Category sport-news

The Super Eagles of Nigeria boycotted their training session in Rabat, Morocco, on Tuesday ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa play-off against Gabon, over unpaid bonuses.

A top team official, who preferred not to be named, confirmed the development to Channels Television.

It was learned that the players, along with some officials, refused to train in protest over outstanding allowances.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had not issued an official statement on the matter as of the time of filing this report.

READ ALSO: [2026 WCQ] ‘Keep Hope Alive’, Tinubu Urges Super Eagles After Win Over Benin

The Super Eagles’ training camp officially opened in Rabat on Monday, ahead of Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF qualifier against Gabon.

According to the official X handle of the Super Eagles, 23 players were already in camp as of Tuesday afternoon, with only goalkeeper Maduka Okoye yet to join the team.

Those currently in Morocco include Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Olakunle Olusegun, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon, William Troost-Ekong, Benjamin Fredericks, and Chidozie Awaziem.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday said next year’s World Cup would be his last as he winds down one of the all-time great careers.

The 40-year-old forward, with more than 950 club and international goals, also said he would retire from football in “one or two years”.

“Definitely, yes,” he told a Saudi forum by video link, when asked if 2026 would be his World Cup swansong. “I’m gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment.”

Ronaldo, who began a lucrative stint at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in 2023, also elaborated on comments last week when he said he would retire “soon”.

“Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game,” he said.

READ ALSO: Esther Okoronkwo Delivers Heroic Hat-Trick To Lift AFC Toronto Into NSL Final

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is targeting a sixth World Cup next year. He came closest to lifting the trophy in 2006, when Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals.

Portugal have yet to qualify for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, but can secure their spot if they beat Ireland on Thursday.

Ronaldo joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United for a second time in late 2022, a move that heralded a influx of late-career stars to the oil-rich kingdom.

Saudi Arabia, which is spending big on sports and entertainment as part of its economic diversification plan, was named as host of the 2034 World Cup last December.

The Falconets have won the 2025 WAFU B U-20 Girls Cup title following a 3-0 win over Ghana at the Stade Omnisports d’Adjohoun in Benin Republic on Tuesday. 

The Nigerian girls scored through Akekoromowei, Alaba Olabiyi, and Ramotalahi Kareem to seal the victory for the Falconets.

Ghana won the maiden edition of the tournament two years ago, but Tuesday’s win means Nigeria are now champions of the competition for the first time.

The Falconets went into the match needing three points to seal the title. They began the game with a strong showing and expectedly took the lead in the 17th minute following Akekoromowei’s powerful long-range free-kick.

READ ALSO: Esther Okoronkwo Delivers Heroic Hat-Trick To Lift AFC Toronto Into NSL Final

FULL TIME! in Adjouhoun!

Nigeria 3-0 Ghana

⚽Jenat Akeremkowei 17′

⚽Alaba Olabiyi 24′

⚽Kareem Ramotalahi 61′#WAFUBU20W #NGAGHA #SoarFalconets

Six minutes later, Olabiyi hammered home to extend Nigeria’s lead. Despite the two-goal advantage, the Falconets continued to press for more, playing with pace, power, and urgency.

They got a deserved third goal after the break. Kareem latched onto an inviting cross from Akekoromowei just around the 60th-minute mark to make it three for Nigeria.

That goal — her third — got her level with Akekoromowei at the top of the scorers’ chart.

The Falconets meet Black Princesses again today after 3-1 opening win#WAFUBU20W #GHANGA #SoarFalconets pic.twitter.com/IYPVJsDmCb

With the win, Nigeria have nine points from three games and will take on hosts Benin Republic in their next match – a dead rubber match – on Wednesday.

Ghana finished the tournament with six points, and victory is sweet revenge for the Falconets, who lost to the Black Princess via penalties in the maiden edition.

Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo wrote her name among the stars after her hat-trick powered AFC Toronto in the maiden final of the Northern Super League (NSL).

Her three goals gave AFC Toronto a 4-1 win over Montreal Roses, ensuring her side got to the final 6-1 on aggregate.

AFC Toronto came with a 2-0 lead from the first leg of the encounter at the Stade Boreale in Montreal on November 1.

Nikayla Small and Kaylee Hunter were on the scoresheet in that match for the regular-season winners.

READ ALSO: [VIDEO] Super Falcons Can Win 11th WAFCON Title In Morocco Next Year — Okoronkwo

The crown fits. Esther Okoronkwo with a first-half hat trick. pic.twitter.com/Mc3RPOyCqz

In the second leg on Monday, however, it was Okoronkwo who stole the headlines beginning from the seventh minute. The Super Falcon latched onto Hunter’s ball to score her first goal of the day.

The forward scored her second of the day, thirteen minutes later, from a free kick to give AFC Toronto a two-goal cushion.

Three minutes to the half-hour mark, the Nigerian drove past four defenders before beating the goalkeeper to score her hat-trick in a snow-covered semifinal at York Lions Stadium.

Tanya Boychuk scored the only goal for the Roses with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Though the game was as good as gone, Lauren Rowe fired in a volley into the top corner to hand AFC Toronto a 4-1 win, giving them passage into the NSL final.

The 28-year-old Nigerian, who is one of the favourites to win the CAF Women’s Player of the Year, scored eight goals and eight assists in the regular season.

Monday’s match was moved from Sunday owing to inclement weather and heavy snowfall in Toronto.

Okoronkwo’s team will square off with Vancouver Rise in the NSF final at the BMO Field on Saturday.

Brian Daboll was fired as head coach of the New York Giants on Monday after his team won only twice in its first 10 games for the third consecutive NFL season.

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was named interim head coach to replace Daboll, who won five Super Bowl titles as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots.

Daboll, who served as offensive coordinator in Buffalo for four seasons before taking charge of the Giants in 2022, went 20-40 with one drawn in 3.5 seasons with the Giants.

New York went 9-7-1 in Daboll’s first season and reached the NFL playoffs, losing to Philadelphia in the second round.

READ ALSO: Messi Makes Emotional Return To Camp Nou, Hints At Possible Comeback

The Giants squandered a double-digit lead in the final minutes for the second time this season on Sunday in losing at Chicago, dropping their fourth consecutive game.

“We spoke this morning about the direction of our franchise on the field, and we have decided that, at this time, it is in our best interest to make a change at the head coaching position,” Giants president John Mara and chairman Steve Tisch said in a joint statement.

“The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise. We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product.”

The Giants also said general manager Joe Schoen will stay in his post and lead the search for a new head coach.

Croatian Ivan Juric has been sacked as coach of Atalanta after back-to-back Serie A defeats left them in the bottom half of the table, the club announced on Monday.

Atalanta slipped to a 3-0 home loss to Sassuolo on Sunday which dropped them to 13th in the standings.

The Bergamo club had started the season with a nine-match unbeaten streak in the league, albeit with seven of them draws, before losing to Udinese and Sassuolo.

READ ALSO: ASC Acquires Majority Share In Atletico Madrid

Atalanta said in a statement that Juric and his coaching staff had all been dismissed.

Juric lasted less than two months last year in a miserable spell at Roma, before taking over at English side Southampton.

He stepped down when the Saints became the earliest team to ever suffer relegation from the Premier League in early April.

Juric replaced hugely successful previous boss Gian Piero Gasperini who left Atalanta for Roma in the summer after nine years in charge.

Atalanta have fared better in Europe this season than domestically and sit 16th in the Champions League table with seven points from four games.