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It’s Shameless! – Mikel Obi Slams NFF Over Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 Preparations

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has slammed Nigeria’s preparations for AFCON 2025, accusing the Nigeria Football Federation of mismanagement just weeks ahead of the tournament.

Speaking on his ObiOne podcast, Mikel said he was deeply unimpressed by the state of preparations for the finals in Morocco, which kick off on Sunday.

He questioned how a national team coach could still be owed salaries at such a sensitive moment for Nigerian football.

“I’m not impressed at all with the preparation. After everything that happened with the World Cup qualifiers, you would expect things to be better,” said Mikel, who has previously called for the resignation of the NFF board following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

“How do you owe a coach money at this stage? It’s shameless! This is not how serious football nations operate. When issues like this are in the public space, it affects everyone, the coach, the players and even the fans.

“This was supposed to be the time to save face and show that lessons were learned. Instead, it’s the same story again. You can’t go into the AFCON with unresolved problems. Everything must be sorted now. Nigeria deserves better. Our football deserves better.”

Reports had claimed that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle was owed three months’ salary and bonuses by the NFF ahead of the 2025 AFCON.

However, Naija News reports that the National Sports Commission chairman, Shehu Dikko, revealed on Monday that the commission had stepped in to cover Chelle’s wages, despite not being a party to his contract.

“The NSC have been paying the salaries of Eric Chelle (Super Eagles coach) on behalf of the NFF even though we’re not a party to the contract,” Dikko said on Arise Television. “This is part of our support to the NFF.”

Nigeria will compete in Group C at AFCON 2025 alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania, with their opening fixture against Tanzania scheduled for December 23 in Fès.

The Super Eagles head into the tournament on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Egypt in their only pre-AFCON friendly, played on Tuesday in Cairo.

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Entertainment News

I Was Depressed, Su!cidal For Almost 3 Years – Nollywood Actress, Juliana Olayode Opens Up, Shares Her Healing Journey

Nollywood actress Juliana Olayode has shared her struggles with depression and su!cidal thoughts.

On her Instagram page, she revealed that she was depressed and su!cidal for almost three years.

She noted that she showed up every day, as if she wasn’t struggling or dying inside.

Juliana said depression made her realise how much of a medicine joy is as her whole body was shutting down, and she was diagnosed of all sorts of things and gained so much weight.

The Toyi Baby star said she tried therapy, but it wasn’t as great as allowing God to fix her. She expressed gratitude for her complete healing and wholeness and admonished those battling such to seek Him.

“I was depressed and su!cidal for almost three years.

“Of course, I showed up every day, as if I wasn’t struggling or dying inside.

“Depression made me realise how much of a medicine joy is; my whole body was shutting down.

“I was diagnosed with a sort, and I gained so much, but still not as much as the weight I was carrying inside.


“If you have never experienced depression, you might downplay what people go through when they’re depressed.

“If you have never been su!cidal, you might think that those who take their life are selfish, whereas to them, it’s their only means of escape.

“Therapy is great.

“I went to therapy too, but sometimes you need to return to your Maker for the perfect fix and guess what? It’s FREE

“You need not pay a dime.

“You only have to be vulnerable with Him and say, “Fix me, Lord”.

“I thank God for complete healing and wholeness. Shared this because of the numerous DMs of people going through depression and having su!cidal thoughts.

“It is not the end!

“Don’t listen to that dark voice in your head.

“The sun will rise again.

“Give all your depressive and su!cidal thoughts to God.

“Tell Him about everything. He’s going to help you.

“I promise you”.

“Vulnerable post, I feel you, I really feel you.

“Don’t do it, don’t do it! What you’re dealing with is common to man, to humanity, and to life.

“If it’s happening to you, it’s because it can not consume you; it’s because you can come out of it. You think you have little or no strength for it, but inside of you lies so much strength and capacity to break free and come out whole.

“GOD LOVES YOU, GOD WANTS YOU HEALED AND ALIVE. YOU NEED TO GO TO HIM.

“Please believe me. Sending you prayers, warm hugs and love.

“1 Corinthians 10:13, Daniel 3:27

“SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

“Don’t forget to go subscribe to my YT channel (Juliana Olayode TV), turn on your notification bell, and we’ll meet on Friday by 6pm”.

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News

BREAKING: NNPCL Reduces Fuel Price By N80

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has lowered its petrol price for the third time in December 2025.

According to Daily Post, after a survey of filling stations in Abuja, it was observed on Thursday that NNPCL has reduced the petrol price to N835 per liter, down from N915.

This means that the state-owned oil firm adjusted its fuel price by N80.

The development comes as MRS, BOVAS, and AA Rano earlier reviewed their fuel pump price to between N739 and N865 per liter in the nation’s capital.

NNPCL and other filling stations’ price cuts come after Dangote Refinery and depot owners slashed their ex-depot price to between N699 and N800.

Recall NNPCL; other filling stations reduced fuel on December 4 and 10, 2025, respectively.

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Sport News

Super Eagles Stars Land in Morocco In Style For AFCON 2025 (Photos)

Three-time African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, arrived at their base in Fez on Tuesday ahead of the kick-off of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, where they will be chasing a long-awaited fourth title.

Dapper in their  green traditional kaftans with flowered embroidery  with  matching caps, the coach Eric Sekou Chelle-led side left  Cairo  yesterday  about mid-day  in a chartered   flight  and  made their way  into Fez  in the evening.

Their late arrival forced   the cancellation of  their proposed  first training in Fez yesterday  but  they are expected  to begin their preparation  today in Fez which is  regarded  as one of Morocco’s most fascinating imperial cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The  Super Eagles had earlier  spent five days in Cairo for the first phase of their preparation  and  only on Tuesday lost 2-1 to the Pharaohs of Egypt in their only  pre-AFCON friendly match.

The three-time African champions are drawn in Group C with Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.

The Super Eagles will face the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in their opening fixture next week Tuesday, before taking on Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on December 27, and Uganda’s Cranes on December 30.

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Tinubu To Present 2026 Budget Without Accounting For 2025 Fiscal Year – BudgIT

BudgIT, a civic advocacy organisation, has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to present the proposed ₦54.4 trillion 2026 budget to the National Assembly without first providing a performance report on the 2025 budget.

BudgIT made this known in a statement on X on Thursday.

Earlier 626Blaze reported that Tinubu is expected to present the country’s 2026 budget before the National Assembly on Friday.

Reacting, BudgIT said Tinubu’s government is yet to make public the 2025 budget implementation report.

“Mind you, there is still no budget implementation report for 2025.

“The 2026 budget is almost here, yet we don’t know how the 2025 budget performed?

“No report. No accountability,” BudgIT wrote on X.

Recall that in February 2025, Tinubu had signed the N54.99 2025 budget into law.

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Entertainment News

I Will Love To Feature Rihanna – Davido Opens Up (Video)

David Adeleke, the famous Nigerian Afrobeat star, who is better known as Davido, has disclosed his desire to feature Rihanna.

Davido made this known during a Livestream with popular Nigerian streamer and singer, Carter Efe.

Earlier, 626Blaze reported that Carter Efe hosted Davido on Wednesday evening for three hours on the Twitch platform.

Cater Efe asked; “Which artistes would you like to feature?”

“I would definitely love to do a song with Rihanna, Kehlani as well. I think me and Rihanna would make some dope music.

“And also my colleagues, Tems, Ayra, and Morravey as well,” Davido replied.

This came days after an AI created song featuring Rihanna and Davido’s vocals went viral on the Internet.

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Entertainment News

God Actually Put Us Together – Pastor Chris Okafor’s Wife Shares Their Love Story Amid Accusations From Doris Ogala (Video)

The new wife of Nigerian clergyman Pastor Chris Okafor has shared the story of their love journey.

In a video clip from their pre-wedding shoot, his wife revealed that their meetup was a divine orchestration.

She made it clear that God had brought them together, not through human efforts.

Singing his praises, the beauty described the clergyman as her sugar daddy, her husband, her boyfriend, her best friend, and her Daddy.

She expressed excitement at carrying his children and building a Godly family with him.

His wife made it known that Pastor Chris is the one who makes her life sweeter and knows her secret button.

“We met by divine orchestration. It is something that wouldn’t have happened by human effort; God actually put us together.

“He is very intentional, he is my sugar daddy, boyfriend, husband, best friend and my daddy. I am looking forward to carrying his children, a little version of him.

“I want to watch them grow and watch my family bask in God’s glory. I want to see them become as huge as he is.

“He is the one who makes my life sweeter and knows that secret button”.

Her words have since stirred conversations online with many people reacting.

See some reactions from netizens below,

One bummu_kike wrote, “Shey all the sweet words no come too much Bayo?

One Adesuwamills wrote, “We no wan hear justice for the bride

One malherbeyims wrote, “This bride no come change story later o

One abekeokin_multipurpose wrote, “Pele Doris, u don waste all your styles for someone’s husband

One Jesuloluwa2020 wrote, “We will be here when you cry for help.

Oneteetopsugar wrote, “Your daddy indeed. Sha mura Dada

One dear_dulcet wrote, “Na so mouth dey sweet una. I no wan hear tomorrow say him dey nonchalant o”.

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Entertainment News

Nollywood Actress, Doris Ogala Slams Pastor Chris Okafor With A N1bn Lawsuit Over Unfulfilled Marriage Promise

Nollywood actress Doris Ogala has escalated her long-standing dispute with popular clergyman Pastor Chris Okafor to the courts, filing a ₦1 billion lawsuit over what she claims was an unfulfilled promise of marriage.

The actress instituted the suit at a high court, accusing the pastor of emotional distress, reputational damage, and breach of trust arising from their alleged relationship.

Doris has repeatedly claimed that she and Pastor Okafor were in a serious, long-term relationship and that she was led to believe marriage was imminent.

In previous public statements, Doris alleged that the relationship spanned several years, during which she said she made personal sacrifices, offered support, and remained loyal, only to be abandoned when the pastor allegedly chose to marry someone else.

She has consistently denied claims that her demands amount to blackmail, insisting instead that she is seeking justice for emotional and psychological harm suffered.

The ₦1 billion suit is said to include demands for damages, public apology, and legal recognition of the alleged wrongs committed against her.

While details of the court filings are yet to be fully made public, the development marks a significant escalation in the highly publicized dispute that has played out both online and in the media.

As of the time of filing this report, Pastor Chris Okafor has not issued an official response to the lawsuit. The case is expected to attract considerable public attention as it progresses, given the profiles of both parties and the sensitive nature of the allegations.

The court is yet to fix a date for hearing.

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Sport News

Finalissima: Date, Venue, Time For Argentina vs Spain Confirmed

The date, venue, and kick-off time for the Finalissima clash between Spain and Argentina have been officially confirmed.

UEFA and CONMEBOL, together with the Royal Spanish Football Federation, RFEF, and the Argentine Football Association, AFA, have today announced the venue, date and kick-off time for the Finalissima 2026.

The showpiece fixture sees UEFA EURO 2024 winners Spain face CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 champions Argentina in a clash of the two continental title holders.

The game will take place at Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Friday 27 March 2026 and the kick-off at 21:00 local time.

The match will be delivered by Qatar’s Local Organising Committee, LOC, for football events

Speaking about the encounter, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said via UEFA’s website: “The Finalissima brings together two continental champions in one of football’s most prestigious occasions, highlighting the game’s truly global reach and the enduring bond between our confederations.

“We look forward to a memorable night of world-class football and celebration.”

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Sport News

FIFA Overturns Three Matches Over Players’ Eligibility As Super Eagles Wait

FIFA has sanctioned Malaysia with three 3–0 losses in three matches after the team was found guilty of fielding ineligible players.

This was confirmed by the Football Association of Malaysia, FAM, on Wednesday.

The results involved includes victories in friendly matches against Palestine and Singapore and a draw with Cape Verde.

FIFA suspended the seven players who submitted forged documents claiming they had Malaysian ancestry.

The FAM, who were previously hit with a $440,000 fine, will pay a further $12,500 as part of their punishment.

FIFA began the investigation after receiving a complaint following Malaysia’s 4-0 win against Vietnam in June in an Asian Cup qualifier, a game where two of the seven affected players scored.

The investigation revealed that none of Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, or Joao Brandao Figueiredo had a parent or grandparent born in Malaysia, a requirement for selection to a national team.

This comes as the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, have sent a complaint to FIFA insisting the Democratic Republic of Congo used ineligible players for their 2026 World Cup qualifying game.

The Leopards beat the Super Eagles in the African play-offs via penalties and are getting ready to play in the intercontinental play-off final.