Watch the best plays from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart as he helps the New York Giants to a 34-17 win over defending Superbowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles.
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On Friday, the spotlight will be on the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa, where the Super Eagles will face off against Lesotho’s Crocodiles.
This crucial encounter represents Nigeria’s final opportunity to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes alive.
After a 1-1 draw with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on September 1, the Super Eagles seemed destined to miss back-to-back World Cup tournaments.
But their fortunes took a turn when South Africa lost points for using an ineligible player, tightening the competition at the top of Group C.
This decision put Nigeria just three points behind both Benin and South Africa with two matches left, reigniting their chances of qualifying.
READ ALSO: FIFA Sanction South Africa For Fielding Ineligible Player In World Cup Qualifier
Nigeria must avoid defeat in both of their remaining matches, beginning with Friday’s clash against Lesotho.
Additionally, they will be relying on South Africa to falter in their upcoming games against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
With multiple teams still in contention to lead the group, securing a victory in Polokwane is crucial for the Super Eagles to stay in the hunt.
Lesotho managed a 1-1 draw against Nigeria in their earlier meeting at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on November 16, 2023, and will aim to pull off another surprise in Polokwane.
Since 2019, the two teams have faced each other three times, with Nigeria winning twice and one match ending in a draw.
At the moment, Benin lead Group C with 14 points and a goal difference of +4, closely followed by South Africa, who also have 14 points but a +2 goal difference.
Nigeria occupy third place with 11 points and a +2 goal difference, while Rwanda trail just behind with 11 points and a goal difference of zero.
The Super Eagles’ journey in the World Cup qualifiers has been inconsistent so far, with two victories, five draws, and one loss. In comparison, Lesotho have secured two wins, three draws, and suffered three defeats.
Matchday nine kicks off on Friday, October 10, at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, with the game starting at 6:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. in Nigeria).
Dolly Parton’s close friend Reba McEntire has slammed a photo circulating online of her sat next to the country music icon on her “deathbed”. The Jolene hitmaker, 79, was forced to speak out after an AI hoax image went viral.
She settled the score amid rumours she was seriously unwell and even on her deathbed after postponing her Las Vegas residency. Dolly humorously hit back that she “ain’t dead yet” following concerns after her sister publicly asked people to “pray” for her.
The country legend made light of the AI image showing Reba beside her hospital bed, before reassuring supporters once more that death wasn’t knocking at her door. Reba has since issued her own message as she branded it “crazy”.
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The Fancy hitmaker, 70, said: “You tell ’em, Dolly, that AI mess has got us doing all kinds of crazy things. You are out there dying, I’m out here having a baby.” She shared a fake photo of her holding a sonogram before adding: “Well, both of us know you’re too young and I’m too old for any of that kind of nonsense..
“You better know I’m praying for you. I love you with all my heart, and I can’t wait to see you soon.” Alongside the clip, Reba commented: “Too young to die, too old for babies [laughing emoji] I love you, @DollyParton! See you soon.”
Dolly added a red love heart emoji under Reba’s post. Responding to the fake picture and concerns, Dolly filmed a video of herself all glammed up in a red fringe shirt and black trousers.
She urged: “I wanted to say, I know lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here!” Dolly explained she wanted to calm worries and shared how she was handling matters she put aside while looking after her late husband, Carl Dean.
Dolly said: “I’ve got some problems, as I mentioned, back when my husband Carl was very sick, that was for a long time, and then when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself, so I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of.
“So, anyway, when I got around to it, the doctor said, ‘We need to take care of this, we need to take care of that,’ nothing major. But I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home.
“But I wanted you to know that I’m not dying.” Dolly laughed as she mentioned the fake photo with Reba and added: “Did you see that AI picture of Reba and me? I mean they had Reba at my deathbed. And we both looked like we needed to be buried.
“I thought, oh my Lord. But if I was really dying, I don’t think Reba would be the one at my deathbed. She might come visit me, earlier. Anyway, there’s just a lot of rumors flying around, but I figured if you’d heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay.
“So, anyhow, that’s what I wanted to say, and I’m not ready to die yet.” Rumours started to spread when Dolly’s sister Freida asked fans to pray for her amid “health challenges”.
Her other sister Stella then shared Dolly had been struggling with kidney stones as the musician’s UK manager confirmed the post had been “blown out of proportion”. Dolly had announced last month she would be postponing her Las Vegas residency until September next year.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle looked proud as punch on the red carpet last night as they landed a prestigious award for their philanthropic work.
The Duke and Duchess attended the World Mental Health Day gala in New York, where they received the Project Healthy Minds’ ‘Humanitarians of the Year’ Award in recognition of their campaigns to make the online world a safer place for families and young people.
The Sussexes posed for photos at the glitzy event before taking to the stage to accept the award and deliver a rousing speech. And no a body language expert has revealed one telling detail from their rare joint appearance.
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Judi James believes that Harry and Meghan were in their element at the award ceremony, telling the Mirror: “This is Harry and Meghan in pared-back, more understated mode to accept their award and do some ongoing campaigning too.
“Their body language is suitably simple too, although their facial expressions suggest some pride in their joint profile and some personal pride from Meghan towards her husband.”
The body language guru noted that Meghan was in awe of Harry during the appearance, while the royal couple were also seemingly revelling in being back in the spotlight for such an important event.
“It’s her raised and rounded cheeks that form this look of pride and a sense of self-satisfaction here as she looks up at Harry,” she said. “His asymmetric, closed lip smile reflects the seriousness of their campaign although his demeanour also reflects a sense of pleasure at being in the spotlight to promote it.”
While Harry appeared to be the ‘alpha’ of the evening, Judi said that Meghan was really the one steering the reins, as she subtly led her husband through the media call before the event began.
She said: “Their hand clasp is relaxed rather than tight and although it’s Harry adopting the more alpha stance it was Meghan throwing the glances to signal when to move onto the next spot for the cameras.”
Inside, Harry and Meghan took to the stage to accept their award. The duchess took it as an opportunity to speak about the couple’s young children and her concerns for their future.
“Our children, Archie and Lili, are just six and four years old. Luckily still too young for social media, but we know that day is coming,” she said to the crowd.
“Like so many parents, we think constantly about how to embrace technology’s benefits, while safeguarding against its dangers. That hopeful intention of separation is rapidly becoming impossible.”
Harry joined his wife on stage and added: “This is a pivotal moment in our collective mission to protect children and support families in a digital age.”
Tim Westwood was yesterday charged with sexual offences against seven women, including four counts of rape.
The 68-year-old, a former Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter, has been charged with sexual offences against seven women between 1983 and 2016. Mr Westwood is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 10 November. He has denied claims of misconduct.
The Metropolitan Police announced the charges on Thursday and released the details of the allegations. One alleged offence took place in 1983 when a 17-year-old girl was indecently assaulted in the Fulham area of London. In 1986, a woman in her 20s was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Vauxhall area of London.
Between 1995 and 1996, it is alleged a female between the age of 17-18 was raped in London and it was also alleged that the same woman was sexually assaulted in central London within the same timeframe. Between 2000 and 2001, it is alleged a female between the age of 17 and 18 was raped and sexually assaulted in London.
In 2010, a woman in her 20s was allegedly raped in London. In 2010, a woman in her 20s was sexually assaulted in Stroud, it has been alleged. In 2016, a woman in her 20s was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Finchley area of London. These charges relate to seven different women.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, from the Metropolitan Police Service, said in a statement released: “It takes courage to come forward and report allegations of this nature.
“The women who have done so have put their trust in us and we continue to provide them with all available support. Our investigation remains open and we’d encourage anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with us. A dedicated team of investigators is available via email.
“Any reports will be dealt with in the strictest confidence by specialist officers. Support is also available by contacting the independent charity, Rape Crisis at 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.”
Westwood started his career in radio at LWR before moving to Kiss FM, which he co-owned. He had a stint on Capital FM from 1987 before moving to the BBC to present its new rap show in 1994 for Radio 1.
A former Israel-Premier Tech rider says he is facing a damages claim for 30m euros (£26m) after terminating his contract with the team over “personal beliefs”.
Canada’s Derek Gee was one of the Israel-registered team’s best riders, finishing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia.
But he left the team days before he was due to compete in September’s Vuelta a Espana – the three-week Grand Tour which was subject to several pro-Palestinian protests relating to the Israel-Gaza war.
Gee, 28, said he did “nothing more than exercise his fundamental rights as a professional and as a person,” because “serious concerns related to racing for the team, both from a safety and personal belief standpoint, weighed heavily on my conscience”.
He added that ending a contract “is every person’s right when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances”.
Israel-Premier Tech have said they are “unable to comment on the matter” because the case is being reviewed by the arbitral board of cycling’s world governing body the UCI.
The UCI has been contacted for comment.
Gee’s statement, which he posted on Instagram, also referred to an “irreparable relationship with the team principal”. That could refer to co-owner, Canadian-Israeli billionaire property magnate Sylvan Adams.
A passionate amateur cyclist and fan of the World Tour, Adams has become a public face of the team and has poured a lot of money into the project, including signing Britain’s four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome in 2021.
He has also overseen the building of a velodrome in Tel Aviv in 2018 and investments in Rwanda, which has just hosted Africa’s first Road World Championships.
Adams’ involvement in Israeli politics is well known, calling himself a “self-appointed ambassador to Israel”.
He supported Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on a trip to the White House to oversee the signing of an accord between arab nations and Israel during US President Donald Trump’s first term in 2020.
While Gee stops short of saying he left because of Israel’s role in the war with Gaza directly, he refers to his “personal beliefs”, and concerns for his “safety”. There has been a growing unease among riders about competing for Israel-Premier Tech, as alluded to by fellow riders in the peloton.
Since Gee’s decision to leave, Israel-Premier Tech has been subjected to much scrutiny.
At La Vuelta the team were the focus of several pro-Palestinian protests which affected the wider peloton. Riders crashed and were injured by protestors’ actions, which included pins being thrown into the road causing several punctures.
The final stage in Madrid was cancelled after it descended into chaos when protestors stormed the course and some riders were pushed off their bikes.
On stage five Israel-Premier Tech were targeted during the team time trial. Protestors ran across the road with a banner, causing four of the eight riders to take avoiding action and come to a stop.
Organisers of La Vuelta even suggested the team should leave the race for safety reasons. The name Israel was also dropped from the team kit during the race.
The team have since committed to rebranding without the Israel name after pressure from sponsors.
Last week they were then barred from the Giro dell’Emilia race over safety fears.
Israel-Premier Tech currently have five British riders on their roster. Alongside Froome, they have Jake Stewart, Ethan Vernon, Stevie Williams and Joseph Blackmore.
Israel launched the war in Gaza in response to the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, when around 1,200 people were killed, mostly Israeli civilians, and 251 were taken hostage.