September 21, 2026

Entertainment

2Baba at 51: How the music icon took Nigerian Sound to global stage Innocent Idibia, popularly known as “2Baba”

2Baba at 51: How the music icon took Nigerian Sound to global stage

By VICTOR CHIAHEMEN, Abuja September 18, 2026
Some artists have hit songs. Some have great albums. A few manage to become part of the soundtrack of an entire generation. Innocent Ujah Idibia, better known as 2Baba, belongs in the last category. At 51, the singer has spent more than two decades building a career that stretches...
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Beyond the Runway: Nigeria Fashion Week 2026 Marries Style with Sustainability NFW pix 2

Beyond the Runway: Nigeria Fashion Week 2026 Marries Style with Sustainability

Tom Chiahemen September 17, 2026
EU, Federal Government, others back Abuja showcase of fashion, culture and green enterprise By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja From the catwalk to the circular economy, Nigeria’s fashion industry is preparing to make a statement that goes beyond style. With preparations gathering momentum for the 2026 edition of Nigeria Fashion Week...
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Nollywood legend Olu Jacobs dies at 84 after illustrious acting career Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacob

Nollywood legend Olu Jacobs dies at 84 after illustrious acting career

By JOY ADARA, Abuja September 16, 2026
Veteran Nollywood actor and film executive, Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84, bringing to an end a remarkable career that spanned more than five decades. His death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, in an Instagram post on Wednesday. Announcing the sad news, Olusoji wrote:...
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Betaboi urges Nigerian artists to use music to address hardship, inspire hope Betaboi urges Nigerian artists to use music to address hardship, inspire hope

Betaboi urges Nigerian artists to use music to address hardship, inspire hope

By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos September 15, 2026
Afro-urban music artist, Malex Betaboi, has urged Nigerian artists to use their platforms to reflect the struggles of ordinary people and offer messages of hope amid the country’s economic challenges. Betaboi, who spoke to journalists in Jos, said his music was shaped by personal experiences but was also intended...
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Grammy-winning jazz singer Cassandra Wilson dies at 70 Grammy-winning jazz singer Cassandra Wilson dies at 70

Grammy-winning jazz singer Cassandra Wilson dies at 70

Offor Callistus September 3, 2026
American jazz legend and Grammy Award-winning singer Cassandra Wilson has died at the age of 70, her manager confirmed on Wednesday. Wilson passed away peacefully at her home in Jackson, Mississippi, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement issued by her manager, Robert Torre. “Cassandra Wilson transitioned peacefully...
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SPORTS

CAS leads NAF team to US as Nigeria secures 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters CAS leads NAF team to US as Nigeria secures 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters

CAS leads NAF team to US as Nigeria secures 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters

By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja September 21, 2026
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has led a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) delegation to Bell Textron in Amarillo, Texas, United States of America, for the beam signing ceremony marking a significant milestone in the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters for the NAF....
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Chelsea star, Cole Palmer withdraws from England squad again Chelsea star, Cole Palmer withdraws from England squad again

Chelsea star, Cole Palmer withdraws from England squad again

By VICTOR CHIAHEMEN, Abuja September 21, 2026
Cole Palmer has withdrawn from the England squad ahead of the September international break after suffering a minor muscle injury. Palmer was named in Thomas Tuchel’s squad on Friday, September 18, for England’s Nations League fixtures, marking his return to the team after missing the 2026 World Cup. But...
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Messi scores 930th career goal at 39, nets stunning free-kick in Inter Miami draw Messi scores 930th career goal at 39, nets stunning free-kick in Inter Miami draw Lionel Messi has taken his career goal tally to 930 after scoring a stunning free-kick in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with San Diego FC on Sunday night. San Diego struck first through Anders Dreyer in the 12th minute, but Messi responded 12 minutes later with a curling free-kick from the right side that went untouched, clipped the post and found the net. The goal was Messi’s 20th in Major League Soccer this season, his 101st for Inter Miami and the 75th direct free-kick goal of his career. Inter Miami took the lead in the 74th minute when Luis Suárez finished a pass from Rodrigo De Paul, but Dreyer struck again eight minutes later to earn San Diego a point. The result extended Miami’s run to four consecutive MLS draws. For Messi, however, the night was another landmark in a career that continues to produce extraordinary numbers at 39. His 930th goal came just four days after he scored his 100th for Inter Miami in the club’s 2-0 Campeones Cup win over Cruz Azul. With the 1,000-goal mark now 70 goals away, Messi’s scoring race with Cristiano Ronaldo has entered another remarkable chapter.

Messi scores 930th career goal at 39, nets stunning free-kick in Inter Miami draw

By VICTOR CHIAHEMEN, Abuja September 21, 2026
Lionel Messi has taken his career goal tally to 930 after scoring a stunning free-kick in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with San Diego FC on Sunday night. San Diego struck first through Anders Dreyer in the 12th minute, but Messi responded 12 minutes later with a curling free-kick from...
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Osimhen injured, Awoniyi returns for Super Eagles AFCON 2027 qualifiers Super Eagles player, Taiwo Awoniyi

Osimhen injured, Awoniyi returns for Super Eagles AFCON 2027 qualifiers

By VICTOR CHIAHEMEN, Abuja September 20, 2026
Taiwo Awoniyi has been called up to the Super Eagles squad to replace Victor Osimhen for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Osimhen has been ruled out after failing to recover in time from a muscle injury, opening the door for Awoniyi to return...
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Brighton end Arsenal’s perfect start with stunning 3-0 victory Brighton end Arsenal’s perfect start with stunning 3-0 victory Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season after losing 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, with Brighton marking their 125th anniversary with a win over the league leaders. The fifth-round match was played at the American Express Stadium in Falmer, with kick-off at 3:00pm WAT on September 19, 2026. Arsenal had won their opening four league games and conceded just one goal before travelling to Brighton, but the hosts ended their perfect start with a dominant display. Pascal Gross opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a low shot that went in off the post. It was his fourth goal in his last five games. Charalampos Kostoulas doubled Brighton’s lead in the 45th minute, firing home from 25 yards after a counter-attack, less than a minute after Bukayo Saka missed a chance to equalise. Chema Andres completed the scoring in the 57th minute, heading home from close range after Gross delivered a corner. The defeat is Arsenal’s heaviest since another 3-0 loss to Brighton in May 2023. The result also changed the top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City moving into first place on 12 points from four games. Arsenal dropped to second on the same number of points after five matches, while Brighton climbed to third with 10 points. Brighton have now scored 16 goals in five league games, the highest total in the division. The Seagulls wore a special pale blue 125th-anniversary shirt for the occasion, adding to a memorable day for the club as they celebrated the milestone with a victory over one of the league’s early title contenders. Brighton pressed Arsenal intensely and denied the visitors the control they had enjoyed in their opening four matches. Arsenal also struggled in key duels and made mistakes in dangerous areas, allowing Brighton to punish them at crucial moments. Speaking after the game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted Brighton deserved the victory. “They deserved to win the game, they were the better team, especially in the early stages of the first half. We were not competing on the level that is required. We did technical errors in the wrong areas and lost our duels,” Arteta said. “But I have to put into perspective what the team has done since the World Cup. It has been exceptional. We will learn from this experience and go again.”

Brighton end Arsenal’s perfect start with stunning 3-0 victory

Offor Callistus September 19, 2026
Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season after losing 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, with Brighton marking their 125th anniversary with a win over the league leaders. The fifth-round match was played at the American Express Stadium in Falmer, with kick-off...
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