Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Rodri Wins Men’s Ballon d’Or As Football’s Top Honour Returns To Midfield. Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has been awarded the prestigious Men’s Ballon d’Or, marking the first time a City player has claimed the prize. The 28-year-old triumphed following a remarkable season, during which he lost only one game across club and country and played a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. In addition to his national success, Rodri enjoyed an outstanding season with Manchester City, where he helped secure the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup titles. The award ceremony, held in…

FIFA Establishes Task Force on Player Welfare Led by Arsène Wenger. In a significant move to prioritise player welfare, FIFA has officially established a Task Force on Player Welfare. This initiative, following recent revisions to the FIFA Statutes in July, is aimed at promoting a global dialogue on the well-being of players across football. FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, will lead the task force, which includes representatives from key football organisations such as member associations, confederations, FIFPRO, the European Club Association, and the World Leagues Association. The task force’s primary goal is to explore and recommend…

HURIWA Urges President Tinubu To Replace Bayo Onanuga As Presidential Spokesman. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider replacing his Special Adviser on Strategy and Information, Bayo Onanuga. In a statement released on Saturday, HURIWA criticised Onanuga’s recent remarks, suggesting he lacks the qualities necessary for the role and accusing him of frequent “misinterpretation” in his statements. HURIWA’s concerns stem from Onanuga’s response to a recent *Guardian* article that highlighted Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic issues, including poverty and inflation. According to HURIWA, Onanuga misrepresented the article by suggesting it implied support for…

Hunter Found Dead In Ogun Forest, Police Launch Investigation. The Ogun State Police have begun an investigation following the death of a hunter identified as Femi, whose body was found with bullet wounds in the Ijebu Igbo forest. According to Omolola Odutola, the Ogun State Police spokesperson, Femi, a resident of Ofemodoko village, went hunting on Friday with a companion known as Taoreed, nicknamed “Kokoro.” When he failed to return home, his wife, Grace James, raised concerns with the village head, prompting a search party. Police reports indicate that on Saturday morning, local hunters and community members found Femi’s…

CONFIRMED: Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Manchester United with immediate effect as exclusively revealed by Fabrizio Romano. Manchester United have parted ways with manager Erik ten Hag after a challenging season start, marked by a series of disappointing performances and internal challenges. Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former United star and current assistant coach, will step in as interim manager, tasked with revitalising the team’s form until a long-term successor is appointed. This season, United have faced setbacks in both the Premier League and European competitions. They managed only three wins from their first eight matches across all…

Peace Efforts Bear Fruit As Hundreds Of Militants Surrender In Ukum, Benue State. In a significant development for security in Benue State, Ukum Local Government Council Chairman Jonathan Modi has announced that over 300 armed militants have voluntarily surrendered, contributing to a promising decline in violent activity in the region. The armed groups, primarily composed of youths from gangs known as “Full Fire” and “Chain,” have been occupying forested areas in the Sankara axis, particularly around Ukum, causing widespread disruption to local communities through kidnappings, violence, and extortion. Chairman Modi, who assumed office less than a month ago, shared…

Ballon d’Or 2024: Winner To Be Crowned Tonight, Catch All You Need To Know Ahead Of Tonight’s Ceremony. The prestigious 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in Paris on Monday, with several standout Premier League players vying for football’s highest individual honour. This year’s event, marking the 68th annual awards, will celebrate top performances from the 2023–2024 season across multiple categories. Notable nominees from the Premier League include Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Ødegaard, Manchester City’s Rodri, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden, as well as Chelsea’s rising star Cole Palmer. Their impressive performances have…

Pick n Pay To Exit Nigerian Market After Selling 51% Stake. South African retail giant Pick n Pay is set to withdraw from Nigeria, following the sale of its 51% stake in its Nigerian joint venture. Pick n Pay initially entered Nigeria cautiously in 2021, hoping to expand its African presence. The decision to enter the Nigerian market was based on the nation’s high population and economic growth potential, and the retailer partnered with AG Leventis to tailor its offerings to Nigerian consumers. The company’s strategy focused on neighbourhood-style stores, prioritising accessibility to better meet local needs. However, economic…

Nigeria Triumphs 3-1 Over Niger To Secure Spot In 2025 Africa U-20 Cup Of Nations. Defending champions Nigeria advanced to the final of the 2024 WAFU B U-20 Championship in impressive fashion, defeating Niger Republic’s Junior Mena 3-1 in Lomé on Sunday. The victory not only sends the Flying Eagles to the tournament final but also secures their place in the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations. Niger took an early lead, scoring just nine minutes into the semi-final at Stade Kegue. Yet, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, seven-time African champions, remained composed and quickly found their rhythm, ultimately dominating the…

Ahmed Musa Criticises Refereeing In NPFL Clash, Calls For Officiating Reforms. Ahmed Musa, captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has voiced strong criticism of the refereeing in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 9 fixture between Nasarawa United and Kano Pillars. Musa condemned the officiating team, labelling them as “moral killers” for their handling of the match at Lafia City Stadium, which ended in a controversial 1-0 loss for Kano Pillars. The officiating crew, led by centre referee Dahiru Muhammed Kawo and assistant referee Abdulmajid Sani Potiskum, made multiple errors, according to Musa. The most contentious was allowing a…

Khamenei Calls For Balanced Response To Israeli Strikes On Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has offered a balanced response to recent Israeli strikes, stating that the attacks should not be “exaggerated or downplayed.” His remarks came amid rising tensions, but he refrained from calling for immediate retaliation. The strikes, which left at least four Iranian soldiers dead, have stirred responses from Iranian leaders, although Tehran has clarified that it does not seek war. President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed Khamenei’s sentiment, pledging that Iran would provide an “appropriate response” while emphasising that Iran’s stance remains defensive rather than aggressive. The Israeli…

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company To Phase Out Old Prepaid Meters By November 24. The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has called on residents of the South-East to upgrade their prepaid meters by 24 November, as part of a nationwide exercise affecting all Standard Transfer Specification (STS) compliant prepaid meters. Mr Emeka Ezeh, EEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, emphasised the need for the upgrade, explaining that the initiative stems from the Token Identifier (TID) rollover, which is impacting similar meters worldwide. Ezeh reminded customers that without the upgrade, existing STS prepaid meters would no longer accept credit tokens from November…