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Anthony Joshua has ‘Chink in his armor’

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Has a glaring weakness that Daniel Dubois can exploit, claims Barry McGuigan

 

McGuigan thinks Dubois has the punching power to cause Joshua real problems Credit: GETTY

 

Former featherweight world champion Barry McGuigan has insisted that Daniel Dubois can exploit a ‘chink in Anthony Joshua’s armor’, George Glinski reports on TalkSport.

 

The 26-year-old is the frontrunner to box Joshua in his next fight on September 21 at Wembley Stadium.

 

Queensberry chief Frank Warren recently informed talkSPORT that the pair are currently in talks to face each other later this year in a fight that could be for the IBF heavyweight title.

 

Dubois defeated Filip Hrgovic on the unprecedented Queensberry-Matchroom 5 vs 5 cards two weeks ago to pick up the IBF ‘interim’ belt and may end up being elevated to full champion if the major sanctioning body strips Oleksandr Usyk.

 

This is dependent on the IBF’s ruling over Usyk’s request for an exception to allow him to hold onto the belt for the Tyson Fury rematch on December 21, rather than face his mandatory challenger next.

 

Regardless of whether the all-British showdown is for a title or not, Dubois will feel like a world champion if he topples AJ.

 

‘Triple D’ opens up as a heavy underdog with the bookies, but McGuigan insists that if he can land flush on Joshua’s chin, then it could be ‘Goodnight Irene’.

 

“If he gets through to Joshua’s chin then it’s game on,” wrote McGuigan in his column with the Mirror.

 

“Joshua is the more complete fighter, marginally quicker. And he has rebuilt impressively since he lost for the second time to Usyk.

 

“There is, however, still a chink in his armor first exposed by Andy Ruiz that makes him vulnerable to the kind of power-packed by Dubois.

 

“Most would still take Joshua to win. But nothing is a given if Dubois can back up his Hrgovic victory with another mature performance.”

 

Joshua’s chin has regularly been called into question since his knockout defeat to Andy Ruiz in 2019.

 

The two-time unified world heavyweight champion was decked four times en route to one of the biggest upsets of the 21st century at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

 

Yet it remains the sole stoppage loss on his 28-3 record.

 

There have been multiple instances of Joshua being hurt over the years – most notably against Dillian Whyte and Wladimir Klitschko.

But he has also proved time and time again that he can recover and come back firing.

 

 

Iga Swiatek up for French Open three-peat

Analysis: Sizzling ‘queen of clay’ sinks Jasmine Paolini

 

 

Iga Swiatek became just the third woman in the Open Era to win three straight French Open titles with an emphatic 6-2 6-1 victory over first-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Ben Knaton reports for Sports Mole.

 

Already proudly sporting the ‘queen of clay’ label after her Roland-Garros triumphs in 2020, 2022, and 2023 – not to mention her successes in Madrid and Rome this year – the world number one suffered the first break of the match but was irrepressible thereafter.

 

Joining Monica Seles and Justine Henin as the third woman to triumph in three consecutive French Opens, Swiatek is now a four-time Roland-Garros winner and five-time major champion, subjecting the 12th seed to a merciless masterclass in the French capital.

 

While there was no famed bagel for Swiatek, the 23-year-old’s status as French Open champion was never in doubt, and here, Sports Mole analyses Swiatek’s exhilarating performance on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

 

 

Characteristically aggressive from the off, Swiatek reeled off some early backhand and forehand winners to seal an immediate hold to 30 and bring up a first break point in Paolini’s opening service game, but the Italian survived as a Swiatek backhand clipped the net tape and landed wide.

 

The forehand then began to fail the world number one in the third game, where Paolini drew her in with a drop shot and fashioned two unexpected break points, taking her first opportunity as a forehand on Swiatek’s second serve landed long.

 

The Pole had six unforced errors to her name from the opening three games, being broken gave her the kick she needed to revert to type, immediately breaking back with a stunning backhand winner on Paolini’s second serve.

 

Targeting the 12th seed’s backhand then started to work a treat for the reigning champion, who backed up the break and then established a 4-2 lead on an untimely double fault for the Italian, who was now facing the Swiatek that usually graces the Roland-Garros courts.

 

Working Paolini across the court expertly, Swiatek moved one game away from taking the first set with a forehand volley at the net and concluded the opener ruthlessly, breaking to love as an off-balance Paolini sent a forehand into the net.

 

While the three-time winner committed one more unforced error than Paolini in the first set, she struck 10 winners compared to the 12th seed’s three and won a staggering 75% of return points on her opponent’s first serve.

 

Picking up where she left off in the first set with a slick hold to 15, Swiatek benefitted from another double fault from Paolini in the second game, as the crowd did their utmost to revive the dejected Italian.

 

Their efforts briefly worked as she saved two break points – including one with an ace – but the 28-year-old quickly crumbled, sending two shots into the net and shanking a horrendous forehand long and wide to gift Swiatek a 2-0 lead.

 

The Pole’s fourth Roland-Garros coronation was seemingly just a matter of time, as she stormed into a 3-0 lead with a love hold and continued her surge to glory with the double break, blasting an unstoppable cross-court backhand past Paolini on the Italian’s second serve.

 

Even though the writing was on the wall for Paolini at 0-4 down, she belatedly found a higher gear in the fifth game – getting to 30-30 thanks to a crisp forehand winner and backhand volley at the net – but her resurgence was short-lived as Swiatek moved one game away from glory.

 

Serving to stay in the match, Paolini avoided falling to the same 0-6 fate as many of Swiatek’s victims with a stunning forehand winner into the corner, affording a raised fist towards her box in what looked to be a final eye-catching contribution.

 

The 28-year-old raised fleeting hopes of prolonging the final by getting to 30-30 as the world number one tried to serve for the title, but in the end, it was one step too far for Paolini, who could only return a rapid Swiatek serve long on match point before the Pole broke out into her trademark celebration.

 


 

Pick of the stats – Swiatek exhibits returning dominance

Neither Swiatek nor Paolini was overwhelmingly dominant on serve during the one-hour and eight-minute showdown, firing just one ace apiece and landing fewer than 70% of their first serves, but the statistics underlined the champion’s returning mastery.

 

Indeed, she won over 60% of points behind both Paolini’s first and second serves and took five of the nine break points presented to her, while Paolini was one for one in that regard but was just unable to wear down the Pole’s defenses after drawing first blood early.

 

Swiatek responded to that quick break with a remarkable 10-game winning sequence and ended the final with 18 winners compared to just seven for Paolini while striking 13 unforced errors as Paolini registered 18.

 

Furthermore, the world number one has extended her perfect record in major finals to 5-0, while also becoming just the second woman to win Madrid, Rome, and Roland-Garros in one season, following in Serena Williams‘s footsteps.

 

 

SmackDown: The Bloodline on the rampage

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Stands tall after destroying Kevin Owens and The Street Profits

 

 

 

SmackDown Results: Quick Hits

 

Kevin Owens and The Street Profits interrupted Tonga Loa’s Bloodline anointment ceremony 

 

Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill def. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell 

 

 

Right from the opening bell, Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark made their way to ringside to view the action.

 

Hartwell and LeRae took down Belair with superb tag team offense, as Hartwell mocked Cargill with her pose.

 

When Cargill was tagged in, she dismantled Hartwell and LeRae.

 

Cargill and Belair wrapped up the non-title match with a unique tag team maneuver.

 

After the match, Fyre, Dawn, Baszler, and Stark ambushed the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, but Belair and Cargill fended off their attackers.

 

Grayson Waller def. Johnny Gargano 

 

 

After Austin Theory’s battle with Tommaso Ciampa last week, WWE Tag Team Champion Grayson Waller took on Johnny Gargano.

 

In a thrilling back-and-forth match, Gargano hit a huge modification of a Canadian Destroyer.

 

 

With Waller taking a breather outside, The Aussie Icon used Theory as a shield as Gargano flew over the top rope.

 

As Gargano was distracted, Waller hit a flipping Unprettier to win the match.

 

 

Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles agreed to an “I Quit” Match at WWE Clash at the Castle 

 

LA Knight def. Carmelo Hayes

 

 

LA Knight squared off against Carmelo Hayes for the first time in a singles competition after the two traded verbal blows backstage in consecutive weeks.

 

Hayes had Knight scouted for most of the match but resorted to holding Knight’s tights to try for an underhanded win.

 

 

Knight, however, turned the pinfall attempt into one of his own, surprising Hayes to earn the victory.

 

 

Piper Niven vowed to put down WWE Women’s Champion Bayley in Scotland 

 

 

Kevin Owens & The Street Profits def. The Bloodline via disqualification 

 

 

Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa teamed together as a unified Bloodline for the first time, following Loa’s anointment ceremony earlier in the evening that was ruined by Kevin Owens and The Street Profits.

 

KO landed a huge Swanton Bomb on Sikoa, but he could only garner a two-count.

 

Just as Owens hit the Stunner on Sikoa, he was ripped out of the ring by the rest of The Bloodline, with everything breaking down until Montez Ford flew from the skies.

 

Sikoa then attacked with a steel chair, causing the disqualification.

 

 

The Bloodline viciously assaulted Kevin Owens and The Street Profits 

 

 

 

Lesotho stuns Zimbabwe in Johannesburg

Mozambique edges Somalia in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

 

Image credit: CAFonline

 

Lesotho secured an important 2-0 away victory over Zimbabwe on Friday afternoon to go top of Group C of Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers, CAFonline reports.

Mozambique and Kenya were also in action in Friday’s early group of Matchday 3 games with the sides keen on bolstering their chances of qualifying for the global tournament.

But it was in Group C where Lesotho pulled off the stunning victory over Zimbabwe at the Johannesburg Stadium in South Africa.

Rethabile Rasethuntsa opened the scoring for Lesotho in the 21st minute, giving them an early lead.

Jane Thaba Ntso doubled their advantage ten minutes later, putting the game beyond Zimbabwe’s reach.

With this impressive win, Lesotho now sits atop Group C with five points from three matches, while Zimbabwe languish at the bottom with just two points.

The other Group C match between Nigeria and South Africa is set to take place late Friday in Uyo, with both teams looking to make up ground on the group leaders.

Meanwhile, in Group G, Mozambique secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Somalia in Maputo. Alfons Amade put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute, and Stanley Ratifo extended their lead in the 29th minute.

Somalia managed to pull one back through Ismail Shirwa in the 66th minute, but it proved a mere consolation as Mozambique held on for the victory.

This result sees Mozambique move level on six points with group leaders Algeria and Guinea, who have also played three matches.

Somalia, on the other hand, remains at the foot of the table with no points.

In Group F, Kenya and Burundi played out a 1-1 draw in a closely contested match held in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Duke Abuya gave Kenya the lead in the 72nd minute, but their joy was short-lived as Abdallah Sudi equalized for Burundi just 13 minutes later.

The draw leaves Kenya in third place with four points, just ahead of Burundi on goal difference.

As the qualifying campaign continues, Fridayt’s results will significantly impact the standings and the hopes of each nation to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

 

 

Mambas have a dream-Chiquinho Conde

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Mozambique national team are working on playing in the World Cup

 

Head coach of the Mozambique national team, Chiquinho Conde Image credit: CAFonline

 

CAFonline reports that the head coach of the Mozambique national team, Chiquinho Conde says it’s every player’s dream to represent their national team against the best nations in the world.

 

Equally so as head coach, Conde dreams of testing his coaching acumen against the best in the world, as the southern African nation prepares to resume their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Somalia on Friday, 07 June, and Guinea three days later.

 

The former Mambas’ captain speaks to CAFOnline about his sides’ recent improvement shown at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations and their chances of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup™.

 

Your team showed great improvement at the recent TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, despite not going far. What do you attribute this growth to?

 

I confess that it wasn’t a complete success overall, because we wanted more despite no one believing in us being in a group with Egypt, the team with the most titles, and Ghana, which has also won an AFCON and boasts brilliant players playing in European leagues.

 

There was also Cape Verde, which was a surprise to some but not to me because they have players with a lot of experience in European football. We were practically the outsiders, and we aimed to do our best. That draw in the final minutes against Egypt left a bitter taste as it kept us from advancing to the next stage. We deserved to progress for our bravery and the way we faced the game. We were close to achieving something different, but we learned a lot.

 

Now looking at the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, you are in a tough group consisting of Algeria and Guinea, what do you make of your chances?

 

 We are in a tough group; it’s not new. We’ve been in a difficult group, considered the “group of death” in the AFCON, and we played on equal footing with these great teams. We faced Botswana and won with some difficulty, played at home against the formidable Algeria, and matched them toe-to-toe, only faltering in the details.

 

Playing in the World Cup is a dream for the players, and as a coach, I would love to be there. Today, the number of teams qualifying for the World Cup has increased, and we have a dream. We will fight to achieve our goals with humility and respect for our opponents, regardless of their caliber.

 

You play host to Somalia in Maputo, how challenging will this fixture be and what would be required for you to get a result?

 

Theoretically, they are an opponent within our reach, but as I said before, they deserve our respect and focus. We are already analyzing their strengths, and as the saying goes, “Better safe than sorry.”

 

We will approach the game with the same humility and responsibility. We are confident of playing at home, where we are in charge, and we will not take anything for granted.

 

The increased number of African teams at the World Cup opens up more opportunities for Africa to be represented, what do you make of this?

 

This is a significant step given the quality of most African players who play for major European and international teams. It is a great opportunity, but also a great responsibility because it is the biggest global event. It opens up the opportunity for all of us to continue our dream. Being at the World Cup is the dream of all of us.

 

Should you qualify for the World Cup, what would be your desired finish or goal?

 

We still have matches to play in this first round, followed by the second round. All of us have this possibility. Now, if we achieve this feat, it will certainly be the pinnacle of any player’s career, and I, as the coach, would be associated with the greatest moment in our football history. We will then start thinking about the next phase once we have accomplished this one.

 

 

Nigeria held by South Africa in Uyo

As Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco claim home wins

 

 

The closing fixtures of Friday’s Match Day 3 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers saw some interesting movements in Group C, E, and F where the race to the global showpiece gains exciting momentum, CAFonline reports.

 

A north versus south encounter between Morocco and Zambia saw the north African giants edge Chipolopolo 2-1 in Agadir to retain their Group E lead; while reigning African champions, Cote d’Ivoire managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Gabon to assume the number one spot in Group F.

 

It was an evenly balanced encounter in Uyo where the Super Eagles came from behind to salvage a point against South Africa as Group C remains wide open.

 

CAFOnline summarises the 19h00 GMT matches of Friday’s Match Day 03 encounters:

 

Morocco 2 – 1 Zambia

 

An early penalty conversion by Hakim Ziyech saw the Atlas Lions grab the early lead in the opening minutes to go into the break with a lead.

 

Coming back from the break, Eliesse Ben Seghir doubled the North Africans’ lead ahead of an 80th-minute consolation goal by Edward Chilufya, as Morocco went ahead of Zambia in Group E.

 

Cote d’Ivoire 1 – 0 Gabon

 

Seko Fofana led by example in the Elephants’ quest to return to the global showpiece.

 

The midfield maestro’s solitary goal was enough to see the reigning African champions secure a slim win over Gabon to maintain their winning streak in Group F and maintain their lead at the top.

 

Nigeria 1 – 1 South Africa

It was a battle of old foes in Uyo as the Super Eagles of Nigeria played host to South Africa. The highly entertaining affair which was a repeat of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 semi-final saw the teams share the spoils at a packed Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

 

A stroke of genius by Themba Zwane in the 29th minute gave Bafana Bafana the lead ahead of the break before Fisayo Dele-Bashiru canceled out Zwane’s goal just seconds into the second half for the match to end 1-1 in Group C

 

 

Madagascar blazes to the top of Group I

Les Baréa post a resounding victory over Comoros

 

Image credit: CAFonline

 

Madagascar has taken the lead in Group I on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for Africa, thanks to the victory over Comoros on Friday, ahead of their opponents of the day and Ghana, who won 2-1 against Mali the day before, CAFonline reports.

 

Angola 1-0 Eswatini

 

One should not have arrived late at the November 11 Stadium in Luanda. As early as the 2nd minute, the iconic Mabulu gave the advantage to the Palancas Negras.

 

An advantage that Pedro Gonçalves’ men would maintain until the end of the match.

 

Thanks to this victory, the Angolans are now the runners-up to Libya in Group D.

 

Madagascar 2-1 Comoros

 

The return of the Malagasy. Previously second-to-last in Group I, the Malagasy have just made a great comeback and are now in 1st place, thanks to their 2-0 victory over Comoros.

 

With a brace from Rayan Raveloson, the Barea have revived their qualifying campaign.

 

Uganda 1-0 Botswana

 

Until the 74th minute, both teams were evenly matched. Then came the goal from Muhammad Shaban.

 

The Ugandans thus grab their second victory in this qualifying campaign and move closer to Algeria and Guinea, the top duo of Group G.

 

 

Nigeria versus South Africa Live WCQ

Super Eagles face South Africa in a crucial African FIFA World Cup Qualifier game in Uyo

 

 

https://youtu.be/ufMGBmlRjk4

 

Jordynne Grace retains knockouts world title

TNA iMPACT! on AXS TV Results: June 6, 2024

 

Stream this episode of iMPACT! on TNA+

 

#TNAiMPACT starts NOW

Kon vs. Jake Something

 

Jake and Kon engage in a fierce battle, locking up and then breaking apart. Kon attempts a neck snap, but Jake manages to evade the move. Kon laughs as they circle each other before locking up once again. Jake gains the upper hand, pushing Kon towards the turnbuckle, but Kon breaks free and the exchange of strikes begins. Kon gains momentum with a powerful chop, fueling Jake who retaliates with a chop of his own, followed by a Clothesline that sends Kon tumbling out of the ring.

 

 

Kon charges at Jake, but Jake skillfully dodges, causing Kon to crash to the floor once more. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction caused by Kon throwing his shirt at him, Jake is sent crashing into the ring post. A confident Kon then focuses his attack on Jake’s face, delivering a Clothesline to the chest that initiates a back-and-forth exchange between the two wrestlers.

 

 

Jake whips Kon into the corner and delivers a devastating Clothesline, sending Kon to the mat. Attempting a Powerbomb, Jake is met with a reversal from Kon who goes for an Elbow Drop. Jake manages to dodge the move and lands a powerful right hand on Kon, following up with a cover. Despite Jake kicking out, Kon grabs him by the throat. Jake breaks free from Kon’s grasp as Kon attempts the Neck Snap once more. Jake counters the move, rolling Kon through and delivering “Into The Void,” securing the victory.

 

 

Jake Something def. Kon

 

 

After the match, Kon launched an attack on Something, attempting to snap his neck. Eric Young intervened by entering the ring and saving Something from harm. Young then took the microphone and addressed the iMPACT faithful, reflecting on 20 years of TNA Wrestling!

 

 

Gia Miller interviews Frankie Kazarian about his main event match against Nic Nemeth. As they talk, The System appears, offering Kazarian a shot at the TNA World Championship if he can “take care of their Nic Nemeth problem”

 

 

We see a recap of PCO giving Steph DeLander a black rose on iMPACT, followed by PCO accidentally causing Steph DeLander to lose her match against Xia Brookside last week.

 

 

Gia Miller then interviews Steph DeLander, who speculates that PCO might have a crush on her. Xia Brookside joins the conversation and describes the gesture as sweet, suggesting that Steph should take her time before making any decisions about PCO. Steph says she’ll to take a week to think it over.

 

Gisele Shaw vs. Shazza McKenzie

 

 

The match starts off with a lock up, and Gisele quickly takes control. Meanwhile, Gail Kim is watching from backstage. Gisele starts off strong with an Arm Drag and follows it up with a Head-scissors and a running Back Elbow on Shazza, who retreats to the corner. Gisele then delivers a solid chop and a Big Boot to the face. She goes for a Knee Strike, but Shazza manages to get to the outside and drops Gisele on the ropes, shifting the momentum in her favor. Shazza then kicks Gisele in the face, lands some punches, and starts taunting her, which only fires Gisele up even more. Gisele responds with a slap to the face, a forearm to the back of the head, and a Super-kick to the back of Shazza’s head.

 

 

 

Gisele tries to scoop up Shazza, but she reverses it, Gisele hits a wicked Cutter followed by a Knee strike securing the victory.

 

 

 

Gisele Shaw def. Shazza McKenzie

Rosemary delivers another chillingly intense promo.

 

Last week on iMPACT, The Rascalz made a surprise appearance during the match between Steve Maclin and Mike Santana, causing Maclin to lose.

 

Steve Maclin approached Mike Santana and proposed that the best way to defeat The Rascalz is by working together. Santana expressed reluctance, stating that he has moved on from tag team wrestling. However, Maclin managed to persuade him that teaming up for a one-time match at Against All Odds would be beneficial. Santana agrees to be his partner.

 

Mustafa Ali & Champaign Singh vs. Speedball Mountain

 

 

 

Ali kicked off the match with some trash talk before tagging Singh. Trent quickly grabbed Singh’s arm and started slapping him around. Speedball then tagged himself in and executed a double team combo with Seven. followed by a Moonsault Knee Drop on Singh.

 

Speedball continued with chops, a Handspring, and a well-placed Dropkick. Singh tagged Ali, who turned the tables with a wicked kick to Bailey’s head. Ali trash talked Seven on the apron, slammed Bailey into the buckle, whipped him off the ropes, and hit a chop block. After tagging Singh, they delivered a double back Elbow and Singh stomped Bailey in the corner. Despite Bailey fighting back, Ali Drop-kicked Seven off the apron to regain the advantage. Singh then dropped Bailey with a big move and Ali choked him on the ropes before tagging Singh back in, who unleashed a flurry of boots on Bailey. Despite the chants for Speedball, Singh’s offense was too much. Singh hit a big chop and knees on Bailey before locking in a Chicken Wing. Bailey managed to fight back with hits, but Singh dropped him with a move onto his knees. Bailey attempted to rally but was shut down by Singh. Bailey finally reversed into a pin, but Singh kicked out. Bailey then hit another Dropkick, this time from the second rope, and made the tag to Trent, who entered the ring with a burst of energy. He starts off by taking down Singh with a few Clotheslines and a DDT, but Ali breaks it up! Trent goes for the Birminghammer, but Ali grabs Trent’s leg, allowing Singh to hit Trent with a double hit to the throat and a Flatliner. Singh tags Ali, who starts stomping Trent out. Trent fights back and throws Ali to the corner, but Seven catches him with Bop and Bang!

 

 

Singh breaks the pin as Bailey dives to the floor! Ali goes for a big Clothesline and then attempts a 450, but Trent dodges it and hits a Seven Star Lariat! Both men are down, crawling to their partners. Tags are made, and Bailey hits Singh with a Missile Dropkick. Bailey goes for a Superkick, but Singh ducks and counters with a Back Elbow.

 

 

He tries to give Bailey a move, but Bailey lands on his feet and hits a kick, knocking Singh down. Bailey follows up with Moonsault Knees and goes for the pin, but Singh kicks out! Trent tries to scoop up Singh for Bailey, but Ali pulls him out of the ring. Bailey lands a stiff shot on Ali, but the Secret Service members distract Bailey, allowing Ali to hit a DDT off one of the members’ backs! Meanwhile, in the ring, Trent drops Singh with a Seven Star Lariat and sets him up for the Birminghammer, which Ali sees coming and retreats. Trent connects with The Birminghammer and secures the victory.

 

 

Speedball Mountain def. Mustafa Ali and Champaign Singh.

 

 

We are about to see the match between Jordynne Grace and Allysin Kay when the Personal Concierge suddenly appears. He announces the return of Ash by Elegance to TNA after her recent “minor surgery.” They take their seats at ringside.

 

 

 

 

Jordynne Grace vs. Allysin Kay w/ Marti Belle

 

 

The two Knockouts charged at each other, with Allysin throwing a swing that Jordynne managed to duck. Instead, Jordynne started hitting her with powerful forearms. Kay whipped Grace into the corner, and Grace bounced out, delivering a huge Clothesline. Kay attempted a Suplex, but Grace reversed it, dropping Kay on the top rope!

 

 

 

Marti Belle then tossed Grace back into the ring, where Allysin Kay gave her some hard chops in the corner. She followed up with a Corner Splash and went for a pin, but Grace kicked out. Kay then threw Jordynne out of the ring and distracted the ref so Marti Belle could stomp her out on the floor. Belle tried to hit an AK47 on Grace, but Grace powered out and countered with a back elbow. She then delivered a Spear and went for the pin, but Kay kicked out. The two exchanged forearms until Belle’s distraction allowed Kay to gain the upper hand, hitting Grace with a Side Suplex. Grace managed to turn things around, placing Kay on the top rope and landing a Muscle Buster.

 

 

Marti Belle tried to intervene but was met with a massive Spinebuster from Jordynne Grace. Grace then attempted a Powerbomb, but Allysin dropped her head first. However, Grace persevered and managed to Powerbomb Allysin before finishing her off with a Juggernaut Driver, successfully retaining the Knockouts World Championship.

 

Jordynne Grace def. Allysin Kay

 

Sami Callihan’s show “DMTV” is back! He tells Gresham that he is still feeling like garbage after his encounter with “The Octopus.” He mentions that he is planning to have sushi for dinner at Against All Odds!

 

Laredo Kid vs. AJ Francis w/ Rich Swann

 

 

The match started off with Swann trying to distract Laredo so AJ could sneak up on him, but it did not go as planned. Laredo dodged AJ’s attack and landed a few kicks on Francis instead. Laredo had the upper hand for a bit, but Francis managed to catch him mid-air. However, Laredo quickly turned the tables and hit a Moonsault off the corner. Francis dodged it but got hit with a Basement Dropkick from the top rope.

 

 

Francis was knocked to the floor, and Laredo attempted a dive, only to be caught by Francis and slammed onto the apron. Francis then started delivering some heavy forearms to Laredo, keeping him on the defensive. He eventually scooped up Laredo for a Powerbomb, but Laredo countered with a Dropkick that stunned Francis. Laredo followed up with a series of hits to the turnbuckle and a massive DDT.

 

 

Swann tried to intervene, but Laredo took him out and then proceeded to kick Francis in the face before executing a Neck Breaker off the ropes. Laredo then climbed to the top rope, but instead of targeting Francis, he took out Swann with a dive. When he turned his attention back to Francis, he was caught and hit with the Down Payment, resulting in Francis winning the Digital Media Championship.

AJ Francis def. Laredo Kid

 

NEXT WEEK on TNA iMPACT

 

Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt run down Against All Odds and all our upcoming events!

Jordynne Grace talks about her historic debut at NXT and her highly anticipated match against Roxanne Perez on June 9th at NXT Battleground.

 

Nic Nemeth vs. Frankie Kazarian

 

 

 

The Wanted Man and “The King of TNA” face off in the ring. They lock up, break apart, and circle each other once more. Nemeth manages to get behind Kazarian and pulls off two Arm Drags, keeping a tight grip on Kazarian’s arm. However, Kazarian quickly turns the tables with a chop that takes Nemeth down. As Nemeth tries to recover, Kazarian hits him with a scoop slam and a Springboard Leg Drop.

 

Just when it seems like Nemeth is gaining momentum, Kazarian dumps him out of the ring and taunts the TNA fans while the referee starts the count. Kazarian follows Nemeth to the floor and delivers a kick to the face before tossing him back into the ring for a Slingshot Leg Drop. He then stomps on Nemeth’s fingers and executes a Suplex.

 

Nemeth refuses to stay down and starts to fight back, but Kazarian quickly locks in a Headlock. The crowd rallies behind Nemeth, giving him the strength to break free and hit the ropes. However, Kazarian stops him in his tracks with a brutal knee to the face followed by a Gutwrench Suplex, causing even more damage to Nemeth. Nemeth was on the receiving end of a huge Clothesline, cutting off his attempt to fight back. He stands on Nics hair. After hitting Nic with another Clothesline and taunting the crowd, he tried to lock in the Chicken Wing again. However, Nemeth managed to roll through and counter with a Back Elbow and a kick. He then sidestepped Kazarian and nailed him with a DDT, followed by a Big Splash in the corner.

 

 

Kaz was down, but he fought back by catching Nemeth in the Chicken Wing. Nemeth struggled but reached the ropes just in time. Kaz, frustrated, attempted Fade to Black, but Nemeth reversed it, leading to a series of back-and-forth pin attempts. The two wrestlers continued to battle it out, with Nemeth eventually landing a Superkick on Kaz. Despite the cover, Kaz managed to kick out. Kazarian then dumped Nemeth onto the apron and delivered a Leg Drop through the ropes, followed by a Slingshot Cutter. However, Nemeth fought back again by shoving Kazarian into the corner and delivering a series of elbows. When Kaz went for a Sunset Flip from the apron, Nemeth countered into a pin of his own, then hit a Headbutt and caught Kaz with Danger Zone for the win.

 

Nic Nemeth def. Frankie Kazarian

 

Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards sneak attack Nemeth, but Ryan Nemeth rushes in to defend his brother! The Nemeth brothers team up to fight back, but then Moose enters the ring and takes them both out with the TNA World Title. Myers and Edwards target Ryan, and Moose Spears him! They turn their attention to Nic, who gets speared too.

 

 

Just when things look bleak, Joe Hendry’s music hits and he comes in to save the day! He manages to lift Moose up for a Fallaway Slam, but Lish hits him from behind with a kendo stick. Myers seizes the opportunity and hits Hendry with a massive DDT! Eddie and Myers hold Hendry in place, Lish strikes him with the kendo stick once more, and Moose finishes him off with another brutal Spear! The System stands tall in the ring.

 

 

Matt Hardy appears on the screen and informs Moose that he did not break him last week. Instead, he has unlocked an even more Broken version of himself. Matt invites The System to the Hardy Compound.

 

 

TNA iMPACT goes off the air.

 

 

FIFA 2026 WCQ: Egypt extends lead

Guinea and Ghana enjoy good travels as FIFA World Cup qualifiers intensify

 

Image credit: CAFonline

 

The race to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup™ 2026 took an interesting turn in the late evening matches of Match Day 03 on Thursday, 06 June.

 

Five interesting battles ensued across the continent, with Guinea causing a major upset against Algeria in Algiers. Ghana came from behind to edge Mali in a closely contested tie in Bamako.

 

Senegal looked to have secured all three points at home before DR Congo disappointed the former African champions with a late equalizer. At the same time, Egypt overcame Burkina Faso thanks to a brace by Mahmoud Trézéguet, as they extended their lead in Group A of the qualifiers.

 

CAFOnline rounds up the 19h00 GMT Match Day 03 Thursday fixtures:

 

Algeria 1 – 2 Guinea 

Guinea put their FIFA World Cup ambitions back on track in style with a vital 2-1 away win at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers against Algeria. Mortaye Sylla’s 50th-minute goal alongside Aguibou Camara’s 63rd-minute strike was enough for the Guineas to stun the former African champions in their backyard.

 

Image credit: CAFonline

 

Mali 1 – 2 Ghana

Jordan Ayew was the hero of the evening for the Black Stars, as his goal in referee’s additional time saw Ghana produce an impressive comeback to haul maximum points away from home against Mali in Bamako.

 

Kamory Doumbia’s 58th-minute strike looked to have given Mali the win but Ernest Nuamah’s leveller, as well as Ayew’s late winner, saw the Black Stars secure a vital win on the road.

 

Senegal 1 – 1 DR Congo

A late equalizer by the dangerous Fiston Mayele salvaged a point for the Leopards against former African champions Senegal away from home. Ismaila Sarr had given Senegal what looked to be the winner but a good fight by DR Congo saw them make an impressive comeback to escape with a point.

 

Image credit: CAFonline

 

Benin 1 – 0 Rwanda

Benin held on to an important 1-0 win over Rwanda in a result that blew Group C wide open. The Result sees Benin tied on points with Rwanda who still occupy first position ahead of the big clash between Nigeria and South Africa on Friday in Uyo.

 

Image credit: CAFonline

 

Egypt 2 – 1 Burkina Faso

 

Cairo                                           Image credit: CAFonline

 

The Pharaohs got off to a flying start in Cairo thanks to an early brace by Mahmoud Trézéguet in the opening 10 minutes. Lassina Traoré got the consolation for the Stallions which was not enough as the Egyptians held on for the win that saw them secure their third win in as many matches and continue occupying the driver’s seat in Group A.