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NPFL: Rivers United Secure Top Spot, Extend Unbeaten Run
Rivers United secured top spot in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, following a 1-0 win over Wikki Tourists at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Monday.
Taofeek Otaniyi scored the winning goal in the 19th minute.
Rivers United extended their unbeaten run to nine games.
The Port Harcourt club top the standings with 33 points from 16 matches.
Read Also:NPFL: Nasarawa United Boss Satisfied With Draw Against Plateau United
Finidi George’s last defeat was against Bayelsa United on October 12.
At the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Ikorodu City and Katsina United battled to a 0-0 draw.
Ikorodu City maintained third position on the log following the stalemate.
Katsina United moved to 11th position with 22 points from 17 matches.
By Adeboye Amosu
Former Nigerian international Mikel Obi has slammed Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher for his frequent attacks on Mohamed Salah.
Carragher was outspoken in his criticism of Salah following the Egyptian’s controversial comments in the Elland Road mixed zone at the start of the month.
He accused Salah of speaking out to “cause maximum damage” while also saying that Salah arrived at Liverpool “known as the man who failed at Chelsea.”
Reacting to the statement via his The Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea star blasted Carragher for disregarding the Egyptian international’s contributions to the success of the club, most especially showing disregard for African players and their tournament.
“We are talking about Liverpool here, we are talking about the Premier League, and you have somebody sat there in the studio, criticizing Mo Salah, and saying Mo Salah has never won the Africa Cup of Nations — that’s a failure, criticizing him.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Arrive Morocco Thursday
“He’s qualified for two World Cups, but he hasn’t won the Africa Cup of Nations. What’s that got to do with the Premier League? What’s that got to do with what we’re talking about?
“For some reason, why do you talk about Mo Salah being a failure at Chelsea? People fail – it’s about how you get the f— up.
“Look what he’s done since he failed at Chelsea. You learn more from failure, you get better from failure.. It’s how you get up when you fall, when you’re down there, and Mo Salah did that after Chelsea. He got up, he became stronger and became a better player.
“For somebody to criticize a young player at his early stages, to call that a failure – and that’s just coming from somebody that never won anything near what Mo Salah won.
“[Carragher] did not win the Premier League, did not win anything with his national team – abandoned his national team, honestly, because he wasn’t playing, and yet you are the player that is criticizing somebody for speaking out that he wants to play, but you retired because you were not playing. You quit because you were not playing.
“Mo Salah does not want to quit when it’s tough, when it’s difficult, he wants to be there and get the team out of this sticky patch, help the team, get the team back to where it belongs. That’s what you call a true leader, a true champion. Do I condone what Salah did? Not all of it. But has he earned the right to say I want to play football? Yes.”
SPORT
Aussie star explains the meaning behind Steve Smith’s mysterious hand signal to Jofra Archer during their Ashes sledging clash
Aussie star Jake Weatherald has lifted the lid on what Steve Smith’s mysterious hand signal to Jofra Archer meant after the pair clashed in a heated sledging match during England’s eight-wicket defeat at The Gabba.
With Australia closing in on victory late on Sunday evening, Smith returned to the crease alongside the Aussie opener and proceeded to take the game to England, hammering a 146km/h delivery from Archer for four.
He hit back again with another four, but things began to get frosty in the middle with Archer overheard on the stump mic telling Smith: ‘You only play those shots when there’s not much on the score, mate.’
Smith bit back, noting that Archer was bowling much faster than he did in Australia’s first innings, saying: ‘[You only] Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion.’
On the next delivery, Archer threw down a 150.5km/h delivery, which Smith pulled over his left shoulder for six to leave Australia needing only 59 runs to win. Smith then turned to the England pace bowler who was standing in the middle of the wicket and raised his right hand, cupping his thumb and index fingers in a ‘U’ symbol.
Weatherald, who had also exchanged words with England skipper Ben Stokes at the non-strikers’ end, revealed that many South Australian cricketers are known to have used the symbol in the past, which supposedly means ‘have a rest’.
Aussie star Jake Weatherald has lifted the lid on what Steve Smith’s (pictured) mysterious hand signal to Jofra Archer meant after the pair clashed in a heated sledging match
Archer (left) and Smith (right) had told the Aussie skipper that ‘he only plays shots when there’s not much on the score’
‘I don’t necessarily know what it originated from,’ Weatherald told cricket.com.au.
‘I know a lot of the blokes from South Australia use it. I don’t know exactly what it is but a lot of the boys do it. I think it just means “rest”.
‘As in like “have a rest”, “have a spell” basically. I think that’s the gist of it. I know a lot of the SACA boys do it. Daniel Drew, who was 12th man [in Brisbane], he’s the guy who does it quite a lot. He couldn’t believe it happened. It was a pretty cool experience I think for Drewy.’
Weatherald believes that tempers rose after he delivered a barb to England that they had wasted a review in the seventh over. Archer struck him on the pad and an appeal went up. The umpire gave not out and England reviewed the decision but ultimately, the tourists lost a review, with the Aussie opener surviving.
‘They were talking about me kicking them off Jofra, which was probably fair enough,’ he told Cricket.com.au.
‘It just stemmed after the review, I made a comment after that saying: “waste of a review, that was always going down leg”.’
Weatherald was also embroiled in a few frosty words with England captain Ben Stokes, after he had turned to Archer to say: ‘Spit it out if you’re going to say something. Finally rocked up.’
Stokes interjected: ‘You got 70 and started chatting.’
![Smith (left) bit back, noting that Archer was bowling much faster than he did in Australia’s first innings, saying: '[You only] Bowl fast when there's nothing going on, champion’](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/12/16/10/104765883-15387849-image-a-3_1765880847484.jpg)
Smith (left) bit back, noting that Archer was bowling much faster than he did in Australia’s first innings, saying: ‘[You only] Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion’
‘I was only saying something because you were saying something now,’ the Aussie Test rookie replied.
But the England skipper said: ‘I say it with a smile on my face though, Jake.’
Weatherald reflected on the moment, telling Cricket.com.au he had seen Archer and Smith clashing and wanted to get involved.
‘I wanted to get amongst it. I couldn’t hear anything. I sort of went down there to try to listen,’ he said.
‘But it was pretty cool. You watch a guy like Jofra, who’s obviously had so much talked about how good he is – and he is very good – and then you get a guy like Steve Smith, who is the best player I’ve ever seen by a mile.
‘The way he went about it was just the opposite of how I’d think about cricket. As I probably showed, I was just trying to get behind it and keep the ball out, whereas he was thinking about: “How can I finish this game off?”
‘It was pretty impressive to see that against a guy that was so high-class.
‘The contest just showed how much it means to everyone. We probably hadn’t had that yet out in the middle. It’s been very much: “Just get the job done”.
Weatherald (pictured) revealed that the tensions on the pitch were sparked after he had survived a review after being struck on the pad by Jofra Archer
Weatherald (pictured) then stated that he had seen Archer and Smith clashing in the middle of the wicket and had wanted to get in on the action
‘That was the first time I could actually hear something going on, and it was pretty cool to be a part of.’
Archer has now dismissed Weatherald for lbw in Australia’s first innings in Brisbane and again during their first innings in Perth.
Smith, meanwhile, has remained tight-lipped on his sledging match with Archer.
‘He [Archer] was just bowling good pace,’ Smith said. ‘Not really too sure what he said, not really sure what I said, and I’m not sure it’s any of your business either.’
Archer and Smith will come face-to-face on Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval, as England look to bounce back after going 2-0 down in the series.
Super Eagles of Nigeria continued to build momentum towards the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Tuesday morning, heading to the Cairo International Stadium for their second training session with 24 players now in camp.
Defenders Salim Fago and Chidozie Awaziem are the latest arrivals, boosting head coach Eric Chelle’s options as preparations intensify ahead of the high-profile friendly against Egypt at 7 p.m. (Nigerian time) later tonight.
Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali and Amas Obasogie were all involved in the training this morning, alongside defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Zaidu Sanusi and Igho Ogbu. Midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Akinsanmiro Ebenezer were also present, while attacking duties were led by Ademola Lookman, Paul Onuachu, Cyril Dessers, Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke.
The friendly, billed as a dress rehearsal for AFCON in Morocco, will, however, lack several of African football’s biggest stars. Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush and Nigeria’s talismanic striker Victor Osimhen will all miss the encounter as both teams opt for caution over risk.
All three players were absent from their nations’ training sessions on Monday night and this morning, effectively ruling them out of the match at Cairo International Stadium.
Egyptian media reports say head coach Hossam Hassan has chosen to rest Salah and Marmoush following their delayed arrival in camp, while Osimhen is yet to report to Nigeria’s base in Cairo despite having departed Galatasaray in Turkey.
Hassan trained 26 players on Monday night, focusing on tactical fine-tuning ahead of Egypt’s tournament opener against Zimbabwe on December 22. Local reports, including FilGoal, noted that the move was pre-planned to allow the Premier League duo additional recovery time.
Egypt’s preparations have also been shaped by minor fitness issues. National team director Ibrahim Hassan confirmed that Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet was rested after undergoing a dental procedure, while midfielder Ibrahim Adel continues his recovery from an ankle injury picked up in the UAE Pro League. Both are expected to be fit for the opener.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association confirmed that international referee Mahmoud Nagi will officiate the friendly match against the Super Eagles, assisted by Samir Gamal and Youssef El-Basaty, with VAR in operation. Egypt will travel to Morocco on Wednesday evening to complete their AFCON build-up.
Chidozie Awaziem and Salim Fago Lawal have arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Cairo ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.
Awaziem and Lawal stormed the team’s Renaissance Hotel base on Tuesday morning.
24 players are now at the disposal of head coach, Eric Chelle.
The Super Eagles had their first training session at the Cairo International Stadium on Monday night.
They had another session at the ground on Tuesday morning.
Nigeria will take on the Pharaohs of Egypt in a friendly later tonight.
Full List Of Players In Camp
Francis Uzoho
Stanley Nwabali
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
Akinsanmiro Ebenezer
Amas Obasogie
Semi Ajayi
Ademola Lookman
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Igho Ogbu
Tochukwu Nnadi
Zaidu Sanusi
Paul Onuachu
Frank Onyeka
Calvin Bassey
Alex Iwobi
Wilfred Ndidi
Bruno Onyemaechi
Cyril Dessers
Akor Adams
Chidera Ejuke
Raphael Onyedika
Ryan Alebiosu
Salim Fago
Chidozie Awaziem
The Super Eagles camp in Cairo has grown to 22 players with the arrival of Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) international friendly match against Egypt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman and defenders Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel reported to camp earlier on Monday at the Renaissance Hotel, joining a steadily increasing squad.
Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Igoh Ogbu and midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi were also among the latest arrivals to bolster the team.
They linked up with early arrivals Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who had checked in on Sunday.
Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe told NAN that 20 players participated in the team’s first training session held on Monday evening.
“Training went smoothly and the players showed good energy and commitment, which is encouraging at this stage of preparations,” Efoghe said.
Efoghe said that Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika and Alebiosu arrived shortly after training, raising the number of players in camp to 22, with six more expected.
He said as part of preparations, the Super Eagles would play a friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday at the Cairo International Stadium.
“The friendly will help the technical crew assess team shape and readiness ahead of the AFCON challenge,” Efoghe said.
Nigeria, three-time champions, and seven-time winners Egypt will clash at 8 p.m. Egypt time (7 p.m. Nigeria time) in the build-up to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Efoghe confirmed that the team will depart Cairo for Féz on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to continue final preparations.
Nigeria’s quest for a fourth continental title, following victories in 1980, 1994 and 2013, begins on Dec. 23 against Tanzania, under the theme “NAIJA 4 THE WIN.”
The Eagles will also face Tunisia on Dec. 27 and Uganda on Dec. 30 in Group C, with all matches scheduled for the Complexe Sportif de Féz.
Egypt, the only nation to win AFCON three consecutive times, will battle South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe in Group B, with matches holding in Agadir.
(NAN)
Chidozie Awaziem and Salim Fago Lawal arrived Cairo on Tuesday morning increasing the number of players in the Super Eagles camp to 24,reports Completesports.com.
The duo arrived camp in time for Tuesday morning’s training session.
The Super Eagles had their first training session at the Cairo International Stadium on Monday night.
Read Also:‘Very Much Delighted’ — Alebiosu Speaks On Maiden Super Eagles Invitation
Eric Chelle’s side will take on the Pharaohs of Egypt in a friendly at the ground later tonight.
The pre-2025 Africa Cup of Nations friendly will start 8pm local time (7pm in Nigeria).
Full List
Francis Uzoho
Stanley Nwabali
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
Akinsanmiro Ebenezer
Amas Obasogie
Semi Ajayi
Ademola Lookman
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Igho Ogbu
Tochukwu Nnadi
Zaidu Sanusi
Paul Onuachu
Frank Onyeka
Calvin Bassey
Alex Iwobi
Wilfred Ndidi
Bruno Onyemaechi
Cyril Dessers
Akor Adams
Chidera Ejuke
Raphael Onyedika
Ryan Alebiosu
Salim Fago
Chidozie Awaziem
By Adeboye Amosu
Haruna Abdullahi has been appointed as the new technical adviser of Nigeria National League, NNL, side Gombe United.
Abdullahi steps in after the suspension of Umar Abdullahi Tyabo, who was removed from his post on Monday.
The new coach will serve on an interim basis pending further directives by the club.
Suleiman Usman Kalala has been named chief coach under the new arrangement.
In a separate move, Gombe United confirmed the release of eight players deemed surplus to requirements.
The club expressed gratitude to the departing technical staff and players for their contributions.
Gombe United’s next outing will see them face Jigawa Golden Stars.
Ryan Alebiosu is delighted with his maiden invitation to the Super Eagles, reports Completesports.com.
The 23-year-old was named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by head coach, Eric Chelle last week.
Alebiosu has impressed for Sky Bet Championship club, Blackburn Rovers this season.
The right-back is expected to play a key role for Nigeria in Morocco in the absence of Ola Aina.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Alebiosu Arrives Super Eagles Cairo Camp
Alebiosu said he can’t wait to make his debut for the three-time African champions.
“It’s a pleasure. Very much delighted, can’t wait to get started and help my nation reach big things,” he told the BBC.
“My family are delighted. As soon as I got the news, I’ve never seen them so happy. Great feeling.
“Nigeria came calling and it’s something I didn’t want to miss. It’s a big opportunity, especially at 23 years of age.”
By Adeboye Amosu
SPORT
See the Big Bash League’s biggest overseas star make one of the worst debuts in Aussie cricket history
- They were unprecedented scenes
The Brisbane Heat’s newest marquee signing Shaheen Shah-Afridi has had a nightmare Big Bash debut against the Melbourne Renegades.
Afridi was sensationally banished from the Heat attack by the umpires in his Big Bash League debut for dangerous bowling at Marvel Stadium.
The 25-year-old bowled two full-toss no-balls above waist height in his third over towards the back end of the Renegades’ innings.
Umpires then had him withdrawn from the bowling attack for dangerous play.
The debacle forced Heat captain Nathan McSweeney to step in and bowl the final two deliveries of the 18th over.
Afridi finished with figures of 0-43 in a debut that started with promise but quickly turned into a nightmare.
Pakistan star Shaheen Shah Afridi (pictured) endured a nightmare start to his stint in the Big Bash League
The 25-year-old (pictured) was axed because of dangerous bowling
Renegades opener Tim Seifert (pictured) scored a quick-fire century to help hand the Heat an opening-match loss
His performance has since been savaged by fans on social media.
‘Bowling beamers, leaking runs at the rate of nearly 14, he has a forgettable outing. He should forget as quickly as he can,’ one user wrote on X.
‘He is in (the) wrong profession,’ another added on Facebook.
This isn’t the first time a bowler has been forced out of an attack in a Big Bash game.
In early 2023, Renegades player David Moody was given his marching orders for the same actions.
The first error was a ball directed at the ribs of Scorchers batter Cam Bancroft.
His second mistake was another full toss above waist height to Stephen Eskinazi.
Afridi’s Brisbane side ended up losing their opening match of the 2025/26 season by 14 runs.
Fans have been quick to slam the fast bowler on social media
COMMENT
Afridi (pictured playing for Pakistan) is one of his nation’s biggest cricketing heroes
Renegades opener Tim Seifert starred with a rapid 102 runs from 59 deliveries.
He was supported by middle-order batter Oliver Peake who scored a rapid 59 runs from 29 balls.
The Heat play again on Friday, when they host the Perth Scorchers.
Afridi is Pakistan’s captain in One Day International cricket, and is an integral member of Pakistan’s Test and T2OI teams.
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See the Big Bash League’s biggest overseas star make one of the worst debuts in Aussie cricket history
The Super Eagles’ camp in Cairo continued to gather momentum on Monday night as more players arrived ahead of Nigeria’s friendly clash with Egypt and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Akor Adams, Cyriel Dessers and Raphael Onyedika were the latest names to report at the team’s base, the Renaissance Hotel, taking the number of players in camp to 21.
The quintet wasted no time settling in, joining their teammates for the first full training session at the Cairo International Stadium later in the evening.
Seven more players are still expected to link up with the squad as preparations intensify for Tuesday’s high-profile friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Three-time champions Nigeria and seven-time winners Egypt meet at the Cairo Stadium in a fixture billed as a key dress rehearsal ahead of the 35th AFCON finals, which get underway in Morocco on Sunday.
Both technical crews are expected to use the game to test combinations and assess squad depth before final decisions are made.
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has several fresh faces at his disposal and could hand minutes to players such as goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Tochukwu Nnadi, midfielders Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Usman Muhammed, as well as forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal.
Egypt, meanwhile, are led by Hossam Hassan, one of the tournament’s most celebrated figures. The former striker was the joint top scorer when the Pharaohs lifted the title in 1998, netting seven goals in Burkina Faso. His current side is expected to build around Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who remains in pursuit of his first Africa Cup of Nations crown.
Salah will be backed by an experienced supporting cast that includes Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, the Al Ahly trio of Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, and Yasser Ibrahim, along with Emam Ashour and Mahmoud Trezeguet.
CAF Champions League holders Pyramids contribute Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, while Ibrahim Adel and FC Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed also feature in the squad.
Chelle is likely to lean on a familiar core for Nigeria, with Stanley Nwabali expected in goal behind defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi. The midfield engine room could feature Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, while the attacking line is set to include Ademola Lookman alongside the team’s established forwards.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8 pm local time in Egypt, which is 7 pm in Nigeria. By Monday night, 23 of the 28 players named in Nigeria’s final squad had arrived in Cairo, with the remainder due before matchday.
After the friendly, the Super Eagles will leave Cairo on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to Fés, where they will be based for the tournament.
Nigeria are chasing a fourth continental crown, having previously triumphed in 1980, 1994 and 2013, with the campaign carrying the slogan NAIJA 4 THE WIN.
They open their Group C campaign on Tuesday, December 23 against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, a repeat of the opening fixture of the 1980 finals. Tunisia await on Saturday, December 27, before a final group match against Uganda on Tuesday, December 30, all at the Complexe Sportif de Fés.
Egypt, the only nation to win the AFCON three times in a row between 2006 and 2010, are drawn in Group B alongside South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe, with their fixtures set for the Stade d’Agadir in Agadir.
Super Eagles’ Players currently in camp
Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Amas Obasogie, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igho Ogbu, Tochukwu Nnadi, Zaidu Sanusi, Paul Onuachu, Frank Onyeka, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Cyriel Dessers, Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke and Raphael Onyedika.