NaijaHighland

Spread across categories like finance, tech, art, and sports, it features 30 young entrepreneurs in Africa who are innovating their respective industries. Every year, Forbes Africa releases a list of top 30 under 30 young Africans who are doing amazing things for themselves and for their community. Here are the Nigerians on this year’s list: 1.  Florence Otedola  (DJ Cuppy), 27, DJ, Founder, and Director, Red Velvet Music Group Industry: Entertainment 2.  Oluwatosin Ajibade (Mr. Eazi),  28, Musician and Founder, emPawa Africa Industry: Entertainment 3.  Patrick Okorie (Patoranking),  29, Musician Industry: Entertainment 4.  Tracy Batta,  29, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Smoothie Express Industry: Food and Beverage 5.  Olajumoke Oduwole , 29, Founder and CEO and Senior Web Developer, KJK Communication Limited Industry: Tech/software development 6.  Swanky Jerry , 28, Founder, Chief Creative Officer, Swanky Signatures Industry: ...

Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Neymar has finally agreed on a five-year contract with Barcelona. According to Spanish newspaper, Sport, the 27-year-old has verbally accepted Barcelona’s offer ‘without hesitation’ as he is aware of the high transfer fee that the La Liga champions will need to spend in order to re-sign him from PSG. This is coming after the forward, over the weekend, accepted to fulfil all three conditions from Barcelona in order to force a move back to Ernesto Valverde’s side. Neymar has been consistently linked with a return to Barcelona since joining PSG in 2017 for a world-record deal of £222 million. The Brazilian international earlier this week revealed his intention to leave PSG for Barcelona in this summer’s transfer window. “I do not want to play anymore in PSG. I want to go back to my house, where I should never have left,” Neymar told Mundo Deportivo. He was left out of Brazil’s 2019 Copa America squad after rupturing ankle ligaments...

The Crystal Palace defender is set to become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of Daniel James Aaron Wan-Bissaka will have a medical at Manchester United this week ahead of the completion of his £55 million ($70m) move from Crystal Palace. Goal can confirm the right-back is due to arrive at United’s Carrington training facility upon his return from international duty with England’s Under-21 side following their early exit from this summer’s European Championship tournament in Italy. Wan-Bissaka has been monitored extensively by United over the last few months and is expected to become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-choice right-back as the Norwegian looks to make United a younger, more dynamic force in all areas of the field. The 21-year-old caught the Red Devils’ eye with a combination of his intelligent attacking play and his fearless defending, and Palace have agreed to allow him to leave Selhurst Park after 46 appear...

Liverpool midfielder, Naby Keita has disclosed that fellow teammate, Mohamed Salah, helped him become a key player in Jurgen Klopp’s squad at Anfield. The Guinea international said that Salah has been advising him since he joined the Reds last summer from RB Leipzig. Keita and Salah are currently on international duty for their respective countries at the 2019 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Egypt. Asked about his relationship with the Egyptian international, Keita told CAF media in Egypt: “We get on very well, he always gives me some advice on the pitch in Liverpool. “He’s a nice guy who works hard. When he works at the gym, he always asks me to join him. “He looks after me like I’m his little brother.” Keita will hope to lead his country to victory when they tackle Nigeria on Wednesday at the 2019 AFCON fixture.

Arsenal have signed a new deal with Nigerian players: Ovie Ejeheri and Daniel Oyegoke, ahead of next season. According to Allnigieriasoccer, the Gunners signed the new deal with Ejeheri and Oyegoke at London Colney on Monday. Ejeheri is a goalkeeper while Oyegoke is a right-back. The duo will play for Arsenal's U18s in the 2019-2020 season. Arsenal finished outside of the English Premier League top-four last season. Unai Emery's side were defeated by Chelsea in the UEFA Europa League final last term.

Arsenal will take on Barcelona in a pre-season friendly at the Nou Camp on August 4. The two sides will compete for the Joan Gamper Trophy, a match held annually by Barcelona in honour of their founding member and former player and president. Barcelona have won their past three meetings with Arsenal, the last of which saw them defeat the Gunners 3-1 at the Nou Camp in a Champions League last-16 tie. The trip to Barcelona is likely to be Arsenal’s final pre-season friendly before they begin their Premier League campaign away to Newcastle on August 11. Unai Emery’s side will spend much of their pre-season in the USA, with their first match coming against the Colorado Rapids in Denver on July 16. Arsenal will then take part in the International Champions Cup, which will see them play Bayern Munich, Fiorentina and Real Madrid across America. They also host the Emirates Cup, where they play Lyon, and will travel to play Angers in France before taking on Barcelona....

Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Neymar, has been offered a £510,000-a-week salary by Real Madrid as reported by Mundo Deportivo on Thursday. The Spain newspaper claimed that Zinedine Zidane’s side want to sign the former Barcelona star in a bid to strengthen their squad ahead of next season. The report also claimed that the Los Blancos have made an offer of £115 million plus, either Gareth Bale or James Rodriguez to PSG to land the Brazilian international this summer. DAILY POST recalls that PSG will consider selling Neymar this summer if they receive a substantial offer. Chairman and CEO, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, told France Football that: “Players will have to be more responsible than before. “It must be completely different. They will have to do more and work harder. They are not there for their own amusement. “If they do not agree, the doors are open – Ciao! I do not want star behaviour anymore.”

Maurizio Sarri says returning to Italy to manage Juventus is the ‘crowning achievement of a long career’ after a year in charge of Chelsea. Sarri was presented as the new Juventus boss on Thursday following his signing on a three-year contract from Chelsea, where he won the Europa League in his final game in charge. The Blues agreed a compensation package with the Italian club, understood to be worth around £5m for Sarri, who felt he needed to return to his native country for “professional and personal needs” with his two elderly parents living there. Sarri said: “Juve are the best Italian club right now and offered me a chance to return to Italy. It’s the crowning achievement of a long career. “It’s been a long journey for me made up of gradual steps. I’m happy to be at the most important team in Italy and this is a further step forward after the experience at Chelsea. “I preferred to go abroad to avoid going from one Italian team to another. The Premier Le...

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski claims the club’s German players are “very much looking forward” to Leroy Sane signing for the Bundesliga champions. The Manchester City player has been linked with a move to Bavaria after he started only 21 games in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola’s domestic treble-winning side last season. City want to secure Sane to a new contract but Bayern president Uli Hoeness confirmed they were interested in signing the 23-year-old in May, before suggesting that a deal would be unlikely this summer because he would cost an “insane” amount of money. However, speculation persists that Sane could return to Germany, especially with Bayern looking to replace the departing Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, and Lewandowski has suggested that some of his team-mates are convinced the winger will be joining Niko Kovac’s side. “Bayern’s German players are now very much looking forward to Sane’s signing, but we have to wait and see what is ...

The Organising Committee of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has announced that Nigeria’s legendary Afro-beat singer Femi Anikulapo-Kuti will perform at the opening ceremony of the competition. Kuti, a four-time Grammy award nominee will be joined by two other musicians Hakim from Egypt and Dobet Gnahore from Ivory Coast. The 2019 AFCON is set to kick off with the new expanded 24 teams on Friday in Egypt, it will be preceded with a colourful opening ceremony. In a post on CAF’s official Twitter handle, the continental football body confirmed that Femi would perform the official song for this year’s AFCON alongside Hakim and Gnahore. The Afrobeat singer will perform in English, while Hakim and Gnahore perform in Arabic and French respectively. The three international musicians will sing “ Metgamaeen ” (We Are Together) produced by Synergy together on stage in Cairo, Egypt. Femi had previously performed at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 World Cup in South Af...

As at Tuesday morning, 12 out of the 16 spots in the knockout stage of the 2019 Women's World Cup, have been taken. With the group games ending on Thursday, June 20, there are four more slots left. Here's a rundown of Monday's action:  Germany 4 South Africa 0 Spain 0 China 0 Norway 2 South Korea 1 France 1 Nigeria 0 The teams that are now through to the round of 16 officially are: France Norway Germany Spain China Italy England Japan Netherlands Canada USA Sweden

Manchester United are willing to offer Paul Pogba a stunning £500,000-a-week contract, to stop him from moving to Real Madrid this summer, SportsMail reports. Pogba admitted his intention to leave, after saying "it could be time for a new challenge" last weekend. Real Madrid and Juventus have shown an interest in him, but United are determined to keep their record signing next season. Senior officials at Old Trafford, are also set to address the issue by offering Pogba a pay rise, that will up his current £290,000-a-week pay to nearer the £500,000 being picked up by United's top earner Alexis Sanchez. Pogba has two years left on his deal, which United have the option to extend by 12 months. Real Madrid are believed to have made an opening offer of £90m, but know that it will take considerably more than that to test United's resolve.

“Ten-man” Super Falcons were pipped 1-0 by the host nation, France, at the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup at the Roazhon Park, Rennes. Falcons conceded a penalty in the 79th minute which Wendie Renard scored following a re-take. Before the penalty, Ngozi Ebere was shown a red card which depleted the nine-time African champions from eleven to ten. The Super Falcons were able to keep their defensive discipline and heads after conceding via penalty, but that was not enough. Les Bleus enjoyed most of the possession in the first half but never lead to anything. Super Falcons were largely played in their half few instances where France had found themselves with clear-cut chances. Young fullback Chidinma Okeke continued with her impressive performance in her first Fifa Women’s World Cup, as did Halimatu Ayinde in her screening role in the midfield. Nigeria’s defense was compact, disciplined, and aggressive throughout the first forty-five minutes just like the team’s handler,...

Philippe Coutinho looks set to leave Barcelona this summer – but will not move to Manchester United out of respect for his former club Liverpool, Sky Sports News understands. United were monitoring Coutinho’s availability, with his valuation now understood to be significantly lower than the £142m paid to Liverpool by Barcelona last January, but Sky Sports News understands initial discussions have begun between Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazilian’s representatives over a summer transfer. Coutinho, presently with the Brazilian squad ahead of the Copa America, has admitted his form has been well below par – and sees his future away from the Catalan giants.

Manchester United have had a bid rising to £50m rejected by Crystal Palace for right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Sky Sports News understands. It is understood the bid was worth an initial £35m, with additional payments totalling to £15m. Palace are understood not to be happy with the structure of the proposed deal, but it is believed they would accept an offer of between £45m and £50m up front for the England U21 international. Although Wan-Bissaka favours a move to Old Trafford, he has not put in a transfer request or agitated for the switch. Palace are under no pressure to sell the 21-year-old, who featured 39 times in all competitions last season as the Eagles finished in 12th place. Wan-Bissaka has three years remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to bring in a right-back this summer following the departure of club captain Antonio Valencia.

Chelsea have rejected £35m bids from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for Willian, Sky Sports News understands. The Brazilian winger has entered the final 12 months of his deal at Stamford Bridge and, despite facing the possibility of losing him for free next summer, Chelsea are keen to keep hold of him next season. Chelsea are currently serving the first part of their two-window transfer ban imposed by FIFA and sold talisman Eden Hazard to Real Madrid for an initial £88m last week. The Blues may be able to avoid losing Willian for free next summer if they can reach an agreement over a new two-year deal. Barcelona have had a long-standing interest in Willian and saw three bids rejected by Chelsea last summer, with the final offer worth more than £55m. They renewed their interest in January, but once again were unable to strike a deal with Chelsea.

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Japanese forward, Takefusa Kubo. This is coming after the Los Blancos unveiled forward, Eden Hazard, on Thursday. The La Liga giants disclosed this in a statement posted on the club’s official website on Friday. Kubo, who is 18 years old, will be part of Madrid’s ‘Castilla’ team for next season. The statement read: “Takefusa Kubo (04/06/2001, Kanagawa, Japan) will come in to strengthen the Castilla ranks next season. The top level of the madridista academy are set to get their hands on one of the most promising youngsters in world football. A technically gifted and hugely talented attacking midfielder, he possess wonderful vision, quick feet and has an eye for goal. “At just 18 years of age, Kubo has already made his full Japan international debut (on the 9th of June against El Salvador). The Asian star joins the Whites from FC Tokyo, in Japan’s First Division, where he has made 13 appearances in the league in 2019 (4 goa...

Philippe Coutinho has admitted he did not have a good season with Barcelona, but has promised to improve. The Brazilian playmaker made a €120million move from Liverpool to Barcelona in January 2018 and initially enjoyed success at Camp Nou. But after eight goals and five assists in 18 league games in his half-season debut, Coutinho struggled in his first full campaign. He managed just five goals and two assists in LaLiga, while adding another three goals and three assists in the Champions League. Coutinho's poor form has seen him linked with a summer exit, with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, although the player is looking to stay and improve. "I have not had a good season. "My performances have been a lot worse than I expected they would. "The only way to improve and gain confidence is through hard work, and I have been working hard," he told reporters at Brazil's national camp.

Paulo Fonseca has been confirmed as Roma’s new head coach on an initial two-year contract. The 46-year-old has agreed to take over ahead of the start of the new season and an optional third year could extend the deal until the summer of 2022. “I am very pleased to be appointed the head coach of AS Roma,” Fonseca told the club’s official website. “I cannot wait to move to Rome, meet our fans and get started. Together, I believe we can create something special.” Fonseca, a Portuguese national born in Mozambique, joins from Shakhtar Donetsk where he won the league and cup double in all three seasons with the Ukrainian club. He also won the Ukrainian Super Cup in 2017.

British fighter, Anthony Joshua, is now number four in the world heavyweight ranking, as published by Ring Magazine. This comes after he suffered his first defeat as a professional to Andy Ruiz Jr. A seventh-round stoppage at Madison Square Garden, saw Ruiz Jr crowned unified heavyweight champion, the first Mexican-American to achieve the feat. Joshua is now one place behind him. Tyson Fury has now achieved the rank of best heavyweight in the world, while American Deontay Wilder is number two. Joshua's compatriot, Dillian Whyte, finishes off the top five. With a fight against Oscar Rivas coming up this month, Whyte will have an opportunity to put some pressure on the leading four in the heavyweight division.