Sports
NFL star acquitted in ‘trial of the century’ is dead
OJ Simpson, the former American footballer who was controversially cleared of double murder, has died aged 76.
Orenthal James Simpson rose to fame as a college footballer before playing in the NFL.
In 1995, he was acquitted of the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown and a friend in a trial that gripped America.
In 2008, he was sentenced to 33 years’ imprisonment on charges of armed robbery. He was released in 2017.
Simpson died of cancer on Wednesday “surrounded by his children and grandchildren”, a family statement read.
In 1994, Simpson was arrested as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.
The pair were found stabbed to death outside Brown’s home in Los Angeles, and Simpson was an immediate person of interest in the case.
On the day he was due to turn himself in, Simpson fled in his white Ford Bronco with a former teammate, and led the police on a slow-speed chase through the Los Angeles area.
That chase engrossed audiences in both the United States and abroad as it was broadcast live on “rolling” 24-hour news channels that were still in their relative infancy.
In the ensuing court case, dubbed the “trial of the century” by US media, prosecutors argued Simpson had killed Brown in a jealous fury. Evidence included blood, hair and fibre tests linking Simpson to the murders.
The defence argued Simpson was framed by police who were motivated by racism.
In one of the trial’s most memorable moments, prosecutors asked Simpson to wear a pair of blood-stained gloves allegedly found at the scene of the murder, but Simpson struggled to put them on. It led to one of Simpson’s lawyers, Johnnie Cochrane, telling the jury in his closing arguments: “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
The jury ultimately sided with Simpson, who declared he was “absolutely 100 percent not guilty”. The acquittal proved hugely controversial.
The families of Smith and Goldman did not give up – they pursued a civil case against Simpson in 1997 where a jury found Simpson liable for the two deaths. He was ordered to pay US$33.5m (NZ$57m) in damages to their families.
In 2006, Simpson sold a book manuscript, titled “If I Did It”, and a prospective TV interview, giving a “hypothetical” account of the murders he had always strenuously denied.
Public objections ended both projects, but Goldman’s family secured the book rights, added material imputing guilt to Simpson and had it published.
Simpson’s final disgrace came in 2008, when he was convicted of armed robbery for breaking into a Las Vegas hotel room with four accomplices, holding two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint and stealing items related to his NFL career.
He was sentenced to 33 years in jail, but was granted parole after serving the minimum of nine years.
Before his legal problems, Simpson was well-liked, known as an athlete, actor and the face of several major companies.
He was a college football star at University of Southern California before signing with the Buffalo Bills in 1969, where he played until 1977.
He became one of the greatest ball carriers in NFL history. In 1973, he was the first NFL player to “rush” – running to advance the ball for his team – more than 2000 yards in a season.
He retired in 1979 to concentrate on a career in film and television. His credits include roles in the Towering Inferno, Capricorn One and the Naked Gun series.
Initial public reaction to his death ranged from muted to hostile.
In a statement, the Pro Football Hall of Fame outlined Simpson’s achievements as an NFL player, and said records of those contributions would be preserved in its archive.
Fred Goldman, Ronald’s father, described Simpson’s death as “no great loss”.
“The only thing I have to say is it’s just further reminder of Ron being gone all these years,” he told the NBC News network. “It’s no great loss to the world. It’s a further reminder of Ron’s being gone.”
Liverpool claimed a well deserved 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday morning AEDT as the biggest storyline heading into the match did not materialise until the 81st minute.
All eyes were on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to Anfield following his free transfer to Madrid in the off-season, with his mural defaced ahead of the match, but the right-back only appeared off the bench to boos from the stands.
Arne Slot’s side looked back to their fluid best and would have won by far more had Thibaut Courtois not pulled off a string of remarkable saves.
Ultimately, the Madrid goalkeeper was eventually beaten just after the hour mark with the Belgian powerless to keep out Alexis Mac Allister’s bullet header after a pinpoint free-kick delivery from Dominik Szoboszlai, who again was immense in midfield for the Reds, after a careless foul from Jude Bellingham on Ryan Gravenberch.
Prior to that, Courtois made a remarkable six big saves to deny Liverpool. Three times he kept out Szoboszlai from outside the box, once he denied Mac Allister and then both Hugo Ekitike and Virgil van Dijk with close range headers from corners.
The Reds thought they may have had a penalty on the cusp of half-time when Eder Militao blocked a strike with his arms, but after a VAR check he was ruled to have been in a natural position.
It is uncertain whether Nigerian striker Victor Boniface has moved on from his failed attempt to join the Saudi Arabian league last season, where he could have become one of the highest-earning African players in the world.
Since recovering from his injury, things have not gone well for the Super Eagles striker.
He missed the opportunity to play for Italian giants AC Milan after failing a medical exam following a proposed move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Werder Bremen head coach Horst Steffen expressed clear frustration after Victor Boniface failed to deliver in their 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Mainz.
Following a promising full debut against Union Berlin, expectations were high for the 24-year-old, Nigerian striker, but his performance fell flat at the Weserstadion.
Boniface, who started up front for Bremen, registered no shots on target, no assists, and completed just over half of his passes.
The Super Eagles striker’s display was rated a disappointing 5, describing him as largely anonymous throughout the match.
The 24-year-old forward’s struggles made public Werder Bremen’s difficulties in breaking down Mainz’s compact defensive structure.
According to German outlet BILD, Steffen was honest in his post-match comments, saying:
“He tried to hold onto the ball up front. Today I thought to myself: come on, he can do even better.”
The coach’s remarks underlined growing concerns about Boniface’s adaptation and form since joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.
Boniface’s fitness and form under review Boniface’s recent form in the Bundesliga has been far from ideal.
The Nigerian forward has made seven league appearances for Werder Bremen, and has registered 255 minutes of play without a goal, as seen on Transfermarkt.
While Boniface has one assist to his name this season, the lack of end product and visible sharpness has drawn increasing scrutiny from the coaching staff.
Reports suggest that Boniface is still regaining full fitness after a series of injury setbacks and is carrying a bit of extra weight, limiting his pace.
Steffen previously criticised the striker’s tactical discipline after a 3-0 defeat to Freiburg, saying:
“He was too ‘everywhere’ for me. He should definitely be more centrally located. It wasn’t how I wanted it.”
Despite these struggles, the Werder boss has maintained that Boniface is still in transition and needs time to rediscover his top form.
Sports
(Video): Osimhen Buried Ayodele’s Prophecy; What Nigerian Prophet Said About Galatasaray Striker
Galatasaray’s in-form striker, Victor Osimhen, is making headlines as he emerges as one of the most prolific scorers in the world, showcasing his impressive talents while wearing the colors of the Turkish champions.
This remarkable performance comes in stark contrast to the predictions made by the well-known Nigerian prophet, Primate Ayodele.
Primate Ayodele has garnered a reputation for his predictions spanning both the political arena and the world of sports. His forecasts often spark interest and debate among fans and analysts alike. Notably, he gained attention last season when he made bold predictions regarding Liverpool’s match, which ultimately did not come to fruition.
As Osimhen continues to shine on the pitch, the clash between his rising prominence and Ayodele’s predictions presents a compelling narrative for football enthusiasts.
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, issued a prophecy against the Super Eagles striker to have a rethink on his move to Galatasaray Football Club in the Turkish Süper Lig from Napoli.
Victor Osimhen, who worked hard to secure his permanent move to Galatasaray, has faced criticism from Primate Ayodele in a viral video that circulated on several social media platforms since Monday. The seer declared that the striker made the worst mistake of his life by joining Galatasaray, claiming that this decision would only bring him misery.
The prophet who had also warned Osimhen against joining Chelsea in the English Premier League last year stated that his move to the Turkish club would lead to his downfall.
Addressing the player directly, Primate Ayodele said:
“Osimhen, that four years deal is failed. That four years deal, you will not enjoy it. Osimhen, Who gave you that advice? You better have a rethink, Osimhen. Your ruin and wretchedness is about to befall you. I am telling you!”
But Osimhen’s recent dazzling performances in the colours of Galatasaray have cast doubt on the authenticity of the trending prophecy.
At a roaring RamsPark in Istanbul, the Nigerian striker reaffirmed his status as one of Europe’s most lethal forwards, scoring twice to inspire Galatasaray to a commanding 3–1 victory over Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League.
The result not only gave the Turkish giants back-to-back European wins, their first such streak in nearly a decade, but also etched Osimhen’s name in club history books, as he became the sole holder of the record for goals in the most consecutive European games for Galatasaray.
Osimhe’s superlative display has set the world ablaze again, with Barcelona reportedly interested in the Galatasaray striker, according to Mundo Deportivo. Any possible move for the 26-year-old depends on the Blaugrana’s financial situation and sporting director Deco has cooled expectations in that regard, with Gala having spent €75 million to sign the Nigeria international in the summer.
In response to the recent developments surrounding Osimhen, following a grim prediction by a Nigerian prophet, one of his closest friends (name withheld) stated that the lanky striker is concentrating on football rather than an already dismissed prophecy.
“Victor is focused and ready to do something greater for Gala, as you can see so far. As for me, the guy has already buried any doom prediction, and very soon everyone will see if the prophecy is true or false. Victor is made by football and his fans, not by a prophet on social media.”
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is increasingly mired in turmoil, with crises escalating daily.
Recent reports from a credible source have unveiled a shocking development: two influential governors from northern states, who currently serve within the PDP, are poised to defect ahead of the pivotal 2027 election.
The party’s predicament is further reflected in the exodus of members, as disheartened individuals abandon ship for the All Progressives Congress, African Democratic Congress, and Labour Party. This mass departure stems from deep-seated, unresolvable issues that have left the opposition party floundering and its leadership in disarray.
As if the situation could not become any more dire, a federal high court in Abuja has delivered a substantial blow by halting the PDP’s much-anticipated national convention, originally scheduled for November 15 and 16 in the vibrant city of Ibadan, Oyo State. This legal setback has only deepened the party’s woes, casting a shadow over its future.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that by failing to conduct valid state congresses before moving to hold a national congress, the party breached provisions of the 1999 constitution, guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as its own constitution.
A source, who requested anonymity, disclosed that two Northern governors have decided to defect shortly after the Bayelsa state governors were reportedly set to join the APC on Monday.
Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, will officially join the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, TheCable understands.
Sources informed TheCable that President Bola Tinubu, APC governors, and members of the party’s national working committee (NWC) will receive Diri into the ruling party.
Sources familiar with the backroom manoeuvring said Diri, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15, has been engaged in discreet negotiations with APC figures to finalise his defection plan.
A party source said the delay in Diri’s formal defection was to ensure the “seamless integration of the PDP bloc into the APC’s Bayelsa structure” and to “prevent internal friction” ahead of the 2027 elections.
The defection is one of the most significant political realignments in the south-south since 2023, signalling APC’s renewed push to expand its base in the oil-rich zone hitherto dominated by the PDP.
In recent months, the PDP has been hit by a wave of high-profile defections, including several lawmakers in the national assembly, weakening its influence.
The exodus has not been limited to the national assembly. This year alone, the PDP has lost at least four sitting governors — Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu) and Diri (Bayelsa).
The gale of departures has cut the party’s governorship count to eight, amid growing speculation that Agbu Kefas, governor of Taraba, will be the next to cross over to the APC.
Recent insights from reliable sources suggest that Liverpool’s ongoing struggle with poor performance is linked to a significant disagreement between star forward Mo Salah and the club’s head coach, Arne Slot.
This discord appears to have impacted team dynamics and cohesion, contributing to the team’s inability to secure favorable results on the pitch.
The Reds’ struggles continued as they were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Anfield. Before that, they had lost four straight Premier League games, falling to seventh place on the table seven points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Slot made ten changes to the starting lineup that lost to Brentford in their previous league match, but the result didn’t improve.
According to the source, there appears to be tension between the coach and Mohamed Salah regarding selection decisions. Both parties seem to be struggling to find a common ground in their approach.
Mohamed Salah has already given an insight into Arne Slot’s likely reaction to Liverpool’s poor run of form. The Reds have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions after being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
A much-changed Liverpool side exited the competition with a whimper courtesy of an Ismaila Sarr brace and a late goal from Yeremy Pino. However, it was merely a continuation of the slump that has seen Slot’s side lose their last four Premier League matches.
The reigning champions have now fallen to seventh in the table and face a tricky test against Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday, with games against Real Madrid and Manchester City following next week. There will be plenty of eyes on how Liverpool fare this weekend as Slot looks to overcome the first major issue of his tenure.
Last season, the new Liverpool boss only added Federico Chiesa to his squad as the Reds dominated the Premier League. Liverpool’s subsequent big-money signings have led to problems with the team rediscovering the same balance.
Salah previously explained how Slot reacted to setbacks following a 3-1 home win over Southampton in March. Liverpool had fallen behind just before the break, much to the manager’s frustration, before Darwin Nunez’s equaliser and two penalties from Salah secured three points. Slot will likely have a similar reaction to his side’s recent run of defeats.
Salah admitted that the Liverpool boss had been angry with his players after struggling to create chances against Southampton and conceding moments before the interval. “It was a bit of frustration. His head was going for us,” Salah admitted.
“We were sloppy and slow in the first half. I don’t think we played good today. If you want to win the Champions League or Premier League you have to win these games like that.”
In his post-match press conference, Slot shared that he had called out his players in the dressing room. “I don’t think I was wrong this time if I said at half-time that energy levels were far, far, far too low, and that is what I had to change and that’s why we made three substitutions,” he said.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria on Tuesday qualified for the Women African Cup Of Nations (WAFCON) coming up in Morocco next year, as reported by newsdiaryonline.
The Super Falcons played 1:1 draw with their Benin Republic counterpart in the second leg of the qualifier at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta
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Nigerian defender Ashleigh Plumptre scored in the 11th minute, heading the ball home from a corner kick.
The goal compounded the woes for the Amazon, who had previously lost the first leg 2 goals to nil in Lome.
During the second half, the Beninoise came out more impressive and were rewarded in the 61st minutes through a direct free kick from Yasminath Djibril , beating Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the duo of Deborah Abiodun and Esther Okoronkwo sustained injuries and were substituted during the match.
Speaking at the post match press conference, Super Falcon’s Coach , Justine Madugu, said that though the team played below expectations, he was, however, happy for the qualification.
“In terms of results, sometimes there can be off days, there can be bad days and we want to consider today’s match from this perspective.
“The performance is not what we need but we expected it.
“It didn’t come so much as a surprise because even, at the press conference yesterday, we knew it was going to be a tough game,” he said.
The 10th time African champion will be hoping to make it 11th time at the 2026 tournament in Morocco.
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