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2026 World Cup: Trump’s fresh visa restriction to affect Nigerians
President Donald Trump’s fresh visa restrictions is set to affect Nigerians who are planning to travel to the US for the 2026 World Cup.
On Tuesday, Trump signed a Proclamation which restricts entry to the United States for citizens of countries deemed high-risk due to “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that threaten U.S. national security and public safety.
Nigeria is among the 15 additional countries now subject to partial restrictions.
This means that Nigerians with Immigrants and Non-Immigrants visas in the categories of B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas are hereby suspended.
Officials at the American Embassy have also instructed to reduce the validity for any other Non-Immigrant visas that have already been issued to Nigerians.
Another reason for the decision of the American government is the fact that some Nigerians overstay their visas when they visit the US.
This comes amid reports that the Super Eagles could possibly still play at next year’s World Cup if their appeal to FIFA questioning the eligibility of some DR Congo players is successful.
Former Nigerian international Mikel Obi has opened up on how he contacted office of late President Muhammadu Buhari over the Super Eagles’ unpaid bonuses for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel said players were owed qualification bonuses for months, despite repeated assurances from officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that the money would be paid once the team arrived in camp. Mikel escalated the matter as players grew anxious and delays persisted.
He revealed that he contacted Abba Kyari, then Chief of Staff to President Buhari. Within 24 hours, a private plane reportedly delivered millions of dollars in cash directly to the team’s hotel.
“Talking about fighting for players’ bonuses, I went above the president of the NFF to get those bonuses, which is what I did a couple of times during the World Cup,” Mikel said.
Read Also:NFF Petitions FIFA Over DR Congo’s Alleged Use Of Ineligible Players Against Super Eagles At Playoffs
“Leading up to the World Cup, we were owed money. We had been asking for this money for months before the tournament. They kept telling me, ‘Oh, Mikel, don’t worry, the money will be sorted when you come to camp.’ I said, ‘Okay, no problem, but make sure the money is there because the players are asking me about their bonuses.
“We got to camp, and I spoke to the team secretary and the president. I asked, ‘Where is the money?’ Again, they said, ‘Don’t worry, Mikel, we’ll sort it out. A week went by. The players kept coming to me saying, ‘Mikel, we need this money. Once the World Cup is over, we don’t know if we’ll ever get it.
“I called him and said, ‘Mr chief of staff, we have a serious issue in the national team. We need this money to settle the players. This is what was promised. 24 hours later, a private plane arrived. The money was delivered to the hotel, hand to hand. Millions of dollars.
“I took the money and handed it to the team secretary and told him to hold it. I said, ‘Make sure this money does not go to the president or anyone else. This money belongs to the players.”
Jake Paul has questioned Anthony Joshua’s decision to accept a weight restriction for their heavyweight bout, arguing it could blunt the former champion’s biggest weapon when they meet on Friday night, December 19, in Miami.
Joshua, a naturally larger man, has agreed to come in at 245 pounds, marking the first time in his professional career that he has had to hit a specific weight. The Briton insists the target has sharpened his focus rather than unsettled him.
“I have never had to make weight, never,” Joshua said during a face-to-face exchange with Jake Paul.
“I feel great. I am blessed. I feel happy that this task was put upon me because I wouldn’t have pushed myself to get to a certain weight; I would have just done what I usually do.
“I think it was a blessing in disguise.”
Paul, however, believes the concession plays into his hands. The American, who takes a 12-1 record into the contest, feels Joshua’s power is most dangerous when he is heavier and less restricted.
“I don’t agree with the decision on his behalf. He has taken away the best thing against me, which is his power,” Paul said.
“We’ve seen him when he’s a bit lighter, and there’s not as much thump on the punches. I think the best thing he could have had is the extra oomph on the punches.
“But, to me, the weight doesn’t matter, the weight won’t make a difference. It’s a skill which will win this fight. I believe my skills are better than his, which is a crazy thing to say.”
Jake Paul went further, questioning Joshua’s technical ability and suggesting the fight would be decided by movement and timing rather than size.
“He’s a very basic fighter. He’s gotten to where he’s at because of the size and the power,” the YouTuber-turned-boxer said.
“The skills will win this fight. You saw it with Oleksandr Usyk, when he fought him. And I believe this will be similar to that.”
Joshua has recently trained in Spain with members of the same team that prepared Oleksandr Usyk, who outboxed him in back-to-back defeats. Paul welcomed the move while maintaining his belief that Joshua would struggle to impose himself.
“As you should,” Paul said. “You definitely needed to change coaches, so I’m glad.
“He has a lot of power punches. If you get caught, of course he’s going to defeat you. But I don’t believe he can land those punches.
“He lands on the bigger guys who stand in front of him.”
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NFF Petitions FIFA Over DR Congo’s Alleged Use Of Ineligible Players Against Super Eagles At Playoffs
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has petitioned FIFA over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DR Congo) alleged use of ineligible players during the African World Cup playoffs in Morocco.
After regulation and extra-time ended 1-1, DR Congo edged out the Super Eagles 4–3 on penalties in the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.
The win means DR Congo progress to the inter-confederation playoffs, where they will face the winners of Jamaica versus New Caledonia for a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
It was reported that many of the players who featured for DR Congo in the playoffs are foreign-born and were only recently cleared to play for the country.
Under Congolese law, dual nationality is not recognised. Children born abroad to Congolese parents may hold dual citizenship only until the age of 21, after which they must renounce one nationality.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi accused the Congolese football authorities of misleading FIFA to secure clearance for players whose status violates DR Congo’s citizenship laws.
Also Read: 10 African Football Stars Who Will Miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup
According to Sanusi, Congolese laws clearly state that “you cannot have dual nationality,” yet several members of the Leopards squad who faced Nigeria reportedly hold both European and Congolese passports.
Sanusi described the actions of the DR Congo FA as “fraudulent,” positing that the players should never have been eligible for selection, that FIFA approved the players based on its own eligibility rules, which differ from DR Congo’s internal laws.
“FIFA cleared the players because FIFA’s eligibility rule is different from DR Congo’s rule. FIFA regulations say that once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible,” Sanusi said.
“But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. Because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to ensure that the regulations of DR Congo are being abided by. It was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA that the players were cleared. But we are saying it was fraudulent.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are currently in Egypt preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
As part of preparations for the AFCON, the Super Eagles faced Egypt in a friendly match which they lost 2-1.
The Super Eagles are in Group C at this year’s AFCON alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.
By James Agberebi
Chelsea have qualified for the semi-final of this year’s Carabao Cup, thanks to a 3-1 win over Cardiff City on Tuesday night.
Enzo Maresca named a heavily-rotated starting XI for the game and they struggled to dominate the Welsh club.
The Blues eventually took the lead in the second half, after substitute Alejandro Garnacho finished coolly into the corner of the net.
Cardiff threatened to cause an upset after they equalized through David Turnbull.
But Chelsea stepped up their intensity to finish off the game, with goals from Pedro Neto and Garnacho.
Two more quarter-final clashes will be played on Wednesday, with Fulham playing Newcastle and Manchester City hosting Brentford.
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FIFA offer discounted tickets for 2026 World Cup after significant backlash from Socceroos fans
- World Cup takes place next June
Football Australia will be able to issue well-priced tickets to the Socceroos’ most loyal fans at the 2026 World Cup after FIFA agreed to slash their prices following a global backlash.
Some supporters will even get $US60 ($A90) seats for the final instead of being asked to fork out $US4,185 ($A6,300).
However, they are likely to only equate to around 500 tickets per match that Australia play.
FIFA said the cheaper tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament, going to the national federations whose teams are playing.
Those federations will then decide how to distribute them to fans.
The cheaper tickets, labelled ‘Supporter Entry Tier’, will be ten per cent of the federation’s allocation – which itself will vary depending on the stadium size.
The Socceroos united Australia as a nation during their impressive run to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Australia has qualified for six consecutive World Cups since 2006 (pictured, after scoring a goal against China during qualifying this year)
The Socceroos are currently ranked 25th in the world rankings (pictured right, Lewis Miller celebrates with Brandon Borrello)
The ‘participant member association’ allocation is eight per cent of stadium capacity per country per match.
Australia’s group games are in Vancouver (54,000 capacity), Seattle (69,000) and Santa Clara (71,000), meaning they will respectively receive a number of $A90 tickets for their matches against UEFA play-off winner (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo), USA and Paraguay.
So will their opponents.
The next cheapest tickets are priced at around $A400.
FIFA’s backflip follows recent meetings between senior officials in Doha, where federations reportedly pushed back at the pricing model.
Fans worldwide reacted with shock and anger on seeing FIFA’s ticketing plans that gave participating teams no tickets in the lowest-priced category.
The co-hosts pledged eight years ago — when they were bidding for the tournament — that hundreds of thousands of $US21 ($A32) tickets would be made available.
FIFA has also faced fierce criticism for a ticket pricing strategy that includes dynamic pricing, in which prices can increase due to demand.
They can then act as their own resale platform, taking a cut in the process.
When the original pricing was announced, Football Supporters Association Australia chairman Patrick Clancy felt the prices were high – but he thought many Socceroos’ fans would still buy them.
‘These are historically high prices – even the minimums,’ he said.
‘I’m sure there will be some people who who choose not (to go), and that’s absolutely fine, but I suspect the large majority will not be put off.’
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FIFA offer discounted tickets for 2026 World Cup after significant backlash from Socceroos fans
*Chelle and his wards to depart for Morocco on Thursday
Seven-time African champions, Pharaohs of Egypt, won a moral boosting international friendly 2-1 with Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Cairo last night.
Though a test match, in the absence of Nigeria’s talisman, Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles maintained balance and dominated ball possession in the first quarter house. It however didn’t take long for the Pharaohs to register their opening goal through Mahmoud Saber in the 28th minute.
But Super Eagles responded with the clock ticking for the first half break. The three-time AFCON winners Nigeria kept their shape despite the setback and threatened the Pharaohs’ rearguard with a combination of long balls and quick movements through the middle.
The Eagles were dangerous from dead-ball situations and in added time, defender Zaidu Sanusi swung one into the box that was guided into the net by Chidozie Awaziem for the equaliser.On resumption for the second half, Eagles who started the game with a strange 3-5-2 formation had to revert to their more familiar 4-4-2 with the introduction of Amas Obasogie in goal for Stanley Nwabali, Ademola Lookman, Cyril Dessers, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi and Tochukwu Nnadi were all introduced by Chelle to spice up the encounter.
Ball Possession appeared largely balanced in the half but the Pharaohs struck from what looked like offside positioning. Nigeria protested but the referee stuck to his gun.
The hosts then resorted to defending deep into their own half to thwart every onslaught from the Eagles. Coach Eric Chelle was shown a yellow card after remonstrating one of the referee’s poor decisions, including a handball incident in the Egyptian box that was waved away.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will fly to Fés on Thursday aboard a chartered flight for their Group C encounters against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda (in that order), while the Pharaohs head to Agadir for Group B games against South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.
Twenty-six players are now in the Super Eagles camp in Cairo, Egypt, following the arrival of Samuel Chukwueze on Tuesday night.
The Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe dislcosed this.
According to the team’s spokesperson, the only players who are yet to arrive are Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon.
Also, he stated that in Wednesday, the Super Eagles will have a gym session at 11am and training session at 5pm.
Also Read: Friendly: Super Eagles Fall 2-1 To Egypt In Cairo
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles lost 2-1 to Egypt in a tune up game on Tuesday.
26 Super Eagles players currently in camp:
Francis Uzoho
Stanley Nwabali
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
Akinsanmiro Ebenezer
Amas Obasogie
Semi Ajayi
Ademola Lookman
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Igho Ogbu
Tochukwu Nnadi
Zaidu Sanusi
Paul Onuachu
Frank Onyeka
Calvin Bassey
Alex Iwobi
Wilfred Ndidi
Bruno Onyemaechi
Cyril Dessers
Akor Adams
Chidera Ejuke
Raphael Onyedika
Ryan Alebiosu
Salim Fago
Chidozie Awaziem
Usman Mohammed
Samuel Chukwueze
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Ashes LIVE: Aussie star Steve Smith is ruled OUT of Adelaide Test in stunning last-minute development
A brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a solitary strike from Pedro Neto earned Chelsea a 3-1 win against Cardiff in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
After a goalless first half Garnacho opened the scoring in the 57th minute but David Turnbull made it 1-1 on 75 minutes.
With eight minutes left Neto restored Chelsea’s lead before Garnacho got his second goal to put the Blues 3-1 ahead.
Two quarter-finals will be decided on Wednesday which will see Manchester City host Brentford while Newcastle United will welcome Fulham to St. James’s Park.
FIFA has released its Best Men’s XI for 2025 as a bold new generation lines up alongside proven greats who continue to set the standard at the very top.
Unveiled during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025, the selection rewards players who stood out across club and international football over the past year. Consistency in Europe’s elite leagues, coupled with decisive performances on the biggest stages, played a major role in shaping the final team.
Up front, Ousmane Dembélé’s return to his most devastating form earns him a place after a campaign defined by confidence, goals and match-winning moments.
Alongside him is Lamine Yamal, whose inclusion marks one of the most remarkable stories of the year. Still a teenager, the Barcelona star has moved with startling speed from exciting prospect to one of world football’s most feared attackers.
The midfield reflects balance, intelligence and invention. Pedri’s calm control anchors the unit, complemented by Vitinha’s smooth distribution and Jude Bellingham’s relentless energy and influence. Cole Palmer completes the quartet after a breakout year in which his creativity and decisive contributions made him one of the game’s standout attacking midfielders.
Defensively, power and athleticism are the defining traits. Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi offer pace and attacking threat from full-back, while Virgil van Dijk remains the commanding presence at the heart of defence. He is partnered by Pacho, whose composure and physical strength drew plaudits throughout the season.
In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma rounds off the XI following another authoritative year, producing crucial saves in high-pressure matches and reinforcing his reputation among the world’s elite goalkeepers.
Meanwhile, Luis Enrique was named The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2025, following a landmark campaign that reshaped Paris Saint-Germain’s history.
The Spanish coach guided PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, sealed emphatically with a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final. Domestically, his side was equally ruthless, sweeping Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions.
PSG also impressed on the global stage. Although they finished runners-up at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup™, their journey to the final featured a series of eye-catching performances, including standout victories over Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Luis Enrique’s achievements over the season included winning the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the 2024 Trophee des Champions, finishing second at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and being named the 2024/25 UNFP Ligue 1 Manager of the Year.