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Mbappe overtakes Messi in FIFA World Cup power rankings after Round of 16
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
France captain Kylian Mbappe has surpassed Argentina's Lionel Messi to secure the top position in FIFA's World Cup Power Rankings following the conclusion of the Round of 16. The updated rankings, released by FIFA on Wednesday, show Mbappe in first place with an attacking score of 8.71, while Messi is now second with 8.45. Norway striker Erling Haaland is third with 8.04, and England captain Harry Kane is fourth with 7.41. The FIFA Power Rankings, launched for the 2026 World Cup and powered by Aramco, utilize match data to objectively evaluate player performances throughout the tournament. Outfield players are scored from 0-10 in attacking, creativity, and defending categories, while goalkeepers are assessed for defending and in-possession play. France also leads in two outfield categories, with Michael Olise topping creativity 8.19 and Dayot Upamecano leading defending 7.67. Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa ranks first for goalkeeping with a score of 8.89.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Afrobeats artist Davido shared the story behind the casting of the lead female character in his hit song 'Aye' during an interview with Capital Xtra. The singer explained that the woman initially chosen for the role had to withdraw due to contractual obligations with a beauty pageant. With filming scheduled to begin and no option to reschedule, Davido and his team decided to use the makeup artist instead. This unexpected change became a memorable part of the video's success, which remains a significant hit in Nigerian pop history.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has launched the 2026 wet farming season, initiating the sale and distribution of 200 truckloads of NPK fertilizer at a 50 percent subsidized rate. Additionally, 120,000 farmers will receive free agricultural inputs, including agrochemicals, knapsack sprayers, certified seeds, water pumps, bicycles, and post-harvest storage facilities. The intervention aims to boost food production, improve livelihoods, ensure food and nutrition security, create employment, and enhance the socio-economic well-being of the people. Governor Zulum emphasized that the program covers the entire agricultural value chain, from mechanization to market access, and includes initiatives targeting women and youth. He also announced a N500 million cash support package for vulnerable persons, women, and youths across five local government areas. The Governor warned beneficiaries against diverting or reselling the subsidized fertilizer, stressing its intended use for crop production. Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Bawu Musami, highlighted Borno's emergence as a leading agricultural state through sustained investments.
The Corporate Affairs Commission CAC announced it will begin enforcing statutory requirements for company business letters starting August 1, 2026. Companies failing to comply will face sanctions. This directive, disclosed in a public notice, mandates that business letters, including invoices, quotations, and official correspondence, must clearly display the company鈥檚 registered name, registration number, and the present forenames or initials and surnames of directors. Additionally, any former forenames and surnames, and the nationality of every non-Nigerian director, must be included. The enforcement will cover Sections 3041, 3042, and 3041c of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020. The CAC urged companies to comply before the enforcement date to avoid penalties, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and accountability in the corporate regulatory environment.