’s hopes were boosted when Chelsea scored again two minutes later.
Delap was the new signing from Ipswich Town, who controlled with his back to goal, turned and slotted a low shot into the net to match his new colors. Fernandez was once more the provider.
Conditions remained challenging late into the evening with temperatures still hovering close to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
Mamadou Sarr and Andrey Santos had their first Chelsea minutes since joining from Strasbourg, but both teams made changes.
When the referee pointed to the spot after a Santos shot brushed the hand of Yassine Meriah, Chelsea thought they had a penalty 15 minutes later, the decision was overturned following a VAR check.
At the conclusion of the game, George, another substitute, found the net with a shot that the goalkeeper should have stopped, which was close to the scoring.
“We faced a team from the highest level, and we were dominant,” Esperance coach Maher Kanzari said.
Maduka Okoye, a goalkeeper for the Super Eagles and Udinese of Italy, has been appointed as Enugu State’s ambassador.
After a long season with his Italian club, where he helped finish 12th in Serie A, Okoye, who is a native of Enugu State, is currently spending time at home.
Additionally, Governor Mbah made a promise to give land to Okoye’s Enugu football academy.
Governor Peter Mbah receiving a football from Okoye.
Following a meeting with the player on Tuesday in Enugu, the governor made this known in a post on his X handle.
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He continued, “Today, I had the pleasure of meeting Maduka Okoye, the star goalkeeper for the Super Eagles and the Udinese, at the Lion Building.
Maduka, a true son of Enugu, is also ready to give back by not only making us proud on the national and global stage. He expressed his desire to establish a football academy in Enugu, raise money for charities, and touch lives.
I’m proud to appoint him as Enugu State ambassador in recognition of his accomplishments and commitment. He will inspire a new generation of dreamers and achievers and serve as a role model for our children, particularly those attending our Smart Green Schools.
I’ve committed to giving the project land to support his football academy. Additionally, I extended his invitation to take part in the upcoming Enugu International Marathon, which will feature world-class runners.
The youth are at the center of our vision, guiding them through their talent, passion, and future. And with patriotic sons like Maduka Okoye, Enugu is truly rising.
In a statement released by Governor Mbah’s media advisor, Dan Nwomeh, Okoye stated that he was excited to return to his native land and that he planned to start a charitable foundation and start a football academy.
He claimed that these initiatives were intended to support society, encourage young talent, and nurture future stars.
After both teams advanced to the knockout stages on Monday, Lionel Messi will face a tantalizing reunion with former club Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup last 16.
After the Brazilian side rallied from two goals down to claim the top spot, Miami and Palmeiras drew 2-2 to move up to second place in Group A.
They now face Botafogo, who lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid but finished second overall to the Spaniards in Group B.
With a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders, PSG, the champions of Europe, opened the door for Messi and Miami’s surprise package.
After a shock defeat to Porto, Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez scored to put Miami on the verge of a second title.
READ MORE: Botafogo’s defeat to Atletico knocks them out of the club world championship
On June 23, 2025, US Inter Miami and Brazil’s Palmeiras play at the Hard Rock stadium in Miami, scoring the Uruguayan forward #9 Luis Suarez (C) as they celebrate scoring their nation’s second goal in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group A game. (Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP)
However, Paulinho and Mauricio helped Palmeiras get through in the final ten minutes of the game at Hard Rock Stadium.
In addition to Suarez, Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Javier Mascherano, Miami’s coach, Luis Enrique, who won the 2015 Copa America title, will face their former teammate in 2015.
“We’re talking about the European champions.” We are well-known to many of their players and coaches, and I’ve always said to them that their coach is the best in the world, Alba said.
“I’ll connect with my good friends there, but once the game starts, we’ll compete, and why can’t we do it?” Football is what?
Major League Soccer, according to Mascherano, has been improved by Miami’s success.
Because of our affiliation with the top 16 MLS teams in the world, it’s a historic night for the league. He claimed that Inter Miami should be a “piece of the MLS”.
After a heartfelt 4-4 draw, Portugal’s Porto and Egypt’s Al Ahly were both eliminated. Neither team could have beaten Palmeiras or Miami.
PSG, the European champions, came out of the woods with a comfortable victory in Seattle after Botafogo’s surprise defeat.
Due to Botafogo’s late defeat at Atletico Madrid in Pasadena, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi scored either side of half-time to advance to the group stage.
The pitch was very different from what we are used to in Europe, so we couldn’t play with the fluidity we prefer, but we made adjustments,” according to PSG coach Enrique.
Ousmane Dembele, the top scorer for PSG, was injured and had to travel to the tournament to play no part in a third game.
At the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group B football match between Brazil’s Botafogo and Spain’s Atletico de Madrid, France’s #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammate #19 Julian Alvarez, at the Rose Bowl stadium in Los Angeles on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP)
After falling to Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 in their opening game, Atletico needed a significant win over Botafogo to advance.
In the 87th minute, former France international Antoine Griezmann lashed home a Julian Alvarez cross to give Atletico a victory that was ultimately in vain.
We regret not being selected because we had six points, according to Atletico coach Simeone.
“We were punished at the end of the day because it wasn’t enough.”
Atletico was upset that penalty appeals were turned down because they needed a two-goal swing.
Giuliano Simeone, the coach’s son, remarked, “I’ve never seen anything like it, to be honest, I think we should have received two penalties.”
With one more last 16 spot on the line on Tuesday, Benfica and Bayern Munich, who have already qualified, will face Group C rival Boca Juniors.
Chelsea, who now faces Los Angeles FC in the English Premier League, then takes on Esperance Tunis.
Last-16 matches of the World Cup Club
The Club World Cup’s last 16 fixtures are listed below (kick-offs GMT).
Despite losing 1-0 to Atletico Madrid, Brazilian side Botafogo were unable to save their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Monday.
In their opening match of the competition, Atletico knew they would need a significant win to advance, but Paris Saint-Germain gave them a 4-0 lead.
In a second sweltering midday kick-off in front of 22, 992 fans at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, PSG defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-0 elsewhere in Group B.
In the 87th minute, former France international Antoine Griezmann lashed home a Julian Alvarez cross to give Atletico a victory that was ultimately in vain.
Botafogo finished in second place in the group stage six points behind the French giants, who lead the division in terms of goal difference, after defeating European champions PSG 1-0 in their second group game.
In terms of goals scored, Botafogo and Atletico, who also finished with six points, came second.
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We regret not being selected because we had six points, according to Atletico coach Simeone. We were punished at the end of the day because it wasn’t enough.
I’m proud of my guys’ efforts. We played our hearts out, won two games, but we are, regrettably, not succeeding.
The South American champions Botafogo made a strong start to their match against Atletico, with Jefferson Savarino, a lively Venezuelan international, taking on Jan Oblak in the opening minutes.
However, as the first half progressed and the competition progressed, Atletico gained control of the ground and possession.
Alvarez, an international striker from Argentina, opened the scoring in the 41st minute but his shot dangled off Botafogo center-half Alexander Barboza for a corner.
Atletico believed to have made a crucial breakthrough just before half-time when Alvarez appeared to have been kicked in the penalty area, prompting a video assistant referee to check his position.
However, the review found a foul on Barboza in the build-up despite Alvarez’s appearance, so there was no sanction.
Following the incident, Simione described the incident as “none of the decisions went our way.”
With the Brazilians reportedly soaking up pressure during the second half, Atletico spent extended periods camping in Botafogo territory.
On 67 minutes, Rio de Janeiro’s side broke the deadlock with Igor Jesus’ first-time goal from Cuiabano’s cross that Oblak had to parry for a corner.
