Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has expressed his delight after scoring his first Premier League goal for Coventry City in their 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Saturday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Awoniyi doubled Coventry’s advantage eight minutes before half-time at the CBS Arena, helping Frank Lampard’s side secure their third consecutive league win.

The Nigerian forward praised his teammates for their collective performance, explaining that the team’s counter-pressing approach played a key role in creating the opportunity for his goal.

Speaking to the Premier League’s official website, Awoniyi said the most important thing was securing all three points, adding that the team executed its game plan effectively.

“I think the most important thing is the three points. I think the team from the outset played good together, the gameplan worked,” he said.

The victory extended Coventry’s perfect start to the campaign, with the newly promoted side collecting nine points from their opening three matches.

Lampard’s men will aim to maintain their winning streak when they travel to face Everton in their next league fixture.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has praised Fulham’s display despite their 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, October 31.

Aston Villa opened the scoring six minutes before the half-time break through Nicolas Jackson, who converted an assist from Johan Manzambi.

Fulham responded after the hour mark, with an own goal by Zion Suzuki earning the visitors a share of the points.

Bassey expressed satisfaction with his teammates’ performance but believed Fulham could have secured victory after failing to convert several clear-cut chances.

Speaking to Fulham’s official website, the defender acknowledged the difficulty of playing away against a strong Aston Villa side and commended his teammates for their efforts.

“A good away performance, we know how hard it is to come here against a team with a lot of quality. I’m proud of the boys, they did well,” Bassey said.

“We should have got more, missed two chances inside the six-yard box.”

The draw extended Fulham’s unbeaten run in the league to three matches, taking their tally to seven points from their last three outings.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why the name of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, is missing from its updated list of candidates.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The commission said Gwarzo had been cleared to contest the 2027 governorship election but could not publish his name because of a court order.

A senior INEC official, who spoke with Daily Trust, disclosed that a Federal High Court sitting in Kano issued an ex parte order on October 27, directing the commission not to upload the names of any NDC candidates.

“I thought I told you he had been cleared, subject only to the final outcome of an ex parte order by a Federal High Court in Kano on October 27 that we should not download the name of any candidate for NDC. In other words, we have no issue with him,” the official said.

A review of INEC’s updated list released on Saturday showed that the governorship and deputy governorship positions for the NDC in Kano State were marked “Court Order”.

The development had generated confusion, particularly after reports emerged that the commission had restored Gwarzo’s name following its review of petitions from candidates omitted from the earlier list.

On Thursday, INEC considered complaints arising from its October 10 publication, upholding 66 petitions and rejecting 64 others concerning governorship and State House of Assembly candidates.

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, was among those whose names were restored. He now appears on the list as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State.

The Osun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed speculation about a possible disagreement between the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Reports of a possible rift between the two politicians emerged after the ADC Presidential Campaign Council was unveiled on September 25 without Aregbesola’s name among its members.

The omission raised questions about the former minister’s role in Atiku’s presidential campaign, particularly given his influence in the South-West.

However, speaking in an interview with The Punch, the Osun State ADC Publicity Secretary, Oluwaseun Abosede, insisted that there was no disagreement between the two leaders.

He said the relationship between Atiku and Aregbesola remained cordial and rejected claims of a leadership crisis within the party.

“There is no rancour between Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They are fine, and there is no leadership crisis within the ADC, as some people may want the public to believe,” Abosede said.

Addressing questions about Aregbesola’s activities and the ADC’s political efforts in the South-West, the spokesperson said the party was following a carefully planned political strategy.

According to him, the initiative involves engaging different interest groups, building relationships, strengthening party structures and expanding the ADC’s influence across the region.

Abosede explained that the party would commence its campaign activities at the appropriate time, stressing that political organisation did not always require constant public announcements.

“Politics is not always about making noise or rushing to announce every move. Sometimes, the most consequential work takes place quietly, through consultation, organisation, relationship-building and the consolidation of structures.

“That is what ADC South-West is focused on under Ogbeni’s leadership. We are working according to our roadmap, and when the time comes for the full political picture to emerge, the scale of the work will speak for itself.

“I will therefore urge observers and political commentators not to confuse the absence of constant public displays with the absence of political activity. There is a process underway, and we are confident in the direction we are taking,” he added.