Author: Opalim Lifted

Three-time African Cup of Nations champions, Nigeria failed to secure the fourth title as Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro’s contract ended after the AFCON tournament. The Portuguese tactician led the Super Eagles in memorable top-flight games in the just-concluded tournament as host Ivory Coast beat Nigeria to emerge as 2013 AFCON champions with a 2-1 victory on Sunday. Adepoju Tobi, accredited FIFA and CAF photo journalists, revealed that “sources inside the Super Eagles camp are suggesting a lot of players are considering retirement. He disclosed that “Jose Peseiro’s contract also ends with the AFCON. Tobi suggested that “this is the…

Former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mohammed Sanusi, has said it is an injustice to blame the administration of President Bola Tinubu for the current economic hardship the country is facing. Sanusi said the country is battling a failing economy due to the mismanaged economic policies of the past eight years. He stated this while speaking virtually on Sunday at a religious event in Abuja. He said he would not join those who are bent on criticising Tinubu over the current economic challenges in the country. Sanusi said, “I have been, over the years, talking about the pending crisis ahead…

Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong was named the best player of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following his commanding display for Nigeria at the tournament. Troost-Ekong scored three goals at the tournament, including one in the final, which unfortunately wasn’t enough to guide Nigeria to a fourth AFCON title. The defender rose high in the 37th minute to head Nigeria in front from a corner kick, but the Eagles were undone by two second-half goals from Frank Kessie and Sebastien Haller, which won the Ivorians their third title after wins in 1992 and 2015. Troost-Ekong, 31, only missed…

Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has lamented the Super Eagles’ 2-1 defeat in the hands of Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Sunday, describing it as a disappointing and frustrating end. He, however, apologized to Nigerians for the loss. Nwabali made his position known in a post on Instagram. AFCON 2023: Chippa United boss support for Nwabali, Super Eagles sparks outrage Nigeria initially took the lead in the 18th minute through a header from William Troost-Ekong, but Ivory Coast equalized in the 63rd minute and secured the winning goal in the 87th minute,…

Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida came under scrutiny from Nigerians for his performance during the final of the 2023 AFCON match between the Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on Sunday. Chronicle NG reports that Ivory Coast defeated the Nigeria 2-1 to claim their third title. The officiating at the tournament has been commended all over the world, particularly the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but Beida was caught in the midst of some poor decisions against Nigeria during the encounter, which many said tainted the tournament. In front of over 60,000 fans, mostly…

Arsenal thrashed West Ham United 6-0 away on Sunday to stay in the Premier League title chase, annihilating their opponents before halftime. Mikel Arteta’s team had lost twice to their London rivals this season but led 4-0 at halftime with goals from William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel, and Leandro Trossard. The punishment continued in the second half, with Saka making it 5-0 before former West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, who assisted two goals in the first half, scored his team’s sixth on a day of humiliation for the hosts. It was a sublime display by Arsenal who wiped off a…

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday mourned the demise of Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Holdings, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, with shock and deep distress. Tinubu described their passing as “an overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension.” The founder How Foundation, and chairman Nigerian Exchange Group were reported to be aboard the helicopter that was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night, killing four other passengers on board. The president eulogizes Wigwe and Ogunbanjo as exceptional Nigerian business leaders. Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser…

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash in the United States on Friday, appeared to have a premonition of his death. In a cryptic January 19, 2024 post on X, a day after the burial of Abdul Imoyo, head of media at Access Bank, Wigwe admonished his followers and members of the public to appreciate life, saying, ‘Let us number our days.’ He wrote, “Today and always, let us remember that life is a precious gift—a chance to breathe, feel, love, experience, and connect. “Let’s honour this gift by living with…

The National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabiru Ibrahim, has advised peasants to establish special vigilantes and protect themselves from attacks. He stated this against the backdrop of rising insecurity across parts of the country, which has resulted in the high cost of foodstuffs. While farmers allay the fears of bandit attacks in the North, the herder-farmer crisis is dominant in the South-West. In the South-East, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra have been accused of causing the insecurity situation in the South-East. For instance, it was gathered that bandits had taken over most farms in…

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, is dead. Wigwe was reported to be aboard a helicopter that crashed in California, United States, on Friday night. The chopper was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night, killing five other passengers on board. However, it’s not confirmed whether Wigwe’s wife or children were involved. The New York Times reports that no survivors have been located as of Saturday morning, the authorities said. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disclosed that a helicopter crashed Friday night near Nipton,…