Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has declared over the weekend that his administration’s focus on widespread developmental projects, particularly in neglected rural areas. He said this will be instrumental in delivering the 2.5 million votes he has pledged to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election. Speaking at a South-South Stakeholders forum of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) in Benin City, Mr Okpebholo emphasised his strategy of extending…

England Under-21s clinched back-to-back UEFA European U21 Championship titles after edging Germany 3-2 in an enthralling final that went to extra time in Bratislava. A dramatic header from substitute Jonathan Rowe just two minutes into the added period secured the title for Lee Carsley’s Young Lions, who now join the elite company of successive U21 champions — a feat not achieved since Dave Sexton’s class of 1982 and 1984. This…

Paul Pogba fought back tears as he officially signed a two-year deal with AS Monaco, marking his emotional return to competitive football after serving an 18-month doping suspension. The 32-year-old former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder has been without a club since November 2023, when he and Juventus mutually agreed to terminate his contract in the wake of a provisional suspension. That suspension followed a failed drug test after Juventus’…

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Saint Lucia, a Caribbean island nation. He described it as an inappropriate ‘holidaying’ amidst Nigeria’s severe socio-economic and security challenges. In a statement issued on his X page on Saturday, Mr Obi expressed his bewilderment at the Presidency’s announcement that Mr Tinubu would depart Abuja on Saturday for official engagements and personal leisure…

The White House has sharply criticized the United Kingdom following a narrow vote in the House of Commons to support a controversial assisted dying bill. In an unprecedented intervention, the U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, under the Trump administration, condemned the proposed legislation as “state-sponsored suicide,” sparking diplomatic tension between the two longstanding allies. The proposed law, which recently cleared its second reading by a 23-vote majority…

U.S. President Donald Trump’s bid for the Nobel Peace Prize has suffered a major blow after both Pakistan and Ukraine withdrew their nominations amid intense political backlash, rising international tensions, and growing skepticism about his global leadership credentials. What began as a surprising endorsement by two key U.S. allies has quickly turned into a diplomatic embarrassment — one that raises questions about Pakistan’s foreign policy coherence and Ukraine’s confidence in…

Gareth Southgate has officially joined football’s most elite ranks after being knighted at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The former England manager, 54, was honoured for his services to football following his departure from the national team after Euro 2024. The knighthood places Southgate among just six other football managers who have received the distinction: Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Kenny Dalglish, and…

Disappointment as Al Ahly, Esperance, Sundowns & Wydad crash out in group stage The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States has ended in bitter disappointment for African football, as none of the four CAF representatives managed to progress beyond the group stage in the tournament’s new 32-team format. A Harsh Reality for African Giants African champions Al Ahly, along with Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Wydad…

Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of extending his stay at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, according to local sources who spoke to BBC Sport, despite earlier signs suggesting his time in Riyadh was drawing to a close. The 40-year-old Portuguese icon, who joined Al-Nassr in January 2023 after a high-profile exit from Manchester United, had initially agreed to a deal running through June 2025. However, talks have progressed significantly over…

Chelsea’s hopes of progressing in the FIFA Club World Cup suffered a blow on Friday after striker Nicolas Jackson was handed a two-match ban following his red card in the 3-1 defeat to Flamengo. The Senegalese forward was sent off just four minutes after coming on as a substitute for a reckless studs-up challenge on Flamengo’s Lucas Ayrton. The incident, initially drawing an automatic one-game suspension, was reviewed by FIFA’s…

As tensions rise dramatically following the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran, fears over the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran have resurfaced — with particular concern about the UK’s ability to respond if such weapons were ever launched its way. The escalation has brought renewed urgency to the question: how vulnerable is Britain to a nuclear strike — and how long would we have to react? Currently, Israeli intelligence…

In one of the most extraordinary matches in UEFA Under-19 Championship history, Spain triumphed 6-5 over Germany after extra time in a semi-final that saw three stoppage-time goals and five more in extra time. Played at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest, the drama was unrelenting. Pablo García was the hero of the night, netting four goals—including two in stoppage time and the dramatic winner in the dying moments…