Nigeria and Morocco are set to face off in the AFCON semifinal at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. Nigeria enters the match with a perfect winning record in the tournament, while Morocco is aiming for a historic victory as the host team. The match winner will proceed to the AFCON final to play against either Senegal or Egypt.
Key Facts
The match between Nigeria and Morocco is part of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinals.
The game will take place at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday at 9 pm (20:00 GMT).
Nigeria has maintained a perfect winning streak in the tournament so far, winning all their matches.
Morocco, playing at home, is participating in their first AFCON semifinal since 2004.
The winner of this match will play in the final against either Senegal or Egypt.
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are key players for Nigeria, having contributed significantly to their team's success.
Morocco won against Cameroon 2-0 in the quarterfinals to secure their semifinal spot.
The Minnesota Vikings are considering changes to their quarterback lineup after J.J. McCarthy's less successful season in 2025. Head coach Kevin O’Connell emphasized the need for deeper and more competitive options in the quarterback roster for 2026. McCarthy, a former standout at Michigan, had a challenging year compared to the team's prior season under veteran quarterback Sam Darnold.
Key Facts
The Vikings finished the 2025 season with a 9–8 record and did not make the playoffs.
J.J. McCarthy played 10 games in 2025, with 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
McCarthy’s passer rating was among the lowest for eligible NFL quarterbacks.
The Vikings previously invested in McCarthy by selecting him 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Veteran quarterback Sam Darnold had a strong 2024 season for the Vikings, leading them to a 14–3 record and a playoff spot.
The Vikings plan to add depth and competition at quarterback during the offseason.
Kevin O'Connell mentioned several veteran quarterbacks as potential targets for the Vikings in 2026, like Marcus Mariota and Russell Wilson.
The Dallas Mavericks shared an optimistic update about Kyrie Irving's recovery from a knee injury. Though he joined practice again, Irving hasn't played yet, but the team hopes he might return after the NBA All-Star break.
Key Facts
Kyrie Irving participated in practice for the first time since his knee injury in March 2025.
Irving aimed to come back in January, but the team is being careful with his recovery.
The Dallas Mavericks have struggled with player injuries, affecting their performance this season.
Anthony Davis, another key player, has also faced injuries, playing only 20 out of 39 games.
Rookie Cooper Flagg has been playing well, averaging 18.9 points per game.
Since Irving's injury, the Mavericks have a record of 21 wins and 38 losses.
The team is currently 12th in the Western Conference.
The Dallas Mavericks may have to play without Anthony Davis for several months. Davis injured his left hand and may need surgery, affecting the team's chances this season. The Mavericks have faced several injuries, impacting their performance.
Key Facts
Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks injured the ligaments in his left hand.
Davis may undergo surgery, which could sideline him for several months.
The injury happened during a game against the Utah Jazz after a collision with Lauri Markkanen.
Head coach Jason Kidd stated there is no set timetable for an announcement about Davis' surgery.
Davis has a history of injuries, impacting his time on the court.
In games Davis has missed this season, the Mavericks are 5-15.
The Mavericks might focus on future draft opportunities due to current season struggles.
The team acquired Davis in a deal that involved trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kyren Wilson advanced to the quarter-finals of the Masters snooker tournament by defeating China's Si Jiahui 6-2. After a tough loss at the UK Championship, Wilson has recovered well and showed strong form with his new cue.
Key Facts
Kyren Wilson defeated Si Jiahui 6-2 in the Masters tournament.
Wilson previously lost in the first round of the UK Championship last month.
He has been using a new cue for a month after his old one was damaged.
In the match, Wilson missed a maximum 147 break but finished with scores of 101 and 105 in two frames.
Wilson is the 2024 world snooker champion and the 2025 Masters runner-up.
This year's Masters matches have all ended with the same scoreline of 6-2 so far.
Curt Cignetti, the coach of Indiana's college football team, has greatly improved the team's performance over the past two seasons. This success has drawn interest from NFL teams looking for a new head coach. Several teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders, are considering him for their open positions.
Key Facts
Curt Cignetti has led Indiana to 26 wins in 28 games over two seasons.
Indiana won its first Big Ten championship since 1967 under Cignetti.
The team reached a No. 1 ranking and its first national championship game.
Cignetti is being considered for NFL head coach positions.
The Las Vegas Raiders are one of the teams interested in Cignetti.
Other teams with open head coach positions include the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants.
Cignetti has no experience in professional football management.
Cignetti's buyout from Indiana is reported to be $15 million.
The Boston Red Sox are considering changes to their pitching roster after shortstop Alex Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs. They have shown interest in Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Seranthony Domínguez, as well as other bullpen options.
Key Facts
Alex Bregman, a shortstop, signed a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.
The Red Sox have already traded for pitcher Sonny Gray to improve their starting rotation.
Boston is focusing on improving their infield and pitching staff during the offseason.
The team has shown interest in Toronto Blue Jays free agent pitcher Seranthony Domínguez.
The Red Sox are also considering veteran left-handed pitchers Justin Wilson, Cionel Perez, Tim Mayza, and Danny Coulombe.
Seranthony Domínguez set a career-high by striking out 79 batters this season.
The team lost several key relief pitchers this offseason.
The article discusses a promotion for sports betting using the Novig promo code "NEWSWEEK," which offers a discount for placing bets on NBA, NHL, NFL, and college basketball games. The promotion provides a 10% discount for new users and includes various betting options such as spreads and parlays.
Key Facts
Novig offers a 10% discount with the promo code "NEWSWEEK" for new customers.
The promotion allows betting on NBA, NHL, NFL, and college basketball games.
A $100 discount is available for the first order with this offer.
Users can bet on spreads, totals, moneylines, and props.
A 25% parlay boost is available for both professional basketball and college basketball parlays.
The promo code requires users to sign up with personal information and make a deposit.
Novig Coins are awarded to new users for practicing in free mode.
The article mentions tracking orders and making future predictions on remaining NFL teams to win the championship.
The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Jonathan Loaisiga, a former New York Yankees relief pitcher, to a minor league contract. Loaisiga, who has faced injury challenges, will compete for a spot on the Diamondbacks’ major league roster during Spring Training. The Yankees did not retain him, as they aim to refresh their bullpen after releasing several pitchers.
Key Facts
Jonathan Loaisiga, a former Yankees relief pitcher, signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The deal is a minor league contract with an opportunity to join the major league team.
Loaisiga, 31 years old, has dealt with shoulder and elbow injuries impacting his play since 2021.
He pitched for the Yankees for eight years, with around 200 game appearances and a 3.54 ERA.
The Yankees declined Loaisiga’s $5 million club option, aiming to refresh their pitching staff.
Several notable Yankees relievers, including Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, have also left the team recently.
The Yankees are exploring other relief pitcher options still available in free agency.
The NFL is reviewing a late hit incident involving Jalen Hurts during a playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers. The incident led to a penalty during the game, and the NFL may decide to fine 49ers safety Marques Sigle. Fines collected help support various athlete-related foundations.
Key Facts
The incident occurred during the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.
Jalen Hurts played for the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
The late hit on Hurts happened in the third quarter of the game.
Officials penalized 49ers safety Marques Sigle for unnecessary roughness.
The penalty resulted in a 15-yard advantage for the Eagles.
The NFL reviews incidents like these weekly and may fine players.
Fines support the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation.
The NFL will release further details in their accountability report on January 17.
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in a playoff game but lost two key wide receivers, Tyrell Shavers and Gabe Davis, both to season-ending ACL injuries. These injuries leave the Bills with fewer options for receivers as they prepare to face the Denver Broncos in the next playoff round.
Key Facts
The Buffalo Bills won against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a score of 27–24.
Quarterback Josh Allen played a key role with 273 passing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Tyrell Shavers suffered a torn ACL during the game and will not return this season.
Shavers joined the NFL in 2023 as an undrafted free agent and achieved personal bests this season.
Gabe Davis, another wide receiver, also tore his ACL in the same game.
The Bills are now short on wide receivers heading into their next playoff game against the Denver Broncos.
Remaining receivers include Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman, along with tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox.
MI London has kept Sam Curran and Will Jacks for the men's Hundred cricket team and added Danni Wyatt-Hodge to their women's team. Curran will be the captain of the men's team. The team, previously known as Oval Invincibles, is now partly owned by Reliance Industries Limited after a recent buyout.
Key Facts
MI London retained Sam Curran and Will Jacks for the men's Hundred competition.
Sam Curran will serve as captain for the men's team.
England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge has joined the women's team from Southern Brave.
Wyatt-Hodge is the second-highest run-scorer in The Hundred competition.
MI London was formerly known as Oval Invincibles, who have won the men's competition three times.
Reliance Industries Limited now owns a 49% share of MI London.
The franchise's previous squad was broken up after the introduction of an auction format.
Teams in the competition could sign four players before the auction and re-sign former players during the event.
FanDuel Sportsbook is offering a promotion where new users can earn $300 in bonus bets by betting $5 on an NBA or college basketball game and winning that initial bet. There are no odds restrictions for this offer, allowing users to bet on favorable outcomes. Users must sign up, make a deposit, and place the initial bet to participate.
Key Facts
FanDuel offers a $300 bonus for new users who win their first $5 bet on NBA or college basketball.
There are no odds restrictions, which means users can choose likely-to-win bets.
The promotion highlights the Spurs-Thunder NBA game and certain college basketball games.
Users must sign up and make a deposit to participate.
Bonus bets expire after seven days if not used.
The promo involves placing bets on specific players and teams with set point thresholds.
FanDuel also promotes trending parlays for additional betting options.
Newsweek may earn commission through sign-up links in the article.
The San Francisco 49ers are set to face the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL playoff game. Key player Fred Warner is not ready to play yet but might return if they advance to the next round. Warner has been recovering from a serious ankle injury.
Key Facts
The San Francisco 49ers will play against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday in the NFL playoffs.
The 49ers lost to the Seahawks in their last meeting, which gave the Seahawks the NFC West title.
Fred Warner, a Pro Bowl linebacker for the 49ers, is recovering from a fractured and dislocated right ankle.
Warner's practice window has opened, indicating he may soon return to play.
If the 49ers win against the Seahawks, they will play in the NFC Championship.
Possible opponents in the next round include the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams.
The Philadelphia Eagles have fired their offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, after losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs. This change comes after the Eagles' offense struggled despite being highly paid and having been successful the previous season.
Key Facts
The Eagles fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after one season.
Head coach Nick Sirianni made the decision due to pressure from fans and the team's struggles.
Philadelphia's offense ranked 24th in the NFL in total yards per game.
The team only averaged 22.3 points per game, placing them in the lower half of the league.
The Eagles had previously won the Super Bowl but struggled with consistency this season.
This was the Eagles' fifth offensive coordinator change in five years.
The team had the highest-paid offense in the NFL but failed to perform as expected.
Mike Tomlin is stepping down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons. He informed the team that he will be taking a break from coaching, and there are suggestions he might move into sports media or have other coaching opportunities. Tomlin leaves with a strong record and significant achievements with the team.
Key Facts
Mike Tomlin has been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 years.
He announced he is stepping away from coaching altogether.
Tomlin's record with the team is 193 wins, 114 losses, and 2 ties.
Under his leadership, the Steelers won eight AFC North titles and the Super Bowl XLIII.
The Steelers did not win a playoff game since 2016.
Potential future roles for Tomlin could include sports media or other coaching opportunities.
Steelers president Art Rooney II thanked Tomlin for his dedication and success with the team.
The Philadelphia Phillies have released 19-year-old outfielder Jorge Julio after three seasons, during which he played in various minor leagues. Julio struggled in his first and third seasons, but showed promise in his second year.
Key Facts
The Phillies signed Jorge Julio from Venezuela in 2023 when he was 16 years old.
Julio started in the Dominican Summer League, hitting poorly with a batting average of .171 in 16 games.
He improved in his second year, raising his batting average to .276 in 42 games in the Dominican Summer League.
During the second year, he hit 11 extra-base hits and had a .790 OPS (a measure of a player's overall offensive performance).
In his third season, Julio played in the Florida Complex League and struggled again with a .598 OPS.
He walked only six times in his third season, a drop from previous years, and made two errors in right field.
At 19, other teams may still be interested in developing Julio's potential as an outfielder.
Several assistant coaches from the Los Angeles Rams are being considered for head coaching positions in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, and passing game specialist Nathan Scheelhaase have received interview requests from various teams. This interest comes as the Rams prepare for their playoff game against the Chicago Bears.
Key Facts
The Rams face the Chicago Bears in a divisional playoff game.
Rams assistants Chris Shula, Mike LaFleur, and Nathan Scheelhaase are sought after for head coaching jobs.
Chris Shula, the Rams' defensive coordinator, has interview requests from six NFL teams.
Shula wants to become a head coach but enjoys his current role with the Rams.
Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator, has led the Rams to top rankings in several offensive categories.
LaFleur has received two interview requests for head coaching positions.
Nathan Scheelhaase, a rising star in coaching, has had interview requests from the Browns, Raiders, and Ravens.
The Rams frequently lose assistant coaches to head coaching roles, with several having left for such positions before.
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed veteran infielder Andy Ibanez to their 40-man roster. To make space for Ibanez, they designated infielder Ryan Fitzgerald for assignment. Ibanez's signing strengthens the team's infield, offering depth and flexibility.
Key Facts
The Dodgers added Andy Ibanez to their 40-man roster.
Ryan Fitzgerald, who was recently acquired, was designated for assignment to make room for Ibanez.
Ibanez signed a $1.2 million, one-year major league deal with the Dodgers.
Ibanez can play both second and third base, providing backup options for the team.
Fitzgerald played in 24 MLB games, hitting .196, and performed better in Triple-A, hitting .277 last season.
The Dodgers' infield includes older players like Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas, coming into their mid-to-late 30s.
Ibanez aims to help the team maintain flexibility and provide rest for these veteran players.
The Dodgers are focused on staying healthy and competitive for a potential playoff run.
Kyle Tucker, a top baseball player, is close to deciding which team to join next. The New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in signing him. The Mets have offered him $50 million per season.
Key Facts
Kyle Tucker is a sought-after player in this year's free agency.
He is considering offers from the Mets, Blue Jays, and Dodgers.
The Mets have proposed a $50 million annual salary for Tucker.
He is expected to make his decision in the next day or two.
The Mets need another outfielder after making changes to their roster.
Both the Blue Jays and Dodgers played in the final of the 2025 season.
The Mets aim to improve after missing the playoffs last season.
