SPORT
NIS DG Shaibu congratulates Super Eagles on AFCON round of 16 qualification
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.
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.”
SPORT
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.
Share or comment on this article:
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham – Premier League LIVE: Latest score and updates as Thomas Frank makes two changes after defeat against Liverpool
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
SPORT
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.’
Share or comment on this article:
Hugh Morris dead at 62: Ex-England cricketer and chief executive passes away after battle with bowel cancer
SPORT
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.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Oliseh Hails Lookman, Ndidi After Super Eagles’ Win Over Tunisia
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
SPORT
Cole Palmer’s new girlfriend sits in an executive box at Stamford Bridge to watch him play… but Chelsea star ends up in a rage as Aston Villa win
Cole Palmer may have had the support of his new girlfriend in the stands, but it proved to be a frustrating evening for the England international as Chelsea fell to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.
The 23-year-old was left red-faced after Enzo Maresca replaced him with Brazilian youngster Estevao shortly after Ollie Watkins’ equaliser for Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
And things went from bad to worse for the midfielder as he watched on helplessly from the bench as Watkins struck again in the 84th minute, firing Villa into the lead and sealing a damning defeat for the hosts in west London.
It was not only a disappointing result on the pitch for the midfielder, but also not the outcome he would have hoped for with his new girlfriend watching on from the stands.
Palmer has recently struck up a relationship with beauty specialist Olivia Holder, 23, who last night shared images to her Instagram from the executive box inside Stamford Bridge.
Holder posted a picture of herself wearing a fur coat, as well as a snap of her Chelsea star boyfriend controlling the ball during the first-half.
Cole Palmer was furious after being substituted during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa
Chelsea star Palmer was cheered on in Stamford Bridge by his new girlfriend Olivia Holden
Holden shared a series of images to her Instagram account from the Chelsea executive box
It comes just a week after the pair visited London’s Winter Wonderland together, with Palmer wearing a balaclava and a hoodie to remain incognito during their romantic evening.
The footballer split from his ex-girlfriend, nail technician Connie Grace, this July and has since found love with Holder, who runs a beauty clinic alongside her sister in Bromley.
It is unclear how long Palmer and Holder have been dating, but the beauty specialist first shared images of herself inside Stamford Bridge to her Instagram account on December 17.
They were then spotted at the festive attraction in Hyde Park, where Palmer was also pictured with his ex-girlfriend last year before the pair unfollowed each other days after he won the Club World Cup.
Asked if he was concerned by Palmer’s furious reaction to being subbed during Chelsea’s defeat to Villa, Blues boss Maresca said: ‘No, no. He was working very good. He was on the ball and off the ball, pressing, he was very good.
‘We have another game now in 48 hours, so he was good and we are happy that he’s back.’
Palmer will be hoping that Holder will prove to be a lucky charm when Chelsea host Bournemouth on December 30.
Share or comment on this article:
Cole Palmer’s new girlfriend sits in an executive box at Stamford Bridge to watch him play… but Chelsea star ends up in a rage as Aston Villa win
The Nigerian senior national team handler, Eric Chelle has said it seems he no longer knows the football rules.
Chelle was speaking about the penalty awarded to Tunisia in the closing stages of their second group game on Saturday.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria beat Tunisia 3-2 in Fez, Morocco and took charge of the Group C of the tournament.
After the referee had overlooked what appeared to be a handball by Bright Osayi-Samuel, the VAR called his attention to the incident and a penalty was given in favour of the North Africans.
Chelle addressed journalists after the match and expressed confusion over the penalty incident.
He said, “I don’t know, I didn’t see the penalty and the video but the reality is I don’t know the rules.
“I don’t know the rules, like your friend said, my substitute brought the goal, you have your vision.”
With the win, the West Africans now top their group having accumulated all six points from two games. They will play Uganda next in the last game of the group stages.
Sunday Oliseh has thumbed up Ademola Lookman and Wilfred Ndidi for their impressive performance in the Super Eagles win over Tunisia.
Lookman, who was named Man of the Match registered one goal and two assists in the thrilling contest.
Ndidi scored Nigeria’s second goal five minutes after the break.
Read Also:AFCON 2025 Diary Day 10: Open Letter To Chelle, Ndidi’s Captain’s Response, Lookman ‘Dangerous’ As Eagles Stun Tunisia
It was the midfielder’s first international goal for the three-time African champions.
Oliseh was impressed with the duo’s performance in the game.
“Lookman on Fire! 2nd assist and i Personally love Ndidi’s attacking the ball to head Naija 2-0 up,” Oliseh wrote on X.
The Super Eagles will face the Cranes of Uganda in their last group game on Tuesday.
By Adeboye Amosu
SPORT
Lawrence Dallaglio faces financial ruin: Bankrupt England rugby legend hit with £500,000 bill amid divorce battle and having to sell off his home
England rugby legend is Lawrence Dallaglio is facing financial ruin after being hit with a fresh £500,000 bill.
The World Cup winner, 53, was declared bankrupt earlier this year after he and his wife of almost 20 years, Alice, divorced amid accusations of infidelity on both sides.
And new documents have revealed that he now owes £423,570 in overdrawn director’s loans for his failed sports company Lawrence Dallaglio Ltd.
Dallaglio, who spent all of his club career with Wasps, also owes more than £60,000 to liquidators – more than two years after they were appointed.
According to The Sun, Dallaglio and his wife sold their £2.7million home in Richmond, south west London, this May, after the ex-England captain agreed his share of the sale would go to paying off his loan debts.
Company documents filed last week reveal that his business owes around £350,000 to HMRC and £61,000 to two other creditors. The repayment of his director’s loan is expected to help pay the tax bill.
England legend Lawrence Dallaglio is facing financial ruin after being hit with a £500,000 bill
Dallaglio has been bankrupt after he and his long-term wife Alice divorced earlier this year
Dallaglio was part of the England side that won the 2003 World Cup and earned 85 caps for his country. He was also picked for the British and Irish Lions on three separate tours during a glittering career.
The former back row had multiple stints as England captain and since his retirement in 2008, he has worked as a pundit on TV and radio, as well as appearing as an after-dinner speaker. He has also been widely praised for his charity work.
Dallaglio married his model ex-wife Alice in 2005 after dating for almost 10 years. Despite their dramatic public split, the couple share two daughters, Ella and Josie, and a son, Enzo, together.
Dallaglio, who spent all of his club career with Wasps, is one of England’s greatest ever players.
He was awarded an OBE in 2008, having already been given an MBE.
Share or comment on this article:
Lawrence Dallaglio faces financial ruin: Bankrupt England rugby legend hit with £500,000 bill amid divorce battle and having to sell off his home
Kenneth Omeruo has urged Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle to work on the team’s “leaky defence”, DAILY POST reports.
The Super Eagles have let in three goals in their opening two games at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The three-time African champions conceded once in their first game against Tanzania, while the defence was breached twice on Saturday night versus Tunisia.
Omeruo said it is important for the defence to be solid in subsequent games.
“The defence is still porous, and it is important we stop conceding,” Omeruo said during his post-match analysis on Afrosports.
”It is something the coach must work on in subsequent games. The attack we know is solid but we can’t keep on conceding goals like we have done so far.”
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has said Tunisia’s late fightback shows there are still work to be done in his team.
The Super Eagles raced to a 3-0 lead against Tunisia with goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman.
But Tunisia got a goal back through Montassar Talbi in the 74 minutes before Ali Abdi converted a penalty on 87 minutes to set up a nervy finish.
Reflecting on the encounter Chelle, however, said there are positives to take in the clash with the Carthage Eagles.
Also Read:
“We still have to play a game that will bring the confidence and shows our ambitions.
“There’s positives in Tunisia’s comeback. It shows that there is still something for us to work on and something to improve. It will keep me and my players motivated.”
On how he felt in the final 15 minutes of the game when the Super Eagles were under pressure, he said:”Those final 15 or so minutes will give me nightmares. I was going a little bit crazy about what was happening because the players deserved a big game. And it was a test against a big team like Tunisia.”
The win against Tunisia means the Super Eagles have qualified for the round of 16.
Up next for them is their final group fixture against the Cranes of Uganda on Tuesday, December 30.
The Ugandans played out a 1-1 draw with fellow East African side Tanzania.
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
Photo by Ganiyu Yusuf in Fes, Morocco
Former tennis star Anna Kournikova is ending 2025 in style after welcoming her fourth child with partner Enrique Iglesias.
The 44-year-old, known nowadays for keeping fierce guard of her privacy, announced the arrival of her baby on social media earlier in the week.
She kept the gender of her baby to herself but shared a picture of the newborn wrapped in a blanket with her followers, capitoning the image: ‘My Sunshine’.
Now, an insider close to the private couple has lifted the lid on how their life has changed since the arrival of their fourth child on December 17.
‘Anna and Enrique are so excited about welcoming a fourth child to their family,’ the source was quoted as saying by People. ‘They are floating on air.
‘Anna and Enrique love family life and will spend the holidays with their family, which varies in size depending on who is around.
Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias have officially become a family of six after welcoming their fourth child together
The Russian former world no 8 welcomed her fourth child with the Spanish singer
‘It will be busy and chaotic as always, only a bit more so, but all with joy and love.’
It emerged back in August that Kournikova was pregnant again and that she and Iglesias were expanding their family.
‘Both of them love being parents and having a fourth is the best present ever,’ the insider added.
Kournikova and the ‘Hero’ singer, 50, are already parents to seven-year-old twins Lucy and Nicholas, and five-year-old daughter Mary.
They have been together since 2001, meeting on the set of the singer’s video for the song ‘Escape’.
The happy news comes just a few months after she was pictured in a wheelchair and wearing a protective boot, sparking an outpouring of concern.
Kournikova was pictured being pushed by her daughter at Miami’s Bal Harbour shopping center back in January while also wearing the boot over her foot.
In early August, however, she was spotted running her children to martial arts in Miami, allaying fears of any lingering health issues.
Kournikova met Iglesias on the set of the hitmaker’s music video for 2001 single ‘Escape’
It is believed she may have suffered a foot injury and undergone surgery around that time.
Kournikova burst onto the scene in the tennis world when she turned professional at the age of 14.
She got as high as eighth in the world rankings but never won a Grand Slam singles title.
But in the doubles, she enjoyed greater success once she partnered up with Martina Hingis. Together, they won the Australian Open doubles championship in 1999 and again in 2002.
She never officially confirmed that she had retired but her last game was in May 2003 when she was just 21 years old.
Kournikova’s rise was blighted by stress fractures in her back and feet – her foot injuries meant that there was extra concern when she was pictured in a protective boot earlier this year, considering her history.
Share or comment on this article:
Anna Kournikova ‘floating on air’ after welcoming fourth child at 44 with Enrique Iglesias
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has admitted that his team want to “win badly”, as they continue to lead the way in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners were to forced to ground out another narrow victory, as they beat Brighton 2-1 at the Emirates on Saturday.
Captain Martin Odegaard had opened the scoring in the first half with a low drive.
Arteta’s men doubled their lead immediately after the break, thanks to an own goal from Georginio Rutter.
But Brigton pulled one back through Diego Gomez and also most got an equalizer, but were denied by an excellent David Raya save.
When asked about the nervy atmosphere inside the stadium after Brighton’s goal back, Arteta said: “That’s a willingness to win! We all want to win so badly.
“Now I don’t want to lose what I have and we have to play to continue to score and show that composure and that ability and we should have scored the third one.
“We have two massive chances to put it to 3-1 and then it would have been different. We haven’t, so we have to suffer a little bit more.”
The result means Arsenal continue to maintain a two-point lead at the top over Manchester City.
Manchester United are ‘negotiating personal terms’ with Auxerre and Mali star Lassine Sinayoko, who will be out of contract in the summer of 2026.
Amorim has already seen his side take wins over Liverpool and Chelsea this season but, when asked if the manner of this one made it one of his most satisfying at the club, he agreed.
“Especially if you see the second half,” he said. “We managed to defend sometimes with a back six but we suffer together and that is a good feeling.
“If we have always this spirit we are going to win so many games. I think it is something we need to feel, that we can win sometimes without playing so well, we can win games with the spirit and with a togetherness in the team.”
The Portuguese manager is expected to be backed by INEOS in the upcoming transfer windows, with United’s need for midfield and attacking reinforcements made clear by the options on his substitutes bench on Friday.