馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Paul Pogba suggests Bruno Fernandes would be a Ballon d'Or contender at Manchester City
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Monaco midfielder Paul Pogba stated that Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes would be a Ballon d'Or winner if he played for a dominant team like Manchester City. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Pogba praised Fernandes' quality, suggesting his reputation would be higher in a more consistently successful team. Pogba argued that Fernandes' performance level would lead to global individual recognition if he were in a more dominant system. Fernandes has been a standout performer for United this season, with 18 Premier League assists, nearing the single-season record. He also contributed a key assist in United's recent win over Chelsea. Pogba emphasized that individual awards are often linked to team success, stating, "When you don't win, we don't think about you." Fernandes joined United from Sporting CP in 2020 for 拢47 million, making over 300 appearances and scoring more than 100 goals. He chose to remain at Old Trafford despite interest from Saudi Pro League clubs and is under contract until 2027. Pogba's comments have reignited debate on the influence of team success on major individual awards like the Ballon d'Or.
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.
Must ReadThe Nigerian Senate has resolved to summon the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, and approximately 40 other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies MDAs. This decision follows their alleged failure to honor invitations to account for public funds. Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, moved the resolution, accusing several government agencies of obstructing legislative oversight by not appearing before the committee. The committee is investigating revenue remittances, operating surpluses, and compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and other financial laws. Senator Musa stated that the committee operates within its constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to investigate public institutions' finances and administration. He noted that despite repeated invitations, many agencies have either refused to appear or ignored the committee, with some claiming no obligation to comply. This, he warned, undermines the National Assembly's constitutional authority and could weaken fiscal accountability and transparency. Senator Musa also accused some revenue-generating agencies of violating the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Finance Act 2022 by retaining government revenue instead of remitting it. Senate President Godswill Akpabio dismissed claims by agencies that Senate committees lack summoning authority, affirming the National Assembly's c
Must ReadFormer United States President Donald Trump has praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his leadership in addressing terrorism and insecurity, particularly attacks on Christian communities. This commendation was conveyed in a letter dated July 6, 2026, according to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu鈥檚 Special Adviser on Information and Strategy. In his letter, Trump stated that he deployed US Special Operations Forces, including Navy SEAL Team 6, to train and support Nigeria鈥檚 military in its counter-terrorism efforts. He described the bilateral security partnership as historic, emphasizing a shared goal of confronting terrorism and referencing the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap as a framework for this objective. Trump expressed pride in deploying elite US military units to equip the Armed Forces of Nigeria with necessary skills, tools, and intelligence to protect the nation and ensure the safety of its citizens, especially those of faith who have been targeted.
Must ReadFormer United States President Donald Trump has praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his leadership in addressing terrorism and insecurity, particularly concerning attacks on Christian communities. In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump acknowledged Tinubu's efforts to tackle security challenges and reaffirmed the US's commitment to supporting Nigeria's fight against terrorism. Trump highlighted the importance of the US-Nigeria relationship, especially given the spread of conflict across West Africa, and mentioned the mutual goal of confronting terrorism. He noted the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap as a framework for this collaboration. Trump also stated that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces to support Nigeria's military, providing skills, tools, and intelligence to protect the nation and its citizens, particularly those of faith. The Presidency reported that security cooperation between Nigeria and the US has intensified, with a Joint Working Group focusing on training, intelligence sharing, and joint operations against terrorist groups. This collaboration led to a coordinated operation on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly resulted in the death of Abubakar Al-Minoki, a top leader of the group, and several of his lieutenants. US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, recently visited Abuja to discuss deepening cooperation.