News
Manchester United claim shock victory over Manchester City in FA Cup final
Manchester United FC ended a poor season on a high as Erik ten Hag ignored intense speculation about his future to mastermind a shock 2-1 FA Cup final win against rivals Manchester City.
The build-up to the second successive all-Manchester showpiece was dominated by the Dutchman’s future, after a report on Friday claimed he would be sacked regardless of the outcome at Wembley.
But United impressively parked talk that Saturday could be Ten Hag’s last match as teenage stars Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo struck, with the side digging deep to triumph 2-1 after substitute Jeremy Doku’s late effort.
It is the Red Devils boss’ second piece of silverware in as many seasons, but time will tell whether the trophy and Europa League qualification satisfies ambitious Ineos after limping home eighth in the league.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was joined by Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer at Wembley, where United’s co-owners could not fail to have been impressed by Ten Hag’s game plan and his side’s output.
Most predicted City would become the first English side to win back-to-back domestic doubles fresh from sealing an unprecedented fourth straight top-flight title, but there appeared to be a hangover.
United, by contrast, were well-drilled and determined from the outset, with Garnacho capitalising on a defensive error to put Ten Hag’s side into a shock lead on the half-hour mark.
City manager Pep Guardiola said of that incident: “It can happen. Many things happen in a final. They scored two goals and we could not score more.”
Mainoo coolly extended their advantage at the end of a fine team move before half-time, which City responded to strongly as Erling Haaland hit the bar during a period of pressure.
There was late tension as the otherwise impressive Andre Onana let in a late Doku strike.
But the Red Devils were not to be denied as they ended a poor, injury-hit campaign with a win for Ten Hag, who will be hoping to avoid being sacked after winning the FA Cup like Louis van Gaal was in 2016.
Ten Hag admitted he does not know what his Manchester United future holds following the FA Cup final.
When asked by the BBC if he has been unfairly treated by the media, Ten Hag said: “I think so. The team, me as well, it’s not right.
“We did not have the players. We have seen the same things, it has not always been good football so we had to compromise and we can’t play the football we want to play.
“In two years since I have been here we’ve had the full squad two, three or four times.
“It was about us to prove a point after a year with so many setbacks, injuries and all the times we had to survive. The team showed so much resilience and I am proud of them.”
Regarding his future at Old Trafford, Ten Hag said: “I don’t know. The only thing I’m doing is preparing my team, developing my team, progressing my team and individual players.
“To me this is a project. When I came here it was a mess, we know better but we are by far not where we want to be.” (dpa/NAN)
Kano State’s influence in Nigeria’s leadership landscape was reaffirmed as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were named top honorees at the 10th Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony organized by Authentic News Daily.
The event, set for Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Arewa House in Kaduna, will celebrate their contributions to governance and public service.
According to a statement by Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the ceremony will also honor Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as the “Authentic Woman of the Year.”
Governor Yusuf will receive the “Authentic Humanitarian Governor of the Year 2024” award for his transformative leadership and grassroots development initiatives, which have significantly improved lives in Kano State.
Senator Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and former Kano governor, will be recognized as the “Authentic Politician of the Year 2024” for his visionary leadership and enduring legacy of mentorship.
Themed “Religion as a Tool for Peace and National Unity,” the event will feature a keynote address by former Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd). Prominent speakers, including Rev. Joseph John Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Sheikh Halliru Abdullahi Maraya of the Global Peace Foundation, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, will discuss the role of religion in fostering national unity.
The awards committee lauded Yusuf and Kwankwaso for their “remarkable dedication to public good” and “unmatched service to humanity,” noting that the honors followed a rigorous evaluation of their impact and national relevance.
The recognition of Kano’s leaders underscores the state’s prominence in Nigerian politics and highlights a shared commitment to purpose-driven governance.
National
Talata Mafara Resident Praises Tinubu, Matawalle For Eliminating Bandit Leaders Jijji, Kachallah Sagili
Residents of Talata Mafara Local Government Area in Zamfara State have expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Minister of State for Defence Dr Bello Matawalle, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa for their roles in the elimination of two notorious bandit leaders
The operation, which targeted Jajji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili, has been hailed as a significant step towards restoring peace in the troubled region.
Yakubu Ibrahim Mafara, speaking on behalf of the Talata Mafara community, issued a statement on Friday commending the concerted efforts of the Nigerian government and security forces.
“We are very grateful to Matawalle, Tinubu, NSA, and others,” he said, reflecting the community’s relief and optimism following the operation.
The statement underscored the profound impact of the operation on the local population, which has long endured the terror inflicted by bandit groups in Zamfara State.
The operation took place on Thursday in Maikwanugga, a community within Talata Mafara Local Government Area, where security forces, alongside local vigilante groups, conducted targeted patrols along the Mafara axis.
According to the statement, reports indicate that Jijji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili, both feared bandit leaders responsible for numerous attacks, kidnappings, and extortion in the region, were neutralised during the operation.
” Their deaths have been described as a turning point for the community, which has suffered years of violence and insecurity.
“The killing of Jijji Ɗan Auta has brought relief and fresh air into our community,” Yakubu said, echoing the sentiments of residents who have lived under the shadow of banditry for years.
The operation is seen as a direct response to the escalating violence in Zamfara, where armed groups have terrorised rural communities, disrupted livelihoods, and displaced thousands.
The community’s gratitude reflects growing confidence in the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest.
Meanwhile, the operation was a collaborative effort involving the Nigerian military and local vigilantes, who have increasingly played a critical role in intelligence-gathering and community defence.
The patrols in the Mafara axis were part of a broader strategy to dismantle bandit strongholds and restore normalcy to Zamfara, a state that has become a hotspot for banditry and kidnapping in recent years.
“The elimination of Jijji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili is expected to weaken the operational capacity of bandit groups in the region.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Friday announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results.
Elanza news reported that over 1.9 million applicants participated in the just-concluded exercise.
The board also disclosed that 80 suspects across the country are currently under interrogation for examination fraud, with Anambra State leading the pack with 14 suspects.
The board said it is withholding the results of 39,834 candidates over issues relating to examination irregularities.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated this on Friday while officially releasing the 2025 UTME.
He also disclosed that while 467 underage candidates met the prescribed minimum score, 50 were engaged in cheating scandal.
A press conference to this effect is ongoing.
Details coming…