Nigerian students win gold at Spelling Bee World Cup in China
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Team Nigeria secured the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China. The Nigeria Spelling Bee announced this achievement on its official Facebook page. Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, also confirmed that its students, Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf, earned medals at the global competition. This marks Nigeria's first-ever appearance at the Spelling Bee World Cup, having qualified through the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship. The four-member team included Oluwadamilola Adeolu, Abdurrahman Yusuf, Chinedu Okediachi, and Maryam Yusuf. The organizers highlighted that the students represented both Nigeria and the African continent. Oluwadamilola Adeolu, the 2026 African Spelling Bee Junior champion, expressed excitement about competing globally and aiming to bring the trophy home. Adeolu qualified for the World Cup after winning the Junior category at the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, where Abdurrahman Yusuf finished third, and Nigeria was the second-best overall team.
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Nigeria has maintained its 26th global position in the recent FIFA Men鈥檚 World Rankings but has fallen to fourth among African nations. This shift follows Egypt's performance at the 2026 World Cup, where they reached the Round of 16, moving them to third in Africa. Morocco remains the continent's top-ranked team, climbing to sixth globally after reaching the World Cup quarter-finals. Senegal holds the second spot in Africa despite a global ranking drop. Nigeria, with 1,585.2 points, is still ahead of countries like Turkey, Australia, Algeria, Canada, and Ivory Coast. The Super Eagles have not played competitively since a June friendly loss to Portugal. Nigeria's absence from the World Cup, for the second consecutive time after missing the 2022 edition, was noted by figures like John Terry. Their World Cup campaign ended in a playoff final defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties, following a dismissed appeal by the Nigeria Football Federation regarding alleged ineligible players. Globally, newly crowned champions Spain returned to the number one spot, with Argentina dropping to second, followed by France, England, and Brazil. The next FIFA Men鈥檚 World Rankings are set for release on October 7, 2026.
British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has expressed his readiness to face Tyson Fury in the ring, provided he first defeats Kristian Prenga on July 25. Joshua is scheduled for a comeback bout in Jeddah against Albanian fighter Prenga, who has a record of 20-1. Fury, who ended a sixteen-month retirement in April by defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov, will fight Mariusz Wach in Thailand one night earlier. Fury is expected to travel to watch Joshua's fight, potentially initiating their anticipated "Battle of Britain." Joshua stated, "If he wants to come in the ring when I win July 25th, feel welcome. Come into my territory. I am the landlord. I am going to welcome you into my home. You do not welcome me into your home." He added that he previously signed contracts with Fury and was on a "scouting mission" during Fury's last fight, observing both strengths and vulnerabilities. Joshua, 36, and Fury, 37, have not yet agreed on a date or venue for their domestic showdown. Las Vegas and New York are being considered as alternatives to a UK fight. Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is open to hosting the bout in Saudi Arabia, but at a later start time to accommodate American viewers. London currently lacks the necessary licensing for such a large-scale fight, while Cardiff鈥檚 Principality Stadium does not.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC is set to open the commercial phase of the 2025 oil and gas licensing round today, July 21, 2026. A total of 143 companies have been invited to compete for 50 oil and gas blocks across Nigeria's hydrocarbon basins. These blocks include 16 in the Niger Delta Onshore, 18 in the Niger Delta Shallow Water, one in the Niger Delta Deep Offshore, three in the Benin Basin Onshore, four in the Anambra Basin Onshore, four in the Chad Basin Onshore, and four in the Benue Trough. The commercial bid conference, an invitation-only event, will take place in Abuja. This stage follows a rigorous prequalification process that began in November 2025, attracting 286 initial applications, with 196 companies prequalified. The 143 invited companies submitted 200 bids for the available assets. Bids will be assessed based on signature bonus, work programme commitments, and performance security, culminating in a weighted technical and commercial score. This licensing round is part of the Federal Government's efforts to boost crude oil and gas production, attract investment, and develop underdeveloped petroleum assets, aligning with reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.