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Adesanya to face South Africa’s Du Plessis for UFC middleweight title

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Israel Adesanya has announced that he will face Drisus du Plessis of South Africa for the UFC middleweight title.

The Stylebender confirmed the upcoming bout in a post on his X account on Monday.

The fight is billed to take place at UFC 305 on August 17 in Australia.

Du Plessis is the current middleweight champion after defeating Sean Strickland in January.

He became the first South African to become a champion in the promotion.

Adesanya lost the belt to Strickland in September 2023 at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia.

The Nigerian-born fighter lost via unanimous decision, which was the third defeat of his 27-fight UFC career.

Adesanya and du Plessis’ rivalry started in 2023 when the latter claimed he wanted to be “the first real African champion” in the UFC.

The comment offended Adesanya, who found it disrespectful to other UFC African champions like himself, Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou.

However, Du Plessis clarified that he aimed to become the first UFC champion to be born in Africa and live and train there.

None of Adesanya, Usman, and Ngannou lived or trained on the continent when they were UFC champions.

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Boniface debunks rumour of breakup with Norwegian partner over prenup

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Victor Boniface, the Super Eagles striker, has dismissed rumours that he is no longer with his Norwegian partner Rikke Hermine.

The rumours emerged on social media, claiming that Boniface had ended their four-year relationship due to a dispute over a prenuptial agreement.

An X user shared a post claiming that Hermine had requested a legal marriage without a prenup, which Boniface allegedly rejected to protect his financial future.

“Nigerian footballer, Victor Boniface has reportedly ended his 4 years relationship with his Norwegian girlfriend, Rikke Herminem,” the post reads.

“According to reports, she insisted on a legal marriage without a prenup (A prenup is a contract protecting assets and finances of both parties in case of divorce or death). Boniface is now focused on safeguarding his financial future and avoiding potential pitfalls.”

Boniface denied the reports, describing them as “fake news and lies”.

In now-deleted posts, the Super Eagles striker stated that the reports were “unverified and unfounded”.

“Stop posting fake shit you guys know nothing about….. Una go just carry phone without knowing Wetinx Dey sup just post,” he wrote in pidgin English.

“No be everybody be like una sister. So respect urself. Everything you guys say about her are all lies.”

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Haaland signs new 10-year deal with City — longest contract extension in EPL

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Erling Haaland has agreed to a new 10-year deal as a Manchester City player.

The club announced the deal in a statement on its website on Friday.

“Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year Manchester City contract, keeping him at the Club until the summer of 2034,” the statement reads.

The length of the 24-year-old’s new deal is the longest contract extension in the English Premier League (EPL), surpassing Cole Palmer’s nine-year agreement with Chelsea.

Haaland moved to the Etihad in 2022 from Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian scored 52 goals in all competitions in his debut season, including 36 in the EPL to win the league’s Golden Boot prize. He also broke the league record of goals scored by a player in a single season.

His goals led Man City to an impressive treble of trophies: EPL, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

The striker has scored 111 goals in 126 games in his two-and-a-half season at the club.

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Benue audits Lobi’s finances, asks three former vice-chairmen to refund N2.4bn

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The Benue state government has asked three former Lobi Stars vice-chairmen to return N2.4 billion into the club’s coffer.

In a statement on Friday, Tersoo Kula, the press secretary to Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, said the revelation was included in a white paper report of a forensic audit investigation into Lobi’s finances inaugurated by the state government.

Alia launched a probe into the club’s funds in October 2024. The investigative committee studied the handover notes submitted by the outgoing board of the club and Lobi’s income.

The investigation report covers Lobi’s financial details from January 2020 to September 2024.

Kula said the audit report, released to the state government in November 2024, revealed that Lobi Stars generated N3,759,820,269 during the period under review.

However, he added that only N1,314,807,672 of the generated sum could be accounted for.

The statement then demanded the three immediate past vice-chairmen of Lobi Stars refund the deficit to the club’s account.

“The breakdown indicates that Mr Mike Idoko and others who worked with him are to refund the sum of two hundred and forty-three million, nine hundred and fifty-five thousand, and eighty-one naira, forty-four kobo (₦243,955,081.44) for the period of 2020-2021,” the statement reads.

“Mr. Emmanuel Taman and others who worked under him are to refund four hundred and thirty-four million, three hundred and eighteen thousand, nine hundred and sixty-four naira, twelve kobo (₦434,318,964.12) for 2021-2022.

“Mr. Dominic Iorfa and others are to refund the sum of six hundred and ninety-two million, four hundred and fifty-three thousand, nine hundred and twenty-seven naira, sixty kobo (₦692,453,927.60) for 2022-2023, and seven hundred and two million, eight hundred and seventy-five thousand naira (₦702,875,000) for 2023-2024, as well as three hundred and seventy-one million, four hundred and nine thousand, six hundred and twenty-three naira, seventy-six kobo (₦371,409,623.76) for 2024-2025.”

The committee also recommended that Lobi Stars be registered as a revenue-generating company and that funds from the club’s sponsors be deposited directly into the club’s account.

The panel also advocated for the club’s independence, stating that Benue’s sports ministry should no longer control or interfere in its day-to-day operations.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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