Author: Opalim Lifted

Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored a superb 90th-minute winner as Ivory Coast beat Ecuador in Philadelphia. It was a stunning finish as the substitute opened his left foot to divert the ball into the corner after a powerful run from Wilfried Singo – and it ended a 19-game unbeaten run stretching for almost two years for Ecuador. Amad was a surprise exclusion from Ivory Coast’s starting line-up on their return to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. But he made a major impact with the winner which gives them a huge chance to qualify out…

Daichi Kamada’s late header rescued a deserved point for Japan against the Netherlands in their opening World Cup game in Dallas. One of the most anticipated games in the tournament’s group stages was a slow burner before developing into a second-half thriller, after the Dutch side’s Premier League contingent looked to have set them on their way to an important victory. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and West Ham United forward Crysencio Summerville were on target before Crystal Palace’s Kamada struck with a deft header to divert Koki Ogawa’s effort with two minutes left and secure a draw. Ronald Koeman’s…

The Katsina State Police Command says its personnel have foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued nine victims during an incident along the Katsina-Kankara Road. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said in a statement that the foiled abduction occurred on June 12 at about 2:30 p.m. Aliyu said armed bandits had blocked the road around Tashar Kanya community in Kankara Local Government Area, where they intercepted a commercial vehicle conveying 11 passengers. He said a swift operation by the command’s personnel led to a gun duel, and the armed bandits fled the area while nine persons were rescued in the…

Four-time winners Germany overcame a brief scare from World Cup debutants Curacao before turning on the style to win their Group E opener in Houston. Die Mannschaft went ahead in the sixth minute with the tournament’s earliest goal so far coming from a powerful curling effort from one-time England youth international Felix Nmecha. But they were stunned by a leveller from the smallest nation ever, by size and population, to take part in a World Cup. With around 155,000 inhabitants, the Caribbean island of just 171 square miles is smaller than the Isle of Man with a population the same…

Nigeria’s presidential complex, Aso Rock Villa, is set to disconnect completely from the national electricity grid and operate on an independent solar power system as the Federal Government moves to tackle what it describes as an unsustainable annual electricity bill of about ₦47 billion. The transition follows the completion of the Aso Rock solar project, a mini-grid initiative approved under the administration of Bola Tinubu to provide a more reliable and cost-effective energy supply for the nation’s seat of power in Abuja. Speaking to lawmakers earlier this year, State House Permanent Secretary Temitope Fashedemi disclosed that the solar installation was…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against NNPCL, seeking a court order compelling the company to account for approximately ₦5.9 billion allegedly spent on the incorporation, transition and rebranding of the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). According to SERAP, the sum comprises ₦2.9 billion reportedly paid by NNPC for incorporation expenses from petroleum product proceeds and another ₦2.9 billion charged by the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to crude oil revenue for the same purpose. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1248/2026 and filed at the Federal…

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his full tournament fee. Artan was interrogated for 11 hours by US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport on Monday before being told he would not be allowed into the country after his diplomatic passport and single entry US visa were rejected. A US government official said Artan had not been allowed to enter the country because of an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations”. Artan said he had been questioned by border officials over his links…

Political communications strategist Laide James has unveiled an ambitious civic media initiative aimed at creating what is projected to become Africa’s largest platform for direct dialogue between voters and political office seekers ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections. The initiative, which comes amid growing concerns over declining public trust in politics, is designed to provide Nigerians with long-form conversations featuring presidential aspirants, governorship hopefuls, senatorial candidates, political party leaders, policy experts, and other key public figures. Analysts note that the scale, structure, and projected reach position the platform as the largest voter-to-candidate dialogue initiative in Africa. They add that measurable…

Nestory Irankunda became Australia’s youngest World Cup goalscorer as a youthful Socceroos upset Turkey. The Watford forward scored a fine first-half goal before Connor Metcalfe got the second to give Tony Popovic’s side the perfect start to their Group D campaign in Vancouver. Irankunda, at 20 years and 125 days, beat the record of Brett Holman, who scored against Ghana in 2010 when he was aged 26 and 84 days. Former Bayern Munich player Irankunda was one of 10 World Cup debutants for Popovic’s team in the youngest side in the tournament since France against Australia in 2018. Irankunda’s finish…

The New York Knicks defeated the ​San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on Saturday ‌to claim their first NBA championship since 1973. Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 45 ​points as the Knicks closed ​out the best-of-seven NBA Finals in ⁠five games, just days after ​completing the greatest comeback seen in the ​championship round. Brunson was named Finals MVP after his relentless performance helped New York come ​from behind to clinch the ​title on the road in front of a ‌strong ⁠contingent of traveling Knicks fans. The Spurs started strong once again and held several double-digit leads all night, but ​the ​Knicks crawled…