Author: David Great

England cruised into a 3-0 halftime lead in their World Cup Group B opener against Iran on Monday with teenager Jude Bellingham scoring his first international goal and Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling also on target. Bellingham headed in a cross from the left by Luke Shaw in the 35th minute to reward England’s domination, Saka found the top corner with a left-foot shot in the 43rd minute and Sterling poked in a third from Harry Kane’s pass two minutes later. Iran suffered a torrid first half and had to replace goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand after he sustained a head injury…

The Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija, has assured Nigerians within the New York jurisdiction that, “we do not lack passport booklets.” Egopija gave the assurance at the virtual 7th Town Hall Meeting with the Nigerian Community within New York Jurisdiction. NAN reports that most questions raised at the meeting were on passports collection and how to correct irregularities in passports data arising from regular process or intervention exercises. The envoy, answering question on possibility of applicants getting their passports by December to travel home for Christmas, said shortage of booklets was no longer a problem.…

Rangers have sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst after a year in charge, with the Ibrox club nine points adrift of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race. The Dutchman took over in November 2021, guiding his team to the Europa League final and lifting last season’s Scottish Cup. However, after recording the Champions League’s worst ever group stage campaign and falling further off the title pace, Van Bronckhorst’s 12-month tenure is over. “I want to thank Gio (Van Bronckhorst) for the hard work he has put in over the last 12 months and, especially, the achievements of taking the club to…

Nigerians have praised the President, of Progressive Young Women’s Forum, Seun Osamaye for her hit song for the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign. They also praised Osamaye for her doggedness, hard-work, tenacity, and for always working for the prosperity, development and victory of the party. The APC women had on Thursday flagged off their presidential campaign for the party’s candidates Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, with a call for women to drive the party to victory in 2023. At the rally in Ilorin, Kwara state, Osamaye’s song was evidently well received by members of the party. The song themed, “APC…

Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first person to reach 500 million followers on Instagram. The Portuguese captain boasts over 105 million followers on Twitter. The controversial Manchester United forward reached the milestone on Monday as his country prepares for World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo who starred in a Louis Vuitton advert with his biggest rival, Lionel Messi, would be hoping to be fifth time lucky at this year’s World Cup. Chelsea ready for Cristiano Ronaldo deal He has won one trophy with the Portugal national team but it is on Instagram that he is the undisputed winner.…

Students in schools across several Beijing districts buckled down for online classes on Monday after officials called for residents in some of its hardest-hit areas to stay home, as COVID cases in China’s capital and nationally ticked higher. China is fighting numerous COVID-19 flare-ups, from Zhengzhou in central Henan province to Chongqing in the southwest. It reported 26,824 new local cases for Sunday, nearing the country’s daily pandemic peak in April. It also recorded two deaths in Beijing, up from one on Saturday, which was China’s first since late May. Guangzhou, a southern city of nearly 19 million people that…

Multiple students in a primary school in the Australian city of Sydney have been injured after a classroom science experiment went wrong. Reports say at least two students were rushed via ambulance to a hospital with serious burns. Nine others are believed to have suffered superficial burns. Initial reports suggest the exercise involved sodium bicarbonate and methylated spirits, said outlet 9news. Helicopters, paramedics and fire trucks were seen responding on scene. The incident took place at Manly West Public School around 13:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Monday. New South Wales Ambulance Acting Superintendent Phil Templemen said the wind impacted…

Chelsea are concerned Romelu Lukaku’s lack of match time at the World Cup could affect the 29-year-old Belgium striker’s value when they try to sell him after his season-long loan at Inter Milan. Lukaku has been ruled out of his country’s first two matches. (Evening Standard) AC Milan are considering a loan move in January for Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, 29, and an approach next summer for the Blues’ 21-year-old Albania forward Armando Broja. (Corriere Dello Sport – in Italian) Milan are also interested in Chelsea’s English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 26, after he impressed against them in the Champions League…

Novak Djokovic beat Casper Ruud 7-5 6-3 to collect a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title on Sunday, earning the biggest paycheck ever in tennis – $4,740,300 – for completing the season-ending tournament unbeaten. Djokovic sealed victory in style with his ninth ace to collect the title for the first time since 2015 in front of a rapturous crowd. https://twitter.com/atptour/status/1594443410232205312?s=20&t=3S2jkiPqchpufRUSTbRNTQ “Got to stay focused the entire match, every single point, the momentum can switch to the other side really quickly,” the Serbian said in a televised interview after the match. “The fact that I waited seven years makes this victory even…

Enner Valencia scores twice in first game of tournament Qatar become first World Cup hosts to lose an opening game Senegal and the Netherlands make up rest of Group A Ecuador eased past World Cup debutants Qatar 2-0 on Sunday with first-half goals from veteran striker Enner Valencia in a one-sided affair that was the first opening game defeat for a host nation in the tournament’s history. Ecuador’s all-time top scorer, nicknamed “Superman” at home, scored an early penalty and added a well-taken 31st-minute header to give the South Americans a commanding first-half lead as the home side froze with…