Author: Gabby

Inter Milan icon Wesley Sneijder has shared his forecast for the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, suggesting a dominant victory for the French side.

The former Dutch midfielder, speaking to Hard Rock Bet and reported by Metro UK, highlighted Arsenal’s full-backs as a potential weakness. According to Sneijder, PSG’s strength on the flanks, particularly the left side, could prove decisive.

Arsenal secured their spot in the Budapest final by overcoming Atletico Madrid, while PSG defeated Bayern Munich. Sneijder believes the Gunners’ defense will struggle to contain PSG’s attacking threats, predicting a scoreline of 3-0 or 4-0 in favor of the Parisians.

However, he did not rule out an Arsenal victory entirely, stating that a narrow 1-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s side would be a ‘great job.’ Nonetheless, he emphasized that avoiding conceding against PSG will be extremely challenging.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has addressed the contentious VAR decision that played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s narrow victory against West Ham United. The Gunners secured a 1-0 win thanks to a late goal from Leandro Trossard, but the match ended in controversy when Callum Wilson’s equalizer was disallowed after a VAR review.

Speaking about the incident, Guardiola highlighted the challenges referees face when players engage in physical battles during set pieces. He stopped short of criticizing the decision directly, instead emphasizing the difficulty officials have in such situations.

Despite the result putting Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City with just two games remaining, Guardiola remained focused on his team’s upcoming match against Crystal Palace. He stressed the importance of concentrating on what they can control and improving their performance to stay in the title race.

The City manager’s comments come amid widespread debate over the use of VAR in the Premier League, with many questioning the consistency of decisions in high-stakes games. However, Guardiola refused to dwell on the controversy, insisting that his side must focus on their own fixtures and push for the title until the very end.

The Nigeria Football Federation’s Refereeing Development Committee has taken disciplinary action against referee Yakubu Adamu, barring him from officiating any league or football-related activities. According to an announcement on the official X handle of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Adamu was punished for awarding a penalty during the match between Rangers International and Bendel Insurance that violated the Laws of the Game.

The committee determined that the official’s call directly influenced the final result of the encounter. Additionally, it was stated that Adamu’s conduct brought the sport into disrepute. In the matchday 37 fixture, Rangers secured a 2-1 victory, thereby retaining their position at the summit of the NPFL standings.

With the season reaching its climax, the Flying Antelopes and Rivers United are set to contend for the championship on the concluding matchday. Rangers will travel to face Ikorodu City, while Rivers United will host Katsina United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Joe Cole, the former Chelsea midfielder, has outlined a transfer strategy for his old club that prioritizes experience over youth. Under BlueCo’s ownership, the Blues have focused on acquiring young talent, but Cole believes this approach has left the squad short on leadership. He suggests Chelsea should target three seasoned players, all over 30, to provide immediate support.

Among his recommendations is Robert Lewandowski, the 35-year-old Barcelona striker. Cole envisions the Polish star bringing his goal-scoring prowess to Stamford Bridge, potentially on a one-year contract. He argues that Lewandowski could easily handle 35 games per season while mentoring younger forwards like Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Cole also points to John Stones, the Manchester City defender, as a prime candidate. The 31-year-old is reportedly set to leave the Etihad at the end of the season, and Cole believes his experience would be invaluable to Chelsea’s defensive line.

In addition, Cole has renewed his call for Jordan Henderson, whom he previously suggested last summer—a suggestion that was met with laughter. Now playing for Brentford, Henderson’s impact is clear, according to Cole. He emphasized that the 35-year-old midfielder sets the tone and elevates those around him, despite not always making headlines. Cole stressed that Chelsea’s young players lack such guidance, highlighting the need for seasoned professionals who can provide intangible qualities off the pitch.

The Blues currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, and their European qualification hangs in the balance. Cole’s advice comes as Chelsea prepare for an FA Cup final against Manchester City, following a 1-1 draw with Liverpool. The addition of experienced heads, he believes, could steady the ship for the upcoming season.

Following the abrupt cancellation of their UK training camp, Nigeria’s Super Falcons have swiftly arranged a new friendly against a fellow WAFCON 2026 competitor. The team, led by coach Justine Madugu, originally planned to face Jamaica at the end of the month as part of their build-up to the African championship. However, administrative hurdles forced the Caribbean side to withdraw.

In response, the Nigerian women’s national team will now host a two-legged friendly series against one of the qualified teams for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The matches are scheduled for the international window from June 7th to 14th, giving the Falcons valuable preparation time.

The Super Falcons are gearing up for WAFCON 2026, set to take place in Morocco from July 25th to August 16th. Nigeria aims to secure an unprecedented 11th continental title. They have been placed in Group C alongside Malawi, Zambia, and Egypt, and these friendlies will be crucial in fine-tuning their tactics and squad cohesion.

Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has called on the club to secure the signature of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson when the transfer market reopens this summer. The former midfielder expressed his belief that Anderson could form an impactful partnership with Kobbie Mainoo in United’s engine room for the upcoming season.

Speaking on TalkSPORT’s morning show, Scholes shared his admiration for the young talent, noting he has followed Anderson’s progress since his time at Newcastle. However, the ex-England star emphasized that United require more than just one addition in the middle of the park. He stated that while Anderson would be a valuable acquisition, he hopes to see a double act of Anderson alongside Mainoo anchoring the midfield next term.

The Red Devils are expected to reinforce their midfield department in the summer transfer window, especially with Casemiro set to leave the club at the end of the current campaign. This impending departure opens the door for fresh recruits to step into the engine room. Scholes’ recommendation points to a young, dynamic pairing that could energize United’s play from the center of the pitch.

Shooting Stars forward Lucky Emmanuel has expressed confidence that the team can secure a spot in continental competitions. Speaking after a crucial 1-0 win over Barau FC in Ibadan, Emmanuel praised his teammates for keeping their continental dreams alive. The victory has put the Oluyole Warriors in a strong position as they prepare to face Niger Tornadoes away at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna this weekend.

Emmanuel emphasized the importance of the upcoming match, stating that the entire squad is focused on earning all three points to achieve their goal of qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup. The forward acknowledged the stiff competition from Ikorodu City, who are also vying for the same ticket, but remained optimistic about Shooting Stars’ chances.

Meanwhile, Rangers and Rivers United have already secured their places in the CAF Champions League for the next season, leaving the remaining continental slots up for grabs. Emmanuel described the season finale against Niger Tornadoes as a must-win encounter and called on his teammates to give their best performance. He also thanked the fans for their unwavering support throughout the season.

In a candid discussion with Jay On-Air, Nollywood actress and producer Bolaji Ogunmola shared her perspective on the challenges of creating movies for YouTube. She argued that the platform was not originally designed to host cinematic works, making it a costly and risky venture for filmmakers.

Ogunmola highlighted the steep expenses involved, noting that actors demand between N4 million and N5 million for just four days of work, with the lowest fees starting at N1 million to N2 million. She pointed out that many fans mistakenly believe producers rake in huge profits from videos that amass millions of views, but the reality is far from that.

She also called on Nigerians to offer constructive feedback instead of harsh criticism, emphasizing that every YouTube film, no matter how poorly received, required significant financial investment. “Even the worst film on YouTube cost money to make,” she stressed.

According to Ogunmola, Nigeria stands out as the only country that produces movies specifically for YouTube, a situation she attributes to the nation’s poor film distribution system. This unique reliance on the platform, she explained, stems from the lack of alternative channels to reach audiences.

Popular Nigerian content creator English Alhaji has taken to social media to express grave concerns for his security following direct threats from bandits. In a recent Instagram video, the digital personality revealed that he received a WhatsApp video call from armed criminals who confronted him about his earlier statements advocating for lethal action against them.

Just over a week ago, English Alhaji publicly praised the youth of Achepe community in Nasarawa State for repelling a bandit attack. However, he strongly criticized them for surrendering captured bandits to the military, arguing that the assailants should have been executed on the spot. He accused the military of potentially reintegrating the terrorists into society and called on locals to eliminate any bandits they apprehend rather than hand them over to authorities.

Now, in a troubling turn of events, English Alhaji shared a portion of the phone conversation he had with the bandits. During the call, the criminals showed him ammunition and explicitly warned him that if they ever capture him, they will treat him the same way he advised others to treat them. He described the danger he now faces, noting that the bandits obtained his contact details from his public Facebook page and called him without any hesitation. They questioned why he encourages people to kill them instead of turning them in, and they made it clear that such advice would not go unpunished.

The video has since gone viral, sparking widespread discussion on social media about the safety of online influencers and the boldness of criminal elements in Nigeria. English Alhaji remains visibly shaken and has urged his followers to stay vigilant as he deals with the ongoing threats.

Michael Collins Ajereh, widely recognized as Don Jazzy, has firmly dismissed allegations that his label, Mavin Records, shows preferential treatment to certain artists. During a recent appearance on the Crea8torium podcast, the celebrated producer argued that it would be financially illogical for a record company to invest in talent only to neglect them in favor of others.

He emphasized that artists who release fewer songs or receive less attention are often making personal choices rather than being sidelined by the label. According to Don Jazzy, many musicians struggle with imposter syndrome and excessive self-doubt, leading them to wrongly perceive unequal treatment.

“We often see comments claiming we don’t prioritize certain artists, but that’s completely false,” he stated. “It’s like taking my money and throwing it away. We invest in people to generate profit for both them and us. The notion that we would sign artists and then not support them is unrealistic.”

He further explained that if an artist under Mavin releases only one or two songs a year, it is by their own choice. “If an artist has a thousand songs ready, we can release them. Many of them suffer from imposter syndrome—it’s a human thing. They panic and overanalyze. But there is absolutely no favoritism at Mavin,” Jazzy concluded.