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Cristiano Ronaldo hints at return to Europe: Footballer, 40, provides new update on his future as he insists he WILL reach 1,000 career goals after picking up another award
Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted at a possible return to Europe as he reiterated his ambition to reach 1,000 goals.
Ronaldo, 40, brought his career tally to 956 with a brace in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Al Akhdoud on Saturday afternoon.
The Portuguese superstar has previously suggested he will carry on playing for one or two more years and admitted earlier this year that the 2026 World Cup would be his last.
Speaking at an awards ceremony in Dubai on Sunday, former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward Ronaldo said he wanted to ‘keep going’ as he offered a new insight into his future.
‘My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe,’ said Ronaldo.
‘I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.
Cristiano Ronaldo attended the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai with fiancée Georgina Rodriguez
Ronaldo is targeting 1,000 goals and hinted he could return to Europe to achieve his goal
‘I will reach the number (1000 goals) for sure, if no injuries.’
Ronaldo’s double for Al-Nassr on Saturday also brought the number of goals he has scored this year to 40.
He he has now scored more than 40 times in 14 different calendar years across his career.
Ronaldo’s most successful campaign in terms of hitting the back of the net was in 2013 when he scored 63 times in all competitions for club and country.
The Portugal star is still in remarkable condition and recently shared a shirtless photo showcasing his incredible physique.
In an interview with Piers Morgan last month, he said he believes he is one or two years away from retirement.
He swears by Pilates, regular swims and five trips to the gym a week.
These include 25-30 minutes of cardio, high-intensity sprinting and targeted weights to increase muscle strength. In total, he works out for three to four hours a day.
Ronaldo, 40, said he was still enjoying playing and vowed to ‘keep going’ as long as he is injury-free
Rather than sticking to the traditional three-meal structure of breakfast-lunch-dinner, Ronaldo prefers to refuel with six smaller ‘mini-meals’ throughout the day: Breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack, supper, dinner.
Ronaldo attended the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai along with fiancee Georgina Rodriguez. The couple, who have been together for nine years, announced their engagement in August.
He proposed to the Argentine-Spanish model, 31, with a ring worth £2.2million.
Ronaldo picked up the Best Middle East Player award at the ceremony, attended by stars including Novak Djokovic, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal.
It was the second year in a row the Al-Nassr forward had scooped the prize.
At the 2024 edition, Ronaldo claimed the Top Goalscorer of all time award as well as the Best Middle East Player.
Diogo Jota’s parents were given a special award at the ceremony following the death of their son at the age of 28 in July.
An emotional Isabel and Joaquin Silva received the recognition in a heartwarming tribute to the Liverpool star at the event.
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Cristiano Ronaldo hints at return to Europe: Footballer, 40, provides new update on his future as he insists he WILL reach 1,000 career goals after picking up another award
Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has dropped a strong hint that he could make a shock return to Europe.
Ronaldo remains in fine form for the Saudi Pro League outfit.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored twice in the 3–0 win over Al Akhdoud, taking his career tally to 956 as he continues to chase an unprecedented century.
Ronaldo had two spells at Manchester United while playing in Europe and also featured for Juventus, Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid.
“It doesn’t matter if I play in the Middle East or Europe; I want to keep winning titles and reach the milestone everyone knows,” the 40-year-old said at a Dubai awards ceremony on Sunday.
Former sports editor and administrator, Arabinrin Aderonke, has lauded the Super Eagles of Nigeria following their impressive victory over Tunisia, a result that secured Nigeria’s place in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Reacting to the hard-fought encounter, Aderonke commended the team’s resilience, discipline, and attacking approach against a strong Tunisian side buoyed by confidence from their opening-match victory.
“I would like to extend my warmest felicitations to the Super Eagles for their well-deserved and courageous victory over a highly competitive Tunisian team. Qualifying with a game to spare speaks volumes about the character, strength, and ambition of this team,” she said.
Aderonke, who recently received the Role Model of the Year award from the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) in Copenhagen, Denmark, also praised the goal-scoring duo and the collective performance of the team, noting that Nigeria’s early dominance set the tone for the match and ultimately shaped the outcome.
“The goals scored by Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ademola Lookman must not only be attributed to individual genius, but also the strength and power of team philosophy that is founded on discipline, confidence, and team belief. Despite the fightback by Tunisia, the Super Eagles were mature and focused enough to see out the game,” said Arabinrin Aderonke.
She also pointed out the importance of getting six points from the two matches, saying it was ‘a very strong statement of intent’ by Nigeria at the championship.
“To have qualified for the Round of 16 with six points after two group games is a strength for Nigeria. It is a clear indication of the fact that Super Eagles are not just participants, but are serious title contenders,” said the female soccer fan.
The Super Eagles are currently top of Group C and, if they remain at the summit, they might be poised to face the runner-up of Group D, which includes West African arch-rivals Senegal, Benin, Congo, and Botswana.
Arabinrin Aderonke urged the team to stay focused as the tournament unfolds, rallying Nigerians everywhere to support the side.
“I appeal to the players and technical personnel to remain focused and leverage on this spirit. Nigerians pride themselves in you, and the country is behind the Super Eagles as they proceed on their journey to AFCON 2025,” she added.
Aderonke has been a strong advocate for gender equality, youth empowerment, and social inclusion, earning her a place among Africa’s leading voices in sports-for-development.
Cranes of Uganda strike Ivan Ahimbisibwe has backed his team to have a good game Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their final Group C match at this year’s AFCON in Morocco.
While the Super Eagles have already booked their place in the round of 16, Uganda must secure a win to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout round.
But he is confident they can get the needed win against the three-time AFCON champions.
“We are going back to the drawing back. We expect to have a good game against Nigeria,” he said. “We believe in ourselves and come with a good mentality and try to win.”
Ahimbisibwe is one of the players yet to feature for the Cranes at this year’s tournament.
He, however, stated that he is ready to wait for his opportunity.
“We have to always wait for our time. It is always a game and we have so many good and quality players and everyone who gets a chance surely deserves to play so we shall wait for our time.”
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
Algeria became the latest country to qualify for the last 16 of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Desert Foxes defeated Burkina Faso 1–0 in a tight contest on Sunday to secure their spot in the next round.
Captain Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot.
The result means Algeria, who won the AFCON in 1990 and 2019, have the maximum six points after two games in Group E.
The North Africans are ahead of Burkina Faso and Sudan, who both have three points each.
Algeria will now join Nigeria and Egypt as the only teams to have confirmed their place in the Round of 16.
A Riyad Mahrez first-half penalty was enough to give Algeria a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso and a place in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Algeria was awarded a penalty just past the 20-minute mark when Rayan Ait Nouri was felled in the box by Ismahila Ouedraogo, and Mahrez made no mistake as he sent Herve Koffi in the Burkina Faso goal the wrong way.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Observe Rest Today After Hard-fought Win Against Tunisia
The Burkinabe came close to an equaliser just before halftime when Pierre Kabore’s close-range header came back off the post and Algeria were able to scramble the ball to safety.
Luca Zidane, son of France great Zinedine, showed good reactions to keep out a Lassina Traore header late on as Burkina Faso came close to an equaliser.
The group leaders will finish up against Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday. Burkina Faso will battle for second place in their Group E finale against Sudan, with both teams level on three points.
Sports training in modern Japan has been changing rapidly. As a result, it is likely that many aspects of training (methods) by 2025 will be dramatically different from those of the last decade.
With an increasing emphasis on movement data, muscle load, and reaction time, coaches today are less focused on strategy than they were ten years ago.
How Technology Makes Sports Betting Faster and Safer
Non-sports professionals have compared the emergence of these types of data within sports to those in other sectors, where numbers and prediction help guide decision-making, but for athletes, the ultimate objective is simply to understand the body and train safely.
For this reason, the current practice of sports training in Japan is more structured, controlled, and efficient than at any point prior to the past decade.
How Technology Became a Regular Part of Training
By the start of 2024, all top-level clubs in Japan were using data tracking camera systems and wearable tracking systems daily.
Some have drawn comparisons between the rise of sports technology tracking data to the rise of in Arabic ( تحميل تطبيق melbet) however, unlike betting, these tracking technologies are used for completely different purposes within the training process.
The technologies track an athlete’s running speeds, changes of direction, vertical jumps, heart rate, and sleep quality.
Instead of reviewing hours of video footage, coaches are able to get the information they need in seconds by opening up a small dashboard on their tablets to view the athlete’s overall performance from the previous day’s practice sessions, as well as review and identify any areas of the athlete’s technique that may be unusual or need improvement.
Key Technologies Used in Sport 2025
The table below shows a few devices that Japanese sports organizations use most often:
Technology
What It Tracks
Typical Use
Wearable Sensors
Heart rate, speed, fatigue
Football, tennis
Motion Cameras
Jump angle, footwork, body posture
Basketball, volleyball
AI Dashboards
Summary of daily load
All major clubs
Recovery Pods
Muscle stress and rest
MMA, track and field
Why Real-Time Data Matters for Coaches
One big change in how athletic and coaching staff get data will be how quickly data is provided from 2025 on.
The speed of the updates is so rapid that they have been referred to as ain Arabic “موقع مراهنات“- type refresh cycle, because the data appears in short, quick bursts.
Coaches were required to wait until tomorrow morning to receive the data they needed for their training sessions.
The data that coaches used to have to wait 24-48 hours to see is now displayed on the screen in front of them as they continue their workout session.
This enables coaches to quickly make decisions based on the current data available to them.
For example, if a defensive back appeared fatigued, the athlete could see his load reduced in real time during the same practice session.
An additional example would be if a basketball player were displaying an inconsistent shooting form, the coach can recognize and correct it with the first three or four attempts.
The AI evaluates movement patterns at speeds far greater than those of traditional methods. All connected equipment will provide data almost instantaneously and send it directly to the correct interface.
This allows the correct decision to be made immediately, rather than making adjustments several hours later.
Recovery and Injury Prevention Methods in Sport 2025
Sports are getting tough, so recovery is very important. In Japan, athletes use cold therapy, compression gear, simple muscle tools, and sleep trackers. These help them rest better and avoid getting hurt.
Sports scientists in Japan usually follow three main steps:
- Check signs of inflammation after hard sessions.
- Look at movement patterns to catch early warning signs.
- Balance intensity and rest, so the body does not break down.
This approach greatly reduces the risk of long-term injuries. Football clubs, especially, rely on it because many injuries occur due to overload rather than contact.
Volleyball, tennis, and MMA gyms use similar principles for protecting shoulders, knees, and spines.
Why Sport 2025 Is a Turning Point for Japanese Sports
Japan’s 2025 sports is significant, as technology is now a part of an athlete’s regular work routine and not an added item to an athlete’s list of equipment, and from youth academy programs to professional level teams all athletes can and do utilize the same type of tools and therefore, will be able to provide more consistent and comparable data when tracking an athlete’s performance.
The following are the major reasons why Sport 2025 is a turning point:
- Technology has become affordable enough for smaller clubs to purchase wearable technologies.
- AI systems can process data almost instantly.
- Ideas and philosophies behind training techniques are beginning to cross over between different sports.
- Coaches are trusting technology more than they ever have before.
As a result of this increased innovation, Japan’s athletic training is becoming more efficient; however, it is becoming less subjective and more objective.
No longer are athletes relying solely on “feeling” tired and/or feeling the right time to rest. They have solid evidence (numbers) showing how their bodies react and what needs to be adjusted.
The future of training in Japan’s sports organizations is expected to bring much more change.
Already, some football academies are testing “smart shoes” that track foot pressure, basketball gymnasiums are using automated shooting machines that analyze shots with no coaching presence, and MMA teams are using small sensors to measure grip strength during holds.
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Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham: Archie Gray lift the pressure on Thomas Frank as Spurs win with performance that sums up their identity crisis, writes MATT BARLOW
Archie Gray scored the goal to lift Tottenham spirits as they ended a year of conflicting emotions with the sort of performance to sum up their identity crisis.
There was none of the creative flair they are expected deliver and for long spells they were forced to weather pressure from Crystal Palace.
But there were plenty of guts and determination from Spurs and they carried threat from set pieces and were dangerous on the break.
They played Palace at their own game, won it, had two goals ruled out for marginal offsides and hit a post in the closing stages when the contest was stretched and the home team were pushing for an equaliser.
Thomas Frank’s team resisted and there are certainly days when the result is paramount and this was one of those.
Victory brings a respite for Thomas Frank. Three points ease his team into midtable and every win will grant him more time to impose more of his vision for Spurs. Time to forge the principles upon which he says he can impose a little more adventure.
Archie Gray eased the pressure on Thomas Frank as Tottenham beat Crystal Palace
The young Tottenham star scored his first professional goal to secure a 1-0 away win
The positives here came in the form of Gray’s first Spurs goal for the club, a clean sheet and a strong defensive display and a sensible tactical switch in the closing minutes by the boss.
There were times when they rode their luck and Palace will be kicking themselves over some of the chances they missed.
But Frank bolstered his team by sending on Joao Palhinha to regain midfield control when Lucas Brgvall went off injured and went to a back three to see it out.
They finished on top, with Wilson Odobert threatening in the space on the break.
And those are the points upon which they will look to build having finished 2025, the year in which they won the Europa League but lost 20 Premier League games.
Not the sort of display to convince those who doubt Frank is the right sort of fit for the job. Again, away from home in front of the hardcore it is easier to win in this fashion than at home in front of 60,000.
There are signs going into 2026 that Frank is settling on what he considers is his best team. The only changes from the previous line up were those called upon to replace Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero, who were suspended after red cards against Liverpool.
Kevin Danso came in at the back and was solid despite a scare in the fifth minute when he tripped Justin Devenny and the home crowd wanted him sent off, but there was enough cover around to support the decision of referee Jarred Gillett that it was not an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Pressure has been mounting on Frank amid a turgid start to the season for Tottenham
MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS
Palace 3421: Henderson 6; Lerma 6, Lacroix 6, Guehi 6; Clyne 6 (Nketiah 58, 5), Wharton 6.5, Hughes 7, Mitchell 6.5; Pino 6 (Uche 77), Devenny 6.5 (Esse 85); Mateta 6.
Subs: Benitez, Benamar, Canvot, Drakes-Thomas, Esse, Rodney, Sosa.
Goals
Bookings: Hughes, Lacroix, Lerma
Manager: Oliver Glasner 6
Spurs 4231: Vicario 6.5; Porro 6.5, Danso 7.5, Van de Ven 8, Spence 6; Bentancur 6, Gray 7 (Dragusin 85); Kudus 7 (Johnson 85), Bergvall 6 (Palhinha 63, 7), Kolo Muani 6.5 (Odobert 63, 6.5); Richarlison 6.5.
Subs: Kinsky, Davies, Scarlett, Takai, Tel
Goals: Gray 42,
Bookings: Danso, Gray
Manager: Thomas Frank 6
Ref: Jarred Gillett 6
Richarlison, recalled up front, was performing his pigeon dance in the 17th minute. The Brazil centre forward thought he had opened the scoring, only to find it ruled out for offside against Bergvall earlier in the move.
The momentum of the VAR reprieve lifted Palace and the home crowd and subdued Spurs.
A trip to Selhurst Park is always fraught with peril, even though Palace are better away from home of late and stumbled through four games in 10 days without a win before Christmas.
They are learning to cope with the impact of success on the fixture schedule and toil that takes on a slender squad, but they have talent and are so well organised and they dominated for 20 minutes as Spurs lost control in midfield.
Jean-Philippe Mateta flashed one chance wide and climbed above Danso but could not keep his header down after Maxence Lacroix had headed a cross by Adam Wharton back across goal.
Guglielmo Vicario took fewer risks with the ball at his feet and made saves when needed to foil Devenny and Wharton during this spell of pressure.
Will Hughes also went close before Frank’s team found a response, taking the lead from a corner won on the counterattack.
The goal would have delighted the Spurs boss. First the immaculate delivery by Pedro Porro and then the three headers won in the six-yard boss.
Randal Kolo Muani nodded it back across goal from deep and Richarlison was alive to help it on towards goal where Gray pounced to apply the final touch, a header from close range.
Not only was it his first goal for Spurs but his first in 112 games in senior football for the 19-year-old, signed from Leeds in the summer of 2024.
Palace missed more chances.
Nathaniel Clyne and Devenny contrived to waste a terrific chance at the back post. Clyne’s nodded a cross by Yeremy Pino back inside, but Devenny’s first touch turned him away from the open goal and his second, a shot on the spin, flew over.
Maxence Lacroix headed wide when he should have scored, and Marc Guehi headed a corner over.
Spurs could not get on the ball until Palhinha came on and gave them a foothold.
Richarlison had a second goal ruled out for offside, a fraction off before converting a cross by Kudus, after a fine pass by Gray.
Odobert hit post on run 20 yards out and Dean Henderson save denied Bentancur in stoppage time.
Stanley Nwabali, goalkeeper of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has shared his struggles with injuries before the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Prior to the 2025 AFCON, Nwabali’s coach at Chippa United, Vusumuzi Vilakazi, revealed that the 29-year-old Nigerian needed surgery to threat previous injuries.
Vilakazi expressed doubt over goalkeeper’s chances of participating in the AFCON as he was still recovering from both an ankle and a hand injury.
“I was injured but with the help of team doctors and physios I am able to stand on the pitch and play,” Nwabali told reporters after Nigeria won Tunisia on Saturday.
“It is quite tough for me because it is not something you come out to say. But most times what ever thing we see online is true. I am always strong man, I try to just represent my country.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles booked an early place in the Round of 16 at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 after edging Tunisia 3–2 in a dramatic Group C clash in Fès on Saturday night.
A dominant display for much of the contest saw the Super Eagles race into a 3–0 lead, only for a late Tunisian surge to set up a nervy finale.
In the end, Nigeria’s composure and resilience proved decisive as they claimed a second successive victory and moved to six points at the top of Group C.
Lookman, Osimhen and Ndidi Strike as Super Eagles Hold Firm in Fès
From the opening whistle blown by Malian referee, Boubou Traoré, Nigeria made their intentions unmistakable.
The Eagles pressed aggressively, moved the ball with purpose and immediately tested Tunisia’s defensive structure.
Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams were relentless in the opening exchanges, probing the Carthage Eagles’ back line with pace and movement.
Nigeria thought they had taken the lead in the 17th minute when Osimhen stabbed home after the Tunisian goalkeeper parried Adams’ effort, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Osimhen Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough finally arrived just before the interval. In the 44th minute, Lookman delivered a deep, precise cross, and Osimhen rose above the defense to power a header into the net, scoring his first goal of the tournament and sending Nigeria into halftime deservedly ahead.
Ndidi’s Goal Doubles the Advantage
Nigeria picked up exactly where they left off after the restart. Just five minutes into the second half, Lookman’s teasing corner found captain Wilfred Ndidi, who towered above his marker to head home.
It was a historic moment for Ndidi, who scored his first senior international goal on his 73rd cap, underlining Nigeria’s dominance in midfield and set-piece efficiency.
Ademola Lookman Caps a Brilliant Display
The Super Eagles’ relentless pressure paid off again in the 66th minute.
A sweeping team move involving Alex Iwobi and Osimhen carved open the Tunisian defence, allowing Lookman to dart into space and fire a precise left-footed effort inside the post.
The goal was Lookman’s second of the tournament, adding to his two assists on the night, and appeared to have put the contest beyond doubt at 3–0.
Tunisia Fight Back, Tension Rises
Tunisia, however, refused to surrender. In the 75th minute, Montassar Talbi headed home from Hannibal Mejbri’s well-delivered free-kick to pull one back and ignite belief.
The pressure intensified when VAR intervened in the 87th minute, ruling that Bright Osayi-Samuel had committed a foul inside the box.
Ali Abdi stepped up and smashed the penalty into the roof of the net, cutting Nigeria’s lead to 3–2 and setting up a frantic finish.
The Carthage Eagles nearly completed the comeback in stoppage time, but Ferjani Sassi’s header drifted inches wide, allowing Nigeria to finally breathe.
Super Eagles Hold Firm to Seal Qualification
Despite the late scare, Nigeria showed maturity and defensive resolve to see out the game, registering their second consecutive win and becoming one of the first teams to qualify for the knockout stage.
The victory leaves the Super Eagles top of Group C with six points, ahead of their final group match against Uganda in Fès next Tuesday.
Tunisia, on three points, will face Tanzania in Rabat.
Nigeria vs Tunisia Post Reaction-Match
Sami Trabelsi – Tunisia Coach
“Of course, there is a sense of bitterness after the match and this defeat. We felt we could have come back, especially during the final 30 minutes.”
“The players performed at a very high level in that period; we created many chances, scored two goals and could have scored more.”
“The defeat hurts, but there is also a positive aspect: it shows that we can compete with any opponent when we impose our style of play and our ball possession.”
“We respected them, yes, while trying to remain balanced. We know that Nigeria have very fast and powerful players, so we tried to reduce the spaces.”
“In the first half, we had a few chances that we should have taken. The goals we conceded came from crosses; it was not a matter of too much respect, but rather that we lost too many defensive and attacking duels.”
“Once we started winning our attacking duels, we were much better and put the opponent under pressure.”
“I repeat, we did not start the match well because we lost too many duels. However, over the final 35 minutes, we were dominant and the final result could have been very different.”
“It is a matter of judgement. When we needed even more attacking penetration, we introduced Ismail Gharbi, but the performance of those already on the pitch was not poor.”
“The next match will be decisive.”
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Crystal Palace vs Tottenham – Premier League LIVE: Latest score and updates as Thomas Frank makes two changes after defeat against Liverpool
Follow Daily Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Crystal Palace welcome Tottenham to Selhurst Park, with Matt Barlow reporting from the grounds.
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Crystal Palace vs Tottenham – Premier League LIVE: Latest score and updates as Thomas Frank makes two changes after defeat against Liverpool
The Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has congratulated the Super Eagles on securing a place in the round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Shaibu, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, praised the players’ patriotism, commitment, and resilience following Nigeria’s 3-2 victory over Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on Saturday, which guaranteed the team’s progression to the knockout stage with a game to spare.
“I must salute the fighting spirit of the Super Eagles. They have clearly put the 2026 World Cup disappointment behind them. Winning these two straight games evidently showcased that,” Shaibu said.
He urged the team to stay focused and align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform Nigeria’s sports sector, particularly football.
“The job is not complete yet. The target is to win a fourth continental title. President Tinubu has shown interest in our sports sector through the release of funds and by rewarding the triumphant Super Falcons and D’Tigresses. These gestures send a strong message to our sportsmen and women across the board,” he added.
Shaibu also affirmed the continued support of NIS management and staff for the Super Eagles, emphasizing the institute’s role in grooming world-class coaches to develop top athletes for future competitions.
“At the NIS, we will continue to support the Super Eagles because they are the flagship team of the nation. Our focus is on training coaches of international standard, who will, in turn, produce excellent athletes. This will ensure that Nigeria flourishes even better than in our glorious past,” he concluded.
The Super Eagles players will observe rest from training today (Sunday) after their hard-fought 3-2 win against Tunisia in AFCON 2025 Group C clash.
This was revealed by the Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe.
According to Efoghe the players who featured in the game against Tunisia will take part in recovery sessions at the gym.
Also Read: AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Must Improve In Closing Out Matches –Onyeka
The Super Eagles made it back-to-back wins at this year’s tournament following their win against the Carthage Eagles.
Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman put the Super Eagles 3-0 ahead before Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi netted to make the encounter a nervy end.
Up next for coach Eric Chelle’s men is their final Group C fixture with Uganda on Tuesday, December 30.
This would be the second time the Nigerian team and Uganda will meet at the AFCON after their first encounter in 1978 edition in Ghana.
The Cranes edged out the Super Eagles 2-1 in the semi-finals before losing 2-0 to Black Stars of Ghana.
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
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Hugh Morris dead at 62: Ex-England cricketer and chief executive passes away after battle with bowel cancer
Former England batsman Hugh Morris has died aged 62 following a near-three year battle with bowel cancer.
Morris was diagnosed with the disease in January 2022 and, despite initially returning to work, left his role as Glamorgan chief executive in September 2023 to be with his loved ones as he underwent treatment.
A prolific opening batsman, Morris scored 19,785 runs and 53 hundreds in the County Championship for Glamorgan, where he had two spells as captain and led them to the Sunday League title in 1993. He was also part of their championship-winning side four years later.
‘[We are] deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Glamorgan legend, trophy winning captain and former CEO Hugh Morris MBE,’ the county club said in a statement.
‘Hugh was a hugely respected and much-admired figure within the game, whose contribution to cricket in England and Wales will be fondly remembered. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.’
Morris also played three Tests for England in 1991, captaining the side on tours of South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka before later going on to serve as the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Former England batsman Hugh Morris has died aged 62 following a battle with bowel cancer
Morris (left) scored 19,785 runs and 53 hundreds in the County Championship for Glamorgan
During his tenure, the England men’s Test team had one of their greatest-ever periods, winning three consecutive Ashes series. Morris resigned the day after the final victory in 2013.
Born in Cardiff, the Welshman then returned to Glamorgan, reducing the club’s debts in his role as chief executive as well as helping establish Sophia Gardens as the home of the Welsh Fire Hundred franchise.
Morris was succeeded as the club’s chief executive by Dan Cherry, who paid tribute to him as a ‘man of great energy and a true gentleman’.
‘Hugh holds a very special place in the history of Glamorgan Cricket as well as in the hearts of the Club’s supporters for his efforts, both on and off the field,’ Cherry said.
‘He was a man of great energy and a true gentleman, whilst his achievements will live long in the Club’s record books and I doubt if any batter in any county team will ever surpass Hugh’s seasonal record of 2,276 first-class runs.
‘As a player and administrator, Hugh led from the front and fearlessly fended off whatever thunderbolts opposing bowlers sent in his direction.
‘He inspired us with his actions, whether with the bat in hand or leading us in the field, besides helping to save the cash-stricken Club when foreclosure seemed a possibility and finally inspiring all he met while bravely undergoing prolonged and challenging treatment.’
Morris was awarded an MBE for services to cricket and charity by King Charles in late 2022
Morris’s battle with bowel cancer marked the second time he had faced the disease, having previously been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002.
After surviving the disease, his work as a patron of Heads Up – a charity supporting research into head and neck cancer – saw him awarded an MBE for services to cricket and charity in November 2022.
Morris was also inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in September 2024, and is regarded as one of the country’s greatest-ever sportsmen.
Indian cricket legend Ravi Shastri, who played with Morris at Glamorgan, said: ‘Really gutted to hear of the passing of teammate and captain Hugh Morris. Baanas, God bless your soul.
‘You were honest in whatever you did, and did a bloody good job. Heartfelt condolences to the family. Respect.’
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Hugh Morris dead at 62: Ex-England cricketer and chief executive passes away after battle with bowel cancer
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NFF clears air on FIFA’s response regarding DR Congo players’ eligibility dispute against Nigeria
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has clarified that it has not yet received a response from FIFA regarding its challenge to the eligibility of certain players from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who participated in the 2026 World Cup African play-off against the Super Eagles some weeks ago.
NFF, however, categorically stated that the situation is still under consideration.
This statement comes in response to media claims that FIFA had dismissed Nigeria’s appeal following the Super Eagles’ defeat to DR Congo in the play-off final.
Speaking on the development, NFF Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed that no official updates have been received from FIFA concerning the petition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation wrote a petition to FIFA on the eligibility of some of the players of DR Congo, and if there is anything, FIFA will reply to the NFF,” Sanusi said during an interview on AIT.
“The NFF has not received any letter from FIFA saying they have thrown away our petition. We have checked our emails, and there was no letter from FIFA.
“I don’t know where they got their information from. If there is any such letter, let them show it, unless they have someone in FIFA giving them information ahead of official communication.”
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has revealed the inspiration behind his goal celebration against Tunisia.
Ndidi scored Nigeria’s second goal in the 3-2 victory at the Complexe Sportif de Fès.
It was midfielder’s first international goal for the Super Eagles.
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The Besiktas star explained that the celebration was rooted in childhood memories of his father, and former Super Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu.
“I just remember my dad, my dad always talked about Kanu Nwankwo and all. I kind of like saw the video and then I said, ‘Oh, I’ll do that one, Ndidi told reporters.
The 29-year-old also reflected on his maiden goal for the Super Eagles.
“ It was really special after a decade, it’s really amazing. And we got the win, which is wonderful,”he added.
By Adeboye Amosu