2025 | Page 34 of 263 | Trendbrio.com

8th African Nations Championship: Nigeria Go Out On a High after Win over Congo

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

The Super Eagles B caged Congo’s Red Devils with two goals in the second half in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, but their firepower came too late as both teams were eliminated from the 8th African Nations Championship at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Congo had hopes of inching their way into the knockout rounds before kick-off, with two points from their first two matches, including a fit-fighting draw with champions Senegal. On their part, the Eagles already had their bags packed for the journey home after an underwhelming first two games of the group phase in which they lost by a lone goal to Senegal and were battered for four by Sudan. Both teams did not present a spectacle in the first period, with no clear-cut opportunities created, though the Red Devils could have gone ahead in the 25th minute when Nigeria captain Nduka Junior bungled a simple pass and was lucky the opposing striker could not keep his header down in front of junior international goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt. Nigeria returned from recess with obvious renewed vigour, and it was no surprise when Anas Yusuf connected home beautifully, a headed pass by Sikiru Alimi in the 56th minute, following a cross by defender Abdulrafiu Taiwo. The 2018 silver medallists, who had not scored a goal in the competition since winning their semi-final clash with Sudan in Marrakech seven years ago, pushed forward more and more, and got a second goal three minutes into added time through Sikiru Alimi. Cup-holders Senegal and Sudan make it to the quarter-finals from Group D, while the Eagles are expected back home on Thursday.

Nigerian-Born Benin Striker, Omotoyossi Dies 39

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Nigerian-born Benin Republic striker Razak Omotoyossi has tragically died aged 39. The passing of the Beninese football icon and former Blackpool trialist was announced on Tuesday. Omotoyossi, who was born in Nigeria but represented neighbouring Benin, played for 15 clubs during his career before calling it a day as a professional footballer in 2021. Helsingborg, Al-Nassr, Metz and Zamalek were the most high-profile teams the late striker played for. And a number of his old sides paid tribute to him upon learning of his untimely death. Swedish side Helsingborgs wrote in a statement on X: “Helsingborgs IF is in mourning. “We have been informed that our former player, Razak Omotoyossi, has passed away at the age of 39. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Razak.” Syrianski FC wrote: “Syrianska FC has received with deep sadness the extremely tragic news of the passing of Razak Omotoyossi. “He passed away at the age of 39. Syrianska expresses its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. “Rest in peace, Razak Omotoyossi.” Omotoyossi was prolific for Benin Republic, scoring 21 goals in 55 appearances for The Cheetahs across the span of 12 years. The cause of Omotoyossi’s tragic death has yet to be revealed.

Franco Umeh in Talks with League One

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

League One Exeter City have held exploratory talks over a loan move for Crystal Palace attacker Franco Umeh, the News Shopper understands. The 20-year-old has been included in Palace’s senior squad 13 times but has yet to make his first-team debut. He joined from Irish side Cork City in February 2023 when Palace triggered his €75,000 release clause. Umeh trained with the first team last season, where Palace boss Oliver Glasner briefly considered him as an option at left wing-back before he reverted to his natural attacking role. The Republic of Ireland youth international made 15 appearances for Palace’s Under-21 side last term, contributing five goals and an assist. Comfortable on either flank, the wide player is currently recovering from a hamstring issue sustained in pre-season. Palace are keen to secure an EFL loan for Umeh in the final 13 days of the transfer window. Exeter, who sit 15th in the third tier, are interested in adding the attacker to their forward ranks and have held preliminary discussions over a move. Umeh would become the second Palace player to join the Grecians this summer, following goalkeeper Joe Whitworth’s return to Devon for a second successive season.

Ademola Lookman Returns to Atalanta after Inter Withdrawal

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Ademola Lookman is now back in Bergamo and is preparing to train at Zingonia for the first time after learning that Inter have decided to withdraw from the race to sign him this summer. Reports on Monday evening confirmed that Inter have told Atalanta that they no longer wish to pursue a deal for Lookman, despite weeks and weeks of negotiations for the African Player of the Year. The Nerazzurri had seen an offer of €45m including bonuses for Lookman turned down this summer, and now it appears that they will not come back in with an improved bid. The initial rejection of Inter’s bid for Lookman caused the Nigeria international to hand in a formal transfer request and desert Atalanta training, instead returning to the UK to train individually. He also released a statement accusing his employers of breaking promises and treating him poorly as a ‘human being and professional footballer’. Dea CEO Luca Percassi later confirmed that there was an agreement in place that allowed Lookman to leave the club under the right conditions this summer, but only for ‘big’ teams that are located outside Serie A, which complicated a deal between Inter and Atalanta. Despite Lookman’s desire to force through a move to Inter this summer, he has now been forced to swallow a bitter pill and return to Atalanta with less than a week to go before the start of the 2025-26 Serie A season. Atalanta will get their league campaign underway with a visit from newly-promoted Pisa on Sunday evening, kicking off at 7.45pm.

Tosin Adarabioyo Set to Return to Training This Week

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to return to Chelsea training this week as he looks to make the matchday squad for the trip to West Ham on Friday. The Blues drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace on opening weekend, but were without Tosin after he picked up a knock in training. Enzo Maresca’s side are already without Levi Colwill after he suffered an ACL injury in pre-season, and were not keen to take any risks with Tosin. However, The Standard reports that the issue is ‘very minor’ and that Tosin will likely return to training this week. The 27-year-old remains a doubt for Friday’s fixture, though, and Maresca may well choose to stick with the pairing of Trevor Chalobah and Josh Acheampong who kept a clean sheet against Palace. Speaking about Tosin’s injury after the draw with Palace, Maresca said: ‘He had a physical problem. We don’t know for how long [he will be out].’ Tosin was expected to play an increased role this season, after Maresca hinted that the 27-year-old was the only centre-back capable of emulating Colwill’s play style. ‘When we build, we build with Levi in the middle,’ Maresca said. ‘Last year, we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin [Adarabioyo]. Now Levi is out, the only one who can do that job well is Tosin. ‘We have [Jorrel] Hato but he never played as the guy in the middle last season. It is not about central defenders. Yes he is a central defender, but what does he have to do? Can he do that? It is different.’ Elsewhere, Wesley Fofana could also be in line for his first minutes since March on Friday after the Frenchman was an unused substitute last time out. ‘Wes was on the bench but was just on the bench to be with us and the plan was for him not to get any minutes,’ Maresca added. ‘Now hopefully for the next one, we can use Wes for some minutes.’

EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged N131.8m, $200,000 Fraud in Abuja

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago04 mins

The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, August 18, 2025, arraigned one Umar Abdullahi before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for fraud. Abdullahi, an Information and Communication Technology, ICT, consultant is being prosecuted on four-court charges, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud and money laundering to the tune of N131.8 million and $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). One of the charges reads: “That you, Umar Abdullahi, sometime between July 2024 and August 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept and transact cash payment of $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars) for allotment of shares in Multi Access Controls Limited, in excess of the Ten Million Naira threshold, without transacting through a financial institution, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 2 (1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.” Another reads: “That you, Umar Abdullahi, sometime in June 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N104,980,000.00 (One Hundred and Four Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) into Account Number: 2266267081, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, from Aura Integrated Energy Resources Limited under the false pretence that the money was for procurement of telecommunication equipment and logistics for Nigerian Communications Commission staff, a pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.” He pleaded “not guilty” to all charges, following which prosecution counsel, Cosmas Ugwu, urged the court to remand him in a correctional facility pending trial, noting that he had earlier jumped an administrative bail granted him by the EFCC, while the defence counsel, A.O. Agbonlahor, pleaded with the court for the defendant to be remanded in EFCC’s custody. Justice Nwite after listening to both counsel, ordered that Abdullahi be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja and adjourned the case till September 8, 2025 for commencement of trial. Abdullahi’s prosecution followed a petition by Alhaji Shehu Badamosi to the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, in which he alleged that the defendant approached him, claiming to have secured a contract with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and needed financing to the tune of N131.8m and $200,000 for its execution. The petitioner further claimed that the defendant after receiving the money from him became incommunicado, while all his efforts to recover his money from him, proved abortive.

Tinubu Commiserates With APC Chairman Over The Loss of His Mother

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago01 mins

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his heartfelt condolences to Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, on the passing of his mother, Mama Lydia Yilwatda. Mama Yilwatda died on Sunday morning at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital at the age of 83. President Tinubu described her as a woman of virtue who lived a life dedicated to faith, service, and the uplifting of her community. The President enjoined the APC Chairman to accept her death as the will of Almighty God and be consoled by the life of purpose his mother lived. President Tinubu prayed for the repose of the soul of Mama Yilwatda and beseeches God to grant Prof. Yilwatda, the entire family and all those Mama left behind the strength to bear the loss.

Antoine Semenyo: Man Accused of Racially Abusing Footballer Bailed and Banned from All Stadiums

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

A 47-year-old man from Liverpool has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during Friday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield. As part of his bail conditions, the man — who has not been named — has been banned from attending any regulated football match in the UK and from going within one mile of any designated football stadium. Incident at Anfield The alleged abuse occurred during the first half of the fixture. Semenyo lodged a complaint, prompting the referee to pause the game briefly and speak with both managers. An anti-discrimination message was also broadcast inside the stadium. Merseyside Police officers were understood to have entered the referee’s room at half-time as part of their investigation. Despite the incident, Semenyo went on to have a strong performance, scoring twice in the second half to help Bournemouth recover from two goals down, though Liverpool ultimately won the game 4–2. Semenyo’s reaction Following the match, the 24-year-old Ghanaian international described the outpouring of support he had received as “overwhelming.” “It’s moments like these that remind me why I love this sport and the unity it can create,” he said in a statement, thanking fans, teammates, and the wider football community. Wider context The abuse aimed at Semenyo came just two days after Tottenham Hotspur’s Mathys Tel was subjected to online racist attacks following his missed penalty against Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League qualifier. The incidents have reignited concerns over racism in football, both in stadiums and across digital platforms, and sparked renewed calls for tougher punishments for offenders. The investigation into the alleged racial abuse of Semenyo is ongoing.