Ollie Watkins scored two goals and had another disallowed as Aston Villa set itself up nicely for next week’s Europa League final with a 4-2 win at home against Liverpool on Friday. The win also guaranteed Villa a place in next year’s Champions League. The win just five days before Villa faces Freiburg in the Europa League decider means Unai Emery’s side ensured a top-five finish in the Premier League. “It’s a great performance and a great way to end the season at Villa Park,” captain John McGinn told broadcaster Sky Sports “We’ve just made this club a Champions League club again, and it allows us to be excited and enjoy the game on Wednesday. Liverpool was three points behind in fifth and still sweating whether it will make it into next year’s Champions League. Liverpool had the better of the opening exchanges with Cody Gakpo seeing a goal ruled out for offside and Emiliano Martinez pushing away a swerving long-range effort from Dominik Szoboszlai. However, Villa found its composure as the half went on and took the lead three minutes before halftime. Morgan Rogers placed a perfect right-foot shot beyond the reach of Giorgi Mamardashvili after a well-worked corner kick. Virgil van Dijk’s header eight minutes into the second half brought Liverpool level but Villa started to dominate as the game opened up. Watkins had a goal chalked off for offside but made up for it just a few minutes later when he took advantage of a slip by Szoboszlai that set Villa free on the counterattack. He added a third in the 73rd when he side-footed home from point-blank range after Mamardashvili made two excellent stops. It was Watkins’ sixth goal in his last seven league games and he was a constant threat to a Liverpool rearguard that looked shaky every time Villa stormed forward. “We’ve conceded far too many games, but we also haven’t scored enough goals,” said Liverpool coach Arne Slot, who admitted his team lacked backbone after going behind in the second half. “(After) the 2-1 we crumbled, we struggled. In the end made it 4-2, so they did not give up, but we struggled to control their pace, intensity and quality.”

Nigeria has begun implementing a 30-day visa-free entry policy for citizens of Rwanda, in a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties and easing travel between both African nations.   According to Channels Television, the policy took effect following an announcement by Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali. The visa exemption grants Rwandan nationals access to Nigeria for up to 30 days for lawful activities including tourism, business and official engagements.   The Nigeria Immigration Service confirmed the new arrangement in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Akinlabi Akinsola. The agency described the measure as a landmark step in deepening bilateral relations and promoting intra-African mobility.   Immigration authorities said the visa waiver mirrors an earlier concession by Rwanda to Nigerian travellers, making the arrangement reciprocal between both countries.   Officials stressed that any Rwandan visitor seeking to remain in Nigeria beyond the 30-day period must obtain the appropriate visa through Nigerian diplomatic missions or the country’s e-visa platform.   The immigration service added that all international entry points, including airports, seaports and land borders, have been directed to enforce the policy immediately in line with the presidential directive.   The agency said the decision supports broader continental integration goals and is expected to encourage tourism, trade and stronger economic cooperation between the two countries.

Armed attackers struck three schools in Oyo State on Friday, killing a teacher, abducting pupils and staff, and triggering widespread panic across communities in the Orire Local Government Area.   According to Punch Newspapers, the coordinated assault targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School. Residents said the gunmen arrived on motorcycles at about 9am and moved quickly between the schools, firing shots as pupils gathered for lessons.   The attackers reportedly killed Joel Adesiyan, assistant headmaster of L.A. Primary School, while he was trying to escape. A commercial motorcyclist was also shot dead after riding into the scene during the chaos.   Witnesses said the gunmen abducted the principal of Community Grammar School, Rachael Alamu, along with five teachers and an unknown number of pupils. The exact number of missing children remained unclear late Friday, with families still searching for relatives.   The traditional ruler of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, said the assailants arrived on eight motorcycles, carrying two armed men each. He said the community was in the middle of a town meeting when gunfire erupted.   The monarch added that some kindergarten pupils were among those taken, describing the incident as one of the most traumatic attacks the area has faced. He blamed the scale of the assault on the absence of a nearby police station, saying security personnel arrived nearly two hours after the attackers had fled.   Local sources told Punch that the gunmen used the principal’s vehicle to transport some abductees before abandoning and burning it after it broke down in rough terrain.   Security forces, including the Nigeria Police Force and military personnel, launched a search operation into nearby forests around the Old Oyo National Park axis. The Oyo police commissioner, Ayodeji Abimbola, reportedly led tactical teams to the scene.   Following the attack, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board shut schools temporarily in Orire and neighbouring local government areas, including Surulere, Oyo East and Olorunsogo, to prevent further attacks.   In a related incident, gunmen also attacked a school in Mussa community near Sambisa Forest in Borno State on Friday. Abdullahi Askira confirmed that several pupils fled into surrounding bushes, while reports of abductions were still being verified.   The incidents have renewed fears over school safety in Nigeria, recalling previous mass abductions including the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping.

Social media influencer and relationship therapist Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged ₦36 million fraud case in Lagos. The influencer was docked before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on Friday on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and alleged theft. The EFCC alleged that Blessing CEO obtained ₦36 million from one Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretext of securing a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos. Prosecutors claimed the representation was false and violated provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The anti-graft agency also accused her of converting the funds for personal use. Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read before the court. Following her plea, EFCC counsel requested that she be remanded pending trial, while her defence team informed the court that they had just received the charge documents and intended to file a bail application. Justice D.I. Dipeolu subsequently ordered that she be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of her bail application. The matter was adjourned until June 5, 2026, for trial.