February 2025 Archive — Key stories from Explore Africa Daily

February served up a mix of hard politics and high-drama football. If you followed us that month, you saw a major memoir claim about Nigeria’s 1993 election and several football stories that changed transfer chatter and league debates. Below is a clear roundup so you can jump to what matters most.

Politics: Babangida, Abacha and the 1993 Election

The standout political piece came from Ibrahim Babangida’s memoir, where he says General Sani Abacha played a leading role in annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Babangida’s account claims the annulment proceeded without his approval and paints Abacha as the main driver behind military interference. That claim has reopened old wounds in Nigeria and prompted fresh discussion about accountability and how military power shaped the country’s return to civilian rule. If you want to understand why June 12 still matters in Nigeria’s politics, the memoir offers new details that push the conversation forward.

Sports: Transfers, Rivalries and Refereeing Rows

Football dominated the rest of February. Antony’s loan move to Real Betis made headlines because his agent stressed Antony still respects former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, even while seeking a fresh start. The loan has no buy clause, so Antony’s long-term future is still up in the air — a move meant to get him back to form in a more structured setting.

In the Premier League, Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Manchester City wasn’t just a scoreline. A heated spat between Gabriel Magalhães and Erling Haaland added fuel to a growing rivalry, signaling that on-field tension may affect how both teams approach big matches for the rest of the season.

Ajax made a quieter but important move by signing 25-year-old Norwegian winger Oliver Edvardsen from Go Ahead Eagles on a contract through June 2028 with an option to extend. That’s a strategic signing for Ajax as they look to refresh wide options without overspending.

Not all football headlines were about players. The Super Lig match between Galatasaray and Adana Demirspor was halted when Adana Demirspor’s players walked off following a disputed penalty. The chaos led to the club chairman’s resignation and intensified debate about refereeing standards and federation accountability in Turkish football.

February’s stories mix a major historical claim with ongoing sports debates that affect clubs and fans now. Want the full reads? Check each article for details, quotes, and what these developments mean next. Bookmark this archive page or subscribe for daily updates so you don’t miss the follow-ups we’ll publish as these stories evolve.