Author: WAJ Reporter

During Atalanta’s match against Club Brugge, Ademola Lookman, who had just recovered from an injury, scored his team’s only goal but missed a penalty. Despite his contribution, he was criticized by his manager for the missed opportunity. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini described the 27-year-old Nigerian star as “one of the worst penalty takers.” Lookman responded by stating that the criticism was harsh, deeply disrespectful, and hurtful: “Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and…

Sundowns, in recent weeks, has gained incredible momentum, defeating their closest rival, Pirates, and securing a 12-point lead with a game advantage. However, they are also making headlines for their aggressive style of play. So far, a total of 538 yellow cards and 22 red cards have been shown in the South African league this season. Sundowns, who sit at the top of the table with 45 points from 17 matches, have received 33 yellow cards and 9 red cards. No other team has received this many red cards this season. Compared to last season, Sundowns is playing a much…

South Africa’s telecommunications companies are requesting large streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube to contribute to network costs. The Association for Communications and Technology (ACT) is pushing for a “Fair Share” model, asking these OTT services to help with network upgrades and maintenance, arguing that they benefit the most from existing telecom infrastructure. MTN and Vodacom support this idea, as they believe that while OTT platforms invest in submarine cables, the heavy burden of building and maintaining local networks falls on telecom operators. Vodacom emphasizes that the demand for data is skyrocketing due to streaming services, and despite heavy investments…

The quarter-final draws for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will take place today. The draw, which will be held in Doha, Qatar, will determine the matchups for the eight teams in each tournament (a total of 16 teams). The CAF Confederation Cup draw will be conducted first and will be completed by 5:00 PM Qatar Time. The CAF Champions League draw will follow one hour later. The draw process will be broadcast live in English on beIN Sports ENGLISH 1 and CAF TV, while Arabic coverage will be available on beIN Sports NEWS. Additionally,…

Microsoft has announced a $1 million initiative to train 1 million Nigerians in artificial intelligence and digital skills over the next two years. The program will be conducted in collaboration with Microsoft Nigeria, Tech4Dev, Data Science Nigeria, and other partners. This initiative emphasizes the potential of AI technology to drive development on the continent, while also aiming to integrate Africa’s potential workforce into the new global economy. However, there are concerns about the feasibility of this investment, as dividing the $1 million across 1 million trainees results in just $1 per person, a figure many find unrealistic. This raises doubts…

Sports is one of the most important tools for social transformation. Africa, having faced a history of suffering and still dealing with many issues today, is using sports as an important means to change and make its name heard globally once again. Although basketball occupies a wide space in terms of popularity globally, it has recently gained more popularity in the African continent. The main reason for this increase in popularity comes from the influence the NBA has globally. African basketball players such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Serge Ibaka, and Manute Bol, along with African-descended players like Giannis Antetokounmpo,…

Zimbabwe secured a nine-wicket victory against Ireland, thanks to Ben Curran’s unbeaten 118, winning the ODI series 2-1. The opening batter remained at the crease throughout his team’s innings, scoring 118 runs off 130 balls, including 14 boundaries. Having started playing for Zimbabwe in December, he managed to achieve his first century in such a short time. Ireland, on the other hand, managed to post a total of 240-6 in their 50 overs. Andrew Balbirnie contributed 64 runs, Lorcan Tucker added 61, and Harry Tector supported the team with 51 runs. For the hosts, Richard Ngarava (2-42) and Trevor Gwandu…

Nigerian star footballer Victor Boniface has been offered to Newcastle United through intermediaries. The 24-year-old forward, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, was one of the key players in his team’s Bundesliga-winning campaign last season. Boniface has continued his fine form this season as well. In January, he came close to securing a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, but the transfer ultimately did not materialize. This season, he has returned from a hamstring injury and contributed 8 goal involvements in 12 league matches, scoring 7 goals and providing 1 assist. Boniface is not the only attacking player on Newcastle’s…

Nigeria aims to digitize 75% of government services by 2027. To accelerate digital transformation, the Nigerian government is establishing international partnerships, including collaboration with Ukraine. They seek to move beyond previous e-governance initiatives that struggled with infrastructure deficiencies and connectivity issues. The new system aims to create a user-friendly, unified online portal that will allow citizens to access a wide range of public services, from driver’s license and passport renewals to tax payments and healthcare services. This approach is expected to make public services more integrated and efficient. In the past, Nigeria faced difficulties in advancing e-governance due to inadequate…

NCBA LOOP is reshaping neobanking in Kenya. The country’s digital banking landscape is evolving rapidly, and NCBA LOOP plays a significant role in this transformation. Founded in 2017, this digital bank has shifted to a broader financial infrastructure model, integrating credit and payments directly into transactions. This transition aligns with the global embedded finance movement, allowing financial services to integrate seamlessly into daily commercial activities. With LOOP’s new model, users can take out loans and purchase products within the same transaction. This eliminates the traditional separation between credit and payments. In other words, the need to apply for a loan…

Burnley’s Tunisian midfielder Hannibal Mejbri accused Preston forward Milutin Osmajic of making a racist comment towards him during Saturday’s 0-0 draw between the two teams. Preston have strongly denied the allegations. Hannibal reported the incident to referee Andrew Kitchen during the match, and a detailed referee report is expected to emerge on Monday. After the match, Hannibal shared a post on Instagram saying, “I will not be silent about what happened. I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it. That is the only way we change as a sport and a society. I am a strong…

After MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, the country’s second-largest telecom operator, has announced a price hike. The company has increased the prices of its internet and voice plans by 50%. With the new adjustment, Airtel’s cheapest data plan is now 2GB, priced at ₦1,500. The prices for other smaller plans are as follows: 3GB for ₦2,000, 4GB for ₦2,500, and 8GB for ₦3,000. The new pricing for larger plans is as follows: 10GB now costs ₦4,000, 13GB for ₦5,000, 18GB for ₦6,000, and 25GB for ₦8,000. Airtel Nigeria has also introduced a flat rate of 25 kobo per minute for calls,…

The draw for the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals in South Africa has been conducted. In the draw, the big teams avoided facing each other. Last season’s finalists, Mamelodi Sundowns, will face the winner from the trio of Milford/Royal/Sekhukhune United. Meanwhile, Marumo Gallants will go up against Durban City. Kaizer Chiefs, who have not won a trophy in the last 10 years, will compete against Stellenbosch. Although Stellenbosch has shown good form this season, Chiefs have already defeated them twice in the league. This makes Chiefs the favorites to progress to the next round. The most anticipated clash of the quarterfinals is…

Algeria and Slovenia Strengthen Ties with SkyLabs Partnership Algeria and Slovenia are reinforcing their distant cooperation through a partnership with SkyLabs. Dejan Gacnik, Technical Director of SkyLabs d.o.o., announced that bilateral meetings were held between the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL), the Slovenian Space Office, and representatives from both countries’ space industries. During these meetings, a plan for collaboration in space technologies and applications was established. “I was fortunate to discuss concrete cooperation opportunities with the Algerian Space Agency, focusing on mutual interests in satellite technology with Dr. Mohammed Kameche, Director of the Satellite Development Centre, and Dr. Habib Mahi, Director…

Hamza Igamane Sees Olympiakos Rival El Kaabi as a ‘Brother’ Rangers forward Hamza Igamane has stated that he considers his Europa League rival, Olympiakos striker Ayoub El Kaabi, as a brother. The 22-year-old striker has set his sights on representing the Morocco national team. Despite Morocco boasting a strong attacking lineup, rumors have been increasing about the possibility of Igamane receiving a call-up soon. Hamza Igamane on Ayoub El Kaabi Speaking about El Kaabi, Igamane acknowledged the Olympiakos forward’s achievements, particularly his success in the UEFA Europa Conference League. He highlighted El Kaabi’s impact, noting that winning the tournament and…

Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is attracting interest from Spain and France. Once on Barcelona’s radar, the Leicester City star is now a target for Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, and AS Monaco. The 28-year-old has played a crucial role for Leicester City in recent years. Despite renewing his contract this summer, he is widely expected to leave at the end of the season. Atletico Madrid is looking to strengthen their midfield and secure a long-term rotational player. The potential departure of Thomas Lemar has made this transfer a priority. The Madrid-based club has also been scouting alternative options, including Mallorca’s Samu…