Author: Opalim Lifted

An Abuja-bound train on Sunday derailed along the Abuja-Kaduna route, leading to the passengers being stranded in Jere area of Kaduna State. The railcar with dozens of passengers on board departed Kaduna around 8:05 a.m. but derailed at Jere about an hour later. The train is currently undergoing repairs, with about three carriages off the tracks. Despite the fact that it stopped in a mountainous area, security personnel, including soldiers and police officers, were reportedly present. Senator Shehu Sani, former Kaduna North representative, posted on his X handle, “a minor Abuja, Kaduna morning train derail near Jere, but engineers are…

A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, is dead. Lamorde, a retired police officer, reportedly passed away following a battle with an undisclosed illness. The retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police died at the age of 61 in Egypt, where he was receiving medical treatment. His remains would be buried according to Islamic rites on Sunday morning, report said. Lamorde served as the third Executive Chairman of the EFCC between 2011 and 2015. Former President Goodluck Jonathan first appointed him in an acting capacity in November 2011, following the removal of his predecessor, Farida Waziri.…

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) beat Lyon 2-1 in the French Cup final and completed the domestic double in Kylian Mbappe last game for the club on Saturday. France winger Ousmane Dembele and Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz scored for PSG in the first half. Lyon defender Jake O’Brien got a consolation goal in the second half. PSG won the league and cup for the first time since 2020 when it achieved a domestic treble by also lifting the now defunct League Cup. Mbappe celebrated with a big roar after the final whistle. With an equally big smile on his face, he hugged…

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen battled past second division Kaiserslautern 1-0 on Saturday to win the German Cup and secure the club’s first ever domestic double. The Black and Reds missed out on a treble after losing 3-0 to Atalanta in the Europa League final on Wednesday in their first defeat of the season after a European record 51-game unbeaten run. This was Leverkusen’s second German Cup win after their maiden victory back in 1993. In Berlin’s Olympic stadium that will host the Euro 2024 final in July, the champions bagged the winner with Granit Xhaka’s 20-metre missile in the 16th…

Chelsea will now play in the Europa League, and Newcastle will miss out entirely on European football because Manchester United won the FA Cup. United beat arch-rivals Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley, gaining Europa League football in the process. Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League, with Newcastle three points below them in seventh. Only the top six in the Premier League qualify for Europe via their final standings, but the FA Cup offers one final spot. Chelsea knew they would play in the Europa Conference League next season at the very least, but would have been given a spot…

Manchester United won the FA Cup after stunning defending champion Manchester City 2-1 in the final at Wembley on Saturday. United’s first silverware of the season deprived crosstown rival City of the first back-to-back English League Cup doubles. The final was a repeat of last year’s, in which City won 2-1, and Pep Guardiola’s team did not give up its trophy without a fight. Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring in the 30th minute, following mistakes by City defender Josko Gvardiol and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Kobbie Mainoo then added a second goal in the 39th to spark passionate celebrations from manager…

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several property linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. The order was issued on Friday, by Justice Yellim Bogoro after an ex-parte motion by EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye. The forfeited funds, held in various banks, were linked to Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd, Lipam Investment Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd. Emefiele’s properties forfeited to the federal government include;…

Barcelona have sacked manager Xavi with former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick set to replace him. Xavi will take charge of Barcelona for the final time on Sunday, when they host Sevilla in their last La Liga match of the season. The 44-year-old, who had been contracted until 2025, was informed of the club’s decision during a meeting with club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco on Friday. Former Spain midfielder Xavi announced in January that he would leave the Camp Nou, but he was persuaded to stay by Laporta in April. But recent comments from Xavi, in which…

Olivier Giroud intends to step down from international duty with France after Euro 2024. The AC Milan striker is France’s all-time top scorer, with 57 goals in 131 appearances and won the World Cup in 2018. The former Arsenal and Chelsea forward has been named in Didier Deschamps’ provisional squad for the Euros, which start next month in Germany. “This will be my last competition with Les Bleus. I’m going to miss it a lot,” Giroud told L’Equipe., external “We need to make way for the youngsters. You also have to be careful not to have one season too many.…

Claudio Ranieri, who famously led Leicester City to a shock Premier League title in 2016, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 72. The Italian’s last match as a manager was Cagliari’s 3-2 home defeat to Fiorentina on Thursday, where he received a rousing ovation from fans at the Sardegna Arena as well as a guard of honour from his players. “There is a beginning and an end to everything. It is only fair: to close the circle in this way, where I had started, is something I dreamed of and the dream was wonderful,” Ranieri, who…