Entertainment

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Manchester City reign supreme as world champions after a mesmerising 4-0 demolition of Brazilian giants Fluminense in the Club World Cup final.

Pep Guardiola’s men etched their names in global football history, capping a phenomenal season with the ultimate trophy. 

City’s dominance was relentless. Alvarez struck early, Nino gifted an own goal as Alvarez and Foden added two more, leaving Fluminense chasing shadows.

This emphatic victory is more than silverware; it’s a coronation. City, after years of European and domestic mastery, finally conquer the world stage, proving themselves the planet’s finest. 

Guardiola, architect of this triumph, hailed his players: “This cup is a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence.” This win transcends City; it bolsters English football, crowning them the fourth nation to conquer the world, showcasing the Premier League’s global might. 

Manchester City’s World Cup victory isn’t just a footballing feat; it’s a cultural beacon. Their dedication and teamwork inspire fans worldwide, proving that the sky’s the limit.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The UEFA Champions League bids farewell to its traditional group stage, paving the way for a radical Swiss-style format commencing next season. 

The tournament will expand its elite field to 36 teams, all converging into a singular league group. 

Clubs will face a challenging schedule, engaging in eight matches against eight distinct opponents.

This shift promises to deliver heightened competition and a diverse range of matchups. 

The top 8 teams excelling in the league will clinch an automatic berth in the knockout stages, incentivizing stellar performances throughout the group phase. 

Teams concluding the group stage from 9th to 24th place will embark on intense play-off battles.

Only 8 triumphant teams from these encounters will earn the coveted spots in the Round of 16.

By Misbahu El-Hamza

My discomfort taking pictures of people in a social event is obvious even to some people around me; friends and families.

There was a time I was commissioned by a place I once worked for to cover an event, a woman honorably stood from her seat and whispered in my ears, “please try to avoid me in your photos.” “Thank you so much for letting me know, Hajiya.” I replied. To this day, I respect the woman, but had she known, it was also against my wish doing that.

Now I know better how to cover an event with people consent. A skill I learned in 2023. But how about the streets?

I love #streetphotography. Looking at most of my photos, you’ll notice that I rarely capture people in my frame. That’s partly because I don’t like being interrogated for pointing my camera and shooting at random strangers, rightly, against their will.

It made me so uncomfortable for someone to perceive that I breach their privacy. So, I choose to capture only landscape and other objects I found interesting.

However, in Nigeria — at least in my experience, even pointing your at your feet can provoke anger. People will question you for that aggressively.

Let me further illustrate two experiences: a few months ago in Benue State, I bought yogurt in a restaurant opposite a market and noticed a beautiful statue of a milk cow. While taking a photo of it, a police officer, holding a gun obviously to intimidate me, questioned why I hadn’t obtained permission from him. This was a man emerging from nowhere near the restaurant. With my assertion that I didn’t know permission was required, he grew angrier. Eventually, I realized he sought only for a bribe, and I insisted we consult the restaurant manager. And that’s why he reluctantly let me go with my photo.

Fast forward to an LGA in Kano State where my colleague and I saw a remarkable solar plant at a healthcare facility generating 24/7 electricity. When I tried to capture it on my phone, from a distance, three hostile men confronted us, questioning why we were “staring” at the plant without their permission. Staring at it! They treated us as if we were informants or criminals. One of them even threaten us — and I dared him to try laying hands on any of us. But eventually, witht the arrival of the officer in charge of the facility, that hostile man was even the one stopping a bike for us at last.

As much as I respect people’s privacy (which is one reason why I don’t fly my drone these days), I understand that streetphotography is a hard thing for me in this country because people are unnecessarily angry. Even as you try to avoid them, they’ll find a reason to engage you.

This year alone, I have developed more than five extraordinary ideas of streets photography with northern Nigeria as the setting, but I am still skeptical. And I wonder how photographers developing content around this area do it without much troubles.

Please, how can I peacefully execute my projects in 2024 without inviting trouble on the streets?🤔

— Misbahu El-Hamza is a social analyst from Kano State, Nigeria.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The 24-year-old Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, has secured the coveted CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award. 

Osimhen’s stellar performance in the 2022–2023 football season, particularly with Napoli in the Serie A, played a pivotal role in this triumph. 

Osimhen faced stiff competition from top-tier players like Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, Sadio Mane of Senegal, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah. Standing tall at 1.85m, the Nigerian striker’s outstanding achievements mark the end of a 24-year wait for Nigeria since Kanu Nwankwo last received the honour in 1999. 

During the 2022–2023 football season, Osimhen’s thunderous form propelled Napoli to their third Scudetto in 33 years, following the era of legendary Diego Maradona. 

His remarkable feat of scoring 26 goals in the league not only contributed to Napoli’s success but also made him the first African to claim the top scorer award in the domestic Serie A league. 

Osimhen’s accolades continued to accumulate as he clinched the Italian league’s best striker prize and secured a spot in the Serie A Team of the Year. 

Breaking George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African player in the Italian league, Osimhen further solidified his status by winning the AIC award, the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year, in December.

 Despite Nigeria’s early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Osimhen showcased his prowess by netting 10 goals in the tournament, including an impressive seven against São Tomé and Principe. 

Since making his senior debut for the Super Eagles in June 2017, Osimhen has accumulated 20 goals in 27 appearances. 

The pinnacle of Osimhen’s remarkable journey came on Monday in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, when he clinched the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award.

 By Ahmad Deedat 

Nigerian international singer Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has got much attention as he pledged to donate the whopping sum of one hundred million naira to children this Christmas. 

Wizkid announced his philanthropic plans for this year’s Christmas on his verified Instagram handle on Monday. 

The singer’s philanthropic gesture is in honour of his late mother, Jane Dolapo Morayo Balogun.

Wizkid lost his mother on August 18, 2023.  

He wrote, “100M for the kids for Christmas ! Lord bless us all 😇 start in Surelere tonight!” All in Morayo’s name! The love of my life!”

By Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf

It is challenging for any group of players that has won all the available trophies on offer to maintain the same focus and motivation the following season. There’s only one way for any club to win a treble of league title: UCL and the domestic cup. That way is downwards. In this context, I am not overly surprised about Manchester City’s struggles so far this season.

Pep Guardiola is a gaffer who prioritises control and patient buildup in the middle of the park. The current Manchester City team lacks these attributes. Their matches are often chaotic end-to-end affairs that produce plenty of goalscoring chances. This isn’t a quintessential Guardiola team that routinely deprives their opposition of a sniff of the ball, let alone scoring opportunities. I attribute Manchester City’s recent travails to three critical factors:

1. Rodri’s frequent suspensions

Manchester City have lost four games so far this season. A common denominator in all these games is that Rodri missed ALL of them. Make that what you will.

2. Kevin De Bruyne’s Injury

Do I even need to mention the importance of the blond Belgian to this team? Julian Alvarez has deputised in the KDB role, often admirably. However, the Argentine is no midfielder and will never bring the same midfield control and assurance.

3. Gundogan’s Departure/Kovacic’s Poor Form

Pep Guardiola signed the Croatian as a direct replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who left for a Bosman ruling in the summer. The German was a cornerstone for Manchester City for several years. True, Kovacic is no Gundogan. Still, he has often been poor whenever he steps onto the pitch. He was subsequently relegated to the bench. Guardiola and City surely expected more from the former Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea man.

There you have it. For the record, I still expect Guardiola to sort things out and mount a title challenge as usual. Come the end of the season, the Citizens will be there or thereabout. Write them off at your own peril.

Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf wrote from Kano, Nigeria. He can be contacted via aliyuyy@gmail.com.

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

If excellence means possessing good qualities in an eminent degree and superiority in virtue, Mrs. Mba, the Executive Director of Cooperate Services in the Niger Delta Power Holdings Company (NDPHC), is a personification of it all. Beyond meritorious service to the nation of Nigeria, her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by unwavering dedication and exceptional achievements.

One of Mrs. Mba’s notable accomplishments has been her role in spearheading initiatives to address Nigeria’s power crisis. Through her strategic vision and tireless efforts, National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) has been making progress in increasing Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity. Her tireless effort towards ensuring a stable and reliable power supply continues to impact businesses and households, fueling economic growth and improving the quality of life for millions.

Her leadership style has been a source of inspiration for her colleagues and subordinates. Under her stewardship, NIPP has witnessed significant improvements in corporate governance, efficacy, and transparency. Moreover, corruption and favoritism have never been her portion; she believes in merit and ability to deliver, which is the only yardstick that would propel every organization, not only NIPP.

Beyond professional feats, Mrs. Mba is becoming a champion in social responsibility, where she actively engages herself in community development projects, promoting sustainable practices, and empowering local communities. Her achievements in this regard are clear for all to see and appreciate. I can only mention a fraction of her distinct accomplishments in service to God and humanity. Through her passion for environmental conservation and social welfare, she is leaving indelible marks on the regions served by NIPP; though, NDPHC’s footprint cuts across every nook and cranny of the country.

Mrs. Nkechiyelu Mba embodies the values of integrity, excellence, and service to the nation. Her meritorious service to Nigeria in the realm of energy and corporate governance has not only transformed the power sector but also served as an inspiration for future generations of leaders. I foresee that Nigeria will attain its full potential with her caliber in the energy sector. Again, her legacy is one of unwavering dedication to the betterment of her country, making her an exceptional and revered figure in Nigeria’s history of public service. On a personal note, I cherish and adore this woman of substance, who is a mother, the voice of the downtrodden, and an inspirational leader to the unborn generation.

History is more than the path left by the past; it can influence the present and shape the future. Mommy, I’m certain that history will be kind to you.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Abuja.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

South Korean striker Hwang Ui-jo, currently playing for Norwich City, has been suspended from the national team just seven weeks before the much-anticipated Asian Cup.

The suspension comes in light of an ongoing police investigation into allegations that Hwang illegally filmed a sexual encounter with his ex-girlfriend without her consent. 

Despite the suspension from international duty, Hwang, on loan from Nottingham Forest, continues to be eligible to play for Norwich City.

The 31-year-old forward, who scored in a recent match against Watford, denies the allegations against him. 

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced the decision on Tuesday, underscoring the necessity of awaiting a definitive conclusion to the police investigation before considering Hwang for the national team.

Lee Youn-nam, the head of the KFA’s ethics committee, noted the expectation for national players to uphold a high standard of morality and responsibility. 

Hwang Ui-jo, with 19 goals in 62 appearances for South Korea, leaves a notable gap in the national team’s lineup ahead of the Asian Cup.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann expressed his understanding of the situation, pledging to respect the decision of the KFA.

Klinsmann had previously included Hwang in recent World Cup qualifying matches, defending his choice amid the ongoing police probe. 

The Asian Cup, set to commence in Qatar on January 12, poses additional challenges for South Korea as they open their campaign against Bahrain three days later.

The suspension adds an unexpected layer of controversy to the team’s preparations, raising questions about the potential impact on their performance in the upcoming tournament.

By Manasseh Mercy

Social media integrates digital media platforms, including combinations of electronic text, graphics, moving pictures and sounds in a structured computerized environment that allows users to interact with the data for appropriate purposes or otherwise. The digital environment can include the Internet, telecommunications and interactive digital television. The Web is now part of the overall business of communication, sales and services. It changes business practices across the globe.

Its technical limitations affect the amount of material and the speed of access. The network depends mainly on the connections of the telephone line, so the more they are good on a territory, the more the service will be reliable. As a result, messages can reach audiences and target groups in real-time and generate changes and trends.

Nowadays, younger generations grow up having good contact with different social networks, easily acquire digital culture and live in a digital world where only adults are naturalized citizens. Trends can bring awareness to other organizations and not just for selling products. 

In 2014, the ice bucket challenge was a popular trend that spread across Instagram’s platform. The trend was created to help bring awareness and donations to Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also known as ALS, which stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Pete Frates, a former baseball player for Boston College, helped promote the nonprofit organization ALS Association because of his diagnosis of the disease. Both celebrities and regular social media account holders made videos of pouring ice water on themselves while tagging at least three friends to post themselves participating.

This trend was an example of one of the many situations that brought light to very serious topics. The millions of people posting about the ice bucket challenge resulted in the organization raising millions of money. That year, an estimated $115 million was raised for the cause in just a few months. The Ice Bucket Challenge was created to raise money for research purposes in hopes of finding a cure for ALS disease.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is just one of the many trends that took over social media platforms. Many nonprofit organizations have been going viral over the years, bringing awareness to millions of people. Situations like these can come out of pure luck to get everyone on the Internet to discuss a topic. Getting people to talk about specific issues brings attention to a cause that can get people to donate money. It’s not only companies and organizations that get attention online but also individuals as well.

TikTok is a social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos. Young people use the App to express themselves through singing, dancing, comedy and lip-syncing. It allows users to create videos and share them across a community. It is one of the most popular social media platforms in the 21st century. 

In Today’s generation, popular trends on social media have a significant influence on younger generations. Trends can consist of different things such as makeup, clothes, music, toys, and interests. TikTok trends are viral short videos that use popular features, songs, sound effects and hashtags. 

Some current TikTok Trends (November 2023) include Bird’s-eye View — November 17, 2023. In this trend, you grab your friends or coworkers, tape your phone to the ceiling, and record yourselves dancing and being silly. Another was (Added November 20, 2023) Smug Corgi/Confused Dog Meme Trend. Example: Posting a video with the CapCut template from the example with a funny text overlay describing a situation where you (the corgi) would be smugly doing something while the other person (represented by the other dog) is super baffled, often about spend a lot of money on something like Christmas decorations.

What are the potential risks? Users may be exposed to foul language and sexual content. Users can comment on other videos, which leaves the potential for online bullying or negative comments. The App promotes positive comments and encourages users to ‘say something nice’. However, if you encounter an inappropriate comment, you can report it as abuse. 

Stalking, identity theft, personal attacks and misuse of information are some of the threats social media users face. Most of the time, the users themselves are to blame as they share content that should not be in the eye of the public. 

These dangerous trends are not only harmful to the individuals who participate in them, but they also hurt society as a whole. When young people engage in these trends, they send their peers messages that it is acceptable to engage in risky and inappropriate behaviours. This can lead to a culture of recklessness and disregard for personal safety and etiquette.

It is essential for parents and educators to be aware of these dangerous trends and to talk to young people about the potential consequences of participating in them. It is also essential for social media platforms like TikTok to take responsibility for the content shared on their platform and to take steps to remove the dangerous content.

In conclusion, TikTok trends influence the social behaviour of Nigerian youths in one way or another. Nigerian youths engage in time-consuming and energy-draining trends, and sometimes, they cost money because they want to be famous and act like their peers. The Nigerian government should closely monitor and adequately regulate TikTok trends so as not to destroy Nigerian youths’ moral and social behaviour.

Mercy Manasseh is a student of Mass Communication from the University of Maiduguri and can be reached via mercymanasseh951@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to clash one last time in the Riyadh Season Cup this February.

Following their recent encounter in January, where Paris Saint-Germain triumphed over a Riyadh All-Stars XI, many believed it marked the end of their on-field rivalry. 

While fans had hoped for a grand farewell on the World Cup or Champions League stage, the Riyadh Season Cup now serves as the conclusive arena for these icons.

Over a decade of dominance, Messi and Ronaldo’s rivalry garnered 12 out of 14 Ballon d’Or awards and featured in one of Europe’s biggest derbies when Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in 2009. 

With Messi’s eight Ballon d’Ors and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory, the debate over who’s better may finally find resolution.

The February friendly will be the last chance for fans to witness these football titans side by side, bringing an end to a captivating era in the sport.