Headlines
Nigerians Score New Eagles’ Jersey Very Low
The new Super Eagles kits unveiled by designers Nike and the Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday, has elicited reactions from Nigerians on Twitter.
NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, in a chat with our correspondent, had described the jerseys as an improvement on the ones worn by the Eagles in 2018 and 2019.
But while some fans praised the kits, saying they were beautiful, others labelled them as below quality.
Among those who praised the design was Seun Obalola, who said, “Lovely jersey, some Nigerians that don’t really know what they want will still come and criticise it.”
“Amazing design, our new sponsor makes us good looking on the pitch,” Abdulrahman Barnawi added.
According to Danielle Enonche, many Nigerians were only criticising the jerseys because they were not yet endorsed by big stars.
“People saying the green and white isn’t good will change their minds the moment their favourite celebrity rocks it. I remember when the last ones were unveiled, many people criticised it until it began to make wave internationally,” Enonche stated.
Among those who criticised the new jersey was Sam Uche, who said, “What is this rubbish Nike IT students designed for the NFF and you’re smiling that you’re wearing this for Africa Cup of Nations. Don’t we know the difference between football jersey and inter house sports wear. Thumbs down for this Super Eagles kit.”
“Nike you can do better than this now,” Ijoma Chijioke tweeted.
“How many times have England, Germany, Italy or France changed their jerseys? What with all the continuous, petty changes every two years!? Common, be consistent and brandable! This is becoming childish. A Nigerian designer can do better. And why unveil in New York? No class,” Kelvin Keshi said.
“Is this one a design? We should go back and upgrade the old ones that we know and love instead of bringing anyhow design for us as a jersey. And we need our normal green not this colour, I don’t like this jersey at all,” Manuel Afabor also said.
Tunde Gbedo however rated the two jerseys separately, giving a thumbs up for one and a low rating for the other.
“The white and green is a huge no for me, a downgrade compared to the present one. For effort sake, 4/10, the ‘bitterleaf’ jersey looks better this time 9/10,” Gbedo tweeted.
The NFF president Pinnick said the Eagles would first wear the new kits in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Liberia in Monrovia on October 5.
The Punch
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
