By Ayomide Otitoju Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored the decisive goal as Ivory Coast began their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title defence with a 1-0 win over Mozambique on Wednesday in Marrakesh. Diallo struck in the 49th minute of the Group F match, securing victory for the three-time champions against a team ranked…
By Ayomide Otitoju Captain Riyad Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria cruised to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E opener on Wednesday at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. Mahrez opened the scoring just 82 seconds into the match, delighting the 16,115-strong crowd,…
By Ayomide Otitoju Senegal kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Botswana on Tuesday, while Nigeria’s Super Eagles overcame Tanzania 2-1 in a more hard-fought Group C clash. Wins were also recorded by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tunisia as the first round of group matches…
By Ayomide Otitoju Nigerians across the 36 states are marking Christmas, a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, with church services, family gatherings, and festive activities, despite ongoing economic challenges. President Bola Tinubu, governors, and religious leaders joined the celebrations by sending messages of hope, peace, and love. In a statement released on Wednesday,…
By Ayomide Otitoju Pope Leo XIV held his first Christmas Mass as pontiff on Wednesday, addressing thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square and offering Christmas greetings before the service. During the Mass, Leo described Christmas as a celebration of “faith, charity and hope” and criticised a “distorted economy” that reduces human beings to…
By Ayomide Otitoju As Christians across Nigeria join the global community in celebrating Christmas, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on churches to observe the season with wisdom, vigilance, and a strong sense of responsibility. The call was made by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement released on Christmas Eve, in…
By Ayomide Otitoju Leicester City striker Patson Daka scored an injury-time header to earn Zambia a 1-1 draw against Mali in their opening Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group A match on Monday. Daka, who has managed just one goal for Leicester City in the English Championship this season, met a Mathews Banda cross in…
By Ayomide Otitoju Burnley striker Lyle Foster scored in the 79th minute as South Africa edged Angola 2-1 in Marrakesh on Monday, securing their first opening win at an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign since 2004. Bafana Bafana had previously struggled in tournament openers, drawing twice and losing four times since their 2004 victory…
By Ayomide Otitoju Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has expressed confidence and optimism as Nigeria prepares for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting the team is united and motivated to make amends for recent setbacks. Ndidi, who was named captain earlier this week, said the Super Eagles are heading into the tournament with…
