Author: Press Room

United States, Mexico and Canada, joint hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, have all been eliminated from the tournament, following the USA’s 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday in Seattle. ‎The US exit completes a difficult tournament for all three co-hosts, who had each reached the knockout stage on home soil but fell short of the quarter-finals. ‎Canada were the first of the trio to bow out, losing 3-0 to Morocco in the Round of 16 on Saturday, July 4, in a tie in which Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi scored twice before a late strike…

A visually impaired freshman at the University of Lagos, Ogunsua-Dixon Tijesuni, has recounted how she survived a brain tumour, multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation to emerge as the country’s best matriculating candidate in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group for Persons with Disabilities. Tijesuni, a 100-level Mass Communication student, spoke exclusively with The PUNCH on Monday, after she was recently honoured at the maiden Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards, where she was recognised alongside six other outstanding matriculants from the 2025 admission exercise. The Ondo State-born student scored 288 in the 2025 UTME and recorded…

Linus Effiong The Bayelsa State Government has denied issuing any statement blaming the Federal Government for poverty in the state, describing reports to that effect as false and misleading. In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the government said no official statement was issued on Monday in response to criticisms by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state over Governor Douye Diri’s six-year performance. The government specifically refuted media reports in a statement titled, “Bayelsa Govt Rejects PDP’s Poverty Claims, Defends Six-Year Record,” saying the words attributed to the…

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has gotten to the knockout stages, producing several key moments that’ll be talked about for generations to come, but the absence of the Super Eagles leaves a bitter taste for the Nigerian football fan, Soccernet.ng reports The three-time African Champions are missing out on a spectacle that has seen Cape Verde, Morocco, and DR Congo make history. While two of those nations have exited the tournament, they surpassed expectations with their performances at the Copa Mundial. The story dates back to 2022, after the Super Eagles lost to Ghana in the play-offs, allowing the Black…

Belgium dumped the United States out of their own World Cup on Tuesday, as Charles De Ketelaere’s brace secured a 4-1 win that was eclipsed by the bitter row over Folarin Balogun’s ban. Victory means the Belgians face Spain in the quarter-finals, while the US follow co-hosts Canada and Mexico out of the tournament with elimination in the round of 16 after a thoroughly flat performance. All attention pre-game had been on Balogun’s place in the US starting lineup, after US President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review the striker’s one-game suspension for a red card, and the governing body…

Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala has publicly backed Erling Haaland instead of fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen as the ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski, Soccernet.ng reports. The Spanish champions are looking for a new leading striker after Lewandowski left the club following the expiration of his contract before completing a move to Major League Soccer. His exit has created a huge gap in Barcelona’s attack, forcing the Catalan giants to explore several options ahead of the new season. Osimhen has been linked with Barcelona for months and remains one of the strikers being monitored. Atlético Madrid are also reportedly interested after…

Nigeria’s food fortification programme has recorded significant progress over the past two decades, and the country has been appointed chair of the ECOWAS food fortification programme, with other West African nations now looking to Nigeria for leadership, Chairman of the National Fortification Alliance, Fred Chiazor, has said. He further stated that the alliance is targeting between 70 and 100 per cent fortification compliance across all mandatory food vehicles within the next one to five years as part of efforts to reduce widespread micronutrient deficiencies and improve public health. Chiazor said this at the 2026 National Fortification Alliance first Bi-Annual Meeting…

Tosin Oyediran The Rotary Club of Ikoyi has called for stronger collaboration among the government, the private sector, corporate organisations and individuals to reduce child and maternal mortality in Nigeria. The club’s president, Christopher Ehiogie, said reducing child and maternal mortality requires a shared commitment from all stakeholders, expressing optimism that stronger partnerships would significantly improve healthcare outcomes and save more lives across the country. He made the call on Monday during the donation of child and maternal health equipment, including neonatal resuscitation and maternal training equipment, to Island Maternity Hospital. The club also conducted vision and hearing screening for…

Spanish club Sevilla have made a major decision regarding the future of Super Eagles striker Akor Adams amid growing interest from Serie A side Venezia, Soccernet.ng reports. Adams has become the subject of intense transfer speculation ahead of the new season, with Venezia stepping up their pursuit of the Nigerian forward as they look to strengthen their squad following their promotion back to Serie A. French giants Marseille are also monitoring the striker’s situation. However, while they were previously pushing to sign him, their interest has cooled in recent weeks. The 25-year-old only joined Sevilla in January 2025 but recovered from a…

The Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, has affirmed that only the recognised national leadership of the Labour Party under Senator Nenadi Usman can authorise litigation in the party’s name.‎‎In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, LP National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said the July 2 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, in Appeal No. CA/OW/104/2026: Labour Party & 14 others v. Abia State Independent Electoral Commission & four others reaffirmed the legal authority of the Usman-led leadership to institute or maintain court proceedings on behalf of the party.‎‎According to him, the appeal arose from a pre-election dispute…