07/01/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | JAN 7, 2026

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Oscar Bobb, Mateo Kovacic and Omar Marmoush for Thursday’s clash at home to Brighton. O’Neill appointed Celtic manager CELTIC have appointed Martin O’Neill as their manager until the end of the season yesterday after the Scottish champions sacked Wilfried Nancy on Monday. O’Neill, a fulltime man

added in a statement: “The defender will have surgery later this week and assessment remains ongoing to ascer tain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis.” Before the extent of Croatia inter national Gvardiol’s injury was con firmed, City manager Pep Guardiola said it “doesn’t look good” for either player. The extent of Dias’ injury has yet to be made public. Their absences add to City’s prob lems in defence, with John Stones out for the past month with a thigh injury and Rayan Ait-Nouri away with Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. City midfielder Nico

But the French boss was sacked after just eight games in charge, six of which ended in defeat. “I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to man age the team again and I am looking forward to getting back to work again with the players,” O’Neill told Celtic’s website. “I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differ ently under Wilfried and I person ally want to wish him good luck with everything he does in the game.” O’Neill returns with Celtic still

SHORTS

City’s Gvardiol out with broken leg

MANCHESTER CITY have confirmed defender Josko Gvardiol (pic) suffered a broken leg in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. Gvardiol was one of two City cen trebacks who went off injured in the second half, along with Ruben Dias, before Enzo Fernandez scored a stop page-time equaliser for the visitors. The draw left second-placed City six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. City, announcing Gvardiol sus tained a tibial fracture to his right leg,

ager of the Glasgow giants from 2000-2005, stepped aside for Nancy in early December.

second in the table, six points behind leaders Hearts, following a 3-1 loss at home to arch-rivals Rangers. Super Eagles serve notice Osimhen, Lookman lead Nigeria into Afcon last eight V ICTOR OSIMHEN scored twice as Nigeria made short work of Mozambique at the Africa Cup of Nations yesterday, cruising into the quarterfinals with a comprehensive 4-0 victory in their last-16 tie. 25 minutes. He then scored again just after half-time before Akor Adams sealed the win. was much-changed from their final group game, when coach Eric Chelle offered a chance to several fringe players for a 3-1 vic tory against Uganda.

Gonzalez also missed the Chelsea game and Guardiola is also without Savinho,

CAPTAIN Mohamed Salah scored after 124 minutes to clinch a 3-1 extra-time victory for Egypt over plucky minnows Benin in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 thriller in Agadir yesterday. Marwan Attia put the Pharaohs ahead in the second half and Jodel Dossou equalised for the Cheetahs, who are 58 places below the record seven-time Afcon champions in the world rankings. Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt back in front in the first half of extra-time, then Salah broke clear and beat goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou with a shot from outside the area for his 10th Afcon goal. Salah, whose goals have helped Liverpool win many tro phies, is seeking a first Afcon winners’ medal, having twice been a runner-up. The Egypt forward said his team was not among the favorites to win the title, but insisted they would give their best to go deeper in the tournament. “I don’t think we are a favourite at all (to win the title)” Salah told reporters. “We have young players, and most of them play in Egypt. We just fight for our coun try… but everybody gives their best and you could see today”. The 33-year-old said there were no easy games in Afcon. Salah helps Pharaohs down brave Benin

It is the biggest winning margin in an Afcon knockout tie since Egypt hammered Algeria 4-0 in the semifinals at the 2010 tournament in Angola. “I am very happy. It was a good perform ance from the team, scoring four goals. There is lots to be happy with. Hopefully we can keep up the good work,” said Lookman, named man of the match. Mozambique were appearing in the knockout phase of an Afcon for the first time after advancing as one of the best third placed sides in the group stage. They were no match for a Nigerian team t ha t

Atalanta forward Lookman – who scored in the 3-2 win over Tunisia in the second group match – was among those brought back into the line-up and Africa’s best player in 2024 gave his team the lead as the midway point in the first half approached. Alex Iwobi’s through ball released Adams on the left side of the box and his cutback was converted first-time by Lookman. The 28-year-old then turned provider, with his cross from the left in the 25th min ute being helped on by Adams for Osimhen to poke the ball in from close range. The Galatasaray striker emerged

Ademola Lookman, a former winner of the African footballer of the year award like Osimhen, opened the scoring after 20 min utes in Fes, Morocco, and then helped set up the other three goals on the night.

Osimhen had started the game without wearing his trademark mask but restored the face cover ing before netting Nigeria’s second goal on

“The level is quite similar, I told the team yesterday that no side loses by four or five goals. (Benin) have a good team and a good coach… I’m glad we man aged to win in the end”. Pharaohs coach Hossam Hassan echoed Salah, saying: “Before the game, I said there are no easy teams, and Benin were tough opponents. Egypt are a great team and I want to make my people happy.” A collision between Mohamed Hamdy and Rodolfo Aloko led to a long delay, which ended with the Egyptian being carried off the field. “We are sad about the injury to Hamdy, which seems serious,” Hossam said after the match. “His teammates played for him. We are mentally prepared to play either 90 minutes or extra-time.” Benin coach Gernot Rohr said: “What we saw was a match that was a fight, a real battle, while still playing football. Two teams engaged in a tough contest. “When you look at the Egyptian players, we do not have the same level. We missed our best striker Steve Mounie. He would have helped us a lot, particularly in aerial play.” – AFP/Reuters RUN-MACHINE Travis Head hit a swashbuckling 163 and Steve Smith a composed unbeaten 129 as Australia built a 134-run lead over England to seize control on day three of the fifth and final Ashes Test yesterday. It was destructive opener Head’s third ton of the series, to go with the phenomenal match-winning 123 he made in Perth and 170 at Adelaide. Smith was equally impressive, with his first hun dred of the series driving the hosts to 518-7 by stumps at a packed Sydney Cricket Ground in reply to England’s 384. Beau Webster was alongside him

unscathed soon after that despite going into a challenge with Witi which saw the Mozambique player knee Osimhen in the stomach. Lookman’s low

cent knock. Skipper Smith treated Bethell with contempt, launching him for a big six on his way to a 37th Test hundred. It was Smith’s 13th Ashes century to move past England legend Jack Hobbs. Only Donald Bradman with 19 has more. Usman Khawaja, in his 88th and last Test after announcing his retirement, fell lbw to Brydon Carse for 17 while Alex Carey made 16 before Josh Tongue enticed an edge. Nightwatchman Michael Neser made 24 and Cameron Green 37. – AFP ball across the face of goal from the left was finished off by Osimhen to make it 3-0 in the 47th minute and end any prospect of a Mozambique comeback. The 2023 African player of the year had gone seven Afcon matches without scoring before netting against Tunisia in the group stage – he now has three to his name at the tournament in Morocco. Lookman was not finished for the night as he supplied Adams inside the box with quarter of an hour remaining and the Sevilla forward rifled a shot high into the net. – AFP Egypt’s Mohamed Salah controls the ball during the Afcon round of 16 match against Benin at the Grand Stadium in Agadir yesterday. – AFPPIC

Head, Smith tons put Australia in charge

about you and I was able to get into my work. Worked out well today.” Head brought up three figures off just 105 balls and seemed destined to score 200. But he came undone in the third over after lunch by the part-time spin of Jacob Bethell, who was bowling for the first time in the series. In his second over, Bethell trapped the 32-year old lbw attempting a sweep shot to end a magnifi

on 42 at the close. Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate for another morale-boosting win after victory at the previous Test in Melbourne. “Nice batting wicket out there. Nice to start my innings on the back of a great innings from Travis Head,“ Smith told Fox Sports . “When you’re out there with him they forget