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My Mum Didn’t Want Me To Play Basketball – BBNaija Star, Kaybobo Opens Up

Kayode Oladele, a former Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) Season 10 housemate, popularly known as Kaybobo, has revealed that his mother was initially against him playing basketball until his coach persuaded her otherwise.

Kaybobo stated this while addressing members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ekiti State chapter, in Ado-Ekiti.

He assured youths in Ekiti of his readiness to promote sports through his Kaybobo Youth Foundation.

The BBNaija star, who hails from Ado-Ekiti, said he played basketball for Christ School and All Souls Secondary School, Ado-Ekiti, while growing up, and it gave him international recognition.

He said his decision to set up a foundation to assist Ekiti youths, especially those in sports, was to encourage, develop and nurture them to become renowned talents.

“My name is Kayode Oladele, popularly called Kaybobo. I grew up in Ado-Ekiti. Also, I learnt how to play basketball with the help of my coach, Tayo Awojurin.

“His training and unconditional support modified my career from Ekiti to Lagos, and from there to overseas, where I obtained different university degrees and made lots of exploits.

“This is why I came back home to give back to the youths who love to engage in sports and other creative ventures in other fields such as entertainment, fashion among others.

“I am assuring every youth in Ekiti who wishes to play basketball that I am going to support them to become professional players and sports personalities,” he said.

Kaybobo urged parents to give their children unconditional support and opportunity to engage in sports.

He explained that his mother wanted to stop him from playing basketball while in secondary school but his coach convinced her and she gave him full support.

“My mummy does not want me to play basketball then, it was through the intervention of Coach Awojurin that convinced her, if not I would not have reached the level I am today,” he added.

The former BBNaija housemate said aside from sports, he would venture into fashion, entertainment, tourism and arts to promote all the sectors as an Ekiti indigene.

Kaybobo gave out 20 pieces of customised caps to members of SWAN in Ekiti.

He assured members that he would continue to support and partner with the association to promote sports in the state.

Reacting, the Chairman of SWAN, Qozeem Oladapo, thanked him for the kind gesture.

Oladapo assured the former BBNaija housemate that the associa

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Nigerian Singer, Spyro Surprises His Wife With Multimillion Naira Property In Abuja For Christmas (Video)

Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, the Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Spyro, has gifted his wife a property in Abuja as a Christmas surprise.

On his Instagram page, the popular singer shared a video of the moment he surprised his Queen with the property.

In his caption, Spyro said his wife asked for wigs and a phone as her Christmas gift, but she got a house instead.

He expressed his happiness for her, noting that she deserves everything that comes her way.

Spyro made her aware that she hadn’t even seen anything and revealed that something else was waiting for her at home.

“GUYS, help me say HELLO and WELCOME to the latest landlady in ABUJA @_callme_njure

“She asked for wigs and a phone, but GOT A HOUSE

“I am genuinely happy for you, and you deserve everything coming to you.

“You haven’t even seen nothing, wait till you get home, something else is waiting.

“A big S/O to @kilontreysparkles @superkunle @leptons_official for helping me put this surprise together, and pls Only Quality neighbours for my wife o”.

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AFCON 2025: Eric Chelle warned against overreliance on Osimhen

Former Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida has cautioned Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle against what he calls a “dangerous” overreliance on Victor Osimhen ahead of AFCON 2025.

He insists Nigeria cannot build its ambitions for a fourth continental title around one player, no matter how influential.

Data exposes worrying dependency

Osimhen’s impact on the team is undisputed. With 31 goals in 43 games, he is closing in on Rashidi Yekini’s all-time record, and Nigeria’s results reflect his importance.

With him available, the Super Eagles have lost just five of 40 matches. Without him, they have suffered 11 defeats in 29.

AFCON 2025: Eric Chelle warned against overreliance on Osimhen
Chelle warned against over dependence on Osimhen – Getty image

That gulf showed during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Nigeria failed to win any of their first four games while Osimhen was injured.

His return brought six goals in six matches and a haul of 14 points, yet the team still fell behind South Africa in the race for automatic qualification.

Collapse against Congo reveals wider structural issue

Osimhen inspired Nigeria past Gabon in the playoff, but when he limped off in the final versus DR Congo, the team fell apart and eventually lost on penalties.

Babangida says moments like that highlight a system too dependent on the striker.

Speaking to Tribal Football, he said Chelle must “fix” the issue and build a squad capable of performing with or without the Galatasaray forward.

He added that every player selected must take responsibility and maintain performance levels irrespective of Osimhen’s availability.

Mentality shift needed ahead of AFCON 2025

Babangida stressed that injuries are part of football and Osimhen’s absence should not “throw the Super Eagles into a mess.”

He urged the coach to instil confidence across the squad, particularly among the attackers, so the team can operate effectively even when their talisman is unavailable.

Nigeria face Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C, opening their AFCON 2025 campaign on December 23 against Tanzania.

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Paul Pogba invests in World’s first professional camel racing team in Saudi Arabia

Paul Pogba has broadened his investment footprint by partnering with Al Haboob, a Saudi Arabian camel racing team aiming to build the world’s first professional league.

The former Manchester United midfielder, now with Monaco, joins as both ambassador and shareholder, marking his latest business venture after launching a clothing line earlier this year.

Paul Pogba invests in World’s first professional Camel Racing team in Saudi Arabia

Paul Pogba invests in Camel Racing team – SunSport image

Inside Pogba’s new venture

Pogba, who returned to action this season after his doping ban was reduced from four years to 18 months, is aligning with a fast-growing sport rooted deeply in Arabian tradition.

Al Haboob compete across the GCC region, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as part of a push to formalise camel racing into a global commercial product.

Elite racing camels can fetch up to £3.8 million, with top speeds reaching 65km/h. The sport’s rapid commercial growth is underscored by the 2024 AlUla Camel Cup, which offered a record-breaking prize pool of nearly £5 million and featured 10,000 competing camels, attended by top Saudi royals.

Paul Pogba invests in World’s first professional Camel Racing team in Saudi Arabia
Paul Pogba – Getty image

Pogba on why he joined the project

Announcing the partnership on Instagram, the World Cup winner said he is proud to be part of “a historic sporting moment.”

He explained that his interest grew during repeated visits to the Middle East, where camel racing increasingly caught his attention.

Pogba said the tradition, culture and competitive spirit behind the sport drew him in, describing it as “a whole world” filled with history and family heritage.

Expanding a diverse portfolio

The midfielder continues to diversify his off-field interests, with investments spanning fashion, tech, real estate and multiple start-ups.

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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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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…