IN ENGLAND
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Arsenal has missed a chance to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as they were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Liverpool.
The Gunners, who had won their five previous Premier League matches, came into the match with a golden opportunity after title rivals Manchester City and Aston Villa both drew on Wednesday.
The result means Arsenal stay top, now six points ahead of their closest rivals, while Liverpool remain fourth.
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An influential Manchester United fan group is planning a protest against the ownership, which it accuses of turning the club into a circus.
The 1958 group was responsible for protests at the way United was being run which attracted thousands in March last year, although they scrapped a plan to repeat it before the opening home game of this season against Arsenal.
Discontent against minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been growing in recent weeks, and the appointment and subsequent dismissal of Ruben Amorim has triggered a call to protest before the Red Devils play Fulham on 1st February.
Fans held up an anti-Ratcliffe banner at Turf Moor on Wednesday before the two-all draw with Burnley, when supporters also sang vicious songs against co-chairman Joel Glazer.
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Tottenham head coach, Thomas Frank has defended captain Cristian Romero after he appeared to take aim at the club’s hierarchy, accusing them of telling lies in a since-edited Instagram post.
Spurs have won just one of their past six Premier League games and sit 14th after losing three-two at Bournemouth.
Following the defeat, Romero stated on Instagram other people should be coming out to speak and adding that they only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies.
Frank said he has been happy with Romero’s performances on the pitch, but has spoken to the centre-back about the need to keep some views internal.
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Tottenham Hotspur winger, Mohammed Kudus has been ruled out until after the international break in March.
The 25-year-old lasted just nineteen minutes of Sunday’s one-all draw with Sunderland before limping off with a thigh injury.
The Ghana forward is expected to be available for the return of Premier League action on 11th April.
Kudus signed for fifty-five million pounds from West Ham last summer and has scored twice in the Premier League for Spurs.
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West Ham women have signed defender Estelle Cascarino on loan from Juventus until the end of the season.
The France international has made forty-nine appearances for Juventus, but reports in Italy, suggest she handed in a transfer request this month.
She has eighteen months remaining on her contract at Juventus, but becomes the first signing under new Hammers manager Rita Guarino.
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Plans to redevelop Leeds United’s Elland Road home have been approved, with capacity set to increase by more than fifteen thousand.
The expansion will see the ground become the seventh largest English football stadium, as it jumps from thirty-seven thousand, six hundred and forty-five seats to about fifty-three thousand.
Leeds City Council’s planning panel approved the club’s application on Thursday, with the work set to expand the West Stand and the North Stand along with alterations to the South Stand.
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IN AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
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The Federal government has announced that the Super Eagles have been paid their win bonuses at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite confirmed the payment of bonuses on her X handle.
She stated that all group-stage bonuses were fully released and have now cleared the necessary regulatory stages.
The Super Eagles will take on Algeria in a quarter-final tie at the Stade Marrakech on Saturday at 5.pm.
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Super Eagles has arrived in Marrakech for its quarter-final showdown with the Desert Foxes of Algeria.
Éric Chelle and his players left for their base, Savoy Le Grande Hotel immediately after arriving in the city.
The Super Eagles enjoyed a smooth stay in their previous base in Fès.
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Super Eagles star, Ademola Lookman says the Super Eagles are firmly focused on their quarter-final tie against Algeria.
Lookman is expecting a stern examination against one of the continent’s most experienced sides.
He also highlighted the physical and tactical demands of the competition.
The 28-year-old said the responsibility of wearing the national colours continues to drive his performances.
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Former Kwara United coach, Samson Unuanel believes the midfield battle will determine the outcome between the Super Eagles and Algeria in Saturday’s quarter-final clash.
Unuanel stated that both teams have quality players at their disposal and that a little magic from the midfield could make the difference.
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Former Super Eagles forward, Daniel Amokachi, has predicted the countries in pole position to win the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations.
Amokachi said two West African countries and two North African countries have impressed so far at the championship, adding that any of the four teams could go all the way.
He is also of the view that Egypt and defending champions Cote d’Ivoire remain in the running for the AFCON trophy, despite stiff competition from other top sides at the tournament.
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French coach Claude Le Roy has warned Algeria that their quarter-final clash with Super Eagles would be tough for them.
Leroy, who led Cameroon to the AFCON 1988 title, warned the North Africans about the threats posed by Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
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Indomitable Lions head coach David Pagou has insisted hosts Morocco are favourites to win their quarter-final fixture.
The two countries will battle for a place in the semi-final in Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat on Friday.
Pagou placed all the pressure on the shoulders of the Atlas Lions ahead of the encounter.
The coach also highlighted the individual difference between both teams.
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Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has disclosed that the Pharaohs are not favourite to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Liverpool star noted that the Egyptian squad are eager to give their best for their country ahead of Saturday’s clash against Ivory Coast.
Salah’s three goals in Morocco have taken him to sixty-six international goals, just three shy of head coach Hossam Hassan’s long-standing Egypt scoring record of sixty-nine.
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Nigerian international Chibuike Nwaiwu is looking forward to a successful stint with Trabzonspor.
Nwaiwu completed his move to the former Turkish Super Lig champions.
The Nigerian linked up with the Black Sea Storm from Austrian outfit Wolfsberger AC.
The 22-year-old put pen to paper on a four-year contract.
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Nigeria-British professional boxer, Anthony Joshua, has penned a heartfelt message to his two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele after last month’s car accident that took their lives.
Joshua in a post via his X handle, noted that it was tough for him to bear the loss of his close friends.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Real Madrid star Federico Valverde scored a stunning early free-kick as the team beat Atletico Madrid two-one to set up a Clasico meeting with Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Rodrygo doubled Real’s lead in the 55th minute before Alexander Sorloth pulled a goal back for Atletico, but it was the 13-time Super Cup winners who prevailed to reach Sunday’s final.
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Benfica manager Jose Mourinho took his players to stay at the team’s training ground after they lost against Braga in the League Cup semi-finals.
The Portuguese manager said he hoped they did not sleep and instead thought a lot.
Benfica lost Wednesday’s tie three-one and ended the game with ten men when former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi was sent off.
Mourinho, who was appointed manager in September, suggested his players would be staying at the club’s training base in Seixal for the foreseeable future.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, the organisers of a professional women’s tournament which has gone viral on social media because of a wildcard player’s dire performance have acknowledged she should not have been allowed to play.
Egyptian Hajar Abdelkader, 21, lost 6-0, 6-0 and served twenty double faults during the first-round match in Nairobi, with the footage leaving many viewers wondering if she had ever played tennis before.
The match was part of an International Tennis Federation W35 tournament, hosted by Tennis Kenya, the governing body for the sport in Kenya.
Tennis Kenya said it had reached out to both Abdelkader and Schaedel to offer its support given the extent and nature of coverage of this match.
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In Cricket, Coach Brendon McCullum says he will not be told what to do but accepted there are areas to improve after England’s Ashes defeat.
Australia’s five-wicket victory in the fifth Test confirmed England’s 4-1 series defeat, a result that has brought the futures of McCullum, captain Ben Stokes and director Rob Key into question.
Stokes appears the most secure and the management of the England and Wales Cricket Board, who said a review into the defeat is under way, are minded to allow McCullum and Key to continue but they must accept and enact change.
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In Rugby, coach Phil Dowson says Northampton will have to overcome an atmosphere fuelled by thirty-four thousand people’s hatred of Henry Pollock to win at Bordeaux Begles on Sunday.
The two sides meet at a sold-out Stade Chaban-Delmas in a re-run of last year’s ill-tempered Champions Cup final.
Saints lost out 28-20 in May’s Cardiff showpiece, with star back row Pollock at the centre of a final-whistle scuffle.
Bordeaux Begles’ players mocked Pollock in their post-match celebrations, while fly-half Mathieu Jalibert accused Northampton of lacking respect for their rivals.
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In Athletics, Ciara Mageean has expressed her gratitude for the kind words of support she received during chemotherapy treatment.
The European champion and two-time Olympian from Portaferry in Northern Ireland revealed in July that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
Mageean posted on Instagram to share what she called a little life update accompanied with pictures of family and friends over the festive period.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
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IN CAF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS – QUARTER-FINALS
Mali vs Senegal
Cameroon vs Morocco
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SOCCER ACTION CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND
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IN CAF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS – QUARTER-FINALS
ON SATURDAY
Algeria vs Nigeria
Egypt vs Ivory Coast
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IN FA CUP- THIRD ROUND
ON SATURDAY
Everton vs Sunderland
Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace
Wolves vs Shrewsbury
Town
Burnley vs Millwall
Doncaster
Rovers vs Southampton
Fulham vs Middlesbrough
Manchester City vs Exeter City
Newcastle United vs Bournemouth
Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford
Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea
ON SUNDAY
Derby County vs Leeds United
Portsmouth vs Arsenal
West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers
Manchester United vs Brighton.
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IN SPANISH LA LIGA
ON SUNDAY
Rayo Vallecano vs Mallorca
Levante vs Espanyol
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IN SPANISH SUPERCOPA- FINAL
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable….words from John Wooden.
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