Football / Sports

Salah inspires Pharaohs to AFCON 2022 semi-finals with goal and assist

MO SALAH’s Egypt side are through to the AFCON 2022 semi-finals thanks to a 2-1 win over Morocco in the last eight.

Salah scored and assisted a late goal in extra-time to put his team one win away from this year’s finale in Yaounde.

The Pharaoh’s bid to reclaim AFCON silverware continues as they scrape past Morocco in a tight last-8 affair.

Egyptian supporters feared the worst when Moroccan forward Sofiane Boufal converted a penalty within the first minutes courtesy of Aymen Ashraf’s reckless challenge in the box.

But Egyptian captain Mo Salah put the nation on his shoulders, scored the equalizer with 53 minutes gone on the clock and provided an assist for super sub Trezeguet five minutes into extra time.

What could be fascinating is that Egypt could meet Senegal in the final which would mean Liverpool teammates Mo Salah and Sadio Mane going at it for a trophy.

It wasn’t even up for a debate due to how influential this man was during large periods of the match.

Mighty Mo Salah single handedly picked his team up when they were in the gutter, put them back on level terms and set up Trezeguet to grab the winner.

This is why Egyptian head coach Carlos Queiroz named him captain of the squad and if Jordan Henderson at Liverpool isn’t careful, the Egyptian wizard could take that armband off him too.

Phenomenal performance from Salah this evening and he is now two games away from finally clinching AFCON silverware.

Other than Nigeria with 14, no nation has made it to the semi-final stage more times than Egypt (13) since data was recorded.

And on 7 of those occasions, the Pharaohs have gone on to win the entire tournament.

If they can overcome Cameroon in the last four, Carlos Queiroz’ men will certainly fancy their chances to make it number 8.

So with the Egyptians getting the better of Morocco, they will face hosts and 5x AFCON winners, Cameroon in the semi-final.

Providing there are no last minute altercations, the …

NFL / Sports

Everything to know from Los Angeles’s come-from-behind win

For the second straight year, the Super Bowl will be hosted by one of its participants.

The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 on Sunday, giving the team the NFC crown and setting up a title showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take a lead they would never surrender. Aaron Donald’s pressure of Jimmy Garoppolo and the quarterback’s subsequent interception sealed the result for Los Angeles, which snapped a six-game losing streak to Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers.

The result puts Sean McVay’s crew back in the Super Bowl for the first time in 4 years. Los Angeles embodied an all-in mentality, acquiring quarterback Matthew Stafford last offseason while adding outside linebacker Von Miller and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. during the season. Stafford won his first playoff game two weeks ago in the wild-card round, and now he and his teammates will be staying home for the Super Bowl.

Here’s a look back at how it all unfolded.

49ers-Rams final score: Los Angeles wins 20-17 to head to Super Bowl

Aaron Donald’s pressure made all the difference.

The perennial All-Pro didn’t notch a sack, but he reached Jimmy Garoppolo and forced the quarterback into a game-sealing interception by linebacker Travin Howard.

The Rams will get to stay home and face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56 after all.…

Stories / Tennis

Rafael Nadal wins Australian Open for record-setting 21st Grand Slam men’s singles title

Rafael Nadal made history Sunday at the Australian Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev for a record-setting 21st Grand Slam men’s singles title.

But it didn’t come easily.

In a rematch of the 2019 U.S. Open final that Nadal won in five sets, the 35-year-old Spaniard took down the 25-year-old Russian again in five sets after dropping the first two, 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

Nadal’s Australian Open win comes after months away from the game because of a foot injury and a COVID-19 diagnosis during preparation for this event. He skipped Wimbledon after losing in the French Open semifinals to Novak Djokovic, and didn’t play at all after August.

“Without a doubt it had been probably one of the most emotional of ones my tennis career,” Nadal said after winning major title No. 21. “Having the huge support that I received during the three weeks, it’s just going to stay in my heart for the rest of my life.”

Nadal surpasses two other tennis greats, Djokovic and Roger Federer, for the most major titles in tennis history among men. Djokovic (deported for being unvaccinated) and Federer (knee injury) did not play in this tournament.

Nadal’s last major victory came in the 2020 French Open. He last won the Australian Open in 2009.…

Foreign / Music / News

Nick Jonas and Priyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra welcome 1st baby via surrogate

American singer Nick Jonas and his wife Priyanka Chopra have welcomed their first child together.

The former beauty queen and actress and her hubby took to their Instagram pages on Friday, January 21, 2022, where she announced the big news.

“We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate. We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family. Thank you so much,” they wrote.

The couple did not, however, reveal the sex of their baby.

Priyanka and Nick started dating in early 2018. By July of that same year, Nick proposed to the actress.

They went on to wed in a lavish three-day celebration in December 2018 and went on to host four more wedding receptions.

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Music / News

Wizkid’s ‘True Love’ climbs American charts

On January 21, 2022, All Access reported that Wizkid‘s ‘True Love’ will officially crack urban radio in the US on February 1, 2022.

This comes following the lofty success of Grammy-nominated ‘Essence,’ which has since gone back up into the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. The success of ‘True Love’ also comes perfectly-timed for Valentine’s Day.

Word on the street says that the record was meant to be flagship single for Made In Lagos, till ‘Essence’ distinguished itself and found incredible success. The same rumors also have it that a video for ‘True Love’ has already been shot.

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Music / News

Wizkid says that he wants to see Burna Boy and Davido win

On January 22, 2022, Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar, Wizkid, was captured in a video saying that he wants to see everybody win. He also notes that it’s a good look for Nigerians.

He said, “People haven’t seen [us show each other love]. There’s actually unity, these niggas are actually cool. We’re all friends, we’re all family, we all love each other… I want to see everybody win and I’m sure everybody feels the same about us.

“No matter how bad we feel about each other, we still want to see each other win. So we have to show the fans in the videos, collabs and shows… It’s very important, man. It’s important for our people at home sef, all those people fighting genocide, who want to kill themselves.”

There’s been a lot of love in the Nigerian music industry recently. Burna Boy and Davido recently settled their beef. Just like Wizkid and Davido were recently seen hugging it out at a club. Olamide was also seen in the studio with Wizkid and Davido recently.

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NFL / Sports

Rams win epic game vs. Buccaneers, 30-27: Everything we know from Sunday’s wild shootout

For the first 40 minutes of the game, it looked like the Los Angeles Rams were going to cruise to an easy win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They led 27-3 in the third quarter, completely dominating on both sides of the ball.

Then the mistakes piled up. Cooper Kupp fumbled the ball, a snap sailed past Matthew Stafford and was recovered by the Buccaneers, and Matt Gay left a 47-yard field goal short with a chance to give the Rams a 17-point lead.

But that’s not all. Jalen Ramsey gave up a 55-yard touchdown to Mike Evans to make it a one-score game, then on the next drive, Cam Akers fumbled it for the second time and the ball was recovered by Tampa Bay. All of those miscues kept the Buccaneers in the game after it seemed like they had no chance whatsoever to come back.

The Buccaneers tied it with 42 seconds left but Stafford and Kupp saved the day with a clutch 44-yard completion deep down the field to set up Gay’s 30-yard game-winning field goal.

Here’s a recap of the wild ride that was Rams-Bucs on Sunday.

Final score: Rams 30, Buccaneers 27…

Football / Sports

Nigeria’s deficiencies exposed by Tunisia in stunning AFCON upset

Outfoxed, out-thought, outcoached.

It is hard not to use those words after watching a depleted Tunisia produce a stunning 1-0 upset to knock Nigeria out of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday night in Garoua.

The defeat means Nigeria — who have made more AFCON semifinal appearances than any other country — have failed to make the final four for the first time since 2008, when they were eliminated in the quarterfinal of a 16-team tournament by hosts Ghana.

Shorn of a third of their team, and without their coach, the Carthage Eagles still contrived to put up a fighting performance to peg back the rampaging Nigerians, going toe to toe with the Super Eagles until Youssef Msakni struck in the second half, beating Maduka Okoye from range for the only goal of the game.

Stunned, the Nigerians tried to respond, and coach Augustine Eguavoen threw on the first of four subs, among them Everton’s Alex Iwobi. But the midfielder lasted just five minutes before he was sent off for a dangerous tackle, compromising Nigeria’s chances of advancement and handing Tunisia the win.

It all came down to preparation and tactics.

Despite their excellent form in the group stages where they won three of three, the Super Eagles always looked vulnerable in the middle, where Joseph Aribo’s license to roam meant that Wilfred Ndidi was usually the lone body shielding the back four.

The set up meant that Eguavoen’s men were vulnerable in transitions, despite their speed and trickery out in the wide areas where Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze provided danger. It was a loophole that Tunisia exploited to the max.

Nigeria’s wide players were blunted by a double team, especially on Simon, and Ellyes Skhiri dropping into the defense, nullified Nigeria’s press as the Tunisians tried to overload the middle.

It was clear the north Africans had done their homework.

“We know Nigeria are very strong and very fast in the wings,” assistant coach Jalel Kadri said at the post-match press conference. “Today we came up with …

Football / Sports

Diogo Jota brace fires Liverpool past Arsenal and into Carabao Cup final to face Chelsea

A match that finally took place, but there was no actual contest. Arsenal, it could be argued, still didn’t really play.

Liverpool reached a fifth cup final of Jurgen Klopp’s time, and the first in this competition in six years, by comfortably beating Mikel Arteta’s side 2-0 in the League Cup semi-final second leg. This one wasn’t about false positives but false advertising. It just wasn’t the game that was billed, and certainly didn’t live up the enjoyable chaos that the competition’s semi-finals often offer.

Arteta’s side clearly have so much promise but also some way to go, as they lost another big game. Liverpool, and especially Diogo Jota, were just too good for them. There was almost an inevitability about that given all the ructions of the last week and how the north London derby was postponed. Arsenal could point to a stretched squad and how Thomas Partey came on just hours after arriving back from the African Cup of Nations, only to be sent off in the aimless final minutes.

That ended up being indicative in another way, as it summed up how Arsenal were always stretching to try and bridge the gap to Liverpool, but Klopp’s side were too good.

A side without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane just showed Arsenal how it’s done, giving a semi-final occasionally clouded by an acrimonious atmosphere a muted finish.

Perhaps the only question from the entire game was whether Jota intended the finish that effectively settled the contest, or mishit it. It is someway irrelevant to the game, given the end result was a goal either way, but it was a rare moment when Aaron Ramsdale looked culpable.

It’s possible he was unsighted, as Jota weaved his way towards the Arsenal box until he had a mass of bodies diving in from all angles.

Jota went for the finish, hitting a shot low to the right that almost trickled in. Ramsdale had been completely wrong-footed.

Such a slow shot similarly took some of the pace out of the game. Arsenal’s …

Entertainment / News

BBNaija’s Omashola and fiancee are expecting a baby

Former Big Brother Naija housemate Omashola and his fiancee are expecting a baby.

The reality TV star took to his Instagram page on Thursday, January 20, 2022, where he shared an ultrasound video of his fiancee and her growing stomach.

“All these years I was thinking my pee pee don’t work, finally we got a very long leg start 🍾🎊💝,” he captioned the video.

Omashola proposed to his girlfriend on the eve of 2022 underwater.

According to him, the biggest highlight of 2021 for him was the proposal.

He later recounted how they met at an ATM gallery and knew they were meant for each other.

Omashola was one of the housemates from the fourth season of the reality TV show.

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News / politics / Security / Transportation

Afenifere decries kidnapping on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has reacted to the recent kidnappings on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and worsening security in the country.

The group spoke in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, on Wednesday in Lagos State.

Afenifere said the kidnapping of seven people around Isara Remo on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway last Sunday was evidence that the governments have failed in their primary duties of providing security to the people and seeing to their welfare.

Ajayi said in the statement: “Reports had it that some displaced terrorists in the northern part of the country led by one Belo Turji are making an incursion into Yorubaland in the western part of Nigeria. “We recall the incessant kidnapping of and attacks on innocent people in Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States. We also recall the sacking of certain villages in the Imeko area of Ogun State last week.

“These are unacceptable and must be stopped forthwith by all means.

“The lamentations by Governors of Niger, Zamfara, Benue, Nassarawa, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto and Katsina states on how terrorists seem to be dictating the pace in their areas ought to serve as a wake-up call for the governments and the security agencies.

“Afenifere acknowledged that President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of the security situation going by his recent expressions on the issue. For instance, the President ordered for a ‘robust’ military intervention in the wake of terrorists’ take-over of some local government areas in Niger State just as he asked Nigerians to put their prayers for security before God. The latter he said in a message delivered on his behalf when Governor Ganduje of Kano State hosted the head of Tijanniyah organization worldwide in Kano last week.”…

Football / Sports

Nigeria Top Group after win against Guinea Bissau

After making eight changes to the side that beat Sudan to seal their last-16 place, Nigeria took time to warm up.

Umar Sadiq opened the scoring shortly after the break following a cross from striker partner Kelechi Iheanacho.

Captain William Troost-Ekong sealed the win after tapping into an empty net after fine work by Moses Simon.

Three-time champions Nigeria had already topped Group D and knew their round of 16 clash on Sunday would be in Garoua, where they have played all their games so far.

They will have to wait until Thursday night to find out which of the best third-placed sides they face from either Group B, E or F.

Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, have now gone over seven Nations Cup games without a goal, last scoring in their second match of the 2017 finals when they made their tournament bow.

Super Eagles soar in Garoua

Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen – who has made light of replacing Germany’s Gernot Rohr a month before the tournament – had the luxury of being able to rest players after his side’s fine start to the tournament, retaining only Iheanacho, Troost-Ekong and Wilfred Ndidi.

Defender Semi Ajayi was among those coming into the side and he almost opened the scoring when heading a free-kick over from close range, with Eguavoen holding his head in his hands at the wasted chance.

After Guinea-Bissau’s Maurice Gomis almost spilled an off-target Iheanacho shot into his own net, the Super Eagles finally took the lead when the Leicester City forward laid it on a plate for Almeria forward Sadiq to tap in at the far post.

Guinea-Bissau rallied shortly after when an on-target free-kick from Fali Cande was deflected behind by Troost-Ekong’s arm, with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) overlooking the incident.

But the VAR referee was heavily involved just moments later when Troost-Ekong side-footed into an empty net after Simon’s blistering strike, after a jinking run past three players, crashed back off the underside of the bar to the Watford man.

Kenyan referee Peter Waweru pointed for …

Football / Sports

Ghana can’t overcome red card, sent out of AFCON by Comoros

One moment of madness ended an African power’s chances at the 2021 AFCON.

Andre Ayew’s sliding boot to the face of Comoros keeper Salim Ben Boina went from a yellow card offense to a straight red after Video Assistant Referee review, giving Ghana a huge mountain to climb after just 25 minutes of their group stage finale.

The Black Stars were already down 1-0 when Ayew went charging after Ben Boina’s fumbled rebound only to see Ben Boina collect the ball and his wild kick connect with the keeper’s face.

Comoros, the 132nd ranked team in FIFA’s men’s rankings, still had a fight on its hands against the 10-man Black Stars (No. 52).

Ghana needed a point to reach the knockout rounds and Comoros had lost to Gabon and Morocco. The match reached halftime 1-0 before Comoros’ El Fardou Ben added an assist to his early goal.

That wasn’t it for valiant Ghana, as Richmond Boakye and Alexander Djiku scored, the latter assisted by Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, to level it at 2-2 for the 10-men Black Stars. But Ahmed Mogni, the author of Comoros’ second goal, struck in the 85th minute to send Ghana crashing out of the competition and several teams into the knockout rounds with four points as Comoros’ three is currently the fourth-best third-place point total.…

Basket Ball / Sports

Warriors’ Steph Curry, Klay Thompson find rhythm against Pistons

Sometimes a date with the 10-win Detroit Pistons is exactly what a team needs. That seemed to be the perfect remedy for a handful of Warriors on Tuesday night at Chase Center in their 102-86 blowout win.

Playing the Pistons also clearly was the perfect potion for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Curry came out of the gates as the Warriors’ director of the offense with Draymond Green out. He didn’t attempt his first shot from the field — a missed layup — until there was just under six minutes remaining in the first quarter, but he quickly nailed his first 3-point attempt the next time the Warriors were on offense. From there on, the night was filled with flashes of vintage Splash Brothers between Curry and Thompson against a team full of young players and not many wins.

“That was probably the best stretch that Steph and Klay have played together and it was a really nice kind of groove in front of our home fans, which was really great to see,” Steve Kerr said after the win.

Tuesday night didn’t need to be a performance where Curry put up ungodly scoring numbers. This one was all about efficiency.

Despite sitting the final 13-plus minutes of the game, Curry scored 18 points in 29 minutes. He also dished eight assists, swiped three steals and committed only one turnover. Curry went 6-for-11 from the field and 4-for-8 from long distance.

He finished with a game-high plus-21 in plus-minus.

“Steph is someone who controls the offense,” Andrew Wiggins, who scored 19 points, said. “A lot of the attention is towards Steph, because we know what he can do already, but with all of them out there it makes the game easy.

“Steph makes the game easy for everybody.”

Thompson’s second career game in San Francisco and fifth game overall this season was his best since his return. He finished with a season-high 21 points, and his four assists also were a season high. His buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave him 17 points at …

Music / News

Faze loses mum a year after twin sister’s death

Veteran Nigerian singer Faze has lost his mother a year after his twin sister died.

The music star announced the passing away of his mother via his Instagram page on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

“I don’t know how to express what’s in my heart. My heart is heavy. My Mum passed on last Wednesday, January 12th. This, after my twin sister, left this world last year. I don’t know why so many good people I love are leaving,” he wrote.

“But I just hold on to the thought that God is God and he knows what he is doing. It is well. I just thank Him that she lived a full life and is done with the troubles of this world. Rest well, Mummy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 🕊.”

It would be recalled that the music star lost his twin sister in Feb 2021, a few days to their birthday. 

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Entertainment

Comedian AY Makun and wife welcome 2nd child after 13 years

Popular Nigerian comedian AY Makun and his wife Mabel have welcomed a baby thirteen years after their first child.

The comedian took to his Instagram page on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, where he shared a video of his wife and their newborn baby.

“Our prayers in the last 13 years has been answered. AYOMIDE thank you for making @realmabelmakun and I, Mummy and Daddy again,” he captioned the video.

“Thank you for making Michelle a BIG SISTER. Thanks to everyone who kept us in their prayers and never stopped feeding us with positive vibes.” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” GOD’S TIME IS ALWAYS THE BEST”

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NFL / Sports

49ers beat Cowboys as time expires on Dallas’ comeback attempt

Down 6 with 14 seconds remaining, the Cowboys couldn’t stop the clock after a Prescott run to the middle of the field. An official bumped Prescott trying to get the ball set, which threw Prescott off as he rushed to spike it. Time ran out and the Cowboys’ season was over.

Video Transcript

– You need someone, San Francisco, to get to the quarterback here.

– Prescott takes off, running the football. Whoa, I don’t think this is going to work out!

– It will. They’ll be able to clock this. They were planned for it. It’s [? downtown. ?] Oh my gosh.

– The official gets in the way. The game’s over! The game is over.

– Oh, he did!

– Oh, they’re going to look at this.

– It’s, it’s going to be over because the umpire has to touch the ball. Of course, that’s ridiculous for a game to end like that, Jim. Wow. I am livid, if I’m a Cowboy fan. And if I’m a Niner fan.

– That’s the end of the game.

– The game is over! The game is over. And San Francisco survives and advances.

– You called it. It was risky. They had time. Dak’s supposed to go. But you’re not supposed to go past 10 or 12 yards.

– Remember we saw this, on the play after the fake punt? The same scenario, where the umpire got in the way?

– He has to touch it, though.

– Yep.

– Dak doesn’t realize this. These guys don’t realize, he has to touch the ball.

– Gene Steratore, your take.

– You guys were all over it, Jim. You and Tony are all over it. The umpire, an official, has to touch the football after it’s set down to start the next play.

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Basket Ball / Sports

Morant scores 29, Grizzlies beat Warriors for 10th straight

Ja Morant scored 29 points, including five in the final minute, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Golden State Warriors 116-108 Tuesday night for their 10th straight win.

“I just like having that pressure,” Morant said of his scoring down the stretch. “I feel like that’s when I shine the most. I like to be the one taking that shot, hit or miss.”

Ziaire Williams and Tyus Jones had 17 points each, Williams recording a season-high in points. Jones keyed a fourth-quarter rally that put the Grizzlies ahead for good. He finished 6 for 8 from the field, including connecting on all five of his 3-point attempts.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his second triple-double of the season. Klay Thompson finished with 14 points. Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II scored 13 each.

The teams had a closely played game in the second half until consecutive 3-pointers by Jones gave Memphis a 109-100 lead with 3:33 left to play. That was enough of a buffer for the Grizzlies to keep their franchise-record win streak going, Memphis holding Golden State to 18 points in the fourth quarter.

“I thought Tyus Jones shooting 3s broke the game open. That was the key,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

The Grizzlies were the ones connecting from 3-point range in the first half hitting 8 of their first 13 from outside the arc. That allowed Memphis to build an 18-point lead in the second quarter, putting the Warriors in catch up mode from that point on.

“It was just turnovers early in the game, and that gave them a lot of confidence,” said Curry, who was 8 of 21 shooting, including 2 of 9 from 3-point range.

Grizzlies interim coach Darko Rajakovic noted it wasn’t just Williams’ offensive output, but the rookie from Stanford also had the job of guarding Curry from the opening tip. Rajakovic noted that Curry averages 14 3-pointers a game, but only took nine in the game.

“He did a really good …

News / Transportation

Sokoto, FRSC unveil speacilised ambulance services for accident victims

The Sokoto State Government and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) unveiled a specialized ambulance to improve emergency service delivery across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Mr Salisu Tureta, state command FRSC Public Relations Officer, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto.

”The FRSC in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health launched the Ambulance Services Scheme and three fully equipped ambulances have deployed to major routes in the state.

”By this, we will provide both emergency response and transfer of patients when the need arises. “The ambulances will serve as primary providers of a-24/7 response to medical and trauma related emergencies.

”A central communication unit has been set up at the State Specialist Hospital to coordinate the ambulance services for easy interface and direction.

“The three ambulances have begun operation along with paramedics from the ministry and about 384 FRSC personnel were deployed during Yuletide.

He further said that joint Yuletide safer road operations were conducted by officials of Red Cross Society, National Emergency Management Agency and state government.

”This year’s Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Crashes covers from Dec. 17, 2021 to Jan. 15, 2022.

” Persons reasonably suspected to have violated any road traffic regulation are being arrested, prosecute and sanctioned appropriately,” Tureta said.

He noted that the cardinal objective of FRSC was to educate the public on safe use of roads.

He said that FRSC promoted the ideals with the aim of creating safer roads for all and environment in line with the provision of the law to reduce to the barest minimum the risk of deaths in road traffic crash.

Tureta urged people to adhere to traffic rules, avoid overspending and dangerous driving.…

Football / Sports

Egypt vs. Nigeria result: Super Eagles win 1-0 Against Egypt

The second true heavyweight match of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations saw Nigeria take firm control of Group D with a 1-0 victory over Mohamed Salah and Egypt.

After Monday’s game between Morocco and Ghana saw the Atlas Lions come away with a 1-0 victory, we were treated to another matchup of expected title contenders, and the result showed one side is far more prepared to push for the crown than the other.

Liverpool superstar Salah was entirely locked down, with little to show for his 90-minute effort as Nigeria smothered the Egyptian playmaker. Kelechi Iheanacho’s early goal proved the difference as Nigeria fended off a late Pharoahs push to claim all three points. Both teams are expected to progress from Group D despite today’s result, but Nigeria’s victory sets the Super Eagles up nicely for a better Round of 16 matchup and a deep run deep in the tournament, while Egypt will feel added pressure in its other group stage matches against Guinea-Bissau and Sudan.

See Highlights of the Game Below ;

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