• * Segun Odegbami

Former Nigeria international footballer ,Segun Odegbami has urged the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) to review its regulations and reinstate Senegal as champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title it awarded to Morocco.

Reacting to the verdict, Odegbami while backing Senegal as the true winner of the trophy, described CAF’s overturn of the January final result as “bizarre, condemnable and unjustifiable.”

According to Odegbami, Senegal had already been crowned champions and celebrated globally before the verdict was reversed on technical grounds.

“It is unheard of in football history. You cannot take away a trophy won on the pitch two months later,” he said.

He added that the decision has sparked widespread outrage among fans and stakeholders, warning it could damage CAF’s credibility.

“This judgement has shaken CAF’s credibility. It is not surprising the world is up in arms,” Odegbami stated.

He recalled that Senegal were officially crowned by CAF and FIFA officials before a global audience, only for the decision to be overturned later by the Appeals Committee, a ruling he labelled a “poisoned verdict.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria following a successful two-day state visit to the United Kingdom, arriving in Lagos alongside First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The President is expected to spend the upcoming Sallah break in the city.

He received a warm welcome at the airport from senior government officials, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, with applause from gathered supporters and well-wishers.

The visit, hailed as historic and the first full state visit by a Nigerian president to the UK in nearly 40 years, aimed to deepen diplomatic, economic, and trade relations between the two countries.

Key engagements included a royal reception and state banquet hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, as well as high-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street.

A major achievement was President Tinubu witnessing the signing of a £746 million financing agreement backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF).

The deal, involving Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, Citi Bank, and other partners, will fund the modernization and refurbishment of two vital Lagos seaports: the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.

The project is designed to reduce congestion, improve efficiency with modern systems, boost Nigeria’s role as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa, and include commitments to sourcing components from the UK.

The engagements highlighted strengthened bilateral cooperation, record trade levels, and mutual interests in infrastructure development and sustainable growth.

British beverage maker Twining Ovaltine is pumping a fresh £24 million into its Lagos manufacturing facility in an efforts to strengthen the bilateral trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

This is disclosed in a statement a statement issued by the UK’s Department of Business and Trade.It said that the investment will create over 100 direct jobs and boosting the company’s exports across West Africa.

Peter Kyle, the UK’s business and trade secretary, said that with bilateral trade now at an all-time high of £8.1 billion a year, the UK and Nigeria are showing how countries grow faster when they grow together.

He emphasised that as the two economies continue to enhance cooperation and trade relations, the investment plans will provide jobs for both countries while transforming lives.

“With Nigerian firms creating jobs across the UK and British businesses expanding into one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, our partnership is strengthening both economies and delivering real benefits for people in both countries,” Kyle said.

Meanwhile, located on Wempco road, Ogba, Lagos, Ovaltine has been available and popular in Nigeria since the 1930s via imports.The manufacturing facility marks the commencement of direct, local manufacturing of the brand by Twinings.