Author: kayode amuda

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CAF Confirms World Cup 2026 Playoff Fixtures, Venue, Time; Nigeria, Others Get Opponents

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in partnership with hosts Morocco, has officially announced the match venues and schedule for the African qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Intercontinental Playoff tournament.

The high-stakes mini-tournament will take place from 13 to 16 November 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, featuring four African powerhouses: Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

According to CAF, the semi-finals will be played on Thursday, 13 November 2025, at El Barid Stadium and the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex.

A draw scheduled for 30 October 2025 will determine which fixture is assigned to each venue.

The opening semi-final will see Nigeria’s Super Eagles take on Gabon at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

This will be followed by the second semi-final between Cameroon and DR Congo at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

The tournament’s final is slated for Sunday, 16 November 2025, at Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium, with kick-off set for 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

Confirmed Fixtures: CAF 2026 Playoff

  • Match 1: Nigeria vs Gabon — 17:00
  • Match 2: Cameroon vs DR Congo — 20:00

The overall winner will advance to the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-off in March 2026, where they will compete for Africa’s 10th and final slot at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The tournament represents the last h

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Entertainment News

It Will Make Sense To Get Involved – Tacha Speaks On Venturing Into Politic

Reality TV star cum social media influencer, Natacha Akide aka Tacha has stated that joining politics will not be a bad idea for her.
She stated this during a recent interview with BBC Pidgin.
According to her, it will be nice to get involved because she’s passionate about helping Nigerians.
She said, “I feel like if you keep complaining about something, it only makes sense to get involved and maybe make certain decisions that’ll make things easier for people.
 
“People always say after God, it’s politics and truly, one policy from the government can make or break you. At the end of the day, it makes sense to get involved.
 
“Politics is something I’m passionate about, but like I said, I’m not the one making the decisions. However, I’ll just keep using my platform to push for good governance and hold our leaders accountable.”
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2026 WCQ: Super Eagles World Cup Hopes Would Have Been Dead Without Victor Osimhen – Mikel Obi

Former Nigerian international Mikel Obi has asserted that without star striker Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles’ chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup playoffs would be “nonexistent.”

Speaking on the Obi One podcast, Mikel emphasized Osimhen’s crucial role in reviving Nigeria’s World Cup bid. This sentiment follows the decisive final Group C match against Benin, where the Galatasaray star scored a hat-trick in a commanding 4-0 victory, which ultimately sealed the playoff berth for the Super Eagles.

Mikel argued that even against a lesser opponent, the striker’s performance under intense pressure was remarkable.

“If we didn’t win that game, we wouldn’t be talking about trying to qualify for the World Cup. Victor Osimhen has singlehandedly kept us alive. One of the biggest games, he’s come out and scored a hat-trick.”

Mikel underscored Osimhen’s importance by pointing to the team’s record in his absence. He noted that the Super Eagles failed to secure a single win in the matches Osimhen missed, instead recording four draws and one loss. This stark comparison highlights the striker’s profound influence on the team’s results.

Mikel praised the intangible qualities that Osimhen brings to the field: “You can see the intensity, passion, aggressiveness he shows. When the pressure is on, the big boys step up, and that’s exactly what he has done. He’s the big boy in that team right now, and we all needed him.”

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LaLiga: ‘He’ll Never Change’ – Burley Slams Vinicius Over Alonso Behaviour

Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has criticized Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. for his conduct towards manager Xabi Alonso during last weekend’s El Clásico victory over Barcelona.

Recall that Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham.

However, Vinicius displayed unsportsmanlike behaviour towards Alonso after being substituted in the 72nd minute of the encounter. The Brazilian international expressed his frustration with the Real Madrid manager and left the pitch in a huff, though he later returned to the bench.

Burley, however, was not pleased with Vinicius’ attitude towards Alonso, insisting that the player will never change his behaviour.

“It is difficult as a player because sometimes you just cannot see the bigger picture, which is that Real Madrid needed fresh legs,” Burley told ESPN FC.

“You don’t walk down the tunnel when there is a Clasico still on against your biggest rivals. Yes, he came back out. But Xabi Alonso didn’t look best pleased about his antics and then disappearing down the tunnel.

“This is something he has to work with. I don’t think this player will ever change from this type of behaviour.”

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I’m Not Desperate for International Recognition – Olamide

Nigerian indigenous rapper Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as Olamide has revealed he’s not desperate to go international.

According to him, he is comfortable being an indigenous artist.

Speaking in a recent interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, Olamide stated that he would not change his sound or switch his style to appeal to a Western audience.

“You have to identify your audience. Once you identify your audience, the rest of the world will catch up eventually. So, I have to stay true to myself and no mater where it is, what it is, I mean, in this world, I have to stay true to myself.
 
“I’m comfortable in my skin. I’m a Naija guy, Yoruba boy, I have H-Factor and all that, and I’m proud about it. You just have to stay true to yourself,” he said.
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Mohbad’s Wife, Wunmi Reacts as SAN Withdraws From DNA Case

Wunmi Aloba, wife of late singer, Mohbad has broken her silence after a Senior Advocate Nigeria employed in her DNA case by her father-in-law resigned

The decision of the lawyer to withdraw from the case has shocked Nigerians as this wouldn’t be the first time, a lawyer will be withdrawing from the case.

Wunmi while reacting on her Instagram story, told her father-in-law that a DNA result can never be manipulated.
Her words: “Another lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has withdrawn from the DNA case. To my father-in-law, you can get as many lawyers as you want from anywhere in the world; one thing is certain, however, that you can’t manipulate this DNA. I’m sorry.
 
A whole SAN.
When people are confident in truth, they don’t run. They don’t hide. They don’t switch lawyers every month. They don’t ignore court calls.
 
We have cooperated from Day 1. We have never opposed a DNA test. We showed up. We waited. We followed the law.
 
The only people delaying the process are the same people who requested it.
 
No one can manipulate the court, and no one can manipulate science.
 
Let the truth speak – for Liam, for Mohbad, and for justice.
November 11 is around the corner. We will be there. Again”.
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Odumodublvck Reveals The Shocking Story Behind His Stage Name

Nigerian rapper, Tochukwu Ojogwu, popularly known as Odumodublvck, has revealed how he got his stage name.

According to him, the name originated from a playful childhood moment that unexpectedly defined his music identity.

He stated this during a recent interview with BET Network.
Accordign to the rapper, the name “Odumodu” — which means masquerade, was first used to tease him.
“Odumodu means masquerade. I tried to scare someone and he called me that name. I was like, ‘No, don’t call me that.’ You know it’s that name you don’t want to be called,” he said.
According to him, the nickname continued to gain popularity among his peers, especially after a moment involving his mother.
“One day my mom came to visit me in school and they were like, ‘Yo, Odumodu’s mom is around,’ and she’s like, ‘who’s that?’ And I’m like, ‘that’s what it is.’ Then I started making music,” he added.
Before adopting the now-famous stage name, the rapper said he used the name “T Flows,” which he now considers uninspiring.
“The name I had first was T Flows — whack name. There are probably like a hundred thousand T Flows in the world, but there’s only one Odumodublvck,” he said confidently.
Odumodublvck added that he intentionally chose the name because of its uniqueness, even though his friends mocked it initially.
“When I told my friends that my name’s going to be Odumodu Blvck, they started laughing. I said, ‘yes, that’s the point. That’s the name.’ If I didn’t bear that name till the end of the world, there would never have been another Odumodublvck.”
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What I Look Out For When Choosing A Partner – Kiddwaya

Nigerian reality TV star, Kiddwaya has revealed what he wants in a partner.
He made his opinion known in an episode of Off The Record Podcast.
According to him, character and values matter more to him than wealth or social status.
The former Big Brother Naija housemate explained that he prefers someone kind, respectful, and grounded.
He said: “I don’t pick based on background or status. Just be nice, have good energy, and stay grounded. I’m very easy to please when it comes to relationships. You have to believe in God. It doesn’t have to be tied to religion, but there must be a belief in something higher than us.
 
“The way you speak to a waiter or anyone who’s not on your level says everything about you. Respect should never depend on status. I could wake up and say, ‘Babe, we’re going to Jamaica tomorrow,’ and I want her to say, ‘Let’s go. I just like someone who can match my energy and enjoy the moment,” he added.
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I Wasn’t Happy Being African – Tiwa Savage Recalls Growing Up In London

Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has dismissed claims that Afrobeats is currently experiencing its worst run in the past two decades.

Reputable music executives, including Paul Okoye aka Paulo, and DJ Big N, have claimed that Afrobeats is declining in separate interviews and social media posts.

However, speaking at the Unstoppable Africans event recently, Savage boasted that Afrobeats is unstoppable.

She argued that contrary to claims that the genre was declining, it is gaining more grounds on charts and tours.

She also spoke about the cultural impact of Afrobeats, recalling that she used to be unhappy about being an African growing up in London, but the positive image Afrobeats is giving the continent has made her become proud of her race.

The singer noted that Afrobeats has achieved a lot despite not having enough support, structure or infrastructure.

“Afrobeats is the fastest growing genre in the world. We kind of created it with nothing; no support, no infrastructure, no real belief even from our own people initially.

“I remember growing up in London and I was not happy being African. But now I’m so proud because of how big Afrobeats is growing.

“There was a conversation at one point that Afrobeats is going to have its 15 minutes of fame and then fades away. But we are still here. We are not slowing down. In fact, we are filling out stadiums, and we are getting the biggest songs on the charts right now.

“I don’t know how true this is, but apparently one in every four black persons is a Nigerian or an African.

“So, we are not going anywhere. As much as they are trying to quiet us down, the music is not going anywhere. We are Africans and we are unstoppable,” she remarked.

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Polygamy Hurts Women, Kids – Nigerian Rapper, Erigga Claims

Popular rapper Erigga has expressed his opinion on polygamy, stating that it negatively affects both women and children.

Speaking from his experience growing up in a polygamous home, the rapper explained that in polygamy, there are always aggrieved parties and most times, the women and children, not the man were involved.

In an interview with Yanga FM Lagos, Erigga revealed that he is trying not to be like his father by avoiding polygamy.

“I am trying not to be like my father. I don’t like polygamy; one person gets hurt, which is the woman. There’s never a polygamous situation where the man gets hurt; it’s always the woman and the kids,” he stated.

Erigga advocated for men to avoid the complexities of polygamy by embracing monogamy, which he claimed is less complicated and more fulfilling for all parties involved.

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