Author: Vincent Osuwo

France forward Ousmane Dembele scored one of the earliest hat-tricks in World Cup history on Friday as the Ballon d’Or winner starred in France’s 4-1 win over a second-string Norway, while Erling Haaland watched on from the bench. Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele opened the scoring in the seventh minute at Gillette Stadium near Boston, struck again in 20 minutes, and, after Thelo Aasgaard had pulled one back, made it 3-1 in the 32nd minute. The only player to complete a hat-trick earlier in a World Cup match is Erich Probst, who scored three inside the first 24 minutes for Austria…

Idris Zekeri Jr., the media aide to Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress’ (NDC) presidential candidate, said on Friday that the party’s legal team was reviewing the Federal High Court decision that overturned the judgment requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the NDC as a political party. Zekeri, in an Abuja statement, urged followers to be calm, stating that the party was analyzing the verdict and will seek legal recourse. He claimed that the party had been overwhelmed with inquiries following what he termed the “bizarre” verdict of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State. “We have…

The Federal High Court in Lokoja has overturned its earlier decision requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, allowing for a new hearing of the substantive suit. Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the finding on Friday, said that the court’s December 10, 2025, decision harmed the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which was not joined as a party in the litigation despite claiming ownership of the emblem used to secure the judgment. As a result, the judge ordered that all parties be restored to their places before the December…

The Lagos State Government has announced that it will examine the collapse of a three-story building in the state’s Alakija neighborhood and prosecute anyone found responsible, while advising people not to ignore evacuation alerts given for damaged structures. Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, issued the warning on Friday while briefing journalists at the scene of the tragedy on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Omotoso expressed condolences to the victims’ families, calling the tragedy regrettable. “Our first duty is to commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,…

Eight kidnapped victims were recovered from Pandam Forest in Plateau State’s Qua’an Pan Local Government Area by Sector 9 troops as part of Operation Enduring Peace. Captain Chinonso Oteh, the Joint Task Force’s Media Information Officer for Operation ENDURING PEACE, acknowledged the rescue operation in a statement issued on Friday. According to the statement, the operation began at 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, after credible intelligence indicated the presence of kidnappers in the forest. According to Oteh, forces stationed in Namu Town Plateau state, launched a premeditated offensive operation, resulting in the successful rescue of the casualties. He stated…

France head coach Didier Deschamps has temporarily left the team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 camp, mourning his mother’s passing. The French Football Federation said on Tuesday that Deschamps would return to France to attend the burial and would be absent from the bench for Les Bleus’ final Group I encounter against Norway. In a statement, the federation said, “Didier Deschamps will not be able to be on the bench on Friday for the final Group I game. “The coach had the painful experience this morning of learning of the death of his mother. He will return to France to attend…

A thrilling clash between in-form goal scorers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will take center stage at the World Cup on Friday, when France plays Norway in a key Group I decider. Real Madrid star Mbappe and Manchester City striker Haaland have started the tournament in blistering fashion, with four goals each in the race for the Golden Boot, trailing only leader Lionel Messi, who has five. The two forwards will face off in a heavyweight bout at Foxborough, near Boston, on Friday at 3:00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), with first place in the group at stake. France, who…

The Ogun State Police Command has revealed that the key suspect in the murder of Kitan Oyesiku, an ex-OGTV broadcaster, and her guard, Pelumi Adetayo, claimed he planned the scheme to “teach her a lesson.” Bode Ojajuni, the state commissioner of police, announced this on Thursday during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta. Chronicle NG reported that the command launched an investigation into the deaths after a resident raised concerns about suspicious activity at the deceased’s home. Our correspondent gathered that police investigators who arrived at the scene uncovered evidence of forced entry. The corpse of…

President Daniel Noboa announced Friday a statewide public holiday after Ecuador defeated Germany 2-1 to advance to the elimination stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The proclamation came immediately after Ecuador’s historic victory over the four-time world champions at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, which propelled the country beyond the group stage for only the second time in history. In a post on X on Friday, Noboa commended the players and coaching staff for overcoming criticism to achieve success. “Thanks to the players and the coach who, despite the criticism, the insults, and the tough times they went through,…

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has urged Nigerians to go into Akara business, roasting of corn, and the selling of local snack kulikuli to curb unemployment. Mrs. Tinubu made the appeal while speaking to the press after an event where she gave business grants to well-meaning Nigerians. The First Lady, who noted that the grant and Akara business idea are in tandem with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, mentioned that it doesn’t cost much to start these businesses. “We try to give hope, and to start an akara business doesn’t take a lot of money,” she said. “To start roasting…