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  • Boxing set to win reprieve and stay as Olympic sport for LA 2028

    Boxing set to win reprieve and stay as Olympic sport for LA 2028

    The International Olympic Committee executive board has recommended that boxing be included at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

    The sport was not part of the initial programme when it was announced in 2022, but last month World Boxing was given provisional recognition as the sport’s international governing body.

    The recommendation will still need to be approved by the IOC at this week’s session in Greece, but outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach expects it to be given the green light.

    “After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February we were in a position to take this decision,” Bach said on Monday.

    “This recommendation has to go to the session, but I am very confident they will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty they can participate in the Olympic Games in LA.”

    The creation of a new global body was the biggest hurdle to the sport’s inclusion in the next Games.

    The IOC has run boxing at the past two Olympics after the International Boxing Association (IBA) was suspended as the sport’s world governing body in 2019 over governance, finance, refereeing and ethical issues.

    The Russian-led IBA was then stripped of its status in June 2023 over a failure to implement reforms.

    The IOC was at loggerheads with the IBA during last year’s Olympics in Paris over the participation of two boxers, Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting.

    The IBA banned the fighters midway through the 2023 World Championships saying they had failed gender eligibility tests, but the IOC allowed them to compete and both won gold medals in their weight classes.

    World Boxing was formed in April 2023 and now has 84 members across five continents, including Great Britain.

    Last month the IOC said World Boxing met several key criteria for provisional recognition.

    President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, welcomed Monday’s announcement.

    “This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic programme,” he said.

    “I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic movement.

    “On behalf of everyone at World Boxing I would like to thank the Executive Board of the IOC for the trust they have placed in our organisation and we hope for a positive outcome when the IOC Session meets this week.

    “World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and I assure the IOC that if boxing is restored to the programme for LA28, that World Boxing is completely committed to being a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Charter.”

    The IOC has said only athletes whose national federations were members of World Boxing by the time of the start of the qualification events for the 2028 Olympics could take part in Los Angeles.

    The dates for the qualifying period are yet to be confirmed.

  • Marseille condemn ‘personal attacks’ on Rabiot at PSG

    Marseille condemn ‘personal attacks’ on Rabiot at PSG

    Marseille have condemned the “personal attacks” aimed at midfielder Adrien Rabiot and his family during the 3-1 defeat at Paris St-Germain on Sunday.

    The match at Parc des Princes was overshadowed by homophobic and racist chants – referencing Marseille’s large Arab population – from some PSG fans, as well as banners directed at Rabiot and his family.

    Rabiot alleged PSG fans insulted his father, who died in 2019. The player’s mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, has lodged a complaint.

    “The personal attacks, particularly targeting Adrien Rabiot and his family, are despicable and unacceptable,” Marseille said.

    “The club, which wishes to offer its full support and solidarity to its midfielder and his loved ones, announces that it joins the complaint filed against unknown persons by Adrien Rabiot’s family.”

    The club said they will “continue to be uncompromising and inflexible against any insulting remarks against the club, its management, its employees or its supporters”.

    The Paris-born France midfielder made 227 appearances for PSG between 2012 and 2019, and joined rivals Marseille after leaving Juventus last summer.

    French referees can stop play if supporters chant homophobic or racist slurs inside stadiums, but Sunday’s official Clement Turpin did not.

    “I don’t understand why the match wasn’t stopped,” Rabiot’s mother told Radio France.

    “I don’t understand why nobody is outraged. Why are some matches stopped and not others?”

  • Elite women’s sports revenue to top £1.8bn in 2025 – Deloitte

    Elite women’s sports revenue to top £1.8bn in 2025 – Deloitte

    Global revenue generated by elite women’s sports is predicted to exceed £1.8bn in 2025, with finance experts Deloitte stating the “commercial appeal of women’s sports and its athletes has never been higher”.

    Last year’s revenue surpassed £1bn for the first time and the latest Deloitte report is predicting at least £1.88bn in matchday, broadcast and commercial revenue in 2025.

    Basketball (44%) is forecast to overtake football (35%) as the highest revenue-generating sport.

    Commercial income, which includes sponsorships, partnerships, merchandising sales and pre-season tour income, is expected to represent the largest share of revenue across women’s sports (54%), with broadcast revenues contributing 25% and matchday revenues providing the remaining 21%.

    Jennifer Haskel, knowledge and insight lead in the Deloitte Sports Business Group, said: “The growth of women’s sport has continued to exceed expectations as various competitions, leagues, clubs and athletes generate significant returns, despite limited resources.

    “Women’s sport is rewriting the playbook and challenging traditional norms to redefine the future of the industry.”

    Haskel highlighted the importance of major tournaments, like the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, which will be held in the UK and has already sold a record number of tickets, and Women’s Euro 2025, in driving the revenue increases.

    She added: “Major events are increasing visibility and participation across many sports and geographies, but deliberate actions need to be taken after these big moments to drive domestic success for leagues and clubs.

    “It is no longer enough to just host an event – organisers must be bold and think of new ways to engage fans and drive participation even after the champion is crowned.

    “The commercial appeal of women’s sports and its athletes has never been higher, as the sector continues to shine on the global stage.

    “Increasing strategic investment is more important than ever to drive a professional global landscape and create an engaging industry for generations to come. It is crucial for women’s sport organisations to implement the right structures, develop a clear plan for investment, and define a long-term vision for their place within a rapidly evolving global industry.”

  • ‘Nervous McIlroy’s Players win sets him up perfectly for Masters tilt’

    ‘Nervous McIlroy’s Players win sets him up perfectly for Masters tilt’

    Rory McIlroy woke early, far too early. It was 03:00 on Monday morning and his stomach was already starting to churn. He was three holes away from winning a second Players Championship and he felt the trophy should already be his.

    Would this prove another big victory to elude him? The world number 57, JJ Spaun, stood between him and one of the most coveted crowns in the game.

    As it turned out, the 35-year-old Northern Irishman was going to be able to celebrate this St Patrick’s Day in style. McIlroy channelled his nerves while his American opponent faltered – his hopes drowning when he overshot the island green 17th, the second of the three play-off holes.

    It sets up McIlroy perfectly for his latest tilt at completing the career Grand Slam of major titles when he goes to Augusta for next month’s Masters. That’s where the chat is going – will he do it and finally, at long, long last don the famous Green Jacket?

    “I feel like I’m a better player now than I ever have been,” he said. “I feel like I can play all conditions and in anything that comes my way.”

    McIlroy beats Spaun in play-off to win Players

    McIlroy defeats Spaun in play-off to win second Players title – shot by shot

    ‘Slow progress & slow play lead PGA Tour’s agenda’

    ‘I was as nervous as I can remember’

    First he must celebrate this win. It was achieved without his very best golf.

    It would be an exaggeration to say he won it ugly, but he did it with a largely errant driver and was able to put himself in contention in a way that was beyond golf’s other leading lights.

    Sawgrass is a capricious test at the best of times. Throw in the fierce gusting winds of Saturday, Sunday’s four-hour storm delay and the cold breeze of the extra morning, which blew from a completely different direction, and it is the toughest of propositions.

    It had already been too much for defending champion Scottie Scheffler, likewise Open and US PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, who only scraped into the weekend. It was too much too for Ludwig Aberg, who missed the cut.

    McIlroy held it together, coming from four behind on the final day to lead by three before being caught by Spaun to force a play-off for which Sunday evening did not hold sufficient daylight.

    Yes McIlroy was nervous on Monday. As nervous as he has ever been over a tee shot when the play-off began – but he did not show it. Instead, he striped a majestic drive to tell Spaun unequivocally who was the boss for this shootout.

    There is an encouraging pragmatism about McIlroy these days. Deciding to abandon erratic new woods three rounds into the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week was an important change of mind.

    The $1,000 taxi fare to ferry his old woods from his West Palm Beach mansion was money very well spent as he went back to his old set-up for Sawgrass, home of the biggest tournament of the year so far.

    And then before the play-off, McIlroy changed his hitting angles to rehearse the nine-iron shot into the wind that he would need for the pivotal second hole of the play-off.

    Experience told in both instances, just as it did when he abandoned big hitting for the final hole at Pebble Beach in February to secure his first PGA Tour title of 2025.

    And then came his honest admission of the nerves he was feeling. It is as though he was embracing them rather than allowing them to be the sort of demon that derailed him when he held a winning position at last year’s US Open.

    “I woke up at 03:00 this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep,” he told reporters. “I was as nervous as I can remember.”

    Which is why the opening drive of the play-off was so important. He needed to go out and get the victory.

    “If you play to win and you’ve hit an aggressive shot and you’ve hit a really good shot, I think that can relax you and it can calm your nervous system,” he said.

    “If you’re playing sort of ‘guidey’ golf and just trying to not lose, I don’t think that sort of golf calms you down.”

    McIlroy revealed he felt a turning point after painfully losing last year’s Irish Open. The following week he charged into a play-off at Wentworth and although he lost it to Billy Horschel’s eagle in the BMW PGA shoot out there was hope.

    Then he went to the Middle East and ended his season with a crucial victory in the DP World Tour Championship. “I feel that period, October, November, was a pretty important one,” he said.

    “And I was able to do some good work on my swing and then test it out pretty much straight after in a couple of tournaments, and I feel like that’s carried into this year.

    “It doesn’t feel like I’m making those mistakes at the critical times like I was previously. I think a big part of that was just learning from those mistakes.”

    And so to carry the momentum to Georgia next month. There will be a stop in Texas prior to the Masters, but already none of his big rivals can boast such an impressive form line heading into the year’s first major.

    “It’s about doubling down and working on the things I’ve been working on,” McIlroy told BBC Sport. “And to make sure that I’m 100% ready to go for Augusta.”

  • Lions watch – Russell at fly-half & Itoje captain?

    Lions watch – Russell at fly-half & Itoje captain?

    The men’s Six Nations is done and dusted for another year but which players put their hand up for British and Irish Lions selection?

    The Lions tour Australia this summer and performances during the Six Nations are likely to dictate selection, with head coach Andy Farrell naming his squad on Thursday, 8 May.

    BBC pundits John Barclay and Sam Warburton have named their final Lions XVs but how different are their choices to when they picked their sides after the opening round of the tournament?

    Barclay’s XV

    Former Scotland captain Barclay has selected a team including five Englishmen, five Scotsmen, four Irishmen and one Welshman.

    In total, he has made seven alterations from the side he picked after round one.

    England’s dominance in the set-piece has resulted in props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart replacing Ireland’s Andrew Porter and Scotland’s Zander Fagerson, the latter missing out despite making the fourth-highest number of carries (57) in the tournament.

    “The main change is Stuart and Genge,” said Barclay.

    “[England produced] The best scrummaging performance throughout the championship. Stuart has such a low penalty count and gets through so much good work, and it’s the same for Genge – the nuts and bolts of his game are superb.”

    The engine room in the second row remains the same, with Barclay suggesting England captain Maro Itoje is a Lions skipper in waiting.

    In the back row, Barclay has named Jac Morgan in his side despite Wales’ run of 17 consecutive defeats and a second Wooden Spoon in as many years.

    Morgan made a tournament high 88 tackles, while only Itoje arrived at more rucks on both sides of the ball.

    The Welshman replaces Scotland’s Rory Darge, who made more cleanouts than any other player (45) but Barclay says Morgan could reach greater heights in the Lions set-up.

    “I had Rory Darge in the back row but I think he has fallen off slightly. Jac Morgan has played in a Wales side that is struggling, but he has stood out. Imagine him with the quality of [Lions] players and that coaching structure around him.”

    In the backs, Barclay selected five Scotsmen, including Finn Russell at fly-half.

    Centre Sione Tuipulotu was ruled out of the tournament with a pectoral injury but Barclay has opted for his countryman, who is expected to return before the end of the season, while England’s Ollie Lawrence has dropped out of contention after suffering an unfortunate Achilles rupture.

    Barclay has picked Tuipulotu at inside centre, outside Russell and inside Huw Jones in an all-Scottish midfield, with Blair Kinghorn selected at full-back and Duhan van der Merwe on the wing.

    Warburton’s XV

    Warburton, who captained the Lions to a series victory on their last visit to Australia in 2013, has selected a team of five Englishmen, five Irishmen, three Scots and two Welshmen.

    In total, Warburton has made eight changes in personnel from his team of round one, with Fagerson again missing out in the front row, replaced by Tadhg Furlong, who played his first Test since July in Ireland’s final day victory over Italy.

    Furlong missed Ireland’s first four games of the competition with a hamstring and calf issue but former Wales captain Warburton says the prop has enough “credit in the bank”.

    “There is a lot of rugby to be played between now and the tour,” said Warburton.

    “If Furlong gets five games for Leinster and three games on the tour, he rolls into a Test series with eight games under his belt. If he gets fit, I think his ceiling is higher than any other tighthead.”

    England’s George Martin also replaces veteran Irishman Tadhg Beirne in the second row, alongside Warburton’s choice for captain Itoje, despite the Leicester Tigers forward missing England’s past three matches with a knee issue.

    “I’ve gone with Martin because I think physicality wins up front and he brings that grunt,” said Warburton.

    “He got injured against France [in round two] but I think he is the best enforcer on the home isles.”

    Like Barclay, Warburton has also chosen a half-back pairing of Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Scotland’s Russell, who had some nice touches with ball in hand but crucially missed what would have been a match-winning conversion against England.

    Warburton says a returning Tuipulotu in midfield could hold the key to Russell’s success Down Under.

    “Russell has been exceptional for Bath and they have been probably been the most physical team in the Premiership this season,” he added.

    “It will be his third tour as well so he’s vastly experienced to hold the reins at 10.

    “If you put him outside Gibson-Park and with Tuipulotu on his shoulder, playing behind that pack, it will enhance him even more.

    “He is the most naturally gifted 10 we have and he could go to another level again.”

    Tommy Freeman is chosen on the wing after his impressive tournament in which he became the first England player to score a try in every game of a Six Nations campaign, while Wales full-back Blair Murray is Warburton’s “curveball” selection.

    The New Zealand-born Welshman, is picked ahead of namesake Kinghorn, who made a tournament-leading nine line breaks alongside 575m gained and 13 offloads.

    “Before the tournament, I was asked who the best newcomer would be and I said Blair Murray,” said Warburton.

    “He didn’t get picked in the first game so that didn’t go too well but he comes from a great pedigree with the Canterbury Crusaders.

    “He is an exceptional athlete, has a counter-attack ability, is good under the high ball and brave in defence.

    “It’s the toss of a coin between him and Blair Kinghorn, who has been excellent as well and got better as the tournament wore on.”

  • ‘The party’s not over yet’ – inside Newcastle’s celebrations

    ‘The party’s not over yet’ – inside Newcastle’s celebrations

    I don’t even know what time I left Wembley after Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, it was that kind of night.

    Along with my son Will and daughter Chloe, we went straight from the stadium to party in Boxpark on Wembley Way and celebrate with the Newcastle players and hundreds of fans.

    The champagne – and beer – was flowing for everyone and it was an amazing evening, the sort you just don’t want to end. No-one wanted to go home and, for the first time, I didn’t mind waking up the next day with a hangover either.

    Everyone was on such a high, and I am still buzzing now from the sheer emotion of seeing Newcastle finally win a major trophy and the reaction that followed.

    You can see from some of the photos taken that night that, external I got my hands on goalkeeper Mark Gillespie’s winners’ medal and the team have taken the trophy home but it is the feeling that is the most special part of all of this, because it is something so many of us had not experienced before.

    Maybe some older people have had it in 1969 when Newcastle won the Fairs Cup but I am 54 and anyone under my age has not had a moment like this.

    It was something new, and it was brilliant, and it is not over yet.

    I am going to be on a high for a few more days because I have not finished celebrating – it is an international break so I have not got work for a few days. The party is going to continue for me – the same as it will back in Newcastle too.

    Football is everyone’s life there, and you have a good week or a bad week depending on the result every weekend.

    This win means everyone is going to have a right good few weeks – the fact Newcastle don’t play again until 2 April just means they can party a little bit harder and longer, and rightly so because of how long they have had to wait for this.

    ‘When people look back, they will think of the celebrations’,

    Alan Shearer and his son Will joined other Newcastle fans to pose with midfielder Joelinton at Boxpark on Wembley Way as the players partied with supporters after the game

    My phone has been going absolutely crazy over the past few hours, but in a good way. I much prefer having people texting me to say ‘congratulations’ rather than everyone saying ‘unlucky’ which is what happened in 2023 when they lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester United.

    I’d waited a long time to see Newcastle win some silverware, but I still didn’t know what to do or how I was going to react when the final whistle went against Liverpool and the game was won.

    I was lost in the moment, and I still didn’t know what I was doing even when I was doing it. I got that carried away, and it was fantastic.

    It was brilliant to be there to sample it with my family and friends, to drink in the occasion and soak up an absolutely incredible atmosphere – and enjoy the result, obviously.

    Whatever happens going forward, no-one can ever take that day away from me, from us or from Newcastle. When people look back at the game, they will think of the celebrations – I know I will – because this club had been starved of success for so many years.

    Newcastle fans take over London & St James’ Park after Carabao Cup win

    Those supporters have been to Wembley so many times and come away on the wrong side, and I have too.

    I have been there as a fan two years ago and I have been there as a player and tasted defeat when we lost the FA Cup finals in 1998 and 1999.

    It was different this time, and I loved it. I can tell you from experience that Wembley is only a place for winners – it’s not a nice place when you lose but we have sampled that and it made Sunday’s victory even sweeter.

    Newcastle had dominated the final and it was just the final four minutes of stoppage time that were agonising.

    It was never going to be easy, because of who they were playing, but even when Newcastle were under a bit of pressure, they handled it really well. They were protecting the ball in the corners, and wasting a bit of time – all that stuff.

    They were cool and calm – not like us lot in the stands – and they got the job done. Let’s face it, Newcastle were due a Wembley win and, finally, this was our turn – Liverpool are going to win the Premier League, so they can have that, but this cup is ours!,

    Shearer and his daughter Chloe celebrate with Newcastle goalscorer Dan Burn

    A few fans around me were tearful at the end of the game and I definitely got a bit emotional too.

    My dad Alan passed away last year and I had a little think about him at the final whistle. That was probably what got me emotional because he was a lifelong Newcastle supporter.

    He would have been looking down with a big smile on his face, having a pint of his beer as well, I am pretty sure of that. He would have loved it all.

    We all ended up sinking a few pints afterwards, joined by some of the Newcastle players, who deserve all the plaudits they are getting. They have just etched themselves into the club’s history, and let’s hope there is more success to come.

    What next? Well first I would love to see big Dan Burn make his England debut this week and maybe he can find the Wembley net for his country as well as his club.

    I’d forgotten about his England call-up when I spoke to him on Sunday night and said ‘you might as well retire mate because it is not going to get any better than this’.

    He went ‘well, you never know… something might happen on Friday’ and he is right. That’s the story of his career really, because he has done the hard yards to get here, and have moments like this for the first time at the age of 32.

    ‘I feel numb!’ – Burn on ‘surreal’ Carabao Cup win

    To be called up by England, then scoring at Wembley for Newcastle to win them the cup is dreamland for him. As I may have mentioned on social media on Sunday evening, he is from Blyth and he is a Geordie hero. You know what, if anyone deserves it, it is him, because he is such a great lad.

    This is his moment, the same as it is for every Newcastle player. Not one bit of me is even remotely jealous of them by the way, because I retired 19 years ago and I am a fan now, the same as everyone else.

    I want Newcastle to win trophies because of where I am from, and it is my club. I am absolutely delighted for all the boys and I told some of them on Sunday night that I could not be happier and prouder of them.

    They have done my city proud, and that’s what I wanted.

    ‘I really hope this is just the start’

    Newcastle fans celebrate around Shearer’s statue at St James’ Park on Sunday evening

    I didn’t speak to Newcastle boss Eddie Howe at the party. I just sent him a text message saying ‘congratulations and whatever you are doing have a great night, and a great few days’.

    Eddie deserves all the plaudits he is getting, because he has been unbelievable for Newcastle. Firstly, when you consider where they are compared to where they were when he took over in November 2021 – 19th in the Premier League and five points adrift of safety after 11 games – and now on top of that with him winning that first trophy that has eluded the club for so long.

    He is in Newcastle folklore now, and he will always be a legend in the eyes of the Geordie public, and rightly so.

    His achievement deserves wider praise, too. English managers have not won much in our own game during the Premier League era – before Sunday, Harry Redknapp was the last one to win a trophy, the 2008 FA Cup.

    At the top of our game now we have got huge clubs who are spending huge money and demand success – they have to win trophies.

    Newcastle are one of them, but in under four years they have had to go from being a team fighting relegation to battling it out at the top for silverware, while complying with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.

    Their spending has been restricted for the past three transfer windows, yet Eddie has dealt with all of that. It underlines what a fantastic job he is doing.

    Newcastle boss Eddie Howe will assume legendary status after winning the club’s first major trophy for 56 years

    There is an argument that he is the greatest English manager of the past 30 years. Even when you just talk about who has managed Newcastle during that time, people look back at Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson as two greats of the game, but Eddie has just put himself above those two in terms of his achievements at St James’ Park.

    Kevin and Sir Bobby were both fantastic for the club and both brought different things, but they didn’t bring a trophy. That’s what Newcastle fans have yearned for and now Eddie has done it.

    Of course now we want more of the same. I look at what happened at Chelsea after they won their first trophy under Jose Mourinho, the 2005 League Cup, and at Manchester City when they ended their long wait for a trophy with the 2011 FA Cup.

    There are no guarantees, obviously, and we don’t know what will happen next but I am really hoping this is just the start of something very special in the years ahead for Newcastle, and that this trophy is the first of many.

  • Arsenal vs Chelsea: Arteta praises Maresca ahead of London derby showdown

    Arsenal vs Chelsea: Arteta praises Maresca ahead of London derby showdown

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed admiration for how Enzo Maresca has shaped Chelsea, admitting he initially saw them as contenders to win the Premier League this season.

    Ahead of their clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (13:30 GMT), Arsenal sit second in the table, while Chelsea trail six points behind in fourth. However, both teams are far from catching league leaders Liverpool, who hold a commanding 15-point advantage, having played a game more.

    With a title challenge now looking out of reach, Arsenal and Chelsea are focused on securing Champions League qualification, especially as a fifth-place finish is likely to be enough this season. Meanwhile, Arteta’s side is also preparing for a Champions League quarter-final showdown against Real Madrid.

    Despite Chelsea’s struggles, Arteta admitted he had high expectations for Maresca’s team this season.

    “From the moment I watched them play in pre-season, understanding how Enzo works and the talent they have in the squad, they were contenders to even win it from the beginning,” said Arteta.
    “They have so much there. The moment that everything lies together and they find that connection, energy and consistency, I think they can compete with any team.”

    Chelsea briefly looked like genuine title challengers in December when a five-game winning streak brought them within two points of the league summit. However, their form has since dipped, with just four wins in their last 12 matches, exposing defensive frailties and raising concerns among fans.

    Despite the criticism surrounding Chelsea’s inconsistency, Arteta remains confident in Maresca’s abilities.

    “He’s a magnificent coach,” Arteta added.
    “He’s very clear what he wants to do, he’s been very clear what he wants and how he does it. I really like the way his team plays.”

    While Chelsea work to overcome their struggles, Arteta’s Arsenal will be aiming to strengthen their league position and continue their European ambitions.

  • Players who should have made Chelle’s squad

    Players who should have made Chelle’s squad

    It could be recalled that Chelle unveiled a list of 39 players for the World Cup Qualifiers last week. That list had eight new boys, while the bulk of the players had been involved with the Super Eagles before. On Tuesday, coach Chelle unveiled the final list, with 16 players removed.

  • I’m working hard for my day with Super Eagles – Chrisantus Uche

    I’m working hard for my day with Super Eagles – Chrisantus Uche

    Chrisantus Uche has spoken out after being left out of Nigeria’s final 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

    The midfielder has scored 3 goals and appeared in 26 matches for Getafe in the 2024/25 La Liga season.

    Former Moralo player Chrisantus Uche has addressed the statement attributed to him regarding his exclusion from the 23-man squad.

    Reports claimed that the 21-year-old had informed coach Eric Chelle to leave him out of the squad. Uche clarified that he is a full-blooded Nigerian, raised in Nigeria, not abroad.

    The former Ceuta player emphasized that he will continue to work hard and patiently wait for his opportunity to represent the Super Eagles in any competitive match.

    He said: “I do not know where these lies are coming from. How can a true Nigerian like myself, an Owerri boy, say no to representing the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifiers? I’m perplexed when people claim I was born abroad. I made my first trip outside the country only two years ago to pursue my dream of playing football at the highest level.

    “I can only continue to work hard, and my chance will eventually come. I can’t wait to play for the Super Eagles, and hopefully, the team will win both games,” he concluded.

    Nigerian journalist Tobi Samuel Adepoju affirmed Chrisantus claim on his X handle. Adepoju whrote, “The 21-year-old is a midfielder. Uche played grassroots football in Nigeria before moving to Spain. He played for lower-division clubs in Spain, Moralo and Ceuta.

    Uche joined Getafe in 2024 making his rise from lower-division football to LaLiga within two years in Spain.

    The attacking-midfielder has featured in 30 games for Getafe in all competitions this season. He has scored three goals with three assists.”

  • WCQ: Chelle’s bold gamble and Nigeria’s World Cup ambition

    WCQ: Chelle’s bold gamble and Nigeria’s World Cup ambition

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will open camp tomorrow, ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali, before facing Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday, March 25.

    Sitting fifth on the log with three points from four matches, Nigeria will reopen their World Cup qualifier campaign on 21st March against Rwanda before hosting Zimbabwe four days later at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo at 5:00 pm. The two games are a must-win for the 2013 African champions.

    Coach Eric Chelle released the final 23-man squad for the crucial 2026 World Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday. The list has been received with quiet optimism. The squad which is made up of youth and experience have three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders, and eight attackers.

    Chelle called up three centre-backs, one left-back (Bruno Onyemaechi), and two right-backs (Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel).

    However, Calvin Bassey, traditionally a centre-back, can provide emergency cover at left-back if needed.

    The midfield selection includes two defensive midfielders (Wilfred Ndidi and Alhassan Yusuf), two central midfielders (Joe Aribo and Papa Daniel Mustapha), and one attacking midfielder (Alex Iwobi).

    Among the eight forwards, there are four centre-forwards (Victor Osimhen, Umar Sadiq, Tolu Arokodare, and Victor Boniface) and four wingers (Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, and Nathan Tella).

    All three goalkeepers ply their trade on the African continent: Stanley Nwabali (South Africa), Omas Obasogie (Tanzania), and Kayode Bankole (Nigeria, Remo Stars).

    Maduka Okoye, despite impressing in Udinese’s Serie A draw against Lazio on Monday night, missed out. Cyprus-based Adebayo Adeleye also failed to make the final cut.

    Remo Stars’ Bankole is one of only two Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players in the squad, alongside Niger Tornadoes midfielder Papa Daniel Mustapha. The two NPFL players and the other first timers are clear gambles Chelle took that could turn out to be the turning point in Nigeria’s bid for the 2026 World Cup ticket. Meanwhile, Tanzania-based Obasogie, one of the three goalkeepers who made the cut previously played for Bendel Insurance before moving abroad last year.