Nigeria’s Frank Onyeka is Premier League bound — again. The Super Eagles midfielder has helped Coventry City end a 25-year wait for top-flight football after the Sky Blues clinched automatic promotion to the Premier League on Friday, April 18, 2026. Coventry secured promotion with a 1-1 draw away at Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. The result put them 10 points clear at the top of the Championship with games to spare, confirming their return to the Premier League for the first time since 2001. Bobby Thomas headed in an 84th-minute equalizer from a Victor Torp free-kick to spark wild celebrations among over 7,000 traveling fans. The Sky Blues finished the season as Champions with 92 points, 27 wins, 11 draws, and 7 losses.  Frank Onyeka, 28, joined Coventry on loan from Brentford on February 2, 2026. The deal included an obligation to buy if Coventry won promotion — which they now have.  Nicknamed “Frank the Tank”, Onyeka became the engine of Frank Lampar...

Nigerian football is in mourning following the sudden death of former Super Eagles forward Michael Eneramo, who collapsed during a football match in Kaduna on Friday, April 24, 2026. He was 40.  Eneramo was playing in a friendly match at the Angwan Yelwa pitch, Television area of Kaduna, when tragedy struck. He had completed the first half and came on as a second-half substitute before collapsing suddenly, five minutes into the second half, with no physical contact involved. Eyewitnesses said efforts to revive him on the spot were unsuccessful. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Early reports indicate he may have suffered cardiac arrest.  NFF, Clubs Pay Tribute The Nigeria Football Federation described the news as “devastating” and a “huge loss to our football family.” NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said: “Eneramo was a committed patriot who served Nigeria with pride and passion. This is devastating. I am short of words at ...

Chelsea have parted ways with Liam Rosenior after just three months in charge. The club confirmed the decision Wednesday, ending Rosenior’s reign at 107 days. He was appointed in January 2026 on a six-and-a-half-year deal from sister club Strasbourg. The sack follows five straight Premier League defeats without scoring — Chelsea’s worst goal drought in 114 years. Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at Brighton proved the final straw, with Rosenior calling the display “unacceptable.” The Blues have also crashed out of the Champions League to PSG and now sit 7th, seven points off the top five. In a statement, Chelsea said: “Recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season.” Calum McFarlane takes over as interim boss until the summer. An FA Cup semi-final against Leeds awaits on Sunday. Rosenior leaves with 11 wins from 23 games. He’s the sixth permanent manager sacked under Chelsea’s current owners since 2022...

Senator Victor Umeh has clarified the purpose of Peter Obi’s recent visit to former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s Abuja residence, saying it was part of ongoing consultations within the anti-Tinubu coalition ahead of 2027. Speaking after details of the weekend meeting emerged, Umeh confirmed he accompanied Obi alongside former Imo Governor Achike Udenwa. He said the delegation *appealed to Amaechi to support Obi’s bid to emerge as the African Democratic Congress presidential flagbearer*.  According to a source privy to the discussion, *Amaechi “politely rejected the request”*, insisting he was “serious about contesting in the 2027 presidential election” and not grandstanding. Photos and video of Obi’s visit circulated online but neither leader addressed the media afterward.  Why Atiku Should Step Down, Umeh Explains Umeh argued that fairness and the South’s turn in the zoning arrangement make Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy untenable for 2027. Both Obi and Amaechi, h...

The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge of treasonable felony against military officers and civilians accused of plotting to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu. The charge, filed at the Federal High Court Abuja by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, follows months of investigation into a clandestine network allegedly coordinated by senior officers. The Defence Headquarters had earlier announced the arrest of *16 officers in October 2025* for “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.” An interim military report later indicated the group had carried out covert surveillance of key national assets including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports. The alleged coup was reportedly planned for *October 25, 2025*, targeting President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.  The Accused Those named in the investigation include Brig Gen M A Sadiq, Col M ...

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, have dismantled an illegal baby factory in okuju, Ilado, Badagry. The raid was carried out Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday after three weeks of intelligence gathering. NSCDC officers stormed the large flat containing multiple rooms and rescued *18 pregnant women and 10 children. Arrested: The operators of the facility were identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu. According to Lagos Commandant *Adedotun Keshinro*, the victims, aged 18 to 30, were lured through an offer advertised on Facebook. Some of the women arrived at the centre with infants and toddlers who were also listed for sale. Under the arrangement, the women give birth at the facility, the babies are sold to buyers, and the mothers receive N500,000 to N1.8 million per child. The victims were paraded at the NSCDC Badagry Division office in Ibereko on Friday. Investigations are ongoing.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the first batch of 632,788 results from the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. Candidates can check their scores by sending _UTMERESULT_ to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number used for registration. JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede warned that the Board’s electronic scoring system cannot be compromised and urged candidates to avoid fraudsters promising result upgrades. “The UTME is scored electronically with no human mediation whatsoever. There is no room for errors,” JAMB said.  The Board noted that software exists to fake results and that past cases involved candidates editing scores sent to other people. JAMB said it will treat anyone associating with such “mischievous elements” as collaborators.  Results of candidates involved in infractions remain withheld for further verification. 

Coventry City are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2001. Frank Lampard’s side secured promotion on Friday after a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Needing a point to make it mathematically certain, the Sky Blues got it when Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser six minutes from time.  Blackburn had led through Ryoya Morishita’s 54th-minute goal, but Thomas’ header in the 85th minute sparked celebrations among more than 7,000 travelling fans. The result ends a 25-year wait since Coventry last played top-flight football in May 2001. Since then the club dropped to League Two, lost their stadium, and ground-shared in Birmingham and Northampton.  Lampard took over in November 2024 with Coventry 17th in the Championship. After losing to Sunderland in last season’s play-off semi-final, his side stormed to promotion this year. They top the table with 86 points from 43 games.  “An incredible moment. After 25 years, wow. It’s ama...

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Bola Tinubu over discrepancies in his academic records. Reacting to Tinubu’s defence of his educational background, Atiku said records show the President claimed to have attended Government College, Ibadan, in 1970, two years before the school was established in 1972. “Tinubu has a record of attending a school two years before it was established. Nigerians deserve clarity on this,” Atiku said through his media team. The statement is part of Atiku’s continued challenge of Tinubu’s academic credentials, an issue that featured prominently during the 2023 election tribunal. The Presidency has consistently maintained that Tinubu’s certificates are authentic and dismissed the claims as political propaganda.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Wole Oke, has said Governor Ademola Adeleke may not be on the ballot for the 2026 governorship election. Oke, who serves as the Director General of the APC governorship campaign, made the claim while speaking to party members. He argued that internal crises and legal issues could stop the Peoples Democratic Party governor from contesting. “We are preparing for 2026, but I can tell you Adeleke may not even be on the ballot,” Oke said. He urged APC members to remain united and focus on reclaiming the state. The PDP has dismissed the comment, insisting Governor Adeleke remains eligible and will seek re-election. The Independent National Electoral Commission has not issued any statement on the eligibility of candidates for the 2026 Osun poll.

MTN Nigeria has suspended its airtime and data lending services, XtraTime and XtraByte, which let prepaid users borrow credit via _303# and repay on their next recharge. Reason for suspension. The company said the move is to comply with new rules from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). In a filing to the Nigerian Exchange, MTN explained that the _Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025_ introduced a new licensing and compliance framework for digital credit services. Because XtraTime is classed as “digital or non-traditional consumer credit,” MTN paused the service to implement the required processes. Impact on subscribers. Millions of users who relied on _303# for emergency airtime or data are now blocked. Attempting to borrow returns: “Dear Customer, XtraTime is currently unavailable. Kindly recharge by dialing _904# or 671#. We apologize for the inconvenience”. MTN said customers can still buy airt...

Lagos, Nigeria — A single post from tech billionaire Elon Musk sent Nigerian social media into a frenzy on Sunday, April 12, 2026, after users misread his reference to “APC” as a nod to the country’s ruling party. *The Tweet That Started It* Musk, CEO of Tesla, posted on X while describing the Tesla Cybertruck: > “Cybertruck is an APC from the future”  Globally, the post was about vehicle design — “APC” meaning _Armoured Personnel Carrier_, a term often used for the Cybertruck’s military-style build. But in Nigeria, “APC” instantly means _All Progressives Congress_, the party of President Bola Tinubu.  *Nigerian Reactions: Confusion, Panic, and Memes* The comment section exploded with Nigerians assuming Musk was weighing in on politics: - “*Which APC are you referring to, sir?*” asked user Daily Pulse. - “*You might want to skip that abbreviation, Elon. In Nigeria, ‘APC’ represents a political party that has brought years of hardship... It’s a trigger for a lot ...

Enugu, Nigeria— Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi has defended the recent wave of defections into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while warning he will dump the party ahead of 2027 if its presidential primary becomes “transactional.” Speaking in Enugu on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, during his official defection ceremony to the ADC, Obi said the mass movement of politicians into the party was part of a “rescue mission” to save Nigeria’s democracy. He was joined by several South-East leaders including former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha and Senators Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, and Enyinnaya Abaribe.  Obi argued that politicians “benefiting from democracy” are now “accessories to destroying it through coercion and gangsterism against the opposition”. He said the ADC coalition is meant to resist that trend: “We will resist rigging of the election by every lawful means in 2027”. Analysts note Obi’s move has already “energised the opposition coalition, ...

LONDON, UK— In an unusual legal twist, an Arsenal supporter has filed a lawsuit against Arsenal Football Club, claiming the club is liable for “emotional distress” and “professional negligence” following years of underwhelming performances and transfer dealings. THE CLAIM The fan, 38-year-old Mark Davies from North London, lodged the claim at the High Court on Friday, April 10, 2026. Court documents allege that Arsenal’s “consistent failure to meet reasonable expectations of sporting success” since 2004 caused him “severe anxiety, depression, and loss of earnings” due to match-day stress affecting his work. THE SUIT SPECIFICALLY CITES: 1. PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE — Claiming the club’s board and recruitment team breached a “duty of care” to supporters by making “objectively poor sporting decisions,” including transfer failures and managerial appointments post-Wenger.  2. *EMOTIONAL DISTRESS* — Alleging that repeated title collapses, cup final losses, and failure to qualif...

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed the appointment of veteran Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars, just two months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off. The 73-year-old takes over from Otto Addo, who was dismissed in March following friendly defeats to Austria and Germany. Queiroz begins work immediately to prepare Ghana for the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, which starts on June 11, 2026.  “The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, working with all key stakeholders, has appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars... Coach Queiroz begins work immediately to prepare the Black Stars for the tournament.”  Queiroz brings 36 years of coaching experience and will be making his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance. He previously led Iran at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups, and Portugal at South Africa 2...

Paul Biya, Cameroon's 93-year-old president, has appointed his son Franck Emmanuel Biya as Vice President of the Republic and Head of the Armed Forces.  This move is seen as a consolidation of power and has raised concerns about succession planning and democratic governance in the country. Franck Biya has also been appointed Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Defence, giving him significant control over Cameroon's security architecture. 

Gennaro Gattuso, Italy's coach, sparked controversy by criticizing FIFA's World Cup qualification format, arguing that Africa's increased slots have made it tougher for European teams like Italy to qualify. He pointed out that in 1990 and 1994, only 2-3 African teams qualified, whereas now there are 10, making it unfair for European teams.  Gattuso's comments came after Italy's playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which dashed their World Cup hopes. He believes the system needs to change, citing South America's six automatic spots as an example. However, his remarks were met with criticism from African football icons like John Utaka, who called it "disrespectful" and "baseless". 

A devastating attack occurred on Palm Sunday in Plateau State, Nigeria, where gunmen stormed Christian communities in Jos, killing at least 26 people and injuring several others. The attack, which happened around 8 pm, targeted student-populated neighborhoods, including Angwa Rukuba and Eto Baba. Witnesses described the attackers as wearing military uniforms and riding motorcycles, sparking fears and outrage among residents.  The Plateau State Government has imposed a 48-hour curfew in Jos North Local Government Area to restore calm and investigate the incident. Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack as "barbaric and unprovoked," assuring residents that security agencies are working to apprehend the perpetrators. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has also condemned the attack, calling it "unacceptable" and demanding swift justice for those responsible. US Congressman Riley Moore has warned that continued attacks on Christians in Nigeria co...

Israeli police blocked Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, citing security concerns due to the ongoing Iran war. This marks the first time in centuries that church leaders were prevented from conducting Palm Sunday rites at the revered site. The decision sparked outrage from church authorities and international leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron, who condemned the action as an offense to religious freedom.  The Israeli government claimed the restriction was due to safety concerns, as the Old City has been targeted by missile attacks, and emergency response capabilities are limited. However, the Latin Patriarchate argued that the decision was "manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate," especially since the cardinal and other clergy were traveling privately and not as part of a procession...

The Office of Nigeria's Head of Civil Service spent a whopping N5.4 million on a microwave oven and electric kettle, sparking controversy over government spending.  The payment was made to Rosebud Ventures Global Resources Limited on June 30, 2025. This comes amid concerns over fiscal responsibility, with some questioning the prioritization of such expenditures when the country faces significant development challenges.