celebrity radar - gossips
W’ Cup Qualifiers: How Super Eagles Coach Ruined Nigeria’s Chances by Ignoring Primate Ayodele’s Warnings
*W’ Cup Qualifiers: How Super Eagles Coach Ruined Nigeria’s Chances by Ignoring Primate Ayodele’s Warnings*
By Adedayo Olumide
While we were still kids, we would rush home or to a neighbour’s room whenever the Super Eagles had football matches to play. I remember our schools would allow us to close early whenever a match was scheduled for the evening.
During World Cup matches, we would try to finish whatever we had to do so we could watch the game from beginning to end. I will never forget one particular match Nigeria played against Argentina around 3 a.m.—we literally kept vigil just to watch it. Those were the good old days.
Sadly, many Nigerians today cannot remember the last time they had that kind of zeal to watch Nigeria’s matches, especially the Super Eagles, because their performances have been so disappointing in recent years.
Nigeria, the self-acclaimed Giant of Africa, failed to qualify for the last World Cup and, as it stands, it doesn’t seem like we will qualify for the next one unless a rare miracle happens. It is sad that a nation once the pride of the continent in World Cup tournaments now struggles even to qualify.
One major factor has been largely responsible: Super Eagles coaches. They have been obstinate, arrogant, stubborn, irresponsible, and ultimately the reason behind the nation’s downfall on the big stage.
I remember the last match that sealed Nigeria’s fate in the last World Cup qualifiers—it was against Ghana. Before the match, popular Nigerian prophet Primate Elijah Ayodele warned Coach Austin Eguavoen about certain players he should not field. He specifically warned against playing Musa. But instead of heeding the warning, Eguavoen brushed it off and responded by asking the prophet to pray for the team instead. He went into the match, fielded Musa against the warnings, and cost Nigeria a place in the tournament.
This was his response to Primate Ayodele’s warning:
“He is a man of God and sometimes you’ve to give it to them. But he is a Nigerian; if you know him, please tell him to overturn it because it will be a joyous thing for Nigeria to be in Qatar in 2022.
He can overturn it because he is a man of God and he prays, and God listens to him. He is an intermediary between us and God. It is easier said than done. We have worked hard and fought to make sure we want the ticket more than Ghana wants it. You know Nigeria is a country that prays a lot, so we will continue to pray, but we will work hard. We want it more than Ghana and we will get it.”
Now, with the new coach, Eric Chelle, Primate Ayodele has been warning him since the qualifiers began regarding the use of some players. The prophet, who has always openly supported Nigeria and prays for the team out of passion, warned against fielding Captain William Ekong. In fact, he stated that Ekong should not be allowed to lead Nigeria to the World Cup because it would amount to nothing.
These were his words in July:
“Nothing can stop Nigeria from going to the 2026 FIFA World Cup except if we don’t listen. There are three things the NFF needs to do. If that captain Ekong, or whatever his name is—the one who drew tattoos—leads us to the World Cup, we will fail.”
Many who saw this prophetic warning may have thought Primate Ayodele had a personal issue with Ekong. But with the last two matches we played, anyone with that perception would now understand that Primate Ayodele was right.
In the match against Rwanda, Ekong did not start, and Nigeria scored—we emerged victorious and were pumped up for the next game against South Africa. But the downfall began when Ekong scored an unbelievable own goal, putting Nigerian players under pressure. We later equalized, but sadly it wasn’t enough to secure victory.
Just imagine if Ekong had not played in that match. Nigeria might not have conceded that own goal, and with Bassey’s goal, we could have won and positioned ourselves comfortably on the table.
Coaches need to understand that in sports, there is not only physical strategy but also spiritual strategy. If that weren’t true, Primate Ayodele’s prophetic advice has now made it clear. It has happened twice with Nigeria, costing us great opportunities and privileges—we cannot afford to continue this way.
celebrity radar - gossips
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Records Africa’s Biggest Wealth Surge, Net Worth Hits $11.2bn
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Tops Africa’s Wealth Gains in the 2026 Forbes Rankings as His Fortune Jumps 120% to $11.2 Billion, Rising to 3rd Place; Aliko Dangote Remains No.1
Billionaire Industrialist, Philantropist, and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has emerged as Africa’s biggest wealth gainer in the 2026 Africa’s Richest People ranking published by Forbes, after his net worth rose sharply over the past year.
According to the latest Forbes list, Rabiu’s wealth surged 120 percent to $11.2 billion, representing the largest increase recorded among the continent’s billionaires in the latest ranking. The jump moves Rabiu, who is Nigerian, to third place among Africa’s richest individuals, up from sixth position a year ago.
The rise in Rabiu’s fortune was driven largely by the strong performance of BUA Cement, his flagship publicly listed company, whose shares surged by 135 percent over the past year. The rally significantly outpaced gains in the broader Nigerian Exchange, which has itself recorded strong growth amid improving investor confidence.
Forbes estimates Rabiu’s net worth at $11.2 billion, placing him behind luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert, whose fortune is estimated at $16.1 billion, and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, who retains the top position with an estimated $28.5 billion.
Rabiu’s rise underscores the growing influence of Nigeria’s industrial sector and the expanding footprint of BUA Group, which has built major operations across cement manufacturing, food processing, sugar refining, infrastructure, mining and energy.
The latest Forbes ranking also highlights a broader surge in wealth across Africa’s billionaire class. The continent’s 23 billionaires now hold a combined net worth of $126.7 billion, representing a 21 percent increase from the previous year, as major equity markets rallied and regional currencies stabilised.
Nigeria remains one of the continent’s leading centres of billionaire wealth, accounting for four individuals on the list, including Dangote, Rabiu, telecommunications magnate Mike Adenuga, and energy investor Femi Otedola.
Forbes said the 2026 ranking was calculated using stock prices and exchange rates as of March 1, 2026, with privately held companies valued using comparable industry benchmarks.
Rabiu’s leap in the ranking reflects not only the strong performance of BUA Cement but also the broader momentum of Nigeria’s capital markets and the continued expansion of large scale industrial enterprises across Africa’s largest economy.
Analysts say the development signals growing investor confidence in African manufacturing and infrastructure driven businesses, sectors that are increasingly central to the continent’s economic transformation.
celebrity radar - gossips
COAS Ties Battlefield Success to Constitutional Allegiance and Civil Authority
COAS Ties Battlefield Success to Constitutional Allegiance and Civil Authority
During his operational visit to the 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, delivered a stark message, intertwining the elite unit’s combat effectiveness with an unshakeable pledge of allegiance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Constitution.
While directing troops to intensify high-impact operations, the COAS made it clear that their mission is a direct expression of their constitutional oath. He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army’s primary role is to defend the nation against external aggression and provide aid to civil authority, all in strict adherence to the supreme law of the land and under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief.
This emphasis on loyalty served as a powerful backdrop to his operational directives. By linking the “decisive defeat” of terrorists to the Army’s constitutional mandate and loyalty to the President, Lt. Gen. Shaibu sought to galvanise the Special Forces, framing their upcoming engagements not just as military objectives but as a sacred duty to the democratically elected government and the nation’s founding charter. The message was clear: their fight is a fight for the Constitution and the president it empowers.
celebrity radar - gossips
Mercy Johnson Okojie, Purity Okojie Lead Campaign for Girls Tag’s All-in-One Period Care Kit
*Mercy Johnson Okojie, Purity Okojie Lead Campaign for Girls Tag’s All-in-One Period Care Kit
iBlend Services, appointed Regional Agency for Girls Tag alongside its PR and marketing firm, Eddie MPR, has officially launched Girls Tag, described as Nigeria’s first all-in-one period care pack designed for girls aged nine and above.
The initiative seeks to tackle persistent gaps in menstrual health education and access to sanitary products in Nigeria, where many girls experience their first period with little preparation or guidance. According to the promoters, Girls Tag was created to eliminate the fear, confusion, and stigma often associated with puberty, replacing them with confidence, comfort, and dignity.
Beyond hygiene, the brand positions itself as a supportive care system for both girls and parents, offering tools and language to guide families through early puberty conversations.
To strengthen its reach, Girls Tag announced a strategic ambassadorial partnership with Nollywood actress and philanthropist Mercy Johnson Okojie and her daughter, Purity Okojie. The mother-daughter collaboration is intended to reflect authenticity and relatability for Nigerian families navigating similar experiences.
Speaking on the partnership, the leadership of iBlend Services expressed confidence that the ambassadors’ real-life connection would resonate deeply with mothers and daughters nationwide.
Mercy Johnson Okojie, in her remarks, described the initiative as a natural fit, noting that puberty can be an anxious period for both parents and children. She also revealed that her newly authored puberty guide, Youberty, will be included in every Girls Tag kit. The book is designed to help boys and girls aged 10 to 13 better understand the physical and emotional changes that come with growing up.
Each Girls Tag care pack contains premium sanitary pads in various sizes, overnight period pants, panty liners, disposable sanitary bags, a discreet sanitary purse, and a copy of Youberty. The kit is tailored to support first-time and early period experiences while promoting proper hygiene and self-care.
The company disclosed that the product will be available nationwide in Q2 2026 at select retail stores, pharmacies, and malls, with direct delivery options through its website and social media handle, @girlstag.ng.
With its combined focus on education, dignity, and accessibility, Girls Tag aims to reshape menstrual health support for young girls across Nigeria.
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