Author: Ndarake Okon
Shooting Stars SC have secured a return to continental football for the first time in more than two decades, marking a major milestone for one of Nigeria’s most historic football clubs. The Oluyole Warriors achieved the feat after an impressive campaign in the Nigeria Premier Football League, reviving memories of the club’s golden era in African football. The Ibadan-based side, popularly known as 3SC, is one of Nigeria’s most decorated clubs with a proud continental history. The club previously won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976 and the CAF Cup in 1992, becoming one of the early Nigerian teams…
Arsenal rounded off their Premier League title-winning season with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the final day of the campaign. The win marked Arsenal’s 26th league victory of the season as Mikel Arteta’s side celebrated their first English top-flight crown in over two decades. Arsenal took control of the match early, with Gabriel Jesus opening the scoring after a lively attacking move involving teenager Max Dowman and Gabriel Martinelli. The champions continued to dominate possession and later doubled their lead when Noni Madueke finished from close range following a well-worked set-piece routine. Crystal Palace, despite…
West Ham United have been relegated from the Premier League after failing to survive a dramatic final-day battle, while Tottenham Hotspur secured safety with a crucial victory over Everton. West Ham went into the final round needing both a win over Leeds United and a Tottenham defeat to avoid dropping into the Championship. The Hammers did their part with an impressive 3-0 victory, thanks to goals from Taty Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson. However, Tottenham held their nerve at home against Everton and claimed a tense 1-0 win. Midfielder Joao Palhinha scored the decisive goal before halftime, and Spurs…
FC Barcelona Femení finally ended the dominance of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin in European women’s football after a commanding 4-0 victory in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Oslo. The Spanish side produced a brilliant second-half display to secure their fourth European crown and firmly establish themselves as the new queens of Europe. The match at Ullevaal Stadium started with Lyon looking the stronger side, even having an early goal ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Barcelona struggled to settle in the opening half as the French giants pressed for an advantage, but the game changed completely after…
Arsenal F.C. have officially clinched their 14th English Premier League title, ending a 22-year wait for league glory. The triumph was confirmed on Tuesday after 2023/24 champions Manchester City F.C. were held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth, leaving Arsenal uncatchable at the top of the table with one game remaining. Managed by Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have led the league for most of the 2025/26 campaign and finally converted years of progress into a championship. The title marks their first Premier League crown since the famous 2003/04 “Invincibles” season under Arsène Wenger. Arsenal’s decisive push came after a narrow…
Brazil forward João Pedro has been left out of Brazil’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite enjoying an impressive individual season at club level. New Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti announced the squad on Monday, with veteran star Neymar earning a return after recovering from injury. João Pedro had been widely expected to make the squad after producing strong performances for Chelsea F.C. this season. Reports noted that the 24-year-old scored regularly and impressed with his attacking displays throughout the campaign, making his omission one of the biggest surprises in the squad announcement. Ancelotti admitted selecting the…
Arsenal moved a step closer to winning the Premier League title after edging Burnley F.C. 1-0 in a tense encounter at the Emirates Stadium. The victory handed Mikel Arteta’s side a crucial advantage in the closing stages of the season as they continue their pursuit of a first league crown in more than two decades. The decisive moment came in the first half when Kai Havertz powered home a close-range header from a Bukayo Saka delivery. Arsenal controlled large portions of the match but were made to work hard by a determined Burnley side that defended resolutely despite already being…
At least four people were killed and more than 30 others injured during violent protests in Kenya over sharp fuel price increases that triggered a nationwide public transport strike. The unrest disrupted movement across major towns and cities, leaving thousands of commuters stranded as transport operators suspended services. According to Kipchumba Murkomen, the violence broke out after public transport unions protested rising fuel costs linked to global supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran. Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, while protesters blocked roads with burning tyres in parts of Nairobi and other urban centres.…
Pakistan has deployed about 8,000 troops, a squadron of JF-17 fighter jets, drone units, and a Chinese-made HQ-9 air defence system to Saudi Arabia under a confidential mutual defence pact signed last year. The deployment was confirmed by security and government sources who described it as a major combat-capable force aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran. The report stated that the fighter jets, mostly jointly produced JF-17 aircraft, were sent to Saudi Arabia in early April following Iranian strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure. Two squadrons of drones were also reportedly deployed, while the HQ-9…
Governor Bassey Otu has announced the resumption of bursary payments for students of Cross River origin in tertiary institutions, alongside the introduction of special grants for medical students. The governor said the initiative is part of his administration’s renewed focus on education and human capital development in the state. The announcement was made during a State Executive Council meeting in Calabar, where Governor Otu explained that the bursary scheme had been inactive for more than a decade. He stated that the revival of the programme would help reduce the financial burden on students and support those struggling to continue their…
Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait for a major trophy with Al Nassr FC continued after the Saudi club suffered a 1-0 defeat to Japanese side Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final in Riyadh. Danish striker Deniz Hummet scored the only goal of the match in the 30th minute to hand the J-League club a historic continental victory. The final, played at Al-Awwal Park, saw Al Nassr dominate possession and create several scoring chances, but they were repeatedly denied by Gamba Osaka’s impressive 18-year-old goalkeeper Rui Araki. Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Joao Felix all came close, with Felix striking…
Portuguese manager José Mourinho is reportedly set to return to Real Madrid CF for a second spell as head coach. Mourinho has reached a full agreement with the Spanish giants and is expected to sign a two-year contract after the end of the current La Liga season. The official announcement could come next week after Real Madrid’s final league match against Athletic Club. Mourinho is currently managing SL Benfica, but a clause in his contract reportedly allows either side to end the agreement for a compensation fee of about three million euros. The move comes after a disappointing campaign for…
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the global second-in-command of ISIS, was killed during a joint military operation carried out by American and Nigerian forces in northeastern Nigeria. According to Reports, the operation took place in Metele, Borno State, an area long affected by insurgency linked to Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated groups. Trump said the mission was “meticulously planned” and credited intelligence sources for tracking al-Minuki’s movements across Africa. He praised both U.S. troops and the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he called a flawless execution of the operation, which reportedly targeted one of the world’s…
Premier League side Chelsea F.C. have reportedly agreed a four-year deal to appoint former Real Madrid CF and Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso as their new head coach. Reports say the agreement was reached after weeks of discussions between Chelsea’s hierarchy and the Spaniard. Chelsea began searching for a new manager after the dismissal of Liam Rosenior in April, following a poor run of results and growing frustration among supporters. The club’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Manchester City F.C. in the FA Cup final further increased pressure on the ownership to make major changes ahead of next season. Alonso…
A young boy was reportedly hit by a stray bullet during a chaotic scene that erupted after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency carried out a raid in Ikang community of Bakassi Local Government Area, Cross River State. According to reports, the incident happened when some residents allegedly attempted to obstruct the NDLEA operation, leading to confusion and panic in the area. Witnesses said the operatives came to the community on an enforcement mission targeting suspected drug-related activities before the situation turned violent. During the disturbance, gunshots were reportedly fired and a stray bullet struck a young boy,…
Ghana has announced plans to evacuate about 300 of its citizens from South Africa following a renewed wave of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals, particularly migrants from other sub-Saharan African countries. The decision was confirmed through a statement shared by Ghana’s Foreign Minister on social media platform X. According to the minister, the affected citizens had already registered with the Ghana High Commission in South Africa, requesting assistance to return home due to safety concerns. Authorities say the situation has made many Ghanaians in the country fearful of further attacks linked to ongoing anti-immigration protests. The unrest in South Africa…