Category: Entertainment

Manchester United’s midfield maestro, Bruno Fernandes, has openly shared his regret over the club’s failure to secure Declan Rice before he moved to Arsenal. In a candid interview with the Football Writers’ Association, Fernandes described Rice as a player he admires both on and off the pitch, expressing sadness that United did not manage to sign him.

Fernandes recalled that he first met Rice during a training session in Portugal’s Algarve region three years ago, where they bonded and stayed in touch ever since. ‘I’ve always believed Rice was a perfect fit for Manchester United,’ Fernandes stated. ‘Not just for his footballing ability, but for the person he is – his professionalism and character impressed me deeply.’

United were among the frontrunners for Rice’s signature before he ultimately chose a £105 million move from West Ham to Arsenal in 2023. Since then, Rice has become a pivotal figure for the Gunners, helping Mikel Arteta’s side challenge for the Premier League title for the first time in two decades, and even reaching the Champions League final.

This season, Fernandes himself has been in brilliant form, registering 19 assists – just one short of the record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. His contributions earned him the Football Writers’ Association Men’s Footballer of the Year award, with Rice finishing a close second, trailing by only 28 votes.

Fernandes concluded by praising Rice’s development: ‘I knew his qualities from his West Ham days, and he has only improved. It’s a shame he’s not wearing red, but I’m happy for his success.’

Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has advised the north London club to target Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga as a replacement for Martin Zubimendi in the upcoming summer window. According to Gallas, Zubimendi, who arrived from Real Sociedad last year, has not shown the necessary grit to handle the ‘dirty work’ in midfield.

Gallas emphasized that Martin Odegaard requires a robust partner to handle the physical battles and ball recovery. ‘Declan Rice already does that, but Arsenal need another midfielder with similar attributes. Zubimendi isn’t the right fit for that role,’ Gallas told BetVictor. He praised Camavinga’s ability to win duels and distribute effectively, calling him an ideal candidate to bolster the Gunners’ engine room.

The global football governing body, FIFA, has decided to remove Dutch official Rob Dieperink from his duties at the upcoming World Cup 2026, following his arrest in the United Kingdom last month on accusations of sexual assault against a minor. The incident occurred after he served as a VAR assistant during the European Conference League match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina on April 9.

According to reports, Dieperink was detained at his hotel shortly after the game. However, after a thorough investigation, the police decided to drop the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence, and no charges were filed against the 38-year-old referee.

Despite his cooperation with law enforcement and the subsequent closure of the case, FIFA has confirmed that Dieperink will no longer be part of the officiating team for the World Cup, which is set to begin on June 11. The Dutchman was initially included on the list of VAR officials for the tournament.

In an interview with the Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf, Dieperink expressed his disappointment and sadness over the situation. He stated, “It deeply saddens me that I have been falsely accused. From the very beginning, I have fully cooperated with the police investigation and have been completely transparent with FIFA, UEFA, and the KNVB.”

He added, “The accusations have been proven false, and the case was dismissed within two weeks following a thorough and proper investigation by the police. I am grateful for the support I received from the KNVB and the way they handled this matter. It is unfortunate that FIFA has decided not to appoint me for the World Cup. Naturally, I am very disappointed about this.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) also commented on the matter, stating, “We advocate for a safe and ethical football culture at all levels and take reports of inappropriate conduct seriously. Of course, we believe that a Dutch referee must have an impeccable character, but we also consider it essential that he has the opportunity to tell his side of the story and is not wrongfully accused.”

The KNVB representative further noted, “In this specific case, the police in the United Kingdom conducted an investigation and subsequently closed the case. Rob Dieperink has been fully cooperative and completely open with the KNVB from the start. Based on all available information, we see no reason not to assign him to matches in the Dutch league.”

In a recent appearance at the Global Citizen NOW event in New York, Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr opened up about the profound impact of Nigeria’s unreliable electricity on her upbringing. She expressed that consistent access to power would have significantly altered her life trajectory.

The singer, whose real name is Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, recounted how the lack of stable electricity stunted her educational progress and career aspirations, while also affecting her family’s income-generating activities. She shared that her grandmother, who sold tomatoes and pepper, was forced to sell produce quickly due to the absence of refrigeration, a challenge that taught her resilience.

“Every child in Nigeria has experienced some form of electricity problem,” Starr remarked. She recalled assisting her grandmother with the perishable goods, noting that the harsh conditions shaped her into the person she is today. She emphasized that having electricity—such as an air conditioner or even a fan—while studying after school would have made a world of difference.

Starr urged African leaders to prioritize resolving the continent’s electricity crisis, asserting that every child deserves access to basic amenities like reliable power for proper development. Her candid remarks highlight a systemic issue that continues to hinder millions across the region.

During the first episode of the Big Brother Naija season 10 reunion, which aired on Thursday night, Thelma Lawson unleashed a series of sharp criticisms on her fellow housemate Big Soso. Thelma accused Soso of being hypocritical throughout the show, claiming that Soso struggled to define her own identity.

In a heated exchange, Thelma defended Dede, whom Soso had accused of being promiscuous and deceiving male housemates. Thelma retorted, “You couldn’t decide whether you wanted to be an entrepreneur, a chief, a prophetess, or a prostitute.”

The argument escalated to a point where the host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, had to intervene to calm things down. Although Soso later apologized to Dede for her earlier comments, Dede refused to accept the apology.

The stage is set for the 2026 President Federation Cup as Nigeria’s football governing body announced that the Round of 64 draw ceremony will take place this Friday. According to sources, the event will be held at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat in Abuja.

A total of 64 teams are set to participate in the men’s category of this prestigious national competition. In the women’s division, 32 teams will compete for glory. Following the national playoffs, four women’s teams and six men’s teams were eliminated, reducing the field to the current numbers.

The defending champions in the men’s category are Kwara United, who clinched the title last year. On the women’s side, Rivers Angels enter the tournament as the reigning champions.

Football enthusiasts across the country eagerly await the draw to see the matchups that will shape the road to the finals.

The newly appointed head coaches of Nigeria’s U-20 and U-17 national teams have finalized their technical staff. Abdu Maikaba, who will lead the Flying Eagles, has selected Ortega Deniran, Abdullahi Biffo, and Usman Mohammed as his assistants. Maikaba and his crew are scheduled to begin their duties on Sunday, as the team prepares for the upcoming WAFU B U-20 Championship, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, Eboboritse Uwejamomere, the new Golden Eaglets head coach, has appointed Olumide Joseph Ajibolade, Mohammed Kalli Kachala, and Abdullahi Isa to his coaching staff. The Golden Eaglets are set to participate in the WAFU B U-17 Championship in September, with the tournament acting as a pathway to the next year’s Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Rio Ferdinand, the legendary Manchester United defender, has made it clear that Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is his top candidate to take over the Red Devils on a permanent basis. Speaking during a talkSPORT appearance, Ferdinand admitted that while Michael Carrick has done an impressive job as interim boss, he would still prioritize Enrique if the Spaniard becomes available.

Carrick took the reins after Ruben Amorim was let go, and he has steered the club to a top-four finish, securing a Champions League spot. Ferdinand acknowledged Carrick’s contributions, saying, He would be my first choice given the limited options right now, considering what he’s achieved and the lack of alternatives.

However, Ferdinand added a caveat: The only person I would seriously consider, regardless of what Michael Carrick has done, is Luis Enrique if he becomes free. He’s a top-class manager. If he’s available, then I don’t care what Carrick has done—you bring him in because of his accomplishments at PSG.

Ferdinand’s comments reflect a belief that while Carrick has earned the right to be considered, a world-class talent like Luis Enrique would be an irresistible upgrade for Manchester United.

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has sent a clear message to Chelsea’s incoming manager, reportedly Xabi Alonso, regarding young defender Jorrel Hato. Stam insists that Hato must be given regular playing time next season.

According to Stam, Hato possesses immense talent and has already shown his quality, particularly in a standout performance against Manchester City. The Dutchman is comfortable on the ball, quick, and aggressive—traits Stam believes are essential for a modern defender.

Stam criticized Chelsea’s strategy of signing young players only to sideline them, suggesting that the club often sells promising talents without giving them a fair chance. He emphasized that Hato needs consistent matches to develop and improve.

The 20-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Ajax in the summer for £37 million, struggled for minutes under former boss Enzo Maresca. Despite being signed as a versatile defender, he featured sparingly, especially in the final weeks of Maresca’s tenure.

Stam hopes that the next manager, likely Xabi Alonso, will prioritize Hato and integrate him into the first team. He warned that managers often favor experienced players due to pressure for immediate results, but believes Hato deserves an opportunity to prove himself.

Chelsea’s interim manager, Calum McFarlane, has acknowledged that the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City represents the club’s final opportunity to achieve something meaningful this season. Speaking ahead of the Wembley showdown, McFarlane admitted that their recent league performances have fallen well short of expectations.

The Blues are set to face Manchester City for a chance to claim silverware and secure a spot in European competition next term. Despite a disappointing run of form, Chelsea managed to hold Liverpool to a 1-1 draw in their most recent Premier League outing.

When asked if the FA Cup final is their last chance to end the season on a high note, McFarlane responded, “Yeah, I think our recent form in the league has been way below the standard we’d expect and that we’d shown previously.” He added, “It’s an FA Cup final, so we want to win it. It’s a massive competition, a prestigious competition, and the club has history in it as well, having won it eight times. So, yeah, our focus is on that, performing as well as we can against a top side.”

McFarlane expressed confidence that his team can replicate the level of performance they displayed against Liverpool. “I’m confident that we’ll get a similar level, hopefully a similar level of performance, to what we got at Liverpool. I thought we ticked a lot of boxes in that game in terms of what we want from this team and how we get the best version of it. So, I’m confident that we can get that again,” he stated.

The caretaker boss also addressed the ongoing speculation about Chelsea’s next permanent manager, with names like Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, and Xavi being linked to the role. When asked if fans should be excited about these potential appointments, McFarlane replied, “Yeah, there’s a lot of names linked with the job. It’s not really my place to say who’s going to get it, who should get it, who’s a good manager, or who’s not a good manager. My job is to prepare the team for Saturday and that’s all I’ll be focusing on.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has suggested that Chelsea might have an advantage because they do not have a midweek game. McFarlane responded, “Yeah, it’s tough when you have a game midweek and you have a triple game week. It’s tough. We’ve had a lot of them this year, but we’re focused on ourselves, we’re focused on how we prepare. We’re playing against an excellent side and an excellent coach, so we need to be at our best, regardless of whether they’ve had a triple game week or not. That’s what we’re focused on.”