Sports
Arsenal sink palace to extend perfect start despite Takehiro Tomiyasu red card
Arsenal shrugged off Takehiro Tomiyasu’s red card to extend their perfect start to the Premier League season as Martin Odegaard sealed a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Monday. Odegaard’s second-half penalty at Selhurst Park put Arsenal on course for their second successive win. But Mikel Arteta’s side had to dig deep to preserve the points after Japan defender Tomiyasu was controversially sent off for a second yellow card midway through the second half. Tomiyasu had been booked for taking too long over a throw-in before his dismissal for making minimal contact on Jordan Ayew.
Arteta was delighted with the way Arsenal refused to surrender their lead as they moved up to third place, behind leaders Brighton and second-placed Manchester City on goal difference.
“Great win. I’m so happy. To play 30 minutes away from home with 10 men is extremely difficult,” Arteta said.
“Some players were suffering physically. The subs were magnificent, they knew what they had to do.
“Today we had a difficult one, we overcame it and it will make us better.”
Frustrated by Tomiyasu’s first booking for time-wasting, Arteta added: “This is the standard. I think it was eight seconds. We might have to play with a stop watch.”
Expected to mount a sustained title challenge following last season’s late collapse that gifted the trophy to City, the north Londoners look up for the fight after building on their opening weekend win against Nottingham Forest.
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While they haven’t played their most fluent football yet, this could prove a significant building block in their bid for a first title since 2004.
Arsenal had the best away record in the top flight last season and registered a division-best 10 clean sheets on their travels.
Arteta’s men looked like road warriors again as they repelled Palace’s late flurry of pressure.
With new goalkeeper David Raya among the Arsenal substitutes after his loan move from Brentford, the spotlight was on Aaron Ramsdale as the England international fights to hold onto his place.
Ramsdale rose to the challenge with a confident display from the moment he turned away Eberechi Eze’s long-range strike in the early stages.
Emulating City boss Pep Guardiola’s tactic of instructing a defender to advance forward whenever they have possession, Arteta deployed Thomas Partey at right-back with a license to link up play from his preferred midfield role.
That allowed Arsenal to dominate possession but Eddie Nketiah, deputising for the injured Gabriel Jesus, failed to make their first-half pressure pay off.
The 24-year-old wasted a good chance when he nimbly turned away Joachim Andersen, only to scuff his shot against the far post with just Sam Johnstone to beat.
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Palace were denied a penalty after William Saliba’s sliding tackle on Ayew was ignored by VAR.
Nketiah was profligate again when he chipped over from just six yards after Declan Rice picked out the unmarked forward.
Arsenal kept their composure and Odegaard’s fierce 25-yard strike forced a superb tip over from Johnstone.
Odegaard wouldn’t be denied again as the Norwegian netted from the spot in the 54th minute to reward Arsenal’s dominant display.
Gabriel Martinelli’s quick free-kick caught Palace dozing and Nketiah rounded Johnstone before being upended by the keeper, who was sent the wrong way by Odegaard’s ice-cool penalty.
When Partey’s blast from the edge of the area was slapped over by Johnstone, it looked like Arsenal would cruise to victory.
But Palace were given a glimmer of hope in the 67th minute as Tomiyasu was harshly dismissed for a slight push on Ayew that was not reviewed by VAR under rules governing second yellow cards.
Palace’s frustration mounted when Eze went down under contact from Partey but saw his penalty claim rejected.
In a tense finale, Odsonne Edouard had Palace’s best chance to equalise when he headed wide from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross.
Mitchell also squandered an opportunity, blazing over from six yards as Arsenal held firm.
Sports
[BREAKING] AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Finish Group Stage Perfect After 3–1 Victory Over Uganda
[BREAKING] AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Finish Group Stage Perfect After 3–1 Victory Over Uganda
Nigeria completed a flawless 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group-stage campaign with a commanding 3–1 win over Uganda on Monday at the Stade de Fes, extending the Super Eagles’ unbeaten run and sealing top spot in Group B.
The Super Eagles took the lead in the 28th minute when Paul Onuachu capitalised on a rebound, calmly slotting home after Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s precise delivery had forced a save from Uganda goalkeeper Ismail Onyango.
Uganda started brightly but their resistance weakened after the interval. In the 56th minute, substitute goalkeeper Salim Magoola was shown a red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area to stop a clear goal-scoring opportunity, leaving the Cranes with 10 men.
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Nigeria wasted no time in asserting control, as Raphael Onyedika struck twice in five minutes. The midfielder found the net in the 62nd and 67th minutes, both goals created by Samuel Chukwueze, effectively putting the match beyond Uganda’s reach.
The Cranes of Uganda managed a late consolation in the 75th minute through Rogers Mato, who finished confidently over goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, but Nigeria remained dominant until the final whistle.
Coach Eric Chelle rotated his squad late in the game, introducing Zaidu Sanusi, Tochukwu Nnadi, and Akor Adams, as Nigeria closed out the match with authority.
Elsewhere in Group B, Tunisia and Tanzania shared a 1–1 draw, a result that leaves the two sides battling for qualification, while Nigeria advance to the AFCON knockout stage with a perfect nine points from three matches.
[BREAKING] AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Finish Group Stage Perfect After 3–1 Victory Over Uganda
Sports
Nigeria vs Uganda: Key Super Eagles Players Risk Suspension Ahead of AFCON Clash
Nigeria vs Uganda: Key Super Eagles Players Risk Suspension Ahead of AFCON Clash
Four key Super Eagles players are on the brink of suspension ahead of Nigeria’s crucial Group C match against Uganda at the ongoing AFCON 2025 tournament.
Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Semi Ajayi, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali are all one yellow card away from missing Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash.
Nigeria’s talismanic striker, Osimhen, could be sidelined if he receives a caution on Tuesday, potentially forcing coach Eric Chelle to start Paul Onuachu in his place.
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Lookman, who has scored in both of Nigeria’s AFCON matches so far, also faces the risk of suspension. Meanwhile, Semi Ajayi’s yellow card situation may prompt Chelle to consider Zaidu Sanusi as a full-back replacement. Nwabali, booked for time-wasting against Tunisia, could be replaced by Francis Uzoho if he picks up another caution.
A victory against Uganda would see the Super Eagles finish the group stage with a perfect nine points, following wins over Tanzania (2-1) and Tunisia (3-2), cementing their place in the AFCON knockout stage.
Nigeria vs Uganda: Key Super Eagles Players Risk Suspension Ahead of AFCON Clash
metro
Two Dead as Anthony Joshua Survives Ogun Expressway Crash
Two Dead as Anthony Joshua Survives Ogun Expressway Crash
World heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua was on Monday involved in a fatal road accident in Ogun State, resulting in the deaths of two persons.
The accident occurred in the Makun area of Ogun State, along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major traffic corridor linking the South-West to other parts of the country.
Eyewitnesses said Joshua was travelling in a Lexus Jeep with registration number KRD 850 HN when the vehicle reportedly rammed into a stationary truck. The exact cause of the collision has not yet been established.
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A rescuer, Adeniyi Orojo, who participated in the emergency response, confirmed that Anthony Joshua sustained injuries in the crash. He added that two occupants of the vehicle died instantly at the scene.
According to Orojo, the accident occurred shortly before Danco Filling Station, in Makun, near the Sagamu Interchange, on the Ibadan-bound lane of the expressway.
In the aftermath of the incident, concerned fans flooded social media with messages expressing worry over the boxer’s condition, while security agencies and traffic officials have launched investigations into the crash.
Attempts to reach the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) Commandant, Akinbiyi Babatunde, for official comments were unsuccessful as calls to his phone were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
Two Dead as Anthony Joshua Survives Ogun Expressway Crash
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