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Sports

Super Eagles eye Unity Cup as summer diadem, say Jamaica must fall

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Cup-holders Nigeria are not looking to take anything for granted in Saturday’s Unity Cup Tournament final duel against the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica at the Charlton Athletic Stadium in London.

Head Coach Eric Chelle has been singing the praises of the squad that hammered Zimbabwe 2-0 in Tuesday’s semi final, and he made it clear on Thursday that he might tweak his playing personnel, tactics, pattern and strategy for Saturday’s encounter against the familiar foes.

The Super Eagles and the Reggae Boyz battled to a 2-2 draw in the final of the same mini-tournament on Saturday, 31st May, 2025, before the Eagles swept to victory 5-4 after penalty shootout to retain the trophy they had won in 2002 and 2004 – the only two times the competition had been held previously.

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In its first edition in 2002, the Unity Cup was played by only two teams, with Nigeria defeating Jamaica by a lone goal scored by a former Nigeria U17 team captain James Obiorah. Two years later, the Republic of Ireland joined the two teams, but Nigeria still emerged champions, with Bartholomew Ogbeche emerging the top scorer with three goals.

It was at the 2004 edition that Obafemi Martins made his mark, scoring on his debut for Nigeria.

On Saturday, Coach Chelle is permitted further experimentation with the largely fresh group he has brought to London, with Wrexham FC of England goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo likely to be given the nod to start having kept a clean sheet against the nifty Warriors on Tuesday.

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A reassuring rearguard of Chibueze Oputa, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Igoh Ogbu and Obinna Igboke could also be wholly retained, following a commendable outing against the Zimbabweans. It may be recalled that it was at the Unity Cup last year that Igoh Ogbu, who plays for Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic, got his break into the Eagles’ big league.

Tochukwu Nnadi, who played some part in the Super Eagles’ campaign at the last Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, may again team up with US-based no-nonsense tackler Alhassan Yusuf and former U17 team captain Samson Tijani in the middle, as Terem Moffi, Philip Otele and two-goal hero Femi Azeez run things at the fore.

Cyprus-based goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is also available, as are midfielder Tosin Oyedokun and forwards Owen Oseni and Rafiu Durosinmi who also did not disappoint as substitutes on Tuesday.

Azeez’s self-assured output against Zimbabwe, with two goals to boot in his debut, gladdened the hearts of the technical crew and much is expected of him against a Jamaican side that nearly torpedoed the books last summer. In the event, he became the first debutant to score two goals for the Nigeria senior team since Mathias Obianika did the same in the Eagles’ 4-0 defeat of Burkina Faso 55 years ago.

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On Thursday, the Super Eagles trained at the Cray Valley, ahead of Friday’s official training that will hold at The Valley.

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Pro Football Network Names Vikings’ Top Trade Bait

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Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison attempts to catch a pass against Giants cornerback Cordale Flott.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reaches for a pass against New York Giants cornerback Cordale Flott (28), Dec. 21, 2025, during the first half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Addison battled through tight coverage along the sideline as Minnesota’s offense attacked the Giants secondary in a late-season NFC matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings’ roster feels pretty well set as of late May, but that may not stop the organization from trading wide receiver Jordan Addison, says Pro Football Network.

That website sized one player per team last week who could be traded before too long, and Addison got the nod up north.

Vikings WR Room Would Make an Addison Trade … Complicated

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison catches a pass while defended by Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison secures a reception against Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith during first-quarter action on Dec. 16, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Addison remained heavily involved in Minnesota’s passing attack as the Vikings battled a division rival during a late-season matchup with playoff implications inside the NFC North race. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

PFSN: Vikings Main Trade Bait = Addison

Addison got the tap on the shoulder from PFSN’s Jacob Infante, who explained, “Rather than continue to improve in Year 3, Jordan Addison saw his production drop in 2025, finishing with a career-low 71.0 PFSN WR Impact Score and posting career-low numbers in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.”

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“He missed three games due to suspension last year, and he was arrested for trespassing in January. His drop in production and off-field concerns could make him a trade candidate for the Minnesota Vikings.”

Addison briefly frequented the trade rumor mill earlier in the offseason, but when the Vikings exercised his fifth-year option and drafted no rookie wideouts, the theories died off. Infante is trying to resurrect them.

How Much Could Vikings Get?

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If the Vikings decide to trade Addison, starting with a 2nd-Round pick seems reasonable. He’s young, productive, and assuredly has the potential to be a WR1 when he gets the ball. However, there’s a catch: his off-the-field issues have prevented him from reaching superstar status, and he has yet to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season after three years.

Minnesota has also structured its wide receiver lineup with this in mind. Jauan Jennings recently joined as the 2026 WR3, providing Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy with another solid target behind Justin Jefferson and Addison. Additionally, Jennings serves as a reliable backup if either Jefferson or Addison gets injured.

Trading Addison now would ravage that strategy. The Vikings brought in Jennings to enhance their offense, not to create another gap.

The timing also suggests that Addison is likely staying put. If Minnesota truly wanted to move him, the April draft would have been the optimal time, not late May or early summer. As it stands, Addison looks set to remain a Viking through 2026 and likely beyond.

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Soon, he’ll also be able to discuss a contract extension with the team. That could even begin this summer.

Why … Trade Addison?

Addison’s trade value starts with his talent. He has already demonstrated his ability to produce at a high level, is still young, and has three NFL seasons under his belt as he approaches his prime.

However, his situation is messy. Really messy, in fact. In 2023, Addison was pulled over in Minneapolis for speeding at 140 mph in a 55 mph zone. He claimed it was due to a dog emergency, and the incident didn’t create much controversy with the league. Most considered it a one-off.

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Jordan Addison celebrates with Sam Darnold after a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison celebrates with quarterback Sam Darnold after a touchdown during third-quarter action against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 29, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Addison helped fuel Minnesota’s offense in a high-stakes NFC North showdown as the Vikings continued pushing toward the postseason late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

The following incident was more serious. In 2024, he was found passed out and intoxicated in his car on a Los Angeles freeway, leading to a three-game suspension.

Then, during the 2025 season, he faced more boneheaded antics. Addison skipped a team walkthrough in London, which led coach Kevin O’Connell to bench him for a quarter in the next game. Three months later, he was arrested for trespassing at a Florida casino. Although the charges were eventually dropped, they added to a growing list of troubles.

That is the crux of the debate surrounding a potential Addison trade. While the player is valuable, his off-field baggage may make teams hesitant about how much they are willing to offer.

Unlikely to Ruin a Good Thing

The grand takeaway? The Vikings are unlikely to trade Addison. Why? They would’ve done so by now this offseason. They’ve had four months to formulate a plan, including players to sign in free agency and rookies to pluck from the draft. If offloading Addison were on the menu, that seems like a matter for February, March, or April — not whimsically after the draft.

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Plus, the Vikings love Addison. They’ve had every reason to reevaluate their stance after his transgressions, and every time, they stood steadfastly behind him.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison catches a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during a game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison makes a fourth-quarter reception against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 9, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Addison continued serving as a major contributor in Minnesota’s passing offense while the Vikings battled one of the AFC’s toughest opponents during an important midseason matchup in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

A more logical trade candidate may be safety Theo Jackson, who will fight for a roster spot among Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and rookie Jakobe Thomas. Harrison Smith may even return one more time; he has not expressly retired.

Pro Football Focus recently identified linebacker Blake Cashman as a trade candidate, too, but like Addison, it doesn’t make much sense to get rid of a productive player.

Addison will turn 25 next January.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
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Dan Dakich slams Cari Champion for saying Caitlin Clark’s ‘blantant favoritism annoys the hell out of her’

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Dan Dakich took a jab at Cari Champion on Thursday after the CNN broadcast journalist’s comments on Caitlin Clark‘s favoritism among the WNBA referees. The NFL insider retweeted an X post featuring an article covering Champion’s remarks.

He called out the CNN broadcast journalist for frequently going after Clark.

“Always worried about the lil white girl,” Dakich wrote.

Always worried about the lil white girl

Champion voiced her concerns about Clark and the officials on Wednesday’s episode of the “Flagrant and Funny” podcast. The CNN broadcast journalist recalled an incident from last season where Clark told a referee to open their eye. She then compared the incident to a technical foul Paige Bueckers received for clapping in an 86-69 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Friday.

“That type of blatant favoritism annoys the hell out of me,” she said (Timestamp: 26:00). “I don’t know if this is her fault, because I think it might be unfair for me to say that this is her fault. But at the same time, it’s like, why is she getting this special treatment? And it just is, yet again, another example of the league and its fans… being so precious with her.”

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“I don’t like you”: Cari Champion calls out Caitlin Clark for not taking ‘responsibility’

Later, on the podcast, Cari Champion criticized Caitlin Clark for her behaviour towards the referees. She recalled Napheesa Collier calling out the referees during the offseason following the Lynx’s loss in the 2024 WNBA Finals.

She praised the Lynx star for criticizing the referees in an appropriate setting, which, according to her, is off the court. Champion then took shots at the Fever star and the league’s treatment of her.

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“The more we get to catch these glimpses of Caitlin Clark, I am like, ‘I don’t like you. I don’t like how you behave on the court.’ The league is positioning you to be its superstar because you are, and with leadership comes certain responsibilities,” she said. (Timestamp: 27:10)

“If you don’t want that responsibility, I understand, but the way that you behave, this entitlement that you behave, the way that you were talking to your coaches, you and Sophie (Cunningham), you enjoy that right?”

Later, Champion said that if Clark wanted to play the villain, then she would be coming at her. The CNN broadcast journalist urged CC stans to recognize the Fever star’s desire to play the villain.

Caitlin Clark has had a great start to her season. She is averaging 23.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists in five games on 43.2% shooting.