Entertainment
Gombe United Storms Aba For Super League Play-Offs
Nigeria National League says Gombe United last Wednesday arrived in Aba for the Nigeria National League Super 8 play-offs which began yesterday.
This is coming as some other teams, who are scheduled to take part in the competition, were yet to leave their bases as at Wednesday afternoon.
Eight teams – Remo Stars, Kada City Stars, Kogi United, Delta Force, Insurance, Shooting Stars, Gombe United and Real Stars – finished first and second in the four groups of the lower league at the end of the season.
But the Super 8 has generated a lot of controversy after the NNL at its Annual General Assembly on November 24 agreed to promote eight teams to the Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2019 season but the League Management Company and the Nigeria Football Federation rejected the proposal, insisting that only four teams would join the 20 teams in the Nigerian topflight.
After the failure of five clubs to honour its previous instruction to participate in the play-offs last December, the NFF instructed the NNL to organise the play-offs among the teams and present four winners for promotion latest January 3.
However, since the NFF’s announcement, our correspondent learnt that the lower league body has failed to communicate with the eight clubs, who will play in the play-offs.
On Wednesday, the NNL in a letter to the Chairman of the NFF Football Committee requested for a shift in the commencement date of the play-offs from January 3 to 5.
“Sequel to our meeting of December 27th, 2018, held in Lagos, we hereby request for a shift of date of commencement of the Super 8 tournament from January 3 to 5, 2019. This is to enable the concerned clubs effect the resolutions of the meeting in good time,” the letter, signed by the Chief Operating Officer of the NNL, Lawrence Katken, read.
However, while awaiting the response of the NFF, Gombe said they have arrived at the venue of the competition and would be there till further instructions on the competition are communicated.
“Our players arrived in Aba on Wednesday and we are ready for the Super 8. We don’t know if there will be a change in the starting date but we followed the January 3 commencement date and any other information will be communicated to us there,” club spokesman Halilu Teli told our correspondent.
But some other clubs officials who spoke with our correspondent said they have yet to arrive in Aba.
Real Stars coach Garba Lawal said, “We are still in Kaduna – in fact the players trained today (Wednesday). We are waiting for the instruction from the club chairman before we leave for Aba.”
Also, 3SC Team Manager Dimeji Lawal said, “The resolution of all the clubs on the Super 8 is still unknown. Shooting Stars have not left for Aba. We are waiting for instructions on the competition.”
Remo Stars spokesman Dimeji Oshode said, “Remo Stars have not left for Aba.”
Meanwhile, Gombe and Real said they have yet to receive the N2m promised them by the NFF.
The NFF Emergency Committee promised to pay each of the three teams who were in Aba in December for the postponed play-offs N2m. Delta Force, Real and Gombe are the affected teams.
Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.
Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.
Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.
Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.
What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.
Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.
Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.
Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.
Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.
And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.
Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.
The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.
“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.
While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.
Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”
The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.
Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.
The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.
After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.
Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.
“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”
The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.
Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.
Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.
The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.
“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.
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