🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Ten players from the 2006 FIFA World Cup are still active in professional football
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Twenty years after the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, a select group of ten players from the 736 participants continue to play professionally in 2026. This group includes iconic figures such as Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, and Luka Modric of Croatia, all of whom first appeared on the World Cup stage in 2006 and continue to compete at high levels. Other notable players still active are Sergio Ramos of Spain, Oscar Ustari and Guillermo Ochoa, both goalkeepers, Lukasz Fabianski of Poland, Lukas Podolski of Germany, and Roque Santa Cruz and José Montiel, both from Paraguay. These players have demonstrated remarkable longevity in their careers, with some, like Santa Cruz, still playing at 44 years old, and Ronaldo at 41. While many of their peers have transitioned into other roles within football, these ten individuals defy age by remaining active in the sport.
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.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu announced during her visit to the Akwete Weaving Cooperative Village in Abia State that she would wear an Akwete wrapper if her husband, President Bola Tinubu, is re-elected for a second term. She also committed a ₦2 billion donation to support the revitalization of the local weaving industry. Tinubu praised the cooperative's women for their dedication to preserving the craft across generations and encouraged Nigerians to adopt Igbo traditional attire made from Akwete fabric to support local weavers. She noted her informal approach to the visit, opting for a personal engagement over a formal event, and expressed gratitude to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, recalling her previous inquiries about the weaving tradition with his wife. The First Lady urged Nigerians to patronize locally produced textiles to safeguard indigenous craftsmanship and enhance the livelihoods of rural weavers.
Must ReadThe Nigerian House of Representatives has received the report from its Special Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review regarding a proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police services. Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, presented the report, which will now proceed to debate and clause-by-clause consideration. This move follows harmonisation with the Senate's version of the legislation and aims to provide a legal framework for state-controlled police. The proposal is a significant constitutional amendment, with supporters arguing it will improve intelligence gathering and community policing, while critics raise concerns about potential abuse by state governments. Additionally, the House adopted the report of its Committee on Police Affairs, approving the Nigeria Police Trust Fund's budget estimates for 2025 and 2026. For 2025, ₦170.11 billion was approved, including ₦132.45 billion for capital projects for the Nigeria Police Force. The 2026 budget was approved at ₦233.96 billion, with ₦179.11 billion allocated for capital projects for the Nigeria Police Force headquarters. These budgets, which are expected to proceed to a third reading, aim to provide additional financing for the training, equipment, logistics, and welfare of the Nigeria Police Force, complementing annual budgetary allocations.
Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved the full sponsorship of 16 lecturers from the College of Medical Sciences at Yobe State University for postgraduate studies in India. This initiative aims to strengthen the college, secure full accreditation for its medical programs, and address manpower shortages. The lecturers will pursue master's degrees, with potential for PhD studies, in fields such as Human Anatomy, Physiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Biochemistry, and Medical Microbiology. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Bashir Tahir, stated that this will help the university achieve and maintain full medical accreditation and position its College of Medical Sciences as a center of excellence. The first group of sponsored lecturers has already departed for India, accompanied by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Muhammad Bello Kawuwa, the Vice-Chancellor, and the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Professor Garba Mohammed Ashiru. Officials from Yobe State University also visited Integral University, Lucknow, to discuss broader academic collaborations in areas like agriculture, engineering, and technological development, through staff and student exchange programs, joint research, and curriculum development.