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Davido to perform at AFCON 2025 official kick-off concert
Afrobeats superstar Davido will be one of the headline performers at the official kick-off concert of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.
Other artistes lined up to perform at the event are French Montana, Douaa Lahyaoui, Says’z, and Lartiste.
The concert will take place at the Olm Souissi Fan Zone in Rabat on Saturday.
It will be open to fans who have Fan IDs and match tickets.
DAILY POST recalls Davido also performed at AFCON 2017 opening ceremony, the 2022 FIFA World Cup draw held in Doha, and the 2023 Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) awards.
The AFCON 2025 finals will start on Saturday with opening game between hosts Morocco and Comoros at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.
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ASHES BREAKFAST: England’s bowling doesn’t cut it, Ben Stokes is a fan just like us and it’s time to start calling this star one of his side’s best
England’s day started well but got worse. A hundred partnership between Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer helped bring England to within 85 runs of Australia’s first innings score and restored faint hope of salvaging the third Test.
Archer made his first Test half century but Stokes was clean bowled for 83 by Mitchell Starc and England were all out for 286. It was, at least, a recovery from the humiliation that appeared to be their fate after their batting performance on Thursday.
But, after England had reduced Australia to 53-2, they were unable to sustain their momentum and Travis Head, their conqueror in the first Test in Perth, began to take the game away from them again here with some characteristic power hitting.
The highest successful fourth innings run chase achieved at the Adelaide Oval is 315 by Australia in 1902. England will almost certainly have to better that if Australia are not to retain the Ashes.
One of us
Stokes and Archer made a promising start on Friday morning but when Stokes was out for 83, having helped bring England to within 100 runs of Australia’s first innings total, he leapt in the air in anger and frustration and kicked out at the ground, swishing his bat furiously.
In that moment, Stokes was all of us. It was an image that neatly encapsulated England’s series so far.
Ben Stokes struggled to hide his frustration in a representation of every England fans watching
Bowling not up to standard
England created illusions of hope early on Friday but former bowlers were united about the failing that allowed Australia to move into a dominant position by midway into the final session.
No pressure, said the great Glenn McGrath. No pressure, said Jonathan Agnew. When England reduced Australia to 53-2, they had an opportunity to build momentum. Instead, neither Stokes nor Archer were able to bowl and England were reduced to trying to remove new batter Usman Khawaja with part-time spinner Will Jacks.
It looked forlorn. When Khawaja hit 11 off Jacks in the first over after tea, it looked even more forlorn.
Tough Australians
Weak men? It’s harsh to call professional cricketers that. Stokes suggested there were some among England’s number after defeat in Brisbane and I did it on Thursday as the Ashes seemed to slip away from England.
But maybe it’s more accurate to say they have been made to look weak by the discipline and the toughness of the Australians. That Australian bowling performance on Thursday, in a stadium that was like a furnace, looks more and more impressive with every hour that passes.
Australia’s bowling performance on Thursday looks better with every hour that passes
They pulled us back in
After the misery of Thursday, landmarks of faint hope came at regular intervals on Friday morning.
Stokes reached his half century, England moved past 250, Stokes and Archer brought up their century partnership and Archer reached 50, too. Cricket can toy with you like that.
Archer one of the best
Jofra Archer has been the outstanding player of this third Test. Stokes asked for his players to step up after Brisbane and Archer has done exactly that.
His bowling was magnificent in the Australian first innings and he reached his maiden Test half century on Friday morning. It’s probably time to stop reaching for words such as ‘enigmatic’ and ‘moody’ to describe his contributions to this England team.
It’s enough to say he and Joe Root are our best players.
Its time to start talking about Jofra Archer as one of England’s best players – he has proved it
Bumble back?
Ricky Ponting, one of the greatest Australian batters, was 51 years old on Friday. He was presented with a cake next to the boundary rope by the broadcaster he works for.
Reliable sources tell me it was actually a series of cup cakes. David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd was one of those happily tucking in. Bumble is back on television screens here, which is, hopefully, a prelude to his return to mainstream broadcasting in the UK. He should never have been ‘disappeared’ in the first place.
A true great
Ian Botham brought back memories of happier Ashes series for England when he was asked to ring the ceremonial bell before the start of play at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Botham has an Ashes series named after him and is one of a select few modern England cricketers to have won an Ashes series Down Under in 1986-87.
Botham is revered as one of the greats of the game in Australia and was given a rousing round of applause.
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ASHES BREAKFAST: England’s bowling doesn’t cut it, Ben Stokes is a fan just like us and it’s time to start calling this star one of his side’s best
Few tournaments test a nation’s footballing soul like the Africa Cup of Nations. It is never just about tactics, form or star power; it is about identity, belief, pressure and timing. As the Super Eagles of Nigeria head to Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, they do so burdened by recent disappointments, energised by undeniable talent and haunted by familiar administrative questions in search of their fourth continental title, writes TUNDE LIADI
The Super Eagles’ journey to Morocco is unlike most in Nigeria’s AFCON history. Traditionally, Nigeria travel as loud favourites or confident challengers. This time, expectations are unusually muted. Back-to-back failures to qualify for the FIFA World Cup have bruised national pride, while administrative controversies and insufficient preparation have dampened optimism.
Yet, Nigeria remain Africa’s most naturally gifted football nation. Three AFCON titles (1980, 1994, 2013), seven final appearances, and a conveyor belt of elite footballers ensure the Super Eagles are never far from the conversation. AFCON 2025 is therefore not just another tournament — it is an attempt to reset Nigeria’s football narrative.
Former captain John Obi Mikel did not mince words when assessing Nigeria’s build-up. Calling the situation “unacceptable” and “embarrassing,” Mikel’s criticism cuts to the heart of Nigeria’s recurring problem — governance.
His frustration over reports of unpaid salaries owed to head coach Eric Chelle reflects a deeper issue: instability off the pitch often spills onto it. For Mikel, AFCON should have been an opportunity for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to rebuild trust after recent failures. Instead, he fears history is repeating itself.
“When issues like this are in the public space, it affects everyone — the coach, the players, and even the fans,” Mikel warned. Still, he remained emphatic that the players must rise above the chaos. His message is both indictment and rallying cry: Nigeria deserve better, but the shirt still demands sacrifice.
If Mikel addressed administration, Sunday Oliseh tackled psychology. His verdict was blunt: Africa no longer fears Nigeria.
Failure to qualify for the World Cup, Oliseh argues, has emboldened opponents. The Super Eagles are no longer the intimidating force of old; they are now a scalp teams believe they can claim. At AFCON, that perception matters. Every group opponent will raise their level against Nigeria.
Yet Oliseh also sees opportunity. A strong start, particularly in the opening group game against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, could flip the narrative instantly. Discipline, tactical clarity and mental sharpness — not reputation — will decide Nigeria’s fate.
According to Opta’s supercomputer, Nigeria are ranked fifth favourites with a 7.3 per cent chance of winning AFCON 2025. Morocco (19.1%), Egypt, Senegal and Algeria all sit above them.
The data reflects both respect and doubt. Opta acknowledged Nigeria’s explosive attack, led by Victor Osimhen, but flags defensive absences, a demanding group and uncertainty under a new coach as complicating factors.
History supports the caution. AFCON is notoriously unpredictable. Favourites stumble, outsiders rise, and momentum often outweighs pedigree. Nigeria know this better than most.
Beyond probabilities, Nigeria arrive in Morocco with powerful motivations.
At AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria came within touching distance of glory, only to fall in the final to the hosts. That campaign, steady rather than spectacular, proved the Super Eagles could still navigate tournament football effectively. Under Eric Chelle, there is belief that extra step can now be taken.
Missing the 2026 World Cup — potentially for the second consecutive time — is a scar that will not fade easily. An AFCON triumph cannot erase that pain, but it can soften it. Victory in Morocco would restore pride and belief in Nigerian football.
This is arguably Nigeria’s most gifted generation since the mid-1990s. Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, two of Africa’s recent Footballers of the Year, headline a squad in its prime, averaging just over 27 years of age. Opportunities like this do not linger forever.
Another AFCON title would draw Nigeria level with Ghana on four continental crowns, adding fresh fuel to one of Africa’s fiercest rivalries and reinforcing Nigeria’s standing among the continent’s elite.
Nigeria’s group — Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania — is deceptively tricky.
Tunisia bring organisation and tournament nous. Uganda and Tanzania arrive fearless, aware that Nigeria’s aura has dimmed. Oliseh’s warning resonates here: no game will be straightforward.
Meanwhile, Eric Chelle’s squad selection underlines a quiet rebuild. Five new players — youthful, hungry, largely untested — signal a long-term vision, even if AFCON is a brutal place for experiments.
The inclusion of players like Ryan Alebiosu, Salim Fago Lawal, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Tochukwu Nnadi injects energy and freshness. Akinsanmiro’s personal story — from quitting football to learning barbing before earning an Inter Milan move — captures the hunger Chelle appears to value.
Yet questions remain. The absence of Maduka Okoye, injury concerns around Stanley Nwabali, and lingering distrust of Francis Uzoho leave uncertainty in goal. William Troost-Ekong’s retirement and Ola Aina’s absence further thin leadership at the back.
Chelle’s message, however, is clear: productivity earns selection. Paul Onuachu’s resurgence in Turkey and Akor Adams’ efficiency underline a merit-based approach.
Perhaps Nigeria’s greatest advantage is psychological. Rarely have expectations been this low. Fans speak more of quarterfinal exits than silverware. That underdog status could free the Super Eagles from suffocating pressure — or expose lingering fragility.
Former goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim believes unity is key. Drawing from the 2013 triumph, he insists that talent and experience are present, but support and belief must follow.
“A friendly game is always a friendly game,” Agbim said after the loss to Egypt. “At AFCON, the real mentality will come into play.”
Players echoed that sentiment. Paul Onuachu and Chidozie Awaziem both highlighted tactical progress and dominance despite defeat. These are small signs, but in tournament football, small signs matter.
Victor Ikpeba perhaps summarised Nigeria’s AFCON reality best. “The biggest threat to winning AFCON is ourselves,” he said.
He rates Nigeria among the favourites alongside Morocco, Senegal and Cameroon, but warns that pressure, expectation and internal instability have undone Nigeria before. AFCON is unforgiving; only focus survives.
Ikpeba’s belief that Egypt and Algeria may fall short underscores AFCON’s unpredictability. Talent must align with mentality.
Morocco 2025: Super Eagles schedule
Dec 23- Nigeria vs. Tanzania: A must-win opener to set the tone for a strong start
Dec 27-Nigeria vs. Tunisia: A repeat of the 16th Round clash in 2021 and result could be the group’s decider.
Dec 30: Uganda vs. Nigeria: Potential banana skin if qualification is not already secured.
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has hailed Christantus Uche for his impressive performance in the club’s UEFA Europa Conference League clash with Finnish club KuPS.
Uche scored a stunning a goal in the keenly contested encounter.
The Nigeria international gave his side the lead in the fifth minute with a superb effort from outside the box.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Ajayi’s Absence Big Headache For Hull City –Jakirović
It was the midfielder’s first goal at Selhurst Park, and he has now scored in back-to-back Conference League games.
The 2-2 draw earned Palace a place in the playoffs in February.
Glasner saluted Uche for his ‘fantastic’ effort.
“I was pleased with the performance especially of the youngsters. Of course, fantastic goal from Uche, and then we could see we lost a little bit of structure for ten to fifteen minutes, and you get three finishes at the end and score two goals,” Glasner told TNT Sports.
By Adeboye Amosu
Liverpool legend, Graeme Souness has suggested that Manchester United only have two non-average players – Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo – in their squad.
Souness, who described Cunha and Mbeumo as good players, also insisted that the Red Devils will not finish in the Premier League top four under their manager, Ruben Amorim, this season.
Speaking to Sky Bet, Souness stated: “Man United are still average.
“Is it Ruben Amorim’s fault? Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are good players, but the rest of them are an average lot.
“I don’t see them getting to the top four [this season], which they’ve to do.
“Manchester United [are the] biggest club in [English] football, maybe the second, third biggest club in the world.
“But right now, they’re going through a difficult period,” he said.
Manchester United are not participating in the UEFA Champions League this season after failing to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League last term.
This season, Amorim’s side are currently in 6th position on the Premier League table with 26 points from 16 games.
Anthony Joshua weighed in almost two stone heavier than Jake Paul for today’s controversial heavyweight bout as part of an unusual stipulation.
Heavyweights do not usually have to make weight, but Joshua was required to come in under 17st 7lb (111kg), reflecting the gulf in experience between the fighters.
He tipped the scales at 17st 5lb (110kg), with Paul weighing 15st 7lb (98kg).
The pair will contest a professional eight-round bout, using regulation 10oz gloves, at Miami’s Kaseya Center.
A low-key official weigh-in, open only to the media, took place on Thursday morning in a conference room at the Fontainebleau Hotel. A ceremonial weigh-in is scheduled for Thursday evening at the Fillmore Miami Beach.
Paul stepped on the scales calmly before breaking into a brief, animated and somewhat confusing tirade.
“Do you know who I am? I am him,” he shouted, eyes wide, as he gestured towards the assembled media.
It was Paul’s heaviest recorded weight, 3lb more than for his fight against Mike Tyson last year.
Joshua, 36, was never expected to miss the limit, having posted a video on social media two weeks ago showing himself already on target.
However, when the Watford fighter did not arrive at the venue as scheduled, reporters were briefly left wondering whether there had been an issue.
Joshua eventually made a swift in-and-out appearance about an hour after Paul weighed in, looking trim and in shape. As he left the scales, he was asked by a reporter what his post-fight meal would be.
“Success,” he replied.
The weight discrepancy has been a major talking point. Paul has operated largely at cruiserweight for much of his boxing career, while Joshua is a two-time heavyweight world champion.
Joshua has comfortably made similar weights before, including for both fights against generational great Oleksandr Usyk. At his heaviest, he was 18st 3lb (118kg) during his professional career.
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Police reveal former international footballer, 33, has been shot dead – with one other killed and another wounded in horror shooting
Ecuador international footballer Mario Pineida has been shot dead at the age of 33.
In news that has sent shockwaves through the country, Pineida was killed by attackers who pulled up on motorbikes before opening fire at him, his mother and another woman, according to local reports.
Pineida, who played for his country nine times between 2014 and 2021, was killed in Guayaquil on Wednesday in the north of the city.
Another person who police did not identify was also killed in the incident, and a third was wounded.
Ecuador’s Interior Ministry confirmed Pineida’s death without providing details. Barcelona de Guayaquil said in a statement that their fans are saddened by Pineida’s death.
Ecuador is expected to have its most violent year on record with more than 9,000 homicides, according to the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime.
Police and army surround the place where Mario Pineida was killed on Wednesday
The former Ecuador international (right) was shot outside a shop by people on motorbikes
That figure was at 7,063 violent deaths last year and a then-record 8,248 in 2023.
President Daniel Noboa has pledged to fight criminal organizations that have expanded their operations in Ecuadorian territory in connection with international drug cartels.
In November, a 16-year-old footballer of Independiente del Valle died from a stray bullet, also in Guayaquil.
Two months earlier, Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yépez, both players of Exapromo Costa, and Jonathan González, of 22 de Junio died from gunshot wounds.
Pineida, a full-back, played eight games for Ecuador but was not involved in the team qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
His last game for Ecuador was at the 2021 Copa América, as a late substitute in a group-stage game against Brazil. He also went to the 2017 edition.
Pineida started his professional career at Independiente del Valle, where he played from 2010 to 2015.
He then moved to the club of the coastal city of Guayaquil in 2016 and won two league titles there. The defender also had a brief spell at Brazil’s Fluminense in 2022.
Ecuadorian media reported the incident took place in the region of Samanes in the north end of Guayaquil, which lies 265 kilometers (165 miles) southwest of the capital Quito.
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Police reveal former international footballer, 33, has been shot dead – with one other killed and another wounded in horror shooting
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Ashes LIVE: Australia hoping to end the rearguard resistance from Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer as England’s tour hangs by a thread
The Super Eagles will hold their first training sessions in Fes, on Friday, as they prepare for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
According to the Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe, the team will have two sessions at 10am and also at 6pm.
Efoghe revealed that the Super Eagles first session was moved to Friday due to the time of their arrival on Thursday.
Players and officials of the team touched down in Fes on Thursday from Cairo, Egypt.
They had been preparing for their Group C opponents (Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Egypt.
Also Read: AFCON 2025: Kalou Backs Super Eagles To Win Title
During their time in Cairo, the Super Eagles played against Egypt in a tune up friendly which they lost 2-1.
After the disappointment of missing out on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles will hope to appease Nigerian fans by winning this year’s AFCON.
Under former head coach Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles went close to clinching the title in the 2023 edition but lost 2-1 to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
The last time the three-time AFCON champions tasted continental glory was in 2013 in South Africa.
By James Agberebi, in Fes
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Ohio coach Brian Smith, 45, fired for affair with student in new scandal amid Sherrone Moore’s Michigan crisis
Ohio University fired football head coach Brian Smith after he was accused of having an extramarital affair with an undergraduate student, according to reports.
Smith, 45, was dismissed by the school on Wednesday for what was described ‘serious professional misconduct,’ shortly after he was placed on administrative leave for undisclosed reasons at the start of the month.
The exact reasons for Smith termination were not disclosed at the time but the coach and his attorney said that they ‘vigorously dispute’ the grounds for dismissal provided by the university.
However, new light has now been shed on the mysterious circumstances surrounding Smith’s exit with reports claiming that he was accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student.
In a letter dated December 12 to Smith and obtained by the Columbus Dispatch, OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez claimed that the coach had admitted to engaging in extramarital affairs, including one with an unnamed student.
The letter reportedly accused Smith of carrying on the relationship in part on campus, at the Ohio University Inn.
Ohio University fired coach Brian Smith after he was accused of having an affair with a student
The 45-year-old is pictured with his ex-wife Liane, who he separated from this year
However, Smith’s attorney, Rex Elliott, strongly denied the accusation, writing in a responding letter on Tuesday that ‘Coach Smith didn’t participate in an extramarital affair and you know it,’ per FOS.
The lawyer claimed that the relationship, which he said lasted four months, began after Smith and his now-ex-wife, Liane, had separated and divorce proceedings were already underway.
Smith is said to have been unaware that the woman, who was not a member of the athletic department, was a student when he first met her at an establishment in Athens, Ohio, according to Elliott’s letter. The coach is said to have ended the relationship in November.
Amid his divorce, Smith was said to be staying at the Ohio University Inn, while searching for an alternative place to live.
Elliott reportedly argued that the relationship was between consenting adults and that Ohio University has no policy prohibiting an employee from dating a student.
He also claimed that previous consensual relationships have taken place between OU members of staff and students but that they had not resulted in any employee being dismissed ‘for cause.’
Gonzalez also accused Smith of repeatedly using alcohol in his office, which reportedly violates university policy, and participating in a public appearance during which he ‘smelled strongly of alcohol’ and was ‘intoxicated’ in his demeanor.
Smith’s attorney claims his relationship with the student began after his split from Liane
Smith, 45, was dismissed by the school on Wednesday for what was described ‘serious professional misconduct’
Smith’s attorney further denied that the coach was ever inebriated at an OU event.
A third and final letter from the college, dated Wednesday, reportedly notified Smith of his official termination.
‘We vigorously dispute Ohio University’s grounds for the termination for cause of Coach Brian Smith,’ Elliott said in a statement provided to The Daily Mail.
‘He is shocked and dismayed by this turn of events, and we plan to fight this wrongful termination to protect his good name.
‘Coach Smith is an ethical man who has done an exemplary job for the University. He wants nothing but the best for the players, coaches, and the entire Bobcat community.’
It emerged earlier on Thursday that Smith had violated a university policy related to ‘alcohol and other drugs’ shortly before he was placed on leave at the start of the month.
A personnel file obtained by The Athletic, via a public information request, revealed that Smith had been reprimanded for the violation less than a week before his suspension.
According to the documents, Ohio athletic director Slade Larscheid and other administrators met with Smith on November 24 regarding the allegation.
The California native had led the Bobcats to an 8-4 record in his first season
A letter in the file sent by Suzanne Durst, Ohio University’s director of employee experience, on November 24 revealed a meeting where Smith acknowledged storing alcohol in his office desk drawer.
He also admitted that he had consumed alcohol in his office after normal business hours and that ‘on occasion, a few assistant coaches, all over the age of 21, joined him privately in his office after games for a single drink of bourbon’.
Smith emphasized to administrators that neither he nor the other coaches were under the influence during these instances and that the alcohol never affected his job performance.
However, Ohio University strictly prohibits employees from possessing or using alcohol while on duty or in the workplace.
On November 25, Smith received a formal letter of reprimand from Larscheid.
According to Smith’s employment contract, also obtained via a record request, the university holds the right to terminate the agreement if there is a ‘good faith determination’ of misconduct.
The ‘Termination for cause’ clause specifically covers ‘serious professional or personal misconduct’ that may ‘reflect adversely upon the reputation or public perception of University or its athletics program’.
The agreement also stipulates that Smith cannot be terminated for cause without receiving written notice of the allegations and an opportunity to respond.
Had Smith been fired without cause, he would have been owed roughly $2.5 million in remaining salary on his five-year contract.
Smith’s bizarre dismissal follows a mysterious firing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where coach Sherrone Moore was let go over an allegedly inappropriate relationship with a staff member
Ex-Wolverines head coach was fired by Michigan last week in the midst of his second season
The fired Michigan coach is accused of breaking into the home of his executive assistant Paige Shiver (left) with a knife and terrorizing an unnamed woman
Smith had led the Bobcats to an 8-4 record in his first season. Interim head coach John Hauser will now lead the team in the Frisco Bowl against UNLV on December 23.
Smith’s bizarre dismissal follows a similarly mysterious firing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where football coach Sherrone Moore was let go last week for an allegedly inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Hours later, the married father of three was arrested in a church parking lot after allegedly going to his executive assistant’s home and threatening to harm himself with a butter knife and scissors.
Moore was charged with breaking and entering, home invasion and stalking at his arraignment Friday before being released on a $25,000 bond.
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche has provided a positive injury update on Ola Aina, reports Completesports.com.
Aina sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria in September.
The 29-year-old is gradually working his way back to full fitness.
Read Also:RB Leipzig Interested In Nigerian Midfielder
The former Chelsea star recently featured for Forest’s U-21 side against Millwall.
Dyche said the defender is now more involved in team training, but it is important to manage his recovery.
“Ola is halfway through his progress in fitness, training more regularly with the team now, so that is good. Obviously, it’s been a long-term injury, so we have to be careful with that one,”
Aina has made three league appearances for the Tricky Trees this season.
By Adeboye Amosu