Author: David Great

FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, CAF, have officially approved the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, as the venue for the upcoming World Cup qualifying clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana. There had been uncertainty surrounding the hosting of South Africa’s qualifiers after concerns were raised about the poor pitch condition at the Free State Stadium. Following fresh inspections, however, both governing bodies confirmed the venue met required standards. “Considering the encouraging progress observed on the pitch, both organisations have agreed that the matches will proceed as originally scheduled at the Free State Stadium,” a…

FIFA has announced that ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup will range from $60 to nearly $6,730, with dynamic pricing in effect for the first sales phase. The tournament, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will open its first ticketing opportunity through the Visa Presale Draw beginning September 10 at 11:00 ET (1500 CET) and running until September 19. According to FIFA, prices for group-stage matches will start at $60, while tickets for later rounds, including the final, will reach as high as $6,730. “We have approximately 1 million tickets available for the first…

The Chief Executive Officer of StarTimes, Joshua Wang, has confirmed the cancellation of the pay TV company’s broadcast agreement with the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, citing poor returns on investment. The deal, worth N6bn, was signed in 2023 for a duration of five years. However, both parties have now ended the partnership after just two seasons. Speaking in Abuja during an NPFL event, Wang explained that the economic realities made it impossible for StarTimes to continue with the project. “Since StarTimes has been the broadcast partners of the NPFL, during the past two seasons, we have tried to meet…

Justice Ibrahim Kala of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered British Airways to pay a Nigerian passenger, Mr. Stephen Osho, a total of N53 million in compensation for the loss of his luggage and unfair treatment. The court awarded Osho N50 million as general damages and an additional N3 million as the cost of the action. Delivering judgment on August 21, Justice Kala held that Osho successfully proved that the airline violated its contractual obligation under international carriage rules when it failed to deliver his checked-in baggage on Flight BA307 from Paris to London on December 2, 2022.…

The commonly prescribed blood thinner clopidogrel should replace aspirin as a routine pill for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people who already have at least some degree of heart disease, researchers reported at the European Society of Cardiology Congress. Pooled data on nearly 29,000 patients with coronary artery disease who had participated in seven earlier randomized trials showed that those taking clopidogrel had a 14% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, compared to those taking aspirin, during an average follow-up of 5.5 years. “These results suggest that clopidogrel should…

Britain has temporarily halted a programme that allowed families of refugees already in the UK to join their relatives, as part of efforts to tackle irregular migration. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the suspension on Monday while addressing lawmakers, explaining that the move was necessary to ease pressure on councils and disrupt criminal networks. “We do need to address the immediate pressures on local authorities and the risks from criminal gangs using family reunion as a pull factor to encourage more people onto dangerous boats,” she told parliament. The Home Office revealed that almost 21,000 family reunion visas were issued…

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an inquiry into the Abuja train derailment, confirming that 12 passengers sustained injuries out of the 583 people on board. Speaking on Tuesday, the Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh, provided updates on the incident. He revealed that an Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) has been appointed to lead the probe in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). Badeh explained that investigators had already secured the site and preserved vital evidence, such as CCTV footage and other materials, to help establish the cause of the derailment. He further appealed for more…

The Benue State Government has announced an immediate ban on graduation ceremonies for pupils in kindergarten, nursery, and primary schools across the state. Mrs Helen Nambativ, the Acting Commissioner of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi during an interaction with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). She cautioned that any school found violating the directive would face sanctions, including possible temporary closure. According to Nambativ, the measure is part of a new education policy aimed at restoring discipline and sanity in the basic education sector. She explained that the directive, which takes effect…

The United Kingdom has issued a strong warning to international students, urging them to leave the country once their visas expire or risk being forcibly removed. According to a BBC report on Tuesday, the Home Office has launched a new campaign in response to what it calls an “alarming” increase in student visa holders attempting to remain in the UK by filing asylum claims. In an unprecedented move, officials are sending text and email messages directly to students whose visas are nearing expiration. The warnings stress: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave.…

Tottenham Hotspur have secured the signing of French striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season, the Premier League club confirmed on Monday. The 26-year-old forward spent the latter part of last season with Juventus, where he made an instant impact by scoring five goals in his first three Serie A appearances. He also represented the Italian side in the FIFA Club World Cup, netting twice in their opening match of the competition. Although Kolo Muani expressed a preference to remain at Juventus, negotiations between the clubs failed, paving the way for his…