Nigerian wrestler Oba Femi defeats Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania debut
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Nigerian professional wrestler Isaac Odugbesan, known as Oba Femi, defeated 10-time WWE Champion Brock Lesnar in under five minutes at WrestleMania 42. The 27-year-old Nigerian, also known as “The Ruler,” overpowered the veteran in a headline match. Lesnar left his wrestling gear in the ring after the match, a gesture often seen as a sign of retirement in professional wrestling. Oba Femi, a former NXT champion, has been on WWE’s main roster for three months. The contest saw Lesnar briefly take control before Femi absorbed the pressure and responded with a dominant display. After Lesnar delivered an F5, Femi recovered to hit a chokeslam and finished the match with his “Fall From Grace” sit-out powerbomb for the pinfall victory. The upset win quickly became a major topic on social media. Femi, a former shot put athlete born in Lagos, is a two-time NXT Champion and a one-time NXT North American Champion. He signed with WWE in 2021 and won the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament and the 2024 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge. During the WrestleMania Sunday post-show, Femi hinted at a possible title challenge against Roman Reigns before the end of the year.
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Hoffenheim striker Gift Orban is reportedly close to joining newly promoted Turkish club Amedspor on a loan deal, according to German outlet Kicker. Orban recently returned to Hoffenheim after a loan spell at Italian club Hellas Verona, where he scored seven goals in the first half of the season but saw his form decline later. Verona chose not to make his move permanent, and Hoffenheim also does not have him in their plans for the upcoming season. Orban's time at Hoffenheim, after joining from Olympique Lyonnais for €9m in January 2025, also saw a strong start followed by a dip in performance. Hoffenheim received a €500,000 loan fee from Verona and is now set to receive an additional €1m loan fee from Amedspor for the 2026/27 campaign. The deal with Amedspor reportedly includes an obligation to buy, which would be triggered if Orban meets a specific appearance threshold, leading to a permanent transfer of approximately €4m to the Turkish Süper Lig club.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed surprise over Kelechi Iheanacho's decision to join Turkish club Bursaspor, stating he believed an agreement had been reached for the Nigerian striker to remain with the Scottish champions. Iheanacho, who had an impressive loan spell with Celtic, scoring nine goals and contributing to a domestic double, completed a free transfer to the Turkish second-tier club last week. O'Neill admitted he was taken aback, having been under the impression that Iheanacho had agreed to stay. Negotiations for an extended stay reportedly broke down after Iheanacho's representatives sought a significantly improved deal, believed to be close to £50,000 per week, compared to Celtic's offer of around £12,000 per week with bonuses up to £17,000. Iheanacho ultimately chose Bursaspor, a historic Turkish club, after they swiftly concluded negotiations and presented a long-term sporting project aimed at returning to the Turkish Super Lig.
The Lagos State Government has urged parents and caregivers to adopt positive parenting practices to address rising social issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse, bullying, and juvenile delinquency. Bolaji Dada, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, emphasized this during a parenting program in Lagos, highlighting that many social problems stem from poor family relationships. She stressed that the family is the primary institution where children learn values, attitudes, and character, and that intentional parenting is crucial for instilling discipline, empathy, respect, and emotional stability. Dada also expressed concern about technology's influence on youth, urging parents to monitor online activities and maintain open communication. Bose Ironsi, Executive Director of the Women’s Rights and Health Project, advocated for parenting built on trust, communication, and mutual respect, cautioning against harsh methods. Rianat Onigbanjo, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, reiterated that the family is a child's first classroom for learning values like love, discipline, and integrity. The program provided practical guidance and information on support services available through various government and non-governmental organizations.