Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Borussia Dortmund Secure Champions League Last-16 Spot After Stalemate Against Sporting. Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the Champions League last 16 after a goalless draw against Sporting in the second leg of their knockout play-off tie. Having secured a commanding 3-0 victory in Lisbon last week, the German side entered the return leg at Signal Iduna Park with a significant advantage. Goals from Serhou Guirassy, Pascal Gross and Karim Adeyemi in the first leg had all but sealed their progression, making the second encounter a mere formality. Dortmund dominated proceedings and had the opportunity to take the lead…

PSV Stun Juventus To Secure Champions League Last-16 Spot. PSV Eindhoven produced a sensational comeback against Juventus, with Ryan Flamingo netting an extra-time winner to seal their place in the Champions League last 16. The Dutch side overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit with a determined performance at home on Wednesday night, eliminating the Italian giants in a thrilling encounter. Ivan Perisic and Ismael Saibari scored either side of a stunning strike from Timothy Weah, bringing the tie to 3-3 on aggregate. With neither side able to find a winner in normal time, Flamingo stepped up in extra time to prod…

PSG Cruise Into Champions League Last 16 With Dominant Win Over Brest. Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the Champions League last 16 in emphatic fashion, thrashing Brest to complete a dominant knockout play-off victory. Luis Enrique’s side, already holding a 3-0 lead from the first leg, ran riot at the Parc des Princes to extend their aggregate advantage and continue their dominance over their French rivals this season. Bradley Barcola opened the scoring with a sharp finish at the near post before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled PSG’s lead with a simple tap-in before half-time. Portugal international Joao Neves rattled the…

Liverpool Extend Unbeaten League Run Despite Draw With Aston Villa. Liverpool maintained their unbeaten run in the Premier League since September but were left frustrated after a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa. Arne Slot’s side, who last suffered defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest, were undone by defensive lapses and missed opportunities, allowing Villa to take advantage in an enthralling encounter. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 29th minute after a misplaced pass from Andres Garcia gifted Diogo Jota possession, who then set up the Egyptian forward for a clinical finish. However, Liverpool’s lead lasted just nine minutes…

Zelensky Responds To Trump’s Criticism Amid US-Russia Talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed criticism from former US President Donald Trump, stating that his American counterpart is “living in a disinformation space” created by Russia. Trump had suggested that Ukraine was to blame for the ongoing war and claimed that Zelensky’s approval rating was as low as 4%. His remarks followed US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, from which Ukraine was notably excluded. After the meeting in Riyadh, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the discussions and indicated that Trump had assured him Ukraine would be included in any future…

Neymar Marks Return To Form For Santos With First Goal In Over A Year. Santos secured a 3–1 victory over Agua Santa in the São Paulo state championship on Sunday, with Brazilian forward Neymar sparking celebration by scoring his first goal in over a year. The 33‐year-old netted a penalty in the 14th minute – his first since October 2023 when he featured for Al Hilal. Since rejoining Santos in January, Neymar has quickly re-established himself as a key player for the club. His strike, which was his 137th goal in 229 appearances for Santos, has not only revived…

Ratcliffe Admits Manchester United Has Become “Mediocre”, Defends Tough Decisions. Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has admitted that the club has become “mediocre” and warned that further “difficult and unpopular decisions” will be necessary to restore its former glory. Ratcliffe, who took partial control of United last December, has faced backlash from fans following the scrapping of concession tickets and the introduction of a minimum ticket price of £66. Protests erupted at Old Trafford before last weekend’s victory over Everton in response to the changes. However, in an interview with United We Stand Ratcliffe defended the…

 NELFUND To Close 2023/2024 Student Loan Applications, Opens New Cycle on 22 February. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that the application cycle for the 2023/2024 student loan programme will close on 21 February, with the 2024/2025 cycle set to begin on 22 February. Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, emphasising the organisation’s dedication to efficiency, transparency, and continuous improvement in supporting students. “NELFUND remains committed to providing financial assistance to students, ensuring that no deserving individual is denied access to education due to financial…

NAF Airstrike Eliminates Bandits, Repels Attack In Katsina. The Air Component of Operation FASAN YANMA has successfully eliminated several bandits in an airstrike at Yauni Hill, Zakka Ward of Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State. The operation, conducted on Saturday, also thwarted an attack on personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, according to a statement released on Monday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), AVM Olusola Akinboyewa. Akinboyewa explained that the airstrike was launched following intelligence reports of a planned terrorist attack on an…

Italian Prime Minister Visits Pope Francis In Hospital Amid Pneumonia Diagnosis. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has visited Pope Francis in hospital following his diagnosis with pneumonia in both lungs. The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday after experiencing a respiratory infection. After her visit, Meloni expressed relief at finding the Pope in good spirits. “I was very happy to have found him alert and responsive. We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humour,” she said in a statement. She also conveyed her best wishes for his recovery on behalf of…

CBN Issues New Guidelines On Dormant Accounts And Unclaimed Balances. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a directive to all banks and financial institutions regarding the management of dormant accounts, unclaimed balances, and other financial assets. This directive, outlined in the Guidelines on Management of Dormant Accounts, Unclaimed Balances, and Other Financial Assets in Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria 2024, mandates financial institutions to publish details of such accounts. According to the circular issued by the CBN’s Financial Policy and Regulation Department on 17 February 2025, banks and other financial institutions are required to disclose…

Afenifere National Youth Council President Kidnapped In Abuja. The Afenifere National Youth Council has confirmed the kidnapping of its National President, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, in Abuja. The incident, which occurred yesterday, has raised serious concerns about his safety and the growing insecurity in the country. According to a statement from the council, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of ₦100 million for his release. Prince Ojajuni also sustained a gunshot wound to his buttock during the attack, further heightening fears for his well-being. Prince Ojajuni is widely recognised as a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and development…