December 12, 2023
Nigeria’s night of glory in Marakech started with the Super Falcons, who defeated Morocco and South Africa to win the Women’s National Team of the Year. The team’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, soon followed with the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year diadem, with the Women’s Club of the Year Award going to Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. The men’s category went to Al Ahli of Egypt.
Victor Osimhen, was thereafter crowned the African Footballer of the Year for his exploits for his club, Napoli and country, Nigeria, in the 2022/23 season, the first Nigerian since Nwankwo Kanu some 24 years ago. Osimhen, who led Napoli to their first Italian title 33 years after the great Diego Amando Maradona achieved that feat for the Italian side, beat Morocco’s Achraf Hakim and Egypt’s Mohammed Salah to take the crown.
Super Falcons’ Asisat Oshoala, crowned the night after emerging as winner of the African Women’s Footballer of the Year, a record extending 6th in her career; 2 more than any footballer on the continent of Africa.
December 11, 2023
There is a new twist to the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Monday as twenty-seven members defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state to the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers cited division within the PDP as the primary reason for their defection to the APC.
Rumors are rife that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike could be next in line. It may interest you to know that there is a running battle between the Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara and his political godfather, Nyesom Wike.
December 11, 2023
The Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) is worried that poor finances are affecting national sports federations’ preparations for next year’s African Games and Paris 2024 Olympics.
Speaking to the media, the NOC Media Officer, Tony Nezianya complained that the poor economic situation in the country has put the federations under pressure as they strive to give their athletes adequate training and exposure to excel at the international events next year.
To ameliorate the situation, Nezianya said that the body is seeking ways of ensuring that Nigerian athletes get the required training to excel in the international events, adding that it is exploring every means possible to help the federations.
“Some of the sports federations are still struggling to qualify their athletes for the Olympic Games. They are also gearing up for the African Games, which is coming up early next year.
“The African Games is part of preparations for the Olympics. As I speak, the Sports Ministry, NOC and the federations are frantically looking for funds for the Games. Times are tough,” he said.
The 2024 Africa Games will hold from March 8 to March 23 in Accra, Ghana, while the Paris 2024 Olympics will run from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
December 11, 2023
Bandits attacked the Zone 5 segment of the Kubwa Extension 2 Relocation Estate along Arab Road in the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday night, kidnapping a woman and her three children, including a six-month-old baby.
Reports from the capital city confirmed that the gunmen struck between 8pm and 9pm on Sunday, December 10, shooting indiscriminately and causing pandemonium in the area. A resident who preferred not to be named revealed that kidnapping has become a usual occurrence in the area every December.
Another resident noted, “This kidnapping is due to a lack of adequate security in the area. Last night they kidnapped a whole family – a mother and her three children, including a six months old baby here at Zone 5, Kubwa Extension 2 Relocation estate.”
The FCT Police Command was yet to make an official comment concerning the development, when contacted by our correspondent, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh; who’s currently in Akwa Ibom for the Police PRO’s conference promised to find out about the development and revert.
“I will find out and get back to you as soon as possible please,” Adeh said.
