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Spain's Rodri warns Portugal that European champions can still improve at World Cup
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Spain captain Rodri stated that the European champions can still significantly improve ahead of their World Cup last-16 match against Portugal. Spain began their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, followed by 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 win against Uruguay to top their group. They then secured a 3-0 win over Austria in the last 32. Rodri, a 30-year-old Manchester City player, noted that the team's evolution in the tournament has been gradual, attributing early challenges to adapting to new environments and different teams. He emphasized that the team maintained composure after the draw with Cape Verde and believes there is still considerable room for improvement, with major challenges yet to come.
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Must ReadThe Enugu State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association NMA has condemned the arrest of Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, an internationally acclaimed cardiothoracic surgeon, from his Enugu residence on July 3, 2026. In a communiqu茅 issued after an emergency meeting, the NMA stated that security agencies have not officially communicated the reasons for his arrest. The association, through its Chairman Dr. Sunday Okafor and General Secretary Dr. Chima Edoga, has engaged with the Office of the Security Adviser to the Enugu State Governor, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Police Force to ascertain the circumstances. The NMA emphasized that while it recognizes the constitutional duties of law enforcement, due process and human dignity must be respected. The association has informed its national leadership and is working to protect Professor Aghaji's constitutional rights, including access to family, legal representation, and medical care. An emergency general meeting of NMA members is planned to discuss further actions. The Enugu State Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Daniel Ndukwe, has denied involvement in the arrest, stating they did not make such an arrest and do not have Professor Aghaji in their custody.
FIFA has cleared United States forward Folarin Balogun to play in the country's FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium. Balogun had received a red card and an automatic one-match suspension in the USA's Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he scored the winning goal. However, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee reversed the suspension ahead of Monday's knockout fixture in Seattle, determining that the disciplinary measure's implementation should be suspended. This decision was made despite the United States Soccer Federation having no formal appeal avenue under FIFA regulations. The incident was contentious because the Video Assistant Referee intervened, prompting Brazilian referee Raphael Claus to review the challenge, even though Balogun was not initially cautioned. The U.S. Soccer Federation welcomed the decision, stating their focus is on the match against Belgium. Balogun is the United States' leading scorer in the tournament with three goals. FIFA's decision aligns with Chapter 4, Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows a judicial body to suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. Balogun's availability is expected to boost the United States as they aim for a quarter-final spot.
Must ReadThe Nigeria Customs Service has enhanced its collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank Afreximbank to accelerate intra-African trade and address barriers to the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA. This renewed partnership was affirmed during a visit by Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, to Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi at the Customs headquarters in Abuja. The discussions focused on expanding trade facilitation initiatives, harmonizing customs procedures, strengthening regional transit systems, and developing mechanisms for more efficient cross-border trade. Adeniyi emphasized that the partnership is built on the belief that Africa's prosperity will be driven by trade among African countries. He noted that the collaboration would support Afreximbank's regional transit initiatives, accelerate the development of one-stop border posts, and promote global best practices in customs administration. Elombi commended the Customs Service for its leadership in regional integration, stating that Afreximbank is committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen trade facilitation and accelerate AfCFTA implementation. The meeting also reviewed the successful collaboration during the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade in November 2025. Separately, Adeniyi identified the lack of interoperable customs systems as a major challenge to AfCFTA implementation. This was discussed during the signing