Sports
Egypt Beat Super Eagles Of Nigeria In Cairo Ahead Of AFCON 2025
Egypt secured a narrow 2-1 win over the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Tuesday night in a pre-Africa Cup of Nations friendly at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday night, December 16.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Ahmed Saber finished calmly from close range. The move stemmed from slick work on the right by Zizo, whose low cross picked out Saber arriving unmarked.
The Super Eagles responded with greater intent as half-time approached and went close to drawing level through Paul Onuachu. The striker met a long throw from Frank Onyeka with a well-placed header, only for Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy to produce a sharp save.
Pressure eventually told in first-half stoppage time. A delayed free kick from the right by Zaidu Sanusi confused the Egyptian area, and Chidozie Awaziem reacted quickest to nod into an empty net and restore parity.
Egypt reclaimed the lead shortly after the restart. Mostafa Mohamed read the situation well as Nigeria’s offside line failed to hold, racing through before drilling his finish beyond Amas Obasogie.
The Super Eagles injected fresh energy as the match wore on and enjoyed spells of possession. Still, a disciplined Egyptian defence limited clear chances, allowing the hosts to secure a win.
The game doubled as a useful dress rehearsal for the Super Eagles. Midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Obasogie both made unofficial debuts, while Stanley Nwabali started despite recent concerns over wrist and ankle soreness.
Onyeka was handed a rare start in midfield, and Onuachu led the line, with key figures such as Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon yet to report for duty.
Nigeria will travel to Morocco on Thursday as preparations intensify for the 2025 AFCON. The Super Eagles have been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania, and will begin their campaign against Tanzania on December 23 in Fez.
Sports
Transfer: Aribo seals loan move to Leicester City
Leicester City have confirmed the loan signing of Joe Aribo from Southampton, DAILY POST reports. The move, according to the Foxes, is subject to league approval.
Aribo endured a difficult first half of the season at Southampton, making just seven league appearances, all as a substitute. The Nigeria international is not expected to return to the Saints, with his contract set to expire this summer.
The 29-year-old made 111 appearances for Southampton across four seasons in the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship.
Aribo will now link up with his new teammates as Leicester prepare for their upcoming Sky Bet Championship fixture away at Birmingham City on Saturday.
Sports
Transfer: Cristiano Ronaldo blocks moves for Benzema, Kante
Al-Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, boycotting Saudi Pro League games has led to several transfers being held up.
As it stands, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Youssef En-Nesyri cannot join new teams.
The potential move of Benzema to Al-Hilal was set to trigger a domino effect, which would have seen Kanté move to Fenerbahçe and En-Nesyri sign for Al-Ittihad. However, Ronaldo is opposed to it, believing the transfers would harm the balance and fair competition of the league.
His frustration comes from the fact that Prince Al Waleed, the outright to-be owner of Al Hilal in the summer — unlike Al Nassr, which is under PIF governance— can use his own personal funds to finalize transfers.
Sports
EPL: Late Fernandez Strike Gives Chelsea Comeback Win Against West Ham
Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner capped Chelsea’s thrilling fightback from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2 in a dramatic London derby on Saturday.
Liam Rosenior’s side trailed to first-half goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville at Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea ignored the half-time jeers from their angry fans, staging a brilliant revival after the break. Joao Pedro reduced the deficit before Marc Cucurella headed the equaliser.
For the first time in the Premier League era, Chelsea came from two down at half-time to win thanks to their captain as Fernandez netted in stoppage-time. West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo was sent off for violent conduct after tempers boiled over in the final seconds.
In what Rosenior had labelled Chelsea’s “biggest match of the season”, the Blues showed their character in memorable fashion. They climbed to fourth in the Premier League as Rosenior became only the fourth English manager to win his first three Premier League games after Bobby Gould, Sam Allardyce and Craig Shakespeare.
Rosenior has overseen six wins from seven games in all competitions since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca. The highlight of Rosenior’s impressive start had come on Wednesday when the Blues fought back from 2-1 down to beat Napoli 3-2 in Italy, securing a place in the Champions League last 16.
But this was arguably even more eye-catching than that success, given how Rosenior turned the tide after Chelsea’s wretched first half. Rosenior will bid to work another miracle on Tuesday when Chelsea look to overturn a 3-2 deficit in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Premier League leaders Arsenal.
– From boos to bedlam –
He made seven changes after the victory in Naples, with Cole Palmer back in the starting line-up after starring from the bench in midweek. Chelsea looked out of sync following the reshuffle and West Ham took advantage to go ahead in the seventh minute.
Bowen wriggled into space on the edge of the penalty area before curling in a cross that eluded the out-stretched boot of West Ham striker Pablo and caught Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez flat-footed as it drifted into the far corner. Rosenior suffered another blow when winger Jamie Gittens limped off injured after a challenge with Summerville.
Summerville inflicted more pain on Chelsea in the 36th minute.
In a flowing move from West Ham as Bowen picked out Aaron Wan-Bissaka and his cross was perfectly weighted for Summerville to thump a superb finish past Sanchez from 12 yards. Alejandro Garnacho’s dismal display drew the ire of angry Chelsea fans and the Argentine winger was put out of his misery as Rosenior took him off at half-time.
Rosenior also removed Benoit Badiashile and Jorrel Hato, but Sanchez had to save a fierce blast from Mateus Fernandes after the restart.
Sanchez saved again to repel Bowen’s snap-shot, yet just as Chelsea looked down and out, Rosenior’s changes finally paid dividends. Wesley Fofana’s buccaneering run climaxed with a precise cross towards Joao Pedro, who rose highest to head past Alphonse Areola from close-range.
The Brazilian’s fifth goal in his last five games was followed by Chelsea’s 70th minute leveller. Malo Gusto nodded Enzo Fernandez’s cross to Liam Delap for a chance that bounced down off the bar towards Cucurella, whose diving header beat Areola from close-range.
Chelsea were rampant and Fernandez bagged the winner two minutes into stoppage-time.
Joao Pedro pulled his pass across goal and Fernandez thumped past Areola to celebrate his 150th Chelsea appearance in memorable fashion. Todibo couldn’t handle West Ham’s collapse and he saw red after grabbing Joao Pedro around the throat.
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