Luton Town moved equal on points with relegation rivals Derby County after Millenic Alli's frantic first-half goal earned the Hatters a hard-fought and nervy victory against the Rams at Pride Park. While the victory was not enough to lift Luton out of the drop zone, it is now only goal difference that separates them and Derby, who are just outside the relegation places, in 21st with three games remaining. Alli gave the Hatters the ideal start with a thumped close-range finish after the hosts failed to deal with an inswinging corner from Jordan Clark. Mark McGuinness went on to make a series of crucial blocks to deny Derby an equaliser, the most dramatic of which was off the line to foil Kane Wilson after Jerry Yates had his initial shot saved by Thomas Kaminski. Keeper Kaminski ensured victory with decisive late saves to deny Kayden Jackson and Marcus Harness. While both Burnley and Sheffield United finished below that Hatters in the Premier League when they were relegated together last season, Luton have continued to plummet as the other two clubs are looking make immediate top-flight returns. Victory against John Eustace's resurgent Rams, however, has given their hopes of staying in the second tier a huge boost. For Derby - who handed goalkeeper Josh Vickers his first start in eight months after number one Jacob Widell Zetterstrom was ruled out for the remainder of the season because of a facial injury - their second defeat in four games, after winning four in succession, means they will slip into the bottom three later on Friday if Cardiff beat promotion-chasing Sheffield United. Alli put Luton ahead with cool finish in the midst of chaos in Derby's penalty area after McGuinness prodded the ball back across goal when a flicked Carlton Morris header from a corner found the Republic of Ireland international at the back post. It was forward's second Luton goal since arriving from League One side Exeter City in January, and he celebrated the potentially season-defining strike with a somersault in front of the 3,000 travelling fans. Derby lost forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to injury soon after and were fortune the first half did not get any worse for them, as Lamine Fanne wastefully blasted a chance over the bar from 12 yards out before Christ Makosso lashed an effort into the side netting for the visitors. And while Derby did not manage to register a shot on target in the first 45 minutes, Yates did have a goal-bound effort crucially blocked by McGuinness in the second minute of stoppage time at the end the first half. And after getting in the way of a Harness shot in the second half, McGuinness made it a hat-trick of interventions when he got back to scuff Wilson's attempted finish away after the ball ricocheted into the defender's path after Yates was denied by Kaminski. Derby pressed relentlessly in search of a leveller, but Kaminski stood in the way. He thrust a boot out to foil Jackson in the 78th minute, and showed great reflexes to keep a glanced Harness header out at point-blank range minutes later, to a chorus of groans from the home fans. Derby County head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby: "The first half wasn't what we had been like and what we expected, so that is disappointing. "We looked a little bit anxious. It was a big game, it's a full house and I thought Luton set up really well and made it really difficult for us and we just couldn't get our game going. "But the way we approached the second half was excellent and the attitude of the group was good. "In the second half the effort of the group was fantastic, we had two or three golden chances that we just couldn't put away. "The most important thing is that we react on Monday [when Derby face West Bromwich Albion], which I know we will. We are a team of fighters." Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio: "I thought first half, for an away performance, we were excellent. We passed the ball incredibly well, we had a goal threat and the only disappointment is that we didn't come in two or three up to kill the game off. "It was always going to be a tough second half with Derby supporters right behind their team and creating the noise they do here. "But to put on that kind of defensive display, I'm so proud of the lads. We took a real punch on the nose last Saturday in the defeat against Blackburn, but I didn't want it to ruin the momentum we had been building. "It was important that we kept our heads today, because if we got too uptight and anxious, and built it up to be too much, then we weren't going to come and perform. It was really important that we stayed calm in this situation. "I've just delivered the message to the boys that nothing is done yet, just like it wasn't over last Saturday when we were beaten by Blackburn. "We have to show that fighting spirit at the Kenny [Kenilworth Road against Bristol City] on Monday."

Popular actress, Iyabo Ojo, has responded to her colleague, Liz Anjorin, via a video post, stating that she should be held responsible if anything happens to her or any member of her family. This comes as Ojo has been fighting different battles, and receiving threats received. Earlier in the week, her office in Lagos was engulfed in a fire but no causalities were involved. Her daughter, Priscilla, then stated online that the fire incident was only a part of other events that had been a threat to her and her family. Priscilla also noted that her mother, Iyabo, had received a threat letter in May that insinuated that her movement and that of her daughter were been monitored. Also responding, Iyabo took to her Instagram page on Thursday, July 10, 2025. In a lengthy post, she corroborated her daughter’s account of the threat she allegedly recieved, stating that certain people were continuously trying to kill her and destroy her family. The post read in part, “Without prejudice to the ongoing investigation, it is important to state that a few days before my daughter’s wedding in Tanzania, I received a letter threatening my life at my office. The letter explicitly stated that I would go through hell in the next three months” Less than 24 hours after her response, her colleague, Lizzy Anjorin, announced the dismissal of the N1bn lawsuit. Her post got the attention of Iyabo, who later responded in a now-deleted video with the caption, “If anything should happen to my children or my kids, hold Lizzy Anjorin responsible… we haven’t started any case yet… that was just ADR, case never start.” In the video, Iyabo explained that if anything happened to her or any of her loved ones, Anjorin should be held responsible. She further explained that although the case wasn’t a court case but stated that it was part of an Alternative Dispute Resolution process, which had not even begun properly. In a more shocking turn of events, social media personality, Martins Otse, aka VDM, responded to the statement posted by Iyabo. He stated that her post was a shock to him, while also implying that he knows more than what was said, but would remain silent in respect of the actress.

Tommy Conway scored a 93rd-minute penalty as Middlesbrough maintained their Championships play-off hopes against bottom side Plymouth Argyle. But Conway's spot-kick, awarded after he was pushed over by Joe Edwards, for which the Argyle captain was sent off, nudges the Devon club closer to relegation. Miron Muslic's side remain three points adrift of Derby County in 21st but with a far inferior goal difference and only three matches remaining. For Boro, with Bristol City and Coventry City both winning, the victory was vital as they moved up to seventh, but still three points behind the Sky Blues. Ex-Argyle loanee Finn Azaz had put Middlesbrough in front early on before Mustapha Bundu equalised five minutes later, and both sides had chances to win it before Conway's 13th goal of the season settled it in Boro's favour. Argyle had been the brighter in the opening minutes but they showed why they have the worst defensive record in the Championship as they conceded their 83rd goal of the season from Boro's first real attack. Anfernee Dijksteel's pass opened them up and although Conway's effort came back off the post, Azaz was on hand to put the rebound into the empty net for his first league goal in eight games. However, a careless piece of defending from Boro meant Plymouth were level within five minutes. Jonny Howson, on his 750th career appearance, played a loose pass back to Aidan Morris, who had his pocket picked by Bundu, with the Sierra Leone forward finishing confidently past Mark Travers for his eighth goal of the season. And the bottom club remained the more threatening with Travers saving from Darko Gyabi and then from a one-on-one with Ryan Hardie. Boro had to improve after the break and Morgan Whittaker, seeking his first goal in his 13th appearance since his January move, nearly found it against his old club but for a fine save from Conor Hazard. Yet Hardie missed a great chance at the other end when he shot over from 10 yards after more great work from Gyabi. Conway was denied by Hazard and it looked like they were going to slip further adrift of the play-off places until Boro's top scorer got the wrong side of Edwards running into the area and went down after he was pushed in the back. Edwards was sent off for a professional foul with Conway sending Hazard the wrong way from the spot to break Argyle hearts. After the long trip home, Plymouth will have to regroup for the visit of Frank Lampard's Coventry on Easter Monday, with Boro hoping for a favour as they head to Sheffield Wednesday on the same day. Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: "The games are going to flip at times and the picture is going to change quite quickly, but I thought we deserved it. "We kept going - it's not easy when you have to break teams down all the time. I thought we created enough to score but it's worth the wait. The late ones are the best. "Great composure from Tommy to take that penalty at the end under the circumstances and it's a big result for us. "When you get to the end and there's a lot at stake, there are going to be moments and it's whether we can seize them really. Today was for Tommy really." Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic told BBC Radio Devon: "It feels heavy. The lads played a brilliant game. "Everything we prepared before, we actually delivered. We knew the threat of Middlesbrough - very strong in possession, very strong offensively, but we did it very well and consistently kept our transition threat, creating so many goalscoring opportunities. "That shows the strong performance we had. And losing this very much deserved point we had with a 93rd-minute penalty, it hurts. "We have to go again - there is nothing to regret after that 100 minutes. We gave it all."

President Bola Tinubu has endorsed the 2025 edition of the All Africa Music Awards, scheduled to hold in Lagos from November 25 to 30. According to a statement shared with Saturday PUNCH, the theme of the event is “Unstoppable Africa.” Tinubu’s endorsement came in response to a letter from the African Union Commission requesting Nigeria’s collaboration for the next edition of the prestigious awards show. The statement said the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, on Wednesday inaugurated an inter-ministerial Local Organising Committee to work with the host city, African Union and International Committee of AFRIMA to “plan and deliver a historic event.” The inter-agency LOC was inaugurated at the ministry’s headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja. The statement said, members of the committee were drawn from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Nigerian Film Corporation and the National Film and Video Censors Board. Others included the Federal Ministry of Interior, National Council for Arts and Culture, representatives of AFRIMA and African Union Commission, among others. Speaking during the inauguration, the minister said AFRIMA aligned with President Tinubu’s vision of leveraging the creative industry as a key driver of economic growth, national development, and social re-engineering. Musawa was quoted in the statement as saying, “This is more than just an awards show. It is a major platform to create jobs, promote tourism, celebrate African talents, and tell our positive stories authentically through music to the world. We are excited to work with the Lagos State government, the AFRIMA team, and the African Union to deliver a world-class event.” Also speaking, the President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada, expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Government for its swift response and full support. “We thank President Tinubu for his quick and visionary approval and backing of AFRIMA 2025. This is not just an event approval. It’s a loud statement that the Nigerian government values the culture and creative industry (CCI) and its power to promote unity and prosperity across Africa,” Dada was quoted to have said. He also commended the Lagos State government for accepting to be the official host city and for its partnership, as well as its investment in the creative industry. “Nigeria has always been a creative and cultural powerhouse. With this support, we are confident that this year’s AFRIMA will be an unforgettable celebration of African talent and creativity for the whole world to see. It is fantastic that the Federal Government has come on board, and we are happy that the Minister has mentioned that all of us are going to work together with the Host City, Lagos state, to deliver the best AFRIMA in history,” Dada said.