The 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League season finally comes to an end on Sunday and, without doubt, it has been one of the most dramatic campaigns in recent years.
From the title race to the battle for continental tickets and relegation survival, almost every position is still open ahead of the final day.
For me, Rivers United are favourites to win the league title despite Rangers International currently sitting top of the table. Rangers probably deserve the title more because of their consistency this season, but their final game against Ikorodu City looks very difficult.
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Ikorodu City are fighting for a possible third-place finish and a continental ticket, while Rangers need at least a positive result to keep their title hopes alive. Both clubs have already mobilised fans for the game, which shows how important the encounter is to both sides.
I expect Rivers United to beat Katsina United comfortably in Port Harcourt. That is why I feel the title could eventually swing in favour of the Pride of Rivers if Rangers fail to win in Lagos.
Ikorodu City have impressed me this season and I strongly believe they can finish third. They have shown character throughout the campaign and look ready for continental football.
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Shooting Stars are still in the race, but their away trip to Niger Tornadoes will not be easy because the hosts are also battling for survival. The pressure in Minna could affect both teams.
The relegation battle is another area that will attract plenty of attention. Wikki Tourists and Bayelsa United are already down, but I believe El-Kanemi Warriors and Remo Stars could join them.
Remo Stars have struggled badly this season after winning the title last term and their trip to Bendel Insurance is far from straightforward. El-Kanemi Warriors are also in a difficult position and may not get the results needed to survive.
I see Enyimba, Plateau United, Warri Wolves and Kun Khalifat using their home advantage to secure safety. Clubs fighting relegation usually become very dangerous at home on the final day.
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In the race for the Golden Boot, Rangers striker Godwin Obaje remains my favourite to finish as the top scorer. However, Victor Mbaoma, Joseph Arumala and Jonathan Mairiga are still close enough to cause a late surprise.
No matter how the season ends, one thing is certain — the NPFL has once again delivered drama, excitement and unforgettable moments. Sunday could still produce another shocking twist before the curtain finally falls on the campaign.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) fumbles the ball defended by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew van Ginkel (43) and linebacker Dallas Turner (15) in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Vikings DC Brian Flores tends to simmer with competitive intensity that can be intimidating. Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel understands the reality as well as (or better) than anyone since the pair go back to the Miami Dolphins days before a reunion in the Twin Cities.
Recently, Minnesota’s top defender chatted with the media. What was his message to the youngsters who are looking to adjust to the intensity of the defensive strategist known as The Mad Scientist? Check it out: “My biggest piece of advice would be just applying what he teaches us in the classroom. He has big focal points that he wants to be done each practice. So if you do anything, I would say listen to what he wants, what he’s preaching that day, and apply it on the field.”
Andrew Van Ginkel Offers Some Wisdom
Spurring the question was an earlier answer from safety Josh Metellus. Per the defensive back, the focus for the young fellas rested in seeing through the manner in which Coach Flores speaks (think blunt and fiery). Rather than get too worried about the passion, focus on the specifics of what’s being preached.
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Wise words.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s additional comments add another layer of wisdom. Per the veteran edge defender, Flores isn’t looking to deceive anyone in the classroom portion of things. Flores establishes what the priority is and then insists that his players work toward fulfilling the central tenets of that priority. Sounds basic, but some players likely miss the point.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) lines up during action against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The NFC North contest took place on Sep 29, 2024, with Van Ginkel adding his energy and edge presence to Minnesota’s defensive approach. His role has become increasingly important as the Vikings continue managing injuries and relying on consistent playmakers in divisional matchups. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Note, as well, that Van Ginkel offered up a few more thoughts.
“He’s giving you little nuggets and if you can’t listen to what he’s saying and then go apply it, it’s wasted time to him,” Van Ginkel clarifies. “He wants you to figure it out instantly. Especially if he’s putting a big emphasis on it, you should get that right.”
Presumably, there’s some leeway for these guys to continue being human. Put differently, Andrew Van Ginkel alongside the broader crew of defenders still need to be allowed to make mistakes. Furthermore, there will need to be room for the coaching staff to layer knowledge, slowly building up the players’ abilities as the complexities of ball get mastered over time.
What Van Ginkel appears to be referring to is more general (if I could make an educated guess). Think, for instance, a more intense focus on rallying to the ball carrier before then looking to strip the ball away. Not doing so could lead to Flores losing patience. After all, that’s more of an effort issue than a skill issue, meaning that it’s fully within each guy’s ability to fulfill what is being demanded.
Flores, an old fashioned guy who is a Bill Belichick disciple, values work ethic, compete, physicality, and aggression. Seeing him ask his players to manifest those attributes in specific ways before then not doing so in practice may lead to a player (or two) getting an earful.
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Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Last year, Andrew Van Ginkel got slowed down by injury. He did manage to get into a dozen games, starting eleven while offering his DC 582 snaps.
Van Ginkel’s final statistics show 54 tackles, 7 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 10 passes defended, and 2 fumble recoveries. If there’s a player who best embodies what it means to be a Flores defender, Andrew Van Ginkel is probably it (but Josh Metellus is close).
The second round of Group D fixtures at FIFA World Cup 2026 delivers one of the most intriguing matches of the group stage as co-hosts United States face Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle on Friday, June 19. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 BST, which corresponds to 12:30 AM IST on June 20, and the match arrives with qualification implications that could reshape the group before the final round of fixtures.
The United States and Australia both opened the tournament with victories and now sit level on three points. The Americans currently occupy first place after a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay, while Australia follow closely after a disciplined 2-0 triumph against Türkiye. The winner of this contest will automatically secure a place in the Round of 32 and take sole possession of top spot in Group D.
For the United States, this tournament carries particular significance as one of the three host nations alongside Canada and Mexico. The Stars and Stripes are appearing at their 12th FIFA World Cup and their second consecutive tournament after reaching the Round of 16 in Qatar. Under Mauricio Pochettino, who took charge in September 2024 following Gregg Berhalter’s departure, the squad has embraced a more ambitious approach built around talents such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Gio Reyna.
The Americans remain one of the oldest names in World Cup history. Their greatest achievement came at the inaugural tournament in 1930 when they reached the semi-finals, while their most recent campaign ended in the Round of 16 against the Netherlands. Their emphatic victory over Paraguay offered an encouraging start as they attempt to improve upon recent performances and take advantage of home support throughout the competition.
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Australia arrive in Seattle carrying momentum of their own. The Socceroos have qualified for six consecutive World Cups since returning to the tournament in 2006 following a 32-year absence. Twice they have reached the Round of 16, first in Germany in 2006 and again in Qatar in 2022, where they pushed eventual champions Argentina before narrowly exiting the competition.
Tony Popovic, a member of Australia’s celebrated 2006 squad, now leads the national team after replacing Graham Arnold in late 2024. His influence was immediately visible against Türkiye as Australia delivered one of the most tactically disciplined performances of the opening matchday. Despite conceding possession for long periods, the Socceroos remained compact, organised and clinical, earning a 2-0 victory that significantly boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds once again.
History offers little guidance between these teams. The United States lead the overall series with two wins, one draw and one defeat, but this will be their first competitive World Cup meeting. With qualification potentially at stake, first place in Group D available and momentum for the knockout rounds hanging in the balance, the encounter carries all the ingredients of a defining World Cup night in Seattle.
There is some bad news for Joe Hendry’s fans. The popular UK star has won over the WWE Universe with his charisma since signing for the promotion last year. He joined NXT and won the brand’s top championship before moving to the main roster.
Hendry was called up to RAW following WrestleMania 42 and quickly began a feud with The Vision. He has been a thorn in the faction’s side and even came up with a catchy “Fire Logan Paul” parody song.
Thanks for the submission!
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But just as it looked like he was taking things to the next level, he disappeared from WWE TV. He was absent from the company’s European tour. With the second leg of the tour set to commence and WWE stopping in the UK, it was expected that the British star would be available. But he shared a disappointing update.
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Speaking on the Toronto Sun’s No Holds Barred, the host mentioned that Joe Hendry would be a part of WWE’s upcoming UK tour. However, the former TNA World Champion was quick to correct him.
“You said I’ll be part of the UK tour, but right now I am healing up, my friend. I was attacked by Austin Theory. So, you know, it is what it is,” he said.
On the May 24 episode of RAW, Hendry was viciously attacked by Austin Theory with a steel chair. Theory, who is one-half of the tag team champions, sandwiched Hendry’s head between the chair and the ring post to end the attack.
Hendry possibly missing the UK tour is bad news for his fans, who have seen his rise over the years.
Joe Hendry wanted to face John Cena during his retirement tour
Last year, John Cena retired from WWE after a year-long retirement tour. During this run, he faced several stars, from veterans to fresh talent.
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It turns out Joe Hendry also wanted to face The Last Real Champion in his retirement tour. Speaking on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet, Hendry revealed he wished to be one of Cena’s opponents last year.
He blamed himself, saying he didn’t do enough to make himself an obvious choice, but said he has no regrets.
If you use quotes from the first half of this article, please credit Toronto Sun’s No Holds Barred and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.
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Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for rape a Paris appeals court has ruled. The captain of the Moroccan team was first accused of rape in 2023, by a then 24 year old woman. In February this year, an investigative judge ruled that Hakimi would face trial followed recommendations from public prosecutors. The PSG right back appealed the decision, but today that appeal was quashed paving the way for Hakimi to be tried in a criminal court.
Kildunne is one of England’s biggest rugby union stars and among the most high profile players in the world.
She was the face of the 2025 World Cup for the Red Roses and her profile has only continued to skyrocket since the team lifted the trophy last September.
Bristol, who finished a disappointing eighth in the table this season, is also a club that has a track record of signing prominent figures of the sport.
America superstar Ilona Maher enjoyed a three-month spell at the club during early 2025, New Zealand captain Ruahei Demant similarly joined this season and Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit joined their men’s Prem outfit last summer his return to the sport from American football while their chief executive officer stated that marketability of players, external is a factor in their recruitment strategy.
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The Bears’ running rugby style of play was a key factor in Kildunne wanting to make the move she said but also that joining a club which has worked with other high profile players did come into her thinking.
“Bristol have worked with players who have maybe stepped out of just being the rugby players that you prioritise, is something that definitely aids moving here because I do have a lot on my plate at times,” Kildunne said.
“My priority is always rugby, will always be rugby. But this is new territory, so to feel supported by the staff to ensure that I can keep rugby being my priority as well as aiding the progression of women’s rugby in different ways that I am doing as well.
“It’s definitely something that was a huge positive.”
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Kildunne added that she feels the “best is still yet to come” with her rugby.
At Bristol she will link up with a number of England team-mates including Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Abbie Ward and Lark Atkin-Davies and pointed to wing Millie David, who won her first cap this spring, as someone she was excited to link up with.
“Millie Wizz (David) is someone that has been in and out of the Red Roses camp. We’ve seen where she’s got the pace that she’s got when she’s been playing in the PWR.
“I’m excited to keep on growing that bond. I think we can get the best out of each other on the pitch.”
It now appears that Benavidez will remain at cruiserweight rather than return to the light-heavyweight scene, at least for his next fight.
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Despite calls for him to face Jai Opetaia, the 29-year-old looks set to first prioritise a charge towards the undisputed throne, with a clash against WBC world champion Noel Mikaelian close to being finalised. Should he win there, there are more fights in the division, including Opetaia, worth a mention.
After witnessing Benavidez’s cruiserweight debut, former WBO world champion Chris Billam-Smith – who lost his belt to Ramirez in 2024 – has thrown his name into the mix, telling Inside The Ring that a scrap with ‘The Mexican Monster’ could prove to be a ‘fire fight’.
“Of course, you are always thinking how you go about beating those sorts of guys. I said before that [Zurdo] fight, I said, ‘if he does win, me against him is an absolute fire fight and a very fan-friendly fight’.
“He is a fantastic fighter, obviously he has come up through the weights and put on a great performance there.”
With Benavidez-Mikaelian appearing to be next, Opetaia is likely to seek an in-house defence of his Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title – with Billam-Smith being the standout candidate for the away corner.
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With that route in mind, ‘The Gentleman’ said that he sees a showdown with Benavidez as a more difficult test than a dust-up with his promotional stablemate.
“Benavidez would be harder to beat [than Opetaia], stylistically for me.”
The traffic is a nightmare, and the prices are insane. But it’s still nice to spend a weekend in the Hamptons — it’s even better when you’re playing for a national championship.
As of noon Friday on the tip of Long Island, with the second round of the U.S. Open well underway, that picture was coming into view.
A reminder of how this works: the cut at a U.S. Open comes down to the top 60 players and ties after 36 holes. Everyone else packs up and heads back to the bottlenecked Long Island Expressway. Or a private jet. But you get the point. Not everyone gets to stick around.
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According to DataGolf, the current projected cutline sits at three over, a number that puts a bunch of big names in jeopardy.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who doesn’t tee off until 2:24 p.m. local time, is sitting one shot inside the projected number at plus-two. Brooks Koepka, who won the U.S. Open the last time it was held at Shinnecock in 2018, is living right on the number after an opening-round 73, and he’s got company there: Hideki Matsuyama and Patrick Cantlay are both at plus-three as well.
A notch below sit a trio of major champions: Bryson DeChambeau, Shane Lowry and Jordan Spieth. DeChambeau sits at five over while Spieth and Lowry are at four over, on the wrong side of the line for now. Joaquin Niemann is at plus-four, too, and if he ends up spending the weekend on his couch, he might blame his own temper. He was assessed a two-stroke penalty for a club-throwing incident in the first round.
Then there’s defending champion J.J. Spaun, who has a steep climb ahead of him. He’s at plus-seven and will need something special when he tees off alongside Scheffler this afternoon.
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Of course, cutlines are like the winds at Shinnecock: they can shift. And this one still has plenty of golf left to move. Check back here for updates as the number shakes out.
After months of recovery and rehabilitation, Neeraj Chopra is finally set to return to competitive action at the Doha Diamond League 2026. The Indian javelin superstar will compete for the first time since the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last year, where a persistent back injury affected his performance and resulted in an eighth-place finish.
The Doha meeting holds special significance for Chopra. It was at this venue in 2025 that he finally crossed the coveted 90-metre mark with a national record throw of 90.23m. Although he finished second behind Germany’s Julian Weber, the achievement marked a major milestone in his career.
This year’s event offers Chopra the perfect opportunity to assess his fitness and form against a world-class field. With the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games later in the year, the Doha Diamond League represents the beginning of an important season for India’s biggest athletics star.
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — When Scottie Scheffler arrived at Shinnecock Hills for his first round of his ninth U.S. Open early on Thursday morning, he had to be thinking, somewhere in his large and impressive head, that he could be four days away from becoming the seventh player to win the career Grand Slam. That prospect is out there, in the universe. Not even Scottie Scheffler can block out all the world’s noise.
But by high noon on Friday, with his second-round tee time still more than two hours away, Scheffler was closer to the cutline than the lead in this 126th U.S. Open.
The issue was his first-round score, 72, that put him six shots behind the first-round leader, Wyndham Clark. The issue was surprisingly low first-day scores, despite the windy conditions. The issue was the weight of golfing history. (See: McIlroy, Rory.) The issue was the nature of this U.S. Open at Shinnecock and, very possibly, most of the U.S. Opens Scheffler will play for the rest of his career.
“Would it be a dream to win the U.S. Open? Of course,” Scheffler said in a pre-tournament press conference. “But at the end of the day, the Grand Slam has never been a motivating factor for me. I always just wanted to be the best version of myself, and that got me this far.
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“When it comes to this golf tournament, I’m going to step on the first tee and remind myself I’ve done everything I possibly could in order to play well and now it’s just a matter of going out there and trying to execute and enjoy the competition, versus feeling like you have to win for some reason.”
Scheffler is so insightful, in his own keep-it-simple way. When he’s in the mood to talk, he’s one of the most interesting people in golf. His approach to life is there for all of us to see.
Then came the Thursday 72. Not a disaster. Not what he was looking for.
“Today felt like a day where a lot of good shots were going to get punished,” Scheffler said. “You had to be hitting a great shot if you wanted to avoid punishment.”
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Scheffler is an expert in golf, so his opinion should surely carry more weight than the opinion of any walking-in-the-rough observer. But you could make the case that the opposite was true. With fairways here that are often 40 to 50 yards wide, with easy (relatively speaking) pin positions, with soft and slow greens, the world’s best golfers didn’t really need to play a long series of great shots to shoot par or better.
What they needed to do was avoid major problems off the tee and into the greens, followed by a seize-the-moment mentality whenever a slow flat birdie putt from 20 feet and in presented itself. This course is not set up, as Augusta National is every year, to produce golfing magic. Scheffler knows all about what Augusta National requires. He’s won two green jackets. This is a different exam.
This discussion of the USGA’s U.S. Open setup is not a criticism. But it is a necessary starting point when you bring the national championship to this spectacular course to this spectacular place, and the forecast calls for wind and more wind.
The R&A deals with the exact same thing every year, whether the Open is at Royal St. George’s in the south of England or Carnoustie in northern Scotland. Scheffler, much like Phil Mickelson before him, didn’t imagine that British Open golf would be his thing. But when he won last year at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, he actually made it look easy, winning by four. It was nothing like a high-wire act, with all manner of golfing excitement. What he did was produce a relentless series of good shots. His winning score was 17 under par. Seventeen under!
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What golf-heads say about the people behind the R&A really is true: They do not care about the scoreboard totals. The Open goes to old-line, tried-and-true golf courses again and again and again. The R&A attitude is, whatever happens, happens. It speaks volumes about their collective golf IQ, and about their confidence as golf administrators.
Scheffler turns 30 on Sunday. He’s been intimately involved in golf at a high level for more than half his young life. Over the course of those years, the USGA has reinvented itself. Its day as the stern overlord over all you do in golf course is over. The modern USGA is now golfer-friendly, and it does not worship 280 as a Sunday-night score to the degree it did for decades.
Along those same lines, and at its greatest championship, the USGA does not prize point-to-point golf as it once did. Trees are not even a thing anymore at U.S. Opens. U.S. Opens and British Opens are more alike than they have even been. Not just here at Shinnecock Hills, where the course looks like a Scottish immigrant. At most U.S. Open sites. Pinehurst No. 2 (talk about firm terra firma) and Oakmont (now that it has no trees) and Pebble Beach (full name Pebble Beach Golf Links), to cite three anchor sites.
“I always felt like The Open would be one of the hardest ones for me to win because I didn’t have a lot of experience playing in the UK,” Scheffler said the other day. “I didn’t really play much internationally at all. Not having the experience on links golf, I would have said that would probably be the most difficult for me to win.”
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And then he won at Portrush last year. Handily.
Will Scheffler win a U.S. Open sometime between now and when he calls it a day? You would have to think yes. But to do it, he’ll have to be in touch not with old-school U.S. Open values. The Opens are melding. He’s won one. That means he can win the other.
Japan celebrates after winning vs Czechia in the VNL Women’s Week 2 in Pasig City. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Japan escaped Czechia’s tough third-set challenge and scored a 25-15, 25-23, 27-25 win to stay unbeaten in six games in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Women’s Week 2 on Friday at Philsports Arena.
Czechia reached the set point, but a crucial successful floor touch challenge by Japan mid-rally tied the third at 25-all. Yukiko Wada scored back-to-back kills to seal the win for her team and keep them on top of the standings of the 18-nation field.
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