Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro, has made his pick on the player to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or award.
France Football, the organisers of the most prestigious individual award in football, recently released a 30-man shortlist for the award.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool was one of the players in the list and Casemiro feels he should be given the award.
Salah scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists in 52 outings across competitions for the Reds.
The Egyptian’s performance helped Arne Slot’s side win the Premier League title.
However, Casemiro told British GQ that Salah fulfilled all requirements to win the award last season, describing him as the most balanced player last season.
The Brazilian said as quoted by The Touchline, “Mohamed Salah. He is the best player, with his impact in the game.
“He scores so much, assists so much. The most balanced player last season was Salah.”
The 30-man shortlist also has the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has transmitted power to his deputy, Malam Faruk Lawal.
A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Salisu Zango said the governor is proceeding to a three-week medical leave to address health concerns.
The statement said, “I want to thank everyone for their kind words and ongoing support,” Governor Radda said. “Taking the necessary steps to prioritize my health is essential so I can continue to serve effectively and make the best decisions for our state. I look forward to returning to my duties as soon as I finish my medical check up.
“To ensure seamless governance and continued leadership, the state Deputy Governor Malam Faruk Lawal, HCIB (Sarkin Fulanin Jobe) has been designated to assume the responsibilities of the governor during his absence in an acting capacity.
“Governor Radda expressed confidence in the deputy Governor’s ability to lead and manage affairs with the same dedication and commitment.
“We wish to assure the public that all ongoing initiatives, programs and projects will continue to progress without interruption.
“Governor Radda has been a steadfast advocate for his “Building Your future Agenda”, and his leadership has been instrumental in advancing the state’s priorities.
“The administration looks forward to his return, healthy and ready to continue serving the community.”
Good morning! Here are six top headlines from Nigerian Newspapers today;
1. The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has said the deployment of inclusive dialogue and non-partisan consultations in the state’s reconciliation process have led to the restoration of calm and political stability. Ibas said this when he hosted the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Emergency Rule Implementation, led by its Chairman, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.
2. The Federal Government has launched an ambitious national skills programme to connect 20 million young Nigerians to jobs, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities by 2030. Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the plan as he assumed chairmanship of the reactivated Board of Generation Unlimited Nigeria during its inaugural meeting in Abuja, which coincided with International Youth Day 2025.
3. Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has announced a three-week medical leave to address health concerns. A statement by Bala Salisu Zango, the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, on Thursday said Radda would begin his medical leave on Monday August 18, 2025.
4. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has lifted the life-time ban placed on Ms. Comfort Emmanson by its members for unruly behaviour onboard Ibom Air Flight Q9 303 from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025. The group said this followed the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
5. In addition to their regular statutory allocations the Federal Government, said the State Governments, and Local Governments are getting more funds under the current administration leading to a surplus of about N7.1 trillion. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, on Thursday.
Dangote Group has finally spoken up after its truck knocked down Ruth Otabor, sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Phyna, in an accident in Auchi, Edo State.
The truck driver is currently under custody with the police; he had attempted to escape after the accident but was apprehended by eyewitnesses.
Hours after the accident, Dangote Group confirmed its truck crushed Ruth during the accident.
The company made this known in a statement on Thursday through its X account amid outrage by the public calling for justice for Ruth.
Phyna, on Wednesday, August 13th, 2025, took to her social media to demand justice for her sister, whose legs were amputated due to the severity of the accident.
Other Nollywood actresses, like Kate Henshaw, and others have joined Phyna to demand justice for her sister in the last 24 hours.
Reacting to the development, Dangote Group pledged to offer full support, including comprehensive medical care and appropriate compensation, in line with the company’s policy.
The firm said that its senior officials from Dangote Cement Plc, together with the insurance team, visited the victim and her family at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State.
“Following the recent road accident in Auchi, Edo State, involving one of our trucks, which sadly resulted in injury to Mrs. Ruth Otabor, senior officials from Dangote Cement Plc, together with our insurance team, promptly visited the scene, engaged with law enforcement authorities, and visited the victim and her family at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State.
Ruth Otabor, Phyna Sister at Edo Hospital
“This action reflects our unwavering commitment to the well-being of those affected. We are ensuring full support for Mrs. Otabor, including comprehensive medical care and appropriate compensation, in line with Dangote Group’s welfare policy.
“Our thoughts remain with Mrs. Ruth Otabor and her loved ones, and we wish her a full and speedy recovery.
The Nigerian news sphere reports that Dangote trucks are synonymous with road accidents in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu’s government following the administration’s failure to constitute the governing board of the National Pension Commission.
This was contained in a communiqué issued by the President of the union, Joe Ajaero.
News Sphere recall that the Central Working Committee of the labour union met on Wednesday to deliberate on urgent issues bedeviling Nigerians, particularly workers and members of the trade union movement.
According to the communique, the union accused the federal government of diverting workers’ funds allegedly through the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
The government’s claim of ownership of the NLC National Headquarters is also part of the issues being looked upon by the union.
According to NLC president, the property is owned by the Nigerian workers and not the government.
Ajero also lamented what he termed as “cyber and media bullying of the trade unions and leadership, coupled with covert moves to amend the NSITF Act in a manner that would disenfranchise workers and give the government full control over the funds”.
“The NSITF must account for and return all diverted funds within seven working days from today.
“The PENCOM board must be properly constituted in full compliance with the law within seven working days from today.
“The Pension Commission must submit to the NLC a full status report of the funds within the same period.
“If at the end of these seven working days, nothing is done, the NLC will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the sector”, the NLC president warns.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit pump price on Thursday after Dangote Refinery’s had earlier in the week slashed its ex-depot petrol price.
Nigerian Newssphere gathered that NNPCL retail outlets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have reduced their pump price to N890 per litre from N945.
This new fuel price has been reflected in NNPCL retail outlets such as mega station Danziyal Plaza, Central Area, Wuse Zone 4, Wuse Zone 6, and other of its filling stations in the nation’s capital.
The latest downward review of fuel price in NNPCL outlets represents an N55 reduction in fuel pump price.
This come after Nigerian filling stations, MRS and Empire Energy, on Thursday adjusted their fuel pump price to N885 and N946 per litre, down from N910 and N955 per litre.
The latest fuel price reduction trend is unconnected to Dangote Refinery’s ex-depot petrol price adjustment by N30 to N820 per litre from N850 and the price of crude oil in the international market.
Liverpool boss, Arne Slot has named three teams that are more intense than the Reds in the Premier League.
Slot’s side begin their Premier League title defence against Bournemouth on Friday.
Ahead of the game at Anfield, Slot has hailed the Cherries as one of the toughest teams to face.
Andoni Iraola’s men finished ninth in the top-flight last season and Slot feels they are “probably the most intense team in the league” – ahead of Newcastle United in second and Arsenal in third.
The Dutchman told reporters on Friday: “Bournemouth were probably [the] most intense team in the league [last season], for running.
“Then Newcastle and Arsenal, which sums up this league. Bournemouth are intense.”
The Ibom Air has come under another criticism following a trending video that captured the airline’s security officers forcefully dragging another passager out of the aircraft.
The video resurfaced barely 24 hours after Comfort Emmason, a female passenger recently accused of unruly conduct by the airline was released from custody.
Nigerian News Sphere recalls that a viral video captured Comfort being dragged out of the aircraft by the security officers over alleged unruly conduct.
In the process, the passenger’s two breasts were pulled out, causing chaos across the country with stakeholders condemning the move by the officers.
Similarly, the resurfacing video captured the airline’s security officers forcefully dragging the male passenger out of the aircraft.
The passenger could be heard begging the officers to leave him alone saying he was naked.
His cry, however, fell on a deaf ears as he was ‘thrown away’ from the aircraft.
Although the identity of the passenger could not immediately ascertain, the video has started generating reactions from netizens.
