US withdraws troops from Nigeria, Atiku reaffirms 2027 presidential bid, and other top stories
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The United States has withdrawn most of its forces from a joint counterterrorism operation in Nigeria's Lake Chad Basin following the killing of an ISIS deputy, though intelligence sharing and other security cooperation continue. Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reaffirmed his intention to run for president in 2027 after the Federal High Court, Abuja, affirmed David Mark's leadership of the African Democratic Congress. In other news, President Bola Tinubu playfully referred to First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu as "Iya Alakara" during a dinner. Residents of Adebiopon Village in Ogun State were shocked by the death of a 50-year-old Ifa priest, Muritala Shodiya, who allegedly set himself on fire. Additionally, petrol prices in Nigeria remain above N1,000 per litre amid a standoff between Dangote Refinery and importers, despite falling global crude prices.
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Nigerian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises MSMEs are demonstrating resilience and ambition, with nearly 40 million businesses forming the backbone of the country's economy. Mastercard's new SME Confidence Index, a multi-market study, reveals that 81% of Nigerian SMEs are optimistic about the next 12 months, and 68% anticipate revenue growth. Crucially, 100% of surveyed businesses believe digital and online payments are vital for their future success. While consumers are ready for digital payments, a significant 'acceptance gap' prevents merchants from receiving them. Mastercard is addressing this by pioneering 'hardware-lite' solutions, transforming existing smart devices into secure payment hubs. Collaborations with Wema Bank and UBA have enabled 1.8 million Nigerian SMEs and gig workers to accept payments instantly with zero hardware costs through QR-on-Card solutions. To overcome cross-border friction, Mastercard is leveraging its Move infrastructure, connecting over 200 countries, to facilitate faster and more efficient international money movement. Partnerships with Access Bank Group and Fidelity Bank are scaling seamless cross-border remittances, while fintechs like BMONI are enabling instant issuance of virtual Naira and U.S. dollar cards. The report also highlights that 79% of Nigerian SMEs prioritize staff training and upskilling for growth. Mastercard's collaboration with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund LSETF is driving financial literacy and digital
Must ReadCape Verde, the smallest nation to reach the World Cup knockout rounds, is set to face defending champions Argentina in Miami. The Atlantic archipelago surprised many by drawing with Spain and advancing from Group H ahead of Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, enters the match after a strong group stage performance. Cape Verde coach Bubista stated that the team is calm and views the match as an opportunity to make history, while midfielder Deroy Duarte echoed this sentiment. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, marking his 100th game, emphasized that his team will not underestimate Cape Verde, acknowledging their unbeaten group stage record. A win for Argentina would lead to a last 16 match against either Australia or Egypt. Australia's coach Tony Popovic is challenging his team to secure their first World Cup knockout win, while Egypt faces fitness concerns regarding Mohamed Salah. In other matches, Ghana will play Colombia, hoping to reverse the trend of African teams being eliminated, as five of the nine African teams in the last 32 have already been eliminated. Morocco is the only African team to have advanced to the last 16 so far. Portugal and Spain have also advanced, with Portugal defeating Croatia and Spain extending their unbeaten streak against Austria.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has seen numerous historic milestones, with players, teams, and coaches setting new records, some recognized by Guinness World Records. The tournament became the biggest in World Cup history, drawing 4.64 million fans across 72 matches in the group stage. Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches and the tournament鈥檚 all-time leading scorer with 19 goals. At 38 years, 357 days, Messi also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick. Cristiano Ronaldo became Portugal鈥檚 all-time leading World Cup scorer with 10 goals and the only player to score in six World Cup editions. Kylian Mbappe became France and Europe鈥檚 all-time leading World Cup scorer with 18 goals, while Harry Kane became England鈥檚 all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11 goals. Ismael Saibari became the first African player to score in three consecutive World Cup matches, and Kevin Pina scored Cabo Verde鈥檚 first-ever World Cup goal. A record nine African teams progressed to the knockout stage. Cabo Verde, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, DR Congo, C么te d鈥橧voire, Egypt, and South Africa reached the knockout stage for the first time. Dick Advocaat became the oldest coach in World Cup history at 78 years, 271 days, and Hugo Broos became the oldest coach to win a World Cup match at 74 years, 75 days. Spain goalkeeper Unai Sim贸n set a new Guinness World Record for the longest World Cup clean-sheet streak, going 519 minutes without conceding a