Author: Olukayode Oke

Jude Bellingham Shines Again As Real Madrid Triumph Over Girona. Jude Bellingham continued his remarkable scoring streak in La Liga, finding the net for the fifth consecutive match as Real Madrid secured a 3-0 victory against Girona. The England international’s run has seen him become the first Real Madrid player to achieve this feat since Karim Benzema in 2021. Bellingham opened the scoring late in the first half, firing a precise shot on the bounce from 16 yards. The midfielder then showcased his playmaking ability, delivering a perfectly weighted through ball for Arda Güler, who slotted home Madrid’s second…

Guardiola Praises Manchester City’s Resilience In Palace Draw. Pep Guardiola expressed pride in his Manchester City side after a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace extended their challenging run of just one win in nine games. Despite twice coming from behind, the defending champions remain eight points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, having played a game more. Crystal Palace made a bright start at Selhurst Park, opening the scoring after just four minutes. Will Hughes delivered a precise pass to wing-back Daniel Muñoz, who drove the ball into the net, exploiting space in City’s defence. Palace continued…

Nottingham Forest Secure Historic Win At Old Trafford. Nottingham Forest stunned Manchester United with a 3-2 victory, marking their first triumph at Old Trafford in nearly 30 years. Defensive lapses by the home side proved costly, allowing Forest to capitalise and climb to fifth place in the Premier League. Rasmus Højlund briefly levelled the score after Nikola Milenković’s early opener, but Forest took control early in the second half, scoring twice in quick succession. The first of these came when Morgan Gibbs-White’s low drive deceived United goalkeeper André Onana, who misjudged the shot’s trajectory. Moments later, Chris Wood’s looping…

Lookman’s Late Heroics Propel Atalanta To Serie A Summit. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman delivered another match-winning performance on Friday night, scoring a dramatic late header to secure Atalanta’s 2-1 victory over AC Milan and restore their position at the top of the Serie A table. Lookman’s decisive goal, which came in the dying moments of the match, earned him his fifth Man of the Match award this season. It also highlighted his pivotal role in Atalanta’s pursuit of the Scudetto. The winning moment unfolded when Sead Kolasinac flicked an Atalanta corner to the back post. Lookman, perfectly positioned,…

EFCC Launches Investigation Into NFF Over Alleged Fund Mismanagement. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into allegations of abuse of office and fund diversion within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). In a letter dated 28 November 2024, addressed to the National Sports Commission (NSC), the EFCC requested detailed information on the NFF’s financial dealings and sponsorships. The letter, signed by Farouk Dogondaji on behalf of the EFCC chairman, emphasised the need for transparency to conclude the investigation. The anti-graft agency has asked the NSC to provide: – A list of sponsors for the NFF…

Everton Vs Liverpool Postponed Due To ‘Storm Darragh’. The highly anticipated Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, set to be the final meeting at Goodison Park, has been postponed due to safety concerns caused by severe weather conditions brought on by Storm Darragh. Authorities made the decision to call off the match, citing risks to public safety, as the storm continues to batter the region with high winds and heavy rainfall. The game, originally scheduled to take place this weekend, will be rescheduled, with a new date to be announced soon. Both clubs are expected to release official…

Ruben Amorim Aims To Rebuild Manchester United. Newly-appointed Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has described the club as “a massive club but not a massive team,” underscoring the challenges he faces in restoring the team’s status as a Premier League contender. Since Amorim’s arrival on 11 November, following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, United have shown improvement but remain far from their glory days. Their recent 2-0 defeat at Arsenal left them 13th in the Premier League table, offering a sobering reminder of the work ahead. “We’re not one of the best teams in the league,” Amorim…

Lionel Messi Crowned MLS Most Valuable Player. Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has been named Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Most Valuable Player (MVP), capping off a remarkable debut season with Inter Miami. The 37-year-old forward, who joined Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, played a pivotal role in transforming the club’s fortunes. Despite injuries limiting him to just 19 regular-season games and two play-off appearances, Messi led the league with an outstanding 36 goal contributions, comprising 20 goals and 16 assists. Under Messi’s influence, Inter Miami achieved a record points tally during the regular season. However, their campaign ended…

Governor Nasir Idris Of Kebbi Appoints 200 APC Youths As Special Assistants. In a move aimed at fostering inclusivity and youth empowerment, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has appointed 200 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Special Assistants. The appointees, comprising both men and women, received their appointment letters at the APC Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday. During the presentation, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru, praised Governor Idris for delivering on the promises made during his election campaign. He noted that the governor has fulfilled approximately 80% of his commitments, with plans to complete the…

Dele Farotimi’s Book Becomes Amazon Bestseller Amid Controversy. Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, authored by retired Nigerian lawyer Dele Farotimi, has soared to the number one spot on Amazon’s bestseller list in the global politics category. The book’s newfound popularity comes in the wake of Farotimi’s recent arrest, which has sparked widespread outrage and reignited public interest in his work. Farotimi was arrested earlier this week in Lagos by armed police on the orders of renowned lawyer and businessman Afe Babalola. He was subsequently transported to Ado Ekiti, where he remains in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled…

Governor AbdulRazaq Urges Kwara South Stakeholders To Prioritise Unity. Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has called on stakeholders in the Kwara South Senatorial District to maintain unity and collaboration to advance the socio-economic development of the region. Speaking via Zoom during a one-day summit organised by the Kwara South Development Initiative (KSDI) in Abuja, the governor expressed his full support for the initiative and highlighted his administration’s efforts to transform the state from a consumption-based economy to a productive one. The summit, themed on fostering socio-economic growth, reviewed the administration’s achievements in the district and encouraged further collaboration…

NFF Sparks Controversy With Re-appointment Of General Secretary. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has courted controversy with its decision to re-appoint Mohammed Sanusi as General Secretary for another three-year term, defying both presidential directives and civil service regulations. The move has raised questions about governance and accountability within Nigerian football. Sanusi, who has held the position since 2015, has faced allegations of corruption, mismanagement, incompetence, and nepotism throughout his tenure. Despite expectations that his term would conclude, the NFF extended his contract from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027, a decision that has been met with widespread criticism.…