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2022 WCQ Playoffs: Early Goals Will Unsettle Black Stars – Peter Rufai Tells Eagles

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Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has urged the Super Eagles to score very early in order to unsettle the Black Stars of Ghana in Tuesday’s 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs.

2022 WCQ Playoffs: Early Goals Will Unsettle Black Stars – Peter Rufai Tells Eagles

Nigeria will be hoping to complete the job at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja after the first leg had ended goalless in Kumasi last week Friday.

Recall that a victory for the Super Eagles will seal qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Rufai in a chat with Completesports.com advised the team to score early in a bid to unsettle the Black Stars.

“This is going to be a tough encounter, however, our dream of playing at the World Cup is in our hands right here in Abuja. All we need to do is to score an early goal because that will unsettle the Black Stars.

“I am optimistic the Ghanaian side can’t pull an upset against us but then, we just have to watch our back so as to prevent any form of counter-attacks.

“We just have to be clinical in front of goal and punish the Black Stars for every error that they make. This is our game and we must win come Tuesday.”

Why I Prefer To Play for Nigeria – Ademola Lookman

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Representing Nigeria Among The Best Choices Of My Career – Lookman
Ademola Lookman

Leceister FC winger Ademola Lookman has explained why he switched his nationality from England to Nigeria.

Ademola Lookman

Lookman, who represented England, was one of the U-20 players that won the World Cup in South Korea in 2017.

But he debuted for the Super Eagles on Friday in the playoff for the 2022 Qatar World Cup against Ghana, replacing Moses Simon in the 74th minute.

He told CAFOnline.com:  “I am very excited to be part of Nigeria’s National team and I’m feeling blessed and looking forward to helping the team.

“Both my parents are Nigerians and I’ve always seen these [representing Nigeria] as a possibility. I came to Nigeria, frequently when I was much younger.

“I am familiar with the people and built up a family here, so the switch from England to Nigeria is not an unusual one for me. I am glad I made the switch.”

The Super Eagles will host the Black Stars in the second leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs tie at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday.

The Leicester City man is backing his side to subdue Otto Addo’s men and secure a place in Qatar.

“This is a special event, special moments, the expectations are high. For us, it’s about winning and giving our best in the match,” Lookman continues.

“Ghana is a strong team, very competitive and physical. We expect that but we’ll be ready.”

The former Charlton Athletic and Fulham star is also relishing the prospect of making podium successes with the Super Eagles.

“I hope to create great and memorable memories. Belief is a great thing not just in football, but I am sure when you believe put in hard work which I’ve been putting in you can achieve,” he said.

“I work every day to achieve my goal. I am glad to be a part of African history and glad to be here and I hope to give you [Nigerians] sweet memories.”

The winner of the doubleheader between the two nations will claim one of the five African slots for Qatar 2022 and Lookman will be keen to make an impactful presence in Tuesday.

Opposition Planning Another #EndSARS Protest – FG

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#EndSARS, One Of The Most Successful Movements — Soyinka

The Federal Government has accused the opposition of plans to sabotage the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and overheat the polity.

Opposition Planning Another #EndSARS Protest – FG

It claimed that the opposition was trying to trigger another EndSARS protest in the country.

It also faulted attempt by the opposition to declare the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) illegal.

It queried why the opposition cannot wait till 2023 poll to test its popularity.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, who raised the alarm at a briefing in Abuja, asked the opposition not to promote anarchy.

Mohammed said: “As you know, the folks on the other side have been doing everything in recent times to overheat the polity, distort the achievements of our Administration and spread misinformation.

”Yes, it is very cold out there for the hungry and desperate opposition, but every indication is that they don’t even want to wait for the 2023 elections before testing their popularity or acceptability at the polls.

” How else does one explain their court case seeking the declaration of our convention as illegal? How do you explain their threat of another EndSARS that pushed Nigerians to the brink? How do you explain their glaring misinformation regarding the nation’s state of affairs?

“Gentlemen, there is nothing wrong in having a fiery and viable opposition in a democracy. We were there before and we remain the ones to beat in terms of determined, viable and relentless opposition.  But, in our time, not once did we advocate the destruction of Nigeria just because we couldn’t have our way.

“Not once did we seek to gain power via a desperate court action. If you destroy the country you are seeking to govern, what country will you govern? Must you cut your nose to spite your face?

”In their most recent act of desperation, they sought to erase seven years of unprecedented achievements by the Buhari Administration. In the most egregious show of shamelessness and a blatant refusal to be remorseful, they even had the audacity to express righteous indignation that the damage they inflicted on the country in their 16 years of misrule has not been totally undone in just seven years.

“In other words, those who brought the country to its knees are now accusing those working hard to repair things of non-performance. They said they are ready to rescue Nigeria. Pray, where do kidnappers rescue their victims? These same guys who

kidnapped the fortunes of their country are suddenly posing as rescuers. Caveat Emptor. Buyers beware! Nigerians Beware!”

“We are not under any illusion that they will stop their misrepresentation.

“No, because in their desperation to return to complete their demolition work on Nigeria, these folks will stop at nothing to paint us bad.

“But the good news is that Nigerians remain traumatized by their 16-year misrule, and will not return to ‘Egypt’ by allowing the ‘demolition gang’ back to office. In the meantime, let them present their 16-year stewardship in all the areas we have listed above and let Nigerians judge!”

Bubble Bust: How Physically Challenged Woman Hid Son, Told Lies To Extort Money Prophet Fufeyin

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A physically challenged woman, Rose Matthew has been caught in the web of protracted lies when she claimed that she took her four sons to Mercy Land Deliverance Church, Warri Delta state and the last one, Testimony mysteriously got missing.

Bubble Bust: How Physically Challenged Woman Hid Son, Told Lies To Extort Money Prophet Fufeyin

She took the matter to a popular human right activist, Ordinary Ahmed Isah, the owner of Brekete TV where she told the world that the Senior Pastor of Mercy Land Church, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin has a hand in the disappearance of his son.

Riddled with inconsistencies, half truths and outright lies, her claim was subjected to scrutiny where the President and Founder of Brekete TV, Ordinary Ahmed Isa discovered that the crippled woman was on a mission to destroy the man of God in what appears to be a sponsored mission.

She claimed that one of the senior sons, Triumph informed her that some women came with Keke NAPEP to pick the allegedly missing son, Testimony at the church gate where they had gone to buy food while she was inside the church premises.

During her earlier television appearance, she did not disclose to Ordinary Ahmed what her son told her about his missing brother, Testimony. She rather insisted that a security officer in the church identified as Juliet held unto her child, a false claim.

Also, in her initial concocted web of falsehood, she did not disclose that she went to the church with an 18-year-old step daughter, making them five, including herself as the sixth person.

The 18-year-old step daughter, considered an adult was said to be present when then the women in Keke NAPEP picked Testimony, the last son, in what appears to be a pre-arranged and rehearsed plan.

When confronted with this fact, she simply said, “I’m sorry for that sir” without putting up any defence to that effect.

As if she had indoctrinated her eldest son, Triumph into her cult of lies, the teenage boy also claimed that the mother’s step daughter did not go to the church with them.

He corroborated her mother’s lies that his younger brother, Testimony actually got mysteriously missing in the church.

She also did not disclose that she sent her sons outside to buy food after the plan to hide her for nefarious purposes were perfected. It was during this time of food buying that her co-criminals took the baby while the senior one returned.

She however became sober when it became clear that she has been caught red handed in her failed mission to malign the man of God.

She also claimed that she paid for her own accommodation outside the Mercy City as the Church is popularly called where she stayed for one week, a claimed later found to be a lie too as Mercy City has befitting accommodation for all its visitors.

Police investigation also revealed that Joy Matthew has strong suspicion that one Emma whom she met at Mercy City is responsible for the disappearance of her child.

Emma was however found in Port Harcourt where he said that he discovered that the crippled woman is not sincere but full of lies and falsehood.

A video of him also emerged where he was accusing the woman of hiding her child under the pretence that she is owing N950,000 to her rice business partners and house rent as well, a situation that has left her running helter-skelter for help as her creditors are on her neck.

It was on the strength of this, according to Emma’s video that the crippled woman want to Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin to help her settle her debts but in a criminal manner.

According to Emma, the crippled woman also told him that she knows the women that took her son Testimony, a situation that got him infuriated, since she was aware of where her child is while at the same time subjecting people to the task of looking for who is not missing.

Emma also said he over heard Mrs. Matthew telling another person that they (custodians) must bring back her child because that was not the initial arrangement, meaning that she knows where her son is.

He insisted that the woman knows what she is doing and that her child is not missing.

He said he was sympathetic to her as a crippled person which made him assist her, carrying her at his back at some occasions.

A statement from Emma further reveals that the 18-year-old step daughter confirmed that the crippled woman intentionally sent her child to go with the women in Keke NAPEP who took him away after the deal was arranged.

He advised her to devise another means to get money to settle her debt instead of her false claims that her child got missing at Mercy City.

Investigation however revealed that Prophet Fufeyin has not met the woman in question as he would have helped her, just like he doles out millions of Naira in charity.

She is allegedly being sponsored by some individuals to rubbish the image of Prophet Fufeyin, howbeit in vain.

Governorship 2023: Sen. T.A Orji Cautions Those Who Want To Set Abia On Fire, Insists On Power Shift To North

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Senator representing Abia Central, Sen. T.A Orji has warned those whom he accused of trying to set the state on fire to toll the path of peace in the interest of all, insisting that power should shift to North Senatorial district of the state.

This may not be unconnected with the insistence by some PDP leaders in the state, including Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South who has since joined in the governorship race that anyone is free to seek election into the number one office in the state irrespective of their zones.

In a statement on Monday, Sen. T.A Orji, a former Governor of the state said, “Let me state categorically clear that my earlier position on the subject matter remains sacrosanct and unambiguous.

“All those working to set Abia State on fire should toe the path of peace, do a rethink and sustain the peace we have been savouring as God’s Own State.”

Ever since the PDP announced that it has zoned its governorship ticket to Abia North, Senator Abaribe has continued to tackle the party and state government, saying zoning was initiated to thwart his ambition to lead the state.

The state government however did not take the response of Sen. Abaribe lightly as it accused him of playing double standard after benefitting from zoning severally.

EFCC arrest: I Was Not Running Away From Nigeria After Handing Over To Soludo – Willie Obiano

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Former Anambra GOV. Obiano, Pleads Not Guilty To 9-Court Charge
Ex-Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano

Willie Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra State, has given an insight into why he tried to leave Nigeria immediately after handing over to his successor, Chukwuma Soludo.

Ex-Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano

Obiano disclosed that he was rushing to meet up with a doctor’s appointment in the United States.

The former governor said he was rushing to the US to treat a “semi fatal condition.”

Obiano, who spoke to PremiumTimes, through his lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, stressed that he was not running away from the country.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had picked up Obiano at the Lagos International Airport, a few hours after he handed over to Soludo in Awka.

He was, however, released by the anti-graft agency after meeting his bail conditions.

However, Ikwueto said: “He was not running away. Why will he run away when his family is here and he has a lot to do here? The fact is that Obiano has a medical condition for which he had a prior appointment to see his Specialist Doctor for treatment at Spring Creek Urology Specialists L.L.C., Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

“By the nature of his ailment, he has been undergoing treatment at the said Specialist Hospital since June 2021 and had an appointment earlier scheduled for the final stage of Specialist Radiography for eight (8) weeks – which will take place immediately upon his arrival at the Facility in Houston, Texas, U.S.A.; and thereafter, after four days. Subsequent treatments are scheduled every day for a period of eight (8) weeks.”

Super Eagles To Receive N5.6b If…

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"I Love Attacking Football" – Peseiro Unveils Plans For Super Eagles

Super Eagles players are set to earn €12.2m (N5.6bn) from FIFA if they beat Ghana to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Super Eagles To Receive N5.6b If…

Ghana and Nigeria played out a goalless draw in the first leg at the Baba Yara Sports stadium in Kumasi last Friday.

The Super Eagles are seeking to qualify for the global showpiece a 7th time and, since 1994, have missed only one of seven editions. The last of three appearances by Ghana was in 2014.

The two West African countries will face each other in the second leg on Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The winner of the tie will represent the continent at the World football showpiece which is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 18.

FIFA has increased the qualifying bonus from €10m to €12.2m to help the qualified teams prepare well for the global showpiece.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) received €10m from FIFA when they qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Ghana Reopens Land, Sea Borders

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Ghana Sets New Cocoa Producer Price At $5,040 Per Tonne

Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday announced the re-opening of land and sea borders as the country eased most of its COVID-19 restrictions.

Ghana Reopens Land, Sea Borders

Akufo-Addo made this known in a nationwide address on Monday.

The president mentioned that the decision was made after reviewing the measures to help win the fight against COVID-19.

“From today, the wearing of face masks is no longer mandatory.

“All in-person activities, including religious gatherings, conferences, workshops, and funerals, may resume at full capacity if the audience and participants are fully vaccinated.

“Fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed entry through the land and sea borders without a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result from the country of origin.

Akufo-Addo further appealed to citizens to live responsibly and observe measures.

Russia “Not Afraid” Of Censored Zelensky Interview

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Russia Preparing To Mobilize 300,000 Troops To Ukraine By June 1, Says President Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky

Russia is “not afraid” of an interview Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave to independent Russian media, the Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said this on Monday.

Moscow is "Frightened" My Interview With Russian Journalists - Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor warned Russian news outlets on Sunday against broadcasting or distributing the interview between Zelensky and a group of independent Russian journalists.

“[We’re] not afraid,” Peskov said when asked what Russia or Roskomnadzor were afraid of.

“We have laws in place, and it is very important not to publish information that would amount to a violation of these laws,” Peskov added.

Russia recently signed a censorship law making it a crime for what Russia considers to be dissemination of “fake” information, punishable by up to 15 years in jail. The Russian government continues to present its invasion of Ukraine as a special military operation.

2022 WCQ: ”Super Eagles Must Be Calm Against Ghana” — Amuneke

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Assistant coach of the Super Eagles Emmanuel Amuneke says the team must be respectful and calm, for victory to be achieved in Tuesday’s crucial 2022 World Cup qualifier against the Black Stars of Ghana.

2022 WCQ: ''Super Eagles Must Be Calm Against Ghana" — Amuneke

The Eagles will welcome the Black Stars for the reverse fixture to hold inside the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

After a battling goalless draw in Kumasi on Friday, the Eagles must go all out for victory to secure the qualification ticket.

For the Black Stars, a win or a score draw of any kind will be enough for a fourth World Cup qualification.

And Amuneke said after Sunday’s training that being calm is important for qualification to be realized.

“We need to win but we just have to be respectful and calm. Let’s us play and let us not be too noisy.”

Tuesday’s opponent, the Black Stars, is expected to arrive in Abuja today (Monday) for the encounter.

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