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Coach Gernot Rohr has warned against another pay strike at the World Cup if the country hoped to improve on their previous outings at the global tournament. At the 2014 World Cup, the Super Eagles skipped a training to protest the non-payment of bonus for qualifying for the tournament forcing the country’s sports minister to fly out by private jet to pay them almost $4 million cash in Brazil. Rohr said he believes the three-time African champions can improve on their best World Cup performance of a Round of 16 by better and early preparation as well as ensuring money issues are sorted out well in advance. Nigeria will be paid a total of $12.5 million by FIFA for qualifying for Russia 2018 with $2.5 million of this amount paid for the Eagles to prepare adequately for the football showpiece. They will earn more cash should they reach the knockout rounds of the tournament as they have done in 1994 and 2014.  Nigeria have so far used a total of 37 players for the qualifying tournament fo

Could Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo not be in Russia? We look at the players who could potentially miss the 2018 World Cup. With qualifying campaigns reaching a conclusion across the six international confederations, the identities of the 32 competing teams are starting to become clear. England became one of 10 teams to have already booked their place in Russia with their 1-0 win over Slovenia on Thursday night, but others will not be so lucky. There are some big teams and big players who could yet miss out on next summer's showpiece event - and some whose fates have already been sealed. Here, we put together an XI of players who could miss the Russia showpiece... Goalkeeper - Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)   There is a risk that Italy and their World Cup-winning goalkeeper Buffon will not make it. They are currently three points behind Spain in Group G and face the prospect of a risky play-off against another second-placed team, potentially Portugal or even France. Left-back - D

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says he will not reapply for a licence to fight from the British Boxing Board of Control. The 29-year-old had his licence revoked in October 2016 after allegations of doping emerged in June of that year. Fury, who hinted at a comeback in March, tweeted: "After thinking long and hard about my return, I will not be applying for a BBBofC boxing license." "After the way they have handled stuff, no thanks." His decision not to seek a new licence casts Fury's future as a boxer into doubt again, although he has previously appeared to end his career via social media. In October 2016 he tweeted: "I'm the greatest, and I'm also retired" before performing a u-turn three hours later. But he has not fought since November 2015, when he shocked Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf to claim the IBF, WBO and WBA world titles. Fury pulled out of one rematch scheduled for July 2016 with an ankle injury, before withdrawin

The former two-weight world champion feels 'AJ' is a more "complete fighter", but acknowledges that the Briton has to get through his WBA 'super' and IBF heavyweight title defence against Kubrat Pulev on October 28, live on Sky Sports Box Office , before a potential blockbuster with the American can be discussed. "I do think Joshua does has the edge," Holyfield said on BoxingScene.com. "Because he's the more complete fighter, but it all depends upon how they fight on the night. You are only as good as your last fight." Wilder is due to return to the ring in New York, on November 4, but a reported failed drugs test by Luis Ortiz has put the bout in doubt. The 'Bronze Bomber' has made five successful defences of the WBC title he won in 2015, but Holyfield suggests that Joshua gained more from his sensational knockout victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in April, than Wilder has done in his