Author: WAJ Reporter

Known by the nickname “The Dream,” Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon was born on January 21, 1963. The Nigerian-born basketball player made history in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. In 1994 and 1995, he led his team to championships and has been regarded as one of the greatest centers (5s) in NBA history. Born in Lagos, Hakeem is the third of eight children of Yoruba parents Salim and Abike Olajuwon. He has expressed his respect for his family, crediting them with instilling in him values such as hard work, honesty, respect for elders, and self-confidence. In his youth, Olajuwon played football…

Leicester City’s relegation has been confirmed. Due to a clause in his contract, Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will be able to leave the club this summer for just £9 million. The English club is also looking to rebuild its squad. As part of that plan, Ndidi is expected to depart alongside goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, Danny Ward, and club legend Jamie Vardy. Vardy is set to leave after 13 memorable years at the club. Ndidi was a free agent last summer and had attracted interest from clubs like Marseille and Everton. However, Leicester managed to convince him to sign a new…

Red Star Belgrade forward Peter Olayinka has recovered from a long-term injury and has returned to training. The Nigerian striker suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during a UEFA Champions League match against Monaco in October 2024, which required surgery and kept him sidelined for six months. During this period, Olayinka missed 31 matches and was unable to join the Nigerian national team. However, after overcoming this difficult phase, the player shared photos of himself training on the pitch via his social media account. Red Star Belgrade celebrated his return with the caption: “Things you love to see: Peter Olayinka is…

People who follow the startup ecosystem in Nigeria generally come across businesses in sectors such as financial technology, e-commerce, or logistics. However, when looking at the country’s major problems, issues such as terrorism, banditry, oil theft, and cybercrime come to the fore. While not many, there are some defense technology startups in the country that aim to address these challenges. In particular, three different startups stand out in this field. Challenges in Advancing Nigeria’s Defense Technology Nigeria lacks the necessary equipment and advanced technology to make major breakthroughs in defense technology. Defense companies usually require years of trial and error,…

The ruling that found Nigeria’s top football institutions negligent in the death of 25-year-old Martins Chineme in March 2020 has been described as “precedent-setting” by the global players’ union, Fifpro. Chineme, who played for Nasarawa United in the Nigerian Premier League, collapsed on the pitch and was suspected to have died of cardiac arrest. After more than five years of legal proceedings, the club, the LMC, the NFF, and match commissioner Christian Mbah were all found guilty of failing to meet their duty of care toward the player. Following the decision by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), the…

Jose Riveiro, who has achieved notable success over the course of three seasons, has decided not to renew his contract. Due to this decision, his name had been linked especially with Zamalek in Egypt. However, Al Ahly—who recently decided to part ways with their own head coach—has made an official offer to Riveiro. According to a report by KickOff.com, negotiations between the experienced coach and the Egyptian giants are ongoing. A source close to the situation made the following statement: “Al Ahly has presented a very attractive offer for Jose Riveiro. The coach is open to the idea of moving…

Remo Stars clinched the Nigeria League title with three weeks to spare. They secured the championship after defeating Niger Tornadoes 1-0 at home. The only goal of the match was scored by Olamilekan Muhammed Adebayo in the 84th minute. Following the final whistle, celebrations erupted throughout the city. After 35 matches, Remo Stars had recorded 21 wins, 5 draws, and 9 losses. With 68 points, they held a 10-point lead over second-placed Rivers United. Even if Remo Stars lose their remaining three matches, they will still be crowned champions. Founded in 2004 by Kunle Soname under the name FC Dender,…

The 27-year-old Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman has caught the eye of Premier League giants. The forward, who won the African Player of the Year award, has been in superb form this season, scoring 18 goals and providing 7 assists in 37 matches. Lookman is expected to leave Atalanta this summer, with clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal all interested in securing his signature. Although Barcelona, managed by Hansi Flick, has shown interest in the player, they are unlikely to pull off the transfer due to their significant financial struggles. Juventus is also among the clubs tracking Lookman, but…

Mohamed Salah, born on June 15, 1992, is considered one of Africa’s greatest football legends, even though his career is still ongoing. With his dribbling skills, finishing ability, speed, and football intelligence, Salah has left a deep mark on both Egyptian and English football. Salah began his professional career in 2010, initially playing for Al-Mokawloon. Two years later, he moved to Basel, where he won two consecutive Swiss Super League titles. In 2014, he transferred to Chelsea for 11 million euros. However, due to limited playing time, he was loaned out to Fiorentina and Roma. It was during this period…

One of Africa’s leading technology distribution companies, TD Africa, announced the graduation of 400 young Nigerian women from its TecHERdemy program. The six-month training program covered areas such as Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Software Development. Launched in November 2024, the initiative aimed to equip young women with globally relevant digital skills in order to address gender inequality in the technology field across Africa. Keynote Speech by Dr. Leo Ekeh During the event, Dr. Leo Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s tech industry, delivered a speech. He referred to the graduates as “the pioneers…

VAR implementation is set to begin in the South African League. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed this development on Sunday. FIFA has a specific rule regarding this matter: the technology must be integrated through the South African Football Association (Safa). For this reason, the Sports Minister shared that he has met with Safa officials and is now actively working to bring VAR to the league. “We are committed to ensuring that VAR is introduced in line with FIFA regulations. The necessary funding is available, and a budget has also been allocated for referee training. We are carrying out this process…

The Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Commerce has launched an initiative to support industrial and technological projects for 2025. Under the program, selected projects will receive financial support from the government. Both new and existing projects will be eligible to benefit from this support. Through this initiative, companies, startups, educational institutions, and research centers will be able to come together and collaborate on projects that generate significant added value. Companies and startups wishing to participate in the project can obtain the specifications from the Technological Platforms and Clusters Division located at the Ministry headquarters in the Administrative District of Rabat…

The finalists of the CAF Confederation Cup have been determined. Simba, who finished second in the Tanzanian league, made it through to the final after a surprising performance, having advanced from the group stage on goal difference and showcasing a successful run in the knockout rounds. The Tanzanian side drew 0-0 away against South African team Stellenbosch, but thanks to their 1-0 win in the first leg, they progressed to the final. However, they will face a much stronger team in the final. In the other semifinal, Algerian side Constantine defeated Moroccan team RS Berkane 1-0, with a goal following…

Egyptian giants Al Ahly have decided to part ways with Swiss coach Marcel Koller after being eliminated from the CAF Champions League. Al Ahly, who have lifted the prestigious trophy 12 times, were knocked out by South African side Mamelodi Sundowns. Following the result, the club’s fans reacted with considerable anger. The club announced the departure through an official statement on social media, saying: “Al Ahly extend their heartfelt thanks to head coach Marcel Koller for his outstanding contributions during his tenure. Under Koller’s leadership and through collective efforts, Al Ahly captured numerous domestic and continental titles.” “Al Ahly pay…

Tigst Assefa was the winner of the women’s race at the London Marathon. The Ethiopian athlete also broke the women’s-only world record with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds. This result was 26 seconds faster than the previous record. Assefa shared her excitement with BBC One, saying: “Last year, I finished second here, so winning this year is very special for me. I am really very happy.” “Last year, the cold weather and my hamstring tightening up created problems. This year, the weather suited me better.” “I am very pleased with how the race went.” Joyciline…

CAF Champions League Finalists Confirmed. After a quiet first leg, the second semi-final matches were thrilling. In the first match of the day, Mamelodi Sundowns managed to eliminate last season’s champions, Al Ahly. It was a tightly contested game that started with high intensity from Al Ahly. In the 24th minute, Emam Ashour delivered a brilliant pass to his teammate Taher Mohamed. Receiving the ball just outside the box, Taher Mohamed struck a beautiful goal to give his team a 1-0 lead. Al Ahly maintained control of the game for a long time. However, near the end of regular time,…