A relatively new breed Super Eagles team came close to bringing down Ukrainian counterparts at the Dnipro Arena on Tuesday before suffering the loss of concentration that saw Ukraine tie the game 2-2 with two goals in 45 seconds.

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Debutant Joseph Ayodele-Aribo of the Super Eagles put the seal on a frenetic beginning at the 31,000 –capacity venue when he cleverly connected home a cross by Alex Iwobi after great work by Samuel Kalu had left the Ukrainian defence in tatters. In the event, the Glasgow Rangers FC of Scotland forward became the 60th player to score right on international debut for Nigeria.

Two minutes later, Samuel Chukwueze drove into the home team’s vital area but saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. In the 12th minute, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho read the Ukrainian foremen well enough to intercept what would have been a dangerous situation.

Halfway into the half, The Super Eagles could have made it two as Iwobi’s chip found Ayodele-Aribo, who connected with a diving header that took all of Lunin’s awareness to push over the bar. From the corner, Osimhen headed powerfully towards goal but Lunin again thwarted.

The Super Eagles were two goals up, just 11 minutes later as Osimhen lashed into the far corner from the penalty spot after Samuel Kalu was upended in the box.

In the 42nd minute, Uzoho made a terrific double save from Oleksandr Zinchenko, and three minutes later Iwobi could not really find Osimhen to make it three as Nigeria swept forward once more.

In the second half, Super Eagles, through Iwobi wasted a glorious chance in the 48th minute as he dragged his shot too wide of Lunin’s post when clear on goal, and four minutes later, Nigeria almost Got a second penalty as Kalu was brought down in the box. Semi Ajayi made a decisive touch to deny Victor Kovalenko and Roman Yaremchuk in the 57th minute, just after Chukwueze sold his pass too long to Osimhen who lurked in the other end’s vital area.

Two minutes later, a brilliant solo run by Chukwueze ended with him once more placing the ball too wide of goal, with Lunin flat-footed. Andriy Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Zinchenko, Viktor Tsygankov and Mykola Matvyenko all made efforts to break down the Nigerian defence with no luck.

Just after the hour, Uzoho showed why he should have been the one in goal for Nigeria at the Cup of Nations in Egypt when he punched away a 20 –yard free-kick that was all too similar to the one Riyad Mahrez buried for Algeria in the AFCON semi-final.

However, the home team got lucky in the 78th minute, as the dangerous Zinchenko got behind the defence and shot past Uzoho. Right from the kick-off after the goal, loss of concentration handed the advantage to the home team. Yaremchuk got the ball past Uzoho, although he appeared to have scored with the hand and the effort should have been ruled off.

On the dot of 90 minutes, Uzoho punched away another fierce, 20-yard free-kick. In spite of the draw, Nigeria’s game breathed youth, vitality, pace, creativity, organization, quick recovery, brilliant transition and confidence

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Access Bank Plc has disclosed that it has rewarded loyal customers in its DiamondXtra scheme with over N5 billion its commencement.

DiamondXtra is on its season 11 and has consistently held draws for 11 years.

Speaking recently at the DiamondXtra quarterly cheque presentation ceremony held in Lagos, the Head Retail Products, Access Bank, Mr. Rob Giles, said the bank would continue to reward its loyal customers.

He said: We have given out over N5 billion in prize since inception and its our 11th year running.

“This year has been really rewarding. We are stuck with salary for life because customers told us that winning motivates them to save. We have stuck with giving out N1 million in prizes every month so create millionaires because they save with DiamondXtra,” he explained.

Giles added: “We have winners today who have rent allowance for a year and education grant for five years, and that is something that is impressive about this season.

“We are helping our youth get education which helps in creating business people tomorrow.

“Today, we handed out N10 million in cash prizes, one education allowance for five years and one rent allowance for five years and we also had a group of customers who won half a million.”

Also speaking, the Head, Retail Market and Analytics, Access Bank, Chioma Afe, explained that the motivation behind the DiamondXtra initiative was born out of the need to transform the lives of its customers.

“We have 31 million customers across all our various products and for DiamondXtra, we have about 2.7 million customers and we want to ensure every single one of these customers have been impacted positively by this initiative in some way.”

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Men of the Ogun State Police Command on Monday allegedly fired teargas at students and staff of the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu in Ogun State, while protecting the Provost, Dr Lukman Kiadese, from being attacked

Our correspondent gathered that a student sustained an injury during the melee, which disrupted academic activities on the campus.

The provost was accused of giving an order to the policemen who escorted him to the school when the angry students and staff wanted to unleash attack on him.

The embattled provost was reported to have arrived the college premises with 20 fully-armed policemen as bodyguards and was said to have forcefully entered into his office after nine months of absence.

His absence was said to have been caused by the alleged threat by the aggrieved staff to protest their 60 months’ unpaid salaries.

He was said to have stayed away from the campus and reportedly operated from the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, as well as a hotel within the area for the nine months.

But despite unfavourable security reports, the embattled provost resolved to resume to witness an orientation programme held for 100 level students of the college.

His presence was reported to have angered some aggrieved staff members who invaded the hall during the orientation and disrupted the programme.

Kiadese was said to have been shielded by the police from the mob, which wanted to pounce on him.

The situation was said to have gone beyond the control of the policemen, who shot tear gas which affected the students and staff.

A female student was said to have been rushed to the school clinic.

A staff of the college, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the provost allegedly ordered the team of policemen staff disperse the protesting staffs and students with tear gas.

But the Public Relations Officer of the college, Mrs Olufisayo Olajide, said the deployment of armed policemen to the college had nothing to do with the provost

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has directed the Commissioners of Police in all the States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to put measures in place to avert any planned procession by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

The order follows a decision by the IMN to proceed on a yearly peaceful Ashura procession on September 10, despite proscription.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, the activities of the group remains illegal and will be treated as such.

”The Force notes that in line with the Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice 2019 of 26th July 2019, the activities of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria have been proscribed.

“Consequently, all gathering or procession by the group remains ultimately illegal and will be treated as a gathering in the advancement of terrorism.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has directed the Commissioners of Police in all the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja as well as their supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to put in place concrete measures to avert any planned procession and/or disruption of public peace by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, anywhere in the country.”

The statement quoted the police boss, asking parents the general public and guardians to provide the necessary information and avoid their wards from being cajoled into embarking on ‘illegal’ activities by the group.

“The IGP also enjoins the public to avail the Force with useful information as regards the activities of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

“In addition, the IGP has also advised parents and guardians to prevail on their children and wards not to be cajoled into embarking on illegal and ill-motivated activities by anyone or group of persons, under any guise whatsoever.“

Newsflagship

Kelechi Nwakali, the Super Eagles midfielder, who plays for Spanish Segunda side, SC Huesca, has joined the national U23 side, Olympic Eagles, in preparation for the second leg of the Africa U23 Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt. The team is currently practicing at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.

The Nigerian side must overturn a 1-0 score line conceded in the first leg in Sudan to stand the chance of qualifying for the continental event which will serve as the qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.Nwakali’s return to the team comes as a huge relief for Coach Imama Amapakabo as the team must beat Sudan at the Stephen keshi Stadium in Asaba on Tuesday.rubi

The two finalists in Egypt will fly Africa’s flag at the Men’s Football tournament of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Nwakali has assured that the U23 side would not fail the test. Speaking to journalists on his arrival at the stadium, where he featured for the Sunday training, the U17 FIFA World Cup winner averred that the Olympic Eagles would play well to win convincingly.

“The situation before us now is one that only us can solve. We are not going to let them escape with the marginal advantage so we will work hard to make sure that we beat them and beat them well and qualify for Egypt,” he assured.

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Under high stakes and amid an intimidating atmosphere, a gutsy Nigeria’s D’Tigers yesterday qualified for the Olympics with a tenacious performance against China hoped to become a defining victory for the African nation. Nigeria overcame some nervous moments in the final quarter to record a decisive 86-73 victory, which saw them finish the FIBA Basketball World Cup with a 3-2 record and seal direct entry into the Olympics out of the African region.

The result was made even more impressive with hosts China also essentially needing victory to secure an Olympics spot.

Every time they were challenged, Nigeria calmly silenced the crowd with clutch buckets led by young star Josh Okogie (16 points) who boldly attacked the rim in the fourth. It was the type of performance that could prove momentous for Nigeria, who have now qualified for their third straight Olympics. “It was a character builder for our team,” Nigeria star Al-Farouq Aminu said. “We didn’t accomplish everything we wanted to in China but we set a new goal to make the Olympics and we did so. “I remember when I joined the team in 2012 we said we did not want to miss an Olympics. It’s a beautiful feeling (to qualify). It’s amazing.” Aminu said he was excited about the state of Nigeria’s team. “We know we have a good team and we are starting to put the pieces together,” he said. “Guys have started wanting to play with the national team. “When I first played for the team, it was kind of taboo for guys to join the team and now I’m seeing guys like Josh (Okogie)…I’m so happy and proud for him. “I see the future is bright with him and the guys we got. I’m excited with what we can accomplish.” “We’re going to make the necessary preparations now so that we can be very, very good at the Olympics.” In other Classification matches, Tunisia escaped with a nail-biting 86-84 victory over African rival Angola while Korea nipped Cote d’Ivoire with an 80-71 victory to close out their respective campaigns with a victory and a spot in the 17-20 and 25-28 rankings in that order

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign from office since the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, allegedly admitted that the president was not in possession of the required certificate and begged Nigerians to pardon him.

The opposition party gave the advice ahead of the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in its case against the declaration of Buhari as winner of the 2019 presidential poll.

But it was learnt that the Ministry of Information had clarified that the video on the matter was taken from the interview granted by the minister as far back as 2015.

“While it is true that Lai Mohammed made the comment when he appeared on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, the impression being given that it is recent is misleading. The minister made the comment as far back as 2015,” a source in the ministry said.

However, addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, urged the judiciary to resist what he called attempts to blackmail it from doing justice to the pending petition.

At the press conference which was tagged “Plea For Pardon: Vacate Office Now”, the PDP said it had reviewed the video of the media interview by Mohammed and had come to the conclusion that “President Buhari should save the judiciary and the nation further troubles by immediately throwing in the towel and vacating the presidential seat following the official admission that he (Buhari) does not possess a WAEC certificate, contrary to his claims and disposition before the law.

“Our party mocks the Buhari presidency for pushing out the video wherein the minister pleaded with Nigerians to pardon President Buhari over his false WAEC certificate claims.”

PDP alleged that the pushing out of the video was “the deliberate ploy of Alhaji Lai Mohammed to appeal to sentiments, seeing that Mr. President had failed to defend himself before the Presidential petition tribunal.”

The party berated the Buhari presidency “for believing that in pushing the video into the public space, it could influence the mind of the tribunal to bend the law after solid evidence has been presented before it against President Buhari.”

The PDP further claimed that “the pronouncement and appeal for pardon issued by the government’s spokesperson, who is also a lawyer, is a direct guilt plea, which cannot save President Buhari from the course of justice in this matter.”

The opposition party further said:”From the official pronouncement by the minister on a national television, it is no longer in dispute before all Nigerians that President Buhari does not possess the educational certificate he claimed in the affidavit he deposed to in his presidential nomination form.

“In this latest shenanigan, President Buhari and his handlers ought to have known that the law, which the judiciary is bound to uphold, is a respecter of no man.”

The party reminded Buhari of how his presidency vehemently applied the law in a similar circumstance to remove a head of an arm of government; a situation, which the PDP noted has rendered Buhari’s plea for pardon a complete nullity before the law.

The PDP further submitted that if President Buhari indeed sought pardon from Nigerians, he should do the needful by toeing the path of honour and vacating the presidential seat without further delay.

“It is disheartening that Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) would put our nation through the troubles of legal hassles when they knew all the while that they were building something on nothing.”

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Timi Frank, faulted media reports attributed to the APC portraying Buhari as having a West African School Certificate (WASC).

Frank, in a statement, described the report as an attempt to deceive Nigerians and sway the tribunal to rule in favour of President Buhari.
“The APC should stop spreading falsehood as the world knows that Buhari has no secondary school certificate anywhere”.

According to him, the report titled “Buhari cambridge certificate verification; PDP agent disappointed” is fake news from the pit of hell.

The report quoting an unnamed source had claimed, among other things, that as the tribunal kicked off a few months ago, the PDP sent a delegation to the University of Cambridge to confirm the authenticity of the WASC of President Buhari, but was stunned to discover that the president did write and pass the examination.

Frank alleged that the APC descended so low in trying to fraudulently rewrite history by claiming that the Cambridge University confirmed that “a self-confessed certificate-less General Buhari now has a certificate.”

He said: “It is a shame that Buhari and his lackeys now churn out blatant lies to confuse Nigerians. The question is: does Gen. Buhari have a WAEC certificate? If yes, where is it? Lai Mohammed had admitted that Buhari did not have a WAEC certificate and asked Nigerians to forgive him for not knowing where his (Buhari) certificate was 53 years after leaving secondary school.

“Nigerians can now see why the APC’s government is clueless. This so-called Cambridge source, who is he? What is his name? Nigerians will love to get in touch with him to ascertain the veracity of the information.”

Meanwhile, a group of eminent personalities in the polity are to deliberate on how to sustain Buhari’s legacies at the end of his tenure in office in 2023.

Among those slated to discuss the issue in Abuja tomorrow are the Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; and his Deputy, Ahmed Wase.

The Spokesman of the Muhammadu Buhari Enduring Leagacy Network (MBEL), Mr. Suleman Mustapha, who briefed reporters yesterday expressed concern that the president remained one of the least appreciated leaders ever to administer the country.

He said the mere fact that President Buhari did not bother to dip his hands into public funds to live a lavish lifestyle after serving as head of state, petroleum minister, governor and as a retired military general was worth emulating by future generations of Nigeria’s leaders.

“Today we are talking about the Next Level agenda. For us, we are looking beyond the person of Buhari. This brings to the fore the need to sustain his legacies for Nigeria’s political future.

“Nigerians don’t appreciate what he is doing and this is not good. What this president is doing we must not let it go into the dustbin of history. We need to begin to propagate and imbibe it. Somebody who does not believe in amazing wealth, he doesn’t own an oil well. People should imbibe the concept of service to Nigeria and not to family and pursuit of self-aggrandizement,” Mustapha said.

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Sixteen tertiary institutions will compete in the third edition of the football competition organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board which will kick off in Ilorin, Kwara State, on October 13, organisers have said.

The Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Shuaib Akanbi, who disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing in Ilorin on Saturday, said JAMB had approved N25m for the hosting of the one-week event, which ends on October 20.

Akanbi said the 16 teams are made up of five each from the universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education, as well as one from the Innovative Enterprise Initiatives.

He added that the winners would go home with N1m, while the second and third placed teams would receive N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.

Akanbi said that the tournament was organised to discover talents among the youths in various higher institutions across the country.

He said, “The last two events held in 2017 and 2018 have no doubt discovered football talents in the country, and we are hoping that this year’s will further exposé more talents who would in turn represent our country in future football tournaments.”

Akanbi assured the participating institutions’ players and officials that their welfare including feeding, accommodation, as well as other logistics.

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Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Saturday said he was determined to replicate the legacy of continuity being experienced in Lagos, thereby making it difficult for opposition parties to contest future elections in the state.

The governor stated this at the reception organised for him and his immediate predecessor and Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, held at the Government House, Osogbo.

Oyetola, at the reception attended by some leaders of All Progressives Congress and top government functionaries within and outside the state, said he would continue to focus on efforts that would make permanent people’s confidence in his administration.

He said doing so would help to retain the progressives in government in the state, stressing that making masses’ welfare top priority would earn his govermment people’s trust and support.

“I am elated to be honoured today alongside my predecessor who is now the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. This is another great thing in the history of our state.

“I am happy that I was part of the last administration and I am equally happy to have worked with my immediate predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who God used to create modern Osun.

“Our focus is to continue to do things that will make the confidence that our people have in us permanent and which will help to retain progressives in government because we believe strongly that one way to ensure the masses are on one’s side is to continue to prioritise their welfare.

“This is what we have been doing since we came on board and we will remain focused and determined to replicate the legacy of continuity being experienced in Lagos, such that oppositions will find it difficult to contest future elections against us in Osun,” Oyetola said.

Speaking earlier, Aregbesola commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the courage in appointing him despite opposition to his candidature.

Punch

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Ten persons have been killed in Ukwuagba in Mgbo Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State following an attack by unknown gunmen.

The attack was carried out on Saturday night.

This is even as four persons traveling to Effium from Enugu state for burial have gone missing around the area.

Chairman of the council, Clement Odah stated this when he received the Deputy Governor of the state, Kelechi Igwe at the council headquarters.

The Deputy Governor was in the council to hold a stakeholders meeting over the incident.

Odah said the four missing persons were on their way to a burial in Effium on August 27 when they got missing.

He said they were in a party of 30 persons travelling for the burial when they had an accident at Resthouse Junction along Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway.

According to him, they were all brought to Ezzamgbo General Hospital for treatment but the four of them were in a hurry to get to the burial so they left without the others.

He said that when the other 26 left for the burial they noticed a roadblock at Agbaesa in Mgbo where some youths tried to intercept them but they managed to bulldoze their way through the roadblock and got to the burial.

However, they did not see the other four and since then their whereabouts have remained unknown.

Odah said that while the council and stakeholders were trying to investigate the matter in conjunction with security agencies, Ukwuagba Community in Mgbo was attacked on Saturday night.

“Yesterday, Ukwagba community in Mgbo was attacked and nine persons were killed and later another person died. They were massacred in their homes.

“There is a situation we were trying to manage that some persons who were our Ezza brothers were going to a burial at Effuim from Enugu state. They were 30 persons in number on getting to Rest House in Ishielu LGA, they were involved in an accident, they took him to Ezzimgbo General Hospital.

“While they were there, four persons left them and moved ahead of the 30 to attend the burial, leaving the other 26 behind. Then when the other 26 reached the venue of the burial, they couldn’t find the other four persons who left them at the hospital” he stated.

Reacting, Mr Igwe, frowned at the fresh killings and threatened to arrest and imprison stakeholders of the area if any is found complicit in the matter.

He gave stakeholders of the area 24 hours to produce the killers of the 9 persons and the missing four others in the area.

“I am very embittered in my spirit. The first civilian governor from this state and the grandfather of Ebonyi State is from this local government area. And right inside here, I can see about seven past local government area chairmen.”

“It is a shame on all of you. We did not come to paint pictures or clap for you. Do not deceive the government. It is pure falsehood, you know what is happening to yourselves, you are killing yourselves.

“You should know people who are causing trouble in your domain. The traditional rulers should be able to fish out people who are causing trouble. We have not come with the message of comfort but to sound a note of warning.

“We are tired of hearing sentimental stories of what is happening in Ohaukwu. What we want is action. Some people wrote an undertaking to the government. Most of you are here and for those who are not part of it, we will make you part of it. Because they had agreed that if anything as tragic as this happens in Ohaukwu again we should hold them responsible.

“All the people that signed that undertaking must produce those people that were killed and those that stop playing games”, he fumed. END waylaid the people going to Effium. You can set up a vigilante to do that. Enough is enough. We must