Erling Haaland stole the attention with a hat-trick on it, rendering his early double penalty miss a distant memory, and the upshot was that Norway could look with clear heads toward a near-certain first World Cup appearance in 27 years.
A win over Estonia next month will confirm their presence; Egil Olsen, their manager at France 1998, looked on as Israel offered scant opposition to Europe’s most ruthless attacking force.
Israel’s very presence in Oslo had been highly contested, the buildup framed by the Norwegian Football Federation’s public stance that they should be banned from international football due to the war in Gaza.
There will be relief that confrontations were kept to a minimum beyond a brief spate of trouble outside the Ullevaal Stadion during half-time.
Bafana Bafana‘s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a major blow after being held to a goalless draw by bottom-placed Zimbabwe on Friday evening.
Despite playing with ten men for more than thirty minutes, the Warriors’ defence stood firm, frustrating South Africa’s attempts to find a breakthrough.
The result leaves Group C finely balanced heading into the final round of matches next Tuesday.
Benin currently lead the standings with 17 points following a narrow 1-0 win over Rwanda, while South Africa sit second on 15 points and Nigeria trail closely behind with 14.
With qualification no longer in their hands, Bafana Bafana face another must-win encounter against Rwanda on October 14.
They will also be hoping for a favour from Nigeria, who take on Benin in a decisive clash that could determine the group’s outcome.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, South Africa coach Hugo Broos admitted that the draw with Zimbabwe had complicated South Africa’s path to the World Cup.
He acknowledged that Nigeria’s result against Benin could prove decisive and explained that his team must now not only win their final fixture but also pay attention to goal difference.
Broos identified Benin as the biggest threat in the group, noting that failure to secure a victory against Rwanda would end their qualification hopes.
He maintained that if Benin were to lose and South Africa won by at least two goals, there would still be a realistic chance of progressing.
The Belgian tactician stressed the importance of belief within the squad, admitting that it would be extremely disappointing if Nigeria managed to beat Benin while South Africa failed to win their own game, thereby missing out on a ticket to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
He added that even a win might not be enough if results elsewhere do not go their way, emphasising that South Africa must first take care of business against Rwanda before hoping for a favourable outcome from Nigeria’s clash with Benin.
Ike Ibeabuchi answers FaceTime with his nose pressed up against the phone screen. His trademark mustache nestles on his top lip and a questionable internet connection buffers his responses. He sits on a bed, in Abuja, Nigeria, with his energetic niece punching and biting him, playfully, as he speaks.
“Which fight?” he begins, in response to the agreed purpose of the call. I reiterate that he is due to fight British veteran Danny Williams on Aug. 23, but he’s quick to rebuff this and offers up an attempted clarification.
“[Danny] Williams had to pull out,” he continues. “But we have already got a new opponent: Idris Afinni. He is a big puncher, he’s won his last few fights by knockout.”
“I ran 10 miles this morning. If I can do this, then I can box,” he interjects, almost telegraphing my next question surrounding the legitimacy of this return. “I have never been this energetic in my life. I train twice a day and it’s not a problem at all. I still believe I am at the very top — nobody ever took me off the top.”
It’s there the penny drops. Ibeabuchi speaks like an active fighter. He’s well and truly under the spell of the fight game and considers himself still in the heavyweight mix, rather than a disgraced veteran who hasn’t seen the inside of a professional ring since the release of Sony’s Playstation 2 around the turn of the century. Instead of a legacy character to unlock, the Nigerian considers himself on the front cover; the reason you would purchase a boxing game. But we know too well that in reality, you don’t play boxing.
“I want a title shot,” he continues. “I look at the heavyweight picture like this: Myself, [Oleksandr] Usyk and [Moses] Itauma,” he says. “But nobody wants to fight me.
“I have called out [Tyson] Fury multiple times, but he has always said that I need to have a comeback fight first and get a ranking, and then these big fights can happen. So that’s exactly what I am doing.”
“I have been sparring,” he continues. He sends over a video of him working on the heavy bag with some loaded left hooks, and points me to the direction of a sparring session with 31-year-old current Nigerian heavyweight Efe Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KOs). “Sparring is sparring,” he says, still parroting the phrases of an active fighter. “I was on top for most of it,” he claims, “but we were only able to complete four rounds. I wasn’t allowed to go any further.”
That leads to the question of why, and who was looking out for the safety of Ibeabuchi. But delving into the inner workings of his return are met with hostility. “I don’t want to disclose that information,” he says in response to a question regarding his trainer for the fight. It is an “internal matter” that isn’t privy to journalists’ questions. Has he been tested and cleared to fight by a governing body? “That is not a question for a journalist to be asking,” he replies. “It is invasive coming from you.”
From Glory to Gory
In 1997, Ibeabuchi beat the previously unbeaten David Tua for the WBC International title in a fight that launched him into the spotlight of boxing’s heavyweight division. Shortly after this 17th win of his professional career, the problems outside the ring started.
Ibeabuchi was involved in a disturbing incident where he abducted the 15-year-old son of a former girlfriend and intentionally crashed his car into a concrete pillar on a Texas highway. The boy sustained serious injuries and was left permanently impaired. Ibeabuchi pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and was sentenced to 120 days in jail, also paying a $500,000 civil settlement. Authorities determined the crash was a suicide attempt.
During this time, Ibeabuchi began adopting the persona of “The President,” insisting those around him refer to him by the title. According to former HBO Sports executive Lou DiBella, Ibeabuchi would retreat into this alter ego, often behaving erratically and unpredictably. Promoter Cedric Kushner recounted a dinner meeting where Ibeabuchi drove a carving knife into the table, shouting, “They knew it! The belts belong to me! Why don’t they just give them back?”
In July 1999, three months after his last fight — a fifth-round TKO of Chris Byrd — Ibeabuchi was arrested in Las Vegas after an alleged sexual assault at The Mirage. A 21-year-old escort claimed that Ibeabuchi attacked her after refusing to pay up front. He barricaded himself in a bathroom, and police used pepper spray under the door to extract him.
The incident led prosecutors to reopen a prior sexual assault case against Ibeabuchi from eight months earlier. While under house arrest, two more similar accusations surfaced, this time from Arizona. Ibeabuchi was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial and was committed to a psychiatric facility, where doctors diagnosed him with bipolar disorder. A judge ordered him to be medicated.
After two and a half years, he was found competent and entered an Alford plea — maintaining innocence while acknowledging sufficient evidence to convict. Ibeabuchi received a sentence of two to 10 years for battery with intent, and three to 20 years for attempted sexual assault, served consecutively.
From Ring To Cage
“A lot of people respected me in prison,” Ibeabuchi claims.
“I was never threatened or anything, and didn’t get into any fights. I wasn’t allowed to. I guess what I learned was that I was a tougher person than I thought and that I can make it in my own way — but above all, I don’t have to solicit prostitution in my life ever again.”
Asked if he regrets his actions. He replies that “soliciting prostitution was legal in parts of Nevada, but not in Las Vegas or Clark County,” and that he “regretted negligence of the situation but not the morality.”
Further attempts at clarifying some of the finer details of Saturday’s fight date are met by Ibeabuchi ceasing contact and blocking my number.
Fight week in Lagos, Nigeria. Ibeabuchi said: “I’m glad to be back,” he tells the camera. “To show my home country what I have become despite the absence. I’m so grateful that I can come back to Nigeria and I am thankful for the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control for giving me this opportunity.”
Ibeabuchi is seen posing with fans outside of Lagos airport. He raises his fist, obliging to one of the sport’s unwritten rituals.
Wilson Aboyehimoe and Tobe Agbakoba, Ibeabuchi’s boxing coach and fitness coach, respectively, are then given short segments to promote their charge. Both Aboyehimoe and Agbakoba sing the praises of Ibeabuchi and are unequivocal in their belief that he returns with a win.
The fight has come and gone and the bottom-line is that Ibeabuchi is back in the boxing ring after 26 years with a third-round technical knockout victory over Idris Afinni in Lagos on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
The undefeated former heavyweight contender, now 52, is looking to fight Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion.
It was legacy sustained, commitment affirmed. That’s First Bank, a bank winning with sports. That commitment was further affirmed over the weekend when it bankrolled the maiden E1 Lagos GP, the first of its kind in Africa, culminating in an evening of vibes, entertainment and more.
It was sports, culture and entertainment in one spot. How best can you describe such a show? Simply ‘Classy’, holding boat race fans spellbound, amidst cultural displays in a town that never sleeps.
The ambience, the aesthetics, the vibes tell the story. It is E1 Lagos GP powered by the leading bank in Nigeria; First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
Right from the countdown to the D-day, it was sure to be a grand event. At the closing, no one was disappointed. The atmosphere at the inaugural E1 Lagos Grand Prix was electrifying, vibrant, as the event which made its historic African debut raced to a great start. The all-electric powerboat race blended high-speed, zero-emission competition with Nigeria’s energetic cultural atmosphere, attracting thousands of fans and international attention able by FirstBank
In the final race, Team Brazil emerged victorious, securing their first win of the season and keeping their championship hopes alive. Despite the challenging weather conditions on the Lagos Lagoon, Team Brazil’s pilots, Timmy Hansen and Ieva Millere-Hagin, put on a stellar performance, running through the still water with energy.
Though Team Brazil won, the event wasn’t about the visitors only, Chelsea legend and Cote D’ivoire football icon, Didier Drogba was on ground with Team Drogba. Team Drogba Global Africa’s pilots are Oban Duncan and Micah Wilkinson. Duncan is a young British powerboat champion, while Wilkinson won a sailing bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their partnership in the E1 Series reflects a focus on promoting green technologies, sustainable development, and African talent on the global stage.
In the Grand Prix, Team Drogba finished in third place, earning 24 points. Team Brady leads the overall championship standings.
The E1 Series involves other celebrity team owners, including Aoki Racing Team, Team Alula, championed by LeBron James, Team Blue Rising, Team Miami, powered by Magnus, and Team Rafa, owned by Rafael Nadal all took part in the racing championship. The championship aims to promote both sport and sustainability, with a focus on inspiring future generations and fostering cleaner marine mobility.
Beyond the racing, the event highlighted Lagos’s commitment to clean energy and the potential of its “blue economy”. E1 Founder and CEO Rodi Basso explained as much that the event was a crucial step in promoting cleaner marine mobility in Africa.
For FirstBank, it was much more, the show was part of a lined up of entertaining events which are due to kick in as Nigerians get in the groove of the ember months as part of the bank’s annual entertainment and lifestyle slate known as #DecemberIsAVibe.
According to Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, the bank is poised to dazzle Nigerians from this month until the end of 2025 with awesome entertainment and lifestyle events for the remaining part of the year.
Also on the card this year is the 64th edition of the famed Lagos Open Golf Championship and the over a century Georgian Cup in Kaduna, a polo tournament.
While FirstBank’s football team, the Elephant Boys continue to entertain on the football pitch, the Elephant Girls holds sway on the Basketball court, Dala Hard Court, tennis is historical and Ijabiyi says, it’s just the beginning.
Truly, E1 Lagos GP, presented by first Bank was a product of great thinking, First Bank powered and fantastic outcome. It’s E1 Lagos GP.
The interest of African football icon and former Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba in Nigeria commercial hub Lagos is beyond personal and the global icon, who owns a team in E1 Series, along with other international brands like Tom Brady, LeBron James, Virat Kohli, Will Smith and Rafael Nadal, said he welcomed the move to come to Africa from the beginning.
Having taken to the waves last year, E1 is nearing the end of the second season with a its first visit to Africa, and vibrant Lagos hosting the nine teams this weekend.
The four-time Premier League winner said: “When we decided to jump on the journey with E1, the main goal was always ‘let’s bring the race to Africa. We want people to discover our culture, to discover our history. That’s why Lagos is for us a good choice, because it’s a vibrant city.”
Drogba’s partner Gabrielle Lemaire, who is a co-investor in their team, also believes Nigeria’s largest city fits the bill.
“The people are very young and it’s an opportunity for us to advocate for sustainability,” said the entrepreneur and vice president of the Didier Drogba Foundation.
Billing itself on its website as “pioneering a sustainable future in marine sports”, E1 claims to “regenerate coastal waters through innovative clean technologies”.
Venice, Monaco, Dubrovnik, Doha and Lake Como in Italy are among the venues so far visited by E1, with Miami scheduled to round off this season.
It also aims to promote gender equality, with every team consisting of one female and one male pilot.
“As a symbol it is really strong to show that men and women can do sports,” said Lemaire.
“We would like to advocate for this, for the young people, for the young ladies to understand how important it is today.
“It’s not only a sport that we’re talking about here.”
Competitors come from a variety of motorsport backgrounds, exemplified by Team Drogba’s line-up.
Teenage British powerboat champion Oban Duncan is partnered with Micah Wilkinson, who won sailing bronze for New Zealand at last year’s Olympic Games.
Duncan is the youngest pilot in E1, but Drogba said he has built a strong relationship with the 19-year-old.
“Oban is full of talent but her confidence was a bit low,” Drogba revealed.
“I said ‘We put our trust in you, we are behind you, and you’re a superstar because you race with a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm’.
“I’m really happy with her because she applies the same principle that I used to apply during my career: give everything, do your best.”
Despite Duncan’s young age, Drogba and Lemaire are already looking to the future, hoping the race in Lagos might inspire African talent.
“This is the goal, to be able to have African people interested in the sport, interested in sustainability, in racing, in discovering new cultures,” explained Drogba.
“I think this is the opportunity for young people who want to succeed, who want to become a part of the E1 team.
“We would love to have an African pilot. It would mean a lot to us.”
Despite a glittering career which saw Drogba win four Premier League titles and the Champions League with Chelsea, the two-time African Footballer of the Year has so far decided against a move into coaching.
The 47-year-old said he is now channelling the leadership qualities of his former coaches and team-mates into his new position.
“I’m lucky to have had a diversity of managers, a diversity of knowledge, and I learned a lot.
“Even players who showed great leadership, like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Petr Cech, all these guys.
“I try to be like a sponge and take the best out of them, as a leader trying to reproduce it, but in my own way.”
While competition in E1 is fierce on the water, it is just as intense away from it, according to a smiling Drogba.
“I decided not to bring too much of my competitiveness, otherwise I will destroy them like I destroyed all the strikers I was in competition with,” he laughed when discussing his rivalry with the other owners.
“I thought Rafa (Nadal) was a nice guy, always gentle, polite. But I’ve read what he said a few times and I’m not happy about it so I will have to change gears.”
While, organisers are targeting a valuation of $675m for the competition in the next five years, Drogba believed that Lagos will benefit from the growth.
“It can only grow with the energy that all the owners are putting in. When we first started, I think it was me, Rafa, Marc and Steve. Now the list is becoming bigger with Tom Brady, Will Smith, LeBron James. Hopefully we’ll have a female owner too because this is really important.”
Also on Drogba’s list is a race in Ivory Coast, with Abidjan a likely venue because of its lagoon which mirrors Lagos’ waterways.
“There’s some technical specifications that you must require to organise the race, but I think we have everything here [Abidjan] to host,” he added.
“We proved it with the Africa Cup of Nations. This is something that must happen.”
Chairman of the Delta Sports Commission, Onoriode Joshua Oborevwori, is set to be honoured with the Best Sports Commissioner Award at the Nigeria-France Sports Awards on October 20, 2025, at the iconic Maison Des Arts in Le Plessis-Robinson, Paris, France.
Oborevwori’s recognition is a crowning moment in a career marked by unrelenting passion, strategic leadership, and tangible achievements in grassroots sports development in Nigeria, particularly in Delta State.
Fondly known as “Onos” by friends and colleagues, Oborevwori has proven to be more than just a sports administrator—he is a community leader, philanthropist, and a tireless advocate for youth and female sports empowerment.
Since his appointment in November 2024, Onos has redefined the role of sports in Delta State, making it a national benchmark for youth engagement and athletic excellence.
His strategic focus on school sports development, talent discovery at the grassroots level, and equal opportunities for both male and female athletes has reinvigorated sports culture across the state.
This visionary leadership yielded tremendous results at the 22nd National Sports Festival—the Gateway Games—where Delta State dominated with a stunning medal haul: 109 gold, 75 silver, and 87 bronze, cementing its status as a powerhouse in Nigerian sports.
More so, Delta State’s flagship football team, Warri Wolves FC, is today plying its trade in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Nigeria’s topflight league, after securing promotion under Onos’ revolutionary leadership, after four years of wilderness in the lower division.
Beyond administration, Onos’ personal investment in sports is noteworthy. A former footballer himself, he is the sole sponsor of Delta Babes Football Club and remains active with the Allstars team. He is also a Rotarian, a hotelier, and an active philanthropist, with a strong commitment to youth development, especially through sports.
The Nigeria-France Sports Award, now in its third edition, is organised by OJB Media.Network, owned by Babatunde Ojora, a France-based seasoned sports journalist, media entrepreneur, and the convener of OJB Sports. Ojora, who contributes to the BBC and Goal.com.
In attendance will be top international sports journalists including Biola Kazeem, Shina Okeleji, and Sulaimon Folarin from the United States. The event will also feature influential figures like Adeboye Adeyinka (popularly known as Zulu), the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, who is partnering with the organisers to further spotlight Nigeria’s sporting excellence on the global stage.
Alongside Oborevwori, the award ceremony will also recognise notable personalities such as Maria Tavares, IB Dende, Adeboye Anthony, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ibukun Simon, and Rasheeda Ajibade, all of whom have made significant contributions to sports in various capacities.
Several African nations have emerged as strong contenders in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with nine teams already surpassing the 20-point mark.
Tunisia leads with an impressive 25 points, while Côte d’Ivoire and Egypt follow closely with 23 points each.
Algeria, Gabon, and Ghana are all locked on 22 points, keeping the qualification battle tight.
The Group C race for qualification to next year’s FIFA World Cup will go right down to the final day after another dramatic round of fixtures on Friday left everything still to play for.
With just one match remaining, Benin have taken a slender two-point lead at the top of the standings, but South Africa and Nigeria all remain in contention for the coveted ticket to the global showpiece.
In Durban, Zimbabwe frustrated South Africa to a goalless draw in what was a must-win for Bafana Bafana.
The result leaves South Africa second in the group, knowing that their final encounter against Rwanda will decide whether they can book their place at the World Cup for the first time since 2010.
In another Group C tie played in Polokwane, South Africa, Nigeria revived their qualification hopes with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Lesotho. A penalty conversion by skipper, William Troost-Ekong and Akor Adams’ strike was enough for the Super Eagles to secure a much-needed win that keeps their qualification hopes alive.
New group leaders, Benin, continued their impressive run with a disciplined 1–0 triumph over Rwanda. A late Tosin Aiyegun proved decisive, giving Benin an important two-point lead. The result marked another composed performance from Gernot Rohr’s side, who now find themselves just one match away from a historic qualification.
With Benin leading the way, South Africa sitting two points behind, and Nigeria lurking just beneath, the final round of fixtures promises high drama and fierce competition.
The Group C race for qualification to next year’s FIFA World Cup will go right down to the final day after another dramatic round of fixtures on Friday left everything still to play for.
With just one match remaining, Benin have taken a slender two-point lead at the top of the standings, but South Africa and Nigeria all remain in contention for the coveted ticket to the global showpiece.
In Durban, Zimbabwe frustrated South Africa to a goalless draw in what was a must-win for Bafana Bafana.
The result leaves South Africa second in the group, knowing that their final encounter against Rwanda will decide whether they can book their place at the World Cup for the first time since 2010.
In another Group C tie played in Polokwane, South Africa, Nigeria revived their qualification hopes with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Lesotho. A penalty conversion by skipper, William Troost-Ekong and Akor Adams’ strike was enough for the Super Eagles to secure a much-needed win that keeps their qualification hopes alive.
New group leaders, Benin, continued their impressive run with a disciplined 1–0 triumph over Rwanda. A late Tosin Aiyegun proved decisive, giving Benin an important two-point lead. The result marked another composed performance from Gernot Rohr’s side, who now find themselves just one match away from a historic qualification.
With Benin leading the way, South Africa sitting two points behind, and Nigeria lurking just beneath, the final round of fixtures promises high drama and fierce competition.
Nigeria still have a chance of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup after registering a nervy 2-1 away win over Lesotho.
The Super Eagles remain three points behind Group C leaders Benin, who grabbed a late 1-0 victory in Rwanda and are aiming to secure a place at the finals for the very first time.
South Africa are the other team in with a chance of topping the group, but their chances suffered a blow when they were held to a goalless draw on home turf by 10-man Zimbabwe in Durban.
Bafana Bafana are second, two points behind Benin and one clear of third-placed Nigeria.
Only the group winners are assured of a spot at the finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Nigeria host Benin in the final round of games on Tuesday (16:00 GMT) and will leapfrog their West African rivals if they win by a two-goal margin.
However, South Africa could yet finish above both sides if they win their home game against Rwanda.
If the Nigeria-Benin game ends in a draw then Bafana Bafana will qualify with a win by three goals or more. South Africa will also seal top spot if they win and the Super Eagles take all three points from the derby in Uyo.
The four best second-placed sides in African qualifying will still have a chance to reach the tournament via continental and inter-confederation play-offs, but the congested nature of Group C means the side finishing second may not have enough points to progress.
South Africa lost some ground in Group C after being held to a goalless draw by ten-man Zimbabwe in Durban.
Bafana had the better of earlier passages and almost hit the front when a long-range strike from Sipho Mbule forced Washington Arubi to make a teasing save.
The Warriors gained ground later on through Khama Billiat, Marshall Munetsi, and Knowledge Musona specifically, but they didn’t trouble the defence and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
However, Bafana regained momentum before halftime and were denied the opener when a left-footed curler outside the area by Mohau Nkota clipped off the upright.
Nkota didn’t come out in the second half after making way for Thapelo Morena while Bathusi Aubaas stepped in for Sithole in a double change for Bafana.
Bafana missed a golden chance ten minutes past the break when Lyle Foster burst through on goal and cut back to produce a shot, but Teenage Hadebe cleared off the line.
It didn’t stop South Africa from piling on the pressure as a hard and low square pass unleashed Mudau out on the right, but Arubi rushed out and narrowed.
The Warriors were reduced to ten men in the 63rd minute as Musona fouled Sibisi and received a second yellow card, ending his evening.
