Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) confirmed that players will now be released no later than December 15, easing concerns across European leagues. The verdict means that Super Eagles stalwarts Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and others who are set to compete in Morocco will be available for club duty later in the Christmas season. Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, teams faced the possibility of losing their African players as early as December 8, a scenario that drew criticism from some European clubs. In a statement seen by our correspondent, FIFA stated that the change was made…

Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his retirement from international football after a decade with the Super Eagles in an emotional statement released Thursday. Writing on Instagram, he expressed thanks for the opportunity to represent Nigeria, characterizing it as the greatest privilege of his career and reaffirming that, while his time on the pitch has come to an end, his support for the team will continue as he looks forward to the next chapter. “Honored. Grateful. Forever a Super Eagle. Playing for Nigeria has been the greatest privilege of my life,” Ekong said. “The journey may end here, but my…

Edibo Mark, Chairman of Omala Local Government Area in Kogi State, has ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew due to rising security concerns in the council area. The curfew, which lasts from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day, went into effect on December 2 and will continue until further notice. The council also announced 24-hour security surveillance and increased patrols throughout all communities. In a statement issued on Thursday, Mark stated that the step was necessary to protect lives and property following recent security breaches. “To strengthen safety measures, security agencies are directed to intensify checks at entry points. All border…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday sent a fresh batch of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The request came just 24 hours after the upper house began vetting a previous set of three ambassadorial nominations. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter in plenary, saying Tinubu asked lawmakers to give the nominations immediate consideration. Tinubu requested that the Senate “consider and confirm expeditiously” 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors. “I am pleased to present for confirmation the list of the 32 ambassadorial nominees for the positions of career ambassadors, non-career ambassadors, and high commissioners,” the letter…

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, denounced what he called a “vicious media campaign” against Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence. In a message made on his official X account on Thursday, Fani-Kayode described the purported opposition-led attacks on Matawalle as “shameless and nauseating.” Fani-Kayode stated that the minister has displayed outstanding allegiance to President Bola Tinubu and commitment to the battle against terrorism since taking office. He argued that the partnership between Matawalle and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had yielded significant gains in the counter-terrorism war. He said, “The combination of him and NSA @NuhuRibadu…

President Bola Tinubu has praised the Senate for quickly confirming General Christopher Musa (retd.) as the new Minister of Defence, hailing the appointment as timely and critical for the country. Tinubu stated in a post on his official X on Thursday that he transmitted Musa’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation two days ago. He spoke of the former Chief of Defence Staff as “a fine gentleman” whose leadership will be critical in tackling the country’s present security issues. He wrote, “Two days ago, I transmitted the name of General Christopher G. Musa, our immediate past Chief of…

The US announced a visa ban targeting groups and individuals linked to the killings of Nigerian Christians in response to escalating violence and persecution. The US Department of State announced actions on Wednesday to combat what it called “mass killings and attacks against Christians in Nigeria.” The move indicates that the US is considering imposing visa restrictions on individuals and groups involved in the violence. “The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and attacks on Christians carried out by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani militias, and other violent groups in Nigeria and beyond,” said Secretary…

Liverpool salvaged a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Wednesday thanks to a deflected Florian Wirtz goal, but the defending Premier League winners put up another poor performance. The Reds appeared to be heading for another defeat after Chemsdine Talbi’s opening, but they battled their way back to secure a point thanks to a moment of magic from their German summer signing. Liverpool were uninspired once again in the first 45 minutes of the game, failing to create much in the final third, while Sunderland offered glimpses of the threat that has helped them enjoy such a positive start to the…

Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka were on target as Arsenal beat Brentford to restore their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Manager Mikel Arteta made three changes to his side that drew with Chelsea on Sunday, with Ben White, Noni Madueke, and captain Martin Odegaard coming in. It was White and Madueke who combined in the buildup at 11 minutes, with right-back White crossing for Arsenal’s makeshift forward Merino to head home. Merino plays regularly as Arsenal’s forward because of injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Viktor Gyokeres, and his goal was his 13th in…

Leeds ended a four-game losing streak, denting Chelsea’s Premier League title hopes in a comfortable 3-1 victory over the Blues. The Blues tumbled to fourth place, nine points behind leaders Arsenal, following a dismal performance at Elland Road. With manager Daniel Farke under pressure, the hosts dominated the first half, scoring twice, including the first Premier League goals for Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka. Chelsea recovered at the start of the second half, and halftime substitute Pedro Neto equalized in the 50th minute, but Enzo Maresca’s side suffered a major setback when they allowed a third goal in the 72nd…