Africa’s FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Gets Underway With Shocking Results

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November 20, 2023

Nigeria’s Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro has explained why his team failed to beat Zimbabwe during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

Peseiro watched as goals from Walter Musona and Kelechi Iheanacho ensured Zimbabwe and Nigeria drew 1-1 at Huye Stadium in Rwanda.

The result against Zimbabwe means the Super Eagles have now failed to win their first two games in the World Cup qualifying series, having drawn 1-1 with Lesotho a few days ago.

Speaking during the post-match press conference, Peseiro said the long travels played a part in the result.

According to Peseiro, “It was a tough, difficult trip from Nigeria in the flight, many hours, the players didn’t rest enough for quick play at the same level.”

He added, “First half, very bad, second half, much better.”

Colombia 2024: Falconets Show Greater Potency, Brushes Aside Tanzania To Reach Final Round

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November 20, 2023

Goals by Janet Akekoromowei and Comfort Folorunsho against Tanzania at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Sunday gave Nigeria a 2-1 win and progress to the final round of qualifiers for the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals.

After a gloomy afternoon for Nigerian ball fans following the Super Eagles’ disappointing 1-1 draw with the Warriors of Zimbabwe in neutral Rwanda in the race to 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, the Falconets gave the fans something to smile about as they edged their Tanzanian counterparts 3-2 on aggregate to reach the final round, where they will take on Burundi’s U20 girls.

The 2022 World Cup quarter-finalists, who have never been absent from the global finals, swarmed on the visitors from the first blast of the whistle, but poor marksmanship on the part of former U17 team striker Opeyemi Ajakaye robbed them of an early goal.

Akekoromowei eventually put Nigeria in front after 16 minutes, when she rifled home from the edge of the box after an intelligent pass from Taiwo Afolabi.

Five minutes later, the East Africans were at parity, when goalkeeper Shukura Bakare dropped the ball from an innocuous-looking free-kick 35 yards out and Jamila Mnunduka bundled the ball over the line.

Nigeria would have been ahead in the 25^th minute, but defender Shukurat Oladipo’s well-struck free-kick from 40 yards was parried away by goalkeeper Zulfa Ally Makau. Ajakaye failed to make hay with another opportunity in the 33^rd minute.

On the hour mark, defender Comfort Folorunsho broke the spell of 1-1draws for Nigeria’s national teams in recent weeks, when she leapt highest to head home from Afolabi’s cross after a couple of touches from a corner kick.

The Falconets will now take on Burundi in the final round of qualifiers, to determine one of Africa’s flagbearers at next year’s global championship to be hosted by Colombia.

Transportation Boost: Enugu State Begins Central Terminal Project

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November 19, 2023

The Governor of Enugu state, South-East Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and his team embarked on the massive 2-in-1 gigantic Enugu Central Terminal Project.

Just like an even better version of the Lagos-Oshodi Transportation Interchange, the Enugu Central Terminal will redefine the Transportation system of Enugu.

Interestingly, the Enugu Central terminal will be constructed by Planet Projects, the company that handled the Oshodi Interchange.

When completed, it will serve as a major transportation hub with a dual terminal that will be seamlessly linked for both Inter-State and Intra-State travel, the existing rail line, massive adjoining link roads, a major hub for commercial activities and a natural clean oxygenated air and green environment with the ambience of cities abroad.

The Project will be located within the Okpara Avenue and Market Road intersection of Enugu town and to be started and completed in 12 Months.

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But being a considerate Government, Governor Peter Mbah and the State Commissioner For Transport Hon. Obi Ozor has since began an intensive Stakeholders Consultation and engagement with people who have existing businesses within the area, with the intention of temporarily relocating them to another location while the construction lasts.

Once completed, the businesses and other transport and logistics companies in the axis will now move into the ultra-Modern Enugu Central Terminal that will also serve as a major hub for a properly planned Mass Transit Station with Modular terminals at Garki, Abakpa and Nsukka.

While it is generally agreed that the South-East needs contemporary infrastructures as seen in Lagos and Abuja, projects like the Enugu Central Terminal will come to fruition with many sacrifices and that is why the Enugu State Government is insisting on relocating the will-be affected businesses to a temporary location and pegging the construction period for 12 months to ensure those displaced are quickly returned to continue their businesses which will amount to a win-win situation for the both parties.

World Cup Qualifiers: Why Nigerians Couldn’t Watch Super Eagles On TV

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November 19, 2023

FIFA and CAF appear to have priced World Cup qualifying games out of most cable and terrestrial television stations’ reach

Nigerian football enthusiasts were left disappointed as they were unable to catch the Super Eagles’ match against the Lesotho Crocodiles on television on Thursday as they commenced their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The blackout of Thursday’s game extended across terrestrial and cable stations in the country, leaving many bewildered about the unavailability of the national team’s match on television.

The absence of the Super Eagles game on air was largely attributed to the excessively high cost of the broadcast rights for the World Cup qualifiers.

In an exclusive interview with NFF content consultant who pleads anonymity reveals that the exorbitant cost of broadcasting rights set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA has been the primary reason behind the blackout. He said FIFA has gradually taken over football in Africa from CAF. He wants CAF and its affiliates to rally round and revert this situation before further damage is done.

Also speaking on the high cost, Deji Omotoyinbo of Afro Sports says “The cost for the ten-match package is too high for regular broadcasters, and we can’t carry it,” Omotoyinbo explained. “That’s basically what happened.”

This financial burden has extended to cable providers as well, as they also could not justify the cost of broadcasting the matches.

Omotoyinbo further highlighted the unrealistic expectations of FIFA and CAF regarding broadcasting rights, stating that their proposed prices are simply not sustainable for businesses.

Despite the desire to broadcast the matches, Omotoyinbo emphasised the importance of financial viability for businesses.

“Of course, the stations would love to show, but not at the expense of their businesses,” he said. “Everybody will love to show, but the cost… If good food at a restaurant is too expensive, then people will go and buy food elsewhere.”

Omotoyinbo expressed hope that CAF and FIFA would reconsider their pricing strategy, allowing for a more amicable solution that would allow Nigerians to watch their national team in action.

“Hopefully, they will have a rethink,” he said. “I think they want to have a direct link to the market. They think if they put a link, millions of people will watch, and they will monetise that in some way.

“Maybe they want to go that route of being the direct broadcasters. I don’t know how that works for them, but in the case of direct broadcasters, that’s it. The cost is too exorbitant.”

Though Omotoyinbo is optimistic about an adjustment in the prices of the broadcast right, he was quick to note he doesn’t expect anything to change before the Super Eagles’ next game on Sunday against Zimbabwe.

In a similar light, football fan and journalist, Enitan Obadina, said it was not gratifying by any means that the Super Eagles are playing and there is a total blackout.

“It’s not a good thing for the spread of the game and attracting viewership. As a fan, I would love to watch the match, especially when they are playing in Nigeria.

“Being unable to watch it leaves a sad taste, and I have to find a way to know what is happening in the game. Even as journalists, we like to watch our countries.

“That we cannot watch both on cable and terrestrial is not good at all to help the growth of the game, and people are losing out,“ Obadina added.

2026 FIFA World Cup Race: Eagles In Another Tame Draw On Day 2 Of 10-Match Series

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November 19, 2023

The Super Eagles, again, had to settle for a 1-1 draw on Day 2 of the FIFA World Cup qualifying African series after a tame performance failed to lift them above the Warriors of Zimbabwe in neutral Rwandan ground on Sunday.

Walter Musona put the Warriors in front after 26 minutes with a 35-yard free-kick that eluded goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and sailed into the net.

The Eagles did not play with the stronger mentality and determination they espoused after the 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Uyo on Thursday, as the Warriors, who played their own game against Rwanda a day earlier and better-rested, showed more hunger and desire for the three points.

Moses Simon’s stout shielding of the ball and good decision in the box allowed Kelechi Iheanacho to slam past the goalkeeper for Nigeria’s equalizer after 67 minutes in Butare.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resume in June 2024 with Nigeria hosting South Africa, current leaders of Group C, before travelling to an away game against Benin Republic.

South Africa Take Initial Lead Of Nigeria World Cup Qualifying Group

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November 19, 2023

Nigeria’s main rivals in the Group C of the World Cup qualifiers, South Africa, have taken the lead after MatchDay 1.
The Bafana Bafana this Saturday beat Benin Republic 2-1 in South Africa. The win, the first in the group has taken South Africa to the top, with three points.
Nigeria and Lesotho are joint second with a point and goal each. Rwanda and Zimbabwe also with a point but no goal followed.
Benin with no point and the only defeated side so far in the group are last.
South Africa made hays early in the game, scoring in the second minute through Percy Tau.
Johnson Mudau doubled the lead in the second minute of the added time of the first half.

Steve Mounie pulled a goal back for Benin Republic in the 70th minute.
Nigeria begin the MatchDay 2 of the group with a dicey tie with Zimbabwe in Rwanda on Sunday. A win will give Nigeria a lead ahead of highly predictable duel of Lesotho against South Africa as Bafana Bafana travel to Rwanda to for their Matchday 2 on Tuesday.

Lagos State To Purchase 50 Electric Buses By 2024

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November 18, 2023

In its drive to commit to cleaner transportation, Lagos state is set to get 50 electric buses by the first quarter of 2024.

This was revealed by Olukemi Amore, head of bus services at Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), at the 2023 Nordic Nigeria Connect on Tuesday.

“For the next phase of electric buses, we will see 50 electric buses come into Lagos,” she said.

She said it is one of Lagos state’s plans to transition to cleaner mobility and reduce emissions in line with Sustainable Development Goals 11, 13 and the Lagos State Government’s THEME’S Agenda.

Lagos State currently has two electric buses that have been in operation since May 2023.

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Other initiatives taken towards cleaner mobility by LAMATA include partnerships with private operators to run CNG buses in Lagos (2 different bus types), Participation in the World Bank study on Electric Mobility in Nigeria, a feasibility study on renewable fuel (Biodiesel and Biogas) for Public Transportation (Funded by SWEDFUND) and the partnership with the private sector to pilot electric buses for public transport operations in Lagos.

She said the demand for trips in the Lagos megacity region by all modes (including walking) is 22 million per day.

Amore said in 2011, Nigeria had the fourth highest CO2 emission from fuel combustion in Africa, after South Africa, Egypt and Algeria, respectively and by 2016, the transport sector, with a 32 per cent share, was the most significant contributor to a nationwide Fossil CO2 emission from fuel combustion that year.

She noted that the vision for LAMATA is to operate a multi-fueled public transport network, and one such way is through the Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP) implementation.

“Execution of projects within the STM will result in an emission level less than eight million tonnes per annum, representing over 50 per cent reduction in emissions from the 2032 BAU level,” she said.

Also, on the same panel, Francis Lechat, head of West Africa SCANIA, a popular truck and bus manufacturer, mentioned that they will reintroduce used trucks to Nigeria again in 2024.

He said they had done this in the past.

Still, he stopped because most of the models of the used trucks across Europe and North America use Euro 5 diesel engines, and diesel produced in Nigeria contains a lot of sulphur, which is Euro2&3, so introducing used trucks to the country will cause frequent damages to the trucks lousy PR to the company.

He noted that with the emergence of the Dangote refinery, which intends to produce Euro-5 diesel.

“We are bringing back the Used Trucks, but the commencement is pertinent on the start of Dangote refinery,” Lechat said

South African Airways Opens Upgraded Johannesburg Airport Lounge

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November 18, 2023

South African Airways (SAA) has made a few new upgrades to its International Premium Lounge at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Officially opened on Monday, 13 November, The Lounge, as it’s known, was the first of the airline’s lounges to get upgraded, as part of an endeavour to renovate and refresh all SAA lounges.

Next up for renovation early next year is the first-class Platinum lounge, also at OR Tambo, followed by upgrades at SAA’s domestic lounges in Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

The newly refurbished lounge now features contemporary designs in furniture and fittings, as well a carefully curated art collection.

A variety of comfortable areas now available at the lounge includes a quiet zone, meetings suites and private suites.

There is also a buffet menu available throughout the day, as well as a specially-designed A la Carte menu for passengers to enjoy.

A new bar also features, serving up coffee, cocktails, mocktails and South African wines and bubbly.

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O. R. Tambo International Airport (IATA: JNB, ICAO: FAOR) is an international airport serving the twin cities of Johannesburg and the main capital of South Africa, Pretoria.

It is situated in Kempton Park, Gauteng. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel for South Africa and since 2020, it is Africa’s second busiest airport, with a capacity to handle up to 28 million passengers annually.

The airport serves as the hub for South African Airways. The airport handled over 21 million passengers in 2017.

It was originally known as Jan Smuts International Airport, after the former South African Prime Minister of the same name.

The airport was renamed Johannesburg International Airport in 1994 when the newly elected African National Congress (ANC) government implemented a policy of not naming airports after politicians.

This policy was later reversed, and on 27 October 2006 the airport was renamed after anti-apartheid politician Oliver Reginald Tambo (1917–1993).

Exploring Navala Village In Fiji

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