CK Updates
I had no personal contact with Marseille – Chelle
Eric Chelle, head coach of Nigeria during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON semifinal match between Nigeria and Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 14 January 2026 ©Majt Esseddik/BackpagePix
Saturday Feb 28, 2026. 15:00
Nigeria national team coach Eric Chelle has expressed his dedication to the Super Eagles and explained that he had no personal contact with French club Olympique Marseille in regards to their recent manager search.
Chelle was linked with the top job at OM after they parted ways with Roberto De Zerbi earlier this month.
The Ligue 1 side ultimately chose former Senegal international Habib Beye to take up the hot seat, and Chelle has now explained the circumstances which saw him associated with the vacancy.
“Look, I had absolutely no contact with the Olympique de Marseille leadership,” Chelle said in an interview, as quoted by Soccernet.ng.
“I think what happened is that I recently signed with a sports agency, with the goal of progressing and growing as a coach. I made a career decision to commit to this agency, it’s a people-first agency with a vision I identified with.
“So, my agents decided, as all agents do, to sound out certain clubs in Europe and particularly in France. At that point, OM were looking for a manager. My agency reached out to the club to, I believe, put my name forward.
“And that’s as far as it went on my end. Whether I was on a shortlist or not, whether there were rumours or not, I personally had no contact.
“You’d have to ask my agent whether he was in touch and where I stood on that list, if I was on it at all. But I said nothing, I did nothing. I never communicated that I was in contact with them.”
Chelle continued, “Now, it’s true that since I’m from France, when I chat with a couple of friends, they ask me: ‘Eric, we see you’re in Marseille, would you like to coach here?’
“I used to be an Olympique de Marseille supporter because I played a few matches in that stadium with the Ultras and if someone asks me that question, I’ll honestly say: yes, I’d love to manage OM.
“Of course. But no, I never communicated about it publicly. I never asked for anyone to communicate about it either.
“They’re a passionate club with an enormous fanbase. There’s so much excitement around this club, and the rumour took on a life of its own through social media and eventually reached Nigeria. And that’s really the whole story.”
Chelle also emphasised his commitment to the Super Eagles, who will next be in action in the March international window, playing in a four-team invitational tournament in Jordan involving the hosts, Iran and Costa Rica.
“Of course I am still the manager of Nigeria,” Chelle added. “I have one year left on my contract. In fact, just yesterday I was on a video call with my technical staff to finalize the squad list for the March matches. So yes, I am still very much the manager of Nigeria.”
CK Updates
Commonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
Gymnast Ruby Evans has won Wales’ first Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow with victory in the floor final.
Evans, 19, performed the final routine of the women’s programme and defeated England’s Abigail Martin into silver, with her team-mate Shantae-Eve Amankwaah securing bronze.
Evans left the arena in tears on Sunday after her disappointing sixth in the all-round individual competition, that after Wales finished fourth in the team event.
Now, after Welsh identical twins Abigail and Emily Roper won bronze medals within a couple of hours of each other on Monday, Evans has delivered gold.
It was the first victory for Team Wales in Scotland and a ninth medal alongside two silver and six bronze.
There is also a guaranteed podium position for boxer Connor Williams after he reached the semi-finals.
CK Updates
Saltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
An amateur cricket match has made global headlines after a fielder was accused of cheating by clicking his fingers to get a wicket.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has started an investigation into a second XI Division 2 game between Saltburn and Norton.
A viral video on social media appears to show a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeal and the umpire gives Shabir out.
It has been suggested that the finger-clicking was designed to trick the umpire into thinking the batter edged the ball.
Saltburn won by 159 runs and are top of Division 2 by 17 points.
“The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on X.
“A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”
Last week Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway. The men’s Test record for catches by a keeper in an innings is seven.
Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.
Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough second XI during a 29-run defeat by Saltburn last month, responded to a social media post containing the video and alleged two further incidents of cheating by Saltburn in that match.
The original video of the incident has had more than three million views on X, with publications in Australia and New Zealand among those to report it.
The BBC has contacted the league and Saltburn. Norton declined to comment.
CK Updates
West Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell
First Test, Tarouba (day three of five)
West Indies 311 (Hope 92; Ali 4-50) & 126-7 (Chanderpaul 35, Abbas 3-14)
Pakistan 282 (Masood 109; Greaves 5-27)
West Indies lead by 155 runs
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves took five wickets without conceding a run in an incredible spell of bowling on day three of the first Test against Pakistan.
Greaves, who is playing in his 17th Test, claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul to help dismiss Pakistan for 282 in response to West Indies’ first-innings total of 311.
The 32-year-old Barbadian’s spell – five consecutive wicket maidens – was all the more remarkable given he had bowled six overs earlier in the day for 27 runs without taking a wicket.
“When I came on captain Roston Chase just said ‘continue to be disciplined in what you are doing’ and to see if I can get some wickets for the team,” Greaves said.
“The ball nipped around and I got some reward. Anytime I get the ball in hand the team looks to me to be that solid player for them [and] try to dig us out of situations.
“To get five wickets for the first time in Test cricket, I’m really happy, but there’s still a lot of work to do in the game.”
Pakistan captain Shan Masood was Greaves’ first wicket at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad when he was bowled for 109 in the 64th over following a superb set-up.
Greaves had pushed the ball wide to the left-hander from over the wicket before he tailed a delivery back into Masood who played down the wrong line and inside edged on to his stumps.
Aamer Jamal had his middle stump uprooted in Greaves’ next over as the seamer speared one through his defences.
Greaves then trapped Ali Usman lbw before he had Mohammed Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas both caught behind as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs.
West Indies reached stumps on day three on 126-7 in their second innings – a lead of 155 runs – to leave the match finely poised.
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CK Updates11 hours agoSaltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
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CK Updates23 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Scotland’s Archie Goodburn on battling brain cancer
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CK Updates5 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
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CK Updates17 hours agoWest Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell

