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Victor Osimhen used to sell newspapers in the crowded, traffic-clogged streets of Lagos: now he creates headlines as a consistent scorer for Nigeria and Galatasaray.

As Nigeria prepare to face Group C rivals Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda during December at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, much is expected from the 26-year-old.

“He is the greatest striker in the world,” says head coach Eric Chelle as the Super Eagles seek a fourth AFCON title and first since 2013.

READ ALSO: [AFCON 2025]11 Players Now In Eagles’ Camp, 12 More To Arrive Monday

Nigeria have an abundance of attacking talent, and fellow former African player of the year award winner Ademola Lookman is among those who could partner Osimhen.

The story of Osimhen is typical of so many African footballers. It is a classic rags-to-riches tale as seemingly insurmountable odds are overcome to achieve stardom.

Osimhen revealed his childhood difficulties in a series of social media posts, hoping they would inspire Nigerians facing similar adversities.

His earliest memories of life in the Nigerian commercial capital are of dusty streets and the stench from a waste dump.

“I had to sell newspapers and bottles of water to help my family survive,” recalled the star who turns 27 on December 29, the day before Nigeria face Uganda in their final group match.

A stroke of luck changed his life and propelled him on a path that would lead him to be crowned 2023 African player of the year.

A candidate for a place in the national under-17 team for the 2015 World Cup, he initially failed to impress coach Emmanuel Amuneke and was dropped.

But several assistant coaches disagreed with the decision and asked Amuneke to give Osimhen a second chance.

Amuneke, scorer of both goals when Nigeria beat Zambia 2-1 in the 1994 AFCON final in Tunisia, heeded their pleas.

Given a second chance, Osimhen went on to score 10 goals in seven matches and play a key role as Nigeria won the tournament in Chile.

– ‘Thanks to Amuneke’ –

Osimhen has never forgotten the role Amuneke played in launching his career, lavishing praise on him during an acceptance speech when voted the bset player in Africa.

“Special thanks goes to Emmanuel Amuneke. Without him I do not think I would be standing here holding one of the most prestigious awards in international football,” he told the audience in Rabat.

Spotted by scouts in Chile, Osimhen moved to Europe, but his scoring skills deserted him when he joined Wolfsburg.

He failed to score in 14 matches and was loaned to Charleroi, where he rediscovered his scoring touch, netting 12 times in 25 matches.

Next stop for the Nigerian was Lille in neighbouring France. He spent one season there, averaging a goal every two matches.

Napoli splashed a club record 70 million euros in 2020 to sign Osimhen and he repaid the faith in him by helping the club end in 2023 a three-decade wait for a Serie A title.

Osimhen was hot property and the media linked him with a move to the Saudi Pro League, Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain.

But he went to Istanbul-based Galatasaray instead, first on loan, then permanently. In Turkey, he has maintained his ability to score frequently.

Osimhen has been an equally prolific goal poacher for Nigeria, scoring 31 in 45 internationals since his 2017 debut, including four in a 2024 AFCON qualifier against Sao Tome e Principe.

In recent months, he bagged a hat-trick against Benin and two against Gabon in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

But the Super Eagles will be notable absentees from the global showpiece next year after losing the African play-offs final against the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in Morocco.

Osimhen was forced to retire injured at half-time against the Congolese, and many Nigerian supporters blamed the loss on his absence.

World number one Scottie Scheffler has been voted PGA Tour Player of the Year for a fourth straight season after a campaign that included two major wins, the tour announced on Monday.

Scheffler, who won six titles in 2025, is just the second player, after Tiger Woods, to receive the accolade in four or more consecutive seasons.

“Scottie’s consistent level of success has been nothing short of spectacular as he continues to chase history on the PGA Tour, and we’re excited to see what he will deliver in 2026,” said tour chief executive Brian Rolapp.

Scheffler, 29, won his third major with a five-shot victory at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in May.

He added a fourth at the British Open at Royal Portrush in July.

South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter was named the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year.

The 21-year-old Potgieter was one of five rookies to win on the tour in 2025 and the only one to reach the FedExCup Playoffs.

The New York Knicks will attempt to find a way past the imposing 7ft 4in (2.23m) frame of San Antonio Spurs prodigy Victor Wembanyama on Tuesday as they bid to end their 52-year trophy drought in the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas.

The Knicks head into Tuesday’s final at the T-Mobile Center brimming with confidence after polishing off Eastern Conference top seeds Orlando with ease in Saturday’s semi-finals.

That win has left the New York franchise within touching distance of a first piece of silverware since the team’s 1973 NBA Finals victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Blocking their path, though, is the fit-again Wembanyama, the 21-year-old French giant who was instrumental in helping San Antonio upset the in-form Oklahoma City Thunder in Saturday’s Western Conference semi-final.

Wembanyama played limited minutes in the defeat of Oklahoma City, appearing from the bench in the second quarter to haul San Antonio back into contention after they had trailed by 11 points at the end of the first quarter.

Knicks talisman Jalen Brunson said New York would attempt to drag Wembanyama out of position defensively.

“You’ve got to find ways to pull him away from the basket, and you’ve got to obviously be smart,” Brunson said of Wembanyama. “You can’t just go in there and think no one is going to come and affect the shot.

“He’s great at what he does, and we’ve just got to be smart as a team, playing off two feet and reading where he is and just trying to get the best shot as possible.”

READ ALSO: Chris Paul Axed By Los Angeles Clippers

 Team Effort

Karl-Anthony Towns echoed Brunson’s assessment of Wembanyama.

“He’s (7-4), and he’s very talented,” Towns said. “For us, we’re going to have to do a good job of executing our defensive game plan and offensively, as well.”

Knicks coach Mike Brown said neutralising Wembanyama would require a team effort.

“You’re not going to be able to guard a guy like that one-on-one,” Brown said. “You try to put length, size, physicality at the point of attack when it comes to him, but it’s got to be five guys guarding the basketball at all times.

“We have some pretty good defenders with length, and hopefully they can try to make it as difficult as possible with him, knowing that they have help behind them.”

Wembanyama’s introduction from the bench on Saturday sent a surge of excitement rippling through the T-Mobile Arena crowd, who later showered the Frenchman with chants of “M-V-P.”

Wembanyama, meanwhile, said San Antonio’s defeat of Oklahoma City augured well for the chances of the Spurs emerging as genuine rivals to the Thunder in the Western Conference.

“I think we’re not quite there yet, but it’s a good sign that people see that it’s possible,” Wembanyama said. “I don’t think anybody right now can claim to have a rivalry with them in the league. They’re in their own tier.

“But in the future, if we can provide a stage this good and we reach that level, of course, it would be great to have a rivalry because if you’re at the top and you have a rivalry, it means you’re in the best position to win titles.”

Wembanyama said while a San Antonio victory on Tuesday would “not be e super significant step,” it would still carry some significance.

“It’s a high-stakes game that both teams are going to be very invested in winning,” Wembanyama said.

“It just shows that we are preparing and we will pass the next step for more significant games in the playoffs.”

The number of players in the Super Eagles’ camp in Cairo, in preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, has risen to 11, with 12 more players expected on Monday.

According to an update from the camp, FC Porto of Portugal left-back Zaidu Sanusi has joined his colleagues who had earlier arrived, bringing the total number of players in camp to 11.

READ ALSO: [2025 AFCON] Uzoho, Nwabali, Lookman, Among First Arrivals As Super Eagles Open Camp

Players already in camp include goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, and Amas Obasogie. Others are Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igho Ogbu, and Tochukwu Nnadi.

Twelve more players are expected on Monday (today), with the team holding its first training session at 8 p.m. local time. The training will take place inside the main bowl of the Cairo International Stadium.

The backroom staff and coaching crew are already present in the team’s camp.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Egypt in an international friendly on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Cairo Stadium, as part of their build-up to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Following the encounter, the team, led by head coach Eric Chelle, will depart Cairo for Fes, Morocco, where they will be based throughout the group phase of the tournament.

The Nigerian team has been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. They will open their AFCON campaign against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on December 23 before clashing with Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles four days later.

Manchester City thumped Crystal Palace 3-0 on Sunday to climb back to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal as Aston Villa twice came from behind to beat West Ham.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest demolished Tottenham 3-0, while Sunderland saw off local rivals Newcastle 1-0 thanks to a Nick Woltemade own goal.

Arsenal, who have set the pace in this season’s Premier League, squeaked home on Saturday with a 2-1 win against bottom-club Wolves, thanks to two own goals.

That put the pressure back on City, who have been showing ominous signs that they are finding their feet in recent weeks.

Pep Guardiola’s men braced for a tough task at Selhurst Park against high-flying Crystal Palace, and Oliver Glasner’s side was the more dangerous team in the first half.

But Palace failed to take their chances, with Yeremy Pino hitting the crossbar with only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to beat.

Erling Haaland had largely been on the periphery of the game but scored his 101st Premier League goal when he headed a pinpoint Matheus Nunes cross across Dean Henderson and into the net shortly before the break.

READ ALSO: Palmer Strikes As Chelsea Return To Winning Ways Against Everton

Palace again started the second half brightly but could not break through and paid the price when Phil Foden swept home from a distance after receiving the ball from Rayan Cherki.

It was the sixth goal in four Premier League games for the forward, being watched at Selhurst Park by England manager Thomas Tuchel.

City made certain of the three points when Haaland thundered a penalty past Henderson after Savinho was taken down by the goalkeeper following a surging run down the middle late in the game.

Villa Show Steel

Villa started their match at the London Stadium as the form team in the league, with nine wins in 10 league matches.

But they fell behind after just 29 seconds when Mateus Fernandes robbed Ezri Konsa and rifled home.

Unai Emery’s men were level just minutes later when John McGinn’s cross was headed into his own net by Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Jarrod Bowen put the Hammers back in front midway through the second half, but Villa again drew level early in the second period through Morgan Rogers.

Rogers fired Villa into the lead for the first time in the 79th minute, smashing home a dipping drive from outside the box to seal a 3-2 win.

The victory leaves Emery’s men just one point behind City and five clear of fourth-placed Chelsea.

Tottenham travelled to Nottingham in desperate need of a win after just one victory in their past six league matches.

But Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice, and Ibrahim Sangare lashed home a superb third to increase the pressure on manager Thomas Frank, struggling in his first season at the club.

Sunderland were facing Newcastle in the Premier League for the first time in nearly a decade after spending years out of the top division.

Their goal came from an unlikely source when Newcastle forward Woltemade headed Nordi Mukiele’s cross past his own goalkeeper in the opening moments of the second half.

The win lifted Sunderland to seventh in the table.

Brentford host Leeds in the late kick-off.

Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali were the first batch of players to arrive at the Super Eagles’ camp for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

Uzoho, a returnee to the Nigerian team after months of absence, was the first to touch down at the Super Eagles’ camp in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday morning.

The Omonia of Cyprus man, who was a surprise inclusion in the 28-man roster for the continental showpiece, joins Nwabali as the team’s camp opened on Sunday.

A video on the Super Eagles’ official X handle showed Chippa United’s Nwabali alighting from a bus and checking into Nigeria’s hotel.

Already, the backroom staff and the coaching crew are in the team’s camp.

READ ALSO: Uzoho, Onuachu Return, Okoye Omitted As Nigeria Unveils AFCON 2025 Squad

With Nwabali still recovering from injuries, Uzoho will fancy his chances of usurping the Chippa United goalkeeper as Nigeria’s first choice.

Amas Obasogie of Singida Blackstars in Tanzania completes the trio of Nigerian goalkeepers for the competition.

More players are expected to arrive at Nigeria’s camp in the coming days after this weekend’s actions, especially in Europe.

The Super Eagles will take on Egypt in a practice match on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Cairo Stadium.

After the match, the Coach Eric Chelle-tutored side will fly to Fes in Morocco, their base for the group stage of the tournament.

Nigeria are in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. They begin their campaign in the competition against the Taifa Stars on December, 23.

After that, the team will take on Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on the 27th before battling the Cranes of Uganda three days later.

The 2025 AFCON comes with added pressure for the Super Eagles following their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the second time in a row Nigeria will be missing out on the competition.