You may not be able to manage 120 books in 2026, but you should absolutely read more than you did on 2025.

A great place to start?

Elusive: How Enyimba Ended Nigeria's 39-year Wait for Champions League Glory

ORDER: getfancified.shop/products/elusi…

As far as wins go, that one was gargantuan for Arsenal. Bent but didn't break in the first half after going ahead, but then proceeded to keep Liverpool at arm's length in the second half. Myles Lewis-Skelly introduction crucial to regain a sense of control in the middle, and Declan Rice was typically tremendous. Not news, but Arsenal have the highest floor performance-wise in the world.

The lesson to take from this stat line isn't that dribbles are simply "nice" to have (i.e inessential), but that Tzolis' skillset should be tailored to the opponent. Not every winger can dominate large spaces, and that is fine; it behooves the manager to nevertheless put everyone in the best situations to maximise what they can do.

Trust me, when you face an opponent that pens you in for an extended period (e.g PSG in the Champions League final), you will quickly realise just how important dribbles are for getting out and relieving pressure.

Output is variable. Fail to understand this and, very soon, the discourse around the player will become dominated by what his deficiencies are. So, horses for courses.

On the show this evening for the Liverpool v Arsenal watch-along. Tune in.

Lisandro Martinez appeared to defend Michael Carrick in calling out the Manchester United directors, only to effectively stamp the manager's P45 a few weeks later. Actions speak louder and far more eloquently.

Wesley Fofana asleep at the wheel time and again in that first half for Chelsea. Manchester United, with a dead man walking on the bench, have been the superior side at Stamford Bridge. Not a great look for Xabi Alonso at all, especially considering the visitors have not needed to be immaculate themselves: Carlos Baleba and Mateus Cunha, for instance, have been distressing to the eyes.

Build Your Life on God’s Word

From the Reformation Month series, Sola Scriptura sermon

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇪🇸 Xavi Alonso continues to search for the ideal starting lineup to help Chelsea start competing ~ 🎙️@TheOddSolace ft Jasmin Khaled

#footballcomtv #premierleague #chelsea #joaopedro

Look, I get that people are pissed about this thing—there’s a lot to be mad about. But I was raised by a civil servant, and time and again, I’ve learned that systems collapse gradually, not all at once.

Nobody shows up on their first day of work and decides to destroy archives or anything. Quite often, it’s a series of small decisions, small things we let fester here and there. Culture is whatever a system rewards or punishes.

But the thing about Nigeria is that while we’re always late to one party (the things we’ve lost are lost), I think it’s important to know we’re also always early to another.

So much has been lost, but so much can still be done. And it doesn’t have to be big things; just pick the little things.

For example, if someone in your family was a teenager when Nigeria became independent, statistically, they might be dead in a decade or way less. Sit with them and press record; they have so much to say, and so few people willing to listen. Just listen and press record. In whatever language they understand, no matter how little your understanding of it.

Keep the family album. Use your phone to photograph them. Keep the tapes.

Much of what our civilisation learned about fighting COVID-19 came from what we learned about the Spanish Flu of 1918: a mix of official records documenting death rates, etc., and personal correspondence that captured the experience of living through it.

Personal history is family history is national history.

Nobody asked me to but I've written about a better way of choosing Ballon d'Or winners

Why? Because 90% of winners are attackers, and an award that favours one position over others in a team sport is fundamentally unfair

You're welcome, @ballondor

Link: medium.com/@TheYomiKazeem…

Have to say this is a quite underwhelming tally.

15 years = 5475 days = ~11,000 meals (assuming 2 meals per day)
Unless he was getting 289 meal portions out of each victim, which is implausible, he definitely was on the lazy side.

The Sani Abacha of serial killers. His loot is still being unearthed decades later.

What's funny about people who, consciously or otherwise, try to sort their lives into distinct buckets and thereby cordon off (their) religion is that every decision is ultimately about theology. Even seemingly non-religious ones.

The whole discussion about single/multiple children boils down to what one thinks children are fundamentally.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or is done. Now let's talk about it.

My 2026 #BallonDor highlights. Video up. 👇🏾

youtube.com/shorts/Wf6qV5o…

My favourite rivalry in Junior tennis right now.
Xinran Sun and Anna Pushkareva.

Video up. 👇🏾

youtube.com/shorts/TY2aPf0…

The sheer amount of threat that a motivated Victor Osimhen carries is truly fearsome. As a defender, you cannot sleep; you cannot even exhale.

Would be more excited about this destructive showing tonight if one could say, for certain, that he would be available for @NGSuperEagles selection in November.

Alas...

Highlights from this evening's @Footballcom_tv show, including what my 2026 Ballon D'Or top 5 would be and a close, panel-only vote for tonight's winner.

On again till 7pm discussing El Clasico and [eye roll] the Ballon d'Or.

My dim view of the award is well known, but if anyone ever wanted to know who I think should win tonight, tune in and I will make the case at some point.

In the sermon on Sola Scriptura, three questions were answered: How can we know the truth about God? Where has He revealed Himself? Who has the correct interpretation of Scripture?

If we must worship God, we must know Him, and if we must know Him, He must reveal Himself to us. n understanding of who He is or how He should be worshipped. God has revealed Himself in His Word through the Prophets and Apostles. At the Transfiguration, the Father affirmed Jesus using words from the Law and the Prophets. Scripture contains everything we need to know God, receive salvation, and live faithfully before Him.

The Apostles, upon whose teaching the Church is built, give us the authoritative interpretation of Scripture. Their teaching is preserved in the New Testament, and Scripture interprets Scripture. With the Holy Spirit’s help, Christians can understand this teaching. While some passages require careful study and help from teachers, the truths necessary for salvation and faithful living are clear.

By implication, God will not confirm something simply because we strongly desire it. He upholds His Word. The life that stands through the storms is one built on hearing and obeying what He has said. We should therefore read our Bibles, meditate on what we read, and pray for understanding. It is good to desire to experience God in our hearts and emotions, and we can encounter His goodness through His Word.

Sola Scriptura does not mean that God cannot give guidance through extraordinary experiences. He is sovereign and can do so according to His will. However, such experiences do not add to Scripture, and we do not need them to be complete as Christians. God also guides us through His providence, leading us where He wants us to be.

The Scriptures are sufficient to equip us for every good work. We should not neglect them while searching for visions or special experiences. Read your Bible, think about your Bible, and build your life on what God has said.

On again now. Tune in...

youtube.com/live/lqf2M2lGo…