Taiwo Awoniyi has spoken about patience, teamwork and staying positive after helping Nottingham Forest secure a 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Super Eagles striker scored twice during his 100th appearance for Forest and played a major role in the important Premier League victory.

Speaking after the match, Awoniyi said the result meant a lot to the players and coaching staff.

“For us, it was an important win. Kudos to the team and the staff. We came here to get three points and I’m very pleased,” he said.

The Nigerian forward also opened up on his limited playing time this season, admitting that staying on the bench has not been easy.

“That’s what football is about. Sometimes when things are going well, it’s about the team, not just the first eleven. It’s also very difficult being on the bench, but you just have to keep going,” Awoniyi explained.

Awoniyi praised the team’s fast start and revealed that the early pressure on Chelsea was part of manager Vitor Pereira’s plan.

“We had an amazing start. We had control of the game in the first five minutes and that’s what the coach wanted,” he added.

The striker also spoke about his opening goal, thanking teammate Dilane Bakwa for the cross that led to the goal.

“It was a nice delivery from Dilane Bakwa, and I was just in the right place at the right time. It’s all about the team,” Awoniyi said.

The former Union Berlin striker also praised goalkeeper Matz Sels for keeping Forest in the game with an important save.

“We also have a good goalkeeper in Mats. If the ball had gone in, it might have been a different game entirely, but he kept us in it,” he stated.

Awoniyi further encouraged his teammates to continue believing as Forest push for a strong finish to the season.

“We have a few games left and those are important. We’ll take each game as it comes,” he said.

The Nigerian striker also reserved special praise for Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, describing them as “amazing players.”

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt sustained a severe right pinkie injury during Tuesday night’s Western Conference semifinal Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, an incident that visibly disturbed players on the opposing bench.

The injury occurred when Vanderbilt attempted to block a dunk by Thunder center Chet Holmgren. His finger struck the backboard, causing an immediate, painful reaction.

Thunder guard Jared McCain described the scene, stating, “I mean, it just — it looked pretty gruesome in my opinion. I don’t even know, to be honest, what I was looking at. It looked pretty bad, though. So, prayers for him. Sending him love.”

Vanderbilt was seen bending over in pain before exiting the game.

Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed the severity, adding, “I went to go check on him because it just looked bad. He was audibly screaming. Knew he had done something. We’re obviously disappointed. But that happened, and it’s just a freak injury.”

The former Jazz player suffered a full dislocation of his right pinkie finger, reports ESPN. The injury required stitches as the bone broke through the skin. During the live coverage of the game, NBC’s announcers called the injury “gruesome.”

It’s not known how much game time Vanderbilt will miss; the Houston native is a left-handed shooter. The Lakers are already without star Luka Doncic, who is battling a hamstring strain.

The loss of Vanderbilt, who had played six minutes and scored two points, reduced the Lakers’ nine-man rotation to eight. At the time of the injury, Holmgren’s dunk had put the Thunder up 48-39 in the second quarter.

Oklahoma City went on to win the game 108-90, leading 61-53 at halftime.

Swathes of football-mad Asia from China to India and Thailand are yet to confirm broadcast rights for the biggest-ever World Cup with kick-off barely one month away.

Unsociable match times in the region is one reason why hundreds of millions of fans have been left sweating about whether they can watch from their sofas.

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Football’s showpiece is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and begins on June 11 when the Mexicans face South Africa.

For fans in Beijing and Shanghai the opening match will start at 3:00 am, as will the final.

In New Delhi that is 12:30 am, although some games will be better timing in Asia.

Sandeep Goyal, chairman at advertising agency Rediffusion, told AFP that he was “privy to some discussions” between football’s governing body FIFA and Indian broadcasters.

“The first problem is of match timings,” said Goyal.

“The bigger, better matches are at 12:30 am or 3:30 am. A few at 6:30 am. Except die-hard soccer fans, match viewership is likely to be low in India.

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“Therefore monetisation opportunities for the channels come down massively.”

Goyal said that JioStar, India’s largest media conglomerate, had offered $20 million for the rights. Sony did not make an offer, he said.

FIFA originally wanted $100 million for the 2026 and 2030 World Cup rights, Indian media has said.

“The final deal is likely to close at much lower than what FIFA is looking for,” Goyal added.

– PM gets involved –

Like India, China has also not announced a deal for a tournament that has a most-ever 48 teams and 104 matches.

Neither country — which combined have a population of nearly three billion — is playing at the World Cup but interest is intense, particularly in China.

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The country accounted for 49.8 percent of all hours of viewing on digital and social platforms globally during the Qatar 2022 World Cup, according to FIFA.

State media weighed in this week, with the Global Times citing a 2015 regulatory notice saying that national broadcasting behemoth CCTV has the exclusive right to negotiate and buy World Cup broadcasting rights in China.

“Historically, CCTV has secured World Cup rights well in advance,” the Global Times said.

“For previous editions, agreements were typically concluded early enough to allow for extensive promotion and advertising campaigns.”

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Thailand have never reached the World Cup but football is wildly popular there — and there is no confirmed deal.

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) removed the World Cup from a “must-have” list last June, meaning the tournament no longer has to be shown on free-to-air television.

Thailand’s prime minister was moved to assure fans on Tuesday that they would not miss out.

“Previous governments ensured free access to the World Cup, and my administration should not be an exception,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters.

Thailand struggled to secure live rights for the previous tournament in 2022, before the Sports Authority of Thailand finalised a last-minute reported $33 million deal with FIFA, funded by the NBTC and private partners including telecom giant True Corp.

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Malaysia’s communications ministry announced Wednesday that the national broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia and Unifi TV will show the tournament there, after reports in local media said there was haggling behind the scenes.

– ‘Deals will be reached’ –

James Walton, sports business leader at Deloitte Asia Pacific, said that headlines screaming of millions of fans missing out in Asia were wide of the mark.

“This happens every cycle in some countries,” he told AFP via email.

“The country broadcasters want the best deal as they have to balance this cost against potential revenues from advertising (for commercial broadcasters) or social benefit (for public/government-owned broadcasters).

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“Meanwhile, the rights holders know that this is a one-off opportunity to sell a time-sensitive rights package.

“The reality is that it’s almost unthinkable for most countries to not show the World Cup,” he said.

“So one way or another, a deal will be reached.”

“Realistically, fans in all these countries will definitely get to watch as their governments will realise the potential for unrest,” Walton added.

“And FIFA will want to ensure their flagship event gets maximum coverage to fulfil sponsor commitments, raise the profile of the sport and to avoid encouraging piracy.”

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Asked by AFP if it was worried about the rights issue with the World Cup coming up fast, FIFA said that it had sealed agreements with broadcasters in more than 175 countries.

“Discussions in a few remaining markets regarding the sale of media rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage,” it said.

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Manchester United will compete in the Champions League next season and their transfer budget for the summer window has been boosted as a result

Manchester United have bolstered their summer spending power after qualifying for the Champions League. That means the transfer gurus at Old Trafford can start planning immediately for next season.

After a dismal 2024/25 campaign under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, during which the club finished 15th in the Premier League, Michael Carrick has brought European football back to Old Trafford.

The Englishman took over from Amorim in January and has won 10 of his 14 matches in charge. United are now third in the league and have already sealed a spot in the Champions League with three games to go.

Qualifying for the competition will land the club and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe a tidy £16million and the further they go next term, the more they earn. United could rake in over £100m from competing in the Champions League, which could preemptively fund some summer moves, as MEN Sport looks at players who could be contacted ahead of the window opening.

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Mateus Fernandes

The Daily Mail reports that United could spend £150m on three new midfielders this summer, with one of them perhaps being West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. The Portuguese star has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks.

West Ham signed Fernandes for £38m from relegated Southampton last summer and he was reportedly on United’s radar before this move. With the Hammers now threatened by the drop too, interest in the 21-year-old could be ramped up.

Fernandes would likely leave the London Stadium if West Ham do go down and United could lay the groundwork for a potential summer deal beforehand.

Morgan Rogers

One of the Premier League’s hottest prospects is Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers. The England forward arrived at Villa Park in 2024 for £8m and has been nothing short of a sensation.

Now 23, Rogers has drawn eyes from around the top flight, despite signing a new long-term deal with his current employers in November 2025.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that United view Rogers as a potential successor to Bruno Fernandes and he is the club’s top target this summer. They could be in contact sooner rather than later for a star whose valuation sits at a reported £86m.

Sandro Tonali

Enabled by the £150m reported midfield warchest, Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali could also be pursued. The Italian was linked with a shock move away from St James’ Park in January.

Reports suggest he is keen to stay in England if he moves on this summer, which is on the cards as The Manchester Evening News understands the 25-year-old is admired by the Reds and has emerged as a potential replacement for Casemiro, who is set to leave at the end of the season.

But with Spanish outlet Diario AS reporting that Real Madrid have shown an interest in Tonali, Ratcliffe and Co. could act hastily and gets the wheels in motion sooner rather than later.

Carlos Baleba

Brighton ace Carlos Baleba was the subject of intense transfer speculation last summer. Still, with cash splashed elsewhere on the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, this was put on ice.

The Cameroonian has not enjoyed the best of seasons for the Seagulls, but with Casemiro departing and Manuel Ugarte another who could bid farewell, United’s desire could be reignited.

According to The Athletic, United may start negotiating for Baleba and begin their assault with a £50m bid. Personal terms are not thought to be an issue.

Maxi Araujo

Another player United may have to start pursuing with some urgency is Sporting CP’s Maxi Araujo. The left-back has starred for the Portuguese side this season.

On the back of some stellar outings in the Champions League for Sporting, Araujo has found himself linked with a host of top clubs. These reportedly include Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as other European sides.

United are also on said list and if they want to pull off a deal for the 26-year-old, valued at a reported £43m, they should get a move on and begin their inquiries.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

• Alex Eala begins her bid in the 2026 Italian Open against world No. 45 Magdalena Frech from Poland.

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• 5pm** – Alex Eala vs Magdalena Frech

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala in action at the Mutua Madrid Open 2026. –INSTAGRAM

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala faces an early tough test in the 2026 Italian Open round of 128 against Poland’s Magdalena Frech on Wednesday (Manila time).

Eala is expected to have an uphill climb in Rome, where she could meet World No. 2 Elena Rybakina as early as the round of 32.

But that’s assuming she gets past Frech first and Chinese World No. 33 Wang Xinyu, who drew a bye into the second round. Wang outlasted Eala in the ASB Classic semifinal in Auckland, New Zealand last January.

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Frech, No. 45 in the WTA, reached a career-high ranking of 22nd in October of last year.

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Ian Wright urged Arsenal fans to celebrate reaching the Champions League final in full, despite criticism from pundit Wayne Rooney.

Mikel Arteta’s side booked their place in the showpiece in Budapest on 30 May with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid.

Bukayo Saka’s first-half tap-in in Tuesday’s semi-final second leg was enough to propel the Gunners to the final after a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg, putting them a step closer to a first Champions League title – as well as in the driving seat in the Premier League title race.

Saka’s goal at the Emirates Stadium sparked wild celebrations and fans flooded the pitch at full-time to celebrate with the players, leading to criticism from Rooney.

He said on Amazon Prime: “They deserve to be in this position but they haven’t won it yet. I think the celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win.”

Former Arsenal star Wright was quick to respond, posting a video to social media in which he said: “Arsenal fans, let me tell you something: enjoy this. The celebration police will be out in force, do not get nicked!

“Enjoy yourselves, football’s about moments and this is a big moment. Enjoy it and let’s hope that in the final and after the final we have another massive moment. It’s a great day!”

Midfielder Declan Rice was also quick to encourage celebrations, telling Amazon Prime after the win: “I don’t think you can underestimate what we have done in this competition up to this point.

“We have every right to celebrate that moment. The most prestigious competition in club football. We are just trying to soak it all in.

“We knew coming into the game what was at stake. If you can’t get up for that, then you can’t get up for any game of football.

“When we went 1-0 up, I knew we were going to win. I could feel something special building.”

The atmosphere at the Emirates has occasionally come under criticism in recent seasons for failing to replicate the kind of vocal support enjoyed at other team’s home grounds.

But a superb atmosphere was created from before kick-off on Tuesday night as supporters greeted the team bus with flares and chants, the first time that has happened, and Arteta paid tribute to that warm reception afterwards.

He said: “It was an incredible night. We made history again together and I cannot be happier and prouder for everybody that’s involved in this football club.

“The manner that we [were] received outside the stadium was special and unique. The atmosphere, our support has created the energy, the way they managed every ball with us… I never felt that in the stadium [before].

“We knew how much it meant to everybody… the boys did an incredible job and after 20 years and a second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.”

Abdullah Mason‘s highly-anticipated return to the ring has been officially announced, as he takes on Welshman Joe Cordina in Cleveland.

Mason is widely-regarded as one of the most exciting young fighters in the entire sport, with the 22-year-old having become world champion when he competed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia back in November.

It was a competitive and entertaining battle against Sam Noakes that led to Mason’s triumph, claiming the unanimous decision victory to capture the vacant WBO lightweight title and extend his unbeaten record to 20-0 with 17 knockouts in the process.

The first defence of that newly-won title has now been confirmed, and after overcoming one Brit in Noakes, Mason will now turn his attention to another, as he prepares to face Joe Cordina on July 4 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

“July 4th is the homecoming that my brothers and I have been anticipating since before we turned pro. I’m ready to experience all of my city’s support in one building, and I have an appetite for smoke. So if you love boxing and you’re ready for some smoke, then the Wolstein on July 4th is the place to be. It’s a cookout at the Wolstein, and the clock is ticking. You’re all invited to your world champion’s first homecoming, and you don’t want to miss it.”

Cordina is a former two-time IBF super featherweight champion, defeating the likes of Kenichi Ogawa and Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov during his time at 130lbs.

The Welshman lost his title to Anthony Cacace back in May 2024, but has won both of his fights since moving up to lightweight, and now attempts to become a two-division champion by pulling off the upset and dethroning Mason.

Mason isn’t the only world champion that will be defending his world title on the card, as in the co-main event, Bruce Carrington puts his WBC featherweight title on the line against Rene Palacios.

Carrington won the vacant WBC strap with a ninth round stoppage win over Carlos Castro in January, and now meets Mexico’s Palacios, who holds a record of 19 wins and 1 draw from his 20 bouts.

The event is the first in a new monthly live boxing series, The Fight, to be shown onTNT and DAZN in the US and DAZN Worldwide.

FOX Sports, FOX One and Indeed, the world’s No. 1 job site and a prominent hiring platform, announced on Tuesday morning a nationwide search to fill the position of “FOX One Chief World Cup Watcher Hired Through Indeed.”

The job, which will pay $50,000, entails the individual watching all 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in 4K on FOX One, which is the official streaming platform of the tournament, from their personal office, which will be a “custom-built, dream viewing space” glass cube in the middle of Times Square, New York.

“This FIFA World Cup will be a historic tournament that calls for an equally historic hire,” FOX Sports President of Marketing Robert Gottlieb said in a press release. “One engaged applicant will get the job of a lifetime to experience and celebrate every story, every nation and every exhilarating moment that defines the beautiful game.”

The “FOX One Chief World Cup Watcher Hired Through Indeed” will share social content to engage with fans while watching the games in a watch-party setting.

“As a leading global hiring platform, matching candidates and employers is at the core of what we do,” Indeed Chief Marketing Officer James Whitemore said in a statement. “It’s how we help people find jobs faster and how employers hire more efficiently. This partnership with FOX Sports is a great example of our mission to help people get jobs.”

To be considered for the role, applicants should update or create an Indeed profile to include any relevant experience and skills and share a short video detailing why they’re the ideal person for the job. Applications will be accepted through May 17.

The hired applicant begins on Saturday, June 6, which is one week before the tournament commences, and their role ends on Sunday, July 26, one week after the tournament concludes. On June 6, the hire will be publicly revealed during FOX’s broadcast of the New York Yankees hosting the Boston Red Sox.

“This is an iconic event and FOX One is here to meet the moment for the fans. This innovative partnership will give one diehard fan the opportunity to showcase their passion and share the excitement of the FIFA World Cup in this new bespoke role,” FOX Direct to Consumer CMO Brian Borkowski said in a statement. “We look forward to sharing the thrill of every moment on the pitch through the lens of a devoted World Cup watcher and highly engaging streaming experience.”

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse was reportedly away from the team on Tuesday to attend his brother’s funeral in Iowa.

Nurse’s brother, Steve, died unexpectedly last Wednesday at 62, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Steve Nurse died the day before his brother Nick coached the 76ers to a win over the Boston Celtics in Game 6.

Nurse was on the 76ers bench during the team’s blowout 137-98 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. He is expected to return on Tuesday night before the 76ers play the Knicks in Game 2 on Wednesday, according to the report.

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Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse coaches during a game against the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, on May 4, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

The 76ers rallied from a 3-1 deficit against the Boston Celtics, winning three straight games to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, clinching the series on Saturday night.

On Monday night, the 76ers looked like a team that had spent their previous three games expending significant emotional energy just to get to the second round, as the Knicks had their way in the win.

The Knicks at one point in Game 1 held a 40-point lead. Their dominant win over the 76ers was an extension of their play against the Atlanta Hawks in the opening round.

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Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse calls to his players during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs series against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 28, 2026. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)

They became the first team in NBA history to win three straight postseason games by at least 25 points.

After trailing 2-1 against the Hawks, the Knicks have won four straight games by a total of 135 points. They are the first team since detailed play-by-play began in 1996-97 to lead three straight playoff games by at least 30 points, according to Sportradar.

Jalen Brunson scored 35 points in the win, OG Anunoby scored 18 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each scored 17 points. None of the Knicks starters played in the fourth quarter.

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Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse yells during a timeout in the second half of Game 1 in the second round of the NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks in New York, New York, on May 4, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

Nurse’s 76ers will look to turn things around against the Knicks on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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