Eddie Howe has declared his Newcastle side capable of competing with Europe’s elite, despite a dramatic late equaliser denying them a crucial first-leg victory against Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Magpies will travel to the Nou Camp next Wednesday with the tie finely poised at 1-1, after Lamine Yamal’s stoppage-time penalty snatched a win from their grasp at St James’ Park.
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The draw felt like scant reward for a spirited performance against one of European football’s giants.
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Howe, who described the equaliser as “soft”, remains confident his team can pose a significant challenge to Hansi Flick’s side on their home turf.
“In the cold light of day when we wake up tomorrow, we’ll see the positives. The tie is very much alive, we played really well,” Howe stated.
Harvey Barnes looked to have secured a priceless win for Newcastle (PA Wire)
“We showed our qualities. We’ve been really competitive. The challenge is we need more on a consistent basis. We’ve showed we can play against the very best when we’re at our best.”
Newcastle had seemed destined for a priceless 1-0 advantage when Harvey Barnes netted his 14th goal of the season in the 86th minute. However, a famous victory was cruelly snatched away in the dying moments.
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Malick Thiaw’s challenge on substitute Dani Olmo prompted Italian referee Marco Guida to award a penalty, which Yamal duly converted in the sixth minute of added time, leaving Barcelona with the momentum heading into the return leg.
Asked if his team deserved more, Howe affirmed: “Yes, we do. A really good performance from the team, very, very good in all phases, really. I thought we limited them with a really good defensive performance from the team and I thought we attacked really well too.
“Although we didn’t create an abundance of clear-cut chances, I thought there were chances all through the game for us. It was great to see us finally score and then the last attack of the game, the last kick of the game, it’s a tough one to take.”
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Lamine Yamal rescued a draw for Barcelona (Owen Humphreys/PA) (PA Wire)
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, whose team secured a 2-1 win at St James’ Park in the league phase back in September, admitted his side struggled for periods but was ultimately content with the draw.
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“If you had asked me before the game with a 1-1, I was always happy,” Flick commented.
“With the ball, we made not a good game. We lost too many balls, easy mistakes and this is what Newcastle only wants.
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“When they get the ball, the transition they make is good, they have a lot of dynamic, very fast players, so it was not easy.
“But at the end, what I appreciated a lot from my team is that we defended together, the performance in defence was really good today.”
Unfortunately for Sadler, Walsall’s problems on the field in 2026 have been inevitably framed by the capitulation of their seemingly unassailable promotion challenge last season.
They raced into a 12-point lead at the top off the back of a club-record nine consecutive wins only for their form to collapse as a 13-game winless run left them scrambling to finish fourth.
Sadler, though, consistently emphasized the irrelevance of that on his rebuilt squad this season as 15 players came in over the summer.
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“We haven’t got over the line in the way we would have wanted to over the years, but that can’t be what frames our mindset going forward,” he said after the loss to Barnet in early February.
Before the trip to Grimsby Town in their next game, he again underscored that belief.
“Every year is tough. I’m certainly not looking back. I never will because this is a completely different group and team,” he said.
However, Walsall’s style under Sadler – making the most out of limited possession with chances at a relative premium – was always vulnerable to criticism when wins dried up.
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Although ending Shrewsbury’s five-game winning run at the end of February stopped the immediate rot, a damaging past seven days that brought three more defeats, including another two at home, has seen Walsall looking for their first new boss since April 2023.
Mar 10, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) reacts after scoring his third goal of the game against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Jack Quinn recorded a hat trick and an assist, Jason Zucker added a goal and an assist and Ramus Dahlin had three assists as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the visiting San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, 6-3, for their NHL-best eighth straight win.
Alex Tuch and Beck Malenstyn also scored for Buffalo, which is 29-6-2 since Dec. 9. The Sabres also moved four points clear of the Tampa Bay Lightning atop the Atlantic Division.
Alexander Wennberg notched a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who lost for the eighth time in 11 games (3-5-3). Keifer Sherwood also scored for San Jose, while teen sensation Macklin Celebrini scored his team-high 33rd.
The Sabres are averaging 4.5 goals per game during their win streak, and they wasted no time against San Jose.
Bruins 2, Kings 1 (OT)
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Charlie McAvoy slid home a game-winning backhander 39 seconds into overtime, lifting Boston to a win over visiting Los Angeles.
Mark Kastelic fired a long pass to David Pastrnak, who centered the puck to McAvoy for a drive down the slot to propel Boston to its 13th consecutive home win. Mason Lohrei also scored and Jeremy Swayman made 14 saves for the Bruins, who hold the second and final Eastern Conference wild-card playoff spot.
For Los Angeles, Drew Doughty’s goal with 6:00 left in regulation forced overtime. Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 shots. Both of the teams’ head-to-head meetings this season were scoreless after two periods and ended with 2-1 Boston wins in overtime.
Hurricanes 5, Penguins 4 (SO)
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Jackson Blake scored the shootout winner as Carolina beat Pittsburgh after blowing a two-goal lead late in regulation in Raleigh, N.C.
Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski, Seth Jarvis and Alexander Nikishin had Carolina’s goals in regulation. Frederik Anderson made 24 saves for the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes, who have won eight of their last 10 games.
Bryan Rust scored two goals, while Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari also scored for Pittsburgh in a matchup between the top two teams in the division. Erik Karlsson provided two assists and Stuart Skinner stopped 39 shots.
Islanders 4, Blues 3 (OT)
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Mathew Barzal scored 2:11 into overtime to complete an unlikely New York comeback for a road win over St. Louis. The Islanders are 10-0-0 in games decided in overtime this season.
Down 3-0 midway through, the Islanders scored three goals to force extra time, with Barzal assisting on two of those tallies. Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist for the Islanders while Bo Horvat and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each contributed a goal. Ilya Sorokin stopped 20 shots.
The Blues had their four-game winning streak end despite getting a goal and two assists from Jimmy Snuggerud. Robert Thomas added two assists, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway scored St. Louis’ other goals, and Joel Hofer made a career-high 46 saves.
Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 1
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Rookie Oliver Kapanen and Philip Danault scored in the first period to lift host Montreal over struggling Toronto.
Jake Evans converted into the empty net with 28 seconds remaining in the third period to seal the Canadiens’ third win in four meetings with the Maple Leafs this season. Jakub Dobe made 17 saves to improve to 11-1-2 in his past 14 games.
William Nylander scored in the second period and Joseph Woll stopped 30 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost eight straight games (0-6-2) since the Olympic break.
Panthers 4, Red Wings 3
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Carter Verhaeghe scored the tying and go-ahead goals 1:15 apart in the waning moments of regulation as Florida rallied for a home victory over Detroit in Sunrise, Fla.
Down 3-2, Florida pulled goaltender Daniil Tarasov (25 saves) for the extra skater, and Verhaeghe sent a drive from the point through plenty of slot traffic and past screened Detroit goalie John Gibson (24 saves) to tie things with 1:30 left in regulation. Then the Panthers surged into the Detroit zone off a Red Wings turnover, where Matthew Tkachuk, who assisted on Verhaeghe’s tying score, found him again for a successful wrister in the dying seconds.
Residing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference following back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning seasons, the Panthers have beaten the Red Wings twice in a five-day span after losing four straight.
Rangers 4, Flames 0
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Alexis Lafreniere netted a hat trick and goaltender Jonathan Quick recorded his 65th career shutout as host New York beat struggling Calgary.
Conor Sheary also scored and Mika Zibanejad collected two assists, giving him five points (two goals, three assists) in two outings. Gabe Perreault also recorded a pair of assists. Quick made 21 saves to register his second shutout of the season,
The Rangers sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but they have posted a 4-1-2 mark in their past seven outings. Dustin Wolf stopped 25 shots for the Flames, who have the league’s worst road record and are ahead of only the Vancouver Canucks in the overall standings.
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Stars 2, Golden Knights 1
Jake Oettinger made 26 saves as Dallas extended its point streak to 13 games with a victory over visiting Vegas.
Jamie Benn scored what proved to be the game-winner on a second-period power play. Oskar Back also tallied for Dallas, which extended its winning streak against the Golden Knights to four games dating back to last season.
Jack Eichel scored for Vegas, which took its third straight loss and its sixth in the past seven games. Adin Hill stopped 14 shots as the Golden Knights lost to the Stars for the fourth straight time.
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Predators 4, Kraken 2
Ryan Ufko scored his first career NHL goal and Juuse Saros made a season-high 43 saves as Nashville rallied for a victory at Seattle.
Tyson Jost, Reid Schaefer and Steven Stamkos also scored and Jonathan Marchessault had two assists for the Predators, who evened their record on their five-game trip at 1-1-0 and pulled within a point of Seattle for the Western Conference’s second and final wild-card berth.
Kaapo Kakko and Matty Beniers scored for the Kraken, who lost their third in a row. Joey Daccord stopped 23 of 26 shots.
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Blue Jackets 5, Lightning 2
Conor Garland crafted his second straight two-goal game as visiting Columbus swept the three-game season series from Tampa Bay.
Acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in a trade last week, Garland broke a 24-game scoreless drought with two markers on Monday. Now he has four goals through two games with his new team. The Blue Jackets also got tallies from Ivan Provorov, Dante Fabbro and Kirill Marchenko. Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan had two assists apiece for Columbus, which opened a three-game road trip by moving to 15-2-3 in the past 20 contests.
In dropping to 1-6-0 in their past seven games and playing a third match in four nights, the Lightning got goals from Gage Goncalves and J.J. Moser. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves.
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Oilers 4, Avalanche 3
Connor McDavid scored a tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and added an assist, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice and Edmonton beat Colorado in Denver.
Jack Roslovic had a goal, Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl had two assists each and Tristan Jarry made 11 saves in relief of Connor Ingram for Edmonton. Ingram was injured in a collision with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct after skating into Ingram, who sustained a cut on his forehead. McDavid netted the game-winner at 9:03 of the third.
Ross Colton, Valeri Nichushkin and Martin Necas scored and Mackenzie Blackwood turned away 20 shots for the Avalanche, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.
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Wild 5, Mammoth 0
Bobby Brink scored his first goal as a member of Minnesota to help his new team cruise to a shutout win over Utah in Saint Paul, Minn.
Kirill Kaprizov notched a goal and an assist, while Matt Boldy, Danila Yurov and Ryan Hartman scored one goal apiece for Minnesota, which won for the third time in its past four games. Vladimir Tarasenko tallied two assists. Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped all 25 shots he saw for his fourth shutout of the season and the 15th of his career.
Logan Cooley led Utah with four shots on goal. The Mammoth had their point streak snapped at four games (3-0-1) and were shut out for the sixth time this season. Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka allowed five goals on 30 shots.
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Ducks 4, Jets 1
Alex Killorn, Ryan Poehling and Jackson LaCombe each had a goal and an assist for visiting Anaheim, which scored three times in a 1:44 span of the second period in a victory against Winnipeg.
Tim Washe also scored and Lukas Dostal made just 12 saves for the Ducks in the opener of the four-game road trip. Anaheim improved to 6-2-0 since the Olympic break and 15-4-0 in its past 19 games.
Morgan Barron scored and Connor Hellebuyck turned away 31 shots for the Jets, who had won three in a row.
Hendrickson was CBS Sports’ No. 2 free agent in this class, although he went unsigned during the NFL’s two-day negotiation period. Jones reported that Hendrickson’s camp aimed for $35 million per year in his new contract, but he did not find that kind of interest. The Carolina Panthers handed out the largest deal of free agency thus far, agreeing to terms with former Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Jaelan Phillips on a four-year, $120 million deal that pays out $30 million per year. Then Odafe Oweh cashed in with a four-year, $100 million deal from the Washington Commanders.
In Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler, the Ravens find a difference-maker off the edge that will remain in the AFC North and is likely motivated to play his former team twice a year. It’s for good reason.
The Bengals identified a rising superstar in 2021, signing Hendrickson to a four-year, $60 million deal. He recorded what was then a career-high 14 sacks that season as the Bengals made the Super Bowl. However, Hendrickson struggled to score that second long-term contract from Cincinnati.
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Hendrickson signed a one-year extension prior to the 2023 season and responded with a whopping 17.5 sacks. After failing to secure a lucrative extension, Hendrickson returned to the fold and led the NFL with his second-straight 17.5-sack season. The Bengals again did not give Hendrickson the security he sought, instead boosting his salary to $30 million for one year in 2025. This offseason marked the first time he was finally free to pursue a long-term deal.
Hendrickson’s 74.5 sacks rank third-most over the last six seasons. He never got the chance to cash in like T.J. Watt, Danielle Hunter, Myles Garrett and Crosby did. Now, he’s paid and all-in on a Super Bowl.
It appeared the Ravens found their star EDGE in Crosby, as they agreed to send two first-round picks to the Raiders for the five-time Pro Bowler. However, Baltimore reportedly pulled out of the deal after discovering something during Crosby’s in-person physical. The Ravens were permitted to do this since no deals — trades or free-agency signings — are official until the new league year, which falls on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
The Ravens knew that Crosby underwent surgery on the meniscus in his left knee in January. Months, not weeks, are required to recover from this procedure. The physical was not to determine if Crosby could play football right now.
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Hendrickson must pass a physical for the Ravens, as well. He underwent core muscle surgery a few months ago after playing just seven games in 2025.
Why this move is controversial
It’s tough not to entertain the conspiratorial aspect of this move now that it’s come to fruition. The Ravens paid a high price for Crosby, only to (allegedly) notice that Hendrickson’s market was not as robust as previously thought. Plus, he doesn’t cost two first-round picks.
So, did the Ravens experience buyer’s remorse, or did their medical staff actually find something concerning? It’s a question that will likely never be answered. Sources of CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones said they also had concerns about Crosby’s knee during their own evaluation process. There was also a Raiders source, who was present during Crosby’s time with the team, who said he struggled during light practices with knee and ankle issues. Of course, those didn’t prevent him from being an animal on Sundays.
There’s no debating Crosby’s credentials. He recorded 69.5 sacks in his 110 career games played, which rank sixth-most since he entered the league in 2019 out of Eastern Michigan. He is just the third player in Raiders history to reach double-digit sacks in four seasons. While he’s feared by quarterbacks, Crosby is a well-rounded defensive end that’s ruthless against the run. He’s played more defensive snaps than any defensive lineman since he entered the league. Still, one has to wonder if the Raiders’ controversial decision to shut down Crosby with two games remaining in the regular season has more merit now.
Change is coming to the PGA Tour. In the latest move to raise the Tour’s profile and counter LIV Golf’s influence, new Tour CEO Brian Rolapp and the Future Competitions Committee are looking to shrink the number of tournaments on the schedule, the length of the season and the number of PGA Tour cards doled out each year.
The expected moves have been publicly supported by the likes of Tiger Woods (though not so much Rory McIlroy).
But two well-known figures in the game have now provided an alternative view.
Curtis Strange criticizes new PGA Tour direction, cut changes
Strange is a household name to golf fans. The World Golf Hall of Famer captured 17 Tour wins in his career and won back-to-back U.S. Opens in 1988 and 1989. He also served as U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2002.
After that, Strange embarked on a lengthy career as a color commentator and TV analyst, first for ESPN and ABC and later for Fox.
But in his comments to Schupak, Strange made it clear he does not support the major PGA Tour changes that have been made recently, or the direction the Tour seems to be heading.
Strange’s primary points of contention are the loss of cuts at many Signature Events, the negative impact on long-running regular Tour events and the six-month season the Tour is reportedly eyeing.
“You can have an elevated event,” Strange told Schupak, “But a cut, it’s part of the fabric of the Tour. It’s making longstanding events into a feeder tour to the other Signature Events,” Strange argued.
In a thinly-veiled hit at Rolapp, the Tour’s CEO who used to work for the NFL, Strange added, “Golf is a different animal than football. It’s not a six-month audience.”
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Strange then identified the “problem” that led to so many changes on the PGA Tour is having the “players running the asylum.”
“The problem is you have the players running the asylum. Why do you think (former PGA Tour board member) Jimmy Dunne left?” Strange asked. “He said, ‘shoot, why am I wasting my time anymore?’”
Since LIV Golf arrived in 2022, one of the other big Tour changes that occurred was giving players more influence in the Tour’s decision-making via the Future Competitions Committee, which is led by Woods.
Peter Jacobsen: Pros who support Tour changes should ‘go join LIV’
Like Strange, Jacobsen was an accomplished PGA Tour player before becoming a golf TV analyst.
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Unlike Strange, Jacobsen did not hold back at all in his criticism of recent Tour changes in his own comments in Schupak’s story.
Jacobsen described the plan to “remake the PGA Tour” as a “huge gamble,” and questioned why major changes are necessary.
“It’s a huge gamble trying to remake the PGA Tour. I’ve read a lot of the players saying, ‘Well, we all know the PGA Tour has to change,’ and I ask the question, Why? It was working really well before.”
He also hit directly at the big-name players pushing for changes, saying that if they wanted to play fewer events with more stars in the field they should “go join LIV.”
“If the players wanted to have tournaments where the good players play more often together, they have that at LIV. Go join LIV.”
But Jacobsen saved most of his ire for the Tour’s plan to add scarcity to the Tour schedule. That would involve getting rid of some long-running Tour events in favor of a shorter season.
“I get scared when I hear people saying cutting events. When you look at the individual communities, those events are so important to that community and the charity money raised is important to those golf fans,” Jacobsen argued. “I always thought the PGA Tour should expand their reach rather than contract their reach. Count me as someone who thinks we should be growing the Tour and having more events rather than contracting.”
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Rolapp has a pre-Players Championship press conference planned for Wednesday morning at PGA Tour headquarters, where he is expected to make an announcement regarding the future of the Tour.
Cincinnati Reds star Hunter Greene faced a major setback on Tuesday as it was revealed he may miss up to four months following right elbow surgery.
Greene was diagnosed with bone chips and loose bodies in his elbow, the team said. He needed an MRI last week after he left a spring training game with right elbow stiffness.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the second inning at Great American Ball Park on May 23, 2025.(Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
He explained his situation in a statement posted to his Instagram Stories. He said he started to experience discomfort in his elbow toward the end of the 2025 season but wanted to keep pitching in hopes of getting the Reds into the postseason. He said he received an MRI in Los Angeles when the season was over and it found the bone fragments, “but standard treatment was recommended.”
“I felt no discomfort a few days later, and as I started my offseason throwing program, I felt great,” he said. “However, the pain returned as I got close to the start of camp and as I began throwing harder and manipulating pitches more. The irritation in my elbow is affecting my ability to finish and execute pitches without a sharp stabbing pain. I simply need to have the bone spurs removed.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene reacts as Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez runs the bases on a three-run home run on Sept. 30, 2025.(Sam Greene/The Enquirer-USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“All I want to do is play the game I love and compete with my brothers as we take on the 2026 season. But it’s important that this procedure take place now instead of trying to pitch through it, not be sharp on the mound and risk further injury. Trust me, nobody is more frustrated than I am.”
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He said he will undergo the operation on Wednesday.
Greene is one of the hardest throwers in baseball. He had a 2.76 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 19 starts in 2025. He missed some time with a right groin strain. The issue sidelined him until Aug. 13.
Cincinnati finished 83-79 and third in the National League Central division.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 28, 2025.(Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)
The 26-year-old was an All-Star in 2024 and finished that season with a 2.75 ERA and 169 strikeouts. He also experienced right elbow soreness that year and spent time on the injured list.
Africa’s top women’s basketball team, D’Tigress of Nigeria, arrived in France yesterday to a warm welcome and immediately kicked off their preparations with their first training session under coach Rena Wakama. The team is set to compete in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualification tournament in Lyon-Villeurbanne.
Speaking to NBBF media about the team’s readiness to face some of the world’s strongest basketball nations, multiple award-winning coach Rena Wakama expressed confidence and excitement.
“Our preparations have been intense, and this tournament in Lyon is an important part of that process. It gives us the chance to test ourselves against top competition and see where we stand as a team. The players have shown great commitment, discipline and hunger. I believe we’re moving in the right direction as we prepare for the World Cup in Germany,” she said.
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The final roster of 12 players combines experience, youth, and energy, creating what Wakama described as a balanced squad.
“What’s different this time is the balance we have. We have a strong core of experienced players who understand the expectations and culture of D’Tigress, and we’ve added younger talents who bring fresh energy and competitiveness. Tactically, we are improving with faster transitions, stronger defensive communication, and better team chemistry,” she added.
Acknowledging the high hopes of Nigerians at home and abroad, Wakama emphasised that her players are ready and proud to represent their country.
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“With everything going on in the world today, we are grateful for the chance to play the game we love. These World Cup qualifiers are the only professional women’s basketball games being played and televised globally this week. Representing Nigeria is a huge honour for every player, and we want to make our supporters proud. They will see a team that fights for every possession, plays unselfish basketball, and never gives up. Our goal is to compete strongly, showcase the growth of Nigerian women’s basketball, and continue building the legacy of D’Tigress on the world stage,” she said.
The reigning AfroBasket champions, who face some of the world’s basketball giants, open their campaign on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, against Colombia. They will then face Korea, followed by Philippines, tournament hosts France, and Germany—who will host the FIBA World Cup later this year—from 14 to 17 March 2026, respectively.
India’s captain Shubman Gill during a press conference, ahead of the first ODI cricket match of a series between India and New Zealand, in Vadodara, Gujarat. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)
NEW DELHI: After India won their third T20 World Cup under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy, former opener Aakash Chopra said it would be difficult for Shubman Gill to return to the T20I side, let alone become captain.Gill, who currently leads India in Tests and ODIs, had made a comeback to the T20I squad in 2025 after 14 months and was even named vice-captain during the Asia Cup.
Gautam Gambhir reflects on India’s World Cup win and backing Sanju Samson in the tournament
However, his form remained underwhelming, failing to score a half-century in 15 matches, which eventually led to his exclusion from the World Cup squad.With India performing strongly and winning the tournament, Chopra believes the team is unlikely to consider Gill for T20I leadership again. “It’s going to be difficult, although the Indian team thought that it would become easier if there were one captain for all three formats. However, it won’t happen at all. I feel we won’t be able to do that because he is the Test and ODI captain, but he can’t get the T20I captaincy. At this moment, even his name coming is difficult because of the way the Indian team has been playing, especially the last four games,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.Chopra also suggested that Gill should focus on excelling in longer formats rather than trying to adjust his game for T20Is. “When are you talking about 250, and that too in a World Cup, then you don’t think you need an anchor. Shubman Gill can adapt and change, but we shouldn’t lose Shubman Gill, the Test batter, in trying to find that, and lose the Shubman Gill who can become an absolute giant in ODIs. I think it’s going to be difficult for Shubman Gill,” he noted.
Cheltenham Festival continues on day two of the event with another round of fierce competition at Prestbury Park and we’ve collated the best free bets to use on the action.
UK betting sites have a wide range of Cheltenham free bets available, from a raft of specific Cheltenham offers tailored to each day and race-specific specials, betting sign up offers, best odds guaranteed, price boosts, acca boosts and more.
We’ve compiled this complete guide for the best Cheltenham offers for the 2026 Festival, which runs until Friday.
Best Cheltenham free bets day 2
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Rank
Bookmaker
Offer
1
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Sky Bet
Get enhanced odds of 60/1 on Majborough to finish in the top three in the Champion Chase. New customers only, £1 max bet and free bets are credited in 6x £10 free bet tokens.
2
Paddy Power
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Back Majborough at 50/1 to win the Champion Chase and get a £10 free bet for the Champions League tonight. Open to new customers who stake £1 on Majborough to win at the normal odds. Enhanced winnings paid as free bets.
3
LiveScore
Bet on the first race on Wednesday and receive a free bet to use on any other race on the card. Free bet value varies from customer to customer. Also, get your money back as a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th in selected races.
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4
Tote
Money back as a free bet on every race at the Cheltenham Festival if your horse finishes second in a race. The maximum free bet refund available is £10.
5
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Virgin Bet
Bet on the Coral Cup (14.40) on Wednesday and if your horse doesn’t win, Virgin Bet will refund your stake in free bets.
The above free bet offers are available to use on betting sites for Cheltenham Festival races on day two.
The best Cheltenham betting sites offer free bets to use on specific races on day two, including the Coral Cup, Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, Cross Country Handicap Chase and the signature event of the afternoon, the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
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Free bets are useful for both new and experienced punters for betting on the action, allowing customers to bet without risking their own funds on races.
Users can secure Cheltenham offers by either using betting sign up offers or existing customers rewards through bet and get promos, loyalty bonuses, price boosts and more.
How we evaluate Cheltenham free bets
Licensing: Cheltenham betting sites recommended on this page are all licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This ensures that customers’ details are protected and they are using a regulated product.
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Welcome offer: Cheltenham betting sign up offers should match the significance of the occasion with higher offers than usual. We only consider
Betting bonuses: A wide range of betting offers should be available including free bets, moneyback specials, best odds guaranteed, non-runner no bet, price boosts, acca boosts, extra places and many more.
Value: We look for free bet offers and promotions that bring users the best Cheltenham odds, either for betting on the event or odds thresholds to unlock betting promos.
Markets: Cheltenham betting offers should cover different markets and bets to offer customers a diverse range of options.
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Payment options: Cheltenham betting offers should permit customers to use wide variety of payment options, including PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and more to unlock betting sign up offers and others.
(The Independent)
Today’s best Cheltenham odds
Horses to follow at Cheltenham today
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If you’re considering having a bet on Cheltenham today but you’re no sure where to place your money, here’s a few suggestions based on recent form:
In the opening race at 1.20, keep an eye on Bambino Fever. She impressed when winning comfortably at Fairyhouse on her last outing, showing a big improvement on just her second start over hurdles.
In the 2.40, Wodhooh looks interesting with a good record over fences. She has been consistent with solid form this season, only losing to a Champion Hurdler.
One of the day’s biggest draws will be Fact To File in the 4.00. He won this race with ease last year and is back at Cheltenham in rampant form thanks to a dominant win at the Dublin Racing Festival.
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Responsible gambling
Bettors should always gamble responsibly. Always remain within a budget and never exceed it. Never chase your losses.
Anyone can lose a bet even if they know a lot about horse racing. It is easy to get carried away with Cheltenham Festival, so remain in control of your time and betting.
Bettors can use responsible gambling tools provided by betting sites such as deposit limits, loss limits and self-exclusion among others.
Should you wish to seek help for gambling-related issues, there are several charities, organisations and healthcare providers who offer support and information:
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
It’s day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival – Ladies Day.
This afternoon’s seven-race card features four Grade 1 contests where the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at 4.00pm headlines the day’s card.
Most of the focus will on Majborough, who will likely start a short price. If producing similar form to his win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, he should win.
13 odd-on favourites beaten
Favourites in the race have a poor record, however. There have been 13 odds-on favourites this century but just three have won. Big name favourites such as Moscow Flyer (2004), Master Minded (2010), Sizing Europe (2012), Un De Sceaux (2016), Douvan (2017), Defi Du Seuil (2020), Chacun Pour Soi (2021), Shishkin (2022) & Jonbon (2025) have all been beaten in the two-mile chasing championship.
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Can I’ll Sort That give Queally Cheltenham Grade 1
The opening Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle at 1.20pm will have 13 Irish-trained runners. I’ll Sort That, who was a first winner at the highest level for Waterford handler and jockey, Declan Queally, looks to have a little to find on form based on his BHA rating of 144 – Ballyfad is rated 149 – but could make the frame.
The Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase which Lecky Watson won last season will have 11 Irish challengers in the now 14-runner field, following the withdrawal of Predators Gold and The big Westerner this morning.
Mullins bids for 15th win
The final Grade 1, and race, of the day. the Weatherbys Bumper at 5.20pm will see Willie Mullins bid for a 15th success in the race since its inception in 1992. The Closutton handler has five runners in the race, which interestingly, he won as an amateur jockey in 1996, aboard Wither Or Which.
WWE has been forced to scrap a planned WrestleMania 42 title match due to a real-life injury. With the Show of Shows edging closer with each passing day, the promotion has been hit with a few unfortunate injuries.
Last week, Jordynne Grace was injured during a WWE Main Event taping ahead of SmackDown. She was involved in a match with Alba Fyre, and a video showed her landing awkwardly on her ankle as she came off from the top rope.
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The referee threw up an X sign, and the match was stopped with doctors checking on Grace. After the match was restarted, Fyre quickly got the pinfall to finish the bout early.
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The former TNA Knockouts Champion later uploaded a photo on social media and was seen wearing a walking boot. Now, it has emerged that her injury has led to WWE scrapping major plans for her at WrestleMania 42.
During the recent edition of Self Made Sessions, Self Made Pro revealed that he was informed that there were plans to have Jordynne Grace compete against Giulia and Tiffany Stratton in a Triple Threat match for the U.S. championship at the Show of Shows in Las Vegas.
“I did hear from somebody that there was an idea to do Giulia vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania for the United States Championship,” he said.
However, he noted that the match may not happen now due to Grace’s injury.
“Now, whether or not this was actually the case, it’s not going to happen anyway because Jordynne Grace has hurt her ankle unless it’s an ankle sprain,” he added.
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Jordynne Grace issued a statement after suffering an injury in WWE
Following the injury, Jordynne Grace shared a photo on Instagram in which she can be seen wearing a walking boot alongside Chelsea Green, who is also dealing with an ankle injury.
She has been getting the chance to shine on SmackDown and recently faced Jade Cargill in a Women’s Championship match. It remains to be seen how long the injury will keep Grace out of action.
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