Author: CoreNews Africa

Malam Surajo Yarima, a resident of Kano, has appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for help after his house, worth approximately N20 million, was reportedly sold for N2 million at an auction by a court. In a conversation with Hikima RTV, a local radio station noted by DAILY POST in Kano, Yarima explained that the house was sold to cover a debt of N300,000 that he was unable to pay back. He stated that the sale made him, his wife, and their nine children homeless. Yarima mentioned that the court called him several times, posting notices on his gate, but he couldn’t attend because he was out of state. “I came back to Kano after the ruling and brought N300,000 to pay off the debt on January 6, which was two days after the auction.” “My creditor, however, would not accept the payment,” he stated. He mentioned that the court had given him a three-week period to appeal the ruling, but regretted that the auction took place anyway. “My house was sold for just N2 million, and now my family and I are left without a place to sleep,” he said. He urged the Kano State government to look into the situation, claiming there was a lack of transparency in the legal proceedings. As of the time of this report, there has been no official reply from the state government or the judiciary.

The Premier League’s chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, stated that referee Anthony Taylor correctly awarded a penalty against Arsenal’s William Saliba during their 1-1 draw with Brighton last Saturday. At the time, Arsenal was leading 1-0 when Saliba was considered to have fouled João Pedro by heading him in the face. Pedro converted the penalty, equalizing for Brighton. Following the match, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta expressed his “real disappointment” with the decision, noting that he had “never seen anything like this in my life.” However, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler believes it was “a clear penalty.” In the most recent episode of Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb supported the decision to give the penalty. He clarified that the ball hitting Saliba’s head after being played by Pedro did not cancel the penalty. “I can’t recall a situation like this, but that doesn’t mean it’s incorrect,” Webb stated. “It simply means it’s uncommon. In this scenario, you have two players approaching an airborne ball.” Pedro lifts the ball, and he and Saliba move towards it, with Pedro heading it to Saliba. Saliba doesn’t make contact with it… “The ball is deflected onto Saliba’s head, and then he collides with Pedro.” He arrives late on Pedro, causing him to fall. It’s a late touch by a player who hasn’t played the ball directly. The ball has made contact with him, but he hasn’t played it.

On Tuesday, Manchester United announced that two of their players have been loaned to new teams. The players are midfielder Emma Watson and defender Jess Simpson. The Red Devils released this news in separate statements on their website. Watson, 18, has joined Everton, another team in the Barclays Women’s Super League, for the rest of the season. She made her United debut against Everton in November after signing with the club from Rangers in August 2023. Meanwhile, Simpson has been loaned to Bristol City in the Barclays Women’s Championship for the latter part of the season. She made her senior debut for United in a League Cup victory against Everton in November and recently played for England’s Under-23 team. Simpson has been with the club since she was 11 years old and was part of the squad that won the 2021/22 WSL Academy League and Cup as she advanced through the youth ranks.

Eric Chelle, the newly appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, will guide the team in the 2024 African Nations Championship, according to DAILY POST. Chelle, a Malian, was named head coach on Tuesday and is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Sunday to finalize contract details. His first significant task will be CHAN 2024, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, stated in an interview, “We have established a policy that the individual we hire as the Super Eagles coach will also oversee the CHAN Eagles. We aim to incorporate players from the domestic league into the Super Eagles.” Nigeria secured qualification for CHAN 2024 with a 3-1 aggregate victory over long-time rivals Ghana last month. The Eagles are back in the competition after being away for six years. The draw for CHAN 2024 is set to take place next Wednesday at the International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that Eric Chelle will serve as the new head coach of the national team. This marks a significant milestone in the nation’s football history. Chelle gained recognition among Nigerian football fans last year when he guided Mali to their first victory against the Super Eagles in over 245 years. With the NFF placing their confidence in Chelle to revive the team’s performance, here are 10 facts you should know about him: 1. Sékou Chelle, hailing from Mali, is the first African coach who is not Nigerian to lead the Super Eagles. He guided his country to a quarter-final spot in AFCON 2023. Mali reaching the quarter-finals was a significant achievement for the team. However, they were defeated by the host team, Ivory Coast, in extra time. 3. Chelle’s response to losing to the Ivorians turned into a meme online. He was observed crouching by the field, breathing rapidly. His assistants hurried to soothe him by dumping bottles of water over his head.

Barcelona winger Raphinha has cautioned the club that potential new players might reconsider joining due to the registration issues surrounding Dani Olmo and Pau Victor. The Catalan team has been unable to register both players for the second half of the LaLiga season because of financial difficulties. Raphinha stated that if he were a potential recruit, he would “question whether it’s the best choice” to come to Barcelona. When asked if the registration issues could influence future signings, the Brazilian responded: “Yes, it can have an effect, I can’t deny that. If I were at another club observing their current situation, I’d likely be unsure if joining here is the best choice. When I signed with Barca, I was aware of the club’s circumstances. I saw an opportunity to represent this team and waited until the last moment.” “Non mi pento della mia scelta”. Barcelona acquired Olmo from RB Leipzig for approximately £50 million less than six months ago. In a last effort to register the midfielder and Victor, they intend to submit a complaint to the Spanish government, as LaLiga and the Spanish Federation (RFEF) have maintained their positions on registration.

The incoming President of the United States, Donald Trump, has issued a warning to Hamas regarding its refusal to free hostages in Gaza. Trump stated that “all hell will break out in the Middle East” if the hostages are not released by his Inauguration Day. Approximately 100 hostages, including some Americans, who were taken on October 7, 2023, are still being held in Gaza. During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump remarked, “All hell will break out.” If the hostages aren’t returned, I don’t want to jeopardize your negotiations. If they’re not back by the time I arrive at the office, chaos will erupt in the Middle East. Trump is set to take the oath of office on January 20 as the 47th President of the United States. Steven Charles Witkoff, the president-elect’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, also told reporters that they are close to achieving it. “I think we’ve been close to it,” he said. I’d rather not talk about what has caused the delays because being negative doesn’t help. “However, I believe it’s the president’s stature, his expectations, and the red lines he’s established that are influencing this negotiation. “I genuinely think we’re collaborating effectively, but it’s the president’s reputation and his statements that are steering this negotiation. Witkoff stated, “We’re optimistic that everything will go well and that we’ll be able to save some lives.”

Eric Chelle, the newly-appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, is set to arrive in Nigeria on Sunday to finalize his contract. He will be joined by three of his trusted assistants. According to DAILY POST, the assistants were present when he coached Mali’s Eagles and more recently the Algerian club MC Oran. The 47-year-old was appointed as the head coach of the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday. The young coach faces the challenging responsibility of securing a spot for the Super Eagles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA. The Super Eagles have yet to win a match in Group C after four games. They will play against the Amavubi of Rwanda away when the qualifiers restart in March.

The Kebbi State government has announced intentions to create a modern Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Kawara village, situated on the southeastern edge of the state capital, Birnin Kebbi. Governor Nasir Idris, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Lands and Housing and the Secretary to the State Government, recently toured the proposed site. During their visit, TPL Abubakar Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, showcased the design for the planned GRA. He stressed that the project would not only extend the limits of Birnin Kebbi but also increase housing options and create extra income for the state. Governor Idris praised the ministry for its innovative vision, calling the project a transformative effort that would aid future generations. He additionally pointed out that finishing the GRA would greatly boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and improve residents’ quality of life. Construction is set to start once the state government finalizes and approves the project contract award.

Forces involved in Operation Fansan Yamma have achieved a victory in the battle against terrorism by eliminating a infamous bandit leader, Sani Rusu, along with many of his followers during a violent clash in Zamfara State. This confrontation took place on Saturday, January 4, in Bamamu village, Tsafe Local Government Area, as part of an intelligence-driven mission aimed at disrupting terrorist operations in the area. Lt. Col., the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre for Operation Fansan Yamma, provided this information. Abubakar Abdullahi stated on Tuesday that the operation was an important success in the battle against insecurity. “Our forces confronted the criminals in a firefight, successfully eliminating their leader, Sani Rusu, along with many of his followers.” “Their territories were also eliminated during the operation,” he stated. On the same day, troops executed an ambush at Kwanar Jollof in the Shinkafi Local Government Area, following reliable intelligence about terrorist activity. “This ambush resulted in the neutralization of more terrorists, while others suffered serious injuries,” Lt. Col. reported. Abdullahi reported that during the operations, troops seized a stash of weapons, which included an AK-47 rifle, a G3 rifle, eight rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, four rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, three magazines, and three motorcycles. The statement also emphasized the role of the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, which carried out precision airstrikes on December 30, 2024. “The airstrikes targeted terrorists gathering between Fakai and Kware in Shinkafi LGA, disrupting their plans and causing significant damage,” said Lt. Col. Abdullah on paljastanud.