Author: Opalim Lifted

Super Eagles’s interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has hinted at the conditions that could see him take on the job full-time. Eguaveon has been tasked with leading the team through the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Libya after picking up four points in the opening two games of the qualifiers. Eguavoen outlined that any consideration for a permanent role would require a long-term contract, along with patience and consistent backing from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). “The Super Eagles job isn’t one you take lightly. If I were to take it permanently, I’d need to sit down, reflect, and think deeply…

Following an announcement by President Bola Tinubu, Nigerian northern women expressed their displeasure over their complete exclusion from the North West Development Commission (NWDC), a regional governing board. The Northern women highlighted that Tinubu’s actions have fallen short of his 35% affirmative National Gender Policy as promised for women in his appointments, as well as all sense of justice and equity. Chronicle NG reports in a statement titled “A Stark Omission: Gender Representation in the North West Development Commission. Ten northern women’s representatives collectively signed the statement: Asma’u Joda, Saudatu Mahdi, Maryam Uwais, Aisha Oyebode, Amina Salihu, Mairo Mandara, Qadriyya…

The Israeli Defence Fire (IDF) issued orders in the early hours of Thursday telling people to leave multiple areas of densely-populated southern Beirut, where it says it will hit Hezbollah sites. “You are located near facilities and interests belonging to Hezbollah, which the army will act against in the near future,” Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on social media site X, naming the Haret Hreik, Burj al-Barajneh and Hadath Gharb areas. Five people were killed in an IDF air raid on a Hezbollah rescue facility in the heart of Beirut late Wednesday, according to the Lebanese…

Lionel Messi, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, continues to break records as he reached 46 career trophies on Thursday. Messi’s 46th record trophy came after he clinched the Major League Soccer (MLS) Supporters’ Shield with Inter Miami against the Columbus Crew. The Argentina legend scored a brace for Miami in the final. The Barcelona legend scored two goals in 5 minutes including a stunning freekick before the end of the first half and with Luis Suarez goal in the 48th minute secured the trophy for Miami. The Argentine has scored 29 goals for Inter Miami…

Iran resumed flights at its airports on Thursday, state media said, after a brief suspension following its missile attack on Israel. The Islamic Republic launched 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening, marking its second-ever direct attack on its sworn enemy, following a missile and drone attack in April. Both domestic and international flights were grounded for security reasons until 05:00 am (0130 GMT) on Thursday. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation spokesman, Jafar Yazarloo, confirmed the resumption, citing the lifting of restrictions. “After ensuring favourable and safe flight conditions and ending of the restrictions, airlines are allowed to carry out flight…

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has joined Barcelona until the end of the season, just over a month since he retired. Former Poland international Szczesny, 34, announced his retirement on 27 August after his contract with Juventus was terminated. Barca lost first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to a serious knee injury in their 5-1 win against Villarreal last month. La Liga regulations permit clubs to sign free agents outside of the transfer window to replace players with injury lay-offs longer than four months. Wojciech Szczesny made 181 appearances for Arsenal after joining as a 16-year-old and also spent time at…

Girona scored two own goals and missed a penalty as they fell to a narrow defeat in their first Champions League home match. The Spanish side took the lead through 34-year-old defender David Lopez in the 19th minute, but were pegged back four minutes later when Quinten Timber’s header deflected in off Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera. Teenager Antoni Milambo put Feyenoord 2-1 ahead in the 33rd minute and the Dutch side were given a penalty moments later for a foul on Timber, but goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga denied Ayase Ueda from the spot. In the second half Girona had a goal…

Daily Trust apologised on Wednesday to the Federal government of Nigeria for publishing an inaccurate report on the Samoa Agreement in July. The report, headlined “LGBT: Nigeria Signs $150 billion Samoa Deal”, was criticised by Nigerian officials for being misleading and non-factual. The Nigerian government lodged a formal complaint with the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), an independent Ombudsman. The government said the report on the Samoa agreement was false and designed to create confusion in the land. After weeks of investigation, including hearing from the parties involved, the NMCC ruled that the Daily Trust report was “inaccurate” and fell…

France said on Wednesday it had mobilised its military resources in the Middle East to counter what it called the Iranian threat and Germany warned the region risked being set on fire after Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel. Iran said early on Wednesday that its missile attack on Israel was finished barring further provocation, while Israel and the US promised to retaliate against Tehran’s assault as fears of a wider war intensified. The United Nations Security Council will meet later in the day to discuss the escalation, but in a sign that Western states are looking to…

The Indian government has warned its citizens not to travel to Iran and said it is deeply concerned at the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The advisory comes a day after Iran fired around 200 missiles into Israel, invoking fears of a full-fledged war in the Middle East. “It is important that the conflict doesn’t take a wider regional dimension, and we urge that all issues be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. It advised Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran. “Those currently residing in Iran…