Author: Opalim Lifted

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from two sets down – saving three championship points on the way – to beat Jannik Sinner in an incredible French Open men’s singles final. Alcaraz’s reign on the Roland Garros clay looked to be over when world number one Sinner closed in on victory at 5-3 in the fourth set. But the 22-year-old Spaniard showed extraordinary fight to win 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) after five hours and 29 minutes – the longest French Open final in history. In an electrifying atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier, Alcaraz produced the finest performance…

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has ruled himself out the running to replace Ange Postecoglou, saying a return to Tottenham at this point is “not realistic”. Postecoglou, 59, was sacked on Friday, despite leading the club to their first piece of silverware in 17 years with victory in the Europa League. Pochettino, whose five-year stay at the club came to an end in November 2019, has been linked with a return to Tottenham. But the Argentine, who was appointed US manager in October 2024, says he is happy in his new role. “Today it’s not realistic,” said Pochettino, 53.…

Brazil forward Neymar has been sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19, his club Santos said in a statement as quoted by Brazilian media. The 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately removed from team activities. Medical tests later confirmed the viral infection, the Brazil Serie A side said on Saturday. The club did not disclose how long Neymar will be out of action and did not immediately respond to newsmen request for comment. Neymar is already ruled out of Thursday’s league match at Fortaleza through suspension. The Fortaleza match will be Santos’ last outing before the Brazilian league…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and rainfall across the country from Sunday to Tuesday. In its weather outlook released on Saturday, NiMet alerted Nigerians of thunderstorms in the morning hours over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra and Lagos. The agency said thunderstorms are expected later in the day over parts of Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno, Gombe and Bauchi. “In the afternoon/evening hours, there are prospects of thunderstorms with rains over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno, Gombe and Bauchi,” the forecast reads.…

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, said on Saturday that the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said “trophies” should determine who wins the Ballon d’Or. “In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d’Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League,” the 40-year-old forward told reporters. First awarded in 1956 by French magazine, France Football, the Ballon d’Or is awarded to the player…

The Federal Government has declared Thursday a public holiday to commemorate the 2025 Democracy Day. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, announced the holiday on Sunday in a statement signed by Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary of the ministry. The minister congratulated Nigerians for an uninterrupted 26 years of civil rule, praising the citizens for their “resilience, courage and strength”. “June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign and peace is sustained and our future assured,” he said. “The last 26 years tell the story of our resilience, strength and courage and a hope renewed…

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, has responded to the comments made against him by Lere Olayinka, a media aide to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT). Abati responded to Olayinka’s recent comments via a statement published on his social media accounts on Saturday. The former presidential spokesperson is a co-host of the Arise TV breakfast programme — ‘The Morning Show’. Speaking on the television breakfast programme on Friday, Olayinka asked Abati to resign his role as a television host and take up the position of spokesperson to Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state. The media…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a strong call to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the appointment of at least three individuals allegedly linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a letter dated 7 June 2025, SERAP called the appointments a direct threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, warning that “partisan RECs will make a mockery of Nigerians’ right to free and fair elections.” The rights group urged the president to swiftly nominate credible, non-partisan Nigerians to replace the controversial…

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), says God warned him that his firstborn would die if he left the church. Adeboye spoke on Saturday at the June edition of the Holy Ghost service, themed “Destined for Greatness (Part 2)”, held at the Redemption City of God in Ogun state. While teaching on the importance of divine direction and spiritual consistency, the RCCG general overseer lamented that young Christians today frequently move from one church to another, constantly identifying as first-timers in new congregations. “When I got born again, there were three major ministries…

Paul Adefarasin, the senior pastor and founder of House on the Rock, has addressed a viral video that showed him wielding what appeared to be a pistol. The video began circulating on social media Friday after it was posted by an X user, who credited a Lagos-based content creator known for filming exotic cars. The caption said Adefarasin allegedly flashed him a gun for filming his car. In the 10-second clip, a Range Rover is seen slowing down towards the videographer. The tinted window rolled down, prompting the content creator to salute the pastor who appeared. But Adefarasin interjected and…