Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has insisted Nigeria are not seeking revenge for their 2019 AFCON semi-final defeat to Algeria but are simply focused on winning Saturday’s quarter-final clash in Marrakech, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. “That (2-1 defeat against Algeria in 2019 AFCON) is in the past,” Simon said at the pre-match press conference on Friday. “We want to win tomorrow (Saturday), not just trying to win, and we hope we can do so.”Simon is one of eight players on the current Super Eagles squad who were in Egypt in 2019 when Algeria stopped Nigeria with a stoppage-time free-kick goal by Riyad Mahrez. “I cannot tell you the North African teams are teams that are giving us trouble because we, too, are a team that gives them trouble,” he said. We are a team that works every day to progress and to win due to the mentality,” he added.

Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez jokingly admitted he fears Nigeria’s potent attack ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash in Marrakech, though he insists his team have the quality to progress, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. I am not scared at all, it’s a football game,” Mahrez added. Mahrez, 34, also revealed that this would be his last AFCON tournament, adding extra motivation to his quest for a second continental title. However, his greatest moment in international football came in 2019 when he helped Algeria lift the AFCON in Egypt. Alongside the Super Eagles, the Desert Warriors are the only team to have won all four of their matches in Morocco.

Baba-Ahmed, who also doubles as the founder and chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, made the disclosure while speaking with Saturday PUNCH. However, there was a mild Nollywood drama between some gentlemen of the DSS and myself on November 28, 2025. Recounting the encounter with the DSS, Baba-Ahmed said he voluntarily honoured the agency’s request, curious about the motive behind it. I came out feeling very sorry for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I feel sorry for us.”According to him, the interaction left him deeply concerned about the state of leadership and governance in the country.

Digital banking platform, PalmPay, has opened a new office at 33 Old Yaba Road, Lagos, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Nigeria through continued investment in innovation, customer service and operational capacity. ‎The office is expected to strengthen service delivery and further embed the firm within Nigeria’s growing financial and technology ecosystem. ‎Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of PalmPay, Chika Nwosu, said the new office reflects the company’s long-term vision and dedication to excellence in digital financial services. According to him, the development marks an important milestone in PalmPay’s growth journey and its commitment to building secure, reliable and inclusive financial solutions for users across the country. ‎With the opening of the Yaba office, PalmPay said it is further strengthening its presence in Nigeria as it continues to drive financial inclusion and economic empowerment through digital solutions.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has said Nigeria remains a great country with enormous potential but requires a new wave of selfless and inclusive leadership to overcome deepening political and social fault lines. On national unity, Tambuwal said Nigeria’s diversity is not a weakness but requires understanding and responsible statecraft to manage effectively. Asked about the strength of the opposition coalition, Tambuwal said it was focused on rebuilding trust between political actors and the Nigerian people. “We are beginning again, working to bring everybody on board who is concerned about unity, progress and development.

The Federal Government has expressed deep sadness over the deaths of two Nigerians in separate violent incidents in the United Kingdom and Canada in the early days of the new year. Speaking through Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the incidents as shocking and deeply troubling. She extended heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time. Dabiri-Erewa also commended the swift responses of the UK Metropolitan Police and the Toronto Police Service, and called for thorough, transparent and timely investigations to ensure that justice is served. She further assured that, “NiDCOM will work closely with the Nigerian High Commissions in the UK and Canada to provide the necessary support to the affected families, in line with the Commission’s mandate”.

Trump made the comments as he prepared to meet major oil corporations that he said would invest at least $100 billion in Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves. Trump was implicitly making clear he is ready again to use force to get his way in Venezuela, which he has vowed to force to enrich the United States, especially oil companies. “Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of ‘Seeking Peace,'” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump had earlier played down democracy as a motivating factor for the attack, despite years of the United States’ saying that Maduro was illegitimate elections were filled with fraud. Trump said the United States would “run” the Caribbean country for a transitional period and tap into its oil reserves for years.

Former Abia State Governors, Senator Orji Kalu and Senator Theodore Orji, have met in Umuahia to strategise on reclaiming power from Governor Alex Otti ahead of the 2027 general election. Speaking during the meeting on Friday, Kalu said the gathering was convened to bring together political actors who served in the state between 2009 and 2023 to forge a common political front. Kalu said the group, referred to as “The Team,” contributed significantly to the development of Abia State during their years in office, stressing that their efforts should not be dismissed. I finished and handed over to Senator T. A. Orji, and he finished and handed over to Okezie Ikpeazu. The motion was unanimously adopted by members of the group.

Police in Oyo State have arrested three teenage girls suspected of issuing a kidnapping threat in Ikoyi-Ile, Oriire Local Government Area. The suspects, aged between 16 and 17, were detained following a complaint from a local resident who reported receiving a threatening phone call. The suspects—Fathia Nurudeen, 17; Taiwo Fatai, 17; and Munirat Saliu, 16—were quickly traced and arrested by detectives. Ayanlade said that the suspects remain in custody while police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine the appropriate legal action. He also warned youths against acts capable of inciting fear or threatening lives, stressing that such behaviour carries serious legal consequences.

In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, United States President Donald Trump signalled that the US could undertake multiple military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians persists. Trump framed it as a response to what he characterised as repeated killings of Christians by extremist groups in Nigeria, language that has fuelled debate over the motivations behind the intervention. When pressed about comments from his senior Africa adviser that groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram had killed more Muslims than Christians in Nigeria, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims. “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has emphasised cooperation with international partners in counter-terrorism efforts while reiterating that violence against any community, regardless of faith, is unacceptable.

TikTok has been set as FIFA’s first-ever “preferred platform” partner in a deal ahead of the 2026 World Cup that aims to make the social media app the “go-to place for fans and creators throughout the tournament,” taking place this summer. The TikTok pact, which comes on the heels of the team-up between the brands for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, will allow FIFA’s official 2026 World Cup media partners to livestream parts of matches, post more curated clips and access special content produced by FIFA for TikTok, while broadcasters will have the opportunity to monetise FIFA World Cup coverage through TikTok’s ad product. Throughout the FIFA campaign, TikTok says it “will implement anti-piracy policies that support and protect FIFA’s intellectual property.”“FIFA’s goal is to share the exhilaration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with as many fans as possible, and we can’t think of a better way to further that mission during the biggest event in sports history than to have TikTok as the tournament’s first Preferred Platform,” FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said. “This is an innovative and creative collaboration that will connect more fans across the globe to the FIFA World Cup in unprecedented ways, bringing them behind the curtain and closer to the action than ever before. As football grows and evolves — uniting an increasing number of people — so should the way it is shared and promoted.”

Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Desert Warriors of Algeria are set for a terrific showdown in the 45,000-capacity Grand Stade de Marrakech tomorrow, in the third quarter-final match of the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals. Adil Boulbina netted the scorcher that ended the hopes of Leopards of DR Congo, and the Super Eagles must also beware of midfielders Ibrahim Maza and Hicham Boudaoui, as well as striker Anis Hadj-Moussa. Osimhen’s brace against Mozambique took him within three goals of Nigeria’s all-time record of 37 goals, and Lookman now has six AFCON goals, with his brace against Cameroon and strike against Angola in the knockout rounds of the last competition in Cote d’Ivoire. Paul Onuachu is galvanised by his strike against Uganda in the group phase turning out to be the 150th AFCON goal for Nigeria, and could play some part in Saturday’s duel. Thirty-eight years ago, Nigeria edged Algeria in a marathon penalty shootout after regulation and extra time ended 1-1, while Cameroon edged hosts Morocco to set up a Nigeria-Cameroon Final.

Ex-COAS gives colleague, media houses retraction deadlineFormer Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), has slammed a N1 billion defamation suit against another erstwhile military officer, Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, before the Kaduna State High Court. The case, filed on January 8 at the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court, accused Ali-Keffi of making and circulating alleged false, malicious and defamatory statements linking Buratai to terrorism financing, Boko Haram suspects, and illegal release and concealment of terror suspects. In his statement of claim, Buratai described the allegations as entirely false, stressing that he has never been investigated, indicted or convicted for terrorism, terrorism financing or any related offence. No date has been fixed for the commencement of the hearing, and the defendant has not filed a response to the suit. THIS is even as an ex-COAS, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd), has given Keffi, management of Arise News and Sahara Reporters, a 72-hour ultimatum to withdraw allegations of terrorism financing against him or face legal action.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Boriowo Folasade, on Friday. The ministers explained that the policy prioritises the use of standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years, while expressly prohibiting the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks in schools. The statement quoted the ministers as saying, “Our goal is to ensure that education is both qualitative and affordable. “Nigerian students deserve instructional materials that meet international standards of quality and longevity,” the ministers emphasised. “This measure is expected to improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection processes for schools and education authorities”, the ministers added.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has explained his decision to withdraw a defamation suit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and other pending legal actions, describing the move as a deliberate choice rooted in moral authority, faith, and the demands of legislative leadership. Speaking during the church service, the Senate President disclosed that he had instituted nearly nine defamation suits against individuals over statements he considered damaging to his reputation. Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife had also filed separate defamation suits against the Kogi Central senator, alleging that claims made against her husband had damaged the family’s reputation. Akpoti-Uduaghan had also approached the courts to challenge actions taken against her, including a ₦100bn defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and others over alleged remarks she said harmed her reputation. With Akpabio’s directive to his lawyers, all pending defamation suits instituted by him have now been formally withdrawn, effectively bringing closure to the highly publicised legal disputes as the new year begins.