馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Messi to start on the bench for Argentina's World Cup match against Jordan, Scaloni confirms
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced that captain Lionel Messi will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Jordan on the bench. This disclosure was made during a pre-match press conference in response to a question from 91-year-old journalist Enrique Macaya M谩rquez. Scaloni stated he would not have shared this information with any other reporter, citing his respect for M谩rquez. He added that Messi is expected to play in the second half, allowing for careful management of his workload as Argentina progresses in the tournament. The coach's interaction with M谩rquez, which included an embrace and photos, drew applause and positive reactions online, with users calling it a "beautiful story" and a "wholesome moment" between icons of Argentine football.
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.
Must ReadA newborn baby was rescued from a collapsed building in La Guaira, Venezuela, 32 hours after twin earthquakes struck the coastal city. Videos shared on social media show rescuers pulling the 18-day-old infant from the rubble on Friday. The baby, reportedly uninjured, was passed carefully among rescuers. The child's mother was rescued an hour later and was shown in a follow-up video in a hospital, where a medical worker suggested she might have protected the baby with her body. The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, occurred on Wednesday, killing at least 920 people and injuring or leaving thousands more missing.
BUA Cement Plc has provided agricultural inputs valued at N108 million to 211 resettled farmers in its host communities in Sokoto State. This initiative aims to support food production for the 2026 wet farming season. The beneficiaries are farmers whose homes and farmlands were impacted by the company鈥檚 expansion projects and subsequently relocated. Ali Gumel, Director of Health, Community Safety and Environment at BUA Group, stated that the intervention highlights the company's dedication to supporting vulnerable communities through corporate social responsibility. He emphasized that agriculture is vital to Sokoto State's economy and assisting displaced farmers will enhance food security and household incomes. The support package includes improved seed varieties, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and small-scale farming tools. Abubakar Dan Maliki, Programme Manager of the Sokoto Agricultural Development Project, received the items and noted the timely nature of the donation, which will help reduce production costs for affected farmers and enable them to resume farming activities. Community leaders and agricultural extension officers also praised BUA for the intervention, recognizing its importance in restoring farming capacity and improving food production for displaced households.
Victims rescued from a kidnapping incident in Ogun State, Nigeria, have urged the Federal Government to enhance police equipment and welfare. Mr. Jimoh Gbadamosi and Temiloluwa, an IT officer, were among five individuals rescued by a joint Ogun and Lagos State security operation, "Operation Kosaye," from kidnappers in the Ogbere forest. Temiloluwa recounted that she was traveling to Lagos for annual leave when their vehicle was ambushed by kidnappers. She described being injured during the incident and marched into the bush, where a ransom of N20 million was demanded. Both victims expressed surprise and gratitude for the timely rescue by the police, with Temiloluwa noting her initial disbelief at the police's effectiveness. They emphasized the need for improved remuneration, allowances, and proper equipment for police officers, highlighting their critical role in ensuring public safety and the risks they undertake.