Ian Wright: Two Factors Stopped Eze From Joining Tottenham

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has revealed just how close new signing Eberechi Eze was to joining Tottenham Hotspur before his family and faith played a decisive role in steering him towards the Gunners, according to a report from GiveMeSport.

Eze became Arsenal’s seventh summer signing after completing a £60 million move from Crystal Palace, but Wright explained that Spurs were on the verge of securing his signature only days earlier.

The north London rivals had struck an agreement with Palace before Arsenal swooped in, reacting swiftly to Kai Havertz’s knee injury suffered in the opening-day win over Manchester United.

With the 27-year-old a boyhood Arsenal supporter and former academy player, the opportunity to return to the club proved irresistible. A four-year deal was finalized, and Eze was unveiled to fans ahead of Arsenal’s 5-0 victory over Leeds United at the Emirates last weekend.

Speaking on the Stick to Football show, Wright said Eze’s family believed the turn of events was destined.

“It [the Spurs move] was done. He’s very God-fearing,” Wright explained. “They genuinely believe it’s happened because it’s meant to happen. That’s why, when he walked out of the tunnel, he couldn’t believe it had happened.”

On the significance of the move for Eze’s family, Wright added: “The whole family are Arsenal. You can imagine what they were going through, thinking he was going to play for Tottenham.

“The pure happiness and joy of him being at Arsenal, you just feel like it’s going to work out for him. He was let go by the club at 13 and now he’s come back. It’s where he wants to be.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also admitted the transfer was completed at breakneck speed.

“It was one of the fastest transfers I would say and one of the most unexpected,” Arteta said. “I thought it wasn’t happening, but at the last minute they managed to pull it off. It created some fire in the stadium, and that was great to witness. He has the capacity to create magic moments.”

For Eze, the move was as much about faith as football. Speaking in an interview with Wright for the club’s media channels, the midfielder said: “I can only thank God for the opportunity to be here. To be recognized in this manner is what I wanted to do. I feel so blessed.”

Osimhen Criticized For Angry At Teammate

According to a report by The Punch Newspaper on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has sparked controversy after a heated outburst directed at teammate Yunus Akgün during Galatasaray’s 4-0 victory over Samsunspor.

The incident, captured on video, occurred when Osimhen reacted angrily to Akgün’s failure to pass the ball during a match on November 10, 2024, at RAMS Park in Istanbul. Osimhen, on loan from Napoli, gestured furiously and shouted at Akgün, drawing sharp criticism from fans and pundits for his lack of composure.

The 26-year-old Super Eagles star, known for his goal-scoring prowess, has been under scrutiny for his behavior off the pitch. This incident adds to a string of controversies, including a prior social media rant against former Super Eagles coach Finidi George, which prompted threats of disciplinary action from the Nigerian Football Federation. Fans expressed disappointment online, urging Osimhen to focus on teamwork rather than public displays of frustration. Some defended him, citing his passion and high expectations as a top striker.

Osimhen’s time at Galatasaray has been marked by strong performances, including a crucial assist in a 4-1 win over Çaykur Rizespor, but his off-field actions continue to overshadow his contributions. Turkish media reported that the outburst has raised concerns within the club, with no official statement yet from Galatasaray’s management on potential disciplinary measures.

The incident highlights the pressure Osimhen faces as a high-profile player in a competitive league. As Galatasaray prepares for upcoming matches, including a clash against Konyaspor, fans hope Osimhen can channel his energy into positive contributions. The striker’s ability to navigate this backlash will be crucial for maintaining his reputation and team harmony in Turkey

Emmanuella Clears Air on Pregnancy Rumour and Others

Times, Popular Nigerian teen comedian Emmanuella Samuel has addressed long-standing rumors about her personal life.

In an interview with Premium Times, the 15-year-old revealed that claims of pregnancy and marriage circulating online were entirely false.

“There are lots of rumours out there. I have heard a lot, but I know the truth. Stories saying I was pregnant, getting married, or had married are all false,” she said, adding that she sometimes wonders where such unfounded reports come from.

However, Emmanuella confirmed that one widely discussed story about her was true: she bought a house for her parents at the age of 10.

The gesture, she explained, stemmed from love and a desire to ease her family’s living situation.

“The reason was to make my parents proud and bring happiness to everyone around me. Even if I was sad, I would make sure they were happy.

I felt it wasn’t right for my family to stay in a rented apartment, so we decided to build a comfortable home where they wouldn’t have to pay rent,” she said.

Emmanuella also shared that she is the fourth of six children and insisted that the decision to build the house was made freely, without any pressure

Victor Boniface’s Fiancee Call Off Wedding

Soccer Star Victor Boniface’s Fiancee Calls Off Wedding After Discovering His Assets Were in His Mother’s Name.

While drafting their marriage contract, it was revealed that all of Victor’s assets were registered under his mother. This revelation reportedly shocked his fiancée, leading her to call off the wedding.

If that story is true here something to think about, a traditional wedding or at most, a church wedding is often more than enough. In today’s world, when someone insists that only a court wedding is valid, especially in countries like the U.S., it’s worth asking why.

I know people who separated from their spouse more than 10 years ago yet never completed the legal divorce process because of the complications and pain involved.

Remember, nobody walks into marriage planning for divorce. Everyone who exchanges vows does so believing it will be for better or worse.

When someone insists on legal paperwork after a traditional wedding where family and community are present. And a church wedding before both the community and God, it’s worth pausing to ask some questions.

What exactly are they looking for beyond the vows already exchanged and the bonds already established?

If someone insists on conditions that go far beyond family and community blessings, it often says more about them than about you. It may reflect their own doubts, their own fears, or even a lack of trust in themselves not necessarily in you.

At the end of the day, real love is about commitment, not paperwork.

At the end of the day, marry the person who’s ready to walk life’s journey with you even without a ring.

MIM 2025: Musa and Affigbo Claim Top Prize

Musa Francis and Esther Affigbo were the star athletes at the 2nd edition of the MASA Isonyin Marathon as they both snatched the top prize in both the men’s and women’s categories of the 21km race at the ancient town of Isonyin, Ogun State, on Saturday, August 23.

Organised by the MASA Foundation, the 21km race attracted runners nationwide under the theme “Running for Exposure” while athletes battled for the prize money of N1.5m.

In the men’s race, Musa James Francis stormed to victory with a time of 1:09:00.34, narrowly beating Boyi Gyang James (1:09:38.69) and Sadjo Ismael (1:10:02.06) to clinch the title.

In the women’s category, Esther Affigbo triumphed with 1:21:49.05, ahead of Shambor Blessing Solomon (1:22:15.61) and Rose Akusho (1:22:57.17).

While the winners went home with ₦1.5 million each, the second and third-place finishers received ₦1 million and ₦750,000, respectively in both categories.

An elated Affigbo described her victory as “a special moment in my career,” while Musa Francis called his win “a reward for months of sacrifice and discipline.

Organised by the MASA Foundation, the 21km race attracted runners nationwide under the theme “Running for Exposure” while athletes battled for the prize money of N1.5m.

In the men’s race, Musa James Francis stormed to victory with a time of 1:09:00.34, narrowly beating Boyi Gyang James (1:09:38.69) and Sadjo Ismael (1:10:02.06) to clinch the title.

In the women’s category, Esther Affigbo triumphed with 1:21:49.05, ahead of Shambor Blessing Solomon (1:22:15.61) and Rose Akusho (1:22:57.17).

While the winners went home with ₦1.5 million each, the second and third-place finishers received ₦1 million and ₦750,000, respectively in both categories.

An elated Affigbo described her victory as “a special moment in my career,” while Musa Francis called his win “a reward for months of sacrifice and discipline.”

This year’s marathon kicked off at the Saderiren’s Palace and concluded at the Isonyin Grammar School Field.

Ogun State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, who flagged off the race, praised the organisers and described the marathon as “a new benchmark for grassroots sports development in the state.”

Providing official backing for the event, Hon. Joseph Foluso Badejo, Chairman of Ijebu North-East Local Government and chief host of the marathon, applauded the MASA Foundation for using sports to promote tourism, unity, and youth empowerment.

The 2025 edition also enjoyed remarkable private-sector support. Asiwaju Tony Tunde Sokan, a UK-based wealth management expert and proud son of Isonyin, sponsored the ₦1.5 million men’s first prize and pledged to support the marathon for the next five years.

Similarly, Chief Mrs. Ibilola Solaja, a prominent rice merchant, philanthropist, and respected figure from Ijebu Igbo, funded the ₦1.5 million prize for the women’s champion.

Delivering his remarks virtually from California, USA, the convener and President of the MASA Foundation, Dr. Muideen Adegboyega Salami (MASA), celebrated the marathon’s rapid growth.

The MASA Isonyin Marathon Project Director Yeye Adesola Salami described the second edition as “a huge success,” even though she admitted there was room for improvement

“It was better than the first because we put in everything. We didn’t get the response we expected from big organisations, but with support from people like Asiwaju Tony Sokan, Chief Mrs. Ibilola Solaja, and others, we made it a success,” she said.Open save panel