Egypt, Cape Verde, and Ghana vie for World Cup Round of 16 spots
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Three African nations, Egypt, Cape Verde, and Ghana, are competing to advance to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 on Friday. Morocco is currently the only African team to have secured a place in the next stage after defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout. Africa began the expanded 2026 World Cup with 10 representatives, with nine nations progressing to the Round of 32, and Tunisia being the only team eliminated in the group stage. Egypt will play Australia at Dallas Stadium, Cape Verde will face Argentina in Miami, and Ghana will meet Colombia in Kansas City. These matches will determine if additional African teams join Morocco in the Round of 16.
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Brentford has announced a new long-term contract for Italy Under-21 international Michael Kayode, extending his stay until the summer of 2032, with an option for an additional year. The 21-year-old defender, who joined Brentford from Fiorentina, initially on loan in January 2025 before a permanent move, has made 56 appearances across all competitions. He played a key role in Brentford's 2025/26 campaign, which saw them finish ninth in the Premier League, and was nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award. Brentford head coach Keith Andrews praised Kayode's progress and development, expressing delight that he chose to stay. Kayode, a former Juventus youth product, made his Serie A debut in 2023 and featured in Fiorentina's run to the UEFA Conference League final in 2024. Since moving to West London, he scored his first goal against Wolves and has been recognized as one of Europe's brightest young right-backs. The contract extension is seen as a significant move for Brentford, securing a key player amidst interest from other clubs, and highlights the club's strategy to build around young talent.
Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has refuted claims that he opposed the selection of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as the party's vice-presidential candidate. Okonkwo clarified on Channels Television that his earlier comments regarding the vice-presidential slot were based on geopolitical considerations, specifically advocating for a candidate from the South-East, rather than personal opposition to Amaechi. He explained that limitations within the Electoral Act 2026, which requires candidates to be party members 21 days before the primary, restricted the pool of eligible candidates from the South-East. Okonkwo noted that many preferred South-East candidates were not registered party members, thereby narrowing choices. He also highlighted Amaechi's significant performance in the party primary, securing over 500 votes, which made him a key stakeholder. Okonkwo expressed that his primary concern was for party leaders to engage with South-East stakeholders to explain these constraints before making a final decision. He added that Atiku, upon returning to Nigeria after the initial announcement, initiated consultations with all parties involved.
Rand Merchant Bank RMB, a division of the First Rand Group, acted as Coordinator and Lead Arranger for a $340 million refinancing package for Indorama Fertilizer and Chemicals FZE Limited in Nigeria. This medium-term debt financing, fully underwritten by Development Financial Institutions and international commercial banks, aims to provide a more competitive funding solution for Indorama's brownfield development. Indorama FZE achieved 2.7 million Metric Tonnes in urea production in 2025, with 103% capacity utilization. Chidi Iwuchukwu, Executive Director and Head Investment Banking RMB Nigeria, stated that this financing demonstrates RMB's commitment to supporting private sector investment in Nigeria's heavy industry manufacturing segment and non-oil export growth. Indorama FZE is Nigeria's largest non-oil exporter, holding over 18% of non-oil exports in 2024, and contributes significantly to domestic food production with a 75% market share in Nigeria. Following its Line 3 commissioning in June 2026, Indorama is expected to become the world's largest single-site urea producer. Enyinna Anumudu, Senior Dealmaker and Head Infrastructure Finance Nigeria, noted that this financing supports the long-term competitiveness of the Nigerian private sector in meeting fertilizer demand and promoting food sufficiency.