Egypt will play Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco, on Wednesday at 6 PM (17:00 GMT). Egypt aims to win its eighth AFCON title, while Senegal, featuring star players like Sadio Mane, is also a strong contender. The winner will proceed to the final against the winner of the Nigeria vs. Morocco match.
Key Facts
The match between Egypt and Senegal is an AFCON semifinal.
The game will take place at Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco.
The match will begin at 6 PM local time (17:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Mohamed Salah leads the Egyptian team with four goals in the tournament.
Senegal is ranked as Africa’s second best team and has players like Sadio Mane.
Senegal finished first in Group D, while Egypt topped Group B during the group stages.
The winner will play either Nigeria or Morocco in the AFCON final.
Egypt has won AFCON seven times, while Senegal is looking for its first title.
Jalen Hurts, quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, discussed the team's performance after a key loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He admitted needing to improve in crucial game moments and mentioned conversations about team changes, including whether wide receiver AJ Brown will stay. Hurts emphasized it's too early to decide on coaching staff changes and left those decisions to the team's management.
Key Facts
Jalen Hurts is the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles lost a significant game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Hurts acknowledged he needs to improve in important moments during games.
There has been internal conflict and changes expected within the team.
AJ Brown, a key player, has shown dissatisfaction publicly.
Hurts stated decisions on coaching staff, like offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, are not yet decided.
Future changes in the team roster and staff are anticipated.
The Memphis Grizzlies are deciding the future direction of their team, specifically focusing on Jaren Jackson Jr. While they see Jackson as a key player, other teams are interested in him because of his strong performance. The Grizzlies’ openness to trade discussions for Ja Morant has made rival teams pay attention to Jackson's status.
Key Facts
Memphis Grizzlies view Jaren Jackson Jr. as a central player in their team plans.
The Grizzlies are considering trade offers for Ja Morant for the first time.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has performed well, scoring 18.6 points per game and maintaining strong defensive stats.
Jackson is under contract until the 2029-30 season with a significant financial deal.
Teams like the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks are interested in Jackson.
The Grizzlies' record is currently 16-22, and they are not considered strong contenders as of now.
The NBA trade deadline is February 5, adding pressure to any decisions the Grizzlies make.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is seen as valuable due to his ability to both defend well and score efficiently.
Arman Tsarukyan claims the UFC overlooked him for an interim lightweight title fight because they want Paddy Pimblett to become champion. Pimblett will fight Justin Gaethje for the interim title, although Tsarukyan expected a chance due to his high contender ranking. UFC President Dana White didn't choose Tsarukyan partly because of a past incident involving headbutting.
Key Facts
Paddy Pimblett is on a seven-fight win streak in the UFC.
Pimblett will face Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title on January 24.
Arman Tsarukyan is the number one contender but was not selected for the interim title fight.
UFC president Dana White mentioned a headbutting incident as a reason for overlooking Tsarukyan.
Tsarukyan had also previously pulled out of a scheduled title fight in January 2025.
Current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is not competing due to personal reasons.
Tsarukyan suggested that Pimblett's popularity influenced the UFC's decision.
Tsarukyan believes Pimblett would not agree to fight him because he fears losing.
The Los Angeles Rams will face the Chicago Bears in a playoff game without their starting cornerback, Ahkello Witherspoon, who is out for the rest of the playoffs due to a fractured scapula. Quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered a sprained finger but is expected to play.
Key Facts
The Rams will play against the Bears on Sunday in a playoff game.
Ahkello Witherspoon, a starting cornerback for the Rams, has fractured his scapula and will miss the rest of the playoffs.
This is Witherspoon's second scapula injury this season, having returned from a similar injury earlier.
Coach Sean McVay updated the media about the team injuries on Monday.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford sprained his finger in the previous game, but he is expected to play.
Roger McCreary, traded from the Tennessee Titans, is expected to have an increased role in Witherspoon's absence.
The Chicago Cubs are considering possible changes to their roster for the 2026 season, which may involve trading their two-time Gold Glove winner, Nico Hoerner. Although the Cubs are not actively trying to trade Hoerner, they have received inquiries from other teams. The team recently signed All-Star infielder Alex Bregman to a substantial contract, which could influence their decision on Hoerner.
Key Facts
The Chicago Cubs are considering roster adjustments for the 2026 season.
Nico Hoerner, a two-time Gold Glove winner, may be involved in a trade.
Hoerner had a strong season with a .297 batting average and seven home runs.
Other teams have shown interest in trading for Hoerner.
The Cubs signed All-Star Alex Bregman for five years at $175 million.
The new contract with Bregman could lead to positional changes in the Cubs' infield.
The Cubs have indicated they are open to listening to offers for Hoerner.
No definitive decision has been made to trade Hoerner.
The Boston Red Sox are showing increased interest in signing baseball player Bo Bichette after their initial target, Alex Bregman, agreed to join the Chicago Cubs. This development may affect the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies, who are also interested in Bichette.
Key Facts
The Red Sox had initially prioritized Alex Bregman but now focus on Bo Bichette.
Bo Bichette is a baseball player who is being considered by several teams.
The Red Sox prefer Bichette due to his age; he is turning 28, while Bregman will be 32.
Some within the Red Sox organization have favored Bichette over Bregman.
The Blue Jays and Phillies are potential competitors in signing Bichette.
The Phillies were reportedly in talks with Bichette early in the week.
With Bregman off the market, teams are increasing their interest in other players like Bichette.
The article discusses the New York Yankees' potential trade interest in acquiring Freddy Peralta, a pitcher from the Milwaukee Brewers. To make this happen, the Yankees might trade their young pitcher Luis Gil and possibly other prospects.
Key Facts
The Yankees have not made significant offseason player additions except for re-signing outfielder Trent Grisham.
The Yankees' pitching rotation needs improvements since they will be without key players, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, at the start of the season.
Freddy Peralta is a Milwaukee Brewers pitcher who could be available for trade.
Chris Kirschner from The Athletic suggests the Yankees consider trading Luis Gil, who was named Rookie of the Year, to get Peralta.
Luis Gil had a tough past season due to an injury but is seen as having a lot of potential.
The proposed trade might also involve other top Yankees pitching prospects like Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange.
The Yankees' general manager, Brian Cashman, would have to agree to this trade decision.
It's unclear if the Milwaukee Brewers would accept this trade offer.
Notre Dame's football team has secured a talented wide receiver, Quincy Porter, from Ohio State through the college football transfer portal. Porter's move to Notre Dame is expected to strengthen the team's offense as they aim for a national title in 2026.
Key Facts
Quincy Porter is a five-star freshman wide receiver initially set to play for Ohio State.
He chose to transfer to Notre Dame to play for head coach Marcus Freeman.
Porter was ranked No. 11 among wide receivers in 247Sports' transfer portal rankings.
The transfer portal is a system that allows college athletes to change schools.
Porter's recruitment adds to Notre Dame's goal of competing for a national title.
The transfer portal will close on January 16, 2026.
The Toronto Blue Jays released 26-year-old infielder Rodolfo Castro, who had been signed in November to play in their minor league team. Instead, the Blue Jays have signed Rafael Lantigua to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training.
Key Facts
The Toronto Blue Jays released infielder Rodolfo Castro on January 9.
Castro had been previously signed to play in the minor leagues for the Blue Jays.
He played multiple positions, including second base, shortstop, and third base.
Last season, Castro hit 19 home runs with a .235 batting average in Triple-A.
The Blue Jays signed Rafael Lantigua as a potential replacement.
Lantigua played primarily at second base and hit seven home runs last season.
The new contract allows Lantigua to join the Blue Jays' spring training.
Urban Meyer, a former college football coach, shared his prediction for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between Indiana and Miami. He expects Indiana to win but believes Miami will put up a strong fight. Meyer also predicts the game will have fewer points than expected.
Key Facts
Urban Meyer is a former college football coach and currently works as a sports analyst.
The College Football Playoff National Championship Game will feature Indiana and Miami.
Indiana is currently undefeated and favored to win by 7.5 points.
Miami, with a record of 13-2, is considered the underdog in this matchup.
Indiana's team includes top NFL Draft prospect Fernando Mendoza as quarterback.
Miami's key players are quarterback Carson Beck and defensive end Ruben Bain.
Meyer predicts that Indiana will win and suggests it will be a low-scoring game.
Lane Kiffin became LSU's head football coach after leaving Ole Miss, leading to changes in the coaching staff. Caden Durham, a key LSU running back, decided to stay with the team after considering a transfer, which helps stabilize the team’s roster for the upcoming season.
Key Facts
LSU ended the 2025 season with a 7–6 record.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly was fired on October 26, 2025.
Lane Kiffin, previously at Ole Miss, was announced as LSU's new head coach on November 30.
Kiffin's move from Ole Miss, where he had a successful season, caused controversy.
Caden Durham, LSU's leading rusher for 2025, decided to stay at LSU after contemplating a transfer.
Durham ran for 505 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, which was less than his 2024 performance.
Retaining Durham supports LSU's new coaching direction and personnel decisions.
LSU is expected to add former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Georgia Bulldogs football team has added running back Dante Dowdell, a transfer from Kentucky, to their team for the 2026 season. Dowdell, who has previously played for Oregon and Nebraska, joins amid uncertainty about current Bulldogs running back Nate Frazier's future with the team. While Frazier's contract details are being discussed, another key running back, Chauncey Bowens, has confirmed his return for the 2026 season.
Key Facts
Dante Dowdell, a running back from Kentucky, has committed to join the Georgia Bulldogs.
Dowdell was Kentucky's second-leading rusher in 2025 with 560 yards and three touchdowns.
During his college football career, Dowdell has played for Oregon, Nebraska, and Kentucky.
In 30 games, Dowdell has totaled 1,264 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Nate Frazier, Georgia's current lead running back, is still in contract talks about his return.
Chauncey Bowens, Georgia's second-leading rusher, will return for the 2026 season.
Frazier has gained 1,618 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in his career with Georgia.
The New York Mets are considering a trade to strengthen their pitching team by acquiring ace pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers. The proposed trade would involve sending prospects Brandon Sproat and Jacob Reimer to the Brewers in exchange for Peralta. The Mets see Peralta as a strong addition who could improve their chances of reaching the postseason.
Key Facts
The New York Mets are looking to improve their pitching staff after missing the postseason last year.
The team is exploring both free agency and trade options to find a top pitcher, also known as an "ace."
Jay Staph proposed a trade idea involving Mets prospects Brandon Sproat and Jacob Reimer for Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Freddy Peralta had a strong 2025 season, with a 2.70 ERA, 200 strikeouts, and a low hard-hit rate against him.
Peralta is recognized as one of the top right-handed pitchers in limiting hard contact.
The Mets believe they can afford to re-sign Peralta with a new contract if the trade happens.
Acquiring Peralta would mean losing two top prospects but is seen as a worthwhile move to improve the team's pitching quality.
Brooks Koepka, a well-known professional golfer, wants to return to the PGA Tour after leaving the LIV Golf League. His return brings challenges for the PGA Tour, as they consider rules and fairness for other players. Meanwhile, the tour is also dealing with past cases of players returning from the LIV Golf League.
Key Facts
Brooks Koepka applied to rejoin the PGA Tour on January 9th.
Koepka left the LIV Golf League one year early and wants to return to the PGA Tour.
He is eligible for major tournaments because he won the 2023 US PGA Championship.
The PGA Tour faces decisions about allowing Koepka back and how it affects fairness for other players.
Other golfers like Hudson Swafford faced penalties when leaving the LIV Golf League to return to the PGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy, a top golfer, supports Koepka returning but emphasizes fair treatment for all players.
The PGA Tour has promised to consider the situation carefully with input from its board.
Koepka going back to the PGA Tour could encourage other players to follow.
The Los Angeles Dodgers might sign Cavan Biggio, a former top prospect from the Toronto Blue Jays, on a minor league deal. This move would add depth to the Dodgers’ roster as they aim for another World Series win. The team is dealing with frequent injuries, and adding Biggio could help provide backup.
Key Facts
The Los Angeles Dodgers are considering signing Cavan Biggio, a former Blue Jays prospect.
The deal with Biggio would likely be a minor league contract.
This addition aims to strengthen the team's depth in case of player injuries.
The Dodgers are in the process of aiming for their third consecutive World Series.
The team has already made significant moves, including adding Edwin Diaz to their bullpen.
Cavan Biggio has not been very successful at the major league level so far.
Adding Biggio is considered a low-risk move for added depth next season.
The Los Angeles Lakers have changed their routine to help star player LeBron James manage his workload as he continues his career at age 41. They have stopped doing morning shootarounds on game days to conserve his energy. This change aims to support James' performance and the team's success in a competitive season.
Key Facts
The Lakers stopped morning shootarounds on game days about two weeks ago.
The change helps manage LeBron James' workload as he plays at 41 years old.
Head coach JJ Redick says this change is based on the needs of the team and LeBron's fitness.
The Lakers are among the top five teams in the Western Conference.
LeBron James continues to play at a high level, averaging 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game after turning 41.
LeBron missed nearly the first month of the season due to recovering from sciatica.
The Lakers' strategy has shifted to adapt around LeBron rather than relying on him for everything.
The San Francisco Giants are considering trading with the Kansas City Royals to get All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic. The move aims to improve their pitching lineup for better chances in future baseball seasons. The potential trade would involve sending two prospects, Carson Whisenhunt and Casey Schmitt, to the Royals.
Key Facts
The Giants want to add a starting pitcher through trade or free agency.
Kris Bubic from the Kansas City Royals is a top target for the Giants.
Bubic performed well in his first full season, showing potential as a leading pitcher.
The proposed trade includes sending Carson Whisenhunt and Casey Schmitt to the Royals.
Bubic's contract would cost the Giants about $4.5 million in 2026.
Bubic is originally from the Bay Area and went to Stanford University.
Adding Bubic could strengthen the Giants' pitching lineup for future competitions.
The Houston Texans will play the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL Wild Card game on Monday, January 12. The game is part of the 2026 NFL playoffs and will be shown on ABC and ESPN. The Texans are the No. 5 seed and visiting the Steelers, the No. 4 seed.
Key Facts
The NFL Wild Card game between the Texans and Steelers is on Monday, January 12.
The game starts at 8:15 PM Eastern Time.
It will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
You can live stream the game via Fubo with a free trial.
This game is part of the 2026 NFL playoffs.
The Texans are the No. 5 seed and have the odds of -155.
The Steelers are the No. 4 seed and have the odds of +130.
The game will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, if the teams advance to the Super Bowl.
The Chicago Bears won against the Green Bay Packers, overcoming a halftime deficit to advance in the NFL playoffs. Quarterback Caleb Williams led the Bears to a 31–27 victory with a late touchdown pass. Coach Ben Johnson made headlines with strong comments expressing his dislike for the Packers.
Key Facts
The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 31–27 in the NFC Wild Card game.
The Bears came back from a 21–3 halftime deficit to win the game.
Caleb Williams, the Bears' quarterback, threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns.
A key play was a 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore with 1:43 left in the game.
The Bears' head coach, Ben Johnson, made controversial comments about the Packers after the game.
Chicago will host the Los Angeles Rams in the next playoff round.
This victory marks a successful first season for Coach Johnson with the Bears.
