Author: Opalim Lifted

Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions were ended after they lost on penalties to an outstanding Paris St-Germain side after a night of drama at Anfield. PSG, needing to claw back a 1-0 deficit from the first leg at home, demonstrated how they have matured under coach Luis Enrique as they knocked out a Liverpool side touted as favourites to win the tournament. Ousmane Dembele’s early goal provided the platform for the turnaround, with Liverpool unable to break the French visitors down, while PSG were a constant threat. PSG’s victory over two legs was thoroughly deserved, with keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as…

Teenager Lamine Yamal was once again the star of the show as Barcelona beat Benfica to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The 17-year-old provided a brilliant assist for Raphinha to open the scoring before topping that with a stunning strike to put Barca 2-1 ahead on the night and 3-1 on aggregate. Nicolas Otamendi’s excellent header had cancelled out Raphinha’s opener but Benfica’s hopes were ended by Yamal’s brilliance, before Raphinha struck again with a clinical finish into the bottom corner. There was confusion over whether Raphinha’s second initially stood, as play appeared to be pulled back…

The House of Representatives has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the increase in automated teller machines (ATMs) transaction fees. The resolution was passed during plenary on Tuesday sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Marcus Onobun, a lawmaker from Edo state. In February, the CBN announced an upward review of the transaction fees for automated teller machines, beginning from March 1. The regulator said the move would address rising operational costs and enhance efficiency in the banking sector. According to the new policy, customers withdrawing from their bank’s ATMs (on-us transactions) will continue to…

The presidency said Nigeria is achieving substantial progress across all sectors under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The presidency was responding to the recent remarks credited to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBNC). At an event during the weekend, Lucius Iwejuru, the CBNC president, asked Tinubu to fix youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral fraud. In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to Tinubu on information and strategy, said the president “deeply appreciates the constant interventions” of the Catholic bishops in matters of governance in our country. Onanuga said while some of the governance challenges in the areas highlighted…

The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to direct internet service providers in the country to block all websites hosting obscene and pornographic contents with immediate effect. The resolution was passed on Tuesday following a motion sponsored by Dalhatu Tafoki, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Katsina state. Moving the motion, Tafoki argued that cyber erotica was becoming a global problem and that Nigeria had not taken adequate steps to address it. He described Nigeria as a “highly religious country” where major faiths prohibit nudity and obscenity The legislator said several countries across Asia, Africa,…

Manchester United have announced plans to build the biggest stadium in the UK – an “iconic” new £2bn 100,000-seater ground close to Old Trafford. Once construction is complete, the club’s existing home is likely to be demolished. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said he wanted to build the “world’s greatest football stadium”, which the club hopes could be finished in five years. United’s announcement comes after an extensive consultation process around whether to develop the existing stadium or build a new one. Old Trafford has been Manchester United’s home since 1910. The club would continue to play at Old Trafford until…

Argentina will begin a trial this week into the medical team of late football icon Diego Maradona over homicide by negligence, a case that has charged up emotions in the country where the World Cup winner still commands almost god-like reverence. The trial, expected to last for months, starts on Tuesday, over four years after Maradona’s death in November 2020 from heart failure at age 60 after undergoing brain surgery days earlier. His medical team generally rejects the charges. A court in San Isidro, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, will listen to nearly 120 testimonies. The defendants are charged…

Newcastle prepared for the Carabao Cup final with a victory at West Ham that moved them up to sixth in the Premier League. Eddie Howe’s side will look to end a 70-year wait for a major trophy on Sunday when they take on Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley. They went into Monday’s fixture at London Stadium desperate for a win to ensure they face the Reds with momentum, and they got it thanks to Bruno Guimaraes’ second-half strike. Moments after Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made a brilliant save to prevent Max Kilman scoring an own goal, Newcastle struck when…

Natasha Osawaru, the Edo state lawmaker, has responded to claims that she spiritually fortified the beads she gave to singer 2Baba.  The allegations surfaced in February after Rose Idibia, 2Baba’s mother, publicly pleaded with Natasha to leave her son alone. She also asked her to “remove the beads you placed on his hands and neck”, arguing that the singer was not in his right senses. In a recent interview, the lawmaker denied claims that the beads were “diabolical,” stating that they were symbols of her family’s royalty. She explained that the hand bracelets represented her family’s royal heritage, while the…

Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former senator said Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s good looks may well be working against her in the senate (upper legislative) chamber. Ogunlewe represented Lagos east in the senate from 1999 to 2003. He was minister of works in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration from 2003 to 2006. Natasha Akpoti, senator representing Kogi central, had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her. The allegation was preceded by Natasha Akpoti’s outburst against Akpabio over seating arrangement. The female lawmaker was suspended on March 6 over the seat reallocation altercation. Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, Ogunlewe said Akpoti-Udughan’s…