NEWS
A selection of FirstTouch's best football writing, brought to you by emerging journalists, collaborators, and fans.
2000’s Top News Stories of the Decade
We have a time machine here at FirstTouch and just used it to chew on 10 of the best moments of the decade-spanning 2010-19. Buckle up on our free tour!
Will this be Leicester’s strongest season in the Premier League since their 2016 Championship?
How tameable if at all, are Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes this 2019/20 Premier League season? Not so much is the short answer.
English Premier League: Who will challenge for European football?
The world’s favorite league is back with bang. Eager to look at who will likely finish above the rest this campaign? We got you, we have rounded most of the promising sides who could push for titles and European football in the new season.
How will the English Premier League's "Big 6" rank this season?
FT’s own Siphosethu has thrown his predictions into the hat regarding the final placement of the “Big 6” on the English Premier League table come May 2020 and Arsenal fans won’t be quite impressed. How do you think they will fare? Or will perhaps an underdog creep in and still any of the spot?
How did Salah take the "next step"?
Premier League title or not, one thing is for certain. Mo Salah is no one-season wonder. The Egyptian pharaoh made the jump to world class territory after winning the Premier League Golden Boot back-to-back. Approaching only his 27th birthday, what looks like a “sky is the limit” career didn’t always look a sure measure.
UCL Review: Why Liverpool got blanked in Spain and Barcelona battered in England
A tale of two tales. Here is a review of how Messi pick-pocketed Liverpool and the Reds in turn completing a miraculous comeback against the Blaugrana on their way to the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League final in Madrid.
Liverpool’s African “imports” are out there making dreams come true
When’s the last time your team has had two African both finish with 20+ goals in all competitions? Klopp is probably the only one raising his hand. Even though Mane and Salah’s stellar seasons weren’t enough to secure Liverpool’s first Premier League title in almost 30 years, both could still make the difference in Madrid.
Senegal's Mane delivering the goods just when Liverpool needs him to
Are we witnessing Mane ascend to “World Class” before our very eye? With eleven goals in the last eleven matches, the Senegalese might just hand the Reds a Champions League and English Premier League title in a single season after many years of drought.
UCL Preview: Key roles for Africans in the Liverpool & Bayern clash
With Van Dijk suspended and Firmino a doubt, it all bows down to Mane, Salah, Naby Keita and Joel Matip to play leading roles for Liverpool as they welcome fellow five-time champions league winners and current Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich to Anfield.
We argue Real Madrid could be fixed in two Senegalese signatures
Adding strength and dynamism to Real Madrid may not be rocket science after all. In Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegal might just be the answer to the 3-peat UEFA Champions League winners’ ills. Los Blancos are struggling to keep up with La Liga bitter rivals, Barcelona.
"Hosting AFCON 2019 good for Egyptian Football" - Mo Salah
Egypt’s adoption of the 2019 AFCON hosting rights may spell trouble for the rest of the tournament contestants as Egypt has already built a legacy on their home soil.
Sadio Mane Explained
The Premier League’s Sadio Mane is a player that when in form, is one of the best players in the world, with his 22nd place finish in the 2018 Ballon d’Or rankings. However, when off form, inconsistency has crept into his game at times. As he remains one of Klopp and Liverpool’s favored attackers, check out our thoughts on the forward’s profile as a player.
Are Africans peaking in the English Premier League?
The African football stars all over the world in premium leagues such as the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and quite recently the Chinese Super League, have been usually, a part of the pack. It however seems like they are starting to lead the pack as far as the English Premier League is concerned.
Is there a big club who does not want Napoli & Senegalese's Koulibaly?
Kalidou Koulibaly is now easily one of the best centre-backs in the world if not the best. His displays in the Italian Serie A, UEFA Champions League and even at the 2018 FIFA World Cup have made him a highly experienced asset bound to become the world’s most expensive defender if he switches clubs. A potential move looks imminent as the top clubs circle the 27-year-old.
10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #3 Joel Matip
The January transfer window is a few weekends away. In our anticipation and excitement of possible moves, we have taken to lay down 10 “unsettled” African stars in the English top flight, the Premier League. Number 3 on our list is a former Cameroonian international.
Is Sadio Mane Real Madrid material?
The 3-peat Champions League winners are undoubtedly in need of a fix. With Cristiano Ronaldo gone, goals and one man heroic performances have not been easy to come by. As Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has been linked to Los Blancos, we assess the Senegalese’s fit into the Spanish capital side.