Author: Press Room

Fulham star Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles have taken positives from their pre-tournament friendly defeat to Egypt as Nigeria intensify preparations for their AFCON 2025 opener against Tanzania, Soccernet.ng reports. Too many expectations from a wide section of the Nigerian football community. Meanwhile, a loss to Egypt has put more fears than confidence in the minds of many football fans. Nigeria suffered a setback in their final warm-up game, but the former Everton midfielder insists the result has not disrupted the team’s focus. Super Eagles players, Iwobi, Victor Osimhren and Semilore Ajayi during the National Anthem of the game…

At least nine people were killed, and five others injured when a speeding trailer crashed into their bus on the Kaltungo–Cham Road in Kaluwa community, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State. PUNCH Metro learnt that the accident occurred at about 8:33 am on Monday. The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Gombe State, Samson Kaura, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday. Kaura said 18 people were involved in the accident, with five sustaining varying degrees of injuries while four others escaped unhurt. “The victims were rushed to the…

Super Eagles attacker Akor Adams revealed the importance of collective effort within the Super Eagles squad ahead of AFCON 2025, Soccernet.ng reports. The former Montpellier star insists that success at the tournament will depend on teamwork rather than individual brilliance. The Sevilla forward stressed that Nigeria’s selection reflects quality across the board, with every player expected to contribute as the Super Eagles push for a strong campaign. Photo Credit: Akor Adams /X What has Akor Adams said? “I think that’s why we’re all here,” Adams said to Soccernet.ng. “It’s obvious that the best players from Nigeria are selected to go…

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has called on security agencies to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the killing of Emiko Onuwaje in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. The appeal came on Monday in a statement issued in Abuja following a deadly clash on Saturday between youths from Ugborodo and neighbouring Ogidigben riverine Itsekiri communities, which left Onuwaje dead. Emami, who paid a condolence visit to the victim’s family, condemned the killing as tragic and unacceptable. He lamented that “brothers” could resort to such inhumane actions over minor disputes, warning that violence…

By Olugbenga Ige The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, has called on individuals, faith-based organisations and governments to intensify humanitarian interventions. In a statement issued by the church administration and made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday, the pastor made the call during a free medical outreach held from December 15 to 19. The statement added that the week-long outreach, organised in four Idoma communities—Igumale, Iga Okpaya, Adoka and Otukpo—benefited more than 7,000 residents across Benue State. Speaking on the last day of the programme, Enenche described the outreach as a call to collective responsibility,…

Kidnapped Nigerian Catholic school pupils Some 130 Nigerian Catholic school pupils were handed over to state authorities Monday, a day after the government said it had secured their release a month after one of the country’s worst mass abductions. Kidnappings for ransom are a common way for armed groups to make quick cash in the conflict-hit west African nation of some 230 million, but a spate of attacks in November put an uncomfortable international spotlight on Nigeria’s grim security situation. Six vans of children were escorted by security forces in armoured vehicles to the Niger State Government House, an AFP…

Gold has surged over 2% to a record high of $4,475 per ounce on Monday, leading a precious metals rally that has left Bitcoin struggling to maintain momentum. While traditional safe havens and AI-related equities capture investor capital, Bitcoin briefly touched $90,000 before retreating to the $88,000 range, failing to keep pace with the market’s clear winners.Market Divergence: Precious Metals and AI AscendThe divergence reflects a capital rotation where the ‘digital gold’ narrative is being tested. Silver also posted a record high, nearing $70 an ounce. Analysts at ByteTree noted that silver’s recent performance is beginning to rival Bitcoin’s returns…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Tanzania in their opening game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday. Nigeria head into the tournament amid significant uncertainty. This is as the team has been unconvincing in recent months, and key players Ola Aina and William Troost-Ekong are absent from the squad. Head coach Eric Chelle has divided opinion with his rare and unconventional style of play, while several of his decisions have also come under scrutiny. This tournament could represent his final opportunity to prove his mettle. Daniel Ogunmodede, Eric Chelle and the other Super Eagles assistants on…

Russia on Monday expressed “full support” for Venezuela as the South American country confronts a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers by US forces deployed in the Caribbean, the two governments said. In a phone call, the foreign ministers of the two allied countries blasted the US actions, which have included bombing alleged drug-trafficking boats and, more recently, the seizure of two tankers. A third ship was being pursued, a US official told AFP Sunday. “The ministers expressed their deep concern over the escalation of Washington’s actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are among the AFCON teams with the highest market value, but they’re not alone at the top of the chain, Soccernet.ng reports. Hosts Morocco, alongside defending Champions Ivory Coast and then Senegal, have been tipped to win the competition, and the market value of the players in those teams is no small feat. Individually, AFCON 2025 Player of the Year – Achraf Hakimi is the most expensive player in the tournament (€80m), closely followed by Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen (€75m) and Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo (€75m). Overall, the value of all the teams at the AFCON 2025…