Sports

By Louise Taylor, at the Stadium of Light Something had to give on New Year's Day and it was not Sunderland’s unbeaten home Premier League record. Instead ­Manchester City’s winning streak came to a juddering halt as Pep ­Guardiola’s side spurned a chance to move within two points of Arsenal at the top of the table. Rather, at the end of hostilities, the points gap widened to four. Hats – or should that be chapeaux – off to coach Régis Le Bris and his clever and courageous Sunderland team for not merely frustrating City but offering Gianluigi Donnarumma scope to…

*After ‘Disgraceful’ AFCON *Team Lose All 3 Matches Gabon’s government has announced the suspension of the national football team, the sacking of their coach and the kicking of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the squad after three defeats at the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Gabon’s acting Sports Minister, Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, announced the suspension of the national team on television after they finished last in their group and were eliminated from the tournament in Morocco. “Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to dissolve the coaching staff, suspend the national team until further…

Raphael Onyedika scored twice and Paul Onuachu netted his first international goal in four years as Nigeria beat 10-man Uganda 3-1 in Fes on Tuesday, 30 December, to record a third win in Group C at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and send the East African side home. Uganda netted a consolation through Rogers Mato and used three goalkeepers in the game following an injury to Denis Onyango and a red card for Salim Magoola, who was replaced by Nafian Alionzi – another mishap in a chaotic tournament for Paul Put’s side. Nigeria finished top of the group with…

*Tinubu, Eddie Hearn, Jake Paul Send Messages Nigeria-born British former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, is still in hospital, but lost two close friends during yesterday's car crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Joshua was taken to an undisclosed hospital after his car hit a stationary vehicle about 11am on the Expressway, the Ogun state police commissioner, Lanre Ogunlowo, said. The driver of Joshua’s vehicle was also injured, he added. Joshua is the son of British-Nigerian parents and has family ties in the town of Sagamu, about 30 miles north of Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos. Police said the crash took place…

Nigeria-born British former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been involved in a car accident in Ogun State that killed two people. Joshua, 36, sustained minor injuries when his vehicle,in a convoy, collided with another car, Ogun State Police Command said. Police said they are investigating the cause of the accident. Joshua could not immediately be reached for comment. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told the Daily Mail: “I am away on a family holiday and awoke to the news of this incident. “We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate on how…

*Now, Bring On Uganda Tuesday *Nigeria's Last-16 Match Is 5 January In Fez Nigeria's Super Eagles held off a dramatic late fightback from Tunisia, on Saturday, 27 December, in a five-goal thriller to seal their place in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The stylish Super Eagles looked to be cruising into the knockout stages of AFCON as they led 3-0 with just over 15 minutes to go in the crunch clash in Group C. However, Tunisia showed impressive spirit to hit back twice and set up a grandstand finish in which both sides created further…

Group C in the Africa Cup of Nations is expected to liven up tonight when Nigeria and Tunisia face off. Both teams have won their opening matches in the tournament. Nigeria were great value for their 2-1 triumph over Tanzania. Coach Eric Chelle hopes that it serves as a great omen for his side. The Super Eagles beat the same opposition first up on their way to the title in 1980. The Super Eagles seem to be in good form, especially with a squad filled with stars who play in some of Europe’s biggest teams. As things stand, both teams…

*Chelsea Ditched Him By Rob Draper Declan Rice likes to call it “clean feedback”, which sounds like a euphemism for a bollocking, though he would probably say that is a misconception. Rather, it is part of the reason why Rice is being discussed as one of the best players in the world. “You can’t eff and blind, you can’t bully people,” says Terry Westley, the head of West Ham’s academy when Rice was there. “But we should be able to have a conversation and say: ‘Look, that ain’t quite good enough and we want to help you because this is…

*Despite 2-1 Victory Over Tanzania *'Next Game Vs Tunisia Will Be Huge' *Ajayi Named Man of the Match After preliminary scrutiny of Super Eagles' narrow 2-1 win over Tanzania's Taifa Stars on Tuesday, 23 December, at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Fes, Morocco, the Nigerian national team's head coach Eric Chelle returned a personal verdict: There is still work to do on this squad. The match was Nigeria's first in this year's edition of the continental soccer tournament and,though the Super Eagles kicked off their Group C campaign with a victory, Chelle is obviously not totally convinced.…

*Liverpool's Record Signing May Have Fractured Leg Vs Spurs Super Eagles Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was shown a straight red card just seven minutes into his team's Serie A matchup against Fiorentina on Sunday, 21 December. Okoye was punished with an early exit for a collision with Moise Kean outside of his area. Weakened therefore, Udinese went on to lose the match 1-5. Okoye will now miss three straight games for Udinese. Recall that some football afficionados in Nigeria had suggested that the goalkeeper declined Nigeria’s AFCON invitation and a bench role to avoid losing his starting spot as Udinese…