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Lionel Messi acquires Spanish fifth-tier club Cornella
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has purchased the Catalan club Cornella, a Spanish fifth-tier side, becoming its new owner. The club announced the acquisition on Thursday, stating that this move reinforces Messi’s ties to Barcelona and his commitment to developing sport and local talent in Catalonia. Cornella, based in the Barcelona suburbs, has seen several top players emerge from its ranks, including Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba. The club has experienced consecutive relegations in the past two seasons. Cornella views Messi's arrival as the start of a new chapter, aiming to drive sporting and institutional growth, strengthen its foundations, and continue investing in talent, guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan combining ambition, sustainability, and local roots. Messi, who came through Barcelona’s academy and became their all-time leading scorer, is currently playing for Inter Miami and is expected to play a key role in Argentina’s World Cup title defense this year. He has previously stated his intention to return to live in Catalonia after retiring from football. Messi's rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, recently acquired a 25-percent stake in Almeria, another Spanish club.
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The Kano State Government has trained Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers from seven local government areas in bio-risk management and zoonotic disease sample collection. This two-day training, organized by the Ministry for Livestock Development in collaboration with the Kano State Centre for Disease Control and supported by the Core Group Partners Project, aims to enhance public health preparedness. The primary objective is to improve the capacity of frontline health workers in bio-risk management, ensure safe collection and handling of zoonotic disease samples, and strengthen surveillance and reporting systems across the state. The workshop included participants from Doguwa, Tofa, Takai, Kura, Dawakin Tofa, Kumbotso, and Bunkure, which are high-burden areas for zoonotic diseases. Professor Mohammad Adamu Abbas, Director General of the KNCDC, stated that the training significantly improved the technical capacity of surveillance officers and reinforced the importance of timely and accurate disease reporting. He also highlighted the initiative's emphasis on the One Health approach, promoting collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors. Professor Abbas reaffirmed the state government's commitment to continuous capacity building, improved logistics, and enhanced community engagement for effective prevention and response to zoonotic diseases.
Actress Uche Montana is establishing a significant presence in Nollywood, with her recent momentum often attributed to her role in Funke Akindele's film 'Behind the Scenes'. Her work in 'Monica', a film exploring themes of romance and betrayal, is noted as her most widely viewed project based on streaming platform engagement. Industry observers highlight that Montana's ascent is not solely due to visibility; she has cultivated a strong visual identity and a consistent personal brand through her fashion and public image, which complements her acting. Montana is recognized for her versatility, moving between romantic and emotionally complex characters. Her growing number of lead roles and expanding digital footprint are positioning her among Nollywood's emerging leading women.
Must ReadThe National Sports Commission has called on Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili to rejoin the national team after World Athletics rejected her application to transfer allegiance to Turkey. The World Athletics Nationality Review Panel cited concerns over the integrity of international competition and coordinated recruitment of athletes in its decision. Bukola Olopade, the commission's director general, stated that Nigeria fully supports Ofili and is ready to provide backing for her success, including for the upcoming Olympic Games. He emphasized that the country remains her home and urged her not to be discouraged. The World Athletics decision was part of a broader rejection of 11 transfer applications linked to a recruitment strategy by the Turkish government. The panel warned against a system driven by financial incentives rather than genuine national ties. Turkey is expected to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, through its president Tonobok Okowa, also welcomed Ofili back, and former AFN president Solomon Ogba supported the World Athletics decision. Ofili remains eligible to represent Nigeria in major international competitions.
Must ReadIran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz again if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports, just hours after announcing the strategic waterway's reopening following a ceasefire in Lebanon. This warning comes despite US President Donald Trump's optimism about a "very close" broader US-Iran peace deal and his claim that Tehran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium. Iran, however, denied this claim regarding its uranium stockpile. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that continued blockade would result in the Strait of Hormuz not remaining open, requiring Iranian authorization for passage. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the naval blockade a "violation of the ceasefire" and warned of an appropriate response. US Central Command reported that US forces have directed 21 ships to turn around since the blockade began. Despite these tensions, Pakistani mediators are pushing for a final agreement to end the conflict. Trump indicated he might extend the ceasefire with Iran, set to expire on Wednesday, but affirmed the blockade would remain if a peace deal is not reached. The ceasefire in Lebanon and the reopening of the Strait had initially led to a drop in oil prices and a rise in stock markets, with the US also issuing a waiver for Russian oil sales to further soften prices. The ceasefire in Lebanon, which began on Friday, allowed displaced families to return home, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin N