The teenager became Liverpool’s youngest goal-scorer, finishing superbly after Newcastle had fought back from two goals down in spite of Anthony Gordon’s red card.

Bruno Guimarães and Will Osula had briefly restored parity for Newcastle.

At the Emirates, Arsenal overwhelmed Leeds with a commanding 5–0 win.

Viktor Gyökeres scored twice, but injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard overshadowed celebrations.

Manchester City suffered a shock 2–0 home defeat to Tottenham.

READ ALSO: Oluremi Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu empower 1,000 women, PWDs

Richarlison led the line impressively, with Spurs exploiting City’s defensive gaps to secure a famous victory.

Chelsea produced a ruthless display, thrashing West Ham 5–1 away.

The defeat intensified pressure on Hammers manager Graham Potter after another disorganised defensive performance.

Everton delighted their home fans with a 2–0 triumph against Brighton at Goodison Park, collecting their first points of the season in convincing style.

Manchester United endured further frustration at Fulham.

Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty, and Emile Smith Rowe’s late strike earned the hosts a valuable 1–1 draw.

Elsewhere, Burnley eased past newly promoted Sunderland 2–0 at Turf Moor. Bournemouth edged Wolves 1–0, while Brentford beat Aston Villa by the same scoreline.

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest shared the points in a 1–1 draw at Selhurst Park, where off-field protests by supporters overshadowed events on the pitch.

Matchweek Two delivered surprises and statement performances, with Tottenham’s resilience, Arsenal’s firepower, and Ngumoha’s heroics ensuring a weekend rich in storylines across the Premier League.

Source: NAN

The post Liverpool’s Ngumoha headlines dramatic EPL matchweek appeared first on Frontpageng.

The aggressive expansion, according to the management, led to a significant increase in the company’s sales, with an attendant rise in revenue and profitability.

During the Annual General Meeting, AGM, held in Lagos on Thursday, shareholders approved the proposed dividend payout of N2 per share just as the Chairman of the Company, Olakunle Alake, identified operational efficiency and strategic initiatives as core elements behind the company’s impressive run during the year.

Alake, while addressing shareholders said, “Our performance has been commendable, a testament to our strategic initiatives, operational efficiencies, and the dedication of our workforce. We have successfully expanded our market presence, which has been instrumental in driving sales. Our continued focus on customer satisfaction and our commitment to delivering high-quality products have allowed us to gain new customers while retaining the loyalty of existing ones.”

He added, “During the year, we adopted several strategic initiatives aimed at enabling the company to take advantage of growth opportunities. We demonstrated our commitment to sustainability by encouraging responsible resource use. We also engaged in community development efforts, alongside numerous employee welfare and development programs. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to value creation for all our stakeholders.”

Alake noted, “In recognition of this positive performance and our commitment to delivering value to our shareholders, we recommend the highest dividend ever declared in our company’s history. This decision reflects our confidence in the company’s prospects and aims to reward our shareholders for their continued support.”

He emphasized that as the company moved into the next year, the primary focus would remain on driving growth through innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering value to stakeholders noting that the management of NASCON was committed to investing in our people and in technology.

“We will continue to explore new market opportunities to expand our footprint,” he stated.

Managing Director of NASCON, Thabo Mabe, commented that 2024 had been exceptionally positive for the company, stating, “We achieved a profit growth of 14 per cent to N15.6 billion, thanks to strong demand for our core products and our strategic market presence.”

Mabe said, “We optimized strategic opportunities that have positioned us for continued growth. Our operational efficiencies have improved, enhancing our overall profitability.”

For the year 2025, he outlined the primary goals, including continuing the revenue growth trajectory, expanding into new markets, and enhancing product lines. He concluded by stating, “We will further invest in our sustainability initiatives and aim to reduce carbon emissions. Our workforce development programmes will also continue, focusing on upskilling and fostering a culture of innovation.”

For the year ending December 31, 2024, the company reported revenue growth of 49 per cent, reaching N120.4 billion.

Gross profit increased by 25 per cent to N55.5 billion, while EBITDA rose by 19 per cent to N27.4 billion. Profit before tax grew by 15 per cent to N23.7 billion, and profit after tax increased by 14 per cent to N15.6 billion.

Earnings per share climbed by 11 per cent to N5.77, with a proposed dividend up by 100 per cent to N2.00.

Commenting one after another on the performance of the company, shareholders commended the company for its impressive financial performance in 2024 and the declared dividend of N2 per share.

Mrs. Bisi Bakare, National Coordinator of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association, praised the company’s remarkable financial achievements.

She noted, “We observed revenue growth of 48.94 per cent to N129.39 billion, up from N18.8 billion. Despite the macroeconomic challenges we faced, profit after tax reached N15.6 billion, up from N13.7 billion. I commend the entire board and management for this outstanding result. Additionally, I appreciate the board for declaring a dividend of N2.00. We thank the board for that, and we hope for increased dividends next year.”

Another shareholder, Dr. Umar Farouk, urged the management not to rest on its oars but continue in the commendable trajectory of good performance despite the economic headwind which affected a lot of other companies negatively.

Mr. Moses Igbrude, a shareholder, also praised the company for the N2.00 per share dividend and expressed the hope that the management would do even more next year.

New Deputy Managing-Director of the company, Aderemi Saka, expressed satisfaction that the company demonstrated resilience, with remarkable revenue and strong performance in spite of the fact that the year 2024 was marked with various macroeconomic challenges.

“We maintain our market share and increase our revenue. We will keep our head up, continue to provide quality products that stand the test of time and improve on our shareholders value so that we can remain a strong contender in the market,” Saka stated.

The post How we achieved 100% growth in dividend payout, higher profitability -NASCON appeared first on Frontpageng.

Fabián Ruiz fired the opener in the 27th minutes at the Parc des Princes.

Achraf Hakimi curled the second in the 72nd for the French champions, who three minutes earlier had failed to convert a penalty from Vitinha.

Arsenal got a lifeline from Bukayo Saka in the 76th but it was too little too late for the Gunners who had wasted a trio of top chances in the opening minutes.

In the Munich final on May 31, PSG will face three-time champions Inter Milan, who won a semi-final tie for the ages 7-6 on aggregate against Barcelona the previous day.

Qatari-owned PSG have long thirsted to win the European elite event for the first time.

They reached the final in 2020, losing to Bayern Munich, while also being stopped in several semi-finals.

READ ALSO: Senate passes two key tax bills

A treble is possible for PSG who have already clinched the Ligue 1 title and are in the Coupe de France final under coach Luis Enrique, who already has a treble from 2015 while in charge of Barca.

The success run, which saw Arsenal as their third English scalp after Liverpool and Aston Villa, comes amid a new strategic approach a year after the departure of talisman Kylian Mbappé, and previous exits of superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Arsenal meanwhile failed to make the final for the second time 19 years after their debut there in 2006, when they lost against Barca.

They impressively beat title holders and record winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, but now see their season unravel late, having also lost the Premier League title race against Liverpool.

Source: dpa/NAN

The post PSG beat Arsenal to zoom into Champions League final appeared first on Frontpageng.

Bukayo Saka, absent from Arsenal’s last two games with a hamstring injury, scored the opener after just nine minutes before Virgil van Dijk hauled Liverpool level.

Mikel Merino then restored his side’s lead only for Salah to convert Darwin Nunez’s cross to deny the home side a win.

READ ALSO: NDLEA intercepts drugs in shoe soles, N16.6b opioids

The thrilling draw leaves Liverpool second, a point behind table-toppers Manchester City, with Arsenal third, now five points off the pace.

Source: dpa/NAN

The post Salah equaliser denies Arsenal victory against Liverpool appeared first on Frontpageng.

After drawing away to Italian side Atalanta in their opening game the onus was on Mikel Arteta’s side to deliver a home win against last year’s semi-finalists and they delivered.

German forward Havertz headed his side in front after 20 minutes with his fifth goal of the season and 15 minutes later Bukayo Saka’s free kick somehow found its way into the PSG net to put the hosts in complete control.

PSG, who won their opening game against Girona, struck the woodwork in each half and played with more urgency after the interval but could have few complaints about the outcome.

Victory propelled Arsenal into the top eight of the new 36-team league phase with their next match at home to Shakhtar Donetsk after the international break. PSG will seek to bounce back in their next match at home to PSV Eindhoven.

Such is the confidence sweeping through Arsenal at the moment that a home game against seasoned European opposition managed by Luis Enrique held no fears.

READ ALSO: NIWA MD, Oyebamiji welcomes over 500 PDP members to APC in Ikire

They almost made the perfect start in route-one fashion as a long clearance by keeper David Raya skimmed off the wet turf and Gabriel Martinelli almost nicked it past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Arsenal took the lead in the 20th minute as Trossard was allowed too much time on the left and his lofted ball was perfect for the late run of Havertz who nodded past the out-of-position Donnarumma into an empty net.

Nuno Mendes struck a left-footed shot against the post as PSG responded but Arsenal soon doubled their lead.

Havertz’s goal extended PSG’s run without a clean sheet away from home in the Champions League to 20 — a sorry sequence starting four years ago.

And the way they conceded again in the 35th would not have looked out of place on a local park pitch.

Saka curled a free kick from the right into a crowded penalty area and the ball evaded everyone and left Donnarumma red-faced as it nestled into the net.

PSG’s hopes of mounting a second-half comeback were hardly helped by Luis Enrique’s decision to omit forward Ousmane Dembele from the squad for disciplinary reasons.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Havertz on target as Arsenal beat PSG 2-0 appeared first on Frontpageng.

The former Tottenham Hotspur player, so often Arsenal’s nemesis in north London derbies, stroked home a penalty in the 32nd minute as the Bundesliga side hit back to lead 2-1.

Premier League leaders Arsenal, playing in their first Champions League quarter-final for 14 years, had gone in front early on with a clinical Bukayo Saka strike.

But Bayern, whose reign as German champions is as good as over as they trail Bayer Leverkusen by 16 points, showed they remain a European force to be reckoned with.

Arsenal were stunned as their former striker Serge Gnabry levelled six minutes later and Kane rolled home his 39th goal of an incredible first season for Bayern.

This was after Leroy Sane was brought down by William Saliba in the box.

Mikel Arteta’s side ensured they will head to Bavaria next Wednesday full of hope as substitute Leandro Trossard equalised in the 76th minute to leave the tie hanging in the balance.

The return of Kane, who scored a record 14 goals for Tottenham in the north London derby, to one of his favourite haunts was the big pre-match talking point.

And he duly silenced the Arsenal jeers.

“It wasn’t an easy game,” Kane said.

“Arsenal are a really good team.

“They’re top of the Premier League right now so we had to dig deep at times but it’s a good result and hopefully we can make the difference at home.”

Predictably, Kane was booed every time he touched the ball although the England captain was hardly involved in the early exchanges as Arsenal seized the initiative.

Six-time champions Bayern, seeking salvation in Europe after a poor domestic season, were handicapped by having no fans inside the Emirates Stadium as punishment for their supporters throwing fireworks in the previous round.

They went behind in the 12th minute when Ben White played the ball inside to Saka who picked his spot and curled a low left-footed shot beyond Manuel Neuer.

White should have made it 2-0 soon afterwards but shot straight at Neuer and then Arsenal’s defence, so impregnable in the Premier League of late, suddenly went missing.

They carelessly lost possession in the 18th minute and Bayern punished them as Leon Goretzka fed a perfect pass to Gnabry who clipped a finish past the on-rushing David Raya.

READ ALSO: Who is teaching digitally poor to use smartphones to boost cashless?

Sane was then allowed to run and run from deep before being toppled by Saliba and referee Glenn Nyberg had the simplest decision to point to the penalty spot.

The 60,000 crowd suddenly went quiet as memories of heavy European defeats by Bayern, notably a 10-2 aggregate defeat in the last 16 in 2017, flooded back.

It would have gotten worse but for a goal-saving tackle by White on Sane.

Bayern, with another former Spurs player Eric Dier impressive in defence, looked comfortable after the break.

Arteta sent on Trossard and Gabriel Jesus just past the midway point of the second half.

They combined in the 76th minute as Jesus fed Trossard to slot a low shot inside the post.

A frantic ending saw Bayern substitute Kingsley Coman strike the post from close range while the game ended with Arsenal screaming for a penalty.

This was after Saka went down in the area claiming he was fouled by Neuer.

“We’ve got a draw so the situation is clear, the winner moves on,” Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel said.

“We need the same devotion, passion and quality as we had tonight – and we’ll get through.”

Security was stepped up ahead of the game after Islamic State threatened drone attacks on Europe’s top club tournament.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Kane returns to haunt Arsenal as Bayern Munich earn 2-2 draw appeared first on Frontpageng.

His goals included a 90th-minute winner, in a rip-roaring clash at The Emirates.

It had looked as though it would end honours even after Manchester United withstood a late siege.

But Nketiah tapped in from close range to send the home fans into raptures.

A game that fully lived up to expectations saw Marcus Rashford give Manchester United the lead with a stunning early opener.

But Nketiah headed Arsenal level in a frantic first half.

Bukayo Saka’s flashing drive gave Arsenal the lead in the 53rd minute but Lisandro Martinez’s header levelled it up before the hour mark to set up an absorbing finale.

Saka struck the post and Nketiah was denied by David de Gea.

But the hosts were relentless as they avenged their loss to Manchester United earlier in the season — their sole defeat.

Mikel Arteta’s side have 50 points from 19 games, with Manchester City on 45 and Manchester United in fourth place on 39, below Newcastle United on goal difference.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Nketiah strikes late as leaders Arsenal edge Manchester United appeared first on Frontpageng.

Saka opened the scoring early on before defender Kieran Tierney doubled Arsenal’s lead just before half-time.

Saka added a third just after the hour-mark, and Norwich’s hopes were over as striker Alexandre Lacazette scored a penalty in the final 10 minutes.

Midfielder Emile Smith Rowe then helped turn the result into a thrashing as he scored Arsenal’s fifth just before full-time.

Sunday’s result moves Arsenal to 35 points after 19 games as manager Mikel Arteta’s side earned their fourth consecutive league win, aiding their bid to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2017.

“It’s a very satisfying result because in this festive period we have to keep performances to a high level.

“We looked really sharp and committed.

“It’s a big win for us. The amount of chances we create is pleasing. We go to every ground to try and impose our game. Today was a really good example,” Arteta said.

Saka gave his side an early lead with a well-worked team goal.

The 20-year-old collected the ball on the right-hand side following a nice move from the visitors before cutting inside and firing past Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

Tensions threatened to boil over just before half-time, with two separate clashes between the two sides.

The first came after Arsenal midfielder, Granit Xhaka, was booked for a tackle on opposing striker Josh Sargent.

The second came in the next phase of play after Arsenal defender, Ben White, made a tackle on Norwich’s Brandon Williams.

Arsenal doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when midfielder Martin Odegaard found Tierney with a through ball, who slotted home.

Arteta’s side continued to dominate in the second half, and Saka took advantage once again, adding a third on 67 minutes with a powerful strike from the edge of the 18-yard-box.

Lacazette won a penalty on 83 minutes when he was brought down by Norwich defender, Ozan Kabak, which he powerfully tucked away.

Smith Rowe capped a successful Sunday for Arsenal as he came off the bench and netted from close range.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Bukayo Saka nets brace as Arsenal ease past Norwich in 5-0 win appeared first on Frontpageng.