Author: Opalim Lifted

John McGinn repaid head coach Steve Clarke’s faith in him by firing Scotland to their first World Cup win in 36 years as they edged past Haiti on their return to the men’s tournament after a 28-year absence. Clarke said pre-match that the selection of Aston Villa captain McGinn instead of Ryan Christie was “probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make” and challenged the 31-year-old to prove him right. It is safe to say that sending his country to the top of Group C while taking a significant step towards reaching the knockout stage for the first time…

Vinicius Jr spared Brazil the embarrassment of defeat in an opening World Cup match for the first since 1934 as his spectacular solo goal earned a draw for the five-time winners against Morocco at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Brazil fell behind in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari lifted the ball over the onrushing Alisson Becker from outside the area following a lapse in communication between the Liverpool goalkeeper and his defenders, Gabriel and Marquinhos. It was the first time the African champions had scored against South American opposition at the World Cup, having failed to do so…

Qatar scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser as they fought back to draw against Switzerland to claim their first-ever point at a World Cup finals. Boualem Khoukhi headed home Homam El Amin’s cross in the 94th minute to spark wild celebrations among Julen Lopetegui’s squad. It delivered a remarkable conclusion to a one-sided affair that Switzerland had dominated and had looked likely to be settled by Breel Embolo’s first-half penalty. The Switzerland striker fired in after Remo Freuler was clattered by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, although television replays appeared to show that the Bologna midfielder had strayed marginally offside in the…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the death of Rabe Abubakar, the retired general who died in bandit captivity. The former Director of Defence Information and his wife were abducted in May while travelling through Katsina State. On June 6, a video showing Abubakar and his wife appealing to the Katsina State Government to secure their release by facilitating the release of detained bandits and seized livestock surfaced online. On Saturday, the Katsina State Government confirmed that the retired general had died in captivity. Nasiru Mu’azu, the state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said Abubakar died from complications…

Governor Francis Nwifuru has declared that Ebonyi State remains one of Nigeria’s safest states, insisting that no kidnapping incident has been recorded since he assumed office. Speaking in Abakaliki while receiving more than 50 editors and journalists participating in the second phase of the Presidential Media Tour of Projects in the South-East, Nwifuru said visitors would see extensive development projects across the state. The tour, organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team, is expected to cover the five South-East states over five days. The initiative aims to showcase projects linked to President Bola Tinubu’s…

Protesters in Abuja on Saturday demanded that the administration of President Bola Tinubu rescue schoolchildren and teachers being held by kidnappers. The protesters occupied the Nyanya-Karu Bridge in Abuja, the nation’s capital, to press home their demands. The demonstration caused heavy traffic gridlock along the Nyanya-Karu Expressway and required the intervention of military personnel to restore traffic flow. The protesters chanted, “Tinubu must go, bring back our children,” while carrying placards calling for the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oyo and Borno states. Martins Vincent Otse, a social media activist popularly known as VeryDarkMan, joined the demonstration. Kwara…

Retired Major-General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, has died while in the custody of bandits, Katsina State Government disclosed. Abubakar and his wife were abducted in May while travelling through Katsina State. A video that surfaced online on June 6 showed the retired military officer and his wife appealing to the Katsina State Government to secure their release and facilitate the release of detained bandits and seized livestock. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, said Abubakar died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while…

The Federal Government has signed an agreement with Ethiopia to repatriate more than 100 Nigerian inmates, allowing them to serve the remainder of their sentences in Nigeria. The deal was formalised in Addis Ababa on Friday by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, alongside his Ethiopian counterpart, Hanna Arayaselassie, with senior officials from both countries in attendance. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the agreement underscores both nations’ commitment to justice and rehabilitation, particularly through family and cultural support systems that aid reintegration. According to a report, Nigerian inmates currently held in…

The Edo State Government has approved the reopening of schools shut in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area (LGA) over security concerns. On Wednesday, the government ordered the closure of three secondary schools in the LGA following a security intelligence report by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a planned mass abduction of schoolchildren in Edo North Senatorial District. The report indicated that security operatives intercepted communications suggesting plans to target students, while a suspect was reportedly apprehended during surveillance activities around Makeke Secondary School. A circular issued by Enodolomwanyi Otamere, Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Education, said the…

England were victims of a theft of their training equipment before their arrival in Kansas City on Saturday. The Football Association is trying to ascertain what was stolen, with balls and boots among the items feared to have been taken, after vehicles transferring equipment to their Swope Soccer Village base in Kansas City were broken into. England boss Thomas Tuchel and his squad will arrive in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon and the equipment was due to be in place beforehand. Police officers, who are in touch with the FA, were on site on Friday night dealing with the matter.…