Category: Entertainment

Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer has shared his forecasts for several Premier League matchups set to take place in the 36th round of fixtures. The headline clash features Chelsea traveling to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, a game that could significantly impact Chelsea’s diminishing hopes of securing a Champions League berth. Elsewhere, the title race heats up as Manchester City welcome Brentford to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, while Arsenal make the trip to the London Stadium to take on West Ham United the following day.

Speaking to BetFair, Shearer delivered his verdicts on four key games. He predicted a home victory for Liverpool against Chelsea, expecting the Reds to triumph at Anfield. For the encounter between Sunderland and Manchester United, the former striker foresaw a stalemate, suggesting the points would be shared. In the Manchester City versus Brentford contest, Shearer tipped the defending champions to secure a win. Finally, he backed Arsenal to overcome West Ham on the road, predicting a victory for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Andy Townsend, a former Chelsea midfielder, has publicly suggested that Cole Palmer should consider departing from Stamford Bridge in order to revitalize his form. The ex-player expressed his views during an interview with BetVictor, emphasizing that Palmer needs a fresh start to recapture his best football.

Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City, enjoyed a remarkable debut season with 42 goal contributions and followed it up with 18 goals last term. His efforts helped secure Champions League qualification and victories in the Club World Cup and Conference League. However, this season has been less fruitful, and despite still reaching double figures, the English playmaker has struggled to maintain his previous high standards.

With the World Cup on the horizon, concerns are mounting over Palmer’s spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. Reports indicate that the attacker is feeling unsettled at Chelsea, and Townsend believes the environment at the club may be contributing to his dip in form.

“First and foremost, Cole Palmer needs to rediscover his game. The difference between where he was a year ago and where he is now is significant,” Townsend stated. “He requires something. I sense that Cole is looking around the team and asking, ‘Who’s inspiring me? Who’s motivating me? Who’s truly there to fight alongside me?’

“There aren’t many at Chelsea. I believe Joao Pedro is a genuine talent. His performance at Villa Park earlier this season was among the best I’ve witnessed from a striker this season. It was outstanding.”

Townsend also pointed to Enzo Fernandez’s apparent desire to leave, suggesting that Palmer might feel compelled to follow suit. “Enzo appears to be already laying the groundwork for a departure, based on recent comments and actions. With Cole, the issue may arise at a club like Chelsea where there is constant movement; he might eventually feel that he is the one who needs to leave.”

As Chelsea languish in ninth place in the Premier League and prepare to face league leaders Liverpool, the pressure is mounting. Townsend concluded, “It wouldn’t surprise me if, at some point, should things not improve swiftly, he decides: ‘I think I might have to seek opportunities elsewhere.’”

Nigerian music sensation Burna Boy is set to collaborate with Colombian superstar Shakira on the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, titled “Shakira – Dai Dai” featuring Burna Boy. This marks the second consecutive World Cup to feature a Nigerian artist, following Davido’s contribution to the 2022 tournament’s anthem “Hayya Hayya (Better Together).”

The track is scheduled for release on Thursday, May 14, as announced by Shakira via social media. Sharing her excitement, she wrote from the Maracanã Stadium, “Here is ‘Dai Dai,’ the @FIFAWorldCup Official Song 2026. Coming 5/14. We’re ready! 🐆 @burnaboy.”

The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with matches taking place from June 11 to July 19. This collaboration brings together two global icons, promising a vibrant anthem that reflects the spirit of the tournament.

Nigerian street-pop sensation Portable found himself in a harrowing situation just one day before his newborn’s naming ceremony. The controversial singer was involved in a single-vehicle accident on Thursday evening in Ogun State.

According to Portable, the incident occurred when his car’s brakes failed suddenly while he was driving. To avoid hitting another vehicle, he made the split-second decision to steer into a ditch. In a video shared on Instagram, he expressed gratitude for surviving the crash unscathed.

“My fans, join me to thank God,” Portable said in the clip. “I was just driving out this evening when the accident happened. Nothing do me o, I came out unhurt. I suddenly realized that the car had failed brake. My people have arrived here — I thank God they are not here to carry my corpse.”

He further revealed that he had already purchased two cows for the naming ceremony of his son with wife Bewaji. “Thank God that the accident didn’t happen when a trailer was passing on the road,” he added.

It is worth noting that Bewaji gave birth on May 1, 2026, the same day Portable participated in a celebrity boxing match against Carter Efe. In the lead-up to the naming ceremony, Portable had generously distributed free Ankara aso ebi fabrics to supporters.

Afrobeats sensation Adekunle Gold recently opened up about his joy in having a household filled with music lovers. During an appearance on the Great Day 20 podcast, the singer shared that his five-year-old daughter, Adejare Kosoko, is already displaying signs that she might follow in her parents’ musical footsteps. Both Adekunle and his wife, Simi, are celebrated musicians, and their daughter’s budding interest in music has become a source of family pride.

Gold noted that it’s a wonderful experience to be married to another incredibly gifted singer-songwriter, and now their child is beginning to show that she has a natural affinity for music. He expressed excitement at the possibility of her becoming a musician one day.

In the same conversation, the ‘Sinner’ singer also addressed recent rumors. He clarified that reports claiming he and Simi welcomed twins are entirely false. According to Gold, the couple actually gave birth to a baby boy, not twins. He described the twin rumors as mere internet speculation.

Adekunle Gold and Simi tied the knot in a private ceremony back in January 2019. Their first child, Adejare, was born in May 2020.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has shared his scoreline predictions for the upcoming Premier League matchweek 36 fixtures scheduled across the weekend. The former midfielder, now a pundit, anticipates a dominant display from Liverpool when they welcome Chelsea to Anfield on Saturday afternoon, forecasting a 2-0 victory for the home side.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are set to host Manchester United in what Merson believes will be a challenging encounter for the home team, with the Red Devils edging a 2-1 win. At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City are predicted to secure a narrow 2-1 triumph over Brentford on Saturday evening.

The London derby between West Ham United and Arsenal on Sunday is expected to favor the Gunners, as Merson envisions a 2-0 away win for Mikel Arteta’s side. Tottenham Hotspur’s Monday clash against Leeds United is tipped to end in a 2-1 defeat for Spurs, according to the pundit.

Merson’s other predictions include Fulham falling 1-2 to Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion thrashing Wolves 3-0, Nottingham Forest drawing 1-1 with Newcastle United, Crystal Palace losing 1-2 to Everton, and Burnley suffering a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. The predictions were originally published on Sportskeeda.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially appointed Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as the new head coaches for the Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets, respectively. This decision marks a significant reshuffle in the leadership of Nigeria’s age-grade national teams.

Maikaba steps into the role previously held by Aliyu Zubairu, who guided the Flying Eagles through the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the subsequent FIFA U-20 World Cup. With a wealth of experience, Maikaba has previously worked with the Golden Eaglets and served as an assistant to former Flying Eagles coach Paul Aigbogun.

Uwejamomere takes over from Manu Garba as the Golden Eaglets head coach. He has been a long-serving coach-analyst for the Super Eagles and currently heads the academy at Sporting Lagos FC, a club that recently earned promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). His background is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the youth setup.

Florent Malouda, a former Chelsea winger, has shared his insights on where Victor Osimhen should head next in the Premier League. According to Malouda, the Nigerian striker would thrive more at Chelsea or Liverpool than at Manchester United.

Malouda pointed out that Osimhen’s style and mentality align perfectly with the Premier League. He emphasized that the Galatasaray star’s next move should be to England, where he can compete for the UEFA Champions League.

“Looking at Osimhen’s approach to the game, he clearly belongs in the Premier League,” Malouda stated. “His journey through Italy, France, and Turkey shows he’s ready for the top level. The Premier League and Champions League are where he can truly shine.”

The Frenchman specifically named Chelsea and Liverpool as ideal destinations, citing their tactical setups and ambitions. “I believe Chelsea and Liverpool suit Osimhen much better than Manchester United,” he added.

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain, labeling them the standout side in European football over the past two years. The Belgian tactician shared his thoughts during a post-match press conference following PSG’s triumph over his team in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

“The quality on display from both teams was exceptionally high,” Kompany remarked. “PSG possess incredible talent. In my view, they have been the most impressive team on the continent for the last couple of seasons.”

Reflecting on the encounters between the two clubs, the former Manchester City captain noted, “We have faced them five times now. Our record stands at two wins, two losses, and one draw. We exhausted every option tonight. My congratulations go to PSG, but we will be back to challenge them again.”

Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffery Buter expressed satisfaction with his team’s display following their dominant victory against Doma United in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Six playoffs. The 4-0 triumph, which took place on Wednesday in Ikenne during Matchday Two, showcased a significant improvement from their earlier performance in the competition.

Buter highlighted the players’ commitment and energy on the pitch, noting that the result reflected the club’s true potential. “This is the standard we set for ourselves, and we need to maintain this level moving forward,” he stated in an interview with the club’s media team.

The coach acknowledged that the squad is still evolving, but he believes consistent effort will lead to further growth. “We are not yet a finished product, but with each game, these boys are gaining experience and getting sharper,” Buter added.

The win over Doma United positions Sporting Lagos strongly in the playoff race, as they aim for promotion to the Nigerian top flight.