


The Rise and Fall of Akinwunmi Ambode. “Baba Sope” Political Ideology and the Myth of Yoruba Omoluabi Ethos | By: Kayode Ogundamisi


Stella Damasus returns to the big screen with "Between"


UEFA to introduce a third European club competition.
UEFA is set to introduce a third European club competition alongside the Champions League and Europa League from 2021.
This was confirmed by President Andrea Agnelli in an opening address at the ECA’s biannual general meeting in Split on Tuesday.
“Pending approval of the Uefa executive committee, the green light has been given to introduce a third competition, bringing the overall number of clubs to 96, as of the 2021/22 season.”
This means the Europa League’s group stage would be reduced from 48 teams to 32, with the new competition and Champions League all having the same number.
In recent, weeks, Uefa has said it is “constantly reviewing” its competitions and has been “discussing various ideas within its Club Competitions Committee before any decision on potential changes would be made”.
Details on the rules, format and the teams going to be involved in the new competition are sketchy at the moment.

Netflix acquires rights to Genevieve Nnaji’s directorial debut “Lionheart.”
She’s low-key making Big things happen!
Netflix acquires rights to Genevieve Nnaji’s directorial debut “Lionheart.”
Netflix has announced that they’ve acquired worldwide rights to Lionheart, the directorial debut of legendary actress – Genevieve Nnaji. The film which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday is the first Netflix Original Film from Nigeria. It stars Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, Onyeka Onwenu, Jemima Osunde and a host of others
Genny plays a level-headed executive at her father’s bus company, but along with her rival (Kalu Egbui Ikeagwu) is passed over when her father hands the company over to her uncle.
- Kiva Reardon, a writer for TIFF, described the film as “sharply and comically observed, Nnaji’s film deals with the everyday sexism that saturates workplaces everywhere, and captures the delicate balance between honouring one’s family while finding the courage to strike out on one’s own.”

NFF bans and fines Salisu Yusuf for taking bribe
The Super Eagles assistant coach was filmed collecting $1000 by undercover journalists posing as agents. Following thorough investigation into the incident, the country’s football governing body directed the 56 year-old to pay a fine of $5,000 to the Federation within three months, and asked him to stay away from football-related activities.
“The NFF Committee on Ethics and Fair Play have placed a one–year ban from all football-related activities on Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Mr. Salisu Yusuf.”
“Following its consideration of a complaint by the NFF as well as the Coach’s defence of a video documentary in which he was seen to accept the sum of $1,000 from an undercover reporter posing as a player’s agent. The coach must also pay a fine in the sum of $5,000 to the Federation within three months.” A statement from the NFF Ethics Committee read.
Lionel Messi omitted from 2018 Fifa's men's player of the year award
For the first time in 11 years, Argentina/Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi was omitted from The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award. The 2018 shortlist which was revealed by FIFA today features Juventus new signing, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s Luka Modrić and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian was last season’s Premier League top scorer, netting 44 goals in 52 games for the Reds last season, Ronaldo who moved to Italian side, Juventus in the summer was last campaign’s Champions League top scorer and also clinched the CL trophy with his former team, ball, Modric helped Luka Modric helped Real Madrid to clinch their third consecutive European Cup and also inspired his national side, Croatia to the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Photos: Amokachi, Siasia, Eguavoen, others feature in novelty match
The doors of the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba in September were thrown open on Sunday August 26, 2018 with a novelty match between Ex-Enyimba players & 1998 Super Eagles squad. The match which was captained by Uche Okechukwu, had in attendance, the likes of Ike Shorunmu, Austin Eguavoen, Taribo West, Dan Amokachi, Samson Siasia, Tijani Babangida, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal to mention a few
Gov Okezie Ikpeazu (he plays football every weekend) took the ceremonial kick-off after which both sides traded tackles. It was highly entertaining & the ex Eagles still had moves. The game ended 1-0 in favour of ex Enyimba Stars.
The fully refurbished, 20,000 seating capacity stadium is now awaiting re-certification by NFF and CAF to resume hosting NPLF and CAF matches. It was reconstructed by an indigenous Sports Company Monimichelle Sports Nig Ltd with Ebi Egbe from Bayelsa State as CEO. He renovated Sampson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
Credit: www.twitter.com/hartng

Simi to feature in Kunle Afolayan’s new movie, Mokalik
Afropop/Soul singer is set to feature in Kunle Afolayan’s new movie titled Mokalik. The announcement was made by the award-winning actor, alongside a picture of himself and Simi, captioned:
“It is Official: Simi @symplysimi is featuring in “Mokalik” a Kunle Afolayan film. ‘Jamb Questiom’ crooner, Simisola Ogunleye, aka Simi, has accepted a role in Kunle Afolayan’s coming film, ‘Mokalik’ (Mechanic). The agreement was formalised on Sunday, at the filmmaker’s office, in Lagos.”
The film also stars the likes of Femi Adebayo, Ayo Adesanya, Faithia Williams, Lateef Oladimeji to mention a few.
‘Mokalik’ (Mechanic) follows the career of an 11-year-old boy, Jaiye, from the middle-class suburbs who spends the day as a lowly apprentice at a mechanic workshop in order to view life from the other side of the tracks. Simi will be playing the role of the daughter of a cafeteria owner.
Afolayan says ‘Mokalik’ is a slight departure from the flicks he had shot in the past, adding that there will be two versions of the film; one for the Nigerian market – the other for the international market.
Screen-played by Tunde Babalola, inspiration for the story, according to the filmmaker came during his constant visit to the mechanic workshop where he refurbished his much publicised Vintage car (Thunderbird Ford 1965) recently, while the film title, a Yoruba corrupt pronunciation of mechanic is from a scene in one of his late father (Ade Love)’s classic, ‘Taxi Driver’. Visiting the mechanic workshop after about 15 years opened my eyes to a lot of things that I believe the world should know about our local auto car repairs industry,” he said.
“@Kunleafo and a girl with a script she likes very much,” The JAMB Question crooner wrote on instagram.
Photos: George Weah honours Wenger and Claude LeRoy
Today, the President of Liberia, George Weah bestowed the nation’s highest honor to his two former football coaches; Arsene Wenger and Claude LeRoy. They were named the Knight Grand High Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption.