Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Ivan Perisic will miss the rest of the season after suffering an ACL injury, Tottenham have confirmed. The 34-year-old will require surgery after being injured in training. The club said: “We can confirm that Ivan Perisic has suffered a complex anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee. “The experienced Croatia international sustained the injury in non-contact training and will undergo surgery. “Ivan will then commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season.” Perisic made his 50th appearance for Spurs in their 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United on Saturday.

The Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the March 18 election. Yusuf, who contested on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While Nasir Gawuna, his APC rival congratulated him, the party proceeded to court. On Wednesday, the three-man panel ordered withdrawal of certificate of return which INEC presented to Governor Yusuf and directed a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna. The court deducted 165,663 votes from Gov Yusuf total…

This match marks the return to the UEFA Champions League of both Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven after significant absences from Europe’s elite competition. Arsenal attack the Champions League for the first time since a 10-2 aggregate humbling at the hands of Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the 2016-17 tournament. PSV are also back in the big time after a four-season absence. Having suffered three eliminations in the qualifiers over that period, the Dutch side saw off Rangers in August to reach the group stage once again. This will be PSV’s 17th appearance in the competition, while Arsenal…

Real Madrid face newcomers Union Berlin in their first game of the Champions League campaign. This is Real Madrid’s 27th consecutive season in the Champions League, having won the competition for a record 14 times ( the most of any team). Union Berlin are the fifth side to face Real in their first-ever Champions League match, with each of the previous four losing (Internazionale 1998, Roma 2001, BATE Borisov 2008 and Zürich 2009). Union will also be the 15th different German side to feature in the Champions League, the most from any nation. Only three of the 14 previous Bundesliga…

The Ogun State Government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, is taking decisive action to combat cultism and bring peace to the state. During a meeting at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu with Paramount Ruler Oba Babatunde Ajayi, Governor Abiodun made a significant announcement on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. Expressing deep concern over the pervasive destruction of lives and the peace of Sagamu and its surrounding areas, Governor Abiodun declared his government’s unwavering commitment to bringing an end to the reign of unscrupulous individuals perpetrating these heinous crimes. “We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that we bring any person directly,…

Most of the Spain team have agreed to end their boycott, says secretary of state for sports Victor Francos. The agreement was reached at 05:00 local time on Wednesday after more than seven hours of meetings. Francos said the Spanish football federation (RFEF) had committed to “immediate and profound changes”. Two of the 23 players named in the squad for this month’s Nations League games – Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro – have left the squad. The rest of the players began the boycott after then RFEF president Luis Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s triumph over England in…

Goalkeeper Ivan Provedel scored a 95th-minute equaliser as Lazio held Atletico Madrid to a draw in their Champions League opener. With just seconds remaining, Provedel went up for a late corner and glanced a fine header into the net from Luis Alberto’s cross. It prompted wild celebrations from the Lazio players, who raced to hug their unlikely goalscoring hero. Pablo Barrios’ deflected strike had given Atletico a first-half lead. After Alvaro Morata hit the post, Provedel made several excellent saves to keep Lazio in the match before providing the crucial contribution at the other end of the pitch to earn…

The management of Ojaja More, a business support scheme, says it contributed over ₦250 million to support Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ojaja More, Orioye Gbayisemore, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Akure. According to the statement, the programme is an initiative of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Adeyeye, first for Osun residents but is now extending to other states, Akure inclusive. The statement said that the traditional ruler, in a bid to increase the socio-economic lifestyle of Nigerians, especially residents of Osun State, has contributed over ₦250…

The World Bank says the coup d’état in Niger may put additional pressure on Nigeria and other West African nations’ food markets. According to the global bank, “The Nigerien coup d’état puts an additional seven million people at risk of falling into severe food insecurity in the region against a backdrop of soaring commodity and staple food prices, and severe food insecurity already affecting 3.3 million people during the lean season.” In its September ‘Food Security Update’, the bank stated that the coup d’état in Niger might put additional pressure on West African food markets. The Washington-based bank stated that…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered his first address at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in the early hours of Wednesday, September 20, 2023. The President spoke about the recent wave of military coups in Africa and his commitment to re-establish democratic governance in Niger as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Tinubu also urged the international communities to see African development as a priority for investments, saying Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Below is the President’s full speech: Mr. President, Heads of…

Manchester City came from behind and Julian Alvarez scored two second-half goals as Pep Guardiola’s men began the defence of their Champions League title with a win against Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade. European Cup winners themselves in 1991, Red Star threatened a famous win when Osman Bukari put them in front at the end of the first-half. But City took less than 90 seconds to level after the restart as Alvarez raced onto Erling Haaland’s return pass, rounded Red Star keeper Omri Glazer with a superb piece of deception and squeezed the ball home from a tight angle while…

A penalty from Kylian Mbappe and a brilliant goal from Achraf Hakimi gave PSG an ultimately comfortable win over a game but under-powered Dortmund. Paris dominated possession in the first half with Vitinha excellent – he hit the post with a clever shot – but otherwise they created little, while Dortmund, who came close through Donyel Malen, looked a threat on the counter. The game changed, though, in the first minute of the second half, Mbappe skewing a shot that hit the arm of the unsighted Nikolas Sule. Somehow, the referee appraised a penalty which was dispatched by Mbappe with…