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Gyokeres, Rice shine as Arsenal cruise past Burnley

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a 2-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday.

It was business as usual for Mikel Arteta’s side, who dominated from start to finish at Turf Moor.

Early control and set-piece precision

After Bukayo Saka missed a clear chance early on, Viktor Gyokeres broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, tapping in from close range after Declan Rice’s pinpoint corner.

It marked Arsenal’s eighth set-piece goal in their opening 10 league matches, underlining their growing threat from dead-ball situations.

Rice turned scorer just past the half-hour mark, finishing off a slick counter-attack to make it 2-0 and effectively kill the game before halftime.

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Super Eagles To Open Camp For World Cup Playoffs November 9

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that the Super Eagles will commence training for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs on Sunday, November 9, in Rabat.

Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to release his squad list for the mini-tournament next week.

Nigeria will take on Gabon’s Panthers in the first semi-final on Thursday, 13 November.

The winners will face either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final.

CAF will stage a draw on Thursday (today) to determine match venues of both games.

The El Barid Stadium and the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex both in Rabat have been lined up to host the games.

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King Cup: What Ronaldo Said After Al-Nassr’s Exit

Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has reacted following his team’s elimination from the King Cup of Champions by Al-Ittihad on Tuesday.

The Portugal forward wants Al-Nassr to learn from the defeat and use it to better themselves for the remainder of the current season.

Recall that Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Nassr 2-1 in the King Cup Round of 16 tie.

In a post via his X account, Ronaldo posted an eight-word message for his Al-Nassr, along with a team picture.

The 40-year-old then urged his teammates to stand tall despite the loss to Al-Ittihad.

“We stand tall, learn, and move forward together,” Ronaldo wrote.

Al-Nassr’s next game is against Al Feiha in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

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CAF Confirms World Cup 2026 Playoff Fixtures, Venue, Time; Nigeria, Others Get Opponents

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in partnership with hosts Morocco, has officially announced the match venues and schedule for the African qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Intercontinental Playoff tournament.

The high-stakes mini-tournament will take place from 13 to 16 November 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, featuring four African powerhouses: Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

According to CAF, the semi-finals will be played on Thursday, 13 November 2025, at El Barid Stadium and the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex.

A draw scheduled for 30 October 2025 will determine which fixture is assigned to each venue.

The opening semi-final will see Nigeria’s Super Eagles take on Gabon at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

This will be followed by the second semi-final between Cameroon and DR Congo at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

The tournament’s final is slated for Sunday, 16 November 2025, at Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium, with kick-off set for 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

Confirmed Fixtures: CAF 2026 Playoff

  • Match 1: Nigeria vs Gabon — 17:00
  • Match 2: Cameroon vs DR Congo — 20:00

The overall winner will advance to the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-off in March 2026, where they will compete for Africa’s 10th and final slot at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The tournament represents the last h

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2026 WCQ: Super Eagles World Cup Hopes Would Have Been Dead Without Victor Osimhen – Mikel Obi

Former Nigerian international Mikel Obi has asserted that without star striker Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles’ chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup playoffs would be “nonexistent.”

Speaking on the Obi One podcast, Mikel emphasized Osimhen’s crucial role in reviving Nigeria’s World Cup bid. This sentiment follows the decisive final Group C match against Benin, where the Galatasaray star scored a hat-trick in a commanding 4-0 victory, which ultimately sealed the playoff berth for the Super Eagles.

Mikel argued that even against a lesser opponent, the striker’s performance under intense pressure was remarkable.

“If we didn’t win that game, we wouldn’t be talking about trying to qualify for the World Cup. Victor Osimhen has singlehandedly kept us alive. One of the biggest games, he’s come out and scored a hat-trick.”

Mikel underscored Osimhen’s importance by pointing to the team’s record in his absence. He noted that the Super Eagles failed to secure a single win in the matches Osimhen missed, instead recording four draws and one loss. This stark comparison highlights the striker’s profound influence on the team’s results.

Mikel praised the intangible qualities that Osimhen brings to the field: “You can see the intensity, passion, aggressiveness he shows. When the pressure is on, the big boys step up, and that’s exactly what he has done. He’s the big boy in that team right now, and we all needed him.”

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LaLiga: ‘He’ll Never Change’ – Burley Slams Vinicius Over Alonso Behaviour

Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has criticized Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. for his conduct towards manager Xabi Alonso during last weekend’s El Clásico victory over Barcelona.

Recall that Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham.

However, Vinicius displayed unsportsmanlike behaviour towards Alonso after being substituted in the 72nd minute of the encounter. The Brazilian international expressed his frustration with the Real Madrid manager and left the pitch in a huff, though he later returned to the bench.

Burley, however, was not pleased with Vinicius’ attitude towards Alonso, insisting that the player will never change his behaviour.

“It is difficult as a player because sometimes you just cannot see the bigger picture, which is that Real Madrid needed fresh legs,” Burley told ESPN FC.

“You don’t walk down the tunnel when there is a Clasico still on against your biggest rivals. Yes, he came back out. But Xabi Alonso didn’t look best pleased about his antics and then disappearing down the tunnel.

“This is something he has to work with. I don’t think this player will ever change from this type of behaviour.”

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Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace: Eze fires stunning half-volley against former club in Gunners victory

Eberechi Eze delivered a magical moment against his former club, firing home a stunning half-volley as Arsenal beat Crystal Palace in a tense London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

The goal kept the Gunners in charge of their own fate, as they extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Palace hold firm despite Arsenal pressure

Crystal Palace kept things tight at the back throughout the first half, except for the 39t minute strike from Eze.

Mikel Arteta’s men struggled to convert possession into clear chances for the remaining parts of the game as Palace’s defensive discipline stood firm.

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El Clásico: Real Madrid edge Barcelona in high-intensity clash at Bernabéu

Real Madrid came out on top in a dramatic El Clásico encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu, edging Barcelona 2-1 in a game filled with VAR controversy and end-to-end football.

Mbappé and Bellingham strike, but Barcelona hit back

The match kicked off at a frantic pace, with Real Madrid thought to have taken an early lead through Kylian Mbappé in the 12th minute, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside.

Madrid eventually broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Mbappé latched onto Jude Bellingham’s through ball and slotted calmly past Wojciech Szczęsny.

Barcelona responded mintues later, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Balde combining brilliantly down the left.

Their move set up Fermín López, who drilled home a low finish in the 38th minute to level the score before halftime.

Penalty drama and late pressure

The second half delivered its fair share of controversy when Real Madrid were awarded a penalty after a handball by Eric García.

However, Kylian Mbappé’s spot-kick was superbly saved by Szczęsny to keep Barcelona in the game.

Meanwhile, Hansi Flick’s men buoyed by their possession, stayed composed and continued to press high, denying Madrid the freedom to play through midfield.

Substitute Ronald Araújo made key interventions to keep Mbappé and Rodrygo quiet, while young Lamine Yamal’s energy on the wing troubled Madrid’s backline.

Barcelona pushed hard in the closing stages, with Courtois forced into several saves to keep them alive. Yet, Real Madrid’s resilience held firm as they saw out the win to secure a vital three points in the title race.

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Man United 4-2 Brighton: Mbeumo brace seals third straight win for Amorim’s men

Bryan Mbeumo scored twice as Manchester United edged Brighton in a pulsating six-goal clash to record their third consecutive Premier League win, their first such run since February 2024, moving them up to fourth place in the table.

Matheus Cunha ended his 16-match goal drought to give United an early lead before Casemiro’s deflected strike and Mbeumo’s composed finish made it 3-0 by the hour mark.

The Red Devils looked to be in full control as Brighton struggled to contain their attacking rhythm.

Late scare, late relief

Danny Welbeck ignited Brighton’s fightback with a superb free-kick against his former club, and Charalampos Kostoulas’ stoppage-time header set up a nervous finish.

But Mbeumo stepped up again, smashing home his second goal to settle the contest and seal another vital win for Ruben Amorim side.

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Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland: Talbi’s 93rd-minute winner stuns Blues in title race blow

Chelsea suffered a shocking late collapse as Sunderland snatched all three points with a 93rd-minute winner at Stamford Bridge.

Alejandro Garnacho had given the Blues an early lead just four minutes into the game, setting up what seemed like a routine night for the title contenders.

Sunderland fight back

Sunderland clawed their way back when Wilson Isidor levelled midway through the first half, punishing Chelsea’s complacency and silencing the home crowd.

Late heartbreak for the Blues

As the match looked destined for a draw, Chemsdine Talbi struck deep into stoppage time, calmly slotting home to seal a dramatic victory for the Black Cats and leave Stamford Bridge stunned.

The result delivers a major blow to Chelsea’s title ambitions, as they threw away a golden chance to stay in touch with the league leaders.

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