The First X Minutes Podcast

In this episode, Gabi and Adebukola join me to preview Real Madrid's 2023/2024 season. A phenomenal season by all standards, the fans talk me through Madrid losing just once through out the season and Carlo's "quiet leadership." We also talk about the evolution of Vini Jr., Madrid without Kroos, Bellingham's growth and the future of Mbappe at the Santiago Bernabeu. Check out the time stamp below: 00:00 - 07:02 - Introduction 07:02 - 15:30 - Real Madrid's 2023/2024 Season: The Highs and Lows 15:30 - 30:35 - The Evolution of Vini Jr. 30:35 - 45:55 - Discussing Carlo Ancelotti's 'Structured Freedom' and 'Quiet Leadership' 45:55 - 1:00:45 - Remembering Toni Kroos 1:00:45 - 1:09:40 - All the Questions about Kylian Mbappe as a Real Madrid Player 1:09:40 - 1:16:40 - Jude Bellingham: The Rave of the Moment 1:16:40 - End - The Classic Five-a-Side Battle Don't forget to leave a rating where you get this podcast. Also follow us on X @The90MinsPlus.

"Revelatory. Expository. Insightful." In this episode, Debola Adebanjo joins us (again) to discuss life after leaving the BBC. As a 2022 graduate, she also shares detailed insight into how the FIFA Master programme works, work ethics that influence and Arsenal. Check out the time-stamp below: 00:00 - Meet Debola Adebanjo (again) 03:40 - Leaving the Beeb: What it felt like and why 13:25 - Takeaways from working at the BBC 26:00 - FIFA Master 101: Getting in 40:00 - A Breakdown of the FIFA Master's Approach to Sport 53:35 - FIFA Master: Diversity and Life after the programme 1:11:00 - Analyzing the FIFA Master Modules 1:15:50 - The (hardly-spoken-about) Hard Part of being an International Student 1:26:00 - Discussing Arteta and Arsenal 1:36:00 - Round-up Follow us on X ⁠@The90MinsPlus

"Revelatory. Expository. Insightful." In this episode, Debola Adeanjo joins us (again) to discuss life after leaving the BBC. She also shares a first-hand insight into how the FIFA Master programme works, work ethics that influence and Arsenal. Check out the time-stamp below: 00:00 - The importance of feedback 01:30 - Meet Debola Adebanjo (again) 04:45 - Leaving the Beeb: What it felt like and why 15:40 - Takeaways from working at the BBC 27:20 - FIFA Master 101: Getting in 40:50 - A Breakdown of the FIFA Master's Approach to Sport 54:45 - FIFA Master: Diversity and Life after the programme 1:11:00 - Analyzing the FIFA Master Modules 1:15:50 - The (hardly-spoken-about) Hard Part of being an International Student 1:26:00 - Discussing Arteta and Arsenal 1:36:00 - Round-up Follow us on X @The90MinsPlus

In this episode, Dorcas takes us through the world of women's football in Nigeria. She highlights the women's league, points out its challenges and reveals its money channels. Find the timeline below 00:00 - 03:22 - Introduction 03:22 - 04:15 - Celebrating Women's Day 04:15 - 08:00 - Why Women's Football? 08:45 - 09:45 - Follow Dorcas on Twitter 09:45 - 13:06 - Understanding the Difference between NWFL and NWPL? 13:06 - 21:02 - Covering the NWPL: The Good, the Bad and all in Between 21:02 - 26:00 - Why is the League Currently on Hold? 26:00 - 33:07 - Money Channels in the League? 33:07 - 37:30 - The Falcons, Voodoo and the Lionesses 37:30 - 42:50 - Replicating the World Cup Form in Paris 42:50 - 46:45 - Most Memorable NWPL Games 46:45 - 49:12 - Understanding the Abridged League Format 49:12 - End - Closing Remarks, Finding Dorcas, Team to Look out for Follow us on X @The90MinsPlus

At this stage last season, the Gunners were Premier League title contenders. That year, they had only Manchester City to contend with - and they came short. This season, Arteta's men are in a three-horse race for league title, with Liverpool also in the race. With a better team at his disposal, what's stopping Arsenal from a first title win in two decades? Follow us on Twitter @The90MinsPlus

In 2023, Barcelona was reported to have made $192mln from kit sponsorship and merchandise sales. How did the Catalan giants pull this off? Bayern Munich's dip in form may be bad news for Tuchel. But it is great news for Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen. Follow us on Twitter @The90MinsPlus.

It's been an eventful first round of AFCON games. In this episode, Papi the Great is joined by Tosin, Tolu and Adedeji to discuss the results so far. They touch on the surprise packages, predict the 'Final Four' and rate Nigeria's Super Eagles. Follow us on Twitter @The90MinsPlus 00:00 - 05:18 - Intros and Final Predictions 05:18 - 16:30 - Round 1's Best and Worst 16:30 - 26:30 - Understanding what is Wrong with Ghana 26:30 - 31:00 - Super Eagles Scorecard (after two games) 31:00 - 33:50 - More Intros and Predictions 33:50 - 38:40 - Is the Stock of African Football Rising 38:40 - 44:20 - The Battle between Pace, Power and Technicality 44:20 - 49:20 - Comparing Senegal and Cameroon 49:20 - 53:15 - The Mystery Surrounding Nigerian Football 53:15 - 58:15 - Informed Projections for the Rest of the Tournament 58:15 - 1:01:10 - Discussing North Africans 1:01:10 - End - More Predictions

AFCON '23 is underway in Cote d'Ivoire. And so far, the glitz and glamour of the opening ceremony has been matched by the shocking results on the pitch. Egypt needing a penalty to salvage a point in the 7th minute of extra time has to be the peak of the drama. However, the (almost) empty stadia has been concerning for journalists and a topic of debate on the streets of social media. Follow us on Twitter @The90MinsPlus

Is it a coincidence that some of the best Premier League games happen just days to the end of the year? Are the Italians trying to replicate a superb marketing strategy by making the #JuventusRoma clash the clash Serie A game of the year? In other news, what a year 2023 has been! Here's wishing you a prosperous 2024. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @The90MinsPlus

One of the best ways to know a tournament is just around the corner: The outrage/displeasure/outcry that comes with a squad list announcement. Fans have been debating the composition of Jose Peseiro's list. To a sect of fans, the Super Eagles Nigeria manager seems biased. To others, a spot in the national team should be handed out on merit. The most interesting thing about both debates? They're both right! Follow us on Twitter @The90MinsPlus

The Nigerian striker was on course to be announced as CAF Player of the Year. What seemed to be a general consensus kicked up a bit of dust just hours before the award winner was announced. And again, the ugly head of 'My Opinion vs. Your Opinion' again reared its ugly head in football. Here we are, again asking: Are some comments in football more important than others?

Stamford Bridge served football fans a classic when Chelsea and Manchester City played out an enthralling 4-4 draw. Now that the dust has settled, it's time to ask questions about both teams and Erling Haaland.

In the Premier League this season, poor refereeing decisions have largely been accompanied by apologies. The PGMOL have been seen expressing regret to clubs who have been affected by the errors of their officials. But to what end? Are these apologies supposed to mean anything? Are they even necessary if the officials keep making these errors?

It's that time of the year when the initial Ballon d'Or shortlist surfaces and various fanbases make their argument. After what was a mind-blowing debut season as a Manchester City player in which he won The Treble, Erling Haaland has been nominated for the award. Same as Lionel Messi who, for the umpteenth time, has made the shortlist. But this time, the argument for him to win an eighth award is a different one: He has (finally) won the FIFA World Cup. But what argument should be made for a player who won both The Treble and the FIFA World Cup?

The third weekend in August was one like no other. It had the World Cup final, more Premier League games and, of course, the return of Serie A football - featuring a handful of sumptuous goals. But what's a weekend of football without questionable refereeing calls? That they're coming early in the season, should fans be worried?

Three African countries qualifying for the knockout stages is a rarity on the world stage when it comes to soccer. But it has happened, being one of the many firsts, that the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup has served since it began on the 20th of July.

It's football heritage like football fans would rarely see. On on hand, a Sevilla side that needed extra-time to get past Juventus in the semi-finals. On the other, an AS Roma side that needed extra-time to get past Feyenoord in the quarter-finals. The goal: To win the Europa League. Legacy, history, experience are all at stake as another continental title is decided.

And then they were EIGHT! As things get heated up in the UCL, the Italians have stolen the headlines. From the teams to the gaffers, it seems like Operation Resucitate Calcio in the Champions League this season. Also, as we countdown to the draws, Real Madrid seem to be the only side flying the Spain colors. Are they the team to beat (again) this season)

In the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich (in 1st place) and SC Freiburg (in 5th place) are separated by just five points. These two sides, including the three sandwiched in-between are still technically alive in Europe. Add to that the 12 rounds of league games still to be played, and a lot can still happen in this race. However, this does not take anything away from what has been interestingly tight race at the summit of Germany's premier club football league. So, why is this neck-to-neck tussle in Germany not as popular? Why is the 'most competitive' of Europe's top 5 leagues this season not being deservedly discussed as it should?

Arsenal's loss to Manchester City was their first at the Emirates this season. Now joint-top of the Premier League table (second no thanks to goals difference), Arteta's got company in a position that was once lonely. Can the Gunners go the distance this season?

With the second-best offense and second-best defense in the league, Arsenal are cruising at the top of the Premier League table. As the second half of the season kicks off, the conversation has shifted to whether or not they can win a first Premier League title since 2004. They've shown how strong they are as title contenders. But can they overcome these four hurdles on their way to being champions of England?

Arsenal fans are on top of the world, no thanks to their fantastic form and their 8-point lead at the top of the table. They're now looking forward to their heavyweight clash against the only side that has defeated them in the league this season, Manchester United. For the Gunners, it's all about getting their own pound of flesh. For the Red Devils, it's all about maintaining their unbeaten run - which suffered a dent at Selhurst Park. There's also the little matter of the fixture between Manchester City and Tottenham. Don't forget to check out my newsletter on Substack here: https://forthegoals.substack.com/

Here's one of world football's worst kept secrets: Juventus boasts the best defense in Europe's top five leagues. That's better than Newcastle - the best defense in the Premier League with 11 goals conceded - and Bayern Munich - with 13 shipped in. It's even better than Lens' 11 goals conceded, which is the best (coincidentally) defense in the French Ligue 1. They're back in the race to finish in the top four after spending a majority of the season so far outside of it. Theirs is one of the many stories that is endearing fans all over the world to the Serie A. Follow us on Twitter: @OneForTheGoals

Chelsea's first half performance had us thinking about why the Blues fans were skeptical about facing Man. City. Their second half display, however, proved that the fears were true. On the other hand, champions Manchester City, showed the world why they're back-to-back Premier League champions, especially with Pep Guardiola's 2nd half subs and the general performance. Thursday night was a tale about two different sides. But there are only a few things that separates both teams. Kindly rate, cheer and like wherever you get this podcast episode.

Who wants to be second choice in their football club? Maybe former Liverpool super-sub, Divock Origi. But you won't find a lot of other players happy to be unsure of a starting berth in their clubs. With a World Cup tournament in the offing, players are looking for more playing time. And that's affecting a lot of other things. In other news, Edouard Mendy has made a 'strange' comparison between Christian Benteke and Erling Haaland. Sets us up for a tasty Chelsea-Manchester City clash this season, not so?

The Super Falcons' #GoingFor10th mission had a false start in Morocco on the 4th of July. Unlike in a 100m dash and similar to a Mario Kart game, they have a handful of lives left. If they must get La Decima, they must defeat Botswana - at least to start with; one of the only two sides that scored 4 goals in their opening game. In other news, was that a preview of the Africa Women Cup of Nations final this year? Also, is women football on the continent so bad that it can't attract fans to the stadium? Reach out to us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

The gap between the Serie A and the Premier League is widening. And one man is not only complaining about it, but shedding more light on the differences that most are not paying attention to. On the other hand, the AC Milan chairman has highlighted some of the advantages of the Premier League. Has the Premier League become 'uncatchable'? Is it about era, availability or star-power? Find more podcast content on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

There was drama again in the Nigerian Professional Football League as 'extra time' was given another kind of meaning in the game between Katsina United and Remo Stars. Then there's the exodus at Chelsea as another big name exits the Chelsea hierarchy. Is this the part where Chelsea fans start getting worried? Are these the side effects of the change of ownership at a football club?

The World Cup in November means teams are trying to get their business done as quickly as possible. As such, we have a 'strange' summer transfer window on our hands, with the elephant in the room getting even bigger!

With the FIFA World Cup set for November, the football calendar has been a bit strange. It has featured strange anomalies like an international break in June, an off-season version of the Ronaldo-Messi debate and strange quotes from Robert.

The Red Devils are on course to finish with their lowest-ever points tally in a Premier League season. And their shambolic display against Brighton will be one of those losses that won't be forgotten in a hurry. Some'd say, they travelled 4 nothing!

While men rested, the ladies of Europe put on a show. And it was one to remember! We also take a look at the rice-ing situation in Africa as the CAF WCQ Play-offs get underway

In this episode, Tunde Young joins us to discuss what's wrong at Chelsea and also talks about his best performing side in the AFCON tournament. He had more surprises in his kitty as he demystified the 'Original Ronaldo' headache.

Profligacy: reckless extravagance or wastefulness in the use of resources. By the way, are African referees using VAR the right way?

Welcome to Season II of the First X Minutes podcast. In the 50th episode of the year, I relive my experience at the Lekan Salami Stadium, while also countering the Pep-Guardiola-spent-money arguments making the waves. Reach out to us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

Lionel Messi was given his 7th Balon d'Or award at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on the 29th of November, 2021. While that number is weapon enough in the Arsenal for those who engage in the GOAT debate, what about these awards? Have they become aesthetics, rather than a true reflection of what's happening on the pitch? Celebrate our 200th episode with us by subscribing wherever you get your podcast episode while also leaving us a comment/review.

From cancelled goals at the Camp Nou, to the goal-line clearances at the Etihad and Stamford Bridge, Round 5 of the UEFA Champions League group stage games was one to remember. And ehile the boys are being separated from the men, a huge winner-takes-all scramble looms ahead in the final round of games. Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

Ole's no more at the wheels. What next now for Man. Utd, especially with almost evwry jobless manager being linked to the job? And what's going on in the Serie A? Why are so many goals being scored? Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

In this episode of the podcast, Deborah joins us to talk about her journey as a football player thus far. She also weighs in on some of the challenges she faces as she continues to chase her dreams of becoming a professional footballer. There was time enough to talk about a record-breaker and also make a few comparisons. Follow us on Twitter @OmeForTheGoals

#OleOut is not going anywhere soon, unlike the goalless draw at Marseille. However, absolving the Manchester United players of any wrong in that dismantling at Old Trafford is to be one-sided. Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

Club football definitely returned with a BIG BANG. There was no time for theories as the practicality dawned on fans per game, over the weekend. Barcelona's win over Valencia was probably the most-surprising result, after the King Power Massacre, of course. Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

Featuring three Brasil Serie A sides and one from Ecuador, the Copa Libertadores semi-final featured two games lf contrasting nature. While one was cagey, the other was filled with goals and red cards. But none was a quiet game. Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

How much time is enough time for a player to develop? How much time is enough to give to a player that's past his prime? How much time is enough time to settle into a team? Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Romelu Lukaku and Robert Lewandowski have been firing on all cylinders in their last two games. And it seems they're here to stay, at least till the year ends. Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

Club football takes a backseat as international football gets underway. While we enjoy the race for Qatar 2022, we review the little club football action that we've enjoyed so far. Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

As a new Serie A season kicks in, Adeyemi Adesanya joins us to preview what's to come. We touch on the not-so-new managers, players to look out for and how the league can improve on its latest achievements. Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals Time Stamp 00:00 - 05:35 - Introduction 05:35 - 13:20 - Italian Football in the 90's and Now: What Has Changed? 13:20 - 16:10 - Analyzing the 2020/2021 Italian Serie A Season 16:10 - 20:55 - Summer Transfer Window: Biggest Winners and Losers 20:55 - 28:00 - What to Expect from the Managerial Merry-Go-Round Season 28:00 - 31:05 - Simy Nwankwo: A Nigerian Star Holding His Own 31:05 - 37:00 - The Biggest Names to Watch Out For This Season 37:00 - 40:30 - Will Torino Survive? 40:30 - 44:55 - Why Atalanta Will Win the Serie A Title This Season 44:55 - 49:00 - Italian Teams That Will Go the Furthest in the UCL and UEL 49:00 - End - Which Team Should I Support in the Serie A

In this episode of the podcast, Chioma aka Neymar and Angela, aka Messi, join us to preview the Premier League season. The also chip in on happenings in Barcelona and which teams they expect to come out on top in the Italian Serie A. Follow @OneForTheGoals for more podcast content. Time Stamp 00:00 - 05:00 - Introduction 05:00 - 14:55 - Being Real vs. Being Positive: Can Man. Utd Go One Step Further This Season? Can Ole Do it? 14:55 - 17:00 - The Naming Ceremony 17:00 - 21:30 - The Biggest Winners and Losers of the Transfer Window 21:30 - 26:30 - My Top Four for the Season 26:30 - 30:00 - Can Burnley and Brighton Escape Again? 30:00 - 33:00 - Spare a Thought for a Struggling Side 33:00 - 40:00 - Can Everybody Shine in PSG? Will Messi's Absense Affect Barcelona? 40:00 - 51:45 - PL Top Scorers and the Italian Serie A 51:45 - 55:30 Team to Go the Furthest in the UEFA Champions League

Premier League football is back! And with fans able to make their voices heard across stadia again, it's safe to say the PL returns with a bang! But which teams will start their season with a win? Which games will feature the goals? Follow @OneForTheGoals for more podcast content.

In the second edition of TFXM's Ligue 1 101, Cerebrone and Powerful are, once again, our tour guides. Papi the Great speaks to them about the Trophees des Champions, the winners and losers of the summer transfer window, and, of course, name pronunciations. Listen and leave a rating. Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals Time Stamp 00:00 - 04:00: Introduction 04:00 - 15:00: Trophees des Champion Review 16:20 - 31:25: Ligue 1's Biggest Winners and Losers of the Summer Transfer Window 31:25 - 38:00: Ligue 1 101: Player Pronunciation 38:00 - 47:25: Which Ligue 1 Team Should I Support This Season? 47:25 - 52:50: Can Nantes Survive Another Season? 52:50 - 1:01:45: Predictions for the 2021/2022 Ligue 1 Season 1:01:45 - : Teams to Finish 13th and 8th on the Log

Time for knockout football in the Olympics as teams have been separated. Will the Red Card party continue? Will the girls continue scoring? Which games will feature both sides scoring? Follow us on Twitter @OneForTheGoals

Press, Ludmila, Banda, and Miedema all shone like a million stars at the Tokyo Olympics. 31 goals after, here's a short summary of how things played out bwtween the teams.