Category: Entertainment

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has officially imposed a suspension on Wikki Tourists’ defender Abubakar Aliyu, sidelining him for the upcoming match against Rivers United. Aliyu’s absence stems from accumulating five yellow cards this season, with the latest booking occurring during the 3-1 loss to Ikorodu City on Tuesday.

As a result, the Bauchi Elephants will be without the defender for their matchday 37 fixture scheduled for Sunday. The suspension has been enforced by the NPFL, which supported the decision made by center referee Joseph Ogabor, despite criticisms from the Wikki Tourists camp. The league body communicated the punishment to Wikki Tourists through a statement signed by Stanley Ike-Richard on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer, emphasizing that the referee holds full authority to apply the laws of the game during matches.

The Nigerian women’s national team, the Super Falcons, are preparing for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a training camp in the United Kingdom scheduled for later this month. According to reports, the 10-time African champions will be based in the UK from May 23 to 28, where they will play a single friendly match as part of their preparations.

Head coach Justine Madugu plans to use this opportunity to evaluate new talents, especially since several key players are likely to be absent due to commitments with their clubs. The camp comes after a previously scheduled double-header against Cape Verde was canceled when the Cape Verdean team pulled out.

The Super Falcons will also look to arrange more friendly matches during the next FIFA international window, which runs from June 7 to 14. This UK tour is a crucial step in building squad depth and ensuring the team is ready to defend their continental title.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, the ex-Chelsea winger, has delivered a stark warning to Joao Pedro: it’s time to leave Stamford Bridge without delay. The Brazilian attacker, who arrived from Brighton last summer for a hefty £60 million, has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal campaign for the Blues. Yet, Wright-Phillips insists that Pedro’s talent deserves a stage like the Champions League, which Chelsea seems unlikely to reach.

According to Wright-Phillips, Pedro’s potential is being wasted at a club that has lost six consecutive Premier League games and may miss out on all European competitions next season. He pointed to Barcelona’s reported interest as the perfect opportunity, emphasizing that playing alongside stars like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal at Camp Nou would be a dream scenario. “If I were him, I’d move heaven and earth to make that transfer happen,” Wright-Phillips stated.

The former England international believes Pedro’s goal-scoring prowess would flourish in Catalonia, noting that the forward has already shone in a struggling Chelsea side. With a contract running until 2033, a move might seem complicated, but Wright-Phillips argues that ambition should take precedence. “Joao deserves to compete at the highest level,” he added.

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has advised Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to leave out striker Viktor Gyokeres for the upcoming Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners have booked their spot in the European showpiece for just the second time ever and the first in twenty years after overcoming Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinals.

PSG, the reigning champions, are widely seen as the favorites to retain their title after edging past Bayern Munich 6-5 over two legs in the other semifinal. Butt is not convinced Arteta’s side can topple Luis Enrique’s star-studded team.

Speaking to Paddy Power via Goal, Butt highlighted Arsenal’s lack of pace on the counterattack as a key weakness against PSG.

He said, “I don’t see anyone beating PSG. Arsenal have no counter-attacking threat; they don’t have a player who can do that with speed.”

Butt gave PSG a 70 percent chance of lifting the trophy in Budapest and stressed that Arsenal must adopt a cautious, defensive approach to have any hope on the break. However, he insisted that Gyokeres should be replaced by Leandro Trossard for this game plan to work.

He added, “I’d make PSG big favorites, 70-30. When they get going, no one can stop them. I expect Arsenal to sit deep, play compact, and defend well. But they need to use Leandro Trossard because he’s the only one with pace. If they go with Gyokeres, he can’t counter-attack, and they’ll struggle.”

Gyokeres has been in fine form lately, scoring in the first leg against Atletico and netting a brace against Fulham last weekend. The Sweden international will be eager to feature in the final after his £64 million move from Sporting last summer.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, couldn’t resist a jab at Manchester United following their celebrations for securing a spot in next year’s Champions League. The Red Devils clinched their return to Europe’s top tier with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool last weekend, marking their first appearance in continental competition this season.

Guardiola highlighted the contrast between the two clubs, boasting that City had already locked in their Champions League berth long before the season’s end. “We secured our place in the Champions League with four or five games still to play,” he remarked. “Look at how jubilant Manchester United were after getting the job done in their final match.”

The City boss also pointed out the difference in circumstances, noting that United needed a win to seal their qualification. “Was their last match against Brentford? No, it was Liverpool. They earned the point they required, so it was a significant test for them,” Guardiola added.

The Premier League season is approaching its climax, and this weekend’s blockbuster at Anfield pits Liverpool against Chelsea in a fixture with massive European implications. With both teams smarting from recent defeats, Saturday’s early kick-off (12:30 PM Nigerian time) promises high drama as the Reds look to seal their Champions League berth while the Blues fight to keep their fading hopes alive.

Liverpool currently sit fourth in the table with 58 points from 35 matches, while Chelsea languish in ninth on 48 points. A loss for the visitors could drop them to 12th, effectively ending their pursuit of a top-five finish. For the hosts, victory would cement a top-four spot and guarantee Champions League football next season.

Both sides enter the contest on the back of disappointing results. Liverpool fell 3-2 to Manchester United, while Chelsea suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest. These setbacks have only heightened the importance of this encounter.

Manager Arne Slot has received a welcome boost with the returns of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to the Liverpool squad. However, the Reds will be without several key players. Mohamed Salah remains sidelined, while long-term absentees Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, and Wataru Endo are also unavailable. In goal, third-choice Freddie Woodman is expected to start due to injuries to Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Chelsea have their own injury concerns. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are both nursing knocks and will miss the game, while Jamie Gittens and Estêvão are dealing with longer-term issues. The Blues will need to dig deep to overcome these absences against a motivated Liverpool side.

With so much at stake, this clash at Anfield is set to be a classic. Liverpool have the opportunity to crush Chelsea’s Champions League aspirations, while the visitors will be desperate to keep their European dreams alive. Expect an intense battle from the first whistle.

Arsenal are on the verge of etching their name into the history books when they take on West Ham United this Sunday in a Premier League showdown at the London Stadium. The North London club, led by Mikel Arteta, have had a phenomenal campaign, and this match marks a significant milestone.

According to statistics from OptaJoe, the Gunners are poised to become the first team among Europe’s top five leagues to hit 60 matches across all competitions this season. This remarkable achievement underscores their relentless pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts.

The team heads into this fixture riding high after eliminating Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semifinals during midweek. Their impressive form has set up a tantalizing final against Paris Saint-Germain later this month.

Arsenal currently sit at the summit of the Premier League table, holding a five-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Every point is crucial as they battle for domestic glory alongside their European ambitions.

Former Barcelona and England striker Gary Lineker has shared his prediction for the upcoming UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. The two sides secured their places in the showpiece event after eliminating Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively in the semifinals.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker expressed his belief that Arsenal will emerge victorious over the French champions. He described Mikel Arteta’s squad as a difficult opponent to break down, which could prove decisive in a one-off match.

“I think the final will be a fascinating contest. PSG enter as favorites given their previous triumph in the competition, but Arsenal are a resilient side that is hard to overcome,” Lineker commented. “Finals tend to be tight affairs, and I have a strong feeling Arsenal will secure a double this season.”

The Gunners are aiming to lift Europe’s elite trophy for the first time in their history, while PSG look to add a second Champions League title to their cabinet.

Former Big Brother Naija winner Ilebaye is pleading for public assistance following an alleged domestic violence incident. In a distressing Instagram Live session early Friday, the reality TV star was seen with a visibly swollen face, screaming for help in what appeared to be a violent altercation.

The livestream, which has since gone viral, showed a man—reportedly her father—brutally beating and physically assaulting Ilebaye in the background. During the ordeal, she was heard crying, ‘Nigerians help me, I need to go. I need to leave this house, I’m being locked up. I’m tired of assault, please come and help me.’

Reacting to the alarming footage, fellow BBNaija star Tacha took to her Instagram story, urging anyone in Abuja to assist in leading the police to Ilebaye’s residence for a rescue. ‘I really just want to know who is in Abuja right now, that can take the police to Ilebaye’s house. Ilebaye’s face has been ruined. I don’t even know who did it but from the video I have seen they are really brutal,’ Tacha said.

Moses Aduku, the head coach of Nigeria’s Falconets, has boldly declared that his squad is determined to secure a double victory over Malawi in their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying tie. Speaking during a press conference in Lilongwe, Aduku emphasized that their mission is not just to participate but to emerge triumphant.

The Nigerian side travels to Malawi with a comfortable 2-0 advantage from the first leg, which was played in Ikenne. The second leg is set to take place at the Bingu National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Aduku acknowledged that playing away from home comes with its challenges, especially against a determined host team. However, he expressed confidence in his players’ readiness to handle the pressure. “Our goal is to win; we are here for nothing less. The girls have prepared extensively both mentally and physically,” the coach stated.

The encounter is scheduled to kick off at 3 PM local time, which translates to 2 PM Nigerian time. Aduku stressed that his team has studied Malawi’s tactics and is fully aware of what to expect. He believes that a disciplined performance will see the Falconets through to the next round of the qualifiers.