IN NIGERIA

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that the Super Eagles returned to training on Wednesday as the team shift full focus to Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa playoff semi-final clash against the Panthers of Gabon.

Its President, Ibrahim Gusau, said he believes in the players’ ability to make Nigeria proud, not only in Thursday’s match but throughout the playoffs.

Gusau affirmed his belief that the team would deliver a strong performance on Thursday.

The Super Eagles will face Gabon in the semi-final on Thursday, at 5.pm.

Victory for Eric Chelle’s side will set up a final clash with Cameroon or Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday 16th November.

Super Eagles Captain, William Troost-Ekong says the team has put the bonus row behind them, and are now ready for battle at the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs.

The players and their officials boycotted training on Tuesday to protest the non-payment of outstanding bonuses and allowances.

Troost-Ekong confirmed the issue has been resolved and they are now focussed on the task ahead.

The centre-back insisted that the players would give their best in the upcoming games.

Former Nigerian international, Victor Ikpeba has warned that the outcome of Thursday’s 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs between the Super Eagles and Gabon will be determined by the players’ mindset.

The Atlanta Olympic gold medalist stated that the encounter would not be easy for any of the team.

Cameroon will be without key duo Andre-Frank Anguissa and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting at the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs.

The combative midfielder could be set for a spell on the sidelines.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana is a major doubt for the World Cup playoffs as he is struggling with a knee injury.

Cameroon will face the Leopards of Democratic Republic of Congo in the second semi-final of the playoffs at the El Barid Stadium, Rabat on Thursday.

Falconets has ended their campaign at the 2025 WAFU B Under-twenty Girls Cup with a slim one-nil victory over hosts Benin Republic on Wednesday.

It was the team’s second win over the Young Amazons at the competition.

Ramotalahi Kareem netted the decisive goal for Moses Aduku’s side after sixteen minutes.

The team concluded the competition with a perfect record, winning all four games, scoring ten goals, and conceding just one.

IN ENGLAND

England boss, Thomas Tuchel says Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane cannot start together in England’s current system.

Real Madrid’s Bellingham and Manchester City’s Foden were both recalled to the squad for this week’s World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

Tuchel said on Wednesday that Bellingham and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers are in competition for the number ten role, while last week the German said he no longer saw Foden as a winger, but instead a mix between a number nine and a ten.

The head of the Professional Footballers’ Association, Maheta Molango says a Premier League proposal to introduce a controversial salary cap will be legally challenged by some clubs.

Molango said the players’ union was opposed to such a move and claimed it would not withstand any legal challenge.

Top-flight clubs will meet next week and are set to vote on whether to replace the existing profit and sustainability rules, that limit financial losses.

If approved, a cap would be imposed on clubs’ spending, regardless of their own income.

Burglars broke into England forward Raheem Sterling’s house while he and his family were at home on Saturday.

They were not harmed during the break-in, which took place shortly before Sterling’s Chelsea played Wolves in the Premier League.

Sterling, who has not featured for the Blues this season, was at home in Berkshire with partner Paige Milian and their children, having not been named in the squad.

Former Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi believes the Chelsea midfield partnership of Moisés Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Enzo Fernandez are the best in the Premier League.

Recall that the trio played an integral role in the team’s Europa Conference League and Club World Cup triumph this year.

Mikel stated that it would be difficult for any team in the Premier League to beat the Blues in that department.

Former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Oscar is stable in hospital after falling ill with a heart issue.

The 34-year-old became unwell while undergoing physical testing before the new season at Sao Paulo’s training centre.

He returned to Brazilian side Sao Paulo, where he started his career, in December 2024.

Former Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has reportedly turned down the prospect of making an emotional return to Ajax after holding informal talks with his former club.

Ten Hag has been linked with a return to the dugout in recent weeks, having initially been tipped to take charge of Wolves before the Premier League’s bottom club moved for Rob Edwards.

He was then linked with a return to Ajax after the Dutch giants sacked John Heitinga less than six months after he took charge.

Holders Arsenal women has been stunned in the Champions League as the team squandered a two-goal lead to suffer a dramatic three-two defeat by Bayern Munich women.

Glodis Viggosdottir prodded home in the 86th minute to complete a remarkable second-half turnaround for the German hosts after a dominant first half from the Gunners.

Hull City academy winger, Joao Mendes says he does not feel extra pressure because he is the son of Brazil legend Ronaldinho.

The 20-year-old joined the Tigers on a one-year deal in September after spending last season in Burnley’s youth set-up.

His father won the 2002 World Cup, Champions League and Ballon d’Or in a career that saw him play for Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan.

OTHER LEAGUES

Fifa has been accused of undermining plans to tackle player welfare issues by consulting with fake unions.

World players’ union Fifpro said the governing body was creating Fifa-friendly organisations for consultation processes rather than engaging with the recognised football representative bodies.

It accused Fifa of using similar strategies with agents and fans, which it said was a concerning pattern.

Fifa announced a series of measures following a meeting on player welfare in Rabat, Morocco, at the weekend.

Fifa insists it is willing to work with all unions and share respectful dialogue – but claims attacks by Fifpro have made it difficult to involve them.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta says it is unrealistic that record goalscorer Lionel Messi will return to the club, but he wants to hold a tribute match.

Messi, made a surprise visit to the Nou Camp last week, saying he wants to come back, and not just to say goodbye as a player.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left Barcelona for Paris St-Germain in 2021.

He moved to Inter Miami in 2023 and last month signed a new contract which runs until 2028.

German club Mainz has lost a court appeal against a verdict for wrongful dismissal by Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi.

The Bundesliga side terminated El Ghazi’s contract in November 2023 following a series of social media posts he made about the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Mainz appealed, but the Rhineland-Palatinate State Labor Court upheld its original decision on Wednesday

Republic of Ireland manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson has insisted their World Cup qualifier with Portugal in Dublin on Thursday is not going to be a basketball match.

The 58-year-old does not expect their opponents to change their style for the reverse fixture, despite Roberto Martinez’s side failing to create many goal-scoring opportunities against them in October.

OTHER SPORTS

In Tennis, Felix Auger-Aliassime put a weird start aside to beat Ben Shelton and register his first victory of this year’s ATP Finals.

Canada’s Auger-Aliassime came back from a mixed first set to beat the big-serving American 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 in Turin.

In Athletics, World Athletics president Lord Coe says the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will kick off with a bang with the women’s one hundred metres final taking place on day one and the men’s one hundred metres final on the second day.

The opening ceremony of the Games will be on 14th July and the closing ceremony on 30th July, with athletics, which will run for the entire Games, starting in the first week and swimming in the second in a historic swap.

Lord Coe said the schedule had landed on an athletics programme that would start with a bang as our women’s sprinters take centre stage on day one and then the men’s sprinters on day two to maximise and sustain global interest after the opening ceremony.

In Formula one, Racing Bulls have apologised after a video on social media appeared to show a team member making a thumbs-down gesture as McLaren’s Lando Norris collected the winner’s trophy at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The employee, wearing team uniform and filming the podium celebrations on a mobile phone, turned and repeatedly gives a thumbs down to fans below.

Another team member put the person’s arm down and appeared to gesture for them to stop.

Racing Bulls said the action does not reflect their team’s values or the spirit.

In Cricket, England captain Ben Stokes must respect the views of former players says ex-skipper Michael Vaughan, after Stokes described some of his critics as has-beens.

Vaughan, former captain Graham Gooch and legendary all-rounder Lord Botham have been among those to question England’s preparation for the first Ashes Test next week.

Speaking on Wednesday, Stokes defended the decision to have a solitary warm-up match an in-house game against England Lions.

In Rugby, current incumbent Scott Robertson says he is determined to turn the expectation into joy as his side bid for a Grand Slam tour.

Despite an inconsistent first two years in charge by All Blacks standards, nineteen wins and six defeats in twenty-five matches, Robertson and his side are in London this week with a first home nations clean sweep since 2010 in their sights.

In Golf, Glasgow-born Gavin Macpherson has taken an unusual route to earning a place at this week’s New South Wales Open, he won the spot playing on an indoor golf simulator.

Macpherson, who played semi-professional football for Scottish club Stirling Albion before moving to Australia ten years ago, took victory at the inaugural NSW Virtual Open, which was played on a network of golf simulators in October.

The 35-year-old turned professional as a golfer after getting a job at the exclusive Royal Sydney golf course in Sydney.

TODAY’S FIXTURES

In CAF World Cup Qualifiers -Play-offs – Semi-finals

Nigeria vs Gabon

Cameroon vs Democratic Republic of Congo

In UEFA World Cup Qualifiers

France vs Ukraine

Armenia vs Hungary

Republic of Ireland vs Portugal

Norway vs Estonia

Moldova vs Italy

England vs Serbia

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

The difference between the old ballplayer and the new ballplayer is the jersey. The old ballplayer cared about the name on the front. The new ballplayer cares about the name on the back…words from Former MLB first baseman, Business Leader, Steve Garvey.