🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana ruled out of World Cup
via Punch Nigeria8 min read
Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana will miss the remainder of the World Cup after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament ACL in his right knee. The injury occurred during Belgium's 4-1 victory over the United States in the last-16 game in Seattle on Monday. The 24-year-old Aston Villa midfielder was forced off early in the match. The Belgian Football Federation announced the injury on Tuesday, with team doctor Brahim Hacene confirming the devastating news for both Onana and the team. Discussions are underway with Onana and Aston Villa to determine the best approach for his recovery and rehabilitation. Despite the injury, Onana will remain in North America with his teammates until at least the quarter-finals, where Belgium is scheduled to play Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has voiced strong confidence in Joseph Tegbe, the newly appointed Minister of Power, to revitalize Nigeria's power sector. The university believes President Bola Tinubu's selection of Tegbe acknowledges his proven expertise in both public and private sector leadership. Abiodun Olarewaju, the university's Public Relations Officer, stated that Tegbe's appointment brings pride to the institution, reflecting its tradition of producing leaders who contribute to national development. Vice-Chancellor Prof Adebayo Bamire also expressed optimism that Tegbe possesses the intellectual capacity and administrative acumen to make electricity supply more reliable, accessible, and sustainable for Nigerians. The Global President of the Great Ife Alumni Association, Dr. Leye Falode, pledged the association's full support, anticipating innovation and transformational leadership during Tegbe's tenure. Tegbe's appointment followed his nomination by President Bola Tinubu after the resignation of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. Before his ministerial role, Tegbe served as Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership and was a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa. He was confirmed by the Senate before being sworn in as minister in June.
Must ReadNigeria is at a critical juncture as the National Assembly moves to establish state police forces. While proponents view this as a step towards tackling insecurity through true federalism, opponents fear it could be used as a political tool by governors ahead of the 2027 elections. The Senate's passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill to create state police has reignited debates, with supporters seeing it as a move towards true federalism and community policing. Critics, however, question the timing, suggesting political motives as the next election cycle approaches. The People's Redemption Party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's camp have expressed concerns about the current administration's credibility and the potential for abuse, particularly if implemented before the 2027 elections. Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi also urged a delay until after the 2027 elections, advocating for strong safeguards like an independent State Police Service Commission. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana argues that security reforms must address underlying issues like unemployment and poverty, not just create more police institutions. Funding concerns also remain, with questions about states' capacity to sustain effective police organizations. Despite reservations, the proposal has garnered support from figures like Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization Afenifere. The Labour Party also endorsed the legislation, citing con
Must ReadThe Nigerian Press Organisation NPO has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission FCCPC to investigate major global technology companies and generative artificial intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria. This move addresses concerns regarding the use of journalistic content by digital platforms and aims to ensure fair competition within the Nigerian media industry. The NPO, in a statement by Frank Aigbogun, Deputy President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Press Organisation, noted that the presidential directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Federal Government by its member organizations, including the NPAN, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers. A delegation had previously met with the President in March to highlight the growing threat posed by these technology and AI platforms to the sustainability of Nigeria’s media ecosystem. The NPO alleges that dominant digital platforms, including Meta, Alphabet, and X, along with some generative AI companies, use original journalistic content without adequately compensating publishers, undermining fair competition. The organization also raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability by some technology companies, which challenges journalism's role as a public-interest institution. The NP