One year after his appointment as Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, veteran journalist and football administrator Paul Bassey is being credited with revitalising the state’s sporting sector through reforms, competitions, and infrastructure projects.

Bassey, a former CAF official, was nominated by Governor Umo Eno and confirmed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, officially taking office on February 24, 2025. He became the first commissioner of the newly created Ministry of Sports, which was carved out from the former Ministry of Youth Development and Sports.

Since assuming office, Bassey has overseen a wide range of activities, from grassroots competitions to upgrades in facilities and athlete welfare initiatives. One of the early highlights of his tenure was the successful hosting of the inaugural Niger Delta Games in 2025. The commissioner played a hands-on role in preparations, overseeing logistics, facility improvements, and strategic planning, helping Akwa Ibom deliver a historic first edition of the tournament.

Following the event, a review committee was established to assess Team Akwa Ibom’s performance and identify areas for improvement in future competitions. Bassey also revived the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival, a grassroots programme that had been dormant for seven years. The festival returned in the last quarter of 2025 and has already become a platform for discovering new talent, with several emerging athletes starting to make an impact locally and beyond.

Athlete welfare has been another focus. Medalists from Akwa Ibom at the National Youth Games were rewarded on their return, boosting morale and demonstrating the government’s commitment to supporting sportspeople.

Infrastructure development has also been a priority. In January 2026, the new ‘Ibom Gym’ facility at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo was officially opened, providing athletes across multiple disciplines with enhanced training and conditioning programmes. The ministry also distributed sports equipment to more than 40 sports associations, covering basketball, volleyball, tennis, athletics, judo, taekwondo, and boxing. Bassey credited Governor Eno for funding the initiative and noted that much of the equipment was sourced internationally to meet top standards.

On the competitive front, Team Akwa Ibom showed progress at the second Niger Delta Games, finishing fourth overall with 55 medals – 16 gold, 17 silver, and 22 bronze – behind Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States.

The ministry has also strengthened its administrative capacity by organising a three-day in-house training programme for staff, which received praise from the state’s Head of Service, Mrs. Elsie Anietie Peters.

Another significant development was the partnership between Akwa United F.C. and Ibom Air, providing improved travel logistics for away matches and boosting fan engagement and operational efficiency.

With further projects in the pipeline, including new sports facilities at ARISE Resort and renewed attention to the Ibom Sports Academy, the first year of Bassey’s tenure has laid a solid foundation for the continued growth of sports in Akwa Ibom State.

Two of UFC’s most exciting fighters are set to clash for the BMF championship on Saturday when Max Holloway defends the ceremonial title against Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 326.

Holloway vs. Oliveira is a rematch of a 2015 fight that ended in disappointing fashion when Oliveira suffered an injury less than two minutes after the opening bell. Amazingly, both men are just as relevant at the elite level as they were 11 years ago and now fight with not only the BMF title on the line, but also positioning in a deep and competitive lightweight division.

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Saturday marks just the fourth BMF fight in promotional history. It began in 2019 when Nate Diaz took on Jorge Masvidal for the inaugural belt where Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson was on hand to place the title around the winner’s waist. It was not until four years later in 2023 when the title reappeared for a matchup between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier at UFC 291, where Gaethje scored a brutal knockout win. The title was then “defended” by Gaethje against Holloway at UFC 300, where Holloway scored one of the most iconic knockouts in recent memory.

Be sure to keep up with all the action on Saturday with our live coverage, including round-by-round scoring and updated fight results throughout the night!

The undercard on Saturday features plenty of veterans looking to make one last big run toward the top. Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is back in a prelim bout against Xiao Long. Veteran middleweight Gregory Rodrigues can make a splash if he can avenge a past loss against Brunno Ferreira in a featured bout. Rodrigues has won five of his last six and could vault into the top 10 with a win on Saturday. Plus, veterans of 55 combined UFC fights collide at lightweight when Michael Johnson and Drew Dober square off.

With so much happening on Saturday night, let’s look closer at the full fight card with the latest odds before we get to our staff predictions and picks for the PPV portion of the festivities that you can consider before hitting the sportsbooks.

UFC 326: How Max Holloway has continued to prove Khabib Nurmagomedov wrong: ‘I didn’t want an easy ride’

Shakiel Mahjouri

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UFC 326 fight card, odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook (as of March 7)

• Max Holloway (c) -220 vs. Charles Oliveira +170, lightweights (BMF title)
• Caio Borralho -250 vs. Reinier de Ridder +205, middleweights
• Raul Rosas Jr. -270 vs. Rob Font +220, bantamweights
• Michael Johnson -118 vs. Drew Dober -102, lightweights
• Gregory Rodrigues -162 vs. Brunno Ferreira +136, middleweights
• Xiao Long -155 vs. Cody Garbrandt +130, bantamweights
• Donte Johnson -800 vs. Cody Brundage +550, middleweights
• Alberto Montes -180 vs. Ricky Turcios +150, featherweights
• Nyamjargal Tumendemberel -162 vs. Cody Durden +136, flyweights
• Su Mudaerji -218 vs. Jesús Santos Aguilar +180, flyweights
• Rafael Tobias -180 vs. Diyar Nurgozhay +150, light heavyweights
• Luke Fernandez -218 vs. Rodolfo Bellato +180, light heavyweights

UFC 326 predictions, picks

With such a massive main event on tap, the crew at CBS Sports went ahead with predictions and picks for the main card from Brian Campbell, Brent Brookhouse, Shakiel Mahjouri, Michael Mormile and Brandon Wise.

Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira predictions

Campbell: For as explosive as this matchup has the potential to be, with Holloway facing the most prolific finisher and submission expert in the history of the sport, it’s hard to ignore the subtle advantages that the Hawaiian legend will hold. Holloway is not only two years younger than Oliveira at age 34, he appears to be far more fresher. And the combination of Holloway’s traditionally stubborn takedown defense and the fact that his striking has much more of a defensive and technical base than Oliveira should be the difference in the fight. Oliveira will likely create chaos early and often but Holloway performs just fine in scenarios such as this and the deeper the fight goes, the greater potential that Oliveira succumbs to damage in the form of a TKO. 

Brookhouse: It’s hard to imagine many better fights to make than Holloway vs. Oliveira. That was true for the first meeting in 2015, which ended when Oliveira suffered what he called a neck injury that nearly left him paralyzed 99 seconds into the fight, and it’s true in 2026. Two fantastic fighters with incredibly long careers, Holloway and Oliveira are a pairing anyone should want to watch whether for a title, a ceremonial title or simply because those fighters have been scheduled to fight one another. As for the fight itself, Holloway has the better striking and he defends takedowns at a better than 80% clip. That makes for a tricky path for Oliveira, who has good striking and excellent submissions, to find areas for success. On the feet, Holloway has the clear edge, and it’s not going to be easy for Oliveira drag the fight to the ground. The fight should be as good as advertised, but Holloway should be the man getting his hand raised in the end.

Mahjouri: Holloway has found new life at lightweight. The UFC record-holder for most strikes landed has additional power to complement his volume striking. “Blessed” has beat people through death by a thousand cuts. Now, he’s knocking Justin Gaethje out cold. That’s perilous for Oliveira, who seeks close-quarter chaos to find the finish. Unlike Holloway, Oliveira lacks the durability for this specific brawl. Combine that with Holloway’s tried and true takedown defense, and you have a successful title defense for the BMF champ.

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Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder predictions

Campbell: Both fighters are coming off humbling defeats to snap winning streaks in bouts that could’ve elevated either one to a title shot had they looked spectacular. Because of that, the idea that one or both would operate more safely than usual to avoid a second straight defeat becomes a strong possibility. For as long and awkward as RDR is on his feet, Borralho’s striking advantage simply can’t be overlooked. The Brazilian also has enough of a ground game not to fall victim to the areas where de Ridder is most dangerous. 

Brookhouse: The winner here proves their recent loss was but a blip on the radar, and they re-enter the conversation of potential title contenders. The loser is now on a two-fight skid and ends up in a tricky position at 185 pounds. For de Ridder, it’s obvious that being a massive middleweight and repeatedly making a very draining cut caught up to him against Brendan Allen, but cardio and striking have been issues for de Ridder throughout his entire MMA career. Borralho just looked lost against a defensive-minded Nassourdine Imavov and couldn’t find a way to dictate the pace of that fight. If Borralho can just shift through the gears and keep pressure on de Ridder, he should be able to take over the fight late.

Mahjouri: I’m split on how this fight plays out. Borralho is more well-rounded with a strong grappling base to supplement his effective striking. De Ridder is a monster on the ground, relying on size and sheer physicality to get it there. I understand why Borralho is a betting favorite, but the odds are too wide. Perhaps people are reading too much into De Ridder’s deflated performance against Brendan Allen. I believe RDR when he says that five fights in eight months took a toll on his body — he’s a massive middleweight. Spurred by odds more than rational, I think De Ridder wins two ugly rounds.

Raul Rosas vs. Rob Font predictions

Campbell: This entire fight comes down to whether the 22-year-old Rosas can get inside the vaunted jab of Font and succeed in bringing the fight to the ground. That’s why this step-up opportunity against his first ranked opponent comes at the perfect time in Rosas’ evolution, in the aftermath of four consecutive wins following his lone pro loss (a 2023 decision to Christian Rodriguez). While Rosas could struggle at times to match Font’s level of experience and pure boxing skills, his recent arc suggests he’s ready for this challenge and that, inevitably, Rosas will be able to control the terms to set up the submission in the biggest fight of his young career. 

Brookhouse: It seems unfair of me to say that I haven’t been consistently blown away by Rosas in his UFC performances. He’s 21 years old and has a 5-1 record in the biggest fight promotion in the world. That is undeniably impressive. But at a certain point, a fighter has to be judged as a fighter. Maybe it’s just hard for me to shake Rosas getting outlanded in total strikes 83 to 2 in his loss to Christian Rodriguez while only finishing 3 of 16 takedowns. Rodriguez has solid takedown defense, but not elite, and he’s nowhere near the fighter Font is. Yes, that was three years ago and Rosas has won four fights since, but against a lower tier of opposition and didn’t exactly blow anyone away in his two most recent decision wins over Aoriqileng and Vince Morales. Font is a gatekeeper in the best sense. The men who have defeated him are almost all legitimate elite talents. Whether Rosas can get takedowns is basically the only thing that determines this fight. If he can put Font on his back repeatedly — Font defends just 43% of takedowns, though against far more accomplished fighters than Rosas — this is Rosas’ fight to win. If the fight stays on the feet, it’s going to be a very long night for Rosas.

Mahjouri: Is it too soon for Rosas, 21, to fight a ranked contender? Maybe. Is Font his best path to the bantamweight top 15? Certainly. Font’s takedown defense has been exploitable forever. He gave up 22 takedowns in his last four fights. It’s almost remarkable that he’s remained a ranked bantamweight for so long despite this glaring hole. What’s more, he actually won two of those fights. That says something about Font’s ability to eke out wins against less experienced opponents. While Font’s recent success gives me pause, I’m struggling to root against Rosas when his best quality is his foe’s Achilles heel.

Who wins Holloway vs. Oliveira 2, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 19, 2018, and find out.

It’s been 10 months since Jayson Tatum last suited up for the Boston Celtics in an NBA game. That stretch ended Friday night, when the star forward made his 2025-26 debut against the Dallas Mavericks.

Before the game, Tatum acknowledged he was bracing for a flood of emotions as he prepared to return. 

“Stepping onto the court for the first time, I might be emotional, but I’ll be excited,” he said. “I’ll be anxious. And I’ll just be proud of myself that I made it to that point. There’s been some long days over the last 42 weeks.”

Tatum delivered a double-double in his quicker-than-expected return from the Achilles injury he suffered during a playoff game against the New York Knicks. He scored 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in 27 minutes as the Celtics beat the Mavericks 120-100 Friday night.

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum walks off the court after Game 1 of an NBA Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe)

After the win, Tatum opened up about the hurdles he cleared to get back on the court.

“It was surreal. It was an emotional day. It’s been a long journey. God is the greatest, getting me to this point. Many days I dreamed about this and for it to finally happen and share with my family, my teammates, the crowd. It was everything I could have dreamed of,” Tatum said.

While he learned he was medically cleared in February, Tatum said his mental readiness took longer.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots past Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) during the second quarter at TD Garden March 6, 2026, in Boston. (Winslow Townson/Imagn Images)

“Physically, you’re clear, you can do all the things,” he said. “But it’s a long time that I haven’t competed or played in a game. That mental hurdle is a real thing.”

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum applauds from the bench in the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden March 4, 2026. (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe)

Tatum was visibly emotional in the locker room moments after suffering the injury May 12.

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But he worked through long stretches of physical therapy, workouts and the lingering pain of his injury. 

“I’ve worked relentlessly to get back to myself, to get back to 100%, to go out there and compete.”

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Trainer Jack Bruce anticipates success from Sir Maurice at Ipswich on Friday, aided by a useful weight reduction and the horse’s peak condition for winning.

This marks the fifth appearance this season for the five-year-old gelding sired by Japanese standout Maurice, who tackles the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) on his maiden voyage to the circuit an hour’s drive west of Brisbane.

“I think it is a nice race for him,” Deagon resident Bruce noted, calling the horse suitable for this grade but no elite talent.

“He drew wide at his last start and had to go all the way back in the run and that made it challenging for him to win the race.

“He got held up at a crucial time and he flew late for second. He’s a horse in really good order at the minute and he’s racing in good spirits.

“We just have to find the race for him and hopefully this is it.”

The gelding has notched three wins alongside eight placings in 23 races, consistently placing but ripe for another triumph post his May 2025 victory.

Previously second at Sunshine Coast in a benchmark 60 over 1200m on February 22, apprentice Leah Martyn continues riding with her two-kilo deduction bringing the weight to 56kg.

“She’s riding well and she’s very dedicated,” added Bruce.

“She does her homework and as far as two-kilo claimers go in the provincials, she is well worth using and she rode him last start and got held up at the wrong time so she she’ll be hungry for success on him on Friday.”

In addition, Bruce has Sacred Bull in the Racing and Sports Benchmark 58 Handicap (2010m), opting Friday morning between Ipswich day races or Sunshine Coast night ones for the six-year-old.

Visit betting sites to find racing odds for Sir Maurice in the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap.

Generally speaking, mock drafts before free agency tell us nothing. There’s still almost two months of scouting to be done, a ton of conversations, visits, pro days, etc.

And, of course, players to be signed starting next week. So why do one now? To familiarize ourselves with some prospects, see what the Vikings could do if the draft were tonight, and some of the holes on the roster.

It’s a Safety and RB Out of the Gate for MIN in the Draft

Whether or not the Vikings choose to sign will alter what they do when they are on the clock, but what other teams do can also change who will be on the board at #18. For example, the Los Angeles Rams have been heavily linked to a cornerback early in the draft, but they likely will look somewhere else after trading for Trent McDuffie.

The quarterback will also impact the players, at least for me. If they stick with J.J. McCarthy, I don’t know how comfortable I’d be with a rookie or inexperienced center. However, if they do sign a veteran QB1, I’d like to see them use a draft pick on a new center. What happens with Jonathan Greenard will also impact the plan.

I think you all get the point. A lot will change between now and the draft. Also, I’m using PFF’s simulator to do this mock.

Henrique Gucciardi’s Mock Draft 1.0

1st Round, 18th pick: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, DB, Toledo

We still don’t know if Harrison Smith will be back. Regardless, safety is a big position of need even if he returns. But McNeill-Warren isn’t the pick because of his position. His Combine numbers don’t jump off the page, but the tape shows a player with very good zone instincts, good enough athleticism, a knack for finding the football (14 turnovers in four years), and physicality.

His tackling at the line is good, but he will need to improve it in open space, especially against stronger, faster players. He showed he belongs at the Senior Bowl, which is a natural concern for players coming from smaller schools.

Trade Alert

The Jacksonville Jaguars send picks 56 and 100 for pick 49.

There were still some prospects I liked, and the idea of having five Day 2 picks was enticing. Don’t know how this would look in the trade value charts, but for the Vikings, it looked like a good deal.

2nd Round, 56th pick: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

For very good reasons, Jeremiyah Love is the Fighting Irish running back in the spotlight. But Price is also a great prospect. He’s explosive, patient at the line, and has fantastic vision. With the team cutting Aaron Jones, a running back to pair with Jordan Mason becomes a necessity.

And I think they’d complement eachother really well. Price will have to become a better tool in the passing game to fit KOC’s offense, but he has that home-run threat that we haven’t seen since Cook’s better days.

3rd Round, 82nd pick: Connor Lew, OC, Auburn

As I said earlier, I don’t envision the team pairing McCarthy with a young center. Considering Lew is 20 years old, I think another player will be the signal-caller in 2026. Lew will likely miss a chunk of his rookie season, as he suffered a torn ACL last October.

Looking at the bright side, though, it could give him some time to develop behind the scenes. If all goes well, he should be cleared during camp, so this could be viewed as a redshirt season. A great processor and pass protector (1 sack allowed in his sophomore season), he could be the final piece in the offensive line.

3rd Round, 97th pick: Devin Moore, CB, Florida

Moore is a very big cornerback. At 6’3 and 198lbs, he shows promise as a press corner. He had multiple injuries throughout his career, but his size, jump-ball skills, and tackling ability are hard to ignore.

The Vikings are probably rolling with Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers as the starters in 2026, but Moore can factor as a rotational player, particularly when in the red zone. He will have to improve a lot as a zone defender to be a starter, but he can absolutely use his size when closer to the endzone.

3rd Round, 100th pick: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

If Moore stands out because he’s big, Louis stands out for being small. But don’t let it fool you. He may lack the size to take on blocks in the running game, but he had 10.0 sacks in the last two seasons. When playing for Brian Flores, the ability to blitz is a must.

He has a little Ivan Pace to him, in that he can slip out of blocks, with 24 tackles for loss since 2024. But he is way better in pass coverage, and has a knack for finding the ball in the air. His 2025 season was worse, but he showed the potential to be, at least, a solid starter.

5th Round, 161st pick: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

6th Round, 195th pick: Cole Brevard, DL, Texas

6th Round, 197th pick: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

With Jalen Nailor likely out, the Vikings should look to add another young receiver. With Tai Felton on the roster and in contention to be the new WR3, Lance can come in as a depth option. A very good route runner, he would benefit from learning from Justin Jefferson and Keenan McCardell.

Brevard may not be a scheme fit, as he lacks the versatility that Flores loves. But he can be a solid nose tackle for this defense.

Especially considering I’ve taken an undersized linebacker, a 6’3, 346lbs defensive tackle who eats space would be a smart move. You are unlikely to find a do-it-all player at #197, so finding athletic projects and/or role players is the objective here.

There’s a lot of talk about Hockenson being a cap casualty. Even if he stays, 2026 looks like his last year in purple and gold. So, trying to find another receiving tight end is a good move. Koziol fits exactly that mold, playing mostly as a big slot for Houston in 2025.

Blocking is a huge area of improvement for him, but he does remind me of a young Josh Oliver, who’s also very big and had trouble in the running game. With a 6’7 frame and strong hands, Koziol could be a weapon over the middle and in the redzone.

6th Round, 202nd pick: V.J. Payne, DB, Kansas State

7th Round, 234th pick: Vincent Anthony Jr., EDGE, Duke

7th Round, 240th pick: Eric Gentry, LB, USC

Safety is a position the Vikings should invest heavily in, even if they trust Jay Ward. Payne would add depth and speed to a unit that needs it.

Athletically, he has the build of a great safety, with a rare combination of size and speed. He is a very good zone defender who played multiple roles in Kansas State’s defense, but he will need to improve his tackling to be an effective player.

Anthony comes as a draft project. He has the size (6’6″) and a solid build at 258 lbs, though he could add some more bulk. But he is as raw as it gets and will need serious development to see the field. But with Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard (at least for now), and Dallas Turner, he will have time to do so.

Gentry would be one of the tallest linebackers in the league at 6’7. He will have to add some bulk, but it is super rare to find a player with his size, athleticism, and playmaking. If he adds weight and improves his play strength without sacrificing much of his speed, there’s a real possibility that the Vikings find their linebacker duo in this class. It’d also be very funny to see a 6’0 and a 6’7 linebacker duo.

The Vikings may be hard-pressed to find immediate starters in this draft. After all, this was one of Kwesi’s biggest perceived flaws among fans and the media. So, selecting two players with injury history may not sit well with everyone.

But, to me, Lew and Louis have enough upside that it didn’t bother me, and they should factor in as key players from 2027 and beyond. McNeill-Warren and Price would have an impact from Day 1, while Louis would have the chance to start as a rotational player and key special teams contributor.

Lance and Kozior would spend their first two years developing and with few snaps, but could have bigger roles in the future. At least they should improve the depth. Payne is the late pick with the most potential out of the group and, if he’s able to improve his tackling during camp, could even be part of the defense as a rookie.

Brevard is a player with a very specific role, but not less of a contributor because of it. Anthony and Gentry should spend every single day at the gym, but there’s potential there.

⁠Wings Darcy ​Graham and Kyle Steyn scored two ​tries each as Scotland beat France 50-40 in Edinburgh on Saturday to secure a ​pulsating ‌bonus-point win that ensures ⁠the Six Nations Championship will be decided in ‌the final round next weekend.

Despite the defeat, ⁠a try-scoring bonus-point means France head the table on points-difference from ​Scotland with both teams on ‌16 points from their five games. Ireland are still in the mix with ‌14 points.

Read moreFrance’s rugby team overpowers Ireland in Six Nations title defence

Prop Pierre Schoeman and scrumhalf Ben White ​also crossed for tries as the Scots ran France ragged with a high-tempo game ​in the Edinburgh sunshine and they ​recorded their highest points ​tally over France.

The visitors scored tries through wings Louis ​Bielle-Biarrey and Theo Attissogbe, scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, fullback Thomas Ramos (two) and flanker Oscar Jegou, but coach Fabien Galthié will ⁠be concerned by their discipline with two yellow ⁠cards and ​how they wilted under pressure. 

‘Anything is possible’

France have a points-difference of +79 and Scotland +21, so ‌it is advantage France ahead of their final match at home against England, while Scotland must go to Ireland with both hoping Steve Borthwick’s side can spring a surprise.

“The tournament is not over for us yet. We have got ourselves an opportunity ‌next week,” Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu said.

“We have an air-tight change-room. We stuck together after that tough first round (a loss to Italy). We have rallied behind our ​coach (Gregor Townsend) and I can see the storylines changing.

“Anything is possible now. A lot of people wrote Ireland off too at the start of the tournament, but both of us are still in the championship.”

France’s Emmanuel Meafou conceded ​his side were outplayed, but will quickly refocus on the challenge of England.

“The Grand Slam was the goal, but ​we are still looking to win the competition,” he said. “We will take this ​loss and get back to it next week and take on England.

“Scotland got on top us early in the first half, and then carried that on in the ​second. We gave ourselves too much of a hill to climb at the end, but credit to Scotland.”

Scotland scored four tries in a Six Nations match against France for the first time since their final game of the 1999 Championship, when they last won the title.

France rally

It was only a late burst from the visitors that narrowed the scoreline at Murrayfield ⁠and denied Scotland a record winning margin.

Graham scored a Scottish record 36th international try to open the scoring inside five minutes, before France ⁠went into a 14-7 ​lead as Bielle-Biarrey scored one try and created the other for Attissogbe.

But from there Scotland turned the screw, winning the collisions and playing at a pace that France found unable to contain. 

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was seething after being given a yellow card in the Newcastle win that rules him out for two games

Pep Guardiola has earned a two-match ban after a sixth yellow card of the season – but it will NOT apply for the Carabao Cup final. The Manchester City manager will be free to be in the dugout at Wembley because the suspension only applies to Premier League and FA Cup games.

That means Guardiola will be forced to watch from the stands for the Premier League match at West Ham next Saturday, as well as the FA Cup quarter-final in the first weekend of April. The draw for that will take place on Monday, with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool having already booked their place in the last eight.

However, to City’s relief Guardiola will not be banned for the Carabao Cup final with Arsenal despite that taking place before the FA Cup game.

Guardiola joked that he would go on holiday for the games he is not allowed to be in the dugout for after raging again at Newcastle in City’s 3-1 win in the FA Cup. The Blues boss was furious with referee Sam Barrott in the Premier League defeat at St James’ Park in November and this time lost his temper after Jeremy Doku was denied a foul in the second half of the game.

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“When Jeremy Doku dribbles past (Kieran) Trippier and goes alone to the box and is being pulled form behind, I’m not asking for a yellow card but please – it’s a foul,” he said. “I will defend my team. We have all the records in this country -all of them. Despite everything, we have all of them. And we have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I have always wanted this record and now I have it. Two game banned now and I will go on holidays.”

As the next question started, Guardiola continued: “Oh my god. Oh. My. God. There are things that still after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action, review the action. Of course I’m going to defend Doku, and all my teams. They continue to do it.”

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Manchester City came back to beat Newcastle 3-1 in the FA Cup despite 10 changes from Pep Guardiola as the fans had another top night at St James’ Park

22:10, 07 Mar 2026

Omar Marmoush punched the air, roaring his delight. Ten metres away in the Manchester City dugout, Pep Guardiola had his hands above his head clapping what he had just seen.

It wasn’t the third goal of the night that put the Blues ahead for the first time but a successful tackle, Marmoush racing back to dispossess the speedy Will Osula so that City could get the ball back and attack again. Having nearly been out of this FA Cup tie in the first 20 minutes with a Harvey Barnes goal the least that Newcastle deserved, City somehow fought back.

Never mind a game of two halves, this was a half of two halves. From looking vulnerable every time they tried to play out from the back and getting overrun by a home side that looked intent on making up for their Carabao Cup semi-final defeat, City wrestled control of the game away from Newcastle and played themselves level.

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It came in slightly comical fashion, Savinho still as a statue as Jeremy Doku’s cross hit him in the six-yard box and rolled over the line with all the agonising slowness of Rayan Cherki’s pea-roller in injury time at Anfield, yet Savinho had earned it. On his first start since injury on New Year’s Day, the winger that can frustrate fans so often was instrumental in getting City going.

Tijjani Reijnders missed too many chances and Marmoush hadn’t really been in the game when he made that challenge just before half-time but the spirit said a lot. City could have easily not fancied it, with Guardiola making 10 changes ahead of Real Madrid and nobody expecting this team to still be in contention for four trophies.

But, after a shellshocked start, a group of City players trying to work their way back into form turned the game on its head and completely dismantled Newcastle. Marmoush fired in from close range at the start of the second half and then smashed one in from outside the box on the hour mark to complete the comeback.

The home side are tired physically and mentally – they probably would have liked to make as many changes as City did and by the time their impact subs came on they were two goals behind. But this still stood as one of the toughest draws Guardiola’s side could have had, and to make more changes for it than Mikel Arteta made for Arsenal’s trip to Mansfield shows that this squad has strength as well as spirit.

Guardiola is now one game away from extending his astonishing record and making Wembley in nine of his 10 seasons in the FA Cup – he will have to curb his temper if he wants to be in the dugout for the quarter after racking up another yellow card – while City have put the Forest disappointment behind them in the best possible way.

With Marmoush scoring two as Erling Haaland rested up at home and Rodri, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Bernardo Silva sitting it out on the bench, City head to Madrid full of confidence. They will just wish they could play Newcastle every week.

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