Category: Uncategorized

Some Barcelona and Atletico Madrid players have reacted after both sides’ UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg encounter.

Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the fixture at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday.

Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres scored the goals for the Blaugrana, while Ademola Lookman scored for Diego Simeone’s side.

But it was Atletico that progressed to the Champions League semi-final stage on a 3-2 aggregate win, after winning 2-0 in the first leg at Camp Nou last week.

Reacting, Atletico Madrid captain Koke told Movistar+: “We are absolutely thrilled, eliminating a team of Barça’s level. We struggled at the beginning, but the team overcame it. The effort was enormous, and we are deserved winners of the tie.”

Similarly, Atletico Madrid forward, Antoine Griezmann, said: “I’m very happy. Two mistakes can cost you dearly in games like this. I lost the ball on the second [goal] – I was out of position. In the end, thanks to our fans and our quality, we were able to score the goal.”

Also reacting, Barcelona midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, said: “We played a very good match. We gave it our all. I have the feeling that luck wasn’t on our side. We’re growing, and we have a young, talented team that can compete for everything. We’re going to keep going like this.”

On his part, Atletico Madrid star Ademola Lookman, told TNT Sports: “Going 2-0 down [was tough]. A game of two halves, really, we stuck in there, we dug in. We didn’t get the win tonight, but we’re through to the semi-finals.”

UCL: How Barcelona, Atletico Madrid players reacted after 3-2 aggregate result

The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Danladi Isa has disclosed that three kidnappers were killed in their hideout during an exchange of fire with operatives of the Command.

Also, a shrine used by the kidnappers to seek protection, was burnt down by the police operatives during the encounter.

The Commissioner of Police stated this on Tuesday while addressing journalists on the achievements recorded by his Command between April 1 and April 14, 2026.

He said that in line with a case of kidnapping that was previously reported at Opobo Road, Ogbor Hill, Aba, on 29/03/2026, operatives of the Command who were leveraging on actionable intelligence, traced the hideout of the kidnappers to Mbutu Amankwo village in Isiala Ngwa LGA, Abia State.

According to the CP, “On arrival at the kidnappers’ den, the kidnappers fled into the bush while firing at the officers but could not withstand the superior firepower of the Command operatives.”

He said that three kidnappers were neutralized during the operation, adding that investigation is ongoing.

CP Isa, who displayed the recovered exhibits at Police Headquarters, Umuahia, during the press briefing, listed the items recovered from criminal elements to include 8 AK 47 rifles, 3 single-barrel guns, 1 Pump- action gun, Lexus RX 300 Jeep with registration number NGK 877 SU, SIM Cards, bunch of vehicle keys, various charms and other exhibits.

He said that his Command is sustaining the onslaught against crime and criminality to ensure that Abia remains peaceful, even as he solicited the corporation of Abia residents through useful information about suspicious movements and activities in their area.

Police storm kidnappers’ den in Abia, neutralize three suspects

Ahead of today’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg fixtures, four Bayern Munich players, two Arsenal stars, one Sporting CP player and six Real Madrid stars are at risk of suspension.

These players have already received yellow cards, and an additional yellow card in today’s fixtures will result in a suspension.

They will be prevented from playing in the Champions League first leg of the semi-finals if their teams progress to the next round.

The players who risk suspension include the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Martín Zubimendi, and Manuel Neuer.

They have already received a yellow card and will miss the semi-finals first leg if they are not careful.

Champions League yellow card suspension list ahead of today’s fixtures:

Arsenal – Christian Nørgaard and Martín Zubimendi

Sporting CP – Luis Suárez

Bayern Munich – Manuel Neuer, Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano and Konrad Laimer.

Real Madrid – Jude Bellingham, Alvaro Carreras and Dean Huijsen, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, and Vinicius.

UCL: Four Bayern Munich players, Arsenal duo, six Real Madrid stars risk suspension

Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, arraigned one Olusola Shedrach before the State High Court sitting in Ikeja over the alleged illegal takeover and damage of a property belonging to Harvesters Church along the Gbagada–Oworonshoki Expressway.

The defendant was brought before Justice Hakeem Oshodi on a three-count charge bordering on forceful takeover, malicious damage, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

At the commencement of proceedings, the state prosecutor, Olufunmilayo Aluko, informed the court of the prosecution’s readiness and requested that the charges be read to the defendant for his plea.

“My Lord, we are ready for the arraignment of the defendant and pray that the charges be read to him so that he can take his plea,” she stated.

The court granted the request, and the charges were subsequently read in open court.

According to the prosecution, Shedrach allegedly forcefully assumed control of the church’s property and caused damage to items within the premises. He was also accused of acting in a manner capable of disturbing public peace.

Aluko further told the court that the alleged offences contravene Section 2(1) of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law, 2016, as well as Sections 350 and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following the plea, defence counsel, Mr O. Odueso, requested a short adjournment to enable the defence to file and argue its bail application.

“My Lord, we respectfully seek a short date to allow us to file and move our bail application,” he said.

The prosecution did not object to the request.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to April 22, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application, while June 17, 2026, was fixed for the commencement of trial.

“This matter is hereby adjourned to April 22, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and June 17, 2026, for trial,” the judge ruled.

Lagos govt arraigns man over alleged forceful takeover of church property

Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique, has suggested that his team defeated Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final second leg tie because his players controlled the game, especially in the first half.

Enrique explained that PSG also took a lot of risks against the Premier League giants at Anfield.

Two goals from Ousmane Dembele gave the Parisians a 2-0 victory against Liverpool.

PSG progressed to the Champions League semi-final stage on a 4-0 victory, thanks to a 2-0 win in the first leg last week in Paris.

Speaking to Prime Video after the game, Enrique said, “It was an intense match between teams who play really good football.

“It’s an honour to play at Anfield, and the first half went more for us because we controlled the match and could create a few chances. In the second half, it was different: we suffered a lot, they pressed high and took a lot of risks.”

UCL: Why PSG eliminated Liverpool from competition – Luis Enrique

There are two semi-final spots left to be determined in this season’s Champions League.

On Tuesday night, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid both confirmed their places in the last four.

Tonight, Arsenal host Sporting after winning 1-0 in Portugal.

Mikel Arteta’s men are favourites to see off the Portuguese champions and will then face Atletico in the semis.

Bayern are widely expected to finish the job at home after they beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.

Vincent Kompany’s men have PSG waiting for them in the semis in what would be a mouthwatering encounter.

Champions League: Potential semi-final fixtures

Former Iceland striker, Eidur Gudjohnsen, has claimed that Arsenal have already lost the Premier League title.

Gudjohnsen is now backing Manchester City to topple Mikel Arteta’s men and win the league.

The Gunners are now only six points ahead of City, as both teams prepare to face off at the Etihad this Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s men will however still have one game in hand.

“Even the fans are going, “What can we do? How can we stop this?”… I think they’ve already lost the league. We’re here to say our opinions,” Gudjohnsen said of Arsenal on The Dressing Room Podcast.

“In the end, it’s still in their own hands. They have to go to Man City, get a result, and if they get a win then it’ll be huge.

“I just don’t see it happening.”

EPL: They’ve lost league already – Gudjohnsen’s title prediction ahead of Man City vs Arsenal

Media mogul, Dele Momodu, has said a presidential ticket that has Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi will be a formidable choice for the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Momodu stated this on Tuesday, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

According to him, Atiku and Obi worked together in 2019 and they will attract the same people.

“I’d pair him (Atiku) with Peter Obi because they worked together in 2019, so they already share a similar temperament,” Momodu said.

“Peter Obi came third in the last election, so you don’t have to work too hard to maintain and attract the same group of people who love him.”

Momodu also claimed there was panic within the All Progressives Congress, APC, with the presence of notable opposition leaders in the ADC.

“They (APC) cannot believe that we will have maybe four or five major opposition leaders in the country, and some people will go and put fire in their houses so that none of them will be strong enough to stand against the leader,” he said.

“It is reality; let’s not hide behind one finger. I keep saying it, Tinubu, Today, despite gathering all the governors, ministers, legislators, and what have you, you can see the obvious panic in the party,” Momodu added.

2027: APC is in panic – Dele Momodu backs Atiku-Obi presidential ticket

Atletico Madrid forward, Ademola Lookman, has praised his team-mate’s resilience as they eliminated Barcelona from the Champions League.

Lookman’s goal in the 2-1 defeat to Barca on Tuesday night proved to be decisive, after they won 2-0 at the Nou Camp last week.

The Super Eagles star told TNT Sports: “Game of two halves, really. We stuck in and dug in and went through to the semis.

“As the game is going on, you’re playing and moments happen in the game. The pause lets you switch back into gear and we were able to create a few chances.

“We got the goal and we were able to continue in that way in the second half.”

Atletico will take on Arsenal or Sporting in the semi-finals of the competition.

UCL: Atletico’s Ademola Lookman reacts as his goal eliminates Barcelona

Honourable Godfrey Ali Gaiya, a two-term former member of the House of Representatives and a member of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), in this interview with TAOFEEK LAWAL, speaks on the zoning arrangement in the ADC, economy and sports. Excerpts: AS 2027 approaches, what are your plans towards the election year? Every political decision is […]