Today’s Headlines:Why I benched Bruno against Bournemouth-Carrick;EFCC: How to apply for recruitment

Manchester United manager, Michael Carrick, has explained why he left Bruno Fernandes out of his starting XI to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.

Fernandes starts the crucial game on the bench, following his criticism of Carrick’s tactics in the 4-1 defeat to Como.

Ahead of the game, Carrick said: “Picking the team is always a difficult decision.

“We’ve got to make what we feel is the right one for the team to try to get the performance we want.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opened its 2026 recruitment exercise, inviting eligible Nigerians to apply for available positions through its online portal.

Interested candidates can submit their applications via the commission’s official recruitment website at https://recruitment.efcc.gov.ng.

Applicants are advised to visit the portal, identify the position that matches their qualifications and review the requirements before completing the application form.

The recruitment exercise covers investigative roles, professional positions and opportunities for skilled workers, with entry requirements varying according to the category.

Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, will miss Sunday’s massive LaLiga clash against Barcelona.

The Belgian’s absence means that manager Jose Mourinho will have to start with Andriy Lunin.

This was confirmed by the Spanish club in a statement hours before the match

Ahead of the 2027 governorship elections, the re-election ambition of the Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has received a major boost following the defection of former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Barr Venatius Ikem, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ikem, who resigned from the PDP penultimate week citing internal divisions and lack of clear leadership direction, formally defected to the APC at a rally in Obudu Local Government Area.

Speaking during his formal reception, Ikem expressed gratitude to Governor Otu for the warm reception accorded him since his resignation, saying he had tasted “the season of sweetness and accommodation.”

The former PDP chairman commended Otu’s People First agenda and pledged to promote the administration’s development projects in the northern senatorial district and across the state.