United News of Bangladesh

John Harbaugh was in his first year as Baltimore's coach, Mike Tomlin in his second for Pittsburgh. After a pair of clashes that came down to the wire during the 2008 regular season, the two met again in the AFC championship game. They were just getting started. Now those two are the longest-tenured coaches in the NFL, and under their stewardship, the Ravens and Steelers have kept their rivalry humming. For 18 weeks, they battled for the AFC North title this season, and on Saturday night in Baltimore, Harbaugh and Tomlin will face each other in the playoffs. It'll be their fourth postseason matchup and the fifth playoff meeting overall between the rival franchises. “Going to Baltimore, particularly in playoff football, is something to be respected. I expect it to be a hostile environment,” Tomlin said. “I welcome that, to be quite honest with you. It’s important that we smile in the face of that. As a collective, it’s just simply a tax to pay for not winning the division and we pay that.” The Ravens (12-5) won their final four games of the regular season while the Steelers (10-7) dropped their last four. That gives Baltimore a chance to host Pittsburgh in the postseason for the first time. Their previous four playoff meetings — in the 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2014 seasons — were all in the Steel City. The home team won three of them. In terms of stakes, it's hard to top that AFC title game in January 2009, which Pittsburgh won 23-14. The brutality of the rivalry was on full display, with Ravens running back Willis McGahee having to be carted off the field after a hit by Ryan Clark. That was the first of three playoff meetings in a seven-season span between the Steelers and Ravens. In January 2011, Pittsburgh held Baltimore to 126 total net yards in a 31-24 win. Four years after that, the Ravens ousted the Steelers with a 30-17 victory. It's now been a decade since this matchup last occurred in the playoffs, but recent regular-season meetings have been tightly contested. Baltimore's 34-17 victory last month was a change, both because Pittsburgh had won eight of its previous nine against the Ravens, and because all nine of those games were decided by seven points or fewer. This is the only matchup of opponents from the same division this weekend, and there weren't any in the playoffs last season. But the postseason two years ago included 49ers-Seahawks (NFC West), Bills-Dolphins (AFC East), Bengals-Ravens (AFC North) and Eagles-Giants (NFC East). Read: West Ham appoints former Chelsea manager Graham Potter as new head coach “There’s a lot of things that have kind of been ingrained in your knowledge of a team in division like that who you’ve already played twice, so your jumping-off point is further down the road for sure,” Harbaugh said. “That’s about the only difference.” Unavailable The Ravens will be without Lamar Jackson's top wide receiver target. Zay Flowers injured his knee last weekend and has been ruled out. “I don’t think it changes anything,” Baltimore receiver Rashod Bateman said. “The No. 1 goal is to go out and make plays, and that’s what we’re looking forward to doing, and I think that’s what we’ll do.” Under the microscope Jackson has won two MVPs, and he's a contender for a third after becoming the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 900 in the same season. The one thing he hasn't yet accomplished is a Super Bowl run. His best chance was last year, when Baltimore lost at home to Kansas City in the AFC title game. Jackson threw 41 touchdown passes and only four interceptions this season. If that ratio of over 10 to 1 carries over into the playoffs, the Ravens will probably be very happy with their QB. Hi, George? Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had perhaps the worst game of his three-year career last week against Cincinnati, dropping three passes and finishing with one reception for 0 yards. Video circulated on social media of Pickens motioning toward fans in the stands at Acrisure Stadium after the loss. The talented but temperamental Pickens is Pittsburgh’s best downfield threat and had a season-high eight receptions for 89 yards in the Steelers’ 18-16 win over the Ravens in November, though a hamstring injury forced him to miss the rematch. Pittsburgh’s best option to break out of its slump would be to get Pickens involved early and keep him engaged. Establishing the run Derrick Henry fumbled early for the Ravens in Pittsburgh's win over Baltimore in November. In the December rematch, he ran for 162 yards, and the Steelers had a much harder time containing the Ravens' offense. Baltimore set an NFL record with 5.76 yards rushing per attempt this season. It was actually a bit higher than that in the two games against Pittsburgh, but turnovers can be a major equalizer if the Steelers force them. For starters There are 32 teams in the NFL. Thirty-one of them scored a touchdown on their opening drive at least once this season. The Steelers did not. Read more: Costa Rica hires Miguel Herrera as coach for 2026 World Cup qualifiers While sluggish starts weren’t much of an issue when Pittsburgh won 10 of its first 13 games, the Steelers have fallen behind by double digits in the first half of each of their last four contests and never caught up. And now Pittsburgh finds itself trying to end a five-game playoff losing streak. In each game, it fell behind by double digits in the first half and never caught up. “I’ve been fortunate to play a lot of playoff games, a lot of moments, and I think to be able to use that experience and to talk to guys about what it feels like, what it is, and the moments that can forever change your life and all that,” said quarterback Russell Wilson, who is in his first season with the Steelers. “So, we’re living it. We’re right in the middle of it right now, and we’re excited about that opportunity to go show who we can be.”

Early league leaders Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd will play the even more unlikely high flyers in  2nd  ranked Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society in a vital 7th round match of the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at 2:45 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Friday (January 10). In the day’s another 7th round match, defending champions Bashundhara Kings will face lowly Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool at 5:30 pm at their home venue -–Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital. Format of SAFF Championship likely to change Brothers Union Club will meet Dhaka Wanderers Club in the day’s other match at 2:45 pm at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur. The traditional black and whites Mohammedan SC, which miserably eliminated from the ongoing Federation Cup Football before reaching the qualifiers, comfortably dominated the BPL table with all-win record securing full 18 points from straight six matches while the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS followed the leader neck and neck collecting 15 points from six matches, losing their only match to holders Bashundhara Kings by 4-1 goals. Fed Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani brighten chance to reach qualifying round beating Mohammedan 1-0 After the sixth round matches, six-time champions foreign booter-less Dhaka Abahani Limited are in the 3rd slot in the league table with 13 points, Brothers Union Club at the 4th place with 11 points while last season’s treble winners Bashundhara Kings are  struggling at the 5th place securing 10 10 points.  

West Ham hired Graham Potter as the coach on Thursday, a day after Julen Lopetegui was fired. Potter has been out of management since he was fired by Chelsea in 2023 after just seven months in the job at Stamford Bridge. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. “It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United,” he said. Potter takes over a team that has won only three of its last 11 games and is 14th in the standings, seven points above the relegation zone. Former Real Madrid and Spain coach Lopetegui paid the price for that poor run when his departure was confirmed on Wednesday. He was hired last May to take the club to new heights after previous manager David Moyes ended West Ham's 43-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa Conference League in 2023. The 49-year-old Potter said West Ham had “everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.” "You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a club that the supporters can be proud of,” he said. Potter enjoyed an impressive rise after beginning his coaching career at Ostersunds in Sweden in 2011. He took over at Swansea in 2018 and by 2022 was in charge of Premier League giant Chelsea after a stint at Brighton. But his reputation took a hit at Chelsea, which was undergoing a turbulent period following the takeover by U.S. owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. He lasted just six months after a run of just seven wins from 22 league games. West Ham said Potter was its “unanimous choice." His first game will be on Friday at Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup.

Julen Lopetegui was fired by West Ham on Wednesday after less than a year in the job and with the Premier League club in danger of being dragged into a relegation fight. West Ham said the process to find a replacement was underway, with former Chelsea coach Graham Potter reportedly in talks to take over. Lopetegui paid the price for a run of just three wins in his last 11 games, with West Ham 14th in the standings and seven points above the drop zone. Costa Rica hires Miguel Herrera as coach for 2026 World Cup qualifiers “West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the club,” West Ham said in a statement posted on its official website. “The first half of the 2024-25 season has not aligned with the club’s ambitions and the club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives.” The former Spain and Real Madrid coach replaced David Moyes in May and was expected to drive the club to new heights. But that has not materialized and recent heavy losses to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City sparked increased speculation about Lopetegui’s position. Uncertainty grew in recent days and, when West Ham canceled a scheduled news conference with Lopetegui on Wednesday to preview the upcoming FA Cup third round match against Aston Villa, confirmation of his departure was widely anticipated. Moyes left at the end of his contract last season having led West Ham to ninth in the standings. The previous season he ended the club’s 43-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa Conference League. Format of SAFF Championship likely to change The appointment of Lopetegui, who had previously managed Wolverhampton in England’s top flight, brought with it expectation that he could bring more success to West Ham. But 10 defeats in 22 games in all competitions brought an end to his reign before he could even complete a full season in charge. Most recently West Ham lost 4-1 against City, having previously been routed 5-0 by Liverpool. Potter has been out of work since he was fired by Chelsea in 2023 after just seven months in the job. He previously managed Brighton in the Premier League.

Former Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has been hired as coach of the Costa Rica men's national team. The 56-year-old Herrera, who led Mexico to the 2014 World Cup, was appointed late Tuesday by the Costa Rican soccer federation. The veteran Mexican coach will fill the vacancy after Gustavo Alfaro resigned in August to coach Paraguay. Costa Rica has advanced to the third round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers alongside 11 other countries trying to secure three direct spots for the 2026 World Cup. The United States, Canada and Mexico are already qualified as host nations. The next round of qualifying matches begins next September. Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior banned for two matches after red card Herrera has coached six-first division teams in Mexico including America, where he won Apertura titles in 2013 and 2018. Under Herrera, Mexico won a playoff against New Zealand in 2013 to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, where the Mexicans were eliminated in the round of 16. He also helped Mexico win the 2015 Gold Cup and was fired soon after for allegedly fighting a TV journalist in a Philadelphia airport.

The traditional format of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, scheduled for a single central venue, is going to change after about 32 years. The biggest football event in the region, which began in 1993 in Pakistan under the banner of the SAARC Gold Cup, was later renamed SAFF Championship. The SAFF meeting, held in Kathmandu, Nepal on Wednesday, headed by its president Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin, in principle agreed to hold the SAFF Championship on home and away basis instead of the traditional single venue format. Fed Cup Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings to play Police FC on Tuesday However, the final decision in this regard was not taken at the day’s meeting. It will be finalized later after further discussion with member countries, said SAFF General Secretary Anwarul Haq Helal. The next SAFF Championship is scheduled for June 15 to July 5. The 6th round of BPL Football begins Friday The SAFF body will inform about the new format to each of the member countries. If all member countries accept the new format then the next SAFF Championship will be held on home away basis; otherwise, it will be held in the traditional format.

Nigeria has hired Éric Chelle to coach its men's national team, marking the latest appointment in a series of coaches as it risks missing out on the 2026 World Cup. The Nigeria Football Federation said its executive committee had decided Tuesday to hire Chelle, who has international experience after coaching Mali from 2022 through last year. Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior banned for two matches after red card The 47-year-old Chelle takes over a team which has just three points from its first four World Cup qualifying games. Nigeria next plays Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March. Nigeria last qualified for the men's World Cup in 2018. Chelle is set to be the fourth coach in the last 12 months after Jose Peseiro, who left when his contract ended in February. Peseiro was succeeded by ex-player Finidi George, who stepped down after two games. Technical director Augustine Eguavoen then took charge. Fed Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani brighten chance to reach qualifying round beating Mohammedan 1-0 The NFF also announced German Bruno Labbadia as coach in September but he rejected the job. Labbadia said it was because he hadn't been able to visit Nigeria before his appointment was made public. The NFF said there was a disagreement over tax.

Real Madrid have been awaiting the verdict on Vinicius Junior’s red card from last weekend’s victory at Valencia, and it has now been passed down by the Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee. It was expected that Vinicius would be banned for two matches, and that has been confirmed by the Federation, as per Diario AS. However, it is not a sanction that has been applied across all competitions, but only in La Liga. Read more: Real Madrid, PSG, and Man City under pressure to spark Champions League campaigns As such, it means that Vinicius will be available for Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, starting with Thursday’s semi-final against Mallorca. If Carlo Ancelotti’s side reach the final, which the 24-year-old scored a hat-trick in last season, he will also be able to face Athletic Club or Barcelona. Instead, Vinicius will be missing for Real Madrid’s next two league matches, which are against Las Palmas (home) and Real Valladolid (away). While that is a blow, there is no doubt that Los Blancos would have preferred it to be this way, as they should be able to win those matches rather comfortably without their talisman.

In a titans battle, Dhaka Abahani Limited, without any foreign booters, upset their traditional rivals Dhaka Mohammedan SC beating them by  1-0 goal in the Federation Cup Football at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla Tuesday afternoon. After a barren first half, forward Mohammad Ibrahim scored the match winning goal for sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the 74th minute ((1-0)). With the day's well merited victory with the limited resources, Dhaka Abahani not only assured their berth in next round (qualifiers/eliminator),  but also took sweet revenge of their 0-1 goal defeat against Mohammedan in the 3rd round of ongoing BPL football, also in Cumilla last month. After the match, Dhaka Abahani Ltd are in the 2nd slot in Group B  with all- win record securing full six points from straight two matches while Rahmatganj MFS topped group list also with all-win run by better goal differences despite of collecting six points from two outings. With the day's debacle, the next round berth of traditional black & whites Mohammedan now became uncertain with three points from three matches. The day's other Group B match between two lowly teams--Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool and bottom ranked Chittagong Abahani Limited ended in 2-2 draw  at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh Tuesday afternoon. Saiful and Sabuj scored for Chittagong Abahani one in each half while Akobir and Shanto Tudu netted for Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool, also one in each half. Fed Cup Football: Dhaka Mohammedan SC will lock horn with Dhaka Abahani Ltd in a vital Group A match on Tuesday Grouping of Federation Cup: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee cricket league.

In a titans battle, Dhaka Mohammedan SC will lock horn with Dhaka Abahani Limited in a vital Group B match of the Bashundhara Group Federation Cup Football Tournament at 2:45 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Tuesday. Two lowly teams-– Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool will play bottom ranked Chittagong Abahani Limited in the day’s other Group B match also at 2:45 pm at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh Tuesday afternoon. The two teams yet to open their account playing one and two matches respectively. Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society dominated the Group B with all-win record securing full six points from straight two matches after beating Dhaka Mohammedan SC 1-0 and crushing Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool by 6-0 goals. Dhaka Mohammedan SC followed the group leader collecting three points from two matches outplaying Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 6-0 goals after conceding 0-1 defeat against Rahmatagnj MFS while Dhaka Abahani Limited are in the 3rd slot in the group with three points from one match beating their minnow Chittagong Abahani Limited by 3-0 goals . In Group A, Fortis FC topped list with unbeaten run securing seven points from three matches while last season’s treble winners Bashundhara Kings followed the leaders with six points from three matches. Grouping of Federation Cup: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee cricket league.