UEFA have handed Marseille a partial stadium closure punishment over a series of incidents in their 1-0 defeat at home Atalanta in the Champions League, European football’s governing body announced on Saturday.
Home fans at the Stade Velodrome on November 5 had set off flares, thrown projectiles and used lasers.
UEFA fined Marseille 71,000 euros ($82,500) and ordered them to close a part of the south stand for the Champions League match against Newcastle on November 25.
READ ALSO: Real Madrid, Super League Seek Over $4bn In Damages From UEFA
Brazil beat fellow World Cup qualifiers Senegal 2-0 at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Saturday thanks to goals from teenager Estevao and veteran Casemiro.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team, featuring a mouthwatering attacking combination of Estevao, Matheus Cunha, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr, dominated the first half of the friendly in London.
Manchester United’s Cunha headed against the bar as Brazil took a firm grip on the game but Chelsea’s Estevao gave the South Americans the lead they deserved in the 28th minute.
The 18-year-old was fortunate that the ball fell to his feet on the right side of Brazil’s attack but he produced an unerring finish across Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy into the far corner.
Brazil’s goalkeeper #23 Ederson, Brazil’s forward #21 Matheus Cunha, Brazil’s goalkeeper #01 John Victor, Brazil’s defender #03 Gabriel Magalhaes, Brazil’s midfielder #08 Bruno Guimaraes, Brazil’s forward #20 Estevao, Brazil’s midfielder #07 Vinicius Jr, Brazil’s midfielder #10 Rodrygo, Brazil’s defender #06 Alex Sandro and Brazil’s defender #04 Marquinhos pose for a team photo ahead of the International friendly football match between Brazil and Senegal at The Emirates Stadium in London on November 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP)
READ ALSO: Osimhen Seeks More Goals As Nigeria Eye World Cup Qualification
It was his fourth goal in his 10th game for Brazil and another reminder that he could be one to watch at next year’s World Cup in North America.
Captain Casemiro, 33, doubled Brazil’s lead in the 35th minute, beautifully controlling a free-kick from Rodrygo and curling the ball into the top corner after finding space at the back post.
Iliman Ndiaye should have pulled one back for the West African team shortly after the break after sloppy play from Brazil goalkeeper Ederson but hit the outside of the post.
Two-time African player of the year Sadio Mane was unable to provide the spark his team needed and was withdrawn in the 75th minute, one of a number of changes for both teams.
Five-time world champions Brazil reached next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a lacklustre campaign in which they finished fifth in South American qualifying.
Senegal, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions, beat Mauritania last month to seal their spot at the World Cup.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to feature against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sunday’s African playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The clarification puts to rest concerns among Nigerian fans following reports that Ndidi would miss the crucial encounter due to yellow-card accumulation.
A statement posted on the Super Eagles’ official X handle on Saturday said that CAF confirmed that yellow cards accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoffs. It noted that only confirmed suspensions apply.
READ ALSO: Osimhen Seeks More Goals As Nigeria Eye World Cup Qualification
“CAF has confirmed that Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to feature for the Super Eagles in Sunday’s playoff clash against DR Congo.
“Cautions accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoffs; only confirmed suspensions apply,” the statement read.
TEAM NEWS UPDATE
CAF has confirmed that Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to feature for the Super Eagles in Sunday’s playoff clash against DR Congo.
Cautions accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoffs; only confirmed suspensions apply. pic.twitter.com/hJNYMxdr64
Ndidi was one of Nigeria’s standout performers in Thursday’s 4–1 semi-final win over Gabon, delivering a commanding display in midfield.
Wearing the captain’s armband, he capped an energetic outing by providing the assist for Chidera Ejuke to score Nigeria’s second goal.
The Super Eagles will now lock horns with DR Congo on Sunday at 8 p.m. Nigerian time in a decisive showdown.
Golden State star Stephen Curry scored 49 points, including the game-winning free-throws in the waning seconds, as the Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs 109-108 in NBA Cup action on Friday.
For the second time in three days Curry propelled the Warriors to a victory over Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs, following up a 46-point performance on Wednesday with another masterpiece.
Curry connected on 16 of 26 shots from the field, drilling nine three-pointers and finishing a perfect eight for eight at the free throw line as the Warriors came out on top in a tense battle in Texas that included 13 lead changes.
READ ALSO: World Cup: Five Things We Learned From Super Eagles Vs Gabon Match
SAN ANTONIO, TX – NOVEMBER 14: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hits the game winning free throw during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during a 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup game on November 14, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by David Dow / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)
French star Wembanyama scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and De’Aaron Fox added 24 points and 10 assists for the Spurs, who led 79-77 going into the fourth quarter only to be undone by 14 points from Curry in the final frame.
Wembanyama scored 10 in the fourth, his tip-in layup putting San Antonio up 108-105 with 1:05 remaining.
Golden State’s Jimmy Butler drove for a layup to cut the deficit to one and after Wembanyama blocked a Butler shot Fox fouled Curry, who calmly stepped up and made the deciding free throws.
Curry said the two “gritty, gutsy, professional wins” in San Antonio could set a tone for a Warriors team trying to find their identity.
“That was fun,” he said. “They’ve got a great team. To come in here and win back-to-back games is huge.
“We all did it together,” Curry said. “I know the points look great, but we all did it together to win. That’s what we’re trying to build on.”
Friday marked the third night of group play in the league’s in-season tournament, in its third edition this year.
Teams were drawn into six groups for round-robin matches that also count in the regular-season standings. Eight teams advance to the Cup quarter-finals, with the semi-finals and final in Las Vegas in December.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 14: Jeremiah Fears #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during a 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup game on November 14, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr. / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)
In New Orleans, the Los Angeles Lakers improved to 2-0 in Cup play as they bounced back from a blowout loss at Oklahoma City with a 118-104 victory over the Pelicans.
Austin Reaves scored 31 points, Luka Doncic added 24 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists and Deandre Ayton chipped in 20 points on impressive 10 of 11 shooting for Los Angeles, who are still awaiting the season debut of superstar LeBron James.
“After the dud we threw out in Oklahoma City, you need to bounce back with a win,” Reaves said. “I thought we played pretty good for the most part tonight. We’ve obviously got to clean some things up, but pretty good.”
Veteran James Harden produced a 41-point triple-double to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 133-127 double-overtime triumph over the Mavericks in Dallas.
Harden, 36, played a career-high 51 minutes and scored 10 points over the two overtime periods as the Clippers held on to halt a six-game skid.
Pistons win ninth straight
DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 14: Duncan Robinson #55 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on November, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Brian Sevald / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)
The injury-depleted Detroit Pistons powered to their ninth straight victory, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105.
The Pistons extended their streak despite missing key contributors Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren.
Javonte Green led Detroit with 21 points and nine rebounds. Daniss Jenkins added 19 points as six Pistons players scored in double figures.
In New York, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 39 points and Landry Shamet added a career-high 36 points off the bench as the short-handed Knicks beat the Miami Heat 140-132.
The Knicks were already without star Jalen Brunson and they lost forward OG Anunoby in the first quarter to a hamstring strain.
But Jordan Clarkson added 24 points off the bench and fellow reserve Josh Hart posted a triple-double of 12 points 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Knicks withstood a 38-point performance from Miami’s Norman Powell.
Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game injury absence to deliver 25 points, seven rebounds and 18 assists as the Bucks out-lasted the Charlotte Hornets 147-134 in overtime.
Prolific Nigerian scorer Victor Osimhen could be the key figure when they tackle the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday in a fight for 2026 World Cup qualifying survival in Rabat.
The winners of the African play-offs final advance to a six-nation intercontinental tournament in Mexico during March that involves each football region except Europe.
But the losers will bow out of the contest to be among the record 48 nations that take part in the global showpiece hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria and DR Congo were among four countries given a second chance to qualify after being the best runners-up from nine African groups.
In the semi-finals on Thursday, Galatasaray striker Osimhen scored twice in extra time as Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1, while Chancel Mbemba snatched a late 1-0 win for DR Congo over Cameroon.
Osimhen, the 2023 African Player of the Year, scored a hat-trick last month in a 4-0 triumph over Benin that enabled Nigeria to squeeze into the play-offs.
The 26-year-old, who continues to wear a protective mask after suffering serious facial injuries four years ago, posed a constant threat against Gabon and could have notched six goals.
Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick against Benin Republic. X/@NGSuperEagles
On several occasions, he came agonisingly close to scoring before, in the last of 12 minutes added time, he fired wide with only goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba to beat.
“I was gutted after failing to score from that opportunity. It was a bad miss,” Osimhen admitted to reporters.
“Sometimes I score amazing goals no one expects, and on other occasions, I miss when people expect me to score.
“I apologised to my teammates after that miss and promised to find the net in extra time, which I did twice.”
Nigeria have qualified for the World Cup six times in eight attempts since first achieving the feat in 1994.
Super Eagles players celebrate goal against Gabon.
– ‘Passion’ –
The Super Eagles have never missed back-to-back World Cups since their debut and are desperate to atone for a play-off loss to Ghana that deprived them of qualification for Qatar three years ago.
Nigeria are 19 places above DR Congo in the world rankings and favourites to win the clash of the Super Eagles and the Leopards, but Ivory Coast-born coach Eric Chelle is cautious.
“The victory over Gabon means nothing. We now face formidable opponents in DR Congo and, assuming we win, there will be time to celebrate.
“We are trying to create an identity. My players understand what I want and are improving mentally and technically with each international window.
“The key to success over Gabon was passion. It was about working together. We have to rediscover that passion against the Congolese,” added the 48-year-old former Mali coach.
Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick against Benin Republic. X/@NGSuperEagles
While Nigeria have been regular participants at the four-yearly World Cup, the sole appearance by the Congolese came in 1974 when the mineral-rich central African country was called Zaire.
French coach Sebastien Desabre has transformed the always talented but often erratic Congolese into a combative outfit captained by outstanding centre-back Mbemba from Ligue 1 club Lille.
“We have experienced players. What we are putting in place has not happened overnight. We are going to give our all against Nigeria,” promised Desabre.
READ ALSO: World Cup: Five Things We Learned From Super Eagles Vs Gabon Match
Nigeria have been involved in 16 World Cup qualifying campaigns and DR Congo 12, but the showdown at the 22,000-seat Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium will be the first meeting between them.
Bolivia and New Caledonia have secured intercontinental tournament places, Iraq or UAE will represent Asia, and Jamaica and Panama are the frontrunners to be the two Central American/Caribbean qualifiers.
The Super Eagles produced a commanding performance to defeat Gabon 4–1 after extra time in their World Cup qualifying playoff, a result that keeps Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive.
It was a night of mild drama and optimism, and long after the final whistle, certain talking points continued to linger.
As Nigeria prepares for a tough test against DR Congo come Sunday, here are five things we learned on Thursday.
READ ALSO: Osimhen Dedicates Gabon Win To Fans, Says Super Eagles Committed To W’Cup Dream
Even on a night when he struggled for long spells, Victor Osimhen once again delivered when it mattered most.
The Galatasaray forward scored twice in extra time, showing elite movement, sharpness, and determination, qualities that make him arguably Africa’s most feared striker.
Once he found his rhythm, Gabon’s defence simply couldn’t contain him.
His performance was a clear reminder that Nigeria’s World Cup hopes still rest heavily on Osimhen’s ability to rise above pressure.
Nwabali’s Frailty In Goal Continues
Nigeria’s goalkeeper #23 Stanley Nwabali (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP)
One of the biggest concerns for the Super Eagles has to be Stanley Nwabali’s response when the game becomes chaotic.
The Nigerian shot stopper showed moments of nervousness, late reactions, hesitation coming off his line, and difficulty organising his defence during fast transitions.
Several times during the match, the 29-year-old was guilty of inviting pressure instead of relieving it.
Against quick, high-pressing teams, these errors in buildup have already led to avoidable turnovers and nervy moments.
It’s noteworthy to state this clearly: Nwabali has been a blessing for Nigeria, especially after years of instability in the goalkeeping department.
However, the frailty being exposed now must be addressed by Eric Chelle and his coaching staff.
Ejuke: ‘Rare Gem’ For Super Eagles
Nigerian winger, Chidera Ejuke
Samuel Chukwueze has been the preferred choice for Chelle on the right-hand side of the attack, and this has helped boost the Fulham forward’s confidence and rightly so.
While the headlines may gravitate toward Osimhen’s brace, it was Chidera Ejuke’s introduction that truly shifted Nigeria’s momentum and exposed Gabon’s growing fatigue.
The CSKA Moscow forward came off the bench to inject life, pace, and unpredictability into the Super Eagles’ attack.
His first touches were purposeful, his dribbles direct, and his off-ball movement forced Gabon’s defenders to adjust their shape, and his efforts were duly rewarded when he showed composure and clinical finishing to give Nigeria the much-needed second goal.
With his performance, Ejuke has made a compelling argument for a more prominent role in the Super Eagles lineup.
Poor Decision Making Continue To Haunt Nigeria
Despite the emphatic scoreline, not everything was perfect.
Gabon’s goal, surely a deflection, came from poor defensive communication, a recurring problem for Nigeria in recent years.
One loose moment allowed the Panthers to punish the Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s centre-back pairing still lacks full chemistry, and second balls as far as in the midfield remain a vulnerability; against stronger opposition, such mistakes could be fatal.
One of the biggest frustrations with Nigeria’s midfield was the limited creativity in regular time.
They often circulated the ball without finding line-breaking passes or unlocking Gabon’s tighter defensive blocks.
Chelle Appears To Be Doing Something Right
Eric Chelle may not be the high-profile name many fans of the game think Nigeria deserve, and possibly the most mild-mannered among Africa’s high-profile managers, but one thing is clear, and that is his tactical identity.
He is insistent on organisation, compactness, and intelligent use of transitions.
The match against Gabon showed this, as he set up his team with structure and discipline while trusting his players to execute a well-rehearsed plan.
Chelle’s initial approach was conservative but calculated, opting for a midfield that prioritised compact spacing and reduced counterattacking vulnerability.
The 48-year-old’s strength is his calmness on the touchline. Even when Gabon took advantage of midfield gaps and began growing into the match, Chelle did not rush tactical changes.
