🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Nathan Tella celebrates 100th Bayer Leverkusen appearance
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella marked his 100th appearance for the club during their 2-1 victory over Köln. The 26-year-old Super Eagles star provided an assist for Patrik Schick's second goal in the derby win. Tella, who received a commemorative plaque, expressed his satisfaction with achieving the milestone in a derby victory. His time at Leverkusen includes being part of their historic unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning campaign three seasons ago. Last season, he recorded four goals and five assists in 39 appearances. The current campaign has been affected by recurring injury problems, leading to speculation about a potential departure. However, the club extended his contract until 2031, demonstrating their long-term confidence in him. Since regaining fitness, Tella has delivered encouraging performances. Leverkusen is currently sixth in the Bundesliga, two points away from a UEFA Champions League spot. On the international front, Tella's inconsistent club minutes have impacted his Super Eagles involvement. He debuted in 2023 but has not yet secured a regular role under coach Eric Chelle. With his form improving, Tella aims to contend for Nigeria's upcoming friendlies in June.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Trucks Transit Parks Limited, manager of the electronic call-up system, stated that efficient truck management significantly aids environmental protection and enhances working conditions for dockworkers. The company emphasized that reducing traffic congestion around Nigeria’s seaports is vital for sustainable shipping operations. This assertion was made in Lagos last week at the 2026 Dockworkers’ Day celebration, organized by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria. Speaking on the theme “Green Ports: Sustainable Practices for Dockworkers,” Mr. Jama Onwubuariri, Co-founder of TTP, highlighted the electronic call-up system's role in promoting orderliness and sustainability along the Apapa and Tin Can port corridors. Onwubuariri, represented by Nancy Nnamdi, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications at TTP, noted that the theme aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainable port operations. He added that sustainability is integral to the systems and processes deployed by the company to improve efficiency within the port ecosystem.
The Capital Market Solicitors Association CMSA announced its 2026 Annual Business Summit, themed "Structural Resilience and Market Permanence," will focus on strengthening Nigeria’s capital market, deepening investor confidence, and promoting sustainable growth. Scheduled for July 1, 2026, in Lagos, the summit aims to explore how Nigeria can sustain capital market growth through institutional reforms, regulatory efficiency, technological innovation, and stronger investor protection mechanisms. Simisola Eyisanmi, Chairman of the CMSA, explained that discussions will cover institutional governance, capital adequacy, market trading procedures, regulatory reforms, technological integration, sustainable financing, and long-term strategies. She clarified the distinction between the capital market, a broad ecosystem, and the stock exchange, a platform for trading securities. Eyisanmi emphasized that both are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission SEC and urged Nigerians to ensure financial institutions are licensed. She also highlighted the well-defined dispute resolution process for investors, starting with the SEC and potentially escalating to the Investments and Securities Tribunal IST. The IST has been invited to participate in the summit to raise awareness of its role. For small and medium-sized enterprises, Eyisanmi pointed to opportunities like the Growth Board of Nigerian Exchange Limited and the NASD Over-the-Counter Securities Exchange. Mohammed Abubakar SAN,
Must ReadAs the 2026 FIFA World Cup commences in North America, many Nigerians are experiencing disappointment due to the Super Eagles' absence from the tournament for the second consecutive time. Despite the World Cup's expansion to 48 teams and increased qualification slots for Africa, Nigeria failed to secure a spot. This has led to frustration among fans like Soyemi Tosin, a Nigerian living in the UK, who had saved money to watch the Super Eagles play in person, and Precious Ogbolu, a Nigerian resident in Canada, who had hoped to see the team play in his host city. The absence also impacts content creators and influencers, who face significant financial losses from missed sponsorship and engagement opportunities. Nigeria's failure to qualify stems from an inconsistent campaign in a group many considered favorable, marked by multiple coaching changes and a heartbreaking elimination in the continental play-offs. Critics, including former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel and midfielder Sunday Oliseh, attribute these issues to structural problems and mismanagement within the Nigerian Football Federation. Social media reflects a mix of grief, frustration, and anger, with many questioning how a country with such talent could miss out while 10 other African nations qualified. The economic impact is also felt by businesses like viewing centers, bars, and hotels that typically benefit from increased patronage during major tournaments. Despite the widespread disappointment, some hope rem