Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd: Brennan Johnson Fires Spurs to Europa League Glory After 17-Year Trophy Drought

By: Kamal Yalwa BILBAO, MAY 22, 2025 — Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year wait for silverware on Wednesday night as Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao. In a scrappy encounter between the Premier League’s 16th and 17th-placed teams, it was Johnson’s opportunistic finish that proved decisive. The Welsh forward poked home from close range following a chaotic sequence involving Luke Shaw and Pape Sarr, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling Spurs fans. The match-winning moment came after Sarr delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Johnson and Shaw challenged for it simultaneously, with the ball deflecting off Shaw’s arm before being nudged goalwards by Johnson. Though the finish lacked finesse, it was enough to secure Tottenham their first major title since lifting the League Cup in 2008. The win also validates manager Ange Postecoglou’s earlier claim that he tends to win trophies in his second season. Whether the victory guarantees his long-term future at the club remains uncertain, but Spurs will now return to the Champions League next season as European silverware winners. Manchester United, meanwhile, had their chances in the second half but failed to convert, capping off a disappointing season under Ruben Amorim with another missed opportunity.

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Lagos Sanctions 580 Nightclubs and Restaurants Over Indoor Smoking Violations

LAGOS, MAY 21, 2025 – The Lagos State Government has penalised 580 nightclubs and restaurants for violating indoor smoking regulations in 2024, as part of its broader push to enforce public health and safety standards across the state. This was disclosed by the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Ikeja. According to Mojola, the Commission inspected 2,024 public places last year, sanctioning 580 for indoor smoking infractions. He explained that while smoking may be allowed in certain facilities, such as nightclubs, it must be strictly confined to designated smoking areas. He also warned against smoking in public transport and other enclosed public spaces, urging citizens to report any violations. “This is a serious public health matter,” he stated. The Commission, Mojola added, launched an anti-indoor smoking campaign in 2024 to raise awareness about the dangers of second-hand smoke, including cancer and other health risks. He emphasized the role of the media in promoting the message under the slogan: “See it. Say it. Sort it.” On concerns about consultants working with the Commission, he admitted that some had acted unethically, noting that four had already been imprisoned for illegal activities. Also speaking, Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, highlighted the Commission’s key achievements. These included the completion of the Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan (2021–2026), a safety roadmap for 2023–2026, and the review of over 40 safety regulatory documents. Oyerinde reaffirmed the state’s commitment to safety, describing it as “not just a policy but a culture.”

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Tottenham vs Man Utd LIVE! Europa League final score, updates, news, team line-ups and latest from Bilbao

By Kamal Yalwa | Reporter’s Notebook Spurs Eye Fourth Win Over Man Utd in Europa League Final – But Will History Count? Tottenham Hotspur will meet Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final this Wednesday, having already beaten them three times this season. While those results give Spurs a psychological edge, both teams understand that finals are often decided by more than past form. Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim summed it up ahead of the clash, saying, “Every game has its history,” as his side looks to turn the tide on the biggest night of their season. Spurs’ most dominant display came in a 3-0 win at Old Trafford early in the season, a match that piled pressure on then-United manager Erik ten Hag. Key to that performance was Micky van de Ven, who not only marshalled the defence but also made a surging run that set up the opening goal. Under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham have shown greater consistency and attacking fluidity, and van de Ven remains crucial to their defensive structure, with the club carefully managing his fitness ahead of the final. United, now under the leadership of Amorim, have shown improvement in European fixtures despite a disappointing 16th-place finish in the Premier League. The team appears more organized defensively, with fewer chances conceded, and has demonstrated greater resilience and tactical discipline, particularly in knockout stages. While domestic form has been underwhelming, Amorim’s United have proven they can rise to big occasions in Europe. With a Champions League spot and silverware on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Tottenham will be looking to crown a strong campaign with a major trophy, while United hope to end a turbulent season on a high. Spurs may have dominated the head-to-head meetings this season, but the Europa League final offers both teams a clean slate—and one last chance to define their year.

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Missing Lagos Banker Found Dead in Yaba Morgue with Machete Wounds

Days after being declared missing, the body of 26-year-old Lagos banker Osemudiamen Idemudia was discovered in a morgue in the Yaba area of the state, with signs of a violent death. Idemudia, who worked in the Point-of-Sale department of a commercial bank in the Ikota area, was last seen on May 9 near CMS on Lagos Island after leaving work for a scheduled meeting at the bank’s headquarters. A family member, Segun, confirmed to PUNCH Metro that the body was found on Sunday during a desperate search across hospitals and mortuaries. According to him, the banker’s corpse bore deep machete cuts on the head, face, and legs, raising suspicions of foul play. “He was murdered,” Segun said grimly. He also stated that morgue staff claimed the police brought in the body but were unable to provide any information on the officers or the location of the recovery. The victim’s father, Julius, recounted that his son had planned to attend a meeting with a senior bank official at CMS but the appointment was cancelled. After parting ways with a colleague, Osemudiamen was never heard from again. The family became alarmed when he failed to return home, eventually filing a missing person report at Igando Police Station, near his residence in the Akesan area. The family has since buried Idemudia’s remains on Tuesday. Attempts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting, as calls and messages went unanswered. The circumstances surrounding Idemudia’s death remain unclear as the family seeks answers and justice.

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Tanzania Blocks X After Police Account Hack, False Death Report of President

By: Kamal Yalwa Tanzania blocked access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday following the hacking of a police account that falsely announced the death of the country’s president. Internet watchdog NetBlocks confirmed the shutdown, noting that X had become inaccessible on major internet providers across the country. The disruption occurred amid rising political tensions and the recent arrest of regional activists Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda. The two were in Tanzania to attend the ongoing trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges ahead of the country’s upcoming elections in October. Their sudden disappearance after being taken by Tanzanian police has sparked regional concern. According to NetBlocks, the shutdown was triggered after the compromised police account posted the false death claim, which reportedly angered Tanzania’s leadership. The country’s Minister of Information, Communications, and Technology, Jerry William Silaa, confirmed in parliament that not only was the police account hacked, but the official YouTube channel of the tax authority was also breached. He attributed the breaches to weak digital security protocols, adding that both accounts have since been restored. In response, Tanzanian police have launched a manhunt for those behind the cyberattack and the dissemination of the false information. Authorities have also warned the public against sharing unverified or misleading content online.

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Lagos Shuts Down Cubana Chief Priest’s DONALD Restaurant Over Environmental Violations

The Lagos State Government has sealed DONALD Restaurant, owned by popular nightlife promoter Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, over gross environmental violations. The enforcement action followed the arrest of two staff members who were caught illegally dumping refuse by the roadside in Lekki Phase 1. The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, revealed the development via his official X account. He explained that the Lekki Estate Residents Association (LERA) alerted authorities in the early hours of Saturday, May 18, 2025, about the unlawful dumping of waste along Durosimi-Etti Street. A white Ford van with Abuja number plates, GWA 136E, was identified at the scene, and subsequent investigations linked the vehicle to DONALD Restaurant, located on Road 14 within the estate. The suspects were apprehended by LERA’s Chief Security Officer and reportedly attempted to bribe the security team with ₦100,000—a gesture that was rejected. LAWMA’s Monitoring and Compliance Team later sealed the restaurant premises for violating the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017. The suspects were also taken into custody and will face prosecution. Gbadegesin emphasized that LAWMA is committed to upholding environmental standards across Lagos. “A clean and livable city is everyone’s responsibility,” he stated, urging residents and business owners to adopt proper waste disposal practices.

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Why Is Donald Trump Fixated on South Africa?

Donald Trump’s sustained interest in South Africa, particularly around the issue of white Afrikaners, ties into a broader narrative popular among segments of the American far-right: the debunked “white genocide” conspiracy theory. This theory falsely claims that white South Africans, especially farmers, are being systematically targeted and exterminated by the post-apartheid government. In recent years, Trump has amplified these narratives by: Tweeting in 2018 that he had directed his Secretary of State to look into the “large-scale killing of farmers” in South Africa, a claim not supported by crime statistics or credible international watchdogs. Granting refugee status in 2025 to 49 white Afrikaners, despite the absence of clear evidence that they face targeted persecution based on race. Cutting U.S. aid to South Africa and threatening to boycott diplomatic meetings, signaling a deliberate cooling of relations over the perceived mistreatment of white minorities. Why the Obsession? Trump’s stance appeals to a subset of his political base that views global events through a racialized lens. This base, which includes white nationalist and alt-right groups, has long championed the idea of a white population under siege in South Africa as a cautionary tale about multiculturalism, immigration, and what they view as “anti-white” policies. His administration’s decision to grant asylum to white South Africans reflects ideological alignment with these groups and serves as a culture war talking point. It also distracts from more complex issues within South Africa, such as economic inequality, land reform, and high crime rates, none of which are exclusive to or targeted against white citizens. The Bigger Picture This fixation is not about humanitarian concern—it’s political theater. By spotlighting white South Africans, Trump bolsters a narrative of white victimhood that fuels nativist sentiment at home. It also aligns with a broader strategy of reframing international human rights issues to fit a domestic political agenda. To explore this issue further, you can watch the Al Jazeera investigation:Watch here👉 Why is Donald Trump fixated on South Africa?

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