Author: Opalim Lifted

France forward Kylian Mbappe has come out in support of Zinedine Zidane after the country’s football federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet said he would not pick up the phone if the former midfielder called him to discuss coaching the national team. When asked if Zidane, a World Cup winner with France in 1998 and a national icon, would now manage the Brazilian national team instead, Le Graet told RMC: “I don’t give a damn, he can go wherever he wants. “I know very well that Zidane was always on the radar. He had a lot of supporters, some were…

Novak Djokovic saved a match point as he beat Sebastian Korda to win the Adelaide International and extend his winning run in Australia to 34 matches. The Serb dropped his first set of the tournament but fought back to win 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4. The world number five has won 92 career ATP singles titles, level with Rafael Nadal. Only Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, and Ivan Lendl have won more. “It’s been an amazing week, for me to be here is a gift,” said Djokovic. “The support that I’ve been getting in the past 10 days is something that…

A police station in Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State was on Sunday set ablaze by hoodlums. The miscreants stormed the station located along the Umuchu-Achina road at about 3 am and set the facility on fire. The Nation gathered that the station, which was destroyed during the #EndSARS protest in 2020, was renovated by members of the Umuchu Improvement Union. According to a source, no casualty was recorded during the attack as security operatives had vacated the station to another location and were yet to return following its destruction during the #EndSARS protest. “Community leaders had renovated…

Temi Otedola, actress and media personality made her stage debut in ‘Motherland the Musical’. The play was directed and produced by ace producer, Bolanle Austen-Peters. The play was a perfect blend of costuming and storytelling with actors like Francis Onwochei, Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan, and Uzo Osimkpa. In the stage play, Otedola acts and sings as ‘Young Hassana’, a Fulani girl who must navigate forbidden love amidst the political and social turmoil of 1957 Nigeria. Set in modern-day Nigeria but making many references to the past, Motherland is a fast-paced, educational and emotional look into Nigeria’s history and the country’s current state.…

Ahead of the February 25 presidential election, the General Overseer of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Pastor Paul Enenche, has said struggles between different political players for Nigeria’s soul have transcended the physical to the spiritual. Enenche, who spoke passionately about the forthcoming 2023 presidential election during the church’s January 2023 combined service, at Glory Dome in Abuja, equally urged his members to ensure the collection of their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in order to vote during the election. He, therefore, counseled his members to vote wisely during the 2023 presidential election, adding that all plans to subvert the votes…

A man identified as Ndubisi Uwadiegwu from Enugu State has allegedly beaten his wife, Ogochukwu Enene, to death over a loaf of bread. It was gathered that the deceased hailed from Umuokpu village, Awka, Anambra State, but married to her husband who hails from Enugu State. According to an online notice obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, the first son of the deceased who is aged 14, said their father beat their mother to death with a mirror, because she asked him to buy bread for them but he said he had no money. The son added that his mother…

Barely a year after terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train from Abuja, at a place called Katari in Kaduna State, the Edo State Police Command said scores of passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen on Saturday evening. Many of the travelers were also reportedly injured. The Edo Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident in a statement. The statement claimed that the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air…

Liverpool and Wolves were forced to settle for an FA Cup third-round replay after a thrilling encounter finished level at Anfield. Wolves led after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson horrifically gave the ball away and Goncalo Guedes tapped home. Darwin Nunez’s classy left-footed volley pulled Liverpool level before Mohamed Salah side-footed them ahead. Hwang Hee-chan then came off the bench to earn Wolves a replay, with the ball ricocheting in off his side. Wolves thought they had won the game when Toti flicked home, but the linesman had ruled it offside earlier in the move. Lacklustre Liverpool top-four hopes dashed by…

Real Madrid slipped to just a second La Liga defeat of the season as they missed the chance to go back to the top of the table by losing at Villarreal. Yeremy Pino put the hosts ahead but a dubious handball call against Juan Foyth allowed Karim Benzema to level. Foyth then won a penalty of his own at the other end as David Alaba handled and Gerard Moreno slotted the winner. Real Madrid remains second, level on points with leaders Barcelona, who visit Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Villarreal climbed to fifth after a deserved third successive win, having created…

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said his shame turned to celebration, having faced a lot of tribulations last year. Ooni said this during the Grand-finale of New Year Prayer organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria at Afewonro Park, Enuwa Square, on Saturday, in Ile-Ife. Oba Ogunwusi, who led different Christian worship songs and praises during the service, clarified that it was a good thing to always praise the Lord Jesus Christ and appreciate Him. “When I look back, I observe that my life is full of God’s wonders and miracles despite all challenges faced, but today,…