Author: Lanre Akilu

Manchester United were drawn Friday to play Real Sociedad of Spain in the last 16 of this season’s Europa League, while Rangers will take on Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, and Tottenham Hotspur face AZ Alkmaar. Ruben Amorim’s United are struggling in the Premier League this season but finished third in the league phase of the Europa League. They will travel to San Sebastian for the first leg on March 6 before returning a week later against a Real Sociedad side who reached this stage after beating Midtjylland of Denmark in the play-off round. The clubs have met several times in European…

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw was concluded on Friday, setting the stage for exciting clashes among Europe’s elite clubs. French giants Paris Saint-Germain will face off against English side, Liverpool, in a highly anticipated matchup. Belgian club, Club Brugge, is set to take on Aston Villa, while record-holders, Real Madrid, will meet domestic rivals, Atlético Madrid, in a thrilling Spanish showdown. In another eye-catching tie, Arsenal will go head-to-head with Dutch side, PSV Eindhoven. Over in the other half of the bracket, Feyenoord will lock horns with Italian powerhouse, Inter Milan, and Bayern Munich will battle Bayer…

Former Netherlands international and Feyenoord legend Robin van Persie has reportedly been appointed as the new head coach of Feyenoord, signing a contract that runs until June 2027. The Dutchman, who enjoyed a successful playing career with clubs such as Feyenoord, Arsenal, and Manchester United, now takes on the managerial role at the Eredivisie side, marking a new chapter in his football journey. According to a post by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Friday via X, Van Persie, as part of his coaching team, will be joined by Rene Hake, who previously served as an assistant to Manchester United…

Real Madrid secured a commanding 3-1 win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League knockout round play-offs on Wednesday, sealing their place in the next stage with an aggregate score of 6-3. Kylian Mbappé delivered a stellar performance at the Santiago Bernabéu, netting a hat trick to dismantle City’s hopes of a comeback. The French forward wasted no time, opening the scoring in the 4th minute with an assist from R. Asencio. He doubled Madrid’s lead in the 33rd minute after a well-placed pass from Rodrygo, putting the Spanish side firmly in control. Manchester City struggled to break down…

Tension escalated in the Lagos State House of Assembly as Speaker Mojisola Meranda dramatically tore her resignation letter while lawmakers urged her to remain in office. This comes amid heightened security, with officials of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) sealing her office and those of her deputy and the House clerk. Sources confirmed that armed security personnel had taken over the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, fueling speculation that former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa might be reinstated following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention. The crisis, triggered by Obasa’s impeachment on January 13 over allegations of corruption and abuse of office, has…

Brighton defeated hapless Chelsea 3-0 as Japan forward Kaoru Mitoma produced a contender for Premier League goal of the season and Yankuba Minteh bagged a brace on Friday. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side delivered one of their worst performances of the season in their second defeat in the space of seven days at the Amex Stadium. Mitoma scored the winner when Brighton knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-1 victory last weekend. He tormented the Blues again with a breathtaking piece of skill in the first half before Gambia winger Minteh netted either side of the…

The National Examination Council (NECO) has announced the release of the 2024 Senior Secondary School Certificate External Examination results. According to the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Council, Professor Dantani Wushishi, 57,114 candidates secured credits in English and Mathematics, representing a 67.53% pass rate. A total of 86,067 candidates sat for the examination, which saw a significant reduction in malpractice cases. The number of candidates booked for various forms of malpractice decreased by 27.7% compared to 2023, with 6,160 cases recorded. The results were released just 62 days after the final examination, marking a notable improvement in the council’s…

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has expelled the female student who allegedly bit a lecturer after he interrupted her TikTok video. The university’s decision follows an investigation by the Student Disciplinary Committee, which found her guilty of gross misconduct and violating the institution’s disciplinary regulations. The incident, which occurred at the Faculty of Arts, sparked widespread outrage after photos of the lecturer’s bite injuries circulated on social media. According to reports, Dr. Chukwudi Michael, a senior lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, was attempting to pass by when he tapped the student on the shoulder to get her…

Everton rescued a late draw in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park with James Tarkowski netting a stoppage time equaliser. Everton’s resurgence under David Moyes continues and they were great value throughout the game, taking the Reds to the closing stages by being threatening throughout. The hosts took the lead through a fabulous free kick in the first half. Jarrad Branthwaite slipped the ball into the box as Beto timed his run perfectly. He got in behind, let the ball roll across his body then slotted it past Alisson to send the Goodison Park faithful wild. Their lead lasted…

The House of Representatives will today (February 12, 2025) debate the four tax bills transmitted to the National Assembly in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu. Recall that on September 3, 2024, Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration following the recommendations of the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will give a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and…