Headlines
Super Falcons Play Korea in Do or Die Match
Nigeria’s Super Falcons face a daunting task of progressing to the Round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup in France when they face Korea Republic at the Stade des Alpes in Grenoble, on Wednesday.
The Falcons were beaten 3-0 in their opening match by Norway and are well aware that another defeat could be fatal to their hopes of progressing to the next round.
Francisca Ordega, who was slammed for her hairdo and make-up after the first game on Saturday, is still hopeful that the Nigerians will qualify from the group.
“Our plan is to qualify for the next round,” Ordega told FIFA.com.
“We don’t want to go home, so the next two games are very, very important. We are going to fight. We are going to do everything we can to go through.”
Falcons vice-captain Asisat Oshoala urged her teammates to remain focused ahead of the crunch clash.
“Everyone, just keep being yourself, put in more effort, stay concentrated on the pitch; it has to be 100 per cent on the pitch. Just stick to the game plan and always remember where you are supposed to be at every point in time,” Oshoala said in her post-match interview on Tuesday.
Coach Thomas Dennerby will be without defender Faith Michael for the game. The Pitea IF of Sweden defender was injured in a clash with goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi during Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Norway and will take no further part in the championship.
In Michael’s absence, Chidinma Okeke, who featured for Nigeria at the 2018 U-20 Women’s World Cup, will start at right-back.
Okeke was impressive against the Norwegians when she replaced Michael in the 53rd minute on Saturday.
“It changes our plans a bit definitely because her (Michael) speed is very useful when you play with three in the backline. We will see what will happen about that,” Dennerby said in his post-match interview on Tuesday.
Korea Republic have never faced Nigeria at this level and they are without a win in their last four matches. Striker Jung Seolbin is aware of the threat the Falcons can pose.
“African players are very flexible and they also seem to perform well under the hot weather,” Seolbin told FIFA.com ahead of the game.
“Speed could be another factor for us in this match because I think they’re even faster than European sides we’ve faced before.”
Also, Korea winger Lee Geummin was more specific about their opponents on Wednesday, stating clearly that they were not good as the Falcons.
“Nigerian defenders are quick, skillful with their feet, and calm under pressure, but I also saw they lose in one-on-one situations and their defensive organisation is not that solid.
“They’re good individually, but not so much as a whole team.”
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.”
President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria is ready to work with other nations to build a resilient, equitable, and sustainable world for all.
Tinubu spoke in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on the second day of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The president spoke on the topic, “From Climate Imperatives into Economic Prosperity: Bridging Africa with the Global Energy Future.”
He declared that no single nation could walk the road to sustainability alone, stressing that global interconnectedness demand collective action, knowledge sharing, and mutual support.
According to Tinubu, “The fight against climate change is not merely an environmental necessity but a global economic opportunity to reshape the trajectory of our continent and the global energy landscape.
“As leaders, stakeholders and citizens of our planet, we stand at a critical juncture in human history. To succeed, we must innovate, collaborate and act decisively as one global community.”
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, Tinubu assured the audience that the Nigerian government had developed actionable programmes in line with global expectations, bearing in mind Nigeria’s economic and political expectations.
He said, “We have embraced a vision of sustainability that aligns with global aspirations while addressing local realities. Our efforts are anchored on three pillars: Energy Transition, Climate Resilience, and Sustainable Development.
“My administration recognises the importance of reducing carbon emissions and a just transition to clean and renewable energy, promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth.
