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Madueke stars with double at Brugge as Arsenal maintain perfect Champions League record

Arsenal strengthened their Champions Leaguecampaign on Tuesday night as Noni Madueke’s brace powered a 3-0 win over Club Brugge, extending their 100% record and effectively sealing their place in the knockout stages.

Madueke sets the tone early

Mikel Arteta rotated heavily after the weekend loss to Aston Villa, and one of the incoming players delivered immediately.

Madueke opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort, shrugging off a defender before firing a 20-yard strike off the crossbar.

Club Brugge applied pressure late in the first half, but David Raya’s sharp saves from Christos Tzolis and Aleksandar Stankovic preserved Arsenal’s lead.

Madueke stars with double at Brugge as Arsenal maintain perfect Champions League record
Madueke scores double to hand Arsenal win over Brugge – Getty image

Quickfire second-half push

Madueke doubled the advantage two minutes into the second half, heading in a precise cross from Martin Zubimendi.

Moments later, Gabriel Martinelli curled home Arsenal’s third to put the game beyond reach and secure a comfortable finish.

Key returns and milestones

Gabriel Jesus made his first appearance in 342 days after recovering from an ACL injury, while 16-year-old Marli Salmon earned his senior debut.

Jesus nearly capped his return with a goal, but his late effort rattled the crossbar.

The victory lifts Arsenal to 18 points, surpassing last season’s threshold for a top-eight finish, and positioning them to bypass the February play-offs and advance straight to the last 16.

Rotation pays off for Arteta

Supporters have urged Arteta to rotate amid a heavy injury list, and he deployed his seventh different centre-back pairing of the season with Christian Nørgaard and Piero Hincapié.

Though the performance dipped at intervals, Arsenal’s control strengthened in the second half, enabling Arteta to manage minutes efficiently.

Gabriel Jesus impressed during his half-hour caméo, offering more attacking presence than Viktor Gyökeres, who endured a challenging evening.

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UCL: Haaland, O’Reilly strike as Alonso’s Madrid sink against Man City

Real Madrid’s crisis deepened on Wednesday night as Manchester City secured a 2-1 win at the Bernabéu, leaving Xabi Alonso’s job on the line after just seven months in charge.

Pep Guardiola, already an unpopular figure in Madrid from his Barcelona days, returned to inflict more damage, this time with a victory that exposed Madrid’s frailties and amplified pressure on his former Bayern Munich protégé.

Madrid start strong but collapse quickly

Despite their struggles in La Liga and a long injury list, Madrid opened brightly. Rodrygo ended his 32-game goal drought with a composed finish after a well-timed pass from Jude Bellingham, giving the hosts the lead they deserved.

The momentum didn’t last. Within five minutes, City were level as Nico O’Reilly reacted quickest to a Thibaut Courtois spill. Madrid’s appeals for a foul on Ruben Dias were dismissed, and City seized control.

UCL: Haaland, O’Reilly strike as Alonso’s Madrid sink against Man City
Man City beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu – Getty image

Haaland turns the tide

O’Reilly then combined with Jeremy Doku before floating a cross toward Erling Haaland, who was hauled down by Antonio Rüdiger.

After VAR intervention, the penalty was awarded, and Haaland, unfazed after his recent miss against Liverpool, sent Courtois the wrong way.

City nearly added a third before the break, with Courtois producing a double save to deny Haaland and Rayan Cherki.

Madrid chase the game but fall short

Alonso’s side pushed hard in the second half. Bellingham attempted a delicate chip that landed on the roof of the net, while Vinícius Júnior squandered two promising chances. Substitute Endrick struck the crossbar late on, summing up a night of frustration.

City, meanwhile, continued to create chances of their own, with Courtois keeping the deficit respectable as Cherki and Doku caused persistent problems.

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NFF denies claims of owing Chelle two months’ salary, calls out NSC

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has rejected reports alleging that Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is being owed two months’ salary ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Chelle, appointed in January with clear performance targets, World Cup qualification and a semi-final berth at AFCON, guided Nigeria from fourth to second in Group C of the CAF qualifiers, finishing one point behind South Africa.

He then steered the team through the playoffs, beating Gabon before losing to DR Congo on penalties.

NFF denies claims of owing Chelle two months’ salary, calls out NSC
NFF denies owing Eric Chelle – Getty image

Payment responsibility lies elsewhere

The NFF insists it bears no responsibility for Chelle’s wages. According to OwnGoal, an official clarified that salary matters fall under the National Sports Commission (NSC), led by Shehu Dikko.

The official also corrected circulating rumours, noting that Chelle is owed two months, not three.

“The NFF is not responsible for paying Chelle. The NSC handles that, so they should explain why he hasn’t been paid for October and November,” the official said.

Wider context around financial concerns

This comes after Super Eagles players protested unpaid allowances dating back to 2019 before the World Cup playoff campaign.

Despite the turbulence, Chelle earned a reprieve from the NFF Technical Committee following his strong performances in both qualifying phases, prompting a renewed mandate for AFCON 2025.

The coach has yet to publicly confirm or dispute reports of his outstanding salary.

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Entertainment News

Don’t Water Down My Years Of Hard Work – Nigerian Singer, Young John Tells Critics

John Saviours Udomboso, the Nigerian singer, popularly known as Young John, has urged critics to stop undermining his talent and hard work, emphasizing that it took him years to reach his current level of success.

Young John made the appeal after coming under heavy criticism recently, with some fans accusing him of being “monotonous.”

Reacting, the producer-turned-singer urged his critics to ignore his music instead of disparaging his efforts.

“If you’re not a fan of my work, leave it at that! Don’t come here and water down my years of hard work!” he wrote on his X page.

Young John began his career as a producer in 2010 and gained prominence through his affiliation with Olamide’s YBNL family.

He switched to singing after signing a recording deal with Chocolate City in 2022.

His single Dada became an instant hit, and the remix with Davido further boosted Young John’s popularity as a singer.

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I’m Struggling To Find Love In Lagos – Nigerian Singer, BNXN Opens Up

Daniel Etiese Benson, the Nigerian singer, who is better known as BNXN opens up on his struggles with finding love in Lagos

Nigerian singer Daniel Benson, popularly known as BNXN, has opened up about his struggles with finding true love in Lagos.

The Finesse crooner revealed that finding love in the city is proving difficult for him.

BNXN disclosed this when he tweeted, “To find love for Eko too hard for me o.”

The singer has not been romantically linked with anyone since his controversial relationship with his alleged Swedish ex-girlfriend, Filma Jones, in 2022.

Jones had accused the musician of impregnating and abandoning her. She also leaked the singer’s nude photographs to prove that they were in an intimate relationship.

BNXN publicly stated that he was heartbroken for the first time after his nude was leaked.

He later claimed that a lady blackmailed him with a fake pregnancy following a one-night stand.

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Newly Elected AGN President Abubakar Yakubu Detained After Being Involved in Horrific Car Crash

Abubakar Yakubu, the newly elected President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has reportedly been involved in a fatal car accident in Surulere, Lagos.

Earlier, 626Blaze reported that Yakubu narrowly defeated Rita Daniels, mother of Regina Daniels, by 116 votes to 113, with three votes declared invalid.

According to preliminary information, the incident resulted in the death of an individual.

Sahara Reporters reports that Yakubu has been taken into police custody at the Barracks Police Station in the Surulere area of Lagos, as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident continue.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement detailing the cause of the crash or the outcome of ongoing inquiries.

More to come…

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The Military Troops Protecting Seyi Tinubu Are Enough To Stop Insurrection – Soyinka Blows Hot (Video)

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has expressed concern over what he described as the unusually large security detail assigned to Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu.

In a video circulating on X, Soyinka narrated how he was shocked to meet what looked like a small battalion of heavily armed security operatives guarding Seyi during a visit to a hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos.

According to him, he initially thought a movie was being filmed because the number of armed men looked unreal.

Soyinka said he only realised the gathering wasn’t a film scene when a young man, later identified as Seyi Tinubu, briefly detached himself from the group and politely greeted him.

“A young man came over and greeted me, very polite, very nice. That was when I asked if they were shooting a film, and he said no.”

Soyinka explained that when he asked who that young man was, he discovered that the entire security formation was for Seyi Tinubu.

“I was told this is how the young man moves around. I couldn’t believe that a child of the head of state goes around with an army for his protection.”

The Nobel Laureate said the scene left him so disturbed that he attempted to reach the National Security Adviser.

“I said, track him down for me. I described the scene and asked if this is normal,” he added.

Soyinka argued that such heavy deployment of national security resources to one individual, especially the president’s child, sends the wrong signal.

“Children should know their place. They are not heads of state. The security architecture of a nation suffers when we see such devotion of troops to one young individual.”

He joked that with the size of Seyi’s escort, the president might as well send him to handle any future unrest.

“The next time there is an insurrection, the president should just call that young man. He has enough troops under his command,”Soyinka said.

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Nollywood Star, Nosa Rex Reveals He Takes Permission From His Wife Before Acting Romantic Roles

Nollywood actor Nosa Rex has revealed that he informs his wife in advance whenever a movie role involves romantic contact with a female colleague.

In a post on Twitter, he stated that it is his way of keeping transparency in his marriage and maintaining trust as he works on different productions.

He wrote: “If I wan shoot any scene wey involve touching things, I dey first update my wife and beg her small 🤣

“Her patience and understanding no be here. That woman don really try for me.”

The actor, widely known as Baba Rex, has continued to speak openly about the support he receives from his wife, Deborah.

Since their marriage in 2015, he has credited her for standing with him through the early years of his career when he earned very little from acting.

The couple, who have three children, often share moments from their home life on social media, showing their bond and family activities to fans.

In 2022, Nosa Rex marked their seventh wedding anniversary by announcing that they had completed a new house, describing it as a major step in their family journey.

Since his debut in 2010, Nosa Rex has featured in many Nollywood productions and continues to build a strong presence in the industry.

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Governor Adeleke Joins Accord Party After Dumping PDP

Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State Governor, has officially announced the Accord Party as his new political platform ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

The governor made the announcement at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Osogbo, on Tuesday, in the presence of national and state leaders of the party.

Adeleke revealed that he officially joined the Accord Party on November 6, 2025, following weeks of consultations with stakeholders and opinion leaders across the state.

A statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, quoted the governor as saying stakeholders in Osun were already aware of the reasons behind the political realignment.

Adeleke said his decision was driven by the party’s ideological alignment with his administration’s commitment to welfarism.

“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare,” he said.

Welcoming party leaders to the Government House, the governor emphasized the need for unity as preparations intensify for the 2026 governorship race.

“We are united in progress and good intentions for the good people of Osun State and Nigeria at large,” he stated.

He urged members to maintain cohesion and work collectively toward victory, stressing the need for inclusive leadership that accommodates the interests of all groups.

Speaking on his experience since joining the Accord Party, Adeleke said he had been encouraged by the party’s philosophy.

“The focus on people’s welfare should always be at the heart of public leadership. The primary essence of government is the welfare and well-being of the people,” he noted.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to improving the lives of residents through policies and programmes centred on citizen welfare.

He also presented the Accord Party as the new political vehicle for the state, calling on residents across all zones, Osun West, Osun East, and Osun Central, to rally behind the platform.

“From Igbomina to Ijeshaland, Ifeland, Osogbo, Iwoland, Modakeke, Gbongan, Igbajo, Ikire, Ikirun, Ede and beyond, this is our party, our new platform for victory come August next year,” he declared.

Adeleke concluded by formally announcing his realignment:

“In accordance with the will of our stakeholders and in deep respect for the wishes of Osun people, I hereby declare for the Accord Party,” he announced.

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This Is Crossing The Line – Reactions Trail Video Of Blaqbonez Being Attacked During His Performance In Abuja

Reactions have poured in after Nigerian singer Emeka Akumefule, popularly known as Blaqbonez, reportedly faced hostility during a performance in Abuja.

Earlier, 626Blaze reported that Blaqbonez was pelted with objects by fans during the show.

The incident took place at Delphino Picnic behind the Abuja Velodrome on December 7.

In a video seen by Tori News, part of the audience booed him and threw objects at the stage, interrupting his show.

The rapper, who performed alongside Runtown and Duncan Mighty, faced disruptions during his song ‘ACL’ from his October album No Excuses.

Some attendees reacted angrily, possibly due to his earlier conflict with his colleague, Odumodublvck or his recent statements online.

Despite the tense moments, Blaqbonez remained composed and later shared updates thanking fans and reflecting on the performance.

Watch video below:

Reacting to the incident, Blaqbonez wrote on his Twitter page, “thought they could stop me from doing acl, i gave them 3 times 😂”

The incident sparked reactions from fans.

Read comments below:

makyosu: “Fans should respect artistes. Throwing objects is unacceptable.”

Nedafor: “No one deserves to be treated like that on stage, even if you don’t like their music.”

Tundeoguns: “Maybe the performance didn’t match the crowd, but violence is never the answer.”

manueleze: “Audience behaviour like this shows a lack of maturity and respect for entertainers.”

Sadebayo: “Blaqbonez has the right to perform without fear of attacks from the audience.”

ngozikachi: “Disliking a song is fine, but disrupting a show and throwing things is crossing the line.”

ifeanyiukwu: “Artistes put in hard work to perform; fans should support, not attack.”

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