Author: Lanre Akilu

Eleven years after a heartbreaking Champions League final loss to arch-rivals Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund veterans Mats Hummels and Marco Reus are returning to Wembley on Saturday to set things right. This time around, 14-time winners Real Madrid, who eliminated Bayern in typical last-gasp fashion in the semi-finals, stand in the way. Hummels, 35, and 34-year-old Reus face an uncertain future ahead of what is likely their last Champions League final. Reus has already announced Saturday’s match will be his last for Dortmund. Hummels, whose contract expires in the summer, said he was “excited to see what Saturday’s match triggers…

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has revealed that his administration inherited 34 uncompleted projects, valued at over N225.279billion spread across 13 local government areas of the State. The Governor also disclosed that under his watch, the Rivers State Government has awarded nine new road projects, valued at N534.332billion. This is even as he described as vicious and existential in nature, the political crisis that was waged against his administration, barely three months after take off on May 29, 2023. The Governor, however, said that the worst was over because his administration has successfully defended the rights and privileges to…

Chelsea women appointed Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor as the club’s new head coach on a four-year deal on Wednesday. Bompastorear-old succeeds Emma Hayes, who led the Blues to 14 major trophies during a 12-year spell in charge. Bompastor has enjoyed similar success in France, leading Lyon to seven trophies over the past three seasons. “I will give my all to this new project to meet the ambitions of the club, the staff and the players,” said Bompastor in a club statement. “I hope to live up to Emma’s legacy and continue the work that has been done in recent years.…

PSG have not paid Kylian Mbappe his wages for April as well as a mega-bucks bonus amid a financial dispute between the club and the player as he prepares to leave the French champions, sources close to the talks told AFP on Wednesday. PSG’s decision to withhold Mbappe’s salary is related to an agreement between the two parties made last year, at the start of the season, when the player accepted to waive part of a bonus due to him, the source said. However, the source stated the talks between the club and the France captain were “relaxed” and that…

President Bola Tinubu has granted six months of complimentary rides on the Abuja Rail Mass Transit for residents of the nation’s capital. This announcement came during his inauguration of the rehabilitated Abuja metro rail in Abuja on Wednesday. Previously, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, had announced a two-month period of free train rides. Addressing the audience, Tinubu remarked, “Our dear landlord and his team, I heard you saying two months free ride. I appeal to you to make it till the end of the year. Since today you are not going to charge me, that will give…

Former Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, firmly stated her opposition to reverting to the old national anthem, which was recently signed by President Bola Tinubu as the country’s new anthem. Ezekwesili made her stance clear in a post on her social media handle on Wednesday. According to her, she will not comply with what she views as an “obnoxious law” and asserts her right to dissent, stating that it goes against the conscience of all well-meaning individuals in Nigeria. The ex-minister said, “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, will, whenever asked to…

The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria has demanded that the Central Bank of Nigeria reverse the new capital requirement for its operations. In a circular issued last Wednesday, the CBN issued fresh guidelines for the operations of the Bureau De Change in Nigeria which include two new categories of licences with different capital bases. According to the new rules, BDCs in the Tier 1 category would be required to have a minimum capital requirement of N2bn, pay N1m as a non-refundable application fee and N5m as a non-refundable licence fee. The apex bank disclosed that Tier 2…

Bayern Munich named Vincent Kompany as the new coach of the German giants on a three-year contract on Wednesday, in a surprise move. Kompany, 38, joins Bayern despite seeing his Burnley team relegated from the Premier League this season. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of FC Bayern. It’s a great honour to be able to work for this club – FC Bayern is an institution in international football,” said Kompany in a club statement. “I’m now looking forward to the basics: working with the players, building a team. Once the basis is right, success will follow.” Kompany’s hiring brings…

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has summoned the Chief Judges of the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court in response to the recent legal turmoil surrounding the Kano Emirate. This summons follows the issuance of conflicting interim injunctions by the two courts, which have created significant uncertainty and tension within the state. The conflicting rulings have intensified the ongoing legal and political disputes over the Kano Emirate, prompting the CJN to intervene to restore order and coherence. At the heart of the disputes is the status and authority within the Kano Emirate, leading…

Barcelona appointed Hansi Flick as coach on Wednesday on a deal until June 30, 2026, after sacking Xavi Hernandez last week. “FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick have reached an agreement for the German to become men’s first team football coach until 30 June 2026,” said the club in a statement. “The new coach has signed a contract at the Club’s offices accompanied by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta.” Flick, who led German giants Bayern Munich to a historic sextuple in 2020, became the first coach ever to be sacked by the German national team in September 2023 after a string of bad results. The…