Nouhaila Benzina becomes first player to wear hijab at World Cup

Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina has made history by becoming the first player to wear a hijab at a World Cup.The 25-year-old wore the Islamic headscarf as she made her first appearance at the tournament in her side's 1-0 win over South Korea.The wearing of head coverings for religious reasons was authorised by Fifa in 2014.Morocco are one of eight teams making their debut...

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IPOB confirms authenticity of Kanu’s order to end sit-at-home in S’East

By Lawrence Njoku, Enugu[FILES] IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu in courtEnugu Youths Storm Streets In CelebrationThe Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday confirmed the authenticity of the handwritten note by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to Simeon Ekpa ordering him to stop calling sit-at-home on his behalf in the South East region.This was as Enugu youths stormed the streets...

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Atiku, PDP Govs brainstorm on party’s future

By John Alechenu, Abuja Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February 25, 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, and some of the governors elected on the party’s platform have started consultations on the party’s future. This is even as they await the outcome of the petition before the Presidential Election Petition Court. The agenda...

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Mason Greenwood’s return to Man Utd squad

Mason Greenwood could still play for Manchester United, after it emerged that the club’s most prominent sponsor, Adidas, is considering approving plans for him to return to the squad.Greenwood has not featured for the Red Devils since January 2022, after being charged with rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault.The charges were dropped in February,...

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EU threatens sanction on Niger over military coup

By Maina Maina The European Union (EU) has condemned in the strongest terms the coup in Niger, insisting that the events in the West African country in recent days constitute a serious attack on stability and democracy.It also warned that any abuse of the fundamental rights of the ousted leader would meet dire consequences with the suspension of support for the troubled...

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FULL LIST: Omotoso, Abayomi, Wahab return as Sanwo-Olu unveils list of 39 commissioner-nominees

By Samuel BolajiKindly share this story:The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, transmitted the list of his proposed cabinet members to the Lagos State House of Assembly for ratification.The PUNCH reported that, according to a tweet on Friday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, 30 per cent of the commissioner-nominees are women, while...

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Oshoala shirtless celebration sparks mixed reactions

By Johnny EdwardMixed reactions have trailed the shirtless celebration of Super Falcons’ Asisat Oshoala at the ongoing Women’s World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.The Barcelona forward, who came on as a second-half substitute, swooped in on a defensive mix-up in the 72nd minute and beat an Australian defender for pace, before slotting...

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Alexis Sanchez agrees Premier League return after Arsenal approach

Alexis Sanchez, the former Arsenal ace, is reportedly ready to agree to a Premier League return with Nottingham Forest.Despite his hopes of rebuilding bridges with the Gunners being rejected, Alexis is reportedly ready to accept an offer from Nottingham Forest.Alexis Sanchez, formerly of Arsenal and Manchester United, is ready to agree a Premier League return with Nottingham...

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Niger’s army backs military coup

Mohamed BazoumNiger’s army command on Thursday declared support for a coup instigated the previous day by soldiers of the presidential guard, saying its priority was to avoid destabilising the country.In a statement signed by the army chief of staff, it said to “preserve the physical integrity” of the president and his family and avoid “a deadly confrontation that could create...

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Monthly N8000 Cash Transfer: A Movement Without Motion?

Written by Jideofor Adibemonthly N8000The recent approval by the Senate of the request by President Tinubu for the borrowing of $800m from the World Bank has been raising concerns among Nigerians. The angst is not just about the danger of further increasing the stockpile of our already unsustainable debt level but also of whether borrowing for consumption – in this case borrowing...

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More than 92,000 African students were denied US student visas- Study

by Ngozi Ekugo US student visa, African StudentsA study has shown that Africa has the highest rate of disproportionate student visa refusals to the US compared to other regions.Findings indicate that 54% of African student visa applications were rejected in 2022, compared to only 21% from North America and 9% from Europe. South American applicants also experienced an...

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DSS rearrest of Emefiele on alleged terrorism ground, void, laughable — ACJHR

By Idowu BankoleA civil society organisation (CSO), African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), has described the rearrest of the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the grounds of terrorism as void and laughable, saying an earlier court judgement had voided the terrorism allegations him and barred the secret police...

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Emefiele: Lawyers condemn DSS, warders’ clash as family protests re-arrest

Condemnation has trailed the conduct of the Department of State Services at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday during the court appearance of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.The DSS took Emefiele before the court for arraignment on Tuesday but rearrested and whisked him away despite that the court granted him bail and ordered...

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Tinubu to forward ministerial list to Senate in 48 hours – Senate Leader

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said President Bola Tinubu will submit the list of the ministerial nominees to the Senate before Thursday.Mr Bamidele made the disclosure on Tuesday at an event organised in Abuja to celebrate his 60th birthday and the presentation of his book titled “Leadership through Communication.”Mr Tinubu has until 28 July to send his ministerial...

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BBC apologizes for reporter’s ‘inappropriate’ question to Morocco women’s team captain

The BBC has apologized for an “inappropriate” question one of its reporters asked the captain of the Morocco women’s national team.At a media conference ahead of Morocco’s Women’s World Cup opener against Germany, a reporter from the British news organization’s World Service asked Ghizlane Chebbak: “In Morocco, it’s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players...

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Stakeholders Petition Tinubu, Reject Licensed Agents In Expatriate Quota Allocation

Stakeholders comprising companies and organisations which apply for expatriate quota in Nigeria have written a petition to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on the processing and allocation of the vital documents for job engagement for foreign nationals with unique expertise.allegedly accused officials of the Ministry of Interior of sharp practices thereby denying the federal government...

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Nigeria has disappointed Africa, world — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, decried Nigeria’s inability to live up to expectations since it got independence about 63 years ago, stressing that the country had not only disappointed itself but also Africa and the world.Obasanjo disclosed this while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of the book titled ‘Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa,’...

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Eddie Nketiah on Chelsea release with Declan Rice and not accepting Gabriel Jesus back up

Proving people wrong is something Eddie Nketiah is used to by now. When Gabriel Jesus went down injured in Brazil's World Cup clash with Cameroon, many questioned whether the Hale Ender would be able to lead the line and keep Arsenal's title hopes alive. With five goal contributions in nine starts he more than answered them before an injury of his own curtailed his run in...

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Be Like Nelson Mandela, Don’t Celebrate Him, Soyinka Tells Nigerians

He gave the advice yesterday in Asaba, the Delta State capital during the 2023 United Nations Nelson Mandela International Day Celebration.He called on Nigerians to do the best they can to create a better Nigeria.According to him, Mandela did his best when he was in prison, out of prison and as president, saying that planting trees could be a way to live like him as that would...

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Oyedele, chair of Tinubu’s tax reform committee, resigns from PwC

Taiwo Oyedele, a fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has resigned from his position in the organisation.Mr Oyedele announced his resignation via his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday.He explained that the move was to enable him to focus fully with undivided attention on his new role as the Chair of the Presidential Fiscal Policy...

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Nigerian Army intercepts truckload of ammunition to S-East

Troops of the Nigerian Army, Saturday, intercepted an international smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State, Nigeria’s southeast.Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.Nwachukwu, a brigadier-general, said the troops, acting on a tip-off, made the interception during “a meticulous and rigorous”...

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Gundogan talks Xavi, Lewandowski, Guardiola, Pedri, Silva, Busquets at Barcelona presentation

Ilkay Gundogan is perhaps Barcelona’s most awaited signing of the summer. The treble-winning former Manchester City captain moved to Catalonia on a free transfer earlier this summer, and the club officially unveiled him as a Blaugrana today.Gundogan will join Xavi Hernandez in pre-season training on Tuesday and will travel to the United States with the squad to take part in...

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