Calvin Bassey, the Super Eagles defender, has disclosed that Jesus Christ saved his life.
Speaking to reporters in Morocco as Nigeria prepares for their AFCON Round of 16 match against Mozambique on Monday night, the Fulham star also opened up about his struggles in life in the past.
“Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior; He saved my life and helped me so much,” Bassey expressed.
“I have been through hard periods and it is been something I have been able to hold on to.”
Bassey has solidified his position as a vital player for the Super Eagles under head coach Eric Chelle.
Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray forward, is closing in on Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing record as Nigeria’s all-time leading goalscorer.
This comes after he netted a brace in Nigeria’s 4-0 victory over Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Morocco on Monday night.
Entering the match with 32 international goals, the 27-year-old attacker added to his tally during the match in Morocco, bringing his total to 34 goals, just three shy of Yekini’s record of 37.
Here’s Nigeria’s all-time top scorers:
37 goals – Rashidi Yekini
34 goals – Victor Osimhen
23 goals – Segun Odegbami
21 goals – Yakubu Aiyegbeni
19 goals – Ikechukwu Uche
18 goals – Obafemi Martins
17 goals – Sunday Oyarekua
16 goals – Odion Ighalo, Samson Siasia, and Ahmed Musa
Nigeria booked a convincing place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a dominant 4-0 victory over Mozambique in their round-of-16 encounter on Monday night in Fes.
The three-time champions delivered one of their most complete performances of the tournament at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, overwhelming the Mambas with pace, movement and clinical finishing.
Victor Osimhen scored twice, while Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams were also on the scoresheet as Eric Chelle’s side advanced with authority.
Early control sets the tone
Osimhen found the net inside two minutes, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
The Super Eagles continued to apply pressure, with Alex Iwobi forcing an early save from goalkeeper Ernan after a strike from distance.
The breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute. Iwobi split the defence with a precise pass to Akor Adams, who cut the ball back for Lookman to finish calmly inside the area.
Lookman, Osimhen, Akor Adams shine as Super Eagles reach AFCON 2025 quarter-finals – Getty image
Five minutes later, Nigeria doubled their advantage as Iwobi again picked out Lookman, whose driven cross deflected kindly into Osimhen’s path for a close-range finish.
Mozambique struggled to cope with Nigeria’s intensity, while Chelle’s men controlled possession and tempo for the remainder of the half.
Adams and Lookman both passed up opportunities to extend the lead before the interval.
Osimhen and Adams complete the job
Nigeria effectively ended the contest moments after the restart. Lookman once again proved decisive, weaving into the box before squaring for Osimhen to tap in his second goal of the night and third of the tournament, making it 3-0.
With Mozambique stretched, Nigeria continued to create chances. The fourth goal arrived in the 75th minute, with Lookman turning provider yet again, this time setting up Adams, who rifled a powerful effort into the roof of the net.
The Super Eagles could have added further goals in the closing stages but eased off as the match drew to a close, having already put the result beyond doubt.
The win took Nigeria’s tally to 12 goals in the competition, the highest of any team so far.
Quarter-final test awaits
Mozambique bowed out of the tournament, unable to contain Nigeria’s attacking depth.
For the Super Eagles, attention now turns to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the round-of-16 tie between Algeria and DR Congo on Saturday, January 10.
This came amid his alleged relationship with content creator, Jojo of Lele.
Recall that Jojo of Lele who always refers to VeryDarkMan as her husband, announced him as her man almost a year ago.
Also recall that VeryDarkMan had in February 2025, named Jojo of Lele among women that media personality, Nedu Wazobia, allegedly slept with in exchange for features on his platform.
Denying the allegation, JoJo noted “I have never had anything to do with Nedu.”
Following the controversy, VeryDarkMan invited Jojo of Lele for dinner in Abuja. Speaking after their meeting, the content creator professed love to VeryDarkMan.
“I’m in love with VDM,” she said days after visiting the critic.
Jamiu Azeez, the Nollywood actor and filmmaker, has reacted to the backlash following reports that he converted from Islam to Christianity.
The controversy begun after a video showing him at a church service in a white outfit circulated online.
The video quickly spread, prompting questions from some members of the Muslim community about his faith and calls for him to change his name.
The post drew a mix of reactions from both fans and critics across social media.
On Sunday, January 4, Jamiu addressed the situation on his social media accounts.
He shared messages and comments he had received, showing the strong reactions to the video.
He said that people should not interfere with his personal choices, adding that he never publicly announced any change in religion.
Jamiu said his faith is a private matter and should not be a topic for judgment.
He also made light of the situation, joking that he could wear traditional spiritual clothing if he wanted.
He wrote on his Instagram story: “It’s only in Nigeria people are so bothered about another person’s life. Imagine telling a man in his 40s how to live his life.
“I posted myself in white garment on the crossover night and mehn, the comments I have been reading on blogs, especially on Facebook, are crazy.
“Some even came to my DM to drag me… I can choose to practise any religion and that should not be anyone’s problem. I never even came out to say I have converted o.”
Tyson Fury has announced his return to professional boxing in 2026, a year after stepping away from the sport for the fifth time.
The former heavyweight champion announced his decision on Instagram, ending months of speculation after sharing training clips over the festive period.
“2026 is that year. Return of the mac,” Fury wrote. “Been away for a while but im back now, 37 years old and still punching.
“Nothing better to do than punch men in the face & get paid for it.”
Fury retired in January 2025, a month after suffering his second consecutive points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, who beat him twice in 2024 in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh as the Brit failed in his bid to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
Despite those losses, Fury boasts a 34-2-1 record and is a two-time world champion, having defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and Deontay Wilder in 2020.
The 37-year-old has a long history of retirements and comebacks, having previously stepped away from boxing in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2022, each time returning to the ring months later.
A potential third fight with Usyk would still draw huge interest, while a long-awaited all-British clash with Anthony Joshua had been targeted for 2026. That bout is now uncertain following a recent car crash involving Joshua that killed two close members of his team.
Speaking on the situation, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said Joshua’s future in the sport was unclear.
“This is an awful time for everyone involved,”Warren said. “I don’t even know if he will ever have the appetite to fight again or if he will ever fight again, that is something that only time will tell.”
Fury also sent his condolences to Joshua after the crash, writing on social media: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”
With his latest announcement, Fury now appears set on another comeback, aiming to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ejekwu, a Nigerian comedian, who is popularly known as Sabinus, has opened up about a painful relationship experience in which his partner left him despite his lavish gestures of love.
Speaking in a recent livestream with TikToker Sandra Benede, Sabinus described love as “cruel,” stressing that he resonates with what TikTok star Peller is going through following his breakup with his girlfriend, Jarvis.
Sabinus explained that he has been in a similar situation with Peller, who has been throwing public tantrums and involved in a ghastly car accident following the heartbreak.
He recalled how a lady he gifted a range rover out of love later left him. The comedian said he regretted the decision.
He urged Nigerians not to be harsh on Peller, stressing that love can be cruel sometimes.
“Jarvis has finished Peller. I have been in Peller’s situation before. Love is cruel.
“I once gifted a girl Range Rover because of love. She later left me. I regretted it. So nobody should blame Peller,” Sabinus said.
Recall that Sabinus confirmed that his marriage to his wife and mother of his child, Ciana Chapman, has ended during a TikTok livestream in December 2025.
The couple got married in a private ceremony in 2023, and the marriage lasted for just over a year.
