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Crystal Palace To Keep Uche After Impressive Performance Vs Fulham
Crystal Palace have make a decision to keep Christantus Uche until the end of the season, reports Completesports.com.
Uche joined the Eagles on a season-long loan from LaLiga club, Getafe on deadline day.
There were reports, the London club are considering sending the player back to Getafe in January.
According to Standard Sport, Palace have no plans to cancel the midfielder’s loan despite him receiving limited minutes.
The Nigeria international impressed off the bench in Oliver Glasner’s side 2-1 win at Fulham last weekend.
Uche is also keen to remain at the Selhurst Park.
The 22-year-old is also expected to feature regularly during the busy festive period as he is not expected to be called by Nigeria for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The midfielder has made five league appearances for the Eagles.
- Aussie win occurred during the Test at the Gabba
‘Bluey’, one of Australia’s most well known cartoons, has helped the nation to another Ashes victory over England – but one that occurred off the field.
A poll was conducted at the second Test at The Gabba, with cricket fans asked to vote on whether they prefer Bluey or England’s ‘Peppa Pig’ cartoon.
The result was a 10-wicket victory to the world’s favourite blue heeler.
Bluey outvoted Peppa Pig almost three to one, with the Aussie show winning the fan vote 74.5 per cent to 25.5 per cent.
The vote was conducted on day three of the Test, and mirrored how the tourists were travelling on the field.
England struggled to take wickets quickly during that day’s play as Australia raced to a huge first-innings total, and eventually lost the second match of the series by eight wickets.
Cricket fans at the second Test in Brisbane were asked which one they prefer, Bluey or Peppa Pig – and the result was a landslide win to the Aussie dog (pictured)
Bluey’s ‘cricket’ episode, which debuted in 2023, attracted 563,000 viewers on its initial ABC Kids airing
England captain Ben Stokes is pictured trudging off the field after losing the Gabba Test
The animated series, which revolves around the Blue Heeler puppy who goes on adventures with her younger sister, has exploded in popularity in recent times.
It was the most streamed show in the US in 2024.
Bluey also continues to be one of Australia’s best-loved series, almost eclipsing five billion minutes watched on ABC iview this year.
Peppa Pig was established several years before Bluey and is also wildly popular around the world.
‘The Grade Cricketer’ podcast hosts Sam Perry and Ian Higgins saw the poll at the Gabba and weighed in on the debate.
‘Peppa Pig is a little s**t of a kid, with respect. Bluey is podium (level), if not it’s gold. It’s f*****g statue stuff,’ joked co-host Sam Perry.
‘Bluey is [Don’ Bradman,’ Higgins added.
A photo of the vote has been posted X, with fans weighing in on England’s ‘third’ defeat of the series.
‘All parents I know hate Peppa Pig, but bloody love Bluey,’ one person wrote.
‘No Englishman thinks Peppa Pig is better. Bluey is elite,’ another added.
‘Bluey > Peppa Pig. By miles,’ a third claimed.
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Australia claims another Ashes victory over England – and it’s all thanks to Bluey
Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, has insisted that the situation with Mohamed Salah did not change anything at the club.
He said that the players are still focused and determined to win games.
The Dutchman said this after helping the Reds secure a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Mohamed Salah, one of Liverpool’s greatest players of all time, was removed from the team by Arne Slot following his explosive interview on Saturday.
Salah had complained about how he was being treated at the club he had sacrificed everything for, adding that his relationship with Anfield boss, Arne Slot had broken down.
Speaking on the Egyptian’s uncertain future at the club, Van Dijk told reporters after the Reds victory over Inter Milan, “It’s difficult but it’s a collective difficult situation that we’re all in.
“Between Mo and the club, things are going on and he’s not here today, that’s the reality. I don’t think anything has changed in terms of our focus and determination.”
“It’s a good feeling of winning. Especially in a period we are in, trying to find consistency and something to build on,” he continued.
“It doesn’t change anything. There’s obviously so much noise from the outside world, which is normal when you don’t perform.”
Liverpool will play Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Taifa Stars Head coach, Miguel Gamondi has named his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gamondi picked a invite a mix of players from the Tanzanian domestic league and a few overseas-based stars, as the team aims for a good performance in Morocco.
Taifa Stars head coach, Miguel Gamondi. Photo | X
Full Squad
Yakoub Suleiman (Simba SC)
Hussein Masalanga (Singida BS)
Zuberi Foba (Azam FC)
Bakari Mwamnyeto (Young Africans)
Shomari Kapombe (Simba SC)
Lusajo Mwaikenda (Azam FC)
Mohamed Hussein (Young Africans)
Nickson Kibabage (Singida BS)
Alphonse Mabula (Shamakhi, Azerbaijan)
Wilson Nangu (Simba SC)
Novatus Dismas (Göztepe FC, Turkey)
Kelvin Nashon (Pamba Jiji)
Pascal Msindo (Azam FC)
Ibrahim Abdulla (Young Africans)
Haji Mnoga (Salford City, England)
Dickson Job (Young Africans)
Habibu Idd (Singida BS)
Tarryn Allarakihia (Rochdale AFC, England)
Charles M’Mombwa (Floriana FC, Malta)
Yusuph Kagoma (Simba SC)
Feisal Salum (Azam FC)
Morice Abraham (Simba SC)
Abdul Suleiman (Azam FC)
Iddi Suleiman (Simba SC)
Kibu Dennis (Simba SC)
Mbwana Samatta (Le Havre AC, France)
Kelvin John (Aalborg BK, Denmark)
Simon Msuva (Al-Talaba, Iraq)
Kikosi cha AFCON 2025 Morocco @TaifaStars_ pic.twitter.com/ZDl6ZfwC2I
— TFF TANZANIA (@Tanfootball) December 9, 2025
The Taifa Stars are already in Egypt for a series of friendly matches, where they will fine-tune their squad before heading to Morocco for the tournament.
At this year’s tournament, they’ve been placed in Group C, alongside Nigeria, Uganda, and Tunisia.
Tanzania’s first match will be against Nigeria on January 23rd.
Super Eagles are unbeaten in all past encounters against Tanzania winning five wins and three draws.
Also read: AFCON 2025: Emerse Fae Recalls Zaha Returns… Pepe, Adingra Dropped
Tanzania’s second match is against regional rivals Uganda on January 27th, followed by their final group match against Tunisia on January 30th.
All matches will be played in Fez, Morocco.
For the Taifa Stars, this tournament represents a chance to progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their AFCON history.
In their three previous appearances (1980, 2019, and 2023), Tanzania was eliminated at the group stage.
The team is hopeful that this will be the year they break that barrier and make a deep run in the competition.
The Rice University soccer team has announced the death of second-year undergraduate student at the age of 19.
Claire Tracy passed away on Sunday, the school announced. A cause of death has not been revealed but counselling has been offered to Tracy’s fellow students.
Tracy was found dead at an off-campus apartment complex two blocks away from the school, according to local reports.
‘It is with deep sadness that I am writing to tell you that Claire Tracy, a second-year undergraduate student, passed away on Sunday,’ wrote Bridget K. Gorman, Rice’s Dean of undergraduates, in an email that was also published on the Rice website.
‘Claire joined Rice in fall 2024 from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and was an active student.
‘A member of Wiess College and a former member of the Rice soccer team, she was a talented athlete who had led her high school to many championships. Claire was a finance major and had close friends and a bright spirit.
Claire Tracey, a Rice University soccer player, died on Sunday night at the age of 19
‘Our hearts go out to Claire’s family and all who knew her and are grieving her loss.’
Tracy’s soccer coach, Brian Lee, also paid an emotional tribute to her.
‘The entire Rice soccer community mourns the loss of Claire Tracy,’ Lee wrote.
‘Our thoughts and prayers go to Claire’s friends and family and to the many current and former teammates, whose lives were impacted by Claire’s kindness. She will forever be in our hearts.’
Tracy, who was from Wisconsin, was also paid tribute to by the University President in his annual address on Monday, according Rice Thresher.
Reggie DesRoches reportedly began his speech by calling for a moment of silence in respect to Tracy.
‘She was deeply connected to many students and known for her Rice spirit,’ DesRoches said.
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Tragedy as Rice University soccer player Claire Tracy dead at age 19
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Travis Kelce’s dad in stunning outburst at the Buffalo Bills as Kansas City Chiefs struggle to make playoffs
Ed Kelce has endeared himself further to the Kansas City Chiefs fanbase by taking on Buffalo Bills supporters on social media.
Travis and Jason’s father went into bat for the Chiefs over a meme shared by a Bills fanpage mocking his son, Kelce’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid.
The post in question had Kelce, Mahomes and Reid’s faces photoshopped into a video from the film ‘Step Brothers’, where the two main characters burst into tears when their parents announce they’re getting divorced.
The post was captioned: ‘Chiefs fans facing their first potential missed postseason since 2014’.
And it provoked a defiat response from Ed Kelce, who took it upon himself to put Bills Mafia back in its place.
‘If the Chiefs don’t get in the playoffs, then the path is clear for the BILLS TO LOSE ANOTHER SUPERBOWL,’ Ed wrote in the comments to the post.
Ed Kelce has torn into Buffalo Bills fans as the Kansas City Chiefs struggle to make the playoffs
Kelce hit out over a meme mocking his son Travis and the Chiefs, shared by a Bills fanpage
The Chiefs face an uphill battle to make the postseason after losing Sunday to the Texans
His response is particularly funny because the Chiefs have had a stranglehold over the Bills in the Mahomes era – the Chiefs quarterback is 4-0 against Buffalo in the postseason from 2020.
Furthermore, the Bills remain one of 12 teams to have never won a Super Bowl, losing all four of their appearances in football’s showpiece event.
But with the Chiefs’ postseason aspirations hanging by a thread after Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans, the path is potentially clearer for Josh Allen and his men to make another Super Bowl.
As talented is Allen unquestionably is, the Bills haven’t been too impressive this season. They sit on a 9-4 record despite having a much more favorable schedule than the Chiefs, 6-7, and are two wins behind AFC East leaders New England Patriots.
The Bills face the Patriots in their next game, with New England coming off a bye week for the showdown at Foxborough.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, need to win their four final games against Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders and hope other results go their way.
They aren’t done yet, but Sunday’s loss to the Texans will be seen as the tipping point if they fail to make the postseason.
And if the worst happens for Kansas City, Ed Kelce is sure that the Bills won’t get the crown that they do desperately crave.
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Travis Kelce’s dad in stunning outburst at the Buffalo Bills as Kansas City Chiefs struggle to make playoffs
The 2025 Lakowe Lakes Club Championship was concluded over the weekend with Peter Eben-Spiff and Prince Ajibola retaining their title in the Men and Veteran’s categories, while Pat Ozoemene dethroned absent Fatumata Coker for the Ladies’ title.
Deji Alli, the Chairman of Mixta Africa, the developer of the host club, Lakowe Lakes Golf Club, describes the occasion as an “interesting atmosphere .”
He said the golf club, in its few years of existence, has made its mark in the development of the game and has also contributed to the growth of internal tourism in the country.
“It takes a lot to keep a facility like this running, but we have been fortunate to have a dedicated team to drive the vision we have and a very supportive community,” Alli added at the closing ceremony.
The two-day Club Championship event was the culmination of the 2025 season. The event also rewarded exceptional performances in the season-long players’ ranking (Order of Merit), which placed Pat Ozoemene, David Maji and Henry Ogufere in the top three rank.
As for the Championship itself, 2024 Gentlemen winner and six-time holder, Peter Eben-Spiff, shrugged off the first-round scare from arch-rival Tunji Adebayo (76 gross), who towered above him (77 gross) with one shot going to the final round.
“I thank Tunji Adebayo for his support and appreciate the level of competitiveness he brought to the event. It spurred me to be at my best. I owe this victory to him.”
Eben Spiff returned in the closing round to shoot 78 gross (six over par), while Adebayo could only scratch together 83 (11 over par), which was hardly enough to lay a convincing claim to the coveted title.
The lady’s champion, Ozoemene, who already had a beautiful year, now had Jumai Abdullahi standing between her and claiming her maiden Club Championship title, which didn’t come easy.
It cost her a three-hole playoff to wrest the title off Abdullahi after both ended the 36-hole contest in a tie at 171 gross score apiece.
Abdullahi caved in on the last playoff hole, but praised Ozoemene for being dogged and wanting it more.
Femi Olagbenro, the golf manager at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club, said that the events, apart from rewarding exceptional skills and growth through the year, also help bring members together and bond through the rounds.
“The atmosphere the event creates is one of the keys for us, and it has been growing since inception. We hope to take it a notch higher in the coming edition.”
Other winners at the event include; Abiye Amakiri and Ayodeji Abe, who won the first and second day gross, respectively. Yetunde Ojo was ladies’ net winner, while Kelvin Alonso took the trophy for the mixed singles matchplay for the year on behalf of his team. Tony Onwu and Ayomiposi Adegboye also picked the veteran and gentlemen net prizes respectively.
Arne Slot said Liverpool’s players gave everything he could have asked after they put Mohamed Salah’s absence aside to inflict a first European home defeat on Inter in more than three years.
The Liverpool head coach conceded that Dominik Szoboszlai’s decisive 88th-minute penalty – awarded for a shirt pull by Alessandro Bastoni on Florian Wirtz – would probably not have been given in the Premier League.
But following the difficulties caused by Salah’s incendiary interview at Leeds on Saturday, Slot was thrilled with the response of his team at San Siro.
“It was all I could ask for,” Slot said (via Yahoo Sport). “The fourth game in 10 days, I’m not sure you see that a lot in football, with only 14 outfield players available with Premier League or Champions League experience, after the blow we had conceding the 3-3 in Leeds, then to go into this stadium against such a strong Inter team – we couldn’t have asked for more.
“We hardly gave away a chance. The first one came just before half‑time after we had to accept a referee’s decision [to disallow an Ibrahima Konaté goal] that could have gone any way, but that’s been the story of our season.
“We showed a great mentality. We were close to scoring with Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitiké, then we get a penalty that if that was a penalty we would have had 10 this season.”
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Xabi Alonso responds to Liverpool return speculation as pressure grows on under-fire Real Madrid boss ahead of seismic Man City showdown
Once Xabi Alonso had been whisked away from the glare, through a door hanging a banner listing every single bit of silverware won across Real Madrid’s storied history, the club’s television channel cut to highlights of a Champions League final.
Presumably that was a bid to lift the spirits of their watching public, bruised by the tempestuous 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Celta Vigo on Sunday.
The final of choice was 2022. Liverpool in Paris. Vinicius Junior. Simpler times, before this manager rocked up with his new-fangled ideas of running and playing as a collective.
There were perhaps more suitable matches to choose given the circumstances. Alonso’s appearance in front of the cameras – his first since a swirl of suggestions that losing against Manchester City on Wednesday could seal his fate as manager – had been so dry to the point of lacking any moment of note until asked about a potential Premier League return in the future.
Liverpool wasn’t directly put to him but it didn’t take a genius to work out where the conversation was headed. ‘For sure,’ he said. ‘Of course there is a bond with my former club, but for now this is my place. In future you never know what might happen.’
Former club – for whom he played on 210 occasions – was mentioned unprompted. It was one of only a couple of occasions during a short media briefing when Alonso showed any semblance of emotion. The other was when he challenged the wisdom of bringing up a substitution he’d made against Barcelona over a month ago.
Real Madrid slumped to a humiliating 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu on Sunday evening
The result heaped pressure on to struggling Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso, whose side sit four points adrift of Barcelona
Speaking to reporters post-match, the Spaniard didn’t rule out a possible return to Liverpool in the future
He’d battened down the hatches, ducked every inquisitor. Does he feel lonely? You have to be ready for these situations as Real Madrid coach. What about the raft of replacements – including reserve team coach Alvaro Arbeloa and former boss Zinedine Zidane – being talked about? When you’re the coach of Real you need to be ready to face situations. Does he feel supported by the club? Yes.
This might have been a frenzy, City walking headfirst into a dramatic national tragedy (two wins in seven for Real), yet Alonso gave nothing up. He knows that Florentino Perez was holding summit meetings until the early hours of Monday morning about his future. He’s not exactly chummy with Vinicius and a fair few others. There are rumblings about demanding too much of a talented squad previously left to their own devices.
All of this internal wrangling is building a picture of a coach who Real weren’t ready for. They wanted modernisation and change but the very best players at their disposal don’t seem to fancy that much. One of them, Kylian Mbappe did not train on Tuesday and has scored 10 of Real’s last 16 goals. Alonso is also without seven defenders and had 18 outfielders available in the pre-match session.
In time, if he is afforded it, Alonso might think all of this isn’t or wasn’t quite worth the hassle. He’d had discussions with Liverpool before, when they eventually appointed Arne Slot, while City themselves are known to have studied his methods. As it is, Pep Guardiola – enemy No 1 in these parts – could be the man who ends the reign of his own disciple, from their days together at Bayern Munich.
‘We have unity,’ Alonso said, in sentences that feel tricky to fully get on board with. ‘We’re together. I have a good relationship with (the hierarchy). Of course people are upset.’
It is unquestionable that Real lost control at the Bernabeu on Sunday night, Alonso apoplectic with Fran Garcia for his sending-off against Celta. Former Manchester United left back Alvaro Carreras also saw red for dissent, an unusually emotional Alonso insisting the referee was ‘looking for it’.
The injured Dani Carvajal, dressed as if he was whipping up a Manhattan, waited menacingly in the tunnel for the officials. Endrick was sent off without coming on. Jude Bellingham screamed ‘you’re a f***ing idiot’ at the fourth official.
The headlines in Monday’s newspapers were a mess and an embarrassment for Perez. ‘Madrid are lost’ read one, accompanied by an insider: ‘Los Blancos – state of crisis.’ Another said: ‘The worst version of Madrid.’
It could be Pep Guardiola, Alonso’s mentor at Bayern Munich, who puts the nail in the coffin of his Madrid career on Wednesday evening
Los Blancos could be without their talisman Kylian Mbappe for the clash after he missed training on Monday
There are many here who believe that Alonso’s race is run, that he cannot turn relationships with key members of the team. There is confusion at how positive signs through the Club World Cup and earlier in the season – more intense pressing and a tactical shape mirroring Europe’s other giants – have vanished.
Alonso is said to have ceded some principles in the hope of keeping the peace but that largely only serves to undermine a leader.
‘We want to put pressure on our rival,’ Aurelien Tchouameni said. ‘Sometimes we do it well and sometimes we do it terribly. Against Celta, I’m sure the coach had a good strategy but it’s us on the pitch. It was our problem. We shouldn’t blame the coach. We need to improve and we will.
‘If we want to win games we have to fight with the coach in the same direction. It (City) is a good opportunity to change the dynamic a little bit.’
Alonso repeated the idea of an opportunity too, although those in the Spanish capital now believe Real’s board are more likely to take theirs before the team.
Defender Jules Kounde scored twice as Barcelona fought back from a goal down to beat Eintracht Frankfurt – in Barca’s first Champions League game at the Nou Camp in more than three years.
The visitors went ahead in the 21st minute when Ansgar Knauff raced on to Nathaniel Brown’s pass, held off Alejandro Balde and slotted the ball past Joan Garcia.
England forward Marcus Rashford, on as a half-time substitute, made an instant impact as his cross from the left was headed in by Kounde in the 50th minute.
The France defender scored his second three minutes later, this time connecting with Lamine Yamal’s delivery when unmarked six yards out.
The victory takes five-time European champions Barca on to 10 points from their six matches and, with two games to go, still in contention to claim a top-eight place that would see them jump straight into the last 16 and avoid the play-off round.
Hansi Flick’s side play at Slavia Prague on 21 January and end their league phase campaign at home to Copenhagen a week later.
Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt, seventh in the German Bundesliga, are in serious danger of being eliminated from European competition as they only have four points from their opening six matches.
BBC
Ademola Lookman put up an impressive performance in Atalanta’s 2-1 win over Chelsea in their UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday night.
Lookman was in action for 87 minutes in the encounter.
The Nigeria international was replaced by Mario Pasalic.
Lookman has registered one goal and one assist in five appearances for Atalanta in the Champions League this season.
Joao Pedro opened scoring for Chelsea in the 25th minute with Reece James providing the assist.
Read Also:Champions League New Format Explained 2025/26 | Rules, Schedule & What To Expect
The hosts fought their way back with Gianluca Scamacca equalising with a close range header 10 minutes after the break.
Charles De Ketelaere netted the winning goal for La Dea seven minutes from time.
Victor Osimhen featured for 90 minutes in Galatasaray’s 1-0 defeat to Monaco.
Dennis Zakaria missed from the spot for Monaco in the 51st minute.
Former Arsenal forward, Folarin Balogun scored the decisive goal in the 68th minute.
By Adeboye Amosu