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Awaziem: Egypt Friendly Good Test For Super Eagles
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
FIFA has officially announced price reduction of some 2026 World Cup tickets following an intense global backlash from supporters, with $60 tickets now guaranteed for every match, including the final, for teams’ most loyal fans.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, comes after fans accused football’s world governing body of a “monumental betrayal” when ticket prices circulated last week showed supporters being asked to pay as much as $4,185, and up to $8,680, for the final.
Under the revised plan, FIFA confirmed that $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
These tickets will be allocated through national football federations, who will decide how to distribute them to loyal supporters who regularly attend matches both home and away.
How the Ticket Allocation Works
FIFA allocates 8% of tickets for matches involving a national team to that country’s football association. On Tuesday, FIFA revealed that 10% of this allocation will now be priced at $60, creating what it calls a “Supporter Entry Tier.”
For the World Cup final, this means approximately 450 of the 4,500 tickets available through national associations will be sold at the discounted price.
However, FIFA acknowledged that the number of $60 tickets per match is likely to be in the hundreds rather than thousands.
Backlash Triggered by Eye-Watering Prices
The backlash erupted after ticket pricing lists published by several national federations, notably the German Football Association, revealed starkly different figures.
According to the German FA’s published list:
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Group-stage tickets ranged from $180 to $700
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The lowest-priced final ticket was $4,185
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The highest-priced final ticket was $8,680
These figures appeared to contradict FIFA’s earlier claims that $60 tickets would be widely available, fueling anger across fan groups worldwide.
Fan Groups: ‘A Monumental Betrayal and Slap in the Face”
European fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the prices as “extortionate.”
Based on available data, FSE said fans would need to pay €6,900 ($8,111) to attend every match from the opening game to the final through the Participant Member Association (PMA) allocation.
This system was designed for fans who attend the most matches at fixed prices rather than dynamic pricing.
According to FSE, that figure is five times higher than what supporters paid at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is,” FSE said in a statement.
The group also criticized FIFA’s pricing model, noting that instead of a standard group-stage price, tickets appeared to be priced:
“Dependent on vague criteria such as the perceived attractiveness of the fixture.”
The English Football Association (FA) shared pricing details with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) on Thursday evening. The figures showed that following England from the group stage all the way to the final would cost $7,020 (£5,228).
That prompted fierce criticism from supporter groups.
The Football Supporters’ Association’s England Fans’ Embassy labelled the pricing policy “laughable.”
In a post on X, the group said:
“These prices are a slap in the face to supporters who support their team outside of the flagship tournament that appears every four years.
“To call the Category 3 tickets, the cheapest available to ESTC members, ‘Supporter Value Category 3’ that comes at a cost of $7,020 if you want to follow England from start to finish, is laughable.”
Read More: 2026 World Cup: Find Out Expanded Format Groups and Full Match Schedule
Read More: 2026 FIFA World Cup: Draw Result Hands African Teams Tricky Pairings
Read More: ‘The Tools Were Provided, We Failed’ – DG Olopade Reveals Following Super Eagles World Cup Failure
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Snicko cock-up is an embarrassment and almost as bad as a conspiracy from Aussie operators – and you don’t have to be a ‘whingeing Pom’ to realise that, writes Wisden Editor LAWRENCE BOOTH
- Unlock the best of our Ashes coverage throughout the series with a DailyMail+ subscription – brilliant exclusives and the writers you love every day
England have mainly been the architects of their own downfall in Australia, but the revelation that the operator of the Real-Time Snicko technology messed up a caught-behind decision against Alex Carey at a crucial moment of the third Test is hard to stomach.
Carey had made 72 of his eventual 106 when he appeared for the all the world to under-edge Josh Tongue through to Jamie Smith – a wicket that would have reduced Australia to a below-par 245 for seven on a plumb batting strip.
But umpire Ahsan Raza rejected the appeal, and the TV official Chris Gaffaney felt unable to overrule him because the Snicko spike occurred before the visual images had caught up. In other words, it looked as if the noise had magically appeared from nowhere, before the ball had reached the bat.
Later, after Australia reached stumps more healthily placed on 326 for eight, Carey admitted he thought there was a ‘bit of a feather’, cheerfully adding: ‘Sometimes you have a bit of luck.’ Asked if he was a walker, he replied with a smile: ‘Clearly not.’
That forced BBG Sports, the Australian company who operate RTS, into an embarrassing confession: ‘Given that Alex Carey admitted he had hit the ball in question, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the Snicko operator at the time must have selected the incorrect stump mic for audio processing. In light of this, BBG Sports takes full responsibility for the error.’
It’s bad enough that the umpires didn’t have the nous to work out what had happened, especially as the controversial dismissal of Jamie Smith at Perth had shown that the technology used in Australia entails a two-frame gap between the pictures and the sound wave.
What noise could the Snicko spike have possibly been for? It was obvious the pictures were not aligned with the sound
Alex Carey’s reprieve cost England dear as he went from 72 to 106 and pushed Australia past 300
Josh Tongue’s appeal, had it been granted, would have left Australia 245 for seven and in danger of wasting a glorious batting pitch
After all, Australian cricketing legends Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden had no doubt in the commentary box that an injustice had occurred.
It’s embarrassing that a series of this magnitude, with the tourists copping it from every angle and careers on the line, should tolerate even the possibility of such inaccuracy, when the UltraEdge technology used in England is far more precise.
And it’s galling that Carey was able to laugh it off as just one of those things, when many in Australia still bang on about Stuart Broad failing to walk for an edge at Trent Bridge more than 12 years ago. While Broad was labelled a ‘s*** bloke’, you can be quite certain that Carey will continue to be hailed as a hero after scoring an emotional hundred on his home ground.
The Ashes deserve better than human error, though some furious England fans on X had darker theories. But, in a series of this importance, cock-up is almost as bad as conspiracy, and the apology from BBG Sports will come as little consolation to a team fighting for their reputations.
Cricket should be better than this, and it doesn’t make anyone a ‘whingeing Pom’ to say so.
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Snicko cock-up is an embarrassment and almost as bad as a conspiracy from Aussie operators – and you don’t have to be a ‘whingeing Pom’ to realise that, writes Wisden Editor LAWRENCE BOOTH
The Democratic Republic of Congo has issued a stern warning to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following a petition filed with FIFA over the alleged use of ineligible players during the 2026 World Cup playoff match.
In a sharp reaction posted on the national team’s official 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account, DR Congo accused Nigeria of attempting to secure a place in the World Cup playoffs through administrative manoeuvres rather than sporting merit.
“If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup must be played with dignity and confidence, not with legal tricks. Bring it on,” the post read.
Nigeria, who lost to DR Congo on penalties during the November playoff encounter, had confirmed it had formally petitioned FIFA over what it described as potential violations of FIFA’s eligibility rules.
The petition alleges that several Congolese players who recently switched national allegiance may not have completed the required processes under FIFA’s nationality regulations.
At the centre of Nigeria’s claims is the issue of dual citizenship, which is not recognised by Congolese law. The NFF argues that players who hold European passports, including French, Dutch, and British documents, may have breached the requirements.
Speaking on the development, NFF Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said FIFA had initially cleared the players based on documents submitted by the DR Congo Football Federation.
Sanusi said, “We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality. Wan-Bissaka has a European passport, and there are others with French and Dutch passports.
“The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.”
Sanusi stressed that Nigeria’s protest is not about undermining FIFA’s process but about ensuring that the global football body was not misled.
“FIFA goes by its own regulations, and it was on the basis of what was submitted to FIFA that they cleared them. What we are saying is that it was fraudulent,” he added.
Chidozie Awaziem has said the Super Eagles must take the positives from the friendly against Egypt and focus on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.
Eric Chelle’s side lost 2-1 to Hossam Hassan’s men at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday night.
Mahmoud Saber and Mostafa Mohammed were on target for Egypt, while Awaziem scored Nigeria’s goal with a header late in the first half.
The Nantes star described the encounter as a good test for the Super Eagles.
“It was a good test for us, Egypt is not an easy country to play against. They 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.
Reflecting on the team’s performance against the Pharaohs, Awaziem added: “It was a good test, though the result wasn’t good, it was not what 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.”
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.
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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
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Anthony Joshua warns Jake Paul ‘if I can kill you, I will’ ahead of megafight – as underdog vows to ‘shock the world’
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.”