
Erling Haaland scored two goals, his second consecutive World Cup brace, as Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 to advance to the last 32 of the tournament. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen opened the scoring for Norway in the first half, followed by Haaland's first goal shortly after the break. Ismaila Sarr reduced the deficit for Senegal, but Haaland capitalized on defensive errors to score again, securing Norway's progression with a game remaining. Sarr scored a late consolation goal for Senegal. Haaland now has four goals in two matches, placing him among the tournament's top scorers alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who also scored braces in their respective games. Norway, with only one loss in their last 18 matches, will face France for the top spot in their group, while Senegal needs to beat Iraq to avoid an early exit. Norway's dominant performance against Senegal, marked by Haaland's 59th and 60th international goals in 52 games, showcased their potential in the finals.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Must ReadLionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer, securing Argentina's spot in the last 32 with two goals in their 2-0 victory over Austria. Messi, who will turn 39 on Wednesday, initially missed a penalty but later scored in the first half and again in stoppage time, bringing his tournament total to five goals and his career World Cup tally to 18, surpassing Miroslav Klose's record. Argentina is now guaranteed to top Group J. Meanwhile, France also advanced to the knockout rounds after a 3-0 win against Iraq, a match that experienced a nearly two-hour delay due to a severe thunderstorm in Philadelphia. Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France, with Ousmane Dembele adding another goal. Norway's Erling Haaland also made an impact, scoring two goals in his team's 3-2 win against Senegal, bringing his tournament total to four. This sets up a crucial Group I match between France and Norway to determine the group winner.
Must ReadKenya's Health Minister Aden Duale has been found guilty of contempt of court for continuing the construction of a US-funded Ebola quarantine facility despite a High Court order to halt the project. The 50-bed isolation center, located at a military base in Nanyuki, was intended for US citizens suspected of contracting Ebola from the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A judge ruled that Duale ignored the court's directive, stating that a court order is a command to be obeyed, not an invitation to ingenuity. Sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday. The project has led to angry protests in Nanyuki, resulting in the deaths of three people, including 17-year-old Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u. The Katiba Institute, a rights group, had petitioned the court in May to stop construction, citing "grave and imminent risks" to public health. The health ministry had claimed that any ongoing construction was solely by the Kenyan government for national interest, but the judge rejected this argument. President William Ruto has defended the plan, stating that refusing the US request would be "inhuman" and urged Kenyans not to politicize the matter. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union KMPDU has voiced strong opposition, questioning why Kenya was chosen to host such a facility, especially given its distance from the outbreak's epicenter and the lack of recorded Ebola cases in Kenya. The US plans to provide $13.5 million for Kenya's Ebola preparedness effor
Must ReadActing Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced a special operation costing over R600 million to address potential unrest related to anti-immigrant protests scheduled for June 30. Cachalia, alongside Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and acting national commissioner of the South African Police Service SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, warned against lawlessness, stating that violence, intimidation, and destruction of property will not be tolerated. This initiative follows recent attacks on foreign nationals, including the killing of a Malawian man in Pietermaritzburg and two Mozambican nationals in Mossel Bay, amidst ongoing anti-immigrant campaigns by groups like March and March. SAPS has increased operational readiness across all nine provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape identified as potential hotspots. Protesters are required to provide advance notice of their plans and ensure participants are unarmed. Cachalia urged national and local leaders to support SAPS efforts and called on South Africans to reject violence. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka met with the prime minister of the Zulu Kingdom, Inkosi Thulasizwe Buthelezi, to seek support from traditional leadership. President Cyril Ramaphosa also met with faith-based organizations to discuss immigration. SAPS may request support from the South African National Defence Force