Former Aston Villa skipper Gabriel Agbonlahor has called on Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez to bench Cristiano Ronaldo for the team’s upcoming World Cup match against Uzbekistan. Speaking on talkSPORT following criticism of Ronaldo’s display against DR Congo, the former England striker argued that the veteran forward is no longer performing at the required level and negatively impacts the team when he fails to make an impact.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Tactical Mismatch: Agbonlahor believes Portugal possesses sufficient attacking depth to succeed without relying on the Al-Nassr star, suggesting that Ronaldo’s tendency to drop deep and play like a number 10 disrupts the team’s offensive structure.

• Need for Substitutions: While acknowledging that Martinez may still choose to start him, Agbonlahor emphasized that the 41-year-old must be substituted early—ideally between the 55th and 60th minutes—if the match is not yielding positive results.

• Driven by Ego: According to Agbonlahor, Ronaldo’s insistence on playing at the highest level is fueled by his personal rivalry with Lionel Messi. He posited that the Portuguese captain’s massive ego and desire to match Messi’s achievements, such as winning the World Cup, are influencing his role in the squad.

Agbonlahor concluded by bluntly stating that, regardless of his legacy, Ronaldo is simply “past his best.” As Portugal continues its tournament run, the debate regarding their all-time leading scorer’s place in the starting XI remains a primary focus.

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, recently discussed his earnings during an interview on The School of Hard Knocks. When asked about his most profitable year, the billionaire revealed that he generated an incredible $10 billion in just the first three months of the year. Regarding his total net worth, he suggested that Forbes’ estimate of $38 billion may be understated, noting that many of his business interests are private and not publicly listed. When asked about his desired legacy, he stated his goal is to be remembered as the person who industrialized Africa.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Refinery Price Reductions In other developments, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has initiated price cuts across several key products following a global decline in crude oil prices. Recent adjustments include:

• Diesel (Automotive Gas Oil): The price was reduced by ₦100 per litre, falling from ₦1,700 to ₦1,600.

• Aviation Fuel (Jet A1): This product also saw a ₦100 reduction, moving from ₦1,550 to ₦1,450 per litre.

• Petrol (Premium Motor Spirit): Following an earlier announcement, the refinery lowered the gantry price of petrol by ₦75, bringing it down to ₦1,175 per litre.

Market Impact The refinery’s price adjustments have prompted other depot owners to lower their prices to approximately ₦1,180 per litre. While marketers anticipate that pump prices could drop to around ₦1,200 per litre, consumers have yet to see these changes at many filling stations. Many retailers are currently maintaining higher prices—around ₦1,280 per litre—as they work to clear existing stock purchased at previous rates.

Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has claimed that the party’s presidential candidate can secure victory against President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer Peter Obi by leveraging strategic support from the North. Speaking during a recent interview on Nevon Media, Momodu argued that the 2027 presidential race would be a formidable challenge for the incumbent president.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Northern Dominance: Momodu asserted that Atiku is positioned to win a majority of votes in the North, where the largest volume of votes is concentrated, potentially leaving opponents struggling in the South.

• Constitutional Strategy: To satisfy the constitutional requirement of securing the highest number of votes alongside at least 25% of the vote in two-thirds of the states, Momodu believes Atiku will comfortably reach the 25% threshold in at least 26 states.

• Strategic Consolidation: According to Momodu, the North has made a “strategic” move by ensuring no strong northern leader remains to compete against Atiku, with Kwankwaso now positioned as a running mate.

• Shifting Political Allegiances: Unlike the 2023 election, Momodu suggested that the North now views anyone not supporting Atiku as a “traitor,” a dynamic he believes creates a different political landscape for 2027.

• Southern Competition: Momodu expressed confidence that Atiku would effectively navigate the southern political terrain, specifically highlighting Osun State as an area where the candidate would perform well.