Author: Opalim Lifted

Arsenal produced a blistering 14-minute spell to destroy Atletico Madrid and maintain their flawless start to the Champions League league phase. The Gunners began brightly, with Eberechi Eze’s deflected effort rattling the bar, while Atletico’s Julian Alvarez almost capitalised on a moment of hesitation from goalkeeper David Raya. Both sides struggled to find rhythm in a tight first half, leaving fans wondering where the breakthrough would come from. That question was answered midway through the second half when Gabriel Magalhaes powered home Declan Rice’s pinpoint free-kick in the 57th minute. The goal sparked a ruthless Arsenal surge. Gabriel Martinelli doubled…

Holders Paris Saint-Germain delivered a devastating attacking performance to crush Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 and make it three wins from three in the Champions League group stage. Two goals from Desire Doue and strikes from Willian Pacho and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia put PSG 4-1 up at half-time, before Nuno Mendes, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha completed the rout. Pacho opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a firm header from Mendes’ curling cross. Leverkusen had a chance to level when Illia Zabarnyi fouled Claudio Echeverri in the box, but Alejandro Grimaldo struck the post from the spot. Moments later, VAR upgraded Robert…

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned Nigerians over the cloning of the social media accounts of Lanre Issa-Onilu, its director-general, by fraudsters. In a post on X, NOA said the perpetrators had created fake WhatsApp and Facebook accounts in the director-general’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. “The perpetrators have been luring victims from the accounts to this phone number (09066356599), offering contracts, requesting for money, and other financial favours,” the agency said. The agency described the act as fraudulent and urged members of the public to ignore, report, and block any such messages. “The public is hereby advised to…

Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says it is “theoretically possible” he could return to the Anfield hot seat one day, but he is convinced current boss Arne Slot will guide the club through the rough patch they are going through. Klopp left Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season after leading the Merseyside club to almost every major honour during his nine-year spell, including Champions League and Premier League triumphs. The 58-year-old German was succeeded by Slot, who became the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League. “I said I will never coach a different team in England…

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Dr Bernard Doro from Plateau State as Nigeria’s new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. The appointment, announced on Tuesday by the State House, was contained in a letter forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, said the nomination follows the election of former minister Nentawe Yilwatda as the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman in July. Born on January 23, 1969, in Kwall, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Doro brings more than two decades of multidisciplinary experience in clinical practice, pharmaceutical management,…

Nottingham Forest have appointed former Everton boss Sean Dyche as their new manager, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou. “The former Forest youth player joins the club on a contract running until the summer of 2027 and will take charge of his first match on Thursday night as the Reds take on FC Porto in the Europa League,” Forest said in a statement. Forest sacked Postecoglou barely 20 minutes after the final whistle blew in their 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea on Saturday, a loss that left the Midlands side 18th in the…

Over 100 passengers of Max Air were left stranded at Maiduguri Airport on Monday after the airline’s pilots embarked on a sudden strike to protest unpaid debts owed by the management. According to sources, the protest erupted shortly after passengers had completed boarding and were awaiting departure clearance. Confusion ensued when airline staff directed passengers to disembark and return to the terminal, citing the pilots’ refusal to fly. A source within the airline confirmed the dispute but noted that it was swiftly resolved, allowing the affected passengers to continue their journey later in the day. “Yes, the pilots protested the…

President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of readiness to establish state police, backed by growing support from governors, has revived optimism that Nigeria might finally curb the wave of violence that has plagued the nation for nearly two decades. With thousands killed and property worth billions lost, Nigerians are desperate for a new approach to security that works. For years, citizens and analysts alike have argued that security challenges are best handled locally. The call for state police gained momentum as it became clear that the centralised structure, with its rigid command chain from Abuja, was failing to respond effectively to fast-moving…

President Bola Tinubu has praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Ola Olukoyede for demonstrating efficiency and independence in the fight against corruption. Speaking at the opening of the 7th EFCC–National Judicial Institute (NJI) Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges on Monday, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said his administration had prioritised strengthening anti-graft institutions with the autonomy and resources required to deliver results. He disclosed that the EFCC had secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth more than N500 billion in the first two years of his administration. According to him, proceeds from…

President Bola Tinubu has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured more than 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth over N500 billion within the first two years of his administration. Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for judges and justices, jointly organised by the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI), the president, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the figures highlight his administration’s firm resolve to strengthen the anti-corruption fight and uphold judicial independence. “The EFCC has recorded over seven thousand convictions in the first two years of…