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Mixed Fortunes For Nigerian Stars On Boxing Day

By
Emenike Agu
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1

• Akpom hits hat-trick
• Onyeka missing, Ndidi, Iheanacho play as sub

It was a tale of mixed fortunes for Nigerian players in Europe who were involved in league actions on Boxing Day in England, Johnny Edward writes

Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough):

Akpom scored a second-half hat-trick for Middlesbrough who defeated Wigan 4-1 at the Riverside on Monday.

The treble took his tally to 12 in the English Championship this season. The win also saw Middlesbrough complete a league double over the Latics and also extended Kolo Toure’s winless start to life as Wigan boss.

Boro took full control in the second half as the understanding between Ryan Giles and Akpom exposed the Latics’ defensive frailties.

Hayden Hackney opened up the visitors’ defence to send Giles down the left, and Akpom was on the end of his cross to make it 2-0 in 49 minutes.

The former England U-21 international again finished well after Giles’ strong run had created problems for the defence.

Wigan gave themselves some hope as Thelo Aasgaard gave a quick reply, volleying in from Max Power’s cross, but Boro saw out the game.

Akpom claimed the match-ball from yet another Giles pass to secure Boro’s first league double over Wigan.

The in-form former Arsenal has now been involved in 33 per cent of Middlesbrough goals so far this season. The former Hull City striker also became the first Middlesbrough player to score a treble for the club since 2018.

Troost-Ekong, Okoye, Kalu, Dele-Bashiru (Watford)

Tom Dele-Bashiru made his third consecutive start for Watford who suffered a setback –a 2-0 defeat at home to Millwall in their fight for a Championship play-off place.

Andreas Voglsammer scored his first goal in English football to set Millwall on the road to a vital victory before Zian Flemming’s bagged his 10th of the campaign after the Hornets were reduced to 10 men by Hassane Kamara’s red card in the 38th minute.

The defeat was Slaven Bilic’s second in nine games, denting their own push for promotion to the Premier League.

Williams Troost-Ekong replaced Bacuna at the start of the second half while Samuel Kalu came on for Kabasele with 19 minutes left to play. The game was Troost-Ekong’s 12th league game of the season. For Kalu, it was his sixth of the campaign.

Again, Maduka Okoye was not listed in the matchday squad. He is yet to make a league appearance since he joined in the summer.

Semi Ajayi (West Brom)

Ajayi was an unused substitute for West Bromwich Albion who made it six wins in eight games under boss Carlos Corberan as they scored a goal in each half to beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Matt Phillips was sent clear down the left to fire in a ninth-minute opener. Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante then came off the bench to score the second with a sublime left-foot chip on the run, just 11 minutes after coming on for Daryl Dike. Albion, who were in the Championship relegation zone when Corberan came in, moved up to 12th. Ajayi has made seven appearances this term.

Iheanacho, Ndidi (Leicester City)

Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi both made substitute appearances for Leicester City who suffered a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United.

It was the 10th substitute appearance of the season for Iheanacho who came on for Harvey Barnes in the 71st minute for his 11th league game while Ndidi replaced Boubakary Soumare a minute later.

The win was Newcastle’s sixth consecutive Premier League win of the season and they move up to second in the table.

Alex Iwobi (Everton)

Iwobi kept his place in Everton’s starting line up on Boxing Day but failed to help the Toffees record a victory over Wolves as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat following Rayan Ait-Nouri dramatic stoppage-time winner.

The game was Iwobi’s 15th EPL game of the season while he has scored once providing five assists.

Aribo, Edozie (Southampton)

Sam Edozie made his first EPL start of the season for Southampton who were booed off by their own supporters at half-time following a 3-1 defeat.

A header from Adam Lallana and an own goal by left-back Romain Perraud heaped more misery on Jones’ relegation-threatened side.

Solly March then added a third for the Seagulls in the second half, thumping a shot into the top corner from 20 yards out that Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had no chance of saving.

A penalty was awarded to Southampton in the 73rd minute after Edozie ran into Pascal Gross inside the area, and while Sanchez saved James Ward-Prowse’s initial effort, he could not keep out the headed rebound by the home skipper.

Joe Aribo came on for Moussa Djenepo at half time in the defeat. Saints are now bottom of the table after Wolves grabbed a late winner against Everton.

Frank Onyeka (Brentford)

Onyeka failed to make the matchday squad of Brentford who were held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham Hotspur.  The Nigerian midfielder has made 12 appearances this term.

EPL Return: Manchester United Shine, Beat Forest 3-0

By
Emenike Agu
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2

Manchester United made a positive start to life without Cristiano Ronaldo as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial stepped out from the Portuguese’s shadow to score in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Ronaldo’s rollercoaster second spell at Old Trafford came to an end during the World Cup break after an explosive interview in which he took aim at manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners.

On the field, his influence had already waned since Ten Hag took charge at the start of the season.

Rashford has been a player transformed under the Dutch coach and carried his fine form for England at the World Cup into the Premier League’s return.

A brilliantly worked corner opened the floodgates for United as Christian Eriksen picked out an unmarked Rashford inside the area to sweep into the top corner.

Forest were without their first choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson as he is on loan from United and his understudy Wayne Hennessey was culpable when the home side doubled their lead just three minutes later.

Rashford’s burst down the left and teed up Martial at the edge of the box, but the Frenchman’s strike should not have had enough power to beat the Welsh international goalkeeper.

United were also short handed at the back with Lisandro Martinez absent following Argentina’s World Cup celebrations, Diogo Dalot injured and Harry Maguire still feeling the aftereffects of an illness.

As a result Raphael Varane was forced into starting just nine days after playing 113 minutes for France in the World Cup final, while Luke Shaw lined up as a centre-back in a back four for the first time.

But Forest did little to test a makeshift backline as they remain with just one goal away from home in the league all season.

Steve Cooper’s men did have the ball in the net shortly before half-time, but Willy Boly’s effort was ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR check.

Ten Hag has publicly stated his desire to add a striker in the January window given Ronaldo’s departure and United should have added more than one goal in the second half.

Antony fired straight at Hennessey after fine play from Rashford and Bruno Fernandes gave the Brazilian a clear sight of goal.

Hennessey also stood firm to block from Martial and Rashford from close range, but the Red Devils finally got the third goal they deserved three minutes from time.

The imperious Casemiro strode forward to win possession and picked out his Brazilian compatriot Fred to slot into the far corner.

Victory takes United to within one point of the top four and with a game in hand to come on fourth-placed Tottenham.

Forest remain rooted in the relegation zone, but just one point adrift of safety.

Pele Bids Family Farewell In Shocking Video

By
Emenike Agu
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1

In a shocking video posted by Golaut official on YouTube, Brazil legend, Pele, seems to be slowly losing the battle against cancer as he faintly says goodbye to family and friends

The condition of the three-time world champion has deteriorated as he was seen struggling to breathe in the video which went viral.

The 82-year-old, who had a tumour removed from his colon in September 2021, was admitted to the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo on November 29, 2022 and recently spent Christmas Day there.

As his condition worsens, family members gathered in the hospital to stay with him, with his daughter vowing to stick by his side as the Brazil great receives care in the hospital after his cancer progressed.

However, in the posted video tagged, ‘Pele says goodbye to family and friends from the hospital bed’, the legend was recorded faintly passing a message.

Meanwhile, British businessman and sports manager Frank Khalid said in a Twitter post, “Pele says goodbye to family and friends from the hospital bed. Football legend, Pele is slowly losing the battle against cancer, family says ‘his condition is worsening even further’,” Khalid wrote.

In another developing video on social media, one of Pele’s former rivals, Romario, has wished the Brazilian football legend well.

Speaking to Ge Globo, Romario said, “King, get better. So much faith. The whole world is looking and praying for you. Improvements! I kiss your heart.”

Police say bus crashed into parked truck in Sudan, 16 killed

By
Henry Williams
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2

A passenger bus slammed into a parked truck on a highway in the Sudanese city of Omdurman early on Tuesday, killing at least 16 people, police said.

The bus swerved off the road and hit a parked truck in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital, Khartoum, according to a police statement. At least 19 people were injured in the accident, police said.

The bus was heading to Khartoum from Fasher, the provincial capital North Darfur province, police said. Ambulances rushed to the scene to transfer the injured to the Omdurman hospital, while the dead were taken to the morgue.

There was no immediate word as to what caused the bus to swerve.

Traffic accidents are common in Sudan, often the result of badly maintained roads and poor enforcement of traffic laws. Thousands of people are killed every year in road accidents in the impoverished African country.

Abduction, torture, rape: Conflict in Congo worsens, says UN

By
Henry Williams
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1

The accounts are haunting. Abductions, torture, rapes. Scores of civilians including women and children have been killed by the M23 rebels in eastern Congo, according to a U.N. report

In addition, the M23 rebels have forced children to be soldiers, according to the report by a panel of U.N. experts. The 21-page report based on interviews with more than 230 sources and visits to Rutshuru area of Congo’s North Kivu province where the M23 have seized territory, is expected to be published this week.

Conflict has been simmering in eastern Congo for decades where more than 120 armed groups are fighting in the region, most for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while some groups are trying to protect their communities.

The already volatile situation significantly deteriorated this year when the M23 resurfaced after being largely dormant for nearly a decade.

The M23 first rose to prominence 10 years ago when its fighters seized Goma, the largest city in Congo’s east, which sits on the border with Rwanda. The group derives its name from a peace agreement signed on March 23, 2009 which called for the rebels to be integrated into the Congo army. The M23 accuse the government of not implementing the accord.

In late 2021 the reactivated M23 began killing civilians and capturing swaths of territory. M23 fighters raped and harassed women trying to farm family fields in areas controlled by the rebels, according to the report. The rebels accused civilians of spying for the Congolese army, said the report. They were often incarcerated and some were beaten to death, it said.

Not only are populations living under M23 subject to abuse but they are forced to pay taxes, said the panel. At the Bunagana border crossing with Uganda, the rebels earned an average of $27,000 a month making people carrying goods pay as they entered and left the country, said the UN. Two locals living under M23 who did not want to be named for fear of their safety, told The Associated Press they’d been forced to bring the rebels bags of beans, pay $5 if they wanted to access their farms and take backroads if they want to leave the village for fear of reprisal.

The M23 did not respond to questions about the allegations, but has previously dismissed it as propaganda.

The violence by the rebels is part of an overall worsening of the crisis in eastern Congo, with fighting by armed groups intensifying and expanding in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces, said the report.

S. Korea military sorry for failing to down North’s drones

By
Henry Williams
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2

South Korea’s president on Tuesday called for stronger air defenses and high-tech stealth drones while the military apologized for failing to shoot down North Korean drones that crossed the border for the first time in five years.

South Korea’s military scrambled warplanes and attack helicopters on Monday, but they failed to bring down any of the North Korean drones that flew back home or disappeared from South Korean radars. It raised serious questions about South Korea’s air defense network at a time when tensions remain high over North Korea’s torrid run of missile tests this year.

On Tuesday, the military again launched fighter jets and attack helicopters after spotting suspicious flight paths at a front-line area. A local county office sent emergency text messages notifying residents of a new batch of North Korean drones. But the military later said it was a flock of birds.

“We have a plan to create a military drone unit tasked with monitoring key military facilities in North Korea. But we’ll advance the establishment of the drone unit as soon as possible because of yesterday’s incident,” President Yoon Suk Yeol said during a regular Cabinet Council meeting. “We’ll also introduce state-of-the art stealth drones and bolster our surveillance capability.”

He said that South Korea’s military needs more intensive readiness and exercises to cope with threats posed by North Korean drones.

Serbs put up new roadblocks as tensions soar in Kosovo.

By
Henry Williams
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1

Serbs on Tuesday erected more roadblocks in northern Kosovo and defied international demands to remove those placed earlier, a day after Serbia put its troops near the border on a high level of combat readiness.

The new barriers, made of heavily loaded trucks, were put up overnight in Mitrovica, a northern Kosovo town divided between Kosovo Serbs and ethnic Albanians, who represent the majority in Kosovo as a whole.

It was the first time since the recent crisis started that Serbs have blocked streets in one of the main towns. Until now, barricades had been set on roads leading to the Kosovo-Serbia border.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said he ordered the army’s highest state of alert to “protect our people (in Kosovo) and preserve Serbia.”

He claimed that Pristina is preparing to “attack” Kosovo Serbs in the north of the country and remove by force several of the roadblocks that Serbs started putting up 18 days ago to protest the arrest of a former Kosovo Serb police officer.

On Tuesday, Vucic addressed reporters together with Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, who was barred by Kosovo authorities on Monday from entering Kosovo and visiting a medieval Serb church there before Serbian Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated on Jan. 7.

Ukraine must demilitarize or Russia will do it

By
Henry Williams
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0

Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday warned anew Ukraine that it must demilitarize, threatening further military action and falsely accusing Kyiv and the West of fueling the war that started with Moscow’s invasion.

Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine must remove any military threat to Russia — otherwise “the Russian army (will) solve the issue.” His comments also reflected persistent unfounded claims by the Kremlin that Ukraine and its Western allies were responsible for the 10-month war, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.

Russia launched the war on Feb. 24, alleging a threat to its security and a plot to bring NATO to its doorstep. Lavrov reiterated on Tuesday that the West was feeding the war in Ukraine to weaken Russia, and said that it depends on Kyiv and Washington how long the conflict will last

Nigeria’s Capital Territory On Alert For Diseases Outbreak

By
Henry Williams
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1

The FCT Administration has heightened its disease surveillance system against key diseases like Cholera, Ebola, Monkeypox, meningitis, measles and Covid-19.

The FCTA disclosed that the Epidemiological Division of the Public Health Department, under the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat HHSS, has gone into the alert mode of all these diseases, posing mortal dangers to humans.

This was made known by the Director of, the FCT Public Health Department, Dr. Sadiq Abdulrahaman, while briefing the media on the state of preparedness and response of the FCTA health sector, in Abuja.

Dr. Sadiq, said the FCT is on high alert mode, as part of proactive measures taken, even though it has not witnessed any serious outbreak of the diseases within the year ending,

He added that periodically, there is a weekly review, in conjunction with FCTA partners like WHO, NCDC, and Disease Surveillance and Notification officers, who are key foot soldiers at the Area Councils level.

President Buhari Condemns Killing Of Mobolanle Raheem

By
Henry Williams
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0

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the “heinous and senseless” killing of Omobolanle Raheem, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA shot by on-duty policemen on Christmas Day.

The President said he was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the brutal killing and directed the police authorities to take “the strongest possible action” against the culprits already held in detention.

President Buhari said this incident is a stark reminder of the recurring menace of the mishandling of weapons and a wakeup call to law enforcement agencies, including the Police to ensure the full implementation of reforms instituted by the administration on the subject of weapons handling as well as the protection of the rights of citizens.

“In this hour of grief, the nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and the NBA. I assure that justice will be done in this case,” the President said

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