Ghana Target Knauff Helps Frankfurt Reach First European Final in Forty Two years 

Ghana Football Federation is doing everything possible to bring their foreign born citizens to represent them at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
German-born Ghanaian forward Ansgar Knauff who provided an assist as Frankfurt recorded a 1-0 victory over West Ham Unitedin their UEFA Europa League clash on Thursday is one of the players sought after by GFF.
Knauff was influential for Oliver Glasner’s side as he gave control of the game in attacking areas and rarely looked under pressure on the ball. 
The winger set up Rafael Borre, who converted from 10 yards out with a tidy finish.
This is the first time Eintracht Frankfurt have reached the final in a European Cup competition since in 1980. 

Frankfurt will lock horns against Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers in the final on May 18 in Seville, Spain. 

Murray withdraws from match against Djokovic at Madrid Open due to illness

Andy Murray has pulled out of his match against Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Open because of illness.

The Briton was scheduled to play in the third round of the event on Thursday.

Murray beat 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the first round of the tournament before earning a win over Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.

According to BBC Sport The 34-year-old Scot had planned to skip the clay-court season but reversed his decision last month when accepting a wildcard for the Spanish tournament.

Murray, who is ranked 78 in the world, had cited the last-16 match against Djokovic as “a fantastic opportunity to play against him again on a big court in a huge tournament”.

The pair have known each other since they were children and have faced each other 36 times in their professional careers.

Real Madrid to face Liverpool at the UEFA Finals after their Heroics against Manchester City

The teams for the Champions League Finals have been decided.Liverpool will face Real Madrid on the 28th of May after they dramatically knocked out Manchester City 6-5 on aggregate. 

Real Madrid set up a rematch of the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool, where the La Liga side emerged victorious.

Pep Guardiola’s men took the lead in Spain and looked set for their second straight European final. 

However, Real Madrid bounced back with Rodrigo scoring 2 late goals to send the game to extra time. 

Karim Benzema scored a penalty, sending his side to Paris. 

Jurgen Klopp and his men will be seeking revenge, after seeing their star man getting injured early on and a goalkeeping error costing them the trophy in 2018.

2023: Nobody will be allowed to rig elections in Benue – Ortom

2023: Nobody will be allowed to rig elections in Benue – Ortom

Makurdi – Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has warned that any attempt by anyone or group to rig elections in the state will be met with stiff resistance.

The Governor who stated this at the expanded caucus of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state which held at the Benue People’s House, Makurdi, Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 also reiterated his commitment to free, fair and credible primary elections.

He said the recently held council elections in the state where the PDP won all the 23 chairmanship slots and 276 councillors in the state was a testimony of the people’s appreciation of the PDP administration in the state.

On the forthcoming PDP primaries, Governor Ortom said, “We will not tolerate anyone who will want to disrupt the primary elections. I am going to be personally involved. My cabinet members will be involved in the process too.”

He warned that “any member of my cabinet that will go there (primaries) and do any form of shortchanging, will be sacked the same day”.

Ortom used the occasion to congratulate the winners for various positions at the just concluded local government elections in the State, stressing that “I participated. I voted. It was very smooth, free and fair,” he added.

On his part, the State Chairman of PDP, Sir John Ngbede, said the PDP Ward Congress of Saturday, 30th April, 2022 was hugely successful, except for a pocket of complaints from a few LGAs which he said would be addressed by the appeal committee.

Ngbede warned against use of thugs to cause mayhem in the forthcoming party primaries, saying anyone caught with such act would be handed over to the security agencies for prosecution, “no matter the status of the individual”.

2023: Governor Sule Declares For Second Term, Picks Nomination, Expression Of Interest Forms

2023: Governor Sule Declares For Second Term, Picks Nomination, Expression Of Interest Forms

…says his development initiatives will earn him another victory

Lafia – Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has declared his intention to seek re-election for a second term come 2023, stressing that the development initiatives of his administration will earn him another victory at the polls.

Engineer Sule made the declaration shortly after being presented with both the nomination and expression of interest forms, purchased on his behalf, by members bof the Engineer A A Sule Amalgamated Support Groups, at a ceremony at the Lafia Square, on Tuesday.

The Governor, who barely returned from Saudi Arabia to observe the Eid-el fitr celebration marking the end of the Ramadan fast, apologized to prominent and critical stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, for the impromptu declaration which was supposed to have been a personal event but turned out to be a formal declaration to seek re-election.

Engineer Sule specifically, apologized to the first executive governor of the state and now National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, his immediate predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, as well as all critical stakeholders of the party, who were not present at his declaration.

While describing the event as significant for him, especially that ordinary people came together to raised the N50m to purchase the forms on his behalf, the Governor however lamented the demise of one of the party’s stalwarts, the late Bala Tafida, who died earlier morning on Tuesday.

He pointed out that, since people who are barely making a living could come together and raise funds to buy both the nomination and expression of interest forms on his behalf, he can’t let them down and as such, has accepted to seek re-election.

“With that in mind therefore, I, Engineer Abdullahi A Sule, Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellow of the Nigerian Institutional of Mechanical Engineers, member of COREN, member of the Society of American Engineers, in view of this support, I want to say specifically, that I accept these forms and I therefore declare to contest for re-election for 2023,” he stated.

The Governor was emphatic that, the development initiatives of his administration, will earn him another victory come 2023.

“Our work is enough to deter any opposition. If anybody said we did not work for the state, such a person should be reminded that Engineer Sule did not hold any government position in his life until he was elected governor.

“However, some people held various government positions for over 13 years and even the road leading to their villages was constructed by us,” he said.

Engineer Sule said he is ready to face the opposition ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Earlier, in a goodwill message, state Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, said a group of organisations and individuals, approached him while the Governor was away in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, to inform him of their decision to obtain the nomination and expression of interest forms on behalf of the Governor.

“They know you can do it yourself, they know you have the capacity but they want to prove to you that they are solidly behind you,” the Deputy Governor said.

According to the Deputy Governor, even though Engineer Sule didn’t make a pronouncement to seek another term in office, the people wanted to show that they are happy with his leadership style.

“The majority of the people are happy with you and have come together, to say whether you like it or not, they want you to continue in office beyond 2023.
” It’s not an option for you to say you want or you don’t want. They said wether you want it or not, they want and you must and you should,” Dr Akabe stated.

On his part, state Chairman of the APC, Hon John Mamman, said the Governor’s foray in the area of education, agriculture, investment and his thrust to industrialise Nasarawa State, as well as his focus and vision to improve on the wellbeing of the entire state, are sufficient to guarantee Engineer Sule another term in office.

While calling on the Governor to accept the forms and declare his intention to re-contest come 2023, Hon Mamman assured the Governor of the party’s total support.

Presenting the forms earlier, Hon Murtala Abubakar, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), who stood on behalf of the Engineer A A Sule Amalgamated Support Groups, said members of the group recognised the need to contribute in their small ways, to enable the Governor consolidate on his vision for the state beyond 2023.

Speakers from across the three senatorial zones of the state namely Senator John Danboyi for Nasarawa North, Hon David Ayewa, for Nasarawa South and Hon Baba Shehu, Keffi Local Government Chairman, for Nasarawa West, all threw their support behind the second term aspirations of the Governor.

Hajiya Ramatu Dalhatu, speaking on behalf of women in the state, sang songs of joy to herald the support of women across the state.

World Press Freedom Day: Ojukwu Harps On Better Deal For Journalists

World Press Freedom Day: Ojukwu Harps On Better Deal For Journalists

… Commend UNESCO for championing the proposed World Press Freedom Day Global Conference scheduled to hold between 2nd and 5th May, 2022 in Punta Del Este

… Urges law enforcement agencies to intensify investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of some Nigerian journalists, including the late Vanguard newspaper journalist, Tordue Salem

Abuja – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said that the press is a critical agent for the protection of democracy and development and must be supported to enable them to effectively discharge their constitutional duties as the watchdog of the society.

It observed that Nigerian journalists fought very hard to achieve our democratic status and deserve a better deal unlike the current situation where many of them struggle with poor conditions of service amidst other challenges, including censorship, harassment, intimidation and in some cases, assassinations.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) who stated this at the eve of the celebration of the 2022 World Press Freedom Day noted that the society should see journalists as “The oxygen of democracy and agents of change and development”, saying that their constitutional duty which is enshrined in Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, “to hold the goverment accountable to the people” distinguishes them as those who perform essential duty to the nation. At this time when Nigeria is at the crossroad of challenge of justice, equity and fairness to stabilize our democracy, the press must defend democracy by its commitment to holding our governments accountable to the truth always no matter the difficulties of the times. It must remain the conscience of the nation, telling the truth at times like this, to save our democracy.

This year’s theme for celebration of World Press Freedom Day is, “Journalism under digital siege” is apt as it seeks to bring to the fore, “the impact of the digital era on the freedom of the press, the security of journalists and access to information and privacy”.

The Chief Human Rights Officer stated that it is incontestable that the advent of the internet with the attendant boost in digital communication has benefited humanity in various ways, “but at the same time it has threatened our right to privacy, since virtually nothing is hidden from the internet radar.

“It is on this note that I commend UNESCO for championing the proposed World Press Freedom Day Global Conference scheduled to hold between 2nd and 5th May, 2022 in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. The conference would be a forum for key players in the internet related companies, legal experts, journalists etc to discuss the challenges of digital communications, the impact on press freedom and the way forward”, Ojukwu said.

According to the learned Silk, the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day is not an opportunity to witch-hunt any person or Institution, but is a period to reminisce the fundamental principles of press freedom, guage the state of press freedom globally, defend the Media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who are either human rights defenders in custody or captivity or have lost their lives in the line of duty.

He therefore, urged the law enforcement agencies, including the Police to, as a matter of necessity, intensify their investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of some Nigerian journalists, including the late Vanguard newspaper journalist, Tordue Salem whose body was reportedly found in Abuja in 2021.

Observance of World Press Freedom Day which started in 1993, and celebrated on 3rd of May annually is designed to remind governments of the need to respect their Commitment to press freedom and to remind journalists of the need to adhere to their professional ethics, defend democracy, justice, equity and fairness and be committed as human rights defenders.

Reps To Hold Plenary On 3 Critical Bills Wednesday

Reps To Hold Plenary On 3 Critical Bills Wednesday

Abuja – The House of Representatives is to hold a plenary on Wednesday to facilitate the passage of three (3) Bills, which are of Urgent Public Importance.

The bills are, the Proceeds of Crime Bill, the Money Laundering Prohibition Act Amendment Bill and the Terrorism Prevention Act Amendment Bill.

A statement from the Clerk House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, said the passage of the three bills would equally enable Nigeria meet some international deadlines and obligations.

Already the Senate has passed the bills, waiting for concurrence from the House for the bills to be communicated to the President for assent.

They are aimed at strengthening the fight against terrorism, crimes and money laundering, among others.

The Statement read: “I am directed to inform all Hon Members, Legislative Staff, Media and the General Public that the House will hold Plenary on Wednesday 4th May, 2022, by 11:00 am.

“This is intended to facilitate the passage of 3 Bills which are of Urgent Public Importance and equally enable Nigeria meet some international deadlines and obligations.

“The Bills include: Proceeds of Crime Bill, Money Laundering Prohibition (Amendment) Bill 2011 and Terrorism Prevention Act.”

Why PDP Should Suspend Planned Inauguration Of Silas Onu’s As Ebonyi State Chairman – Tochukwu Okorie Reveals

Why PDP Should Suspend Planned Inauguration Of Silas Onu’s As Ebonyi State Chairman – Tochukwu Okorie Reveals

Abuja – Mr. Nwokpoku Sunday Jude, PDP member and on behalf of Eight Hundred and Ninety Six (896) other aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, has called on the party to suspend the planned illegal inauguration of Silas Onu as the Chairman of Ebonyi State PDP pending the determination of the appeal already entered by the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in the interest of peace and cohesion of the party in the state.

The State Chairman of the party, Tochukwu Okafor made the call on Monday in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

Tochukwu said the demand became necessary against the backdrop of the press statement dated 2nd May, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon Debo Ologunagba to the effect that Silas Onu will be inaugurated tomorrow, 3rd May, 2022 as the state Chairman of the party.

In a petitioned submitted to the party Headquarters in Abuja on Monday (today), by the law firm Anwan Chambers & Co – Counsel representing Mr. Nwokpoku Sunday Jude and 896 other aggrieved members of the PDP, titled: URGENT NEED TO RESCUE PDP IN EBONYI STATE BY NOT INAUGURATING SILAS ONU AS THE CHAIRMAN OF EBONYI STATE PDP PENDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE APPEAL ALREADY ENTERED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL ABUJA DIVISION, AND DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF THE INAUGURATION OF SILAS ONU AS THE CHAIRMAN OF EBONYI STATE PDP WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW THE 3RD MAY, 2022, AS CONTAINED IN A STATEMENT SIGNED BY HON. DEBO OLOGUNAGBA, THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY OF PDP, reminded the party that Mr Okoroafor Tochukwu Okorie is still the authentic elected Chairman of PDP in Ebonyi State.

The petition reads in part:

Above subject matter referred……..
Sequel to an earlier instruction of our client Mr. Nwokpoku Sunday Jude, PDP member and on behalf of Eight Hundred and Ninety Six (896) other aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, we hereby reserve the pendulum and re-incontrovertibly state we healthily represent them all in all matters.

Pertaining to the immediate suspension of the inauguration of Silas Onu as the Ebonyi State PDP Chairman and it’s auxiliary Court injunction so to do vis-a-vis the pending Appeal at the Court of Appeal Abuja Division.

We are fully abreast of the Judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja delivered on the 13th April 2022 in suit No: FHC/Abj/is/1319/2021 wherein Mr Okoroafor Tochukwu Okorie who was duly elected by the party during it’s Congresses in 2021 was removed on the ground that he submitted his application form three (3) days after the deadline for the submission of the said form. This is technicalities taken too far by some sycophant/moles in the Ebonyi State PDP where aspirations in APC is very glaring and will do whatever it takes to use the instrument of litigation to scuttle the relative peace Ebonyi State PDP has enjoyed over the years.

see full details of the petition to the party:

THE NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE, (NWC)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Plot 1970 MichealOkpara Street,
Wadata Plaza,
Wuse Zone 5,
Abuja

ATTN:
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, (NEC)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Plot 1970 MichealOkpara Street,
Wadata Plaza,
Wuse Zone 5,
Abuja

SUBJECT: RE: URGENT NEED TO RESCUE PDP IN EBONYI STATE BY NOT INAUGURATING SILAS ONU AS THE CHAIRMAN OF EBONYI STATE PDP PENDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE APPEAL ALREADY ENTERED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL ABUJA DIVISION

DEMAND FOR THE IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF THE INAUGURATION OF SILAS ONU AS THE CHAIRMAN OF EBONYI STATE PDP WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW THE 3RD MAY, 2022 AS CONTAINED IN THE PRESS STATEMENT DATED 2ND MAY 2022 SIGNED BY HON. DEBO OLOGUNAGBA THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECETARY OF PDP.

Above subject matter referred……..

Sequel to an earlier instruction of our client Mr.Nwokpoku Sunday Jude,PDP member and on behalf of Eight Hundred and Ninety Six (896)other aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in EbonyiState, we hereby reserve the pendulum and re-incontrovertibly state that we healthily represent them in all matters-

Pertaining to the immediate suspension of the inauguration of Silas Onuas the Chairman of Ebonyi State PDP and its ancillary Court injunctions so to do vis-à-vis the pending Appeal at the Court of Appeal Abuja Division

We are fully abreast of the Judgment of Hon. Justice A. R. Muhammed of the Federal High Court Abuja delivered on the 13th April 2022 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1319/2021 wherein Mr. OkoroaforTochukwuOkorie who was duly elected by the party during its congresses in 2021 was removed on the ground that he submitted his application form three (3) days after the deadline for the submission of the said form. This is technicalities taken too far by some sycophant/moles in the Ebonyi State PDP whose aspiration in APC is very glaring and will do whatever it takes to use the instrument of litigation to scuttle the relative peace Ebonyi State PDP has enjoyed over the years

It is instructive to query who is behind the said Silas Onu? Is he related to the former Governor of Ebonyi State (Engr. David Umahi), is he a plant a farmer is trying to plant in the farm of PDP to scuttle the chances of PDP in the coming election in Ebonyi State?

Sir, the People Democratic Party (PDP) has been one single party since the creation of Ebonyi State which every tom, dick and Jerry can attest to this fact which was breached by Engr. Dave Umahi whom the Federal High Court Abuja removed as the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State through the application of the party PDP.

Sir, you could recalled that the Judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja has not been obeyed even when the party (PDP) has forwarded His Excellency Rt. Hon. IdumaIgariwayname in obedience to the said judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, but till date the inauguration of Rt. Hon. IdumaIgariwayhas not taken place, the reason INEC gave is that there is a pending Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja. That’s the law as it stands till date, it has not changed.

However, the said judgment has been appealed and the Appealentered since 18th April 2022. Attached and marked annexure “AN-1” is the Notice of Appeal for your on spot reference please.

It is pertinent to set the record straight and for the avoidance of doubt. The facts of the matter are as follows:

That PDP conducted its congresses and elected ward, local government. State and national officers.

That PDP also elected statutory delegates who will elect flag bearers for the party in the 2023 General Elections through indirect primaries.

That there are two (2) electing bodies for delegates when it is indirect primaries; the statutory and 3-man delegates. The 3-man delegates are elected across the number of political wards in each State and is ad-hoc. See the provision of the PDP Constitution

In the case of Ebonyi State which the PDP Constitution made provisions by providing for (statutory and 3-man delegates) which should be invoke in this circumstance pending the determination of the Appeal over the State Chairmanship position to avoid repeat of Zamfara State APC saga.

It is to be noted that Mr. TochukwuOkafor was duly and validly elected by the party during its congresses in 2021 before a member of the same party who also contested and was rejected by the party members approached the Court to challenge the wish of the party members who has spoken through their vote by means of technicalitiesviz; that Mr. Tochukwu submitted his application form three (3) days after the deadline for the submission.

It is to be noted that the date set for deadline of the submission of the PDP Chairmanship application form was a public holiday (1st October National Day) which Mr. Tochukwu submitted his application on the next day being working day.

The said judgment has since been appealed by the PDP on the ground that the matter was an internal affairs of the party and that Silas Onu had not exhausted the internal mechanism for dispute settlement in the party before approaching the Court as encapsulated in the PDP constitution which is the supreme guide of all members of the party. The Court of Appeal has entered the Appeal and is yet to communicate the date of hearing the appeal to parties.

The law duly provides that ’nothingshould change during the pendency of an appeal.’This is subsumed in the Latinism lis pendent lite nihilinnovetur.
It is our respectful opinion that the far-reaching legal consequences that attends actions taken pendent lite are well known in Nigeria and well covered by case law. See the Supreme Court decision in Akinkugbe V. Ewulum Holdings Nigeria Limited (2008) 12 NWLR (Pt.1098) 375 at 383 holding 10

ALTERNATIVE TO INAUGURATION OF SILAS ONU IN VIEW OF THE PENDING APPEAL AT THE COURT OF APPEAL, ABUJA

LEGAL POSITION/PDP CONSTITUTION

In view of the position encapsulated in the PDP constitution as regards 3-man delegate congress/election which is usually authenticated by the state chairman of the party and since the position of chairman is in dispute and the Appeal having been entered, we suggest that to avert the repeat of Zamfara State 2019 experience the issue of 3-man delegates being part of the delegates election of the party flag bearers scheduled to hold from 7th May, 2022 be suspended

The delegates’ election can be conducted without 3-man delegates and it does not invalidate the result of the primary election. The statutory delegates serve for the primary where there is no 3-man delegate.

This is a precedent because it happened is Anambra State in the last governorship election and currently three states (Ebonyi) and other Two (2) states has been suspended by the party from conducting 3-man delegates congress.

However, the party (PDP) having short itself on the leg by suspending 3-man delegates is now been influenced through the backdoor by one moneybag masquerading in Ebonyi State to reinstate and conduct the congress before the primaries.

Suffice to put that failure to suspend the inauguration of Barr. Silas Onu will tantamount to an affront to the judiciary

Suffice to put that if the inauguration is allowed to take place tomorrow the 2nd May, 2022, the implication is that it will undermine the chances of PDP as this will create factions in the party since the case is still pending at the Court of Appeal Abuja Division.

Our clients remained loyal party faithful who will do whatever it takes legally to ensure justice for the members of PDP family in Ebonyi State and the big family (PDP) all over Nigeria

Against the backdrop of the above detailed information/guidance, we crave your respectful indulgence to stall or suspend the inauguration slated for tomorrow in line with the press release of 2nd May, 2022 attached herewith as Annexure “AN-2” in the overall interest of the party PDP
We urge the NWC and NEC to avert the unavoidable litigation which is loading in the overall interest of the party and the vision of reclaiming the lost states to PDP.

N/BCORAM; we trust you will agree with us that an injunction can be sought at any time and whatever inauguration carried out can be set aside which may put the party (PDP) in a very big risk of not producing a valid Governorship aspirant etc.

We hold ourselves out as fully representing our client Mr.Nwokpoku Sunday Jude,PDP member and on behalf of Eight Hundred and Ninety Six other aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi Stateand will not hesitate to invoke the wrath of the law if this timely demand is treated with no iota of respect.

We thank you for your kind courtesies and trust that you will be accordingly guided always

Yours Faithfully,

Chief O. U. Orji Esq.
Chief U. U. Umoanwan Esq.
(Notaries Public)
Benjamin C. Ogbamgba Esq.
Joseph E. Abutu Esq.

CC.
THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, PDP
THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY, PDP
CHIEF J. K. GADZAMA SAN
CHIEF MIKE NZEKHOME SAN
J.S. OKUTEPA SAN
S. T HONS SAN & CO.

London Vitality 10,000: Mo Farah beaten by Cross

Farah is beaten by Ellis Cross in his first race since June while Eilish McColgan misses a British record by two seconds at the Vitality London 10,000.

Farah, who last raced in June 2021, was unable to out-kick Cross, who won by four seconds in 28 minutes 40 seconds.

Before the race Farah said it would not “make any sense” to keep racing if he could not compete at the top level.  “Today was tough and Ellis did well to beat me,” 39 year old Farah, told BBC Sport. 

Farah, who was unable to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics after fracturing his foot in the build-up to qualifying, added: “It is really important to test your body and see where you are. It has been so long since my last race.

Cross, who represents Aldershot, Farnham & District, said he “didn’t quite follow the script” in upsetting Farah in front of a London crowd that cheered him on in the 16,000-strong event.”I can’t believe it,” Cross told BBC Sport.

Qatar 2022 Playoffs:  

FIFA Fine Nigeria over Pitch Invasion  

Following the unruly behaviour of fans during the second leg of the Qatar 2022, World Cup Playoffs round against the Black Stars of Ghana, the World soccer ruling body ( FIFA) has slammed Nigeria with a heavy fine.

The match which was played at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, witnessed fans encroaching the field after Ghana held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw.

The draw meant the Super Eagles bowed out of the World Cup while Ghana progressed, the outcome came as shock to fans which led to their agression toward invading the pitch after the game.

According to the update coming from FIFA, Nigeria has been fined about N64 million( $150,000) for the fans rampage and the first home game of the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifier to be played behind closed.

It means that the Super Eagles’ CAF African Nations Cup qualifier game against Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in June will be played behind closed.