Author: Opalim Lifted

Nigeria’s former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has said that Africa’s climate change experience is a paradox. Osinbajo stated this in Lagos recently at the 23rd S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture, tagged Greening Africa’s Economies: Can Climate Positive Growth Deliver Prosperity? which was organised by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation. The ex-Vice President stated that Africa was the least emitters of dangerous gases yet are the worst affected by its devastating effects. “Despite our relatively negligible emissions, our continent is warming faster than the continents of the global north whose past and current emissions are largely responsible for the climate crisis”,…

Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has now scored three Champions League goals this season and 22 in 31 games in all competitions. He has also set up another 17 for team-mates and his total of 39 goal involvements is the highest of any player in Europe’s big five leagues. His latest goal set Liverpool on their way to victory against Lille and to securing their place in the Champions League last 16. It was a nonchalant finish as he latched on to Curtis Jones’ superb through ball and lifted over the advancing Lucas Chevalier. It was his 50th goal…

Barcelona twice fought back from two goals down – and two Wojciech Szczesny howlers – to snatch a dramatic victory at Benfica. The hosts made a dream start as Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis hit a 30-minute hat-trick, helped by two mistakes from Polish keeper Szczesny, while Robert Lewandowski replied from the penalty spot for Barcelona. Goals for Raphinha and Lewandowski, either side of an Ronald Araujo own goal, then left Barcelona one behind at 4-3. But Eric Garcia headed home a late equaliser and in the 96th minute, just after Szczesny had made a fine block from Angel di Maria…

Bologna stunned last year’s Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund as two goals in as many second-half minutes secured their first win in this season’s competition. The Italians looked to be heading out of the competition after Serhou Guirassy’s clipped penalty in the first half gave Dortmund the lead. But Thijs Dallinga equalised midway through the second half when he turned in Jens Odgaard’s cross. The Germans barely had time to regroup before Bologna got a second that sent their fans wild. Dallinga’s strike was denied by Gregor Kobel but on-loan Aston Villa forward Samuel Iling-Junior was there to fire home…

Mohamed Salah scored his 50th European goal for Liverpool as the Reds booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with victory over 10-man Lille at Anfield. Salah’s goal came when he latched onto a brilliant Curtis Jones through ball and slotted over the advancing Lucas Chevalier in the 34th minute. Lille, who were unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions, had restricted Liverpool until then but Arne Slot’s side controlled the game after the goal. Salah sent another one-on-one wide, before curling just past the far post in the second half. The visitors were reduced to…

Atletico Madrid fought back to secure a remarkable Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen despite playing with 10 men for 65 minutes. Former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez scored twice, including a 90th-minute winner, to take Atletico third in the table. That did not look on the cards when the hosts had a player sent off after only 25 minutes when Pablo Barrios’ sliding challenge caught the back of Nordi Mukiele’s leg. Italian referee Davide Massa was advised by the video assistant referee to watch the incident on a pitchside monitor and then showed the red card to the midfielder.…

Atalanta progressed to the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League with a thumping 5-0 defeat of Sturm Graz in Bergamo. Defeat saw Sturm Graz – playing for the first time in six weeks because of the Austrian winter break – eliminated from the competition with a game to spare, though the Austrian Bundesliga leaders should have taken an early lead. Less than a minute after Amady Camara flashed wide when through on goal, Italy striker Matteo Retegui converted Davide Zappacosta’s cross from close range to put Atalanta ahead. Half-time substitute Ademola Lookman appeared to have made an instant impact…

Aston Villa missed the chance to all but secure their place in the Champions League knockouts as they were beaten by Monaco at Stade Louis II. Wilfried Singo got the game’s only goal in the eighth minute, heading home from close range after Emiliano Martinez had initially done well to keep out Thilo Kehrer’s effort. Aston Villa were not at their best, but did have chances to equalise, with Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki twice denying the visitors before half-time. First, Leon Bailey forced him into a decent stop after good work by Emiliano Buendia, who also teed up Ollie Watkins…

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA) on Tuesday apprehended a member of the notorious “one-chance” syndicate, Toyib Ogunjobi that operated on a yellow color painted commercial bus to rob unsuspecting passengers of their valuables. However, a suspect nabbed by LASTMA officials confessed that they generated between N250,000 and N300,000 daily by selling stolen phones and valuables from passengers. The arrest happened around Conoil Filling Station, along Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere, Lagos, following a distress call by a female passenger, Miss Bibian Emelifonwu, who fell victim to the syndicate’s act en route to work. Recounting her ordeal, Emelifonwu disclosed that she…

An ongoing oil spill at a wellhead and subsequent fire in Buguma community in Nigeria’s coastal Rivers state has entered its fourth week, with no immediate action taken by authorities or operators to halt the destruction, rights groups said on Tuesday. Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) said residents alerted them to the spill, which has been ongoing for weeks. An EDEN spokesperson said the situation as an environmental crisis that has lasted too long, calling on the authorities to put out the blaze and halt the spill, which has led to widespread pollution in…