The Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl on Sunday after beating the New England Patriots 29–13 to lift their second Lombardi Trophy.

Quarterback Sam Darnold led Seattle to victory with a calm performance, throwing for a touchdown and almost 200 passing yards on the biggest stage in American football.

The match was also special for Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent, as several players with Nigerian roots played key roles in the game and throughout the season.

Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu was a major part of Seattle’s defence. Born to Nigerian parents, he recorded over 100 tackles and seven sacks in the 2025 season and has built a strong reputation in the NFL. He has often spoken proudly about his Nigerian heritage and the value of hard work.

Another defender, Boye Mafe, also of Nigerian descent, continued his rise with five sacks and several tackles for loss. He holds a club record for consecutive games with a sack.

Rookie safety Nick Emmanwori, raised in a Nigerian-American home, impressed in his first season with 81 tackles, 11 pass breakups and one interception.

On offence, centre Olusegun “Olu” Oluwatimi played a key role in protecting the quarterback and organising the offensive line. He did not allow a single sack in his starts during the season.

Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has Nigerian and Sierra Leonean roots, had a standout year. He led the league in receiving yards and scored 10 touchdowns, earning Offensive Player of the Year honours.

Backup quarterback Jalen Milroe, who also has Nigerian heritage, added speed and rushing threat in special plays during the season.

The Patriots also had Nigerian representation, with offensive lineman Michael Onwenu starting all 17 games and anchoring their offensive line.

Seattle’s Super Bowl win has again highlighted the growing impact of players with Nigerian roots in the NFL.

One of the Winter Olympics’ most eagerly-anticipated events is always the men’s ice hockey.

The past three winners of the gold medal have been Finland, Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) and Canada, in 2014. Four years before that, in 2010, Canada took home the gold once more, after beating the US in the final in Vancouver.

The USA has 11 medals in total for competition in ice hockey but has not taken home the gold medal since 1980, over 45 years ago. Their only other gold medal came in 1960.

But 2026 will mark the first time since 2014 where NHL players have participated in Olympic ice hockey. Historically the NHL and International Olympic Committee have failed to reach an agreement on allowing NHL players to participate. In both 2018 and 2022 this was the case, affecting the USA, Canada and many other countries.

With the inclusion of the NHL once more, Canada are the favourites for the gold medal in Milan. The USA are behind Canada as the second favourites but the USA are touted as the team to beat in the women’s ice hockey.

Men’s hockey schedule for USA and Canada

USA

February 12: Latvia vs USA

February 14: USA vs Denmark

February 15: USA vs Germany

Canada

February 12: Czech Republic vs Canada

February 13: Switzerland vs Canada

February 15: Canada vs France

If both teams make it through the preliminary games the schedule will be as follows:

February 17: Playoff round

February 18: Quarter-final

February 20: Semi-final

February 21: Bronze-medal game

February 22: Gold-medal game

All games will either be played at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena or the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

India vs Pakistan (Photo by Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Tuesday the team has always been mentally ready to face Pakistan in their T20 World Cup league match.The two rivals are set to meet on February 15, and Ten Doeschate stressed that off-field issues never distracted the Indian camp from its preparations.

He admitted Pakistan might have a slight advantage since they have already been in Colombo for two weeks, but India are concentrating on delivering its best performance. “It’s going to be a challenge going to Colombo, where Pakistan have been for the last two weeks, and we’re fully focused on just bringing our best game to that fixture next week,” he told the reporters. With India playing Namibia on February 12 in their second encounter of the ongoing T20 World Cup, clarity over Pakistan’s participation means both teams can treat the match purely as a sporting contest. Meanwhile, India opener Abhishek Sharma missed the team’s first training session in New Delhi due to illness and stomach problems, raising doubts about his availability for the Namibia match. He had a poor start to the tournament with a golden duck against the USA and didn’t field in that match, with Sanju Samson replacing him. At a team dinner hosted by coach Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek left early, adding to health concerns. “Abhi (Abhishek Sharma) has still got a few issues with his tummy, but we are hopeful he will be available for the game in two days time. Bumrah is also feeling and moving a lot better,” he said on Tuesday. Jasprit Bumrah also missed the USA match due to illness. India may rest Abhishek to ensure he is fully fit for the Pakistan game, with Sanju Samson possibly opening in his place. Abhishek is seen as a key player due to his explosive T20 batting, and despite his early failure, the team values his impact. India still beat the USA by 29 runs, thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 84 and strong bowling from Siraj and Arshdeep Singh.

Bengal stormed into the Ranji Trophy semifinals with a dominant innings and 90-run win over Andhra on Tuesday, completing a one-sided contest that had been set up by Sudip Kumar Gharami’s towering knock of 299.

Andhra resumed their second innings on the final day at 64 for three, but the result was virtually sealed after they had already fallen 334 runs behind Bengal’s massive first-innings total on Day 4. With the pitch offering assistance and time running out, Bengal needed only patience and discipline to close out the game.

The hosts will now face Jammu and Kashmir in the semifinal beginning February 15. The other semifinal will see Karnataka lock horns with Uttarakhand.

On Day 5, Andhra’s primary aim was to avoid an innings defeat, but left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed played a decisive role, exploiting the wearing surface to break resistance. Shahbaz finished with impressive figures of 4 for 72, while Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal chipped in with two wickets. Akash Deep, Sumanta Gupta and Anustup Majumdar claimed one wicket apiece.

Mohammed Shami, currently out of favour at the international level, bowled just three overs in Andhra’s second innings after contributing with the bat in Bengal’s first-innings score of 629.

For Andhra, Nitish Kumar Reddy stood tall amid the collapse, showing resolve in a gritty 90 off 144 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes. Chasing 270 to force Bengal to bat again, Andhra needed a substantial stand between Reddy and skipper Ricky Bhui. However, Bhui was dismissed by Shahbaz after adding only 12 runs to his overnight tally.

Shahbaz soon accounted for Saurabh Kumar before removing Reddy to complete a fine spell. Tripurana Vijay scored 46 and Kalidindi Raju added 25, but their efforts merely postponed the inevitable as Gupta dismissed Vijay to seal Bengal’s emphatic victory. Wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat did not take the field due to injury.

The games torch of the second Niger Delta Games, billed for Edo state from February 20 to 27, has arrived Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The torch, the games’ symbol of peace, strength and solidarity, commenced its tour of all nine competing Niger Delta states from Calabar, Cross River State, on Monday, February 9, before arriving Uyo today.

The torch bearer, Edidiong Umoafia, a bronze medallist at the Commonwealth Games, led other outstanding state athletes in a colourful procession, which was a roll call of the state’s star athletes of the yesteryear and those of the present, from the headquarters of the ministry of sports to the globe roundabout along Wellington Bassey way, where the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, had already walked out to and was standing by to receive the torch in company with top government functionaries, the Managing Director of Dunamis-Icon Limited, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, and management staff of the ministry of sports.

Addressing the gathering, Pastor Umo Eno declared the state’s intention to participate in the games and to do so fairly and under healthy competition.

Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ubong Umoh, the Governor thanked Dunamis-Icon Limited, organizers of the games, and the NDDC, sponsors of the games, for the initiative which he said was a viable platform to promote peace, unite the people and harness the sports talents that abound in the Niger Delta.

According to the Governor, “The theme of the games, Beyond Oil: Harnessing Talents, succinctly reminds us, as leaders, that beyond our bountiful natural riches, there lies a plethora of potentialities that can be harnessed into hastening the progress and development of our region.”

“Today, I am happy to receive the torch of unity, on behalf of our people, signifying our state’s readiness to participate in the second Niger Delta Games in Edo state. As I pass the torch back to the organizers for onward movement to other states, I beckon on my brother Governors in the region to embrace the message and lofty ideals behind the games by supporting the NDDC and Dunamis-Icon as they continue to work towards unveiling and propelling the sports talents that our region has been mightily blessed with.”

In his remarks, the games consultant, Sir Ikpokpo, commended the state liaison committee for what he called an effective organization of the torch ceremony and assured that all modalities had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free outing when the games get under way in Edo state.

Speaking earlier, the commissioner for sports and chairman of the state liaison committee, Elder Paul Bassey, reflected on the benefits of the games and praised the organizers for the professional touch they have put to the games.

“I must commend Dunamis-Icon Limited for going beyond initiating this competition with all its attendant benefits, to bringing professionalism and in-depth dexterity to the organization of the games.” “It is also a thing of immense joy that the NDDC has lived up to expectation by throwing its weight behind the games as a way of giving back to society.”

Goodwill messages were received from the Head of Civil Service, Mrs Elsie Anietie Peters and the Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr Eketette Ekanem, while the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Mrs Rosemary Ubia, delivered the vote of thanks.

High point of the ceremony was the handing over of the torch to officials of Abia state which is the next destination on the torch tour.

After touring the other eight states of the Niger Delta region,the games torch will arrive Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin city, Edo state, where it would stay lit from the opening ceremony on February 20 to the closing ceremony on February 26, before being handed over to the next host state of the annual multi-sports championship.