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Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia lead Champions League Man of the Match rankings
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are tied at the top of the UEFA Champions League Man of the Match awards leaderboard, each having secured four accolades this season. Despite Galatasaray's elimination by Liverpool FC in the round of 16, Osimhen remains a standout performer. His awards include one from Galatasaray's 1-0 victory over Liverpool on September 30, 2025, another in a 3-1 win against Bodø/Glimt on October 22, 2025, a third after scoring a hat-trick against AFC Ajax on November 5, 2025, and his fourth in a 3-2 defeat to Juventus FC which secured Galatasaray's progression. Kvaratskhelia, now with PSG, earned his latest award in a 2-0 win over Liverpool in the quarter-finals. He also received two awards during PSG’s matches against Chelsea FC in March and his first in a 4-0 victory over Atalanta BC on September 17, 2025. With the final approaching, Kvaratskhelia has a chance to surpass Osimhen, while Declan Rice of Arsenal, with three awards, could also draw level. Rice earned his awards in Arsenal's 3-1 win over Bayern Munich on November 26, 2025, a 2-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen on March 17, and in the semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid. Osimhen had a strong European campaign, with seven goals and three assists in 10 Champions League appearances. Both Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia were key to Napoli's Serie A title win in 2022/23. Kvaratskhelia moved to PSG in January 2025 for €70m, and Osimhen joined Galatasaray in 2025 for €75m after an initial
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Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom have lauded the Federal Government's recent passport reforms, particularly the contactless renewal system, for significantly reducing delays and streamlining the passport delivery process. Introduced in November 2024, the new system enables eligible individuals to renew expired or exhausted passports from home, eliminating the need for physical visits to the Nigerian High Commission. Testimonies from various Nigerian community members across the UK, as reported by the Ministry of Interior, highlight a stark contrast to previous experiences marked by frustrating delays, extensive travel, and bureaucratic hurdles. Timileyin Gbenga, a Nigerian community figure in Birmingham, noted that while the traditional process took over six months and required travel for biometrics, the contactless method for a family member resulted in passport delivery in less than two weeks. He credited the transformation to the leadership of Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Gbenga Ogunderu, based in Coventry, described the initiative as a significant digital shift, allowing applications and doorstep delivery without stress, often within two weeks. Dr. Adekunle Shonola, a senior lecturer at Coventry University and president of Nigerians in Coventry, recalled the previous necessity of traveling from Coventry to London for biometrics, a process that often took over six months. He observed that community members no
At Hallmark Health Service Limited Hallmark HMO’s Stakeholders Engagement 5.0 in Lagos, participants emphasized the need for stronger collaboration, sustainable financing, innovation, and trust among stakeholders to build a resilient healthcare system in Nigeria. Olumide Ajomale, an Organisational Development Consultant and keynote speaker, highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that no healthcare system succeeds in isolation, stressing that sustainability is a collaborative achievement involving hospitals, HMOs, regulators, technology providers, and the government. He noted that Nigeria's healthcare ecosystem faces both opportunities and challenges, including significant healthcare inflation. Ajomale proposed collaboration, strengthened financial capacity, stakeholder trust, regulatory support for a sustainable operating environment, and positive consumer experience as solutions. Adeogun Oladotun, Managing Director of Hallmark HMO, stated that the forum aimed to discuss the future of the healthcare industry, envisioning a future built on collaboration that addresses financing, the health system, the regulatory environment, and wellness. Oladotun urged healthcare providers to adopt technology and become more human-centered, criticizing the dismissal of enrollees without offering solutions. Eddie Efekoha, Chairman of Hallmark Health Services Limited, added that Nigeria’s evolving healthcare landscape requires collective action to create an accessible, affordable,
Eight people have died in a violent clash between farmers and herders in Gulma town, Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The incident began when a farmer was reportedly stabbed to death by a Fulani herder while working on his farmland. This led to a reprisal by members of the farming community, who allegedly attacked nearby Fulani settlements, resulting in eight fatalities and increased tension. Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the incident, stating it occurred around 3:00 p.m. on Monday. Security operatives intervened to control the situation, rescuing four injured individuals who were treated and discharged. Usman reported that normalcy has been restored, with security personnel deployed to maintain peace. He urged residents to remain calm and use appropriate channels for grievances instead of resorting to violence.