Fola Badmus

Ike Ibeabuchi Challenges Usyk in 2026 Showdown

Ike Ibeabuchi is back in the heavyweight scene and has publicly challenged Oleksandr Usyk to a fight in Kyiv in 2026. Speaking in the Ukrainian capital, the 52-year-old Nigerian stated, “You are the Undisputed Champion. You are Ukraine’s champion. Fight me here in Kyiv in 2026.” Ibeabuchi is scheduled to fight Kabiru Towolawi on December 24, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, on Prizefighting.tv PPV. He said the bout will prove whether his knockout power remains intact. “The world wants to see if the old fire is truly back. When I defeat Kabiru, I will have proven my claim to your titles, Usyk,” he explained. “I have done my part, I have shaken off the rust of two decades. Now, I call on the only man who matters: You speak of fighting for your people. I offer you a chance to do just that: Defend your titles, defend your country.” He emphasized that the location of a potential fight with Usyk is irrelevant. “It does not matter if the fight is in Ukraine, or the UK, or Nigeria, or the US. My knockout power is the same. My power has a visa that allows it to travel worldwide.” Ibeabuchi added a historical comparison to illustrate his confidence: “I will knock you out, Usyk, just like George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer! I will get the titles that are rightfully mine and become the oldest heavyweight champion in history!” Known as “The President,” Ibeabuchi highlighted the enduring power of his punches. “They say speed fades, stamina wanes, but the heavy power that is always in the locker. That is what separates a true heavyweight from the rest,” he said. He clarified that his knockout ability relies on technique rather than athleticism alone. “My power is not reliant on how fast I move or how long I last; it relies on leverage and technique. “I still have the ability to drop a locomotive. That knockout power, Usyk, is the last thing to leave, and I still carry it. “When I hit you, you will feel the 21 victories and 16 knockouts of my past, and the hunger of my future.” Ibeabuchi referenced George Foreman’s 1994 victory over Michael Moorer to demonstrate that age does not preclude knockout power. “My power travels. I will knock you out like George Foreman knocked out Moorer,” he said.  

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The Best FIFA Football Awards Winners to Emerge on Tuesday

The winners of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 will be revealed at a special event in Doha, Qatar, that will be broadcast live on FIFA.com on Tuesday, 16 December 2025 from 20:00 local time (18:00 CET). On the eve of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 final between Paris Saint-Germain and CR Flamengo at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, the world’s best players and coaches for 2025 will be revealed during the FIFA Celebration 2025 Dinner at Fairmont Katara Hall in Doha. Before that, the best fans, goalkeepers and goals will be announced in digital videos on FIFA platforms and across social media, along with the winner of the FIFA Fair Play Award. The gala dinner will be attended by 800 guests, including the FIFA President, FIFA Council members, FIFA Legends, Member Association representatives from around the world, and other local and regional ambassadors and trailblazers of the beautiful game. As ever, fans have played a key role in choosing the winners by casting over 16 million votes and having a say in the destiny of multiple awards, including The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Player, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper. All of these award winners have been decided by an equally weighted voting system between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s and men’s national teams, and media representatives. In addition, fans have also participated in the vote for The Best FIFA Women’s 11 and The Best FIFA Men’s 11. Voting for the FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award – for the best goals in women’s and men’s football – has been split equally between fans and a panel of FIFA Legends, while the winner of the FIFA Fan Award has been chosen entirely by fans, and the recipient of the FIFA Fair Play Award has been selected by an expert panel.

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John Cena Retires From WWE

WWE legend John Cena officially bid farewell to his illustrious wrestling career at the Saturday Night Live event in Washington, DC. 17-time world champion John Cena faced Austrian star wrestler Gunther in his final match. The match, which took place in a packed stadium, was thrilling from the start. The two wrestlers fought fiercely and evenly, and at one point, the match seemed to be going in John Cena’s favour. However, John Cena could not save himself from Gunther’s continuous and hard sleeper hold and was surprisingly tapped out, leaving the fans in the stadium disappointed and surprised. After the match, John Cena symbolically placed his shoes, armbands, and wristbands in the ring, which is considered a clear sign of his retirement from wrestling. At this point, fellow wrestlers and fans around the ring stood up and paid him a heartfelt tribute. Leaving the ring for the last time, John Cena looked at the camera and addressed the fans, saying, “It has been an honor to serve you all these years, thank you all.”

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Morocco 2025: Super Eagles Set for NAIJA 4 THE WIN Campaign as AFCON Beckons

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the commencement of the NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign as the Super Eagles return to the continent for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with a renewed commitment to reclaiming the prestigious title for the nation.   Nigeria, three-time winners of Africa’s flagship football championship, arrive in Morocco with a rich history and a firm resolve to restore continental glory. The silver-medal finish at the 2023 edition in Abidjan, though commendable, remains a reminder of unfinished business. Those memories serve not as setbacks, but as motivation for a stronger, more decisive outing.   Under the leadership of Head Coach Eric Sékou Chelle and the unwavering total support of the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation, the team continues to build a solid structure based on discipline, experience, emerging talent, and collective ambition. The objective is unambiguous: to improve on the last performance and bring the Africa Cup of Nations trophy back to Nigeria.   The NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign serves as a unifying call to Nigerians across all regions and the diaspora. It reinforces the belief that, just as in Nigeria 1980, Tunisia 1994 and South Africa 2010, Nigeria can once again rise to the summit of African football. Each of these victories carries its own legacy, and Morocco 2025 presents another opportunity to inscribe a new chapter in that storied tradition.   The NFF urges supporters to stand firmly behind the Super Eagles throughout the tournament from homes and viewing centres across the country to the stands in Morocco. The passion, encouragement, and presence of Nigerians remain critical to the team’s success.  

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Nigerian Socialite Roseline Ajesola Arrested in North Carolina Over Alleged $247,000 Fraud Scheme

Authorities in Wake County, North Carolina, have arrested Roseline Iyewande Ajesola, a Nigerian-American woman and prominent Lagos socialite, over allegations of financial fraud involving more than $247,000. According to arrest warrants issued by the Morrisville Police Department, Ajesola, who resides in Katy, Texas, is facing four felony counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense, classified as a Class C felony under North Carolina law. Investigators allege that Ajesola falsely presented herself as a financial broker and convinced a victim to transfer large sums of money into a bank account under her control. The funds were allegedly forwarded to another party shortly after the transfers were made. Court documents indicate that four transactions are linked to the alleged scheme: $52,000, $130,000, $60,000, and $5,000. The transfers reportedly occurred on February 26, 2025, bringing the total amount involved to over $247,000. The arrest has attracted widespread attention online following the circulation of her mugshot on social media. Investigations into the matter are ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed whether additional suspects may be involved.

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APC Ibadan North Ticket: Olusegun Olaleye Denies Winning Primary Election

APC Osun Guber Primary Kicks Off Amid Consensus on Bola Oyebamiji

All is set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Osun State as the exercise officially commenced on Saturday. A total of 1,666 accredited delegates are participating in the primary to elect the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the next election. Accreditation of delegates is currently ongoing, with officials of the APC Primary Election Committee overseeing the process. Observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are also present at the venue to monitor the conduct of the exercise in line with electoral guidelines. The primary is taking place amid reports of a growing consensus within the party in favour of Bola Oyebamiji, raising expectations of a smooth and orderly process. Party leaders and stakeholders have expressed confidence that the exercise will strengthen internal democracy and position the APC effectively for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

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US Forces Storm Cargo Ship Travelling From China to Iran: Report

United States forces reportedly raided a cargo ship travelling from China to Iran in November, marking the latest example of increasingly aggressive maritime tactics by the administration of President Donald Trump. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal published on Friday, US military personnel boarded the vessel several hundred miles from Sri Lanka. Unnamed officials said the incident marked the first time in several years that US forces had intercepted cargo travelling from China to Iran. The operation took place weeks before US authorities seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela earlier this week, citing alleged sanctions violations. Officials described the November raid as another step in a pattern of actions Washington has not taken in years. US Indo-Pacific Command did not immediately confirm the report. However, an official told the newspaper that materials seized during the operation were “potentially useful for Iran’s conventional weapons.” The official added that the items were considered dual-use, meaning they could have both civilian and military applications. Sources said the ship was allowed to continue its journey after the interdiction, which reportedly involved US special operations forces. Iran remains under extensive US sanctions. Neither Tehran nor Beijing immediately responded to the report, though China, a key trading partner of Iran, has consistently criticised US sanctions as illegal. Earlier on Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by US forces, which was taken to a port in Texas. Guo said Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions and what it described as “long-arm jurisdiction” without authorisation from the United Nations Security Council. The latest maritime action comes amid heightened US pressure on Venezuela, a move Caracas has accused Washington of pursuing in an effort to undermine President Nicolas Maduro’s government. Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that the Trump administration would not rule out additional vessel seizures near Venezuela in the future.

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INEC Orders Nationwide Display of Preliminary Voters Register for Claims and Objections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered the nationwide display of the preliminary register of voters to allow for claims and objections by eligible Nigerians. According to a statement shared on the commission’s official X handle on Friday, the exercise is aimed at giving voters the opportunity to confirm their registration details and request corrections where necessary. INEC explained that the process will enable Nigerians who recently registered, transferred their registration, or updated their personal details to verify their information at their respective Local Government Area offices. In the statement, the commission urged voters to confirm their details, noting that those whose names are missing from the register, whose information is misspelt, or whose records are incomplete should file a claim for correction. INEC also called on Nigerians to file objections if they observe irregularities on the register, including the presence of non-citizens, underage persons, deceased individuals, people not resident in the area, or anyone legally incapacitated from voting. The commission disclosed that the exercise will take place nationwide at all INEC Local Government Area offices, running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., between December 15 and December 21. Meanwhile, INEC recently confirmed that more than 2.68 million Nigerians have completed their registration in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise. The commission stated that 1,576,137 applicants successfully completed their pre-registration online, while an additional 1,109,588 finalised their enrolment through physical biometric capture at INEC centres across the country.

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