AFCON Ouster Is An Eye-Opener…We’ll Fly Higher Now, Says Ahmed Musa

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January 27, 2022

Ghana’s Black Stars will bear the brunt of Super Eagles’ early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon, if the words of Ahmed Musa are anything to go by.

It is just two months to the double-legged World Cup final qualifiers between both teams and the Nigerian skipper has promised to take it out on their Ghanaian counterparts.

According to a press release by the NFF, Captain Musa said that though the Super Eagles’ exit from the 33^rd Africa Cup of Nations was a hard one for the players, there is no time for any pity-party and the shock has only made the squad stronger as lessons have been taken on board for upcoming challenges.

“You know it is still a shock but I can assure you that things like these make a team stronger. We did our best in the circumstances. When you lose at a tournament, it hurts really bad. However, we don’t have time to keep reflecting over what went wrong.

“We have very important challenges in front of us, and all we can do is stay stronger and have firm belief in ourselves that we can do it. The focus is now on the World Cup play-off.”

Nigeria exited the 33^rd AFCON after losing by the odd goal to Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles in a Round of 16 encounter in Garoua on Sunday evening.

On return to Abuja on Tuesday morning, Youth and Sports Minister Sunday Dare had a breakfast meeting with the contingent where he explicated that the Government was proud of the squad and its performance, “and how they comported themselves as ambassadors of our nation.” He stated that “this team will improve and become a solid and fierce contender in any competition we enter,” while praising the technical crew led by Augustine Eguavoen for “a strong performance.”

He added: “The overall performance of the team during this tournament shows we have regained our better footing and are heading in the proper direction. Our football, once again was fluid, purposeful and beautiful to watch. We have a good team and Nigeria will help them to get better.”

Present at the breakfast meeting were players of the Super Eagles and their technical and backroom staff, Sports and Youth Development Minister Sunday Dare; Alh. Ismail Abubakar (Permanent Secretary, Youth and Sports Development Ministry); Mallam Shehu Dikko (2^nd Vice President, NFF/Chairman, LMC); Dr Mohammed Sanusi (NFF General Secretary); Ms Aisha Falode (Member, NFF Executive Committee/Chairman, Nigeria Women Football League) and; top officials of the Sports and Youth Development Ministry.

Up next for the Super Eagles is the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off with the Black Stars of Ghana, with the Ghanaians set to host the first leg and the reverse in Nigeria, both matches to take place between 24^th – 29^th March.

In 57 previous encounters over 71 years of an intense football rivalry, Nigeria have won 16 of the matches, with another 18 drawn, while Ghana have won 23. Both countries have been involved in World Cup qualifying fixtures for the 1962, 1970, 1974 and 2002 finals, with honours evenly shared.

Ghana edged the contention for the 1962 FIFA World Cup ticket with a 4-1 win in Accra and 2-2 draw in Lagos. In the race for Mexico 1970, Nigeria won 2-1 in Lagos with the return leg ending 1-1 in Accra. For the 1974 finals in Germany, Ghana were awarded a 2-0 win for the first leg that was abandoned in Lagos, with both teams ending it 0-0 in Accra in the return.

In the race for Korea/Japan 2002, both teams battled to a 0-0 draw in Accra, with the Eagles winning the return 3-0 in Port Harcourt.

Malawi declares disaster zones amid deadly floods

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Henry Williams

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January 27, 2022

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Malawi President’s Lazarus Chakwera has declared parts of the country disaster areas, after 19 people were killed in floods caused by tropical storm Ana.

The deaths have been reported in at least five districts in southern Malawi, where more than 50 people also suffered various degrees of injuries.

Up to 44 camps have been set up to help thousands of displaced people.The storm has also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including at the country’s main electricity generating plant.

Power has only now started to be restored in some parts of the country after a nationwide blackout on Tuesday.

A statement released on Thursday by the president’s office has declared that all districts that have been affected
in the southern part are disaster areas with immediate effect.

Music Devotees Keep Afghan Music Alive Despite Ban

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faith Jegede

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January 27, 2022

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Afghanistan’s rich musical culture has come under threat, almost to the point of being extinct under the growing humanitarian crisis in the country.

The Taliban have banned music since their return to power last year.

The Taliban clampdown is a repeat of the hardliners’ previous time in power between 1996 and 2001, when they banned music as sinful, under a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Videos and pictures circulating on the internet have shown musical instruments being smashed and burnt.

According to Adib Rostami, a tabla player, most Musicians have fled the country. “You cannot be a musician in Afghanistan, and you cannot play music, music is banned, and you saw the pictures and video that they burn the instruments. So as far as I know, most of the musicians they are trying to get out of the country. And that’s not a scenario, it is really hard to get out of the country. And then where to go? And then how to continue their careers? So it is really a difficult situation yeah.”

In an interview with Homayoun Sakhi at London’s Barbican concert hall, where he was raising funds for emergency medicine and education in his homeland, he says playing the national musical instrument takes him back home.

“This is national instrument, each time I am playing with it, I feel like I am in Afghanistan, and everybody feels the same. I feel like I have my Afghanistan with me in my hand.”

Music including pop was allowed a free rein during the past two decades in Afghanistan, with local television even showing a “Pop Idol” talent contest equivalent.

But following the Taliban’s return to power, the survival of traditional afghan music now depends on lovers overseas.

UN pays tribute to ‘pioneering’ Ghanaian commander

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Henry Williams

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January 27, 2022

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The UN secretary general has mourned as a “true pioneer” Ghana’s first female brigadier general, Constance Emefa Edjeani-Afenu, who died on Monday.

Antonio Guterres paid tribute to Brig Gen Edjeani-Afenu for making history in peacekeeping as the first female deputy force commander of a UN mission in Western Sahara.

During her more than 40 years of military service she served in numerous UN peacekeeping missions – including in Lebanon, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UN chief hailed her as having worked hard to promote gender inclusiveness and increasing the number of women serving in the military.

Kenyan tea pickers allowed to sue firm in Scotland

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Henry Williams

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January 27, 2022

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A Scottish judge has said he will allow hundreds of Kenyan farm workers to take legal action against one of the world’s biggest tea producers.

The workers are current and former employees of Finlays, a multi-national company which was founded in Scotland in the 18th century.

They claim conditions on Finlays’ tea farms in Kenya damaged their health and are suing for damages in the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Finlays opposes the action.

The firm argued any claim should be dealt with by the courts in Kenya and the action does not meet the requirements of Scotland’s rules on group litigation proceedings.

These are known as class actions in other jurisdictions.

Ugandan author accused of insulting president freed

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Henry Williams

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January 27, 2022

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A Ugandan author accused of insulting the president and his family has been released after being re-arrested moments after a court freed him on bail.

Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was “dumped” by the military at the gate of his home in eastern Uganda on Wednesday, his lawyer said.

The novelist’s wife also confirmed the release.

The lawyer said the author was unwell and had been taken to hospital for treatment.

The award-winning writer was charged with offensive communication after he was accused of insulting President Yoweri Museveni, and his son, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Twitter.

He successfully obtained bail from a Kampala court before he was rearrested in unclear circumstances.

His lawyer said he was “kidnapped” from prison by men in plain clothes and taken to an unknown location.

The author won acclaim for his 2020 satirical novel The Greedy Barbarian which describes high-level corruption in a fictional country.

Totalenergies AFCON 2021 – Quarterfinals Determined

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Emenike Agu

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January 27, 2022

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The Round of 16 of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 was concluded on Wednesday 26 January 2022.

After eight exciting games, the quarterfinals pairings are now determined.

The quarterfinal matches are as follows:

Match 45 – Saturday 29 January 2022 – 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) – Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua

Burkina Faso v Tunisia

Match 46 – Saturday 29 January 2022 – 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT) – Japoma Stadium, Douala

Gambia v Cameroon

Match 47 – Sunday 30 January 2022 – 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT) – Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde

Egypt v Morocco

Match 48 – Sunday 30 January 2022 – 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) – Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde

Senegal v Equatorial Guinea

NNPC cautions against panic buying of petrol

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Henry Williams

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January 27, 2022

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has cautioned Nigerians against panic buying of petrol, stating that it has sufficient product in stock.

This is coming shortly after the return of fuel queues in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday.

The Corporation, in a statement issued by Group Managing Director, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad, said that the Company has sufficient PMS stock to meet the needs of Nigerians.

It said, “The NNPC Ltd. wishes to assure the public that the Company has sufficient PMS stock to meet the needs of Nigerians.

UK resumes visa applications processing in Nigeria

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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January 27, 2022

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The United Kingdom has resumed work and study visa applications processing in Nigeria.

This was contained in a post on the social media handle UKinNigeria on Wednesday.

In the post, Nigerians were urged to proceed to the UK visa application centers for the Priority Visa Services.

“From January 24, TLS will resume offering some Priority Visa (PV) Services in our Nigerian visa application centers. PV services will only be available to customers applying at VACs in Nigeria in work and study routes. These services will only be available via the TLS website and can be purchased when making a VAC appointment,” the post read.

The British High Commission had on December 6, 2021, suspended visa applications from red list countries, including Nigeria.

“To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from COVID-19 and associated variants of concern, UK Visas & Immigration will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted,” the high commission had said while suspending visa applications in Nigeria.

As of June 2021, the United Kingdom announced that at least 20,427 Nigerians are studying in the UK.

When the visa processing was suspended over Omicron concerns, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said it was “unjust, unfair, punitive, indefensible, and discriminatory” and not based on science.

“Instead of these reflex responses that are driven by fear, rather than science, why can’t the world take a serious look at the issue of access to vaccines, and ensure that it is based on the principles grounded in the right of every human to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, political belief, economic, or any other social condition,” he had said.

Minnows Equatorial Guinea Win Shoot-out To Set Up Clash With Senegal In AFCON Quarters

By

Emenike Agu

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January 27, 2022

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Santiago Eneme scored the decisive penalty as minnows Equatorial Guinea edged Mali 6-5 in a shoot-out after a drab 0-0 draw following extra time in Limbe on Wednesday to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

An ultra-cagey last-16 match produced minimal excitement for the crowd with both teams managing just one shot on target in 120 minutes.

Equatorial Guinea now face Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal, one of the title favourites, in Yaounde on Sunday for a place in the semi-finals of the flagship African tournament.

It was the second 0-0 draw on Wednesday with Egypt defeating the Ivory Coast 5-4 on penalties in Douala just before the Limbe match kicked off.

The players and match officials wore black armbands and observed a moment of silence before the kick-off in memory of the eight people who died in a stampede on Monday before Cameroon beat Comoros in Yaounde.

Mali had two Premier League players available and Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma started while Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo sat on the bench and was introduced after 70 minutes.

Ibrahima Kone, who scored three of the four Mali goals in the group stage, fired just wide on seven minutes at the 20,000-seat Stade Omnisport, which overlooks the Gulf of Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea had a penalty appeal rejected after the referee checked the VAR monitor as a foul-riddled first half progressed.

The Equatoguineans were overly physical and Ivan Edu and Jose Miranda were yellow-carded before Mali wasted a half chance to end the deadlock.

A free-kick fell favourably for Amadou Haidara inside the box, but his timid shot was comfortably saved by Jesus Owono.

Veteran Mali coach Mohamed Magassouba looked on anxiously when Kone was injured, but the Norway-based forward was able to continue after lengthy treatment.

It was then the turn of Mali to appeal for a penalty when Moussa Doumbia fell as half-time approached, but the referee changed his decision to initially award a spot-kick after reviewing the incident.

A goalless opening half ended with a third yellow card to an Equatoguinean with Pablo Ganet the offender. His team committed 15 fouls during the half, but failed to get a single shot on target.

The best scoring chance so far came on 58 minutes when the perseverance of Bissouma set up Haidara, but he blazed over from close range.

As the match entered the final quarter of regular time, Mali continued to dominate possession, pass more accurately and concede far fewer fouls, but Equatorial Guinea held firm under pressure.

Djenepo enlivened the Mali attack, but could not force a breakthrough and after 95 goalless minutes, the final last-16 match went to extra time.