Category: Entertainment

Nasarawa United’s technical adviser, Mbwas Mangut, has expressed pride in his squad’s efforts following their departure from the President Federation Cup. The Solid Miners fell 4-2 to Ikorodu City in Benin City on Wednesday after the match ended 1-1 in regular time.

Mangut acknowledged that his team had numerous opportunities to score but were unable to convert them. “We leave the President Federation Cup with our heads held high,” Mangut stated after the contest. “The players gave their all. We didn’t truly lose this match; the penalty shootout simply didn’t go our way today. Rest assured, we will return next season stronger and more prepared.”

Marc Cucurella has shared insights into the conversation that sealed his transfer to Real Madrid, revealing that a phone call from Jose Mourinho eliminated any hesitation. The defender, who completed a £52 million switch from Chelsea, admitted that the opportunity to join the Spanish giants was too significant to pass up.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Cucurella stated, ‘When Madrid came calling, I didn’t hesitate. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Playing for Real Madrid is an honor that few experience, so I had no second thoughts.’

He elaborated on his discussion with Mourinho, saying, ‘He expressed a strong desire to work with me, assured me that I would fit in perfectly, and emphasized that Madrid is an exceptional club. I’m eagerly anticipating collaborating with him.’

Cucurella is among several high-profile acquisitions already secured by Real Madrid this summer, including Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate, with Denzel Dumfries expected to follow shortly.

King Osanga, captain of Nasarawa United, expressed his deep disappointment following the team’s elimination from the President Federation Cup. The Solid Miners were edged out by Ikorodu City on penalties in the semifinal clash held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Wednesday.

After a tense 90 minutes, the scoreline stood at 1-1, forcing the match to be decided from the spot. Ikorodu City proved more clinical, winning 4-2 in the shootout. Ayoola Ibrahim broke the deadlock for Ikorodu City in the 11th minute, but Bright Amadi restored parity for Nasarawa United just four minutes before halftime.

Osanga could not mask his frustration after the defeat. “This is truly heartbreaking, no question about it. Our goal was to bring a trophy back for our loyal supporters and fans, but fate had other plans,” he told the club’s media team. “We have grown, we have competed with the best, and we have built something special here. Everyone is hurting, but we must move past this pain and focus on rebuilding for next season.”

Idah Azonsou, the head coach of Benin’s U-17 women’s national team, has expressed strong belief that his squad can overcome Nigeria’s Flamingos to qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Despite acknowledging Nigeria’s dominance in women’s football, Azonsou is optimistic about his team’s chances.

The Young Amazons kicked off their preparations for the crucial two-legged tie on Monday at the Missérété Excellence Centre. Training sessions will continue this weekend in Lome as the team ramps up for the encounter.

Azonsou stated, “We recognize that Nigeria is a powerhouse in women’s football and has a strong track record at this level. That’s why we are putting in maximum effort to face them and, with any luck, achieve a historic qualification for the U-17 World Cup.”

The first leg is scheduled for Saturday, 4 July, at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Nigeria. The return match will take place a week later in Kegue, Benin.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria, reigning African champions, have held onto their 36th position in the most recent FIFA women’s world rankings, according to reports. Under the guidance of coach Justine Madugu, the team also keeps its status as the top-ranked squad on the African continent.

Impressive Friendly Results – Earlier this month, the Nigerian women’s team played two international friendlies against Senegal. They secured a 2-1 victory in the first match, with standout performances from Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne finding the net. The second friendly saw an even more dominant display, as the Falcons triumphed 3-0, thanks to a brace from Joy Omewa and another goal from Oshoala.

Top Five in Africa – The leading teams on the continent also include South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, and Zambia, who round out the top five positions. The Nigerian side remains ahead of these rivals in the rankings.

Next Update Scheduled – The subsequent FIFA women’s world rankings are expected to be published on October 20, 2026, where the Super Falcons will aim to climb higher.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has added Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez to his list of potential targets, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Portuguese coach, who recently secured Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, is keen to strengthen his midfield for his second stint at the Bernabeu.

Romano reported on X that Fernandez is among four midfielders being monitored by Real Madrid. However, he noted that a final decision is pending, dependent on potential departures from the club. Nico Paz might remain at Como, while Dani Ceballos is expected to leave, with more movements anticipated.

There have been no direct club-to-club discussions with Chelsea as of now, Romano added. Mourinho has already made his first signing from his former club, bringing in Cucurella, but he is determined to further bolster the squad.

The family of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi has officially addressed the health situation of his father, Jorge Messi. In a statement released on Thursday, the family confirmed that Jorge is currently facing a medical issue and is under the care of doctors, showing positive signs of recovery.

The announcement comes after an emotional moment during Argentina’s World Cup group match against Algeria, where Messi broke down in tears after scoring. He later clarified that his emotions were not related to the game itself.

The family expressed deep concern over the lack of sensitivity and respect shown by some media outlets, urging responsibility and discretion. They emphasized that only immediate family members possess accurate information about Jorge’s condition and pleaded for privacy during this challenging time.

“We sincerely appreciate the expressions of affection and support we have received,” the statement read, “but we ask that Jorge’s privacy and that of his entire family be fully respected. Any updates will be shared through official family channels.”

The family thanked the public for their understanding and requested that speculation cease, urging humanity and prudence in handling such personal matters.

Sports journalist Oma Akatugba has shared a fascinating story about Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. According to Akatugba, Okoye turned down romantic advances from the daughter of a Nigerian billionaire while he was still playing for Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch league.

During a visit to Okoye’s home in the Netherlands, Akatugba says he noticed a message on the goalkeeper’s phone from the billionaire’s daughter. Excited by the prospect, Akatugba urged Okoye to consider her, highlighting her wealthy background. However, Okoye reportedly declined, stating that she was not his type in terms of physical attraction.

Akatugba recounted the conversation on his X handle, writing: ‘On day I was at Maduka’s place while he was still living in Holland, and he showed me his phone. He had a message from the daughter of a Nigerian billionaire. I screamed, ‘Bro, this one ma big fish o!’ He laughed and said, ‘Yeah, but she’s not really in my league beauty-wise.”

Since his debut for the Super Eagles in 2019, Okoye has been the subject of much admiration from Nigerian women, who frequently praise his looks and physique. The goalkeeper eventually had to announce that he was in a relationship, as the attention became overwhelming.

Okoye is currently in a long-term relationship with Dutch model Jelicia Westhoff. The couple share a son named Isaiah Emil Okoye.

Daveigh Elizabeth Chase, the actress who brought the beloved character Lilo to life in Disney’s animated film ‘Lilo & Stitch’, has passed away at the age of 35. Her manager, John Ryan Jr., confirmed the news to BBC News.

Chase was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles on Wednesday due to severe malnutrition. According to Ryan, she later developed meningitis and multiple bloodstream infections, which led to sepsis. She died from these complications.

Born on July 24, 1990, Chase began acting at the age of four and landed her first Hollywood role when she was seven. She retired from full-time acting in 2015. Besides her iconic voice role in ‘Lilo & Stitch’, she was also known for her part in the horror film ‘The Ring’. For her performance as Lilo, she won an Annie Award in 2003 and continued to voice the character in the franchise’s subsequent media.

Ryan described Chase as a private person who loved cats and often worked with cat rescues. He said, ‘She was not very Hollywood. She’d rather eat at Bob’s Big Boy and go home with the cats. She loved acting but wasn’t into the fame scene.’

Portugal’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has shared his thoughts following his team’s 1-1 stalemate against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The encounter took place on Wednesday in Houston, Texas.

The 41-year-old forward played the entire game but struggled to make an impact, managing only two weak shots as Portugal failed to secure a win. The draw came as a disappointing start for the European side.

Joao Neves gave Portugal the lead, but Yohan Wissa equalized for DR Congo with a header just before halftime. Despite the setback, Ronaldo remains optimistic about the team’s chances in the tournament.

Taking to social media, Ronaldo wrote: “It’s not the start we wanted, but this is FAR from being over. Focus on the next game.” The message came after the match, emphasizing the need to move forward.

Portugal’s next group stage fixture is against Uzbekistan, scheduled for next Tuesday. The team will look to bounce back and secure a victory to keep their campaign on track.