South Africa and Cameroon will face off in the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at Al Barid Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. Both teams have shown strong performances to reach this stage, with South Africa defeating Angola and Zimbabwe, while Cameroon secured wins against Gabon and Mozambique.
Key Facts
The match between South Africa and Cameroon takes place on January 4, 2025.
The game is held at Al Barid Stadium, Rabat, Morocco.
South Africa reached the last 16 by beating Angola and Zimbabwe and losing to Egypt in the group stage.
Cameroon advanced after victories over Gabon and Mozambique and a draw with Ivory Coast.
Lyle Foster is a key player for South Africa, known for scoring critical goals.
Bryan Mbeumo is a standout player for Cameroon and has recovered from a previous injury.
The winner will play either Morocco or Tanzania in the quarterfinals on January 9, 2025.
South Africa last won the AFCON tournament in 1996.
Declan Rice played a key role in Arsenal's recent victory over Bournemouth, scoring twice despite a recent knee injury. His performance helped Arsenal move six points clear at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Rice's determination and considers him one of the best midfielders in the world.
Key Facts
Declan Rice scored two goals in Arsenal's 3-2 win over Bournemouth.
Rice, who recently had a knee injury, played the full 96 minutes.
It was his second time scoring more than one goal in a single game in his career.
Arsenal's win puts them six points ahead in the Premier League standings.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, commended Rice's mentality and performance.
Rice joined Arsenal two and a half years ago from West Ham for £100 million.
This season, Rice has played more passes into the penalty area than any other Premier League player.
Rice ranks high in several performance metrics, including possession wins, chances created, and assists.
Luke Littler, an 18-year-old from England, won the PDC World Championship title for the second year in a row by defeating Gian van Veen 7-1. He becomes the fourth person to achieve consecutive wins in this event, joining a select group of previous champions.
Key Facts
Luke Littler, aged 18, is from England.
He won the PDC World Championship for the second consecutive year.
Littler defeated Gian van Veen with a score of 7-1.
He is the fourth person to win back-to-back titles in this championship.
The other players with consecutive wins include Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, and Gary Anderson.
Littler's average score during the match was 106.02.
Littler received a prize of £1 million and the Sid Waddell Trophy.
The Los Angeles Clippers will face the Boston Celtics in an NBA game on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025. The game will be broadcast on the FanDuel Sports Network SoCal and NBA TV, with live streaming available on Fubo. The Clippers are on a strong winning streak at home, while the Celtics have a good record playing away games.
Key Facts
The Clippers play the Celtics on January 3, 2025.
The game starts at 10:30 PM EDT.
It will be shown on FanDuel Sports Network SoCal and NBA TV.
Fubo offers a live stream of the game with a free trial option.
The Clippers have won six games in a row, improving their standings.
The Celtics have won their last two away games and have been successful in recent matches against the Clippers.
Jayson Tatum from the Celtics is not playing due to an Achilles injury.
Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers is performing well, with an average of 40 points during their winning streak.
The Golden State Warriors will play the Utah Jazz at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The Warriors are trying to recover after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder and hope Stephen Curry can return to play. The Jazz also come from a loss against the LA Clippers and have several players injured.
Key Facts
The Warriors face the Jazz at the Chase Center on January 3, 2026, at 10:00 PM ET.
The Warriors recently lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, with a score of 131-94.
Key Warriors players like Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green missed the last game.
Stephen Curry may be able to play in the game against the Jazz.
The Utah Jazz lost to the LA Clippers with a score of 118-101 in their last game.
The Jazz also have several injured players, including Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.
In a previous matchup on November 24, the Warriors beat the Jazz 134-117.
Fans can watch the game live on TV through the Utah Jazz channel or stream it on Fubo.
Steph Curry, a key player for the Golden State Warriors, will return to play against the Utah Jazz after missing a game due to an ankle sprain. Curry's return follows a recent nine-game streak where he performed strongly after being inactive for a series of games earlier in the season. The Warriors are aiming to improve their record as they face the Jazz.
Key Facts
Steph Curry had an ankle injury diagnosed as a sprain.
He missed the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which the Warriors lost.
Curry returns to play against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
Before his recent absence, Curry played nine games in which he scored 30.1 points per game.
In those nine games, he shot 46% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
The Warriors lost 131-94 to the Thunder without Curry.
The Warriors' record going into the game against the Jazz is 18 wins and 17 losses.
The Utah Jazz have a record of 12 wins and 21 losses.
Clemson's college football team had a disappointing 2025 season, ending with a 7-6 record and losing their bowl game against Penn State. Following the season, Clemson's starting safety Ricardo Jones decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Jones was a key player on the defense, and his departure is a significant loss for the team.
Key Facts
Clemson's football team ended the 2025 season with a 7-6 record.
The team lost to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl with a score of 22-10.
Ricardo Jones, Clemson's starting safety, has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Jones was one of the top defensive players, leading the league with six interceptions.
During his time at Clemson, Jones made 59 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 3 defended passes.
Clemson is facing challenges with player losses and must work to turn their performance around next season.
West Ham's struggles continue under manager Nuno Espirito Santo after a 3-0 defeat to Wolves. The team is in the relegation zone with only 14 points from 20 games. Nuno has not yet led the team to a clean sheet in the Premier League.
Key Facts
West Ham lost 3-0 to Wolves, a team at the bottom of the standings.
West Ham is in the relegation zone with 14 points after 20 matches.
They are four points behind Nottingham Forest, their next opponent.
West Ham has not won any of their last nine Premier League games.
The team has conceded 41 goals this season, their highest in a top-flight campaign since 1965-66.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has not achieved a clean sheet in 26 consecutive Premier League games across two teams.
Nuno replaced Graham Potter in September with West Ham already in 19th place.
Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding explained how the coaching team will work during the College Football Playoff without Lane Kiffin, who took a new job at LSU. Golding will lead Ole Miss in their upcoming Fiesta Bowl semifinal against Miami, and despite coaching changes, the team has done well in the playoffs so far.
Key Facts
Pete Golding is the head coach of Ole Miss during the College Football Playoff (CFP).
Lane Kiffin, the former coach, left to coach at LSU before Ole Miss's first CFP game.
Golding confirmed that assistant coaches would continue in their roles despite some moving to Kiffin's LSU staff next season.
Ole Miss defeated Tulane and Georgia to reach the CFP semifinals.
The team's next game is against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
Despite changes and challenges, Golding has led the team successfully in the playoffs.
The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune $5,447 for a face mask penalty during a game against the Chicago Bears. This announcement came just hours before the 49ers' important game against the Seattle Seahawks, which will determine the NFC West division winner and home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Key Facts
The San Francisco 49ers are playing a crucial game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium.
The winner of the game will win the NFC West division and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC, along with home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Linebacker Tatum Bethune from the 49ers was fined $5,447 by the NFL for a face mask penalty in a previous game against the Chicago Bears.
The penalty occurred in the fourth quarter of a game where the 49ers won 42-38.
Tatum Bethune is the team's second-leading tackler this season with 87 tackles.
Bethune also recorded 11 tackles and defended a pass in the game against the Bears.
Arsenal won 3-2 against Bournemouth, increasing their lead in the Premier League. Declan Rice scored twice, helping Arsenal secure victory after initially falling behind. Aston Villa defeated Nottingham Forest 3-1, securing second place in the league.
Key Facts
Arsenal won 3-2 against Bournemouth, expanding their Premier League lead to six points.
Declan Rice scored twice for Arsenal after returning from a knee injury.
Gabriel Magalhaes made an error leading to a Bournemouth goal but scored to equalize for Arsenal.
Eli Kroupi scored for Bournemouth, but Arsenal maintained their lead to win.
Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest 3-1, moving to second place in the Premier League.
Ollie Watkins and John McGinn scored for Aston Villa in their win.
Aston Villa maintained a strong home record, with 11 consecutive home wins.
Ty Simpson, Alabama's star quarterback, may enter the transfer portal instead of joining the NFL draft if he does not receive a first-round grade. Reports suggest he could transfer to play for one of Alabama's key SEC rivals like Tennessee or Oregon. This situation arises as Alabama's coach, Kalen DeBoer, faces pressure after a disappointing finish to the season.
Key Facts
Alabama ended the season with an 11-4 record but had a significant loss to Indiana.
Ty Simpson, originally expected to join the NFL draft, may return to college if not graded as a first-round pick.
Possible transfer destinations for Simpson include SEC rivals Tennessee and Oregon.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is under pressure following the team's recent performance.
ESPN's Matt Miller states Ty Simpson is not among the top 11 players with first-round grades for the 2026 NFL draft.
If Simpson returns, he might compete with Alabama's five-star recruit, Keelon Russell, for the quarterback spot.
JJ Redick, the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, expressed concerns about his team's recent performance despite their recent win. He highlighted issues with team execution and effort, especially on the defensive side. The Lakers currently hold the fifth position in the Western Conference standings.
Key Facts
JJ Redick is the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Redick recently criticized his team's performance after a practice session.
The Lakers won a game against the Memphis Grizzlies but still have performance issues, according to Redick.
The team is struggling with execution and effort, especially on defense.
The Lakers are fifth in the Western Conference with a record of 21 wins and 11 losses.
The team has won five out of their last ten games.
Redick held an "uncomfortable" film and practice session to address team issues.
The Lakers are set to play the Grizzlies again on Sunday night.
Northampton Saints won a rugby match against Harlequins with a score of 66-21, scoring ten tries. Alex Coles was a standout player for Northampton, scoring three tries. This victory moved Northampton to the top of the league table.
Key Facts
Northampton Saints scored ten tries in their win over Harlequins.
Alex Coles scored three tries for Northampton.
The final score was 66-21 in favor of Northampton.
Northampton's victory placed them at the top of the league table.
Fischetti, Mitchell, Freeman, and Todaro also scored tries for Northampton.
Harlequins' tries were scored by Cleaves and Dombrandt, who scored twice.
Northampton's captain, Fraser Dingwall, was injured and taken off before halftime.
The win left Harlequins in eighth place in the league standings.
The Las Vegas Raiders are planning to part ways with their coach, Pete Carroll, after a disappointing season ending with a 2-14 record. Tom Brady, a minority owner and former star quarterback, is expected to help in finding a new coach as the Raiders prepare for a team rebuild. They might also likely get the top pick in the NFL Draft.
Key Facts
The Raiders have decided to move on from their coach, Pete Carroll, after a poor season.
The team has a record of 2 wins and 14 losses this season.
Tom Brady, who partly owns the team, will help find a new coach.
Pete Carroll previously coached the Seattle Seahawks and won a Super Bowl in 2013.
The Raiders are in contention for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Raiders player Maxx Crosby is frustrated and may leave the team.
The team might draft a top college quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, next season.
The Raiders' owner, Mark Davis, will make the final decision on the new coach.
The Houston Rockets are aiming for a fifth straight win as they face the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA game on Saturday. The game is part of the "Battle of Texas" rivalry and will be broadcast on Space City Home Network and MyNetworkTV.
Key Facts
The game takes place on Saturday, January 3, 2025, at 8:30 PM EDT.
It will be aired on Space City Home Network and MyNetworkTV.
Houston is on a four-game winning streak, while Dallas has won only one of their last seven games.
Both teams have won one game against each other this season.
Several key players, including Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively III for Dallas, are out due to injuries or illness.
Houston players Clint Capela and Steven Adams are also dealing with health issues.
The game can be streamed live on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
The NFL fined Ravens player Alohi Gilman $17,389 for unnecessary roughness during a game against the Green Bay Packers. This punishment is part of the league's regular actions to protect players and maintain fair play. The fine will support the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation.
Key Facts
The NFL fined Ravens safety Alohi Gilman $17,389 for a facemask penalty.
The fine is for unnecessary roughness in a game against the Green Bay Packers.
The penalty occurred at 2:21 in the second quarter of the game.
Fines help maintain player safety and game fairness.
Gilman can appeal the fine to a panel of former NFL players.
Decisions on appeals are final and cannot be changed.
Funds from fines support former athletes and youth football initiatives.
Gilman will still play in the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The San Antonio Spurs will play against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 3, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Viewers can watch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Southwest or stream it on Fubo. Both teams recently won their last games and have key players either performing well or sidelined due to injuries.
Key Facts
The Spurs' recent game ended in a 123-113 win over the Indiana Pacers.
Key Spurs players De'Aaron Fox scored 24 points, and Stephon Castle had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell are currently out with injuries.
The Trail Blazers won 122-109 against the New Orleans Pelicans in their last game.
Deni Avdija of the Blazers scored 34 points and 11 assists in their recent win.
Both teams played without some key players due to injuries, like Jreami Grant and Jrue Holiday for the Blazers.
San Antonio won their previous matchup against Portland 115-102 on November 26.
The game will be available for live streaming on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
Alex Whittingham, who worked as a coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, has joined the University of Michigan's football coaching staff. He will work as the linebackers coach under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, his father. Alex contributed to three Super Bowl wins while with the Chiefs.
Key Facts
Alex Whittingham is now the linebackers coach for the University of Michigan.
His father, Kyle Whittingham, is the new head coach at Michigan.
Alex previously worked for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018 to 2025.
He began with the Chiefs as a defensive assistant and later became the defensive line coach.
The Chiefs allowed the 10th-fewest rushing yards per game during his time as the defensive line coach.
Alex was part of the Chiefs' coaching staff for three Super Bowl victories (2020, 2022, and 2023).
He worked under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo at the Chiefs.
Alex coached several top defensive players while with the Chiefs.
Burnley manager Scott Parker commented on his team's lack of confidence after a loss at Brighton, their ninth defeat in 11 Premier League matches. The loss leaves Burnley in 19th place and six points away from safety. Parker and player Hjalmar Ekdal admitted the team performed poorly and needs to improve to avoid relegation.
Key Facts
Burnley lost to Brighton, marking their ninth defeat in 11 games.
Burnley is currently 19th in the Premier League table.
Burnley has only gained two points out of the last 33 possible points.
The team has not won a match since October 26.
Burnley was missing their captain, Josh Cullen, due to a season-ending injury.
Parker criticized his team's performance as poor and lacking belief.
Sweden international Hjalmar Ekdal also stated that the team was not showing their true potential and felt embarrassed about the performance.
