Author: Opalim Lifted

Florian Wirtz scored his first Liverpool goal as they held out to beat Wolves on an emotional afternoon at Anfield as Diogo Jota was remembered by both sets of fans. Arne Slot’s side scored twice in two minutes through Ryan Gravenberch and Wirtz in the first half and though Wolves pulled one back through Santiago Bueno, Liverpool made it three Premier League wins in a row. Wolves remain winless in the top flight this season. Dinis and Duarte, Jota’s sons, were mascots for the game and came out on to the pitch alongside Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. Jota, who…

Benin earned their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) win as Yohan Roche’s deflected first-half strike sealed their first points of the 2025 tournament in Rabat. Defender Roche exchanged a one-two with returning targetman Steve Mounie, who missed Benin’s opening defeat to DR Congo, before sending a looped finish from inside the box over goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko. Roche’s goal made history for his country with their first victory inside normal time in their 16th Afcon match spread over five editions. Botswana suffered a second defeat of the group stage but were unfortunate not to equalise when Mothusi Johnson bent a…

Liverpool and Wolves paid tribute to Diogo Jota on an emotional day at Anfield as his two former sides met for the first time since his death. The Portugal forward, 28, was killed in a car crash in Spain in July, alongside his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva. Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 after three seasons with Wolves. Dinis and Duarte, two of his three children, joined the matchday mascots on the pitch before their Premier League game on Saturday. Jota’s sons, along with other young family members, led the Liverpool team out of the tunnel, walking out ahead of captain…

Rayan Cherki sent Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League with his late winner at Nottingham Forest. The hosts threatened to deliver a blow to City’s title hopes after Omari Hutchinson cancelled out Tijjani Reijnders’ second-half opener. But Cherki struck late to continue City’s ominous form – they have now won their past eight games in all competitions. For struggling Forest, who paid an emotional tribute to club legend John Robertson, it will be a hard defeat to take and they have slipped to successive losses under Sean Dyche for the first time, following their 1-0 reverse…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerians to work towards a more peaceful and equitable country in 2026, saying banditry would be defeated in the new year and beyond. Akpabio also called on Nigerians to set aside their differences, embrace peace, and foster unity within their families, states, and across the country. In a statement issued by Anietie Ekong, his special assistant on media and communication, Akpabio said Nigeria can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace. The senate president spoke during a prayer and fasting service organised in honour of his family at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral of…

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has officially tied the knot with Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. The marriage between the top government official and the former Olori of the Ile-Ife Kingdom was confirmed on Friday in a celebratory post by Abraham Double-d Dajoh, a member of the Dajoh family, on Facebook. In the statement, the Dajoh family, which Akume belongs, described the union as “beautiful” and “uncommon,” formally welcoming Queen Zaynab into their fold in Mbakor, Benue State. “We, the entire…

Mali came from behind to draw with Morocco in Group A of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, which leaves the host nation on the brink of a place in the knockout stage. It proved to be a tale of two penalties at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervening on both occasions to send referee Abdou Abdel Mefire to his screen. Brahim Diaz put Morocco ahead from the spot deep in first-half stoppage time after the ball struck the hand of Mali left-back Nathan Gassama. But the Eagles got a spot-kick of…

Mohamed Salah’s penalty gave Egypt victory over South Africa as the seven-time champions survived playing the second half with 10 men to book a place in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a game to spare. Having gone ahead through Salah’s contentiously-awarded spot kick in the 45th minute, the Pharaohs swiftly found themselves at a numerical disadvantage when right-back Mohamed Hany received a second booking during stoppage time at the end of the first half. Bafana Bafana made an attacking change at the break, replacing Thalente Mbatha with Sipho Mbule, but spent much of…

Nigeria’s proposed January tax reforms face uncertainty as allegations of alterations continue to draw opposition from lawmakers, labour and civil society, heightening risks of legal disputes, taxpayer resistance and a growing credibility crisis. Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume recently called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene by suspending the implementation and ordering a thorough investigation into allegations that the laws were altered. Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja, warning that proceeding with implementation while the allegations remain unresolved would undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the tax regime. His intervention…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says attacks on Christians in Nigeria has to come to an end. Netanyahu’s stance formed part of his Christmas message late Wednesday night to Christians around the world. Judaism, Israel’s main religion, and Christianity are deeply linked Abrahamic faiths sharing roots in ancient Israel. However, while Christians view Jesus as the Messiah, Jews await his arrival. Christmas is the Christian celebration of Jesus’ birth. Felicitating Christians, Netanyahu criticised global persecution of the sister faith, citing Middle Eastern countries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. Netanyahu in Israeli court for graft trial Outside the region, Nigeria…