Author: Opalim Lifted

Morgan Rogers struck twice as Aston Villa extended their winning run to 10 matches in all competitions, their best run as a top-flight club since 1914, by beating Manchester United at Villa Park. On a day when Aston Villa were not at their best, in-form Rogers put them ahead with a curling shot into the corner a minute before the break. After Matheus Cunha had capitalised on a Matty Cash error to level, Rogers stepped inside United defender Leny Yoro a second time before curling a replica effort over Senne Lammens for his sixth goal in as many league games.…

Even as millions of football-loving Nigerians have loss faith in the Super Eagles, former Chelsea forward and Africa Cup of Nations winner, Salomon Kalou, has backed Nigeria and his native Cote d’Ivoire as the leading contenders for the AFCON 2025, which begins on Sunday in Morocco. Kalou, who lifted the AFCON trophy with Cote d’Ivoire in 2015, put Nigeria and his country ahead of host nation Morocco, defending champions Senegal, and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt. Speaking in an interview with Tribuna.com, Kalou revealed the reason behind his choice. “Nigeria have an incredible pool of attacking talent, while Cote d’Ivoire are building…

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) begins in Morocco on Sunday with heightened attention on the expanded prize money on offer and a competition history that continues to defy form and reputation. With $7 million earmarked for the eventual champions, the tournament is set against the backdrop of past shocks that have reshaped expectations at Africa’s premier football event. Under the revised prize structure announced ahead of the competition, the winners will earn $7 million, while the runners-up will receive $4 million. Losing semi-finalists are guaranteed $2.5 million each, quarter-final exits $1.3 million, and teams eliminated in the round…

Award-winning singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has placed a $25,000 bet on goals ahead of the Super Eagles’ opening match against Tanzania at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The singer shared a screenshot of the bet slip on Sunday via his X page, showing a wager on both teams to score in Nigeria’s Group C clash. He accompanied the post with the caption, “Let’s get this W Nigeria,” while tagging betting platform. The bet, which carries potential winnings of over $96,000, quickly sparked reactions online, with fans praising the singer’s confidence. Nigeria will face Tanzania on…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the immediate public release of certified true copies (CTCs) of the tax bills passed by the National Assembly and the tax laws eventually signed and gazetted by the Federal Government. In a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 20 December 2025, SERAP urged the President to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to widely publish the documents to enable Nigerians to verify their authenticity. The laws in question include the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Joint Revenue…

Motorists plying the Lokoja-Abuja highway have been left stranded due to gridlock, barely days before Christmas. The snarling traffic on the route has persisted for three days. Drivers interviewed by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) said they have been on the road since early Saturday with no end in sight. “It is now 8 p.m., and I have been here since 7 a.m. with my family, heading to Enugu,” one motorist said. The gridlock has been most severe around Koton Karfe. Reports indicate that the congestion was caused by two fallen trucks on the road. How to survive Detty December…

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, to commission projects executed by Babagana Zulum, the governor. Tinubu is expected to commission schools, electric vehicles and other projects carried out by Zulum in collaboration with the federal government. On Friday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu will begin a three-state visit to Borno, Bauchi and Lagos on Saturday, December 20. He said the president will also attend the wedding ceremony of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of Ali Modu Sheriff, the former governor of Borno. From Maiduguri, the president will move to…

If you are not travelling this December and you are in Lagos, you might have to start thinking about how you will survive the ever-busy Lagos roads, gridlock, and how not to dirty your Detty December. Lagos roads are expected to be congested, and the congestion has already begun, with traffic from dawn until late at night, usually fuelled by end-of-year travel, concerts, weddings, shopping, and a steady stream of visitors arriving for what has become globally known as Detty December. For residents and visitors alike, surviving the gridlock has become as much a part of the festive season as…

Naeto C, the Nigerian singer, has opened up about the deliberate pause he took from his music career, citing a pivotal shift in personal priorities. In a recent interview on Beat FM, the ‘Ten Over Ten’ hitmaker revealed that his hiatus was a conscious choice, fundamentally shaped by his family. The ‘Kini Big Deal’ singer detailed how his perspective changed after he and his wife Nicole welcomed their first child in 2013, just a year after their marriage in 2012. “For different reasons you know, I think I wanted something different when I thought about my future and the kind…

The United States (US) government has suspended the processing of green card and citizenship applications submitted by Nigerians following Nigeria’s inclusion in an expanded list of countries facing immigration restrictions under a new directive by President Donald Trump. According to a report by CBS News, a US government official confirmed that the Trump administration has instructed the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to halt the consideration of immigration petitions from nationals of countries newly placed under the administration’s expanded travel restrictions, citing national security concerns and an ongoing review of vetting procedures. The directive follows a presidential proclamation…