Category: Entertainment

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.

The winner of Big Brother Naija Season 6, Whitemoney, has issued a plea to hopeful contestants of the upcoming reality show to stop requesting his help for entry. In a recent statement, he emphasized that he has no ability to secure spots for anyone in the Big Brother house.

Whitemoney revealed that his direct messages are inundated with requests from individuals seeking his influence to get into the show, especially as the eleventh season approaches. He noted that this trend has become overwhelming each year, but this time it has escalated significantly.

In a video message, the reality star advised applicants to follow the official audition process rather than trying to bypass it. He shared his personal experience, stating that he auditioned four times before finally being selected. Whitemoney also warned against falling for scams where people ask for money in exchange for a guaranteed slot on the show.

He said, “My DM is full of people begging me to help them get into BBNaija. Please understand that I don’t have the power to let you into the Big Brother house. Stop sending those messages. Every year as the show approaches, I receive these requests, and this year’s volume is too much.”

Whitemoney added: “I know times are tough and everyone wants fame through Big Brother, but please go and audition. Follow the right procedure. I auditioned four times before I was chosen. Keep trying even if you’re rejected. And don’t be deceived by people who ask for money to provide a BBNaija slot. Be smart.”

Former Manchester United star Gary Neville has identified a specific fixture involving Manchester City that might decide the Premier League title race, potentially crowning Arsenal as champions without them needing to step onto the pitch.

Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville predicted that City would likely drop points in their upcoming clash against Bournemouth. According to him, this slip-up could be the decisive moment that swings the title in Arsenal’s favor.

The Gunners recently secured a narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham, extending their lead over Pep Guardiola’s side to five points. With only two matches remaining—against Burnley and Crystal Palace—Arsenal are in a commanding position. Meanwhile, City still have three fixtures to play: Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa.

Neville believes the trip to Bournemouth will prove too challenging for City. He stated, ‘I think City will defeat Palace, and Arsenal will overcome Burnley. But the title will be decided on Tuesday, May 19, when City fail to get the job done at Bournemouth.’

This assessment suggests that Arsenal could clinch the league title without even playing on that day, as a City loss would mathematically secure the championship for Mikel Arteta’s team.

Manchester United icon Gary Neville has shared his forecast for the upcoming Champions League showpiece, predicting that Paris Saint-Germain will retain their crown against Arsenal in Budapest on May 30.

The French champions secured their place in the final by overcoming Bayern Munich in a tense tie, while Mikel Arteta’s Gunners booked their ticket after eliminating Atletico Madrid.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville suggested Arsenal’s best chance of silverware this season lies in the Premier League rather than Europe. He believes Luis Enrique’s PSG side will become the latest club to win back-to-back Champions League titles.

“It feels like the right moment for Arsenal to win the Premier League,” Neville remarked. “But for PSG, this is their moment to go back-to-back, and for Luis Enrique to join the elite managers who have achieved that feat.”

Neville’s comments underline the growing belief that PSG’s depth and experience will prove decisive against an emerging Arsenal side still searching for its first Champions League trophy.

The Zimbabwe Football Association has officially unveiled the 24-player squad that will represent the Warriors in the upcoming 2026 Unity Cup tournament. Head coach Kaitano Tembo has selected a predominantly foreign-based lineup, with only two locally-based players making the cut.

Goalkeeper Future Sibanda and midfielder Mongameli Tshuma are the sole representatives from the domestic league, highlighting the depth of overseas talent available to the team. Captain Marvelous Nakamba, who plies his trade with Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship, will lead the side.

Assistant captain Marshall Munetsi makes a welcome return after a five-month absence from international duty, bolstering the midfield options. The Warriors are set to face Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the first semifinal of the competition, scheduled for Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at The Valley in London.

Barcelona star Gavi has thrown his weight behind Argentina, declaring them the team to beat at the upcoming World Cup. The Spanish midfielder, who recently helped Barcelona clinch the La Liga title with a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid, believes Lionel Messi’s presence makes Argentina unstoppable.

Speaking to D Sports, Gavi highlighted that Argentina’s status as reigning champions and Messi’s enduring brilliance make them the clear favorites. Despite missing out on Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph due to injury, Gavi is now fit and eager to represent his country at the World Cup.

He stated, “Argentina are the biggest favorites because they are the current champions. Leo Messi is the best player in the world, and as long as he is on the field, they will be the best team.”

The 21-year-old’s comments come after Messi recently set an MLS record by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goal contributions, achieving the feat in just 64 matches—31 fewer than the previous record held by Sebastian Giovinco. Messi scored and provided two assists in a 4-2 win over Toronto FC.

While Spain enters the tournament as European champions, Gavi does not consider them automatic favorites, instead giving the edge to the South American giants led by his former Barcelona teammate.

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia has revealed that the entire squad was taken aback by reports of a physical altercation between Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde just before El Clasico. Speaking after Barcelona’s 2-0 victory that sealed the LaLiga title, Garcia admitted the news was unexpected but refused to elaborate on Madrid’s internal issues.

The incident, which reportedly occurred during a Real Madrid training session, saw Valverde sustain a head injury that ruled him out of the match. Tchouameni, however, started under interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres gave Barcelona a comfortable win, securing their 29th league championship in front of their own fans.

When asked about the squad’s reaction to the turmoil at their rivals, Garcia said, “Well, obviously, it came as a surprise to the whole team, but anyway, today we’ll enjoy the victory and let them get on with what they have to do.”

The 25-year-old, who came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy before a stint at Manchester City, has now won three LaLiga titles since returning to the Catalan club in 2021. His comments reflect a focus on Barcelona’s success rather than getting drawn into Real Madrid’s problems.