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LaLiga: Akor elated to end Sevilla’s goal drought
Adams Akor was relieved to end his nine-game goal drought after scoring in Sevilla’s 4-0 thrashing Real Oviedo on Sunday.
The 25-year-old also registered two assists in the game.
Akor was criticised by Sevilla fans for his poor display in the game against Valencia last week.
The Nigeria international responded with a Man of the Match display versus Real Oviedo to silence his critics.
The striker is now looking forward to scoring more goals for the Rojiblancos.
“I wouldn’t say that. The best is yet to come. The best is yet to come. The best thing is the three points, which we also deserved against Valencia,” Akor was quoted by Elsevillista.
Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has suggested that Aston Villa and Manchester City are the teams that can challenge the Gunners for the Premier League title this season.
Arsenal still maintain the top of the Premier League table, with two points ahead of second-placed Man City and three points ahead of third-placed Aston Villa.
This comes after Mikel Arteta’s side defeated Wolves 2-1 in the Premier League over the weekend.
Asked whether Aston Villa should be considered title contenders to compete against Arsenal after their comeback 3-2 win against West Ham, Walcott said on BBC’s Match of the Day: “I think so, I do.
“When you have a difficult start to the season, it can go one of two ways as a team and a squad, but Unai Emery has obviously got that confidence in them.
“They are playing some good stuff at this moment in time, so for me they are a problem. But I am concerned about Man City.”
Uzoho, Nwabali, Dele-Bashiru, Akinsanmiro are early birds
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have officially commenced preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with the opening of their training camp in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday.
The camp is situated at the Renaissance Hotels, marking the start of what is expected to be an intensive build-up toward the continental showpiece.
All members of the coaching crew and backroom staff are already in camp, ensuring that administrative, technical, and logistical arrangements are fully in place ahead of the players’ arrival. The early presence of the officials underlines the seriousness of the team’s preparations and the determination to hit the ground running.
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho was the first player to report to camp, arriving in the early hours of Sunday morning. The experienced shot-stopper touched down shortly after 2:00 a.m. local time, setting the tone for punctuality and commitment among the squad.
Not long after, Stanley Nwabali became the second player to check in, arriving just minutes after Uzoho. The presence of the two goalkeepers as the earliest arrivals offers the technical crew an immediate opportunity to begin focused work, especially in a department that will be crucial to Nigeria’s AFCON ambitions.
Midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro have also checked in, further boosting the numbers as the team begins to take shape. Their arrival adds depth and competition ahead of the intense preparatory sessions.
Six other players including Igoh Ogbu, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Tochukwu Nnadi, Amas Obasogie, Ademola Lookman and Semi Ajayi, were being expected last night as the Super Eagles continue to assemble for AFCON 2025.
FC Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi is the latest player to arrive the Super Eagles Cairo, Egypt ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Sanusi ‘s arrival now brings the number of players in camp to 11.
Media officer of the Super Eagles dislcosed that 12 more players are expected today (Monday, 15 December).
Sanusi was part of the Super Eagles squad that finished second at the 2023 tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
Also Read: AFCON 2025: Lookman, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel Arrive Super Eagles’ Cairo Camp
He was also in the squad that lost to DR Congo in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs.
Meanwhile, the team’s first training session will hold at 8pm local time inside the mainbowl of the Cairo International stadium.
Eleven Super Eagles players currently in camp:
Francis Izobo
Stanley Nwabali
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
Akinsanmiro Ebenezer
Amas Obasogie
Semi Ajayi
Ademola Lookman
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Igho Ogbu
Tochukwu Nnadi
Zaidu Sanusi
By James Agberebi
SPORT
Ruben Amorim attacks Man United’s academy and NAMES three kids who haven’t hit his standards and are now ‘struggling’ in his bid to justify axeing Kobbie Mainoo, who now wants out
Ruben Amorim has called into question the quality of Manchester United’s academy graduates, with the Red Devils boss taking aim at three fan-favourites.
United have a proud tradition of players graduating to the first team from the academy, with the likes of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Marcus Rashford rising through the ranks to succeed for the senior side.
However, with fans eager to see youth stars representing the first team, Amorim has insisted he won’t be swayed by sentiment and singled out Toby Collyer, 21, Harry Amass, 18, and Chido Obi, 18 – three youngsters who have struggled to impress this season.
Midfielder Collyer appeared to make great strides last season and was tipped to oust Casemiro in the team, but has only started three times at Championshop side West Brom.
Left back Amass is toiling with Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday – where off-field matters have hindered the playing team.
Meanwhile, talented striker Obi has stagnated while playing for the Under-21s.
Ruben Amorim has taken aim at Manchester United’s fabled academy ahead of Bournemouth
United have a proud history of promoting academy stars, but Amorim singled out Harry Amass (left) along with Toby Collyer and Chido Obi (not pictured)
Amorim discussed the academy when pressed on Kobbie Mainoo’s Man United future
‘He (Collyer) played (for the United first team). He’s from the academy. He played here,’ Amorim said when justifying his decision to keep popular midfielder Kobbie Mainoo on the fringes of his first team plans.
‘He went to West Bromwich. He’s not playing. He played for Manchester United. So sometimes it’s not because he’s from the academy or whatever.
‘It’s the situation, what’s happened. I don’t know what is going to be the future (for Mainoo). Let’s see after this match.
‘Amass is now struggling in the Championship. Chido (Obi) is not always a starter in under 21s.
‘All these guys played when a lot of people were saying sack the manager!’
Amorim has included academy products Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher in his recent squads but the duo have not seen any game time.
Under the Portuguese’s tenure, only three players from the academy have been given first team opportunities: Amass, Obi and Tyler Fredricson – the latter has not featured since he was substituted at half time of United’s Carabao Cup defeat by Grimsby.
Elsewhere, Amorim responded to vociferous criticism from club legends this season.
Amorim has come under fire from Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt in recent days over his handling of young midfielder Mainoo, who will again look to leave United on loan when the January transfer window opens.
Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have claimed that Mainoo has to leave United for the good of his career after failing to make a Premier League start under Amorim this season
‘The problem is that we are playing with two midfielders and you guys see Kobbie in a different way. Maybe if we play with three midfielders, Kobbie will have more minutes,’ Amorim said
Amorim was frank in his assessment of some of the youngsters to have played under him, including Mainoo, Chido Obi (far left), Harry Amass and Toby Collyer (second from right)
The United boss insists the 20-year-old has not taken advantage of his opportunities, and issued a sobering assessment of the club’s other academy stars such as Toby Collyer, Chido Obi and Harry Amass.
Ferdinand, Scholes and Butt have claimed that Mainoo has to leave United for the good of his career after failing to make a Premier League start this season.
‘Sometimes they don’t have all the information and they see Manchester United with the standards that they lived here, always winning. So it’s hard for them to see their club in this situation,’ said Amorim ahead of Monday night’s clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
‘I take that naturally. It’s a fact that me as a manager of Manchester United, I think we are underachieving. We should have more points, especially this season.
‘The problem is that me, as a manager, I’m not doing good enough and I can accept that. So that is the only problem. Not winning is the issue.
‘If I’m winning I can go to the games on a horse, arrive there, play with just two defenders and everything will be fine.
‘At Sporting (Lisbon) there was no issue because we were winning all the time. So I understand and that’s okay.’
Napoli were Mainoo’s preference when United rejected his request to go out on loan in the summer, and the Italians will be at the front of the queue again next month.
‘No, I didn’t speak with him, not about that,’ added Amorim. ‘I had some conversations with him, especially last year, and with other players, but not about that subject.
‘The team comes first and I will be really pleased if Kobbie comes to talk to me about that. I just want my players happy, and I understand that every individual has their goals.
‘The problem is that we are playing with two midfielders and you guys see Kobbie in a different way than I’m seeing him. Maybe if we play with three midfielders, Kobbie will have more minutes.’
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has come under intense criticism in Turkey following allegations that he deliberately engineered a suspension ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen, who is expected to link up with the Nigerian national team for the continental tournament, found himself at the centre of controversy after receiving a late yellow card in his club’s Turkish Super Lig encounter against Antalyaspor on Saturday.
Going into the match, the Nigerian forward was already walking a disciplinary tightrope, having previously been booked in games against Beşiktaş, Kocaelispor and Fenerbahçe.
Naija News reports that the 85th-minute yellow card against Antalyaspor proved costly, as it pushed Osimhen over the booking threshold, earning him an automatic one-match suspension.
As a result, the Super Eagles attacker will miss his club’s next league fixture against Kasımpaşa.
However, with Osimhen named in Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the 2025 AFCON, the suspension will now be served during the international break, allowing him to return without a domestic ban hanging over him.
Turkish outlet, Gazete Gerçek, reported that the matter may not end with a one-match suspension, as Osimhen could still be referred to the Turkish Football Federation’s Professional Football Disciplinary Committee.
According to the report, the disciplinary body may investigate the incident under Article 37 of the Turkish Football Federation’s disciplinary code, which addresses cases of players allegedly “deliberately receiving a yellow card.”
If the committee finds the Super Eagles striker guilty of intentionally forcing the booking, the rules stipulate that he could face a stiffer punishment.
Article 37 of the PFDK provides for a two-match ban if a player is found to have deliberately sought a caution for tactical reasons.
Should Osimhen be sanctioned further, he risks missing several crucial fixtures for his club.
The matches potentially affected include clashes against İstanbul Başakşehir, Kasımpaşa, Fethiyespor, Trabzonspor and Gaziantep FK, depending on how far Nigeria progresses at the AFCON.
For now, Osimhen remains focused on joining the Super Eagles camp, while his club and supporters await the outcome of the possible disciplinary review in Turkey.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has disclosed that the team are still a work in progress following his expensive overhaul of the squad since last season.
The Spanish tactician made this known after the Citizens thrashed Crystal Palace 3-0 in Sunday’s Premier League game.
In a chat with the club’s website, Guardiola stated that the team are in a better position than last season.
Read Also:Hamann: Wirtz Made Wrong Choice Joining Liverpool
“Many things we have to improve. Madrid gave me a lot of things, that still we are not ready, not in mentality but in how to approach certain games. They are young some of the players. But 3-0 here is a big statement for us.
“When you win in the past, you believe the past was perfect, always brilliant, always the red carpet. When we won with 100 points, all the things we achieved, we had a lot of games like today. The resilience was part of that.
“There are moments that you struggle. Madrid was not the perfect game, but it was a step. We fought unbelievably to achieve that.
“We are in a better position than last season. We are close in the competitions we are in.”
Two popular football identities from Sydney have been mourned after dying in the mass shooting at Bondi Beach that has rocked the country.
The terror attack unfolded on Sunday as two alleged gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah gathering, killing at least 15 innocent people and injuring many others.
Police shot one alleged attacker dead at the scene and arrested another, while quickly securing the area amid fears of further threats.
The attack sent shockwaves through Sydney, prompting a major counter-terrorism investigation and widespread mourning across sporting, religious and local communities.
Now it has been confirmed that well-loved soccer player Dan Elkayam and popular rugby identity Peter Meagher were among the slain.
Members of Rockdale Ilinden Football Club will gather on Monday night to mourn Elkayam.
Dan Elkayam was a French national who played for Rockdale Ilinden Football Club before his tragic death in the Bondi terror attack
Elkayam, a French national in his late 20s, had lived in Australia for several years and worked as an IT analyst for NBC Universal.
He was Jewish and was celebrating Hanukkah at the beach when he was killed, according to French officials.
A talented and popular player in the club’s Premier League 1 side, Elkayam was also known for his love of football, Sydney’s beaches, and travelling around Australia.
‘It is with extreme shock and sadness to discover our Premier League 1 player – Dan Elkayam – was a victim of the horrendous, tragic and senseless events at Bondi Beach on Sun 14th Dec 2025,’ the club posted.
‘Dan was an integral member of our PL1 Squad in 2025 – who was an extremely talented and popular figure amongst team mates.
‘Our deepest and sincerest condolences to Dan’s family, friends and all that knew him. He will be missed. May he Rest in Peace – Memory be Eternal.’
Club vice president Lou Tasevski said that the ‘whole team is devastated’ by the news and will gather to ‘console each other’.
Elkayam was one of the 15 innocent people confirmed dead after two alleged shooters opened fire at Bondi Beach on Sunday
Tributes have come flowing in from around the world for the popular young man who had been living and working in Sydney
‘I am totally shattered – my son plays in that team and they were great friends,’ Tasevski said.
‘It’s a tragic loss and we are still trying to come to grips with it at the present.’
General manager and secretary of the club, Louie Belevski, said Elkayam was ‘a wonderful human’ who was ‘very well liked by the club’.
‘He was an inspiration to all players,’ Belevski said.
Elkayam also played in the seven-a-side Project Volta Super League, with the competition also honouring him with a statement on social media.
‘Dan was a valued player in our inaugural competition and a cherished member of our championship team, Casanowra City,’ the league posted.
‘He played a pivotal role in helping his team secure the title and was a deeply respected member of the Project Volta community.
‘Dan earned the admiration of teammates, opponents, and officials alike through both his commitment to the game and the way he carried himself.’
Dan Elkayam, 27, a French Jewish engineer originally from Le Bourget, was among those murdered in the terror attack that struck a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Elkayam had been traveling the world for several years and was known for his love of nature, football, and… pic.twitter.com/xzg3uB6qg6
— ILTV Israel News (@ILTVNews) December 14, 2025 
Elkayam reportedly shielded a young girl from the shooters at the expense of his own life
Australian football players and fans from all over the country united to honour Elkayam on Reddit.
‘May he rest in peace. May his family, friends, teammates, coaches, just literally everyone in his life be supported and just looked after,’ one posted.
‘This is shocking. I’m not here to talk politics, I am just a football fan that doesn’t want to see this. I send love and respect.
Another posted: ‘So sad. Sending my thoughts to his family, friends and club mates. It’s always difficult losing someone you play alongside. A life lost way too soon.’
‘Rest in peace, and to all who passed away on this dark day for the country. We are football fans, but we are Australians and above all, people of love and peace,’ said another.
Meanwhile, Sydney’s rugby union community is mourning Randwick stalwart Peter Meagher, who was also killed in Sunday’s attack.
Meagher, a former referee turned first-grade team manager, was working as a freelance photographer at the Bondi Hanukkah celebration when he was killed.
He had only learned about his maternal Jewish background in 2022 and had embraced it, becoming a much-loved member of the Sydney Jewish community.
Randwick Rugby stalwart Peter Meagher has also been confirmed to be among the casualties
Meagher had only recently discovered his Jewish background and was the photographer for the Hanukkah event when the shootings occurred
The grandson of Wallabies Hall of Famer Wally Meagher, he was a much-loved club figure and was named Randwick’s volunteer of the year in 2020.
‘Marzo, as he was universally known, was a much loved figure and absolute legend in our club, with decades of voluntary involvement, he was one of the heart and soul figures of Randwick Rugby,’ the club said in a statement.
‘For much of the last decade, Marzo has been our trusted first grade manager and this news has already hit our players, coaches, managers, volunteers and supporters extremely hard.
‘Prior to that he was also a highly respected long term referee who was well known and respected in Sydney rugby circles.
‘Our deepest condolences go to his wife Virginia, his brothers Greg, David, Andrew and Paul, their extended families and mountain of friends across Randwick Rugby, NSW Police, Sydney Rugby Referees and our local community.
‘We obviously extend our deepest sympathy to all the other victims, their families and loved ones and those people traumatised by this barbaric act.
‘We also sincerely thank and are in awe of all the first responders for their bravery and professionalism in dealing with such a dangerous and challenging situation to care for those in need.
‘Rest in Peace ‘Marzo’ – we all love you and will miss you greatly. We are devastated.’
Rugby’s major Australian administrations also honoured Meagher in a joint post.
‘Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby Union and the NSW Waratahs join Randwick and the entire rugby community in mourning Peter Meagher, who lost his life during Sunday’s Bondi terror attack.
‘Peter was a beloved member of the Galloping Greens, dedicating countless hours as first grade team manager and a volunteer referee, and followed in the footsteps of his father Ron and grandfather Wally, a Wallabies Hall of Famer, in serving the club.
‘We extend our sincere condolences to Peter’s family, friends and clubmates as well as all the victims of Sunday’s tragedy.
‘We also thank our first responders, emergency services and everyday citizens for their selfless heroism in the face of terror.
‘Rest In Peace, Marzo.’
Francis Uzoho is delighted to be back with the Super Eagles after a long period of absence, DAILY POST reports.
Uzoho was one of the surprise inclusion in the Super Eagles’ 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper has not been involved with the team since the previous AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
The shot stopper jetted into the Super Eagles camp on Sunday morning.
Uzoho said he missed the ambience and friendship in the team’s camp.
“I missed quite a lot. But like I think I missed the boys to be honest. I missed the boys. I missed the vibe in the camp, you know, because we’ve been quite a lot together,” he told the Super Eagles media.
Liverpool hero Didi Hamann believes Florian Wirtz made the wrong decision joining the Reds this summer.
Wirtz, a £100m summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, has struggled to adapt to the Premier League and is yet to register a single goal after 16 games in the competition.
Speaking with Sky Deutschland, Hamann stated that the Germany international would have adapted easily to the Bundesliga if he had joined Bayern Munich instead of Liverpool this summer.
Read Also:Akor Delighted To End Goal Drought
“Christmas is approaching and he still hasn’t scored a goal or decided a match. Football is played differently in the Premier League, and he’s had little to no impact there so far.
“Liverpool signed a player for €140 million hoping he could turn around a struggling team with one or two plays. He still hasn’t done that, and why would he now in January?
“When I watch him play, I sometimes get the feeling that he himself no longer believes in his potential. Wirtz made the wrong choice in the summer when he was faced with the choice between Liverpool and Bayern Munich.”
Pat Cummins and a host of other big names from the world of sport have called on Aussies to pitch in and help by donating blood in the aftermath of the massacre at Bondi Beach.
The Red Cross has been appealing for donors after 16 people died and 42 more were taken to hospital as a result of the shootings on Sunday.
Lifeblood Australia, which collects blood on behalf of the Red Cross, announced it had transferred blood ‘from multiple states to support the need in Sydney’.
The organisation has asked for donors with type O blood – which is most commonly used for transfusions when the recipient’s blood type is unknown – to come forward.
Lifeblood has received a badly needed helping hand from Cummins and other big names like swimmers Emma McKeon and Michael Klim.
‘Absolutely devastated by the horror last night in Bondi,’ Cummins wrote on Instagram on Monday.
Pat Cummins is one of several Aussie sport stars to urge people to donate blood after the atrocity at Bondi Beach
The cricket captain was joined in the drive by Olympic pool queen Emma McKeon
Rugby star Charlotte Caslick also drew attention to the drive for badly needed blood donors
‘My heart goes out to the victims, their families, the people of Bondi and our Jewish community during this time.
‘If you can, please book an appointment to donate blood.’
Klim and McKeon re-posted Lifeblood’s message about seeking type-O donors, with Klim also posting footage of long queues of donors forming in Sydney in response to the call-out.
McKeon wrote, ‘Woke up to the news of heartbreak, tragedy and outright evil in Bondi Beach.
‘My heart breaks to bits for the victims and families.
‘And my heart breaks over the fact that the Australian Jewish community cannot feel safe in their own country.’
Aussie rugby star Charlotte Caslick re-posted a call for blood donors from MP Allegra Spender, whose federal electorate includes Bondi Beach.
Footy WAGs also promoted the cause.
Swimming great Michael Klim also pitched in to help out the Red Cross
Pictured: Pat Cummins’ message to Aussies on Monday
Pictured: A long queue of blood donors in Sydney on Monday
NRL star Nicho Hynes’s fiancee Piper Wallis, Paris Tier – the partner of GWS Giants footballer Conor Stone – and Tayla Montoya, wife of Bulldogs star Marcelo Montoya, all urged Aussies to donate if possible.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also backed the drive to shore up Sydney’s blood banks.
‘If you are looking for something practical to do, you could give blood,’ Minns said on Monday.
The alleged Bondi gunmen took aim at a crowd gathered for a Hanukkah celebration at the beach just before 7pm on Sunday.
Multiple videos on social media show the alleged gunmen standing on a footbridge as they fired shots into a crowd near the northern end of the beach.
As many as 12 of the survivors are in a critical condition in hospital.
Makeshift memorials sprang up on Monday morning in the beachside park where hundreds of people had earlier gathered to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah.
‘This was an attack deliberately targeted at the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah, which of course should be a joyous celebration,’ Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Monday.