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FIFA Ruling Against Malaysia Puts Spotlight On Nigeria, DR Congo Eligibility Dispute
The sweeping sanctions handed down by the world football governing body FIFA against Malaysia have cast fresh light on the growing eligibility dispute involving Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Wednesday, December 17, FIFA punished Malaysia by overturning three international matches as 3-0 defeats after an investigation confirmed that seven players had been fielded despite failing to meet nationality requirements.
The ruling, which was confirmed by the Football Association of Malaysia, also included suspensions for the players involved and additional financial penalties for the association.
That decision has now sharpened attention on Africa, where the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has formally petitioned FIFA over the eligibility of players used by the Democratic Republic of Congo in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash.
Nigeria were beaten on penalties by the Congolese side, known as The Leopards, in the African play-offs, a result that booked DR Congo a place in the intercontinental play-off final. The Super Eagles’ exit, however, has since been followed by claims that eligibility rules may have been breached, prompting the NFF to seek FIFA’s intervention.
The Malaysian case offers a clear precedent. FIFA’s investigation there was triggered by a complaint following a high-profile win, and it ultimately led to forfeited results once it was established that the players in question lacked a parent or grandparent born in the country they represented.
The governing body made it clear that forged documentation and nationality shortcuts would not be tolerated, regardless of the stage of competition.
The outcome of the Malaysian ruling has strengthened belief within local football circles that FIFA will apply the same standards in the Nigeria vs DR Congo case if wrongdoing is proven.
While no verdict has yet been announced, the example from Asia suggests that sanctions could range from match forfeiture to suspensions and fines should the allegations be upheld.
Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, have departed for Fez, Morocco, ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The team left on a chartered flight from Cairo, Egypt, with the journey expected to last between 5.5 and 6 hours.
Upon arrival in Morocco, the Super Eagles are scheduled to hold their official team photoshoot, which is expected to take place either today or tomorrow.
The team recently concluded a preparatory friendly match in Egypt, where they suffered a 2–1 defeat against the host nation.
Attention has now shifted fully to the AFCON campaign, with the technical crew focusing on improving the squad ahead of the tournament.
Official training is expected to begin from tomorrow, with Nigeria scheduled to have eight training sessions before their opening group stage fixture against Tanzania.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru during a Super Eagles training session. Photo | X
Nigeria has been drawn in Group C, where they will face Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda.
The Super Eagles will open their campaign against Tanzania before taking on Tunisia in their second group match on December 27.
The Super Eagles depart Cairo for Fes.#Naija4TheWin #LetsDoItAgain pic.twitter.com/V8BIksx8ul
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) December 18, 2025
Also read: Football Gave me a career! Ahmed Musa’s ‘Deep’ Farewell from Super Eagles
Their final group game will be against Uganda, set for December 30.
Meanwhile NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau has made the team’s expectations clear, stating that head coach Eric Chelle has been mandated to guide Nigeria to the final of the competition.
“We are going to reach the final in Morocco, by the grace of God. The mandate given to Eric Chelle is to get to the final of the AFCON,” Gusau said.
Nigeria reached the final of the last AFCON tournament in 2023, where they narrowly lost to hosts Ivory Coast.
With that experience still fresh, the Super Eagles will be aiming to go one step further this time and bring the AFCON trophy back home.
As preparations intensify in Morocco, all eyes will be on the Super Eagles to see if they can live up to expectations and deliver success on the continental stage especially after the team lost the FIFA InterContinental World Cup Qualifiers Playoffs Final.
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Inside the ropes at Rory McIlroy’s primetime Scottie Scheffler showdown – with the Trump seal of approval
The clock had ticked past 7.30pm in Jupiter and problems were threatening to snowball at Trump National Golf Club: the heavens had opened and the atmosphere in the bleachers was flat. As for the commentary coming through the on-course speakers? So faint as to be almost unintelligible.
Imagine what was going through the minds of those in charge of the inaugural Golf Channel Games. They had brought eight of the world’s biggest names together for a series of challenges that were supposed to represent golf’s answer to the All-Star Weekend.
And then Shane Lowry stepped on to the tee and sprayed six drives almost everywhere except the target area. It was quite the start. But, in a curious twist, Lowry’s struggles ended up lighting the fuse. Before long, the noise had ratcheted up from both the speakers and the stands. It turns out sports fans quite enjoy watching star players squirm.
Week after week, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Co dismantle different courses around the world. It can be sterile and tournaments are often decided by tiny margins of spin and roll and the hidden gradients of greens.
This was a rare chance to see them struggle. To see the world’s greatest golfers knocked out of their routine. To watch them hit shots they haven’t honed over hours on the range. When was the last time McIlroy took putter from 170 yards? When is anyone in a hurry to finish a hole on the PGA Tour?
Jupiter is home to many top golfers – McIlroy’s $21million mansion is a few hefty drives from this course. But at times on Wednesday night, he, too, looked hilariously out of his comfort zone. The result was comical chaos at primetime.
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler captained teams in the inaugural Golf Channel Games
Kai and Eric Trump watch on alongside US golf star Sam Burns on a crazy night in Florida
Kai and McIlroy take a moment to catch up amid the drama between the greats of golf
Team Rory plays the 9th hole relay in 27 seconds thanks to an incredible shot from the drop zone by Haotong Li. 🔥😳
📺 Golf Channel | USA Network pic.twitter.com/J5zNt0GQYQ
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 18, 2025
Golf has made a number of attempts over recent years to lure in new fans with gimmicks and glorified exhibitions. Some have made a splash – TGL, the indoor tournament played on a simulator and drop-in green, returns for a second season later this month. But many other formats have flopped.
So who can blame all those fans that were cynical about another effort to reinvent the wheel? En route to Trump National, one VIP branded the challenges ‘stupid’ and said only ‘suckers like [him]’ had paid for tickets.
This certainly won’t have been to everyone’s taste and there were plenty of teething problems. But under the lights in Palm Beach, it was all rather fun.
For the uninitiated: two teams – captained by McIlroy and Scheffler and filled with Ryder Cup rivals – competed over five fast-paced challenges.
It could hardly have been more different to that vicious, brutal battle at Bethpage Black. But it birthed a star in 22-year-old Luke Clanton and it has cheerleaders among the first family.
‘I absolutely love it,’ Eric Trump exclusively told Daily Mail while watching beside the green. ‘Golf needs a lot more of this… it keeps golf young, keeps golf fun. It seems like every sport has a skills challenge other than golf, it’s awesome to have the first one here.’
His niece, Kai Trump, was part of the broadcast and Eric wants this to become an annual event. ‘It works incredibly well… these guys love it too. They’re having a blast.
‘Golf can be a formal game, but also golf needs a little bit of informality… you need that in order to make a sport mainstream. Golf has never been hotter.’
McIlroy’s teammate Shane Lowry sprints to putt the ball during the chaotic relay challenge
Lowry was not the only player to come close to being struck by a ball during the relay challenge
The two teams were separated by an inch, with Team Scheffler triumphing in a playoff
The challenges included timed competitions of driving and putting and chipping. But also a 14-club challenge, which saw teams attempt to hit the green with every club in the bag.
The biggest hit of all, however? The relay. That saw teams race to finish a hole in the fewest shots and shortest time possible.
Players were dotted between the tee and green and they struggled to see the ball as it flew over the lights and down towards them. Both Scheffler and Lowry came within inches of being struck by a teammate.
That might have prompted a few awkward conversations. As it was, the players loved it and so did the 2,000 or so fans who had forked out a collective $400,000 to be here.
Not everything went down so well, however. This event was made for TV and that meant it wasn’t always a great spectacle for fans in Jupiter.
No matter that some had reportedly forked out more than $1,300 for VIP tickets. No matter that one man had driven for six hours from Savannah to South Florida.
While TV viewers were given the treat of seeing stars like Scheffler emerge from their shell, no one here could hear the players chat with announcers and each other.
The scoring system was convoluted and pace of play proved a problem, too. Not during the challenges themselves – how refreshing it was to see players hurried into mistakes. But commercial breaks often halted momentum and it took more than three hours for a winner to be crowned.
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley celebrates after chipping in during the timed challenge
In the end, the two teams were separated by an inch. By the time Scheffler triumphed in that playoff, however, many fans had left or retired to the Grand Ballroom.
So plenty of challenges remain if this is to become more than another one-off. It should be wrapped up within a couple of hours, for instance.
And more fundamental still: can this format continue to survive on its own? How long before these challenges lose their novelty? Should this be pegged on to another event in a similar fashion to the pre-Masters par-three tournament?
Questions for another day, perhaps. On Wednesday night, fans enjoyed watching stars at their best and their worst, often out of breath and out of their comfort zone. Sometimes blunders make for better viewing than birdies.
‘We tried something new,’ said McIlroy, whose team was made up of Lowry, Luke Donald and Haotong Li. ‘Sometimes when you try something new it doesn’t work out.
‘But I think this one really did… it was an awesome night…. look at what YouTube golf’s done and you see the amount of people that watch that and enjoy that. This is sort of a hybrid of that. I certainly think there’s a place for it.’
With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) just days away, respected French sports daily L’Équipe has released what it believes to be the strongest possible starting XI for the tournament.
The lineup features a strong Senegalese presence, with four players from the reigning champions making the cut. At the heart of the team is Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, whose recent form continues to draw global attention.
The Galatasaray forward scored 26 goals in all competitions last season and remains Nigeria’s most potent attacking threat heading into the finals.
Between the posts, Senegal’s Edouard Mendy is trusted to provide calm and authority. Now with Al-Ahli, Mendy boasts an impressive international record, including 29 clean sheets in 70 caps, and is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most reliable goalkeepers.
The defence blends power and finesse. Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi brings pace and creativity from full-back, having registered 12 goal contributions for Paris Saint-Germain last season. He is joined by Roma’s Evan N’Dicka, Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, and Algeria’s rising star Rayan Aït-Nouri, now plying his trade at Manchester City.
In midfield, Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr partners Brighton’s energetic Carlos Baléba, a duo praised for their balance of grit and ball progression.
The attacking line is packed with pedigree. Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez, Egypt captain Mohamed Salah and Senegal icon Sadio Mané complete a fearsome front four alongside Osimhen.
Bayelsa Queens head coach, Whyte Ogbonda has expressed satisfaction with his team’s win over Pacesetter Queens in a Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, matchday four encounter.
The Prosperity Girls edged out Pacesetter Queens 2-0 at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa on Wednesday.
Ogbonda admitted that the Ibadan-based club gave them a good run in the game.
“It’s a good thing that we won, we actually needed more goals which we couldn’t get, but what is of utmost importance is the 3 points and we got it”, Ogbonda told Bayelsa Queens media.
“The team we played derailed our plan in the second half and that really destabilized us, also my girls were too much in a hurry that was why they missed lots of scoring chances.”
Bayelsa Queens will battle with Ibom Angels in their next league fixture.
Egypt forward Omar Marmoush insists the Pharaohs can win the title at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, reports Completesports.com.
The North Africans will be gunning for a record-extending eighth title in Morocco.
The Pharaohs were eliminated in the group stage at the last edition of the competition hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.
Marmoush said they have the quality to conquer the continent again.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Kalou Backs Super Eagles To Win Title
“We are going to win the Africa Cup of Nations, of course, and then the World Cup,” Marmoush was quoted by Foot Africa.
“With the players, the squad, and the quality we have as the Egyptian national team, we are the best team in Africa. We don’t just want to make a name for ourselves by saying: ‘We played in the World Cup’—that’s not enough.
“We’re going to the World Cup to get out of the group stage and show the world who we are.”
Hossam Hassan’s side are drawn in Group B with South Africa, Zimbabwe and Angola.
They will face the Warriors of Zimbabwe in their opening fixture next week Monday.
By Adeboye Amosu
Ahmed Musa has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a fifteen-year career.
Musa made the announcement through his official social media handles, where he shared an emotional message addressed to Nigerians and the Super Eagles.
Musa’s Farewell
“Dear Nigerians, dear Super Eagles family, after a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from international football, bringing to an end almost 15 years with the Super Eagles. From the very first call up, wearing the green and white meant everything to me,” Musa wrote.
The 33 year old leaves the national team as Nigeria’s most capped player, having earned 111 appearances since making his debut in 2010 at just 17 years of age.
Over the years, Musa became a symbol of dedication and leadership, eventually wearing the captain’s armband for the Super Eagles.
Ahmed Musa. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP)
In his statement, Musa took time to appreciate those who supported him throughout his journey, including teammates, coaches, administrators, and fans across the world.
“Football gave me a career, but Nigeria gave me meaning. To my teammates over the years, the coaches, backroom staff, and administrators, thank you for believing in me,” he said.
He also paid tribute to Nigerian fans both at home and abroad, acknowledging the role their support played in his career.
“To the fans in stadiums and in front of their TVs, your support meant more to me than you know,” Musa added.
Reflecting on his decision to step away from international football, Musa expressed gratitude and confidence in the future of the national team.
“As I step away from international football, I do so with peace and gratitude. I know I gave my best. I know the Super Eagles will continue to move forward. And I know that this bond will never be broken. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle,” he stated.
I wore this badge with pride for 15 years.
From a 17-year-old boy answering every call 🇳🇬 to becoming the most capped Super Eagle with 111 appearances.
AFCON champion 🏆
Nigeria’s highest World Cup goalscorer ⚽️
Captain. Servant. Believer.
I gave everything.
Thank you Nigeria…… pic.twitter.com/Ri34E3UuAl
— Ahmed Musa (MON) (OON) 🎖️🎖️ (@Ahmedmusa718) December 17, 2025
Ahmed Musa was part of Nigeria’s squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and featured at the FIFA Confederations Cup the same year.
He played in all of Nigeria’s matches at the 2014 World Cup, scoring two goals as the team reached the knockout stages.
At the 2018 World Cup, he scored another two goals, becoming Nigeria’s highest goal scorer in the competition’s history.
As captain, Musa led the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and a silver medal finish at the 2023 edition, leaving behind a legacy of commitment, leadership, and national pride.
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Rams hero Puka Nacua sparks antisemitism fury by agreeing to perform touchdown dance based on Jewish stereotype
Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua has come under fire after devising a touchdown dance which includes an offensive Jewish stereotype during a live stream with two YouTubers.
Nacua, who is in his third season with the Rams, appeared on a stream with popular content creators Adin Ross and N3on earlier this week ahead of their crucial Thursday night showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.
As well as taking a swipe at NFL referees and Taylor Swift, the 24-year-old receiver sparked a more alarming type of controversy when he was captured working on an antisemitic touchdown dance with Ross, who is Jewish himself.
Ross encouraged Nacua to perform the celebration, which first sees him spin the ball and flex before rubbing his hands together, with the latter gesture becoming a signature move of the streamer to reference a degrading concept of Jewish people.
It is unclear whether the NFL player was aware of the antisemitic stereotype the dance is based upon.
Nacua’s agent, Justin Schulman of Athletes First, responded to The Athletic’s request for comment by saying: ‘No comment needed.’ Daily Mail has also approached Schulman and the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams star Puka Nacua has come under fire after devising a touchdown dance which includes an offensive Jewish stereotype
The 24-year-old has sparked antisemitism fury after working on the controversial dance
The LA wideout has caused outrage by performing the dance with Ross, with California politician Eric Swalwell blasting him as an ‘a**hole’ after seeing the viral clip.
Swalwell, who is calling for swift action from either Nacua or the Rams, says his actions were even more outrageous in light of the devastating shooting at a Jewish holiday celebration in Australia over the weekend.
‘The Los Angeles Jewish community is on edge after the Bondi Beach massacre,’ the congressman said Wednesday. ‘And what does this a**hole @AsapPuka do? He promises an antisemitic touchdown dance for his Thursday night game.’
While he is Jewish himself, Ross has previously faced scrutiny for platforming far-right provocateur Nick Fuentes and an anonymous Neo-Nazi among other polarizing figures.
The online personality and N3on later attempted to enter the Rams’ facility on Tuesday to stream with Nacua there, only to be denied entry by the team.
‘I thought my team communicated. I guess there was no communication,’ Nacua told them over the phone on the live stream. ‘Especially then, when Coach found out, he didn’t f*** with that. Just because of the short week.
‘Let me handle business on Thursday, then we should be good.’
Over the course of an explosive live stream, Nacua went on to hit out at NFL referees in a shocking rant, describing them as ‘the worst’.
Nacua appeared on a live stream with popular YouTubers Adin Ross (right) and N30n (left)
‘These guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV, too,’ he claimed. ‘You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, “Yo, you just saw me on Sunday Night Football? That wasn’t PI (pass interference), but I called it.”‘
NFL players risk huge fines by publicly criticizing league officials, meaning Nacua could face punishment over his tirade.
In another viral moment from the stream, he suggested the ‘Taylor Swift curse’ is to blame for the Kansas City Chiefs failing to make the playoffs.
‘I mean, they didn’t have Rashee Rice who’s their other receiver this year,’ he initially said. ‘I don’t feel like they ran the ball well. [Isiah] Pacheco was their running back, right? I don’t feel like he played really good.’
Nacua then added to the amusement of Ross and N3on: ‘It’s got to be the Swift curse or something like that, I don’t know… after they ran out of a little bit of the juice.’
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Rams hero Puka Nacua sparks antisemitism fury by agreeing to perform touchdown dance based on Jewish stereotype
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has emerged as a top candidate to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The Athletic reports that this could be Guardiola’s last season at the Etihad.
Maresca is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2030.
This means that any approach for the Italian coach would need to take place via Chelsea and require significant compensation.
Chelsea is keen to keep Maresca, but his comments after the 2-0 victory over Everton being his “worst 48 hours” have left senior officials confused.
At this point, it is unclear if the remarks are due to a potential vacancy at his former club.
Maresca worked under Guardiola, before taking up the head coach role at Leicester City.
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Revealed: The high-profile ring girls for Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul’s controversial fight – including one with more TikTok followers than AJ!
The trio of ring girls for Anthony Joshua’s clash with Jake Paul in Miami on Friday night has been confirmed.
Joshua and YouTube star Paul face off in a highly controversial clash which, according to our previous reporting, is worth just shy of £140million.
The boxing world has been divided over the showdown, with many fearing it could be dangerous for Paul. AJ, a two-time unified world heavyweight champion, has insisted he has a ‘licence to kill’. Paul remains undeterred. ‘Let’s kill each other,’ he said.
Some people hoping to lower the animosity slightly will be the ring girls, who have been confirmed as Raphaela Milagres, Marissa Ayers, and Journi Carr.
The first two were announced at the end of November and Carr revealed her involvement this week to her fleet of 406,000 Instagram followers.
Carr, 25, an influencer and model from Texas, said she was ‘beyond excited’ to join the crew after boxing chiefs launched a search for a UK-based model – but landed on her anyway.
The trio of ring girls for Anthony Joshua’s fight with Jake Paul has been revealed (pictured: Raphaela Milagres)
Journi Carr announed that she is the final ring girl and will make her debut in Miami
Marissa Ayers has more followers on TikTok than Joshua does, with 1.5 million fans
The three shared their excitement as they posed at the press conference ahead of Friday
Carr said she was ‘beyond excited’ to be joining her more experienced colleagues for the bout
Milagres (left) has been a ring girl for Paul before while Ayers has worked on fights
It appears that she is a debutant alongside her more experienced colleagues, Milagres and Ayers.
Milagres, a 30-year-old model from Brazil with 181,000 Instatram followers, has worked as a ring girl at Paul’s fights before.
For example, she was holding the cards at his win over Mike Tyson in November last year and she was also involved for his victory against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June.
Then there’s Ayers, a 22-year-old former gymnast and University of Alabama graduate.
She gained recognition as a ring girl at the Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano bout earlier this year, which Milagres was also a part of.
Like Carr, she has 406,000 Instagram fans and around 1.5 million on TikTok. That’s more than the 1.1 million that Joshua boasts.
Carr revealed in an Instagram video how the trident of ring girls were getting on as they smiled and posed at the pre-fight press conference.
The eyes of the world will be on this fight and the three of them have an important job helping the millions of viewers to keep track of the rounds – if, indeed, Paul survives any.
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Revealed: The high-profile ring girls for Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul’s controversial fight – including one with more TikTok followers than AJ!
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in Group C of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Naija News reports that with a rich AFCON history, including three previous titles, Nigeria enters the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the coveted trophy.
Nigeria came agonisingly close to glory in the last edition, losing 2-1 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the final after initially taking the lead. As they gear up for Morocco, the focus is clear: go one step further and claim the continental crown in North Africa.
The Super Eagles will kick off their campaign against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania on December 23 at 6:30 pm (WAT) at the Fez Stadium in Fes.
Nigeria’s second group match promises fireworks as they face the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on December 27 at 9:00 pm. This North African rivalry is always intense, with both sides looking to assert dominance early in the tournament.
The group stage will conclude with the Super Eagles taking on the Cranes of Uganda on December 30 at 5:00 pm. The top two teams from each group will automatically progress to the round of 16, while four additional teams will qualify as the best third-placed finishers.
Super Eagles Group Stage Fixtures – Morocco 2025
Dec 23: Nigeria vs Tanzania – 6:30 pm (WAT)
Dec 27: Nigeria vs Tunisia – 9:00 pm
Dec 30: Uganda vs Nigeria – 5:00 pm
With history on their side and expectations high, the Super Eagles will be looking to soar above their group rivals and set the stage for an AFCON triumph in Morocco.