Author: Opalim Lifted

Celtic emphatically sealed a 12th Scottish Premiership title in 13 seasons by dismantling Kilmarnock in arguably their finest display of the season. Brendan Rodgers’ side travelled to Rugby Park, where they had lost on their previous two visits, knowing a point in their penultimate league fixture would extend their top-flight dominance. In a performance packed with the urgency and intensity Rodgers craves, two goals inside the opening 12 minutes eliminated any fears of a third straight defeat in Ayrshire. The outstanding Matt O’Riley – Celtic’s player of the season – had a killer back-post ball buried by Adam Idah before…

Juventus won their first major trophy in three years as they beat Atalanta 1-0 to lift a record-extending 15th Coppa Italia. Dusan Vlahovic scored the only goal in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico after just four minutes when he received Andrea Cambiaso’s pass before finishing from 12 yards out. The Serbia striker later had a goal disallowed for offside. Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and Juve’s Fabio Miretti hit the woodwork late on. Under-pressure Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri, who has won a record five Coppas Italia, was sent off towards the end of the game for dissent. Court orders Juventus to pay Ronaldo £8.3m…

Rasmus Hojlund broke his 10-game scoring drought to seal victory for Manchester United in a thrilling Old Trafford encounter with Newcastle. Anything other than a win for Erik ten Hag’s side would have condemned them to their lowest league finish in 34 years. Instead, they go into the final day needing to better Newcastle’s result to claim a place in next season’s Uefa Conference League, although they will qualify for the Europa League if they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on 25 May. Kobbie Mainoo put the home side in front after 31 minutes when…

Cole Palmer’s brilliant season with Chelsea continued as his goal helped the Blues boost their European qualification hopes with a win at Brighton in the Premier League. Palmer netted his 22nd league strike of the season, meeting Marc Cucurella’s cross with a looping header into the far corner in the 34th minute. And the visitors added a second 14 minutes after the restart when Christopher Nkunku coolly dispatched Malo Gusto’s cutback. Having been so dominant Chelsea gifted Brighton a way back into the game when substitute Reece James – playing just his second match in 2024 after coming back from…

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, bail of N300 million following his arraignment on the unlawful redesign of the naira notes. Emefiele faced accusations of authorizing the printing of N684.5 million, valued at N18.96 billion. The anti-graft agency also said the embattled former governor unlawfully approved the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. The former apex bank chief was also said to have disobeyed the direction of the law with the intent to cause injury to…

The labor unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, have walked out of the ongoing minimum wage negotiations with the government and the organized private sector. The labour unions, enraged by the Federal Government’s proposal for a national minimum wage of N48,000, described the offer as ridiculous. The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, explained that the government is not serious about negotiating with the Labour on the new minimum wage. He explained that the FG does not have the necessary data to negotiate with Labour. Ajaero maintained that the government has until the end of the month to…

Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has been appointed as Red Bull Salzburg’s new head coach. The 41-year-old, who joined Liverpool in 2014, will go to the Austrian club this summer on a three-year deal. Pepijn Lijnders, who is in his second stint at Anfield, had been set to leave the club following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down. The Dutchman said he wants to create an attacking style of play at his new club “where passion and hunger for success are the basis of everything”. Having initially worked under Brendan Rodgers, Lijnders remained a key part of Liverpool’s backroom staff…

The embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has pleaded not guilty to the allegation of approving the printing of N684.5 million at the rate of N18.96 billion. Emefiele said this during his arraignment on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a four-count charge before Justice Maryann Anenih of the FCT High Court, Abuja. The EFCC filed a four-count charge against Emefiele, alleging that he disobeyed the law with the intent to injure the public while implementing the naira swap policy under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The anti-graft agency…

The inaugural edition of the Women’s Club World Cup has been proposed to start during January-February 2026 and the 16-team tournament will be held every four years, world soccer governing body FIFA said on Wednesday. FIFA President Gianni Infantino in May 2021 revealed their plans to introduce the Women’s Club World Cup as part of a plan to “revolutionize” the female game. FIFA, whose council met in advance of the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, did not provide any further details at this stage. The Women’s Club World Cup would likely allow top European teams from the UEFA Women’s Champions…

Aston Villa have qualified for the Champions League for the first time after top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur lost to Manchester City on Tuesday. Tottenham had been the only team who could have overtaken Villa into fourth before Tuesday, but are now five points behind Unai Emery’s side with one game remaining. Aston Villa have not reached UEFA’s premier club competition since it rebranded from the European Cup to the Champions League in 1991-92. They last played in the European Cup 41 years ago in 1982-83 having won the competition the season before. Villa did finish second and fourth in the…