SPORT
Anthony Joshua warns Jake Paul ‘if I can kill you, I will’ ahead of megafight – as underdog vows to ‘shock the world’
Anthony Joshua has issued a chilling warning to Jake Paul ahead of their fight in Miami, saying he would be willing to ‘kill’ his opponent once they step into the ring on Friday evening.
The former two-time heavyweight champion delivered the stark message during fight week in Florida, rejecting any suggestion he might show mercy to the YouTuber-turned-boxer.
Instead, Joshua insisted the bout will be fought with full intent. Joshua’s comments come amid online speculation that the Netflix-billed contest could be staged, claims he has flatly dismissed.
Joshua, who has recorded 25 knockouts in 28 victories, said his public image as a polite and respectful figure will be completely abandoned on fight night at the Kaseya Center, framing the clash as a brutal, do-or-die encounter rather than a crossover spectacle.
The Brit first set the tone during open workouts in Miami on Tuesday, where he addressed fans inside the ring and warned of what was to come before speaking to the media behind closed doors.
Speaking in the ring after his open workout, AJ said: ‘It has to be done. Jake Paul, you’ve got some big balls and I’ve got to give him respect for taking the fight because I’m f***ing ready, it’s go time… They want to see some big heavy punches thrown and they want to see someone knocked out, and I’m going to deliver.’
Anthony Joshua (left) has warned Jake Paul he could ‘kill’ him in the ring when they fight
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul is a severe underdog for their upcoming bout in Miami on Friday
In contrast, the architect of this monstrous event in both senses of the word, Paul said: ‘I’m going to shock the world. One of us is going to sleep. Not me.’
The Problem Child was full of beans as he urged the in-crowd: ‘Watch and believe. My life is about achieving what people tell me is impossible.’
Joshua then escalated his own rhetoric during a later media roundtable, making it clear there would be no compassion for Paul once the bell rings.
Asked if there was ‘any part’ of him that wanted to go easy on a much lower level opponent in Paul, he replied: ‘Zero part of me.’
He went on to explain the mindset he adopts when competing, separating his upbringing from the violence he believes is required in his profession.
‘It’s not just that it’s Jake,’ he explained. ‘I was actually looking at myself today, I’m a very respectful guy brought up by a good family. But if I can kill you, I will kill you. That’s just how I am and this is just the job I do, so let’s go.
‘I’m carrying boxing on my back, I did it with the Francis Ngannou fight and I’m doing it again. I understand the expectation, I don’t carry it because the expectation I have on myself is enough but I acknowledge it, I understand it and I respect it.’
With fight night looming, Joshua has left little doubt about his intentions as he prepares to face Paul under the lights in Miami
Share or comment on this article:
Anthony Joshua warns Jake Paul ‘if I can kill you, I will’ ahead of megafight – as underdog vows to ‘shock the world’
Chidozie Awaziem has reflected on the Super Eagles performance in the friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt, reports Completesports.com.
Egypt defeated Eric Chelle’s side 2-1 at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday night.
Mahmoud Saber gave Egypt the lead two minutes before the half hour mark.
Awaziem restored parity for the Super Eagles late in the first half.
Egypt scored the winning goal through Mostafa Mohammed in the 52nd minute.
Read Also:Friendly: Super Eagles Fall 2-1 To Egypt In Cairo
“It was a good test for us, Egypt is not an easy country to play against. The have a couple of good players. The purpose of the friendly was for us to test ourselves before the AFCON, for the coach to try new players, new tactics, and prepare well for the AFCON,” Awaziem told the Super Eagles media.
“So, it was good test, though the result wasn’t good, it was not we wanted. The focus was for us to see our structure, different players, see the newly invited players, and what they can contribute to the team.
“I think the coach has seen that , for now we should take the positives from the game, and move to the AFCON. We dominated the game, pinned them back. We had so many chances to score. Just like I said , we just have to take the positives and move ahead.”
By Adeboye Amosu
Eric Chelle and the Super Eagles will take the 2-1 defeat to Egypt in their strides as they wrap up preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations which gets underway in a matter of days.
Goals from Mahmoud Saber and Mostafa Mohamed, either side of Chidozie Awaziem’s headed goal secured a fairly comfortable win for the Pharaohs in Tuesday’s test game at the Cairo Int’l Stadium.
Mostafa Mohamed celebrates scoring Egypt’s second goal. Photo | X
Chelle gave several players ample minutes in the test game, including Stanley Nwabali who had been sidelined for a few weeks due to injury.
Also read: Uzoho Explains ‘Good Relationship’ with Super Eagles Rivals Nwabali, Obasogie
New invitees Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Salim Fago and Tochukwu Nnadi all featured.
It was Nigeria’s only preparatory game before the AFCON kicks off for the 3-time Champions on December 23 against Tanzania in Fez.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp is yet to hit full capacity with Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon still the main absentees.
No official information has been given about the duo’s arrival, but Chelle will oversee another practice session for the team on Wednesday – Gym (morning) and training (evening).
The team’s departure for Fes is due this week and will play the Taifa Stars in the opening group C game at Fez Stadium.
Nigerian midfielder, Prosper Obah has sealed a move to Ukrainian giants, Shakhtar Donestk, DAILY POST reports.
Obah was signed from another Ukrainian outfit, LNZ Cherkasy.
The 22-year-old penned a contract until December 2030.
The playmaker only joined LNZ Cherkasy in the summer.
Obah registered eight goals and registered one assist in 17 matches across all competitions for LNZ Cherkasy.
He will officially become a Shakhtar Donestk player on January 1.
By Inioluwa David
The third edition of the annual Daniel Ford Elite Invitational Table Tennis Tournament begins today, December 17, with a two-day coaching clinic for all participants at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) Training Centre, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The clinic, one of the key initiatives of the tournament sponsors, is designed to empower players with essential techniques ahead of the main competition, which kicks off on Friday, December 19, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Led by top national coaches under the guidance of Dotun Omoniyi, the clinic aims to drill players, refresh their knowledge, and ensure they are in peak condition for the tournament.
For the sponsor, Yemi Edun, the clinic is a vital component of the event.
“A tournament should not only be about competition. It should also serve as an avenue to sharpen skills. Yes, players improve by facing strong competitors, but there is also the invaluable input of trained eyes, coaches, mentors, and experts, who prepare them before they step onto the stage. That way, every player brings their very best. And I believe the overall impact of this tournament has been overwhelmingly positive,” Edun said.
This year’s edition also features the introduction of the U-12 category, a move Edun believes will strengthen Nigeria’s talent pipeline.
“It is absolutely within our abilities to use this tournament as a pipeline for creating elite-tier players. In sports, mastery must begin early; some say as early as 13 years old, otherwise you risk falling behind the global curve. And let us remember: we are the largest Black nation on earth. Statistically, we should have more talent to discover, nurture, and showcase. That is why I fully envisage a future, within the next seven years, where Nigeria stands proudly as Africa’s leading table tennis nation,” he added.
With its blend of competition and skill development, the Daniel Ford Elite Invitational continues to position itself as a cornerstone for nurturing Nigeria’s next generation of table tennis champions.
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.”
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.
SPORT
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.
SPORT
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.’