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Alex Iwobi Reveals How Frank Lampard Rescued His Everton Career After AFCON Red Card.
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed that he feared his Everton career was over after receiving a red card at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian international was sent off during the round of 16 clash against Tunisia in Cameroon, adding to an already frustrating spell at Goodison Park. Returning from the tournament, Iwobi said he was hit with unexpected news.
“There was one of the AFCONs I got sent off, came back, they said, ‘Alex, you’re gonna go on a loan.’ Even though this was under Rafa Benitez, I wasn’t playing like that,” he recalled.
At the time, former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was in charge, and Iwobi struggled for opportunities. The red card, combined with limited minutes at Everton and for Nigeria, took a mental toll.
“So I went to AFCON, wasn’t really playing, then I played in the round of 16, got sent off. Came back thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m having a nightmare. I’m probably never gonna play again,’” he said.
A managerial change soon shifted his fortunes. When Frank Lampard replaced Benitez, Iwobi’s situation initially seemed unchanged, with a loan move still proposed. But this time, he refused.
“Then obviously Rafa Benitez has gone, it’s Lampard. Then they’re saying, ‘Oh, Alex, you’re gonna go on loan.’ I said no. I’d rather stay and fight for my place. If I don’t play, I don’t play,” he explained.
Lampard’s approach made a huge difference. Instead of confining Iwobi to rigid tactical instructions, the former Chelsea boss encouraged him to trust his instincts.
“Lampard gives everyone a chance. In training, I’m a very good training player. So if I can do it in training, why not in matches? Previous managers wanted me to set the board around. Lampard said, ‘No, do your thing,’” Iwobi said.
The pivotal moment came when Lampard moved him into central midfield—a position Iwobi always felt suited him.
“Then Lampard played me in midfield, where I actually like playing, on the ball. He said, ‘Express yourself, be you.’ That’s where I revitalized my career. I started playing regularly and making an impact in games. Lampard, man, that was my best time,” he reflected.
Iwobi went on to become one of Everton’s most reliable performers during a turbulent period and later secured a move to Fulham, where he continues to play regularly in the Premier League.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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