profile/5683FB_IMG_16533107021641748.jpg

News_Naija

Strategy, Not Size, Drives Digital Media Influence In Africa Report

Digital media influence in Africa is being shaped more by strategic platform execution than population size, according to a new report released by SquirrelPR on Monday. In a statement announcing the release of its annual RANKED2025 report, the company said the performance and reach of digital news platforms across the continent are increasingly determined by content relevance, cross-border reach, and social media strength. The report, which analysed trends in five key African media markets—Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Ghana—revealed that Egypt’s Youm7, an Arabic-language news outlet, led in annual visits despite Egypt’s population of approximately 114 million. SquirrelPR noted that Youm7 recorded over 450 million visits in 2024 alone, highlighting what it described as “the outsized influence of strategic media platforms regardless of national population.” According to the company, RANKED2025 categorizes platforms into four content verticals—News & Public Affairs, Business & Financial News, Technology News, and Entertainment & Lifestyle—and groups them into three tiers of influence, based on annual visit volume. “The data shows that media impact is no longer a simple function of country size. Platforms that invest in distribution strategy, content quality, and cross-border accessibility are outperforming even in smaller markets,” the company said in the statement. “RANKED2025 equips media professionals with the clarity and context they need to thrive in a fast-evolving digital environment,” said SquirrelPR’s co-founder, James Ezechukwu, at the official launch of the report in Lagos, Nigeria. “This report is not just about rankings – it’s about reshaping how we understand influence and how we communicate across borders,” he added. SquirrelPR added that Tier 1 platforms—those with over 100 million annual visits—include Youm7 (Egypt), News24 (South Africa), Daily Nation (Kenya), GhanaWeb (Ghana), and Vanguard Online (Nigeria). It also pointed to the growing influence of social media in amplifying reach, saying platforms with stronger social followings consistently ranked higher. “Social media is emerging as the silent amplifier of digital news platforms. Strong audience engagement directly translates to higher visibility and influence,” the company stated. The report also observed disparities in niche content coverage across the continent. SquirrelPR said Egypt had a broad general readership but lagged in specialised business and tech reporting. Nigeria, it noted, performed well in entertainment journalism but showed room for growth in business and technology segments. South Africa was described as strong in business and tech, while Kenya and Ghana were cited for their balanced potential across categories. According to the company, the insights from RANKED2025 offer media strategists and PR professionals a valuable tool for campaign planning, audience targeting, and digital PR strategy development.

dataDp/3575.jpeg

Futbol

Marseille Condemn 'personal Attacks' On Rabiot At PSG

Marseille have condemned the "personal attacks" aimed at midfielder Adrien Rabiot and his family during the 3-1 defeat at Paris St-Germain on Sunday. The match at Parc des Princes was overshadowed by homophobic and racist chants - referencing Marseille's large Arab population - from some PSG fans, as well as banners directed at Rabiot and his family. Rabiot alleged PSG fans insulted his father, who died in 2019. The player's mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, has lodged a complaint. "The personal attacks, particularly targeting Adrien Rabiot and his family, are despicable and unacceptable," Marseille said. "The club, which wishes to offer its full support and solidarity to its midfielder and his loved ones, announces that it joins the complaint filed against unknown persons by Adrien Rabiot's family." The club said they will "continue to be uncompromising and inflexible against any insulting remarks against the club, its management, its employees or its supporters". The Paris-born France midfielder made 227 appearances for PSG between 2012 and 2019, and joined rivals Marseille after leaving Juventus last summer. French referees can stop play if supporters chant homophobic or racist slurs inside stadiums, but Sunday's official Clement Turpin did not. "I don't understand why the match wasn't stopped," Rabiot's mother told Radio France. "I don't understand why nobody is outraged. Why are some matches stopped and not others?"

dataDp/3575.jpeg

Futbol

Kirby Recalled To Lionesses Squad To Face Belgium

Brighton forward Fran Kirby has been recalled to the England squad for their upcoming Women's Nations League matches against Belgium next month. The 31-year-old came on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with the United States in November but missed February's matches through injury. "I'm delighted to see [Kirby] fit and that she is playing," manager Sarina Wiegman told BBC Sport. "She brings a lot of experience and of course great vision in the game. It's great to have her back." The Euro 2022 winner - listed as a midfielder in the squad list - is joined by Arsenal forwards Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly, but Tottenham's Jess Naz has not been selected. There is also a first senior call-up for Brighton midfielder Maisie Symonds, 22, who steps up from the under-23 squad, alongside Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating. "[Mead and Kelly bring] quality. What you have seen at Arsenal is that they swap around a bit. They are totally different wing players," added Wiegman. "I had a conversation with [Naz] and of course she is disappointed. She is working hard to turn around that form. "You know in some moments things go really well but then in others you just have to hope things go well and keep doing the right things. That is what she is doing. "The competition up front is really high. That is good for the players but sometimes it gives players disappointments as well." England are still without several key players through injury, including Manchester City duo Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood, and Bayern Munich midfielder Georgia Stanway. Wiegman's 25-player squad host Belgium at Ashton Gate on Friday, 4 April (20:00 BST kick-off), before travelling to Leuven on Tuesday, 8 April (19:30). They began their Women's Nations League campaign with a draw in Portugal before beating world champions Spain 1-0 at Wembley last month. "I would say that what we saw against Spain - that fight, that togetherness, but still being modest - that is what I would like to see against Belgium," said Wiegman. "That is what the players want to see too. It will be a different challenge because we expect to have the ball more." Full England squad: Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Paris St-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride). Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Lucy Parker (Aston Villa), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal). Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Brighton), Jess Park (Manchester City), Maisie Symonds (Brighton), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Chelsea). Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Arsenal).

dataDp/3575.jpeg

Futbol

Redknapp Jokes England Boss Tuchel Is 'German Spy'

Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp appeared to make a Nazi salute after joking England boss Thomas Tuchel was "a German spy" when speaking at a charity event. Tuchel became England manager in January and led them to World Cup qualifying wins over Albania and Latvia in his first two games in charge. Ex-Portsmouth, Tottenham and West Ham manager Redknapp, 78, was speaking in front of an audience at an event in London before those matches last week, and was asked for his thoughts on the German. "I'll be honest with you, I think he's a German spy. I'm telling you," Redknapp is seen saying in a video clip obtained by the Guardian., external "Seriously, he's been sent over to [expletive] us up. He has. I'm telling ya, he's like Lord Haw Haw in the war – 'We have your best soldiers captured' and all that." William Joyce, known as Lord Haw-Haw, broadcast Nazi propaganda to the UK during World War Two. Redknapp also imagined an instruction given to Tuchel to "go over and ruin that team". And he appeared to make a Nazi salute gesture as he made the comments to the audience, who were laughing. BBC Sport has approached Redknapp for comment. The incident has prompted some criticism of Redknapp on social media, though German comedian Henning Wehn - a regular guest on BBC Radio 5 live's Fighting Talk - said: "What a non-story. Lighten up! If we're not allowed a bit of banter, what's the point of football? Or anything." Tuchel is the third foreign permanent England manager after Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello. Asked about that fact in October, he said "sorry I have a German passport". Earlier this month, he said he needed to "earn the right" to sing the national anthem. Former Borussia Dortmund boss Tuchel led Chelsea to the 2020-21 Champions League in his previous spell working in England. Redknapp was the last English manager to win a major domestic trophy - the 2008 FA Cup with Portsmouth - before Eddie Howe led Newcastle to victory in this year's Carabao Cup final. Redknapp's last managerial role was at Birmingham City in 2017. He also had spells with Bournemouth, Southampton, QPR and the Jordan national team.