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AFCON 2025: Osimhen declares war on Tanzania ahead Group C opener
Victor Osimhen has declared that the Super Eagles are up for battle against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, DAILY POST reports.
Eric Chelle’s men will open their campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup against the East Africans in Fès on Tuesday.
The highly anticipated encounter will kick-off 6.30pm Nigerian time.
The Super Eagles, who were runners-up at the last edition in Cote d’Ivoire are overwhelming favourites to win the game.
Tanzania, will be making their fourth AFCON appearance in Morocco, and have never make it beyond the group stage.
Osimhen said it is important for the Super Eagles not to underrate the Taifa Stars.
The Galatasaray striker however insisted that they are among the favourites to win the title.
“It’s all about going to war. Tuesday is the first one, and we will give everything. We are not underrating anyone in our group, but I think we’re up there with so many favourites in this tournament,” he told Nigerian journalist Kelechi Anyikude.
“So we’re going to give our all to make sure that we actualise the dream of trying to win the AFCON. It’s not gonna be easy, we still got a long way to go so I am positive about this squad.”
Osimhen will also to better his performance from AFCON 2025 where he scored only once and provided one assist in seven games.
Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem has expressed his desire to play in any position for the team at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Awaziem, who scored a goal in Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Egypt in a friendly match last week, stated this in an interview with Elegbete TV.
With the Super Eagles set to face Tanzania on Tuesday, Awaziem noted that he’s prepared to do everything to help the team excel at the tournament.
Read Also: EXCLUSIVE: AFCON 2025 Another Opportunity For Us To Redeem Ourselves –Akor Adams
“I mean for me, I’ve played a different position in the back. It depends on the structure of the coach. It depends on where the coach wants me to perform.
“I just go there and just try to do the job as possible as I can.So, I just try to do my best, you know, do everything possible to help the team, help myself as well.So, if the coach wants me to be a goalkeeper, I’m ready. If he wants me to be a striker, I’m ready.
“But my preferred position right now today as I’m speaking to you, I’m a center back, you know. So, I would prefer to remain in my position, center back,” he stated, reinforcing his confidence and experience in the role.”
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
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Stefon Diggs sneaks out of blue medical tent to avoid in-game exam as Patriots clinch playoff berth vs Ravens
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs did not want to leave the game against the Baltimore Ravens and tried his best to avoid being medically examined.
Diggs suffered a big hit against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football and went off the field and to the sideline.
But when told to head to the Patriots ‘blue tent’, he put up something of a fight.
As NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark told the broadcast, ‘Stefon Diggs has been so fired up down here. He hated coming out of the game in the first quarter after that big hit.
‘They had to force him into the medical tent. They had to physically restrain him to keep him in there and he eventually escaped out the back.
‘He’s been hyping up the entire offense, his leadership is fully on display, very vocal and energetic with Drake Maye, doing everything he can to make sure that they are on the same page.’
Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs (8) escaped from the medical tent after being injured
Diggs had to get helped off the field, but refused being examined in the team’s ‘blue tent’
It led NBC’s Cris Collinsworth to ask, ‘There’s a back door out the medical tent?’ Stark confirmed, ‘He went out the back door, Cris.’
Earlier this season, the New York Giants were the center of controversy over their blue tent when running back Jaxson Dart went to get examined.
Both running back Cam Skattebo and head coach Brian Daboll entered the tent to check on him.
The NFL ended up fining the team, Daboll and Skattebo for violating protocol around medical exams.
Diggs was playing with intensity because the Patriots would clinch a playoff berth with a victory.
He ensured that happened with a nine catch performance to nab 138 receiving yards as the Patriots came back to beat the Ravens 28-24.
New England scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to come back from an 11-point deficit to book their first trip to the playoffs in four seasons.
Diggs played a key role in the Patriots win which clinched them a playoff spot
2025 has been a big year for Diggs, who had a child with rapper Cardi B in November
2025 has been a big year for Diggs. In addition to joining the Patriots, he entered a new relationship with rapper Cardi B.
The power couple have been going strong since they were rumored to start dating in October 2024. In November, they welcomed their first child – a son – to the world.
Elsewhere in his family, it was revealed that his brother Trevon Diggs missed eight games due to an at-home accident.
Trevon explained that he was trying to install a TV on a ceiling mount – which gave way, fell on him and resulted in a concussion.
‘I was trying to be a handyman,’ Diggs told reporters in the locker room on Sunday, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater.
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Stefon Diggs sneaks out of blue medical tent to avoid in-game exam as Patriots clinch playoff berth vs Ravens
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Ravens star Lamar Jackson sidelined with brutal back injury in crucial win-or-else game against Patriots
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been declared questionable to return to his team’s contest against the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.
Jackson was seen dealing with a back injury and was being tended to by staff before he went to the locker room.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley was called into action and is deputizing for Jackson.
At 7-7 on the season, a loss would eliminate the Ravens from the playoffs. It would also clinch a playoff spot for the Patriots.
Jackson appeared to injure himself on a routine running play – diving headfirst into the ground as rookie safety Craig Woodson put a simple tackle on him.
But the two-time MVP grimaced in pain on the sideline as he was being treated by staff.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is questionable to return on Sunday Night Football
Jackson injured his back on this tackle before being seen grimacing in pain as he hobbled off
It’s been an up-and-down season for Jackson and the Ravens – with the former MVP struggling to match his production of the year prior.
Jackson missed nearly the entire month of October with an injury to his hamstring. He returned for an October 30 game against the Miami Dolphins.
This season, Jackson is 24th in the league in passing yards with 2,210.
The only quarterbacks with at least ten starts who have fewer yards are Mac Jones, Jaxson Dart and Marcus Mariota.
Meanwhile, he’s tied for 19th in the league for passing touchdowns.
What’s more surprising is that the dual-threat Jackson has not been reliable on the ground as he has in years past.
After putting up a season-high 70 rushing yards and one touchdown in their opening game against the Buffalo Bills, Jackson hasn’t cracked 50 rushing yards in any game and has only scored one other touchdown.
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Ravens star Lamar Jackson sidelined with brutal back injury in crucial win-or-else game against Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf was seen taking a swing at a Detroit Lions fan in the middle of Sunday’s win at Ford Field.
CBS cameras caught Metcalf jawing with the fan in the second quarter before reaching upwards and appearing to grab the blue wig the man was wearing. Before the two untangled, Metcalf lunged upwards with his right arm, narrowly missing the man’s face.
CBS commentator Jim Nantz remarked: ‘That is not going to have great consequences for the Steelers and Metcalf.’
It’s not clear what happened in the moments prior to this exchange.
The broadcast later said the NFL planned to address the incident at a later date. Metcalf was not tossed from the game. In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, a league spokesperson said officials could not eject Metcalf in that situation: ‘There was no flag on the field, so [the league office in New York] cannot weigh in with regard to a potential disqualification.’
ESPN’s Kimberly Martin approached Metcalf in the locker room afterwards, but the veteran receiver did not respond to her question about the incident.
Pittsburgh Steelers star DK Metcalf appeared to take a swing at a Detroit Lions fan on Sunday
The fan told the Free Press that he used Metcalf’s ‘government name’ which he ‘doesn’t like’
A reporter for the Detroit Free Press did track down the fan down, who said he was ‘a little shocked’ about the situation.
‘Like everyone’s talking to me,’ he told the Detroit Free Press before the final whistle. ‘I’m a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby.’
The fan, who was identified in the paper as Ryan Kennedy, said he called Metcalf by his full name – or, as he called it, his ‘government name.’
‘He doesn’t like his government name,’ Kennedy said. ‘I called him that and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt. I’m a little shocked.’
Kennedy added: ‘My words don’t matter because it was on camera.’
The Free Press reported that the Lions threw the fan out of the game, adding that officials from the team were speaking to Kennedy about the incident.
NFL on CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said Metcalf came over because Kennedy ‘was holding a “4” Pittsburgh jersey, he went over and the fan said something to him.’
Wolfson added, ‘Obviously, Metcalf did not like what he said and you saw the swipe there. No Steelers came over to him and mentioned anything, we’ll see if the league takes action.’
Metcalf finished with four catches for 42 yards on Sunday.
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Wild moment Steelers star DK Metcalf takes swing at Lions fan in the stands
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Not satisfied with inability of the Super Eagles to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup after similarly missing out of the last edition in Qatar in 2022, a former Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Gabriel Chukwuma, asked for the resignation of the entire board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Ibrahim Gusau.
Although the NFF has petition FIFA to disqualify DR Congo who defeated Super Eagles in shootouts of the final match of the African Playoffs in Morocco last month for fielding nine players that Nigeria consider ineligible”, Chukwuma stressed that seeking to get into the Intercontinental playoffs through the boardroom was beneath the three-time continental champions.
“The NFF board should resign because if they had gotten their acts together earlier, the Super Eagles would have qualified with ease without depending on play-offs or boardroom points now.”
The former proprietor of Gabros FC of Nnewi who is one of the highest stakeholders in Nigerian football, having managed a football club for 22 years from amateur to professional rank, said that apart from not qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the current board rendered all male national teams powerless.
“The board has through cluelessness reduced our male teams to minnows of African football, beaten easily by unpopular or unknown names in football,” he noted with sadness.
Chukwuma recalled: “Since last year, I have been telling them to contact me so that I can assist in contributing money and can possibly engage some of my friends to assist, if money was their problem.
“Now, they have failed, there is nothing they can do. They should stop deceiving President Bola Tinubu that there is still hope for Super Eagles to Reach the World Cup to be hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
“Just because our president is a listening president, they go to him and deceive him. They forget that Nigerians like football. They hardly eat or sleep when Nigerian teams are playing as they are always ready to watch them.
“The federal government gave NFF tax payers’ money, including my money and they swallowed it. Nigeria have the crop of best legs in the whole world. But the problem is that those who manage our football dont know what to do, they are only interested in doing players’ agent.
He decried the situation where everyone in football administration will wants his or her players to be in the teams to play matches.
“Football is either you get results or you get rich. As long as you want to enrich yourself you cannot get results. I said this many months ago that Nigeria cannot qualify for the World Cup. Not that I was wishing the country bad luck but just to challenge those managing our football to qualify for the World Cup.”
Chukwuma reiterated, ” Let me say it again, all NFF board members should resign from their positions to allow young managers take over the management of football in the country and prepare for the 2030 World Cup.
“It is shameful that some countries that are not up to Lagos qualified easily. And now, I am hearing that these same people who have dragged our football into the abyss are preparing to return for another term.
“It is an insult to the whole nation. If President Tinubu allows them to go for anothet term, we have accepted defeat and should say goodbye to ever qualifying for the World Cup. And if they are not resigning, I am ready to go to court to force them out, for capable people to take over. “
Akor Adams has said the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is an opportunity for the Super Eagles to redeem themselves, after their failure to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Adams featured for the Super Eagles at the African World Cup playoffs on Morocco in November.
After defeating Gabon 4-1 in the semis, the Super Eagles fell to a 4-3 defeat to DR Congo after 90 minutes and extra-time ended 1-1.
While the defeat means the Super Eagles have now missed back-to-back World Cups, DR ywill now feature at the Intercontinental playoffs in Mexico in March, 2026.
“I am disappointed as every Nigerian and as every player in the team,” Adams told Completesports.com in an exclusive chat after the Super Eagles training on Sunday.”But as in football and also in life you have to look forward and we have another opportunity to redeem ourselves now.”
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Playing World Cup Playoffs In Morocco Would Favour Us At AFCON 2025 – Ajayi
Asked if Nigerians should be expecting a fourth AFCON title, the Sevilla striker said:”We will give our best and trust God for a very good outcome.”
Adams also spoke about being part of the squad that will feature at this year’s tournament.
“Not just for the AFCON but being part of the Super Eagles for me it’s a blessing I am grateful to God for, I do not take it for granted, I try to give my best and I’m happy to be here.”
On whether the Super Eagles will have the advantage playing in Morocco after featuring in the World Cup qualifying playoffs.
“There are no advantages compared to how much you prepare,” Adams stated. “It doesn’t matter the weather or being here a thousand times, if you prepare good you will play good and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
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Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes enjoy Christmas time in NYC after Pirates star denied rumored interest in Yankees
Social media influencer and model Olivia ‘Livvy’ Dunne and her Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher boyfriend Paul Skenes were spotted out in New York City for some holiday cheer.
Skenes, who has been subject of rumors for a trade to the New York Yankees in recent months, and Dunne were seen by the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
A frigid looking Dunne was seen bundled up in a fir coat as she recorded a video for her TikTok account while mouthing the words to the Wham! holiday classic ‘Last Christmas’.
She was seen walking toward the camera before leaning on Skenes – serving as her ‘shoulder to cry on’, as the song says.
Dunne jokingly captioned the video – calling the Cy Young winner the ‘tallest shoulder ever’.
The famous couple strolled around Manhattan just months after Dunne was denied a purchase of Babe Ruth’s former apartment.
Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes were spotted out and about in New York City ahead of Christmas
The couple enjoyed the city months after Dunne closed on a $1.95m condo in the West Village
Dunne has been through a 2025 full of change after retiring from gymnastics
Her $1.59m cash offer was rejected by the building’s management and the New York Post claimed tenants were unhappy because she had overshared about the potential purchase to her 5.4million Instagram followers.
‘She messed up,’ one neighbor told the outlet, explaining that she was too visible on social media. ‘The board got p*ssed because she put it on her Instagram.’
A devastated Dunne took to social media – ironically – in the aftermath of her rejection to claim that she was ‘so upset’ and had ‘no clue’ why she was turned down.
‘So a few months ago, I decided I was going to make my first real estate purchase, which is so exciting and I was gonna get an apartment in New York City,’ Dunne, who is said to be worth a staggering $6million, explained. ‘But the gag was… it was Babe Ruth’s apartment.’
Dunne eventually settled on buying a one-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in the West Village for $1.95million.
The former LSU gymnast made the cover of Maxim’s winter 2025 issue. In an interview with the magazine, she revealed that she’s been working with an acting coach.
As for Skenes, while he’s poured cold water on the Yankees rumors, speculation continues to surround the Pirates star.
He won the 2025 Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in the National League.
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Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes enjoy Christmas time in NYC after Pirates star denied rumored interest in Yankees
Host nation Morocco launched the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday evening, marking the beginning of Africa’s premier football tournament.
Naija News reports that Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a composed finish inside the box, scoring the first goal of the tournament and igniting the passionate home crowd.
Olympiacos striker Ayoub El Kaabi sealed the victory in the 74th minute with a spectacular bicycle kick, delivering a goal-of-the-tournament contender that sent the stadium into raptures.
The opening 45 minutes proved frustrating for the Atlas Lions despite their territorial dominance. Morocco missed a crucial penalty through Soufiane Rahimi, with Comoros goalkeeper Pandor making a brilliant save to keep his side level at halftime. The hosts controlled possession and created multiple chances but struggled to convert their superiority into goals.
The island nation, appearing in only their second AFCON tournament, demonstrated remarkable defensive organization throughout the match.
Goalkeeper Pandor proved instrumental with several crucial saves, keeping Comoros competitive despite Morocco’s attacking onslaught. The visitors absorbed sustained pressure but ultimately couldn’t contain Morocco’s quality in the second half.
The victory maintains an impressive streak for AFCON hosts as no host nation has lost its opening match since Burkina Faso in 1998.
Morocco, ranked 11th globally and the highest-rated African nation, are seeking their first continental title since 1976.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues through January 18, 2026, with 24 nations competing across six host cities in Morocco.
After the opening match, Morocco leads Group A with three points. The group also includes Mali and Zambia, who will face each other in the second match of the tournament.
Ayoub El Kaabi scored one of the goals of the tournament as Morocco kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign on a winning note after overcoming Comoros 2-0 on Sunday in Rabat.
The match started with an early chance for Morocco in the 10th minute, when a penalty was awarded. Soufiane Rahimi’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor, keeping the score level.
However, Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, finishing a quick build-up play inside the box to the delight of the vociferous home supporters.
Read Also:EXCLUSIVE: Playing World Cup Playoffs In Morocco Would Favour Us At AFCON 2025 – Ajayi
Moments later, at the 75th minute, Ayoub El Kaabi, freshly on the pitch, scored with an acrobatic left-foot bicycle kick, extending Morocco’s lead to 2-0 and sealing the victory.
With this win, Morocco claims three points and starts the tournament on a high note.
The Atlas Lions will now look ahead to their next match against Mali on Friday, December 26.
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Distressing scenes as Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins suffers sickening leg injury before being carted off
Cleveland Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins was carted off the field in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after bending his leg awkwardly on a tackle by linebacker Matt Milano.
The 36th pick of April’s NFL Draft was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game after disturbing video replay showed his lower right leg flailing as he landed at Huntington Bank Field.
Judkins left the game leading all rookie running backs with 805 rushing yards. He also had a team-high seven touchdowns on the ground this season.
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Cleveland Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins was carted off the field in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after bending his leg awkwardly on a tackle by linebacker Matt Milano