WHALEXTRA

Former Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has commended Premier League-winning manager Mikel Arteta, characterizing the Spanish tactician as one who possesses ‘some of Pep Guardiola’s intellect’ along with a fighter’s mentality. Arteta led Arsenal to the Premier League title after Manchester City was held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening. The title victory signifies Arsenal’s first league championship in over 20 years and also marks Arteta’s first significant trophy in the past five years. During an appearance on Global Football Insights With Oliseh, the retired Nigeria international praised Arteta’s tactical development, leadership approach, and his capability to transform Arsenal into a title-contending team. The former Nigeria international said, “Mikel Arteta is the ruler of the new era. He serves as the connection. He possesses some of Pep’s intellect and the fighting spirit of a captain.

  Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola , has said he will take a decision at the end of the season over his future. According to most media in the UK, Guardiola is set to leave the Etihad this weekend, after the last Premier League fixture at home against Aston Villa. City can no longer win the title, following their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night. When asked about staying at the club beyond this summer, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “I can say I have one more year of contract and we had many years of winning. “The first person who has to talk is the chairman.

Heightened fears over worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s North-Wes t have resurfaced following the abduction of two staff members of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, along the notorious Maru–Talata Mafara highway in Zamfara State. The victims, identified as Malam Abdullahi of the Histopathology Department and Malam Rufae of the Microbiology Department, were reportedly kidnapped by suspected armed bandits while travelling from Abuja to Sokoto after attending a union meeting. Sources close to the families disclosed that the incident occurred along the troubled Maru axis, a corridor long associated with recurring cases of banditry, kidnappings and violent attacks on commuters. According to family members and associates, the abductors have already contacted relatives of the victims and are demanding a ransom of N10 million each for their release. “The kidnappers reached out to the families and demanded N10 million from each side. The situation has thrown the families i...

  General Overseer of Land of Joy and Prayer Ministry , Agah, Ganmo, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Prophet Ajiboye Olayinka, has been sentenced to life Imprisonment for having unlawful sexual intercourse with three minors inside the church’s mission house. Justice H.A. Gegele of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday also sentenced Prophet Olayinka to 14 years imprisonment for illegal abortions of several pregnancies of his victims. The court subsequently discharged the defendant of the charge of bigamy. The defendant had faced an eight-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, unlawful sexual intercourse with minors, illegal abortion, and unlawful possession of firearms, contrary to Sections 97, 235 and 283 of the Penal Code, Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004 and Section 31(2) of the Kwara State Child Rights Law, 2006. During the hearing, the prosecution called 12 witnesses and tendered exhibits.

Nigeria’s   men’s and women’s national cricket teams have retained their spots in the latest annual rankings released by the International Cricket Council on Tuesday, having met the required number of matches during the period under review,   PUNCH Sports Extra   reports. The annual update, which gives 100 per cent weighting to matches played since May 2025 and 50 per cent to those from the previous two years, saw India’s lead over England trimmed from 14 to 13 points in the men’s table, while Australia’s advantage over England in the women’s rankings reduced from 18 to 12 points. For Nigeria, the men’s team dropped two places from 36th to 38th, while the women’s team retained 26th position globally. After competing in the sub-regional and regional T20 World Cup qualifiers, the West Africa Trophy and a seven-match bilateral series against Kenya, the men’s team—known as the Yellow Greens—accumulated 78 rating points, just one below their previous total of 79. The women’s ...

  Borussia Dortmund defender  Niklas Süle  has confirmed he will retire from professional football at the end of the season, bringing his career to a close at the age of 30. The Germany national football team international decided following a knee injury suffered in last month’s Bundesliga match against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Süle initially feared he had suffered a third anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, an injury that has already disrupted his career in the past. Although medical tests later confirmed he had avoided an ACL tear, the defender said the scare changed his outlook on continuing in the sport. Speaking on the Spielmacher podcast on Wednesday, Süle revealed he was overcome with emotion after the initial diagnosis, saying he “went into the shower and cried for 10 minutes” as he believed the worst had happened. Even after receiving the more positive MRI results, Süle said he had already decided to retire, explaining that he could not face the possibility of ...

The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) has called for closer cooperation between the media and tax authorities across Africa. Press freedom the organisation said remains vital to improving tax compliance, strengthening transparency and supporting sustainable development on the continent. In a statement issued to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, the Executive Secretary of WATAF, Jules Tapsoba, said a free and independent media plays a major role in building accountable tax systems and increasing public trust in government institutions. According to him, accurate and responsible journalism helps citizens understand tax policies and public finance issues, while also ensuring that institutions remain accountable to the people. “A free and responsible press is indispensable to transparent tax systems. By informing citizens and holding institutions accountable, the media strengthens trust, improves compliance, and supports sustainable domestic revenue mobilisation,” Tapsoba sa...

  The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, says  President Bola Tinub u is committed to repositioning the   Nigeria Police Force   through strengthened education and training institutions. Alausa said this on Monday in Abuja when the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu, led senior police officers on a courtesy visit to his office. He said discussions focused on the establishment of a southern campus of the Police Academy in Erije, Abeokuta, Ogun, in line with the President’s agenda to improve professionalism and security delivery. “This meeting is in continuation of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to reposition the police to deliver on its core mandate and improve security across the country,” he said. Alausa added that the proposed campus was expected to admit its first set of students between September and November 2026, following expedited resource verification by the National Universities Commission (NUC).