Author: Opalim Lifted

The Europa League league phase concluded on Thursday, confirming the 24 clubs that will continue their European journey and setting the stage for a decisive knockout run-in. Eight teams finished at the top of the table to secure automatic qualification to the round of 16, avoiding the extra hurdle of the play-offs. French side Olympique Lyonnais topped the standings, edging out Aston Villa, who impressed to finish second. Denmark’s Midtjylland and Spain’s Real Betis also claimed direct passage, alongside Portuguese duo Porto and Braga. Germany’s Freiburg and Italy’s AS Roma completed the elite top eight. Clubs ranked ninth to 16th…

Aston Villa fought back from 2-0 down to beat Red Bull Salzburg and finish second in the Europa League league phase, but Ollie Watkins was forced off to compound their injury issues. Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba’s first senior goal earned a late victory for the hosts, who had already qualified for the last 16, at Villa Park. Karim Konate and Moussa Yeo had put the visitors in charge, before Morgan Rogers cut the deficit and Tyrone Mings levelled with 15 minutes remaining, then 19-year-old Jimoh-Aloba struck late on. However, striker Watkins came off with a hamstring problem and could now join the…

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will deliver the inaugural Igbobi College Old Boys’ Association (ICOBA) Public Lecture as part of the activities commemorating the school’s 94th Founders’ Day celebration. The event is scheduled for February 2, 2026, at the Rev. Angus Memorial Hall, Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos. The day’s proceedings will feature a Founders’ Day communion service at 8:00 a.m. in the school chapel. Osinbajo, a distinguished alumnus of Igbobi College, will deliver an address on the theme: “Endowment as Legacy: Building Generational Strength for Educational Institutions in Nigeria.” The lecture will mark the official launch…

Alexer Peres, the estranged wife of singer Harrysong, has announced her decision to forgo custody of their two young children following a recent court order. In a video shared on Instagram, the entrepreneur expressed distress over the legal development, accusing the singer of deliberately frustrating her efforts at co-parenting. “He comes to my house unannounced and harasses me everywhere. At this point, I am tired,” she said. Alexer strongly objected to the court granting custody to Harrysong, questioning his availability and capacity as a parent. “He is barely around. It’s his house helps that are usually there. He just wants…

The federal government’s N58.47 trillion 2026 appropriation bill has passed second reading at the House of Representatives. The money bill scaled second reading during Thursday’s plenary after the House reconvened from over 30 minutes of executive session. Julius Ihonvbere, lawmaker representing Owan federal constituency and majority leader, moved the motion for the consideration of the budget. Presenting the bill’s general principles, Ihonvbere described the budget as part of a long and difficult journey towards peace, growth, stability, and sustainable development. He said true development must be sustainable, noting that temporary progress does not amount to real development. The majority leader…

Ghana’s cedi is expected to weaken further next week on firm corporate demand, while Nigeria’s naira is seen holding steady and Kenya’s shilling is likely to remain stable, reflecting mixed currency trends across sub-Saharan Africa, traders said. Ghana The cedi is forecast to depreciate in the coming week, pressured by steady corporate demand from the energy, services, and construction sectors. On Thursday, the cedi traded at 10.97, compared to 10.85 a week ago, according to London Stock Exchange data. “The local currency remains under mild pressure, with FX demand persistently outpacing supply,” said Ronald Mensah, a trader at Stanbic Bank…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended Pape Thiaw, Senegal’s head coach, for five games and fined him $100,000 for “unsporting conduct” after he ordered his players to leave the pitch during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco. In a ruling announced on Thursday, CAF also fined the Senegalese federation $615,000 for the team’s conduct and the behaviour of the country’s fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium during the final. The CAF disciplinary committee also sanctioned two Senegalese players — Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr — with two-game suspensions for “unsporting behaviour towards the referee”.…

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), says Turkish officials were “shocked” to learn that President Bola Tinubu’s stumble in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, became a major issue back home. Tinubu stumbled on Tuesday during a welcome ceremony in Ankara as he walked alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Officials quickly assisted the Nigerian leader and helped him regain his balance. After the band rendered both countries’ anthems, there was a moment when the Turkish president used his hands to adjust Tinubu’s posture to properly face the band. The stumble made headlines across Nigerian dailies, blogs, and social media.…

The naira continued its steady recovery on Wednesday, strengthening to N1,400.47 against the US dollar at Nigeria’s official foreign exchange market. Data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) showed the currency gained 75 kobo, or 0.05 per cent, from the N1,401.22 recorded on January 27. It is the first time the naira has traded at the N1,400 level since May 2024. This performance also marks the strongest showing for the local currency since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the electronic foreign exchange matching system (EFEMS), designed to improve transparency and price discovery in the FX market. The…

Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says his principal controls the political structure in Rivers state. Speaking on Wednesday during his appearance on the Morning Brief, a programme on Channels TV, Olayinka described Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, as a weak politician who lacks a firm grip on the state’s political structure. He said Wike controls the LG and state assembly structures, adding that Fubara should “prostrate” before the FCT minister. “If I am a minister and you are a governor, and I can control your house of assembly, then something is…