Headline
Arteta Seeks Three Points As Arsenal Battle Chelsea To Revive Premier League Title Ambition
Three days later than initially planned, Arsenal and Chelsea renew hostilities for a Premier League London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The contest was supposed to take place on Saturday evening but was moved to a midweek kickoff upon a revision from the Metropolitan Police, much to the dismay of supporters.
Facing the biggest test of their title credentials yet, Arsenal did little to suggest that they can last the course when met with the end-of-season Manchester City juggernaut, who taught their former employee Mikel Arteta quite the footballing lesson in a 4-1 romping.
Kevin De Bruyne’s brace, John Stones’s header and Erling Braut Haaland’s record-breaking 33rd Premier League goal of the season contributed to a comprehensive win for the reigning champions, and while the travelling fans were able to celebrate a well-taken consolation from Rob Holding, their side’s title destiny is no longer in their own hands.
Thanks to Man City’s 2-1 triumph over Fulham, Arteta’s men have been knocked off their perch and into second place, although one silver lining from last week was Brighton & Hove Albion’s loss to Nottingham Forest, which guaranteed Arsenal’s return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
A top-four finish was the overriding goal for Arteta and co before the first ball was kicked this term, but a familiar sense of springtime dread is once again prevalent amid accusations of Arsenal ‘bottling’ the title – not completely unfounded given the manner of their draws with Liverpool, West Ham United and basement side Southampton.
Wednesday’s loss at the Etihad marked the seventh game in a row in which Arsenal have both scored and conceded – shipping an alarming 11 goals in their last four games – but only Newcastle United have prevented the Gunners from scoring at the Emirates this season, and Chelsea are not exactly jumping for joy at the moment either.
With every passing week, Todd Boehly’s peculiar decision to bring Frank Lampard back to Stamford Bridge is not being vindicated, as the Englishman’s losing streak stretched to a worrying five games when West London rivals Brentford came to town and left with a 2-0 victory.
The returning Cesar Azpilicueta had an own goal to his name in the 37th minute, and as profligacy reared its ugly head for Chelsea once again, Bryan Mbeumo took advantage with a well-taken second for the Bees 12 minutes from time, and 12th place is appropriately where Lampard’s side find themselves right now.
Crystal Palace leapfrogged their London rivals on Saturday thanks to their 4-3 success over West Ham, leaving Chelsea just 10 points clear of the relegation zone and – incredibly – still at risk of demotion to the Championship. It is also mathematically impossible for the Blues to challenge for the top four, but that ship had sailed some time ago.
While the Blues’ squad are said to be excited by the imminent appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, Lampard is out to avoid a slice of unwanted history at the Emirates, where defeat would mark a 20th loss of the campaign for the first time in Chelsea’s Premier League era – they last suffered as many beatings in 1987-88.
Now winless in eight straight matches since Graham Potter masterminded a 3-1 triumph over Leicester City in March, Chelsea have just the one goal to their name since Lampard’s homecoming – Conor Gallagher’s deflected strike versus Brighton – and only one of their last 10 Premier League away games has ended in victory.
A Gabriel Magalhaes finish propelled Arsenal to a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, over a year on from the Blues’ Romelu Lukaku-inspired 2-0 victory at the Emirates in August 2021 – a similar showing from ex-Gunner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would not go amiss for the travelling fans here.
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Headline
Nigeria, DR Congo Face-Off In 2026 World Cup Play-Offs Final
A place as Africa’s representative in the 2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoff is at stake as Nigeria face Congo DR on Sunday in Rabat.
The Super Eagles are bidding to reach the global showpiece for a seventh time, while the Leopards chase only their second appearance at the mundial.
Towing the long path to World Cup qualification through a last-point resurgence, Nigeria characteristically took the hard route to victory when they faced Gabon in the African playoff semi-final on Thursday.
A gift from the Panthers saw Akor Adams open the scoring in the 78th minute, though Eric Chelle’s men failed to hold on as Mario Lemina levelled matters one minute into added time.
Victor Osimhen’s howler of a miss brought a dramatic end to the regulation period, though the Galatasaray striker atoned with a brace in extra time after substitute Chidera Ejuke nudged Nigeria back in front, sealing a 4-1 victory.
The three-time continental champions have now won five of their last six outings, netting 10 times and conceding just thrice across the most recent three, so confidence is expected to be high heading into Sunday’s African finale.
This will mark the first competitive meeting between the sides, who have not faced each other since a 1-1 friendly draw in 2018, which remains the only stalemate in the previous six encounters, with Nigeria winning two and Congo victorious in three.
The Congolese progressed to the playoff final in dramatic fashion as captain Chancel Mbemba’s stoppage-time goal handed the Leopards a hard-fought victory against Cameroon on Thursday.
Sebastien Desabre’s men have now won each of their last three outings by a solitary goal, reflecting a side that has thrived through defensive solidity rather than attacking flourish.
Congo will hope that reliable record counts on Sunday as the team aims to take a step closer to fulfilling a long-awaited dream, having not made an appearance at the World Cup since 1974, when the nation competed as Zaire.
Standing in the way of that achievement is a Nigerian team ranked 19 places higher on FIFA’s current World Rankings, though the 60th-placed Leopards may not be overly concerned going into this match as underdogs after facing 54th-ranked Cameroon.
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Entertainment
Men Must Pay ₦2 million Or ₦3 million To Have Sex With Me – Kiragee
An actress and content creator Kiragee has sparked mixed reactions following her daring statements about her personal life, relationships, and values.
In a recent interview with content creator Kaptain Jeff, the outspoken entertainer shared some rather bold opinions that have set social media buzzing.
Introducing herself, she said: “My name is Kiragee. I am an actress and a content creator. I am 25 years old — not Instagram age. I was born in 1998. I am from Anambra State.”
Speaking further, Kiragee declared: “Before you sleep with me, you must keep down ₦2 million or ₦3 million because my private part is expensive. I breastfeed men for a living. My occupation sometimes is breastfeeding men for a living.”
She also described herself as a professional tailor, blending humor and confidence as she explained her craft.
“I am a professional tailor, so after going for measurements, I can also take someone’s measurement down there. I am a tailor with a happy ending,” she said.
On what men admire most about her, the busty entertainer playfully replied,
“Are you blind?”
Kiragee, known for her controversial takes, also noted that she charges for dates, saying,
“I have to be paid to go on a date with a man. It’s called appearance fee.”
In what may be her most shocking comment yet, she claimed she wouldn’t mind her husband being with her friend if she gets married.
“If I get married today and my man likes my friend, I will give my friend to my man. I will call my friend and tell her I want to pay you to give my husband better sex. I will do it,” she said.
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Headline
Tinubu Sends Emissary To Plateau Over Insecurity
President Tinubu has dispatched an emissary, Dr Abiodun Essiet, to Plateau State, as part of his administration’s efforts to curb incessant communal crises, farmers/herders clashes, as well as foster intercommunal harmony in Plateau State.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Essiet, a Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement in the North Central Zone, was in the state on Thursday, where she spent two days.
She met Christian clerics and Fulani Miyetti Allah community leaders.
According to the statement, the efforts also culminated in a town hall meeting in Jos. It further stated that delegates from various local government areas, traditional rulers, women, and youth leaders gathered to discuss ways to strengthen community-based peace structures and promote coexistence among diverse communities.
“Essiet paid a courtesy visit to Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council (RCC), in Barkin Ladi, where discussions centred on faith-based leadership and its role in promoting peace, unity, and social development,” Onanuga stated.
“Along with Dachomo, she addressed some widows and conveyed President Tinubu’s message of fostering ethnic reconciliation in the state. Dachomo has been the loudest voice of Christian communities in the state.”
She also met with Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between pastoral and farming communities, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive engagement.
“Later in the day, she conducted a workshop on establishing a community peace structure for the 17 Local Government Areas in Jos,” the statement added.
“Dr Essiet also held a closed-door meeting with the Irigwe community, the Miyetti Allah group, and representatives from the Youth Council of Bassa LGA.
“They focused on sustaining peace and discussed how the 17-member peace committee strengthens dialogue, reconciliation, and coexistence between the two communities.
“Dr Essiet reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to peace and inclusive governance, noting that the Community-Based Peace Structure serves as a key instrument for grassroots unity, dialogue, and long-term stability in the North Central region.
“A quick win in the peace efforts was the resolution of the conflict between David Toma, the owner of Agha Farm in Gyel district of Jos South and some herdsmen. Toma seized two cows following the destruction of his farm.
“On November 15, the MACBAN Chairman of BASSA LGA, Alhaji Isah Yau, paid a compensation of N500,000 to Toma, who subsequently released the cows. All parties signed an undertaking to embrace peace in the state,” it concluded.
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