Author: Gabby

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has voiced his outrage following Arsenal’s 1-1 stalemate against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg, claiming the Gunners were unfairly treated by the officiating. Speaking on BBC Radio 5, Sutton expressed frustration over a controversial penalty decision that was overturned after a VAR review.

The match at the Metropolitano saw both sides convert spot-kicks in the first and second halves, with Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez finding the net from 12 yards. However, the pivotal moment occurred when referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the penalty spot after Eberechi Eze went down in the box, only to reverse his call upon consulting the pitchside monitor.

“Arsenal have been absolutely robbed this evening,” Sutton declared. “People can argue the merits, but everyone watching the game tonight saw it. You can talk about Arsenal’s performance and what they lacked, but they would have been in an unbelievable position going into the second leg at the Emirates. Now they have plenty of work to do.”

The draw leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of next week’s return fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

Former Real Madrid star Steve McManaman has strongly criticized Diego Simeone’s conduct during Atletico Madrid’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Arsenal, which ended in a 1-1 draw. McManaman, speaking to TNT Sports, described the Argentine manager’s behavior as ‘terrible’ and ‘absolutely awful.’

Throughout the match at the Metropolitano, both Simeone and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta drew attention for their touchline actions. However, McManaman singled out Simeone for particular criticism, noting that the Spanish television director may have missed some incidents but viewers could still witness the intensity of the exchanges.

‘We could see, sometimes the cameras would not show it with the Spanish directors, but we could see what was going on,’ McManaman said. ‘His behavior, his number two and three with the officials, was terrible. Absolutely awful.’

Teko Modise, the ex-captain of South Africa, didn’t hold back his criticism of Ademola Lookman’s finishing after the Nigerian forward squandered a golden chance in Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the UCL semifinal first leg.

Lookman, who returned from injury to play the full match at the Wanda Metropolitano, had a clear opportunity in the 53rd minute but shot straight at Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

Speaking on SuperSport, Modise said Lookman could have done better and needs to think faster under pressure. He suggested the player should have chosen a better angle to force Raya into a more difficult save.

Despite the miss, Lookman remains a key figure for Atletico since joining from Atalanta in the winter, with two goals and two assists in seven UCL appearances this season.

As the tie moves to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg, Lookman will be eager to rediscover his scoring touch and help Atletico book a place in the final.

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard has praised Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice for his commanding performance during the Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match at the Metropolitano, Gerrard highlighted Rice’s influence on the game.

According to Gerrard, Rice was outstanding, particularly in the opening 45 minutes. He described the England international as dominant in all phases of play, whether in or out of possession. The former midfielder noted that Rice operated in a deeper role than usual, dropping between the centre-backs to provide an extra man in buildup, a tactical adjustment to counter Atletico’s two-man press.

The match ended in a 1-1 stalemate, with goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez coming from the penalty spot. The second leg is set to take place next week, with everything to play for.

Arsenal etched their name into the history books on Wednesday evening, securing a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Metropolitano Stadium. The result not only keeps their European dreams alive but also sees them equal a long-standing club milestone.

Goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez ensured the spoils were shared in a tightly contested affair. The Swedish striker opened the scoring for the Gunners, but the Spanish side responded through Alvarez to leave the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture.

OptaJoe reports that this result extends Arsenal’s unbeaten streak in the European Cup/Champions League to 13 matches, matching their previous best run set between March 2005 and April 2006. Mikel Arteta’s men have shown remarkable consistency on the continent, and this latest landmark underscores their progress under the Spanish tactician.

Attention now turns to domestic duties, with Arsenal set to host Fulham at the Emirates Stadium this weekend. That Premier League encounter serves as a crucial warm-up before the decisive second leg against Atletico Madrid, which will also take place in North London. Arteta will be eager to maintain momentum and secure a place in the final.

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has thrown his weight behind Paris Saint-Germain as the team most likely to lift the Champions League trophy this season. The English football icon shared his thoughts during an appearance on TNT Sports, emphasizing that the French powerhouse is exceptionally tough to overcome when performing at their peak.

Gerrard’s endorsement comes on the heels of PSG’s thrilling 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of the semi-finals. That result has only strengthened the belief that the Parisians have what it takes to go all the way. When pressed on which club he would wager on for the ultimate prize, Gerrard admitted that PSG has been his top pick from the very beginning.

“I haven’t placed any money on it, but my choice has always been PSG,” Gerrard stated. Having watched them narrowly miss out last year, he remains convinced that their best form is virtually unbeatable. The Reds legend highlighted their ability to dominate games as a key factor in his prediction.

Despite their advantage, PSG still face a stern test in the second leg at the Allianz Arena. A commanding performance will be required to fend off Bayern Munich and secure a spot in the final. Gerrard’s faith in the Ligue 1 champions, however, remains unshaken as they aim to conquer Europe’s premier club competition.

Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina has opened up about his decision to switch international allegiance from England to Nigeria, citing his family heritage as the driving force. The defender, born in Southwark to Nigerian parents, represented England at youth levels from U16 to U20 and was called up to the U21 squad in 2015. However, before earning a cap for the U21s, he accepted an invitation to train with the Super Eagles in London in March 2017 and ultimately chose to play for Nigeria.

Aina explained that the choice was made when he was around 20 years old, emphasizing that his parents’ origins and his cultural roots made the decision natural. ‘It’s where my parents are from; that’s my heritage,’ he said in an interview with Nottingham Forest’s YouTube channel. ‘The opportunity came, and I felt it was the right time, so I embraced it fully.’

Due to being provisionally tied to England, FIFA had to approve his switch before he could debut for Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier against Zambia in October 2017. Aina noted that his family takes immense pride in seeing him wear the Super Eagles jersey, often more than he does himself. ‘For me, it’s a privilege and an honor. Playing for them is truly remarkable,’ he added.

Aina was a key figure in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, where his performances earned him a spot in the tournament’s official Team of the Tournament. He currently represents Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Sunday Oliseh, a former midfielder for the Super Eagles, has paid tribute to the late Stephen Keshi, describing him as the country’s original football icon. Oliseh highlighted Keshi’s extraordinary leadership, professionalism, and influence both on and off the pitch.

Keshi enjoyed a stellar playing career that spanned clubs in Nigeria like ACB and New Nigerian Bank, as well as international stints with Stade d’Abidjan, Africa Sports, Lokeren, Anderlecht, and Strasbourg. He made history as the first Nigerian to feature in a major UEFA club competition final, playing the full 90 minutes as Sampdoria defeated Anderlecht 2-0 in the 1990 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

On the international stage, Keshi represented Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984 and 1988, and was part of the triumphant 1994 Super Eagles squad, even though he didn’t feature in the final. Oliseh noted that Keshi’s talent was never in doubt—his performances spoke for themselves and elevated him to legendary status.

“He led by example. If the team was told to wear green shirts, he would wear a green shirt. He was disciplined and a winner,” Oliseh remarked. “He made it clear to everyone that he had a family to support and needed to earn money. If you weren’t on board, he’d lose income—that was his mindset.”

Oliseh added, “We never questioned his ability because you could see his performances. He was the first superstar of Nigerian football. At one point, he would fly in from Belgium for Nations Cup matches, play, and then return to his club. That shows how significant he was, and Nigeria supported it because they wanted their best player involved.”

Watching as kids on television, Oliseh said they all recognized Keshi as a superstar, and his teammates accepted that status.

The Lagos State Police Command has showcased 118 individuals taken into custody from various locations within the state. They are accused of being involved in offenses such as cult membership, armed robbery, murder, abduction, vandalism, unlawful firearm possession, street violence, and other criminal acts.

During the parade on Wednesday, Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani informed journalists that the arrests resulted from persistent intelligence-led operations and targeted raids on known crime hotspots in Lagos.

Among those presented was Emmanuel Ogbu, 38, who reportedly admitted to resuming cult activities after previously serving a prison term in 2018 for a similar crime. The police indicated that his case highlights a broader pattern of repeat offending under investigation.

The command revealed that coordinated actions on April 27, 2026, in Ilasan, Lekki, and Maroko led to the detention of 58 suspects believed to be involved in street violence, phone theft, armed assaults, and resident harassment along the Lekki corridor. Authorities stated that the suspects allegedly operated in groups, preying on unsuspecting people, particularly in traffic areas, where they would steal phones and other valuables before escaping.

Items recovered from the suspects include 11 locally made Beretta pistols, one cut-to-size pistol, one standard Beretta pistol, two Dane guns, nine telecom power batteries, four cutlasses, one knife, 21 bags of suspected cannabis, various charms, and other incriminating evidence.

In a separate case, police arrested two individuals, Elijah Emmanuel, 23, and Tony Ekwane Oghanetega, 21, linked to a kidnapping in the Lucy Fibre area of Ikorodu. Investigators allege they were involved in the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Thomson Omokhafe Adams on April 22, 2026. The suspects are also connected to a kidnapping and killing on November 30, 2025, where a female victim was allegedly murdered after a ransom of N300,000 was paid.

The police commissioner also discussed an investigation into the theft of over 650 telecom power assets between 2025 and 2026. This probe led to the arrest of Orji Emeka in Ikeja, who reportedly directed officers to Alausa where Obiagwu Kingsley was captured, while Oluwatosin Sani was taken into custody in the Gbogbo area of Ikorodu, with nine telecom power batteries recovered.

Additionally, the command confirmed the arrest of eight suspected cultists during a raid in Iwaya on April 22, 2026, and 20 others linked to cult-related violence and armed robbery on Lagos Island on April 20, 2026. The police believe these suspects belong to rival groups like Aiye and Eiye and were involved in violent clashes earlier in April.

Tijani stated that investigations continue, and all suspects will be brought before the court after interrogations and forensic examinations are complete.

The Lagos State Government has introduced a cutting-edge digital solution, the Lagos Emergency Responder Management System (LERMS), designed to enhance collaboration among emergency agencies and drastically cut down on response times throughout the state.

Announced during a launch event at the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic Conference Hall in Alausa, Ikeja, the system was presented as a major leap forward for public safety. Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, emphasized that the initiative directly tackles the coordination gaps that often plague emergency management in a densely populated urban hub like Lagos.

“LERMS unifies various emergency response layers into a single, integrated ecosystem, ensuring that first responders can work together seamlessly,” Oyerinde stated. He highlighted that the platform incorporates the EKO HELP distress system, enabling residents to report incidents via mobile apps, USSD, SMS, and other channels. It also interconnects agencies such as LASAMBUS, LASTMA, the Fire Service, and security outfits, facilitating rapid communication and action during crises.

The system features a centralized control center for efficient call handling and an alert system to keep the public informed during emergencies. Additionally, the Ambulance Services Management Module allows real-time tracking of hospital bed availability, ambulance deployment, and healthcare personnel coordination.

“The benefits are clear: faster response, improved coordination, optimized resource allocation, and better data-driven decision-making, which ultimately saves lives and property,” Oyerinde added.

Permanent Secretary Sesan Ogundeko noted that the launch serves as an introduction for emergency responders ahead of a full rollout to residents. He pointed out that one of the system’s key advantages is its ability to automatically transmit a caller’s precise location to responders, eliminating the delays often caused by trying to verbally describe incident sites.

“Your device will automatically share your location with responders, so there’s no more wasted time describing where an incident occurred,” Ogundeko explained. The platform will instantly connect victims to the nearest available responder, ensuring faster assistance.

Ogundeko revealed that the current average response time of 12 to 13 minutes is expected to drop to between five and seven minutes, aligning Lagos more closely with global benchmarks. He likened the system to ride-hailing apps, where the closest driver is matched to a request.

The government frames the LERMS deployment as a key component of its broader smart city vision, leveraging technology to enhance public services.

General Manager of the Lagos State Command and Control Centre (LSCCC), Giwa Kennedy, described LERMS as a groundbreaking improvement in emergency management. He explained that the platform connects residents, responders, and the command center through multiple channels, including Interactive Voice Response (IVR), SMS, USSD, social media, and the Eko Help app.

“The system is powered by advanced artificial intelligence that verifies the authenticity of calls and incidents, which helps reduce false alarms and boosts efficiency,” Kennedy said. He added that responders will benefit from tools that enable better mobile communication, vehicle tracking, and equipment management for more coordinated operations.

The platform also features a resident notification system to keep the public updated during emergencies, while improving medical response by monitoring hospital capacity and directing resources where they are most needed.

Kennedy called the system a paradigm shift from traditional emergency handling, offering a more inclusive, technology-driven approach. “With multiple reporting channels and location-tracking capabilities, responders can now reach incident scenes faster without the delays of describing locations,” he noted.

Residents are encouraged to adopt the system and use it responsibly as the government ramps up awareness campaigns ahead of its full-scale implementation.