Lionel Messi said Argentina’s shock loss to Saudi Arabia was a “very heavy blow” but vowed the South American champions would bounce back from the defeat.
“It’s a very heavy blow, a defeat that hurts, but we must continue to have confidence in ourselves,” Messi said after Argentina crashed to a stunning 2-1 loss in Group C.
“This group is not going to give up. We will try to beat Mexico,” he added.
Messi gave Argentina a 10th-minute lead from the penalty spot on Tuesday at the Lusail stadium but second-half goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari helped the Saudis pull off one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history.
It could have been so different but for three tight offside calls in the first half that went against Argentina, denying them three potential goals.
In the second half, coach Lionel Scaloni’s men failed to exploit the Saudis’ high defensive line.
“We know that Saudi Arabia is a team with good players, who move the ball around well and play a high line,” said Messi.
“We worked on that but we rushed it a bit. At 2-1 we got disorganised, we lost our performance level and started desperately putting the ball into the middle.”
Messi insisted that the team accepted their defeat and said the players were determined to put things right for the next game.
“There are no excuses, we’re going to be more united than ever before,” he said.
“This group is strong and has shown it before. We had not been in this situation for a long time. Now we must show that this is a true group.”
The Albiceleste have two Group C games remaining — against Mexico on Saturday and then Poland the following Wednesday — to try to salvage their hopes of claiming a third world title.
“This is the time to stick together, to turn the page and not think about what happened,” said Messi.
“We always said we were going to (try to) win every game and now more than ever.”
Playing in his fifth and probably final World Cup, Messi has the weight of an entire nation’s expectations on his shoulders.
One of the greatest players of all time, this may be his last chance to lift football’s greatest prize, which his predecessor as Argentina’s idol Diego Maradona did in 1986.
“We have to go back to the basics of who we are. We have to think about what’s coming next,” said the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Atleast six persons including a Chief Superintendent of customs, two medical doctor’s, deputy route Commander of FRSC as well as two other persons have been rescued by tactical teams on Anti Kidnapping.
Vanguard learned that the six persons were rescued following pressure exerted on the kidnappers by the tactical teams forcing them to release their victims unharmed around Uyanga rubber plantations in Akampka LGA of Cross River state.
The rescued victims include Chief Supt of Customs, Ekok Emmanuel Agbor , Dr Omini Itam, Dr Egon Ekpo Etim , Deputy Route Commander FRSC, and two others.
According an impeccable security source, the victims were released at about 00:23 hours of Tuesday and debriefed at about 03:00 hours.
The source also revealed that there was an ongoing action to further clear the contiguous forest along the highway to restore public confidence. He equally stated that stability patrols were also in progress from Calabar to Bekwarra in a bid to sustain freedom of movement and social harmony
Confirming the release to Vanguard, the Police Public Relations Officer SP Irene Ugbo said it was true that six persons were rescued including two medical doctor’s.
She also confirmed that a Chief Superintendent of Customs and a Deputy Route Commander of FRSC and two other person’s were also rescued.
When contacted, the Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association NMA Cross River state, Dr Felix Archibong confirmed that the two doctors have also been released, noting that he spoke with both of them in the early hours of Tuesday .
He commended Governor Ben Ayade for the swift response and also security agencies including the police, Army and the other sister agencies for a job well done.
“I spoke with two of my members, Dr Omini and Dr Egon , they have been released , they were released at about 2 00: 00 am on Tuesday ,” he said .
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi says he would not condemn the armed wing of Indeginous People of Biafra, Eastern Security Network (ESN), over attacks in South-East because he is not sure they are behind the attacks.
Asked if he would condemn the ESN over incessant attacks on public facilities and people in the South-East region amid agitation for Biafra Republic, Mr Obi said “no I cannot condemn. Because I’m not sure who is doing what.”
“You cannot just be condemning people. You cannot only condemn people when there is a process in which they have said this person has done this,” Mr Obi added.
The former Anambra governor disclosed this in a presidential town hall televised on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Monday night.
Speaking on his plan to dialogue with agitators across the country if elected, Mr Obi said “everybody knows my position on agitation. I’ve said I will dialogue with all agitators. Everywhere in the country is full of agitation. It is the effect of leadership failure over the years. There is nothing wrong with agitation. We will dialogue with agitators.”
Eastern Nigeria has been rocked by insecurity as separatist agitations spearheaded by outlawed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) remained rife.
The extraordinary rendition of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya in June 2021 by the Buhari regime ramped up onslaughts by unknown gunmen around South-East.
The unknown gunmen continued to attack security agents and public facilities while disrupting economic and commercial activities in the region.
In September, Anambra governor Chukwuma Soludo said Igbos are behind insecurity in Anambra State, dismissing as “hoax” the notion that insecurity in the South-East is caused by “invaders”.
The Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to skip backlog of academic sessions halted by their seven months strike if federal government persists on the no work no pay rule.
ASUU members, mainly of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Chapter, Rivers state, after a special congress and protest rally on Monday argued that the policy does not apply to them because they have picked up from where they down tools seven months ago and currently clearing the backlogs of work, combining two sessions.
Chairman, ASUU, Uniport, Dr. Uzoma Chima, said, “Today’s special congress and protest rally is to express our dissatisfaction with recent attempt by federal government of Nigeria to reduce university lecturers to daily pay casual workers.
“Because we know that there is nowhere in the world where university lecturers are treated as casual workers. So, today we invited parents, and students to let them know the state of things since after the suspension of our strike.
“Since we suspended the strike following the National Industrial Court order, we have come back to resume our duties and currently doing the backlogs of work we should have done during the strike. As a union of intellectuals, our job makes the no work, no pay policy not applicable to us.
“Because during the strike we were doing research. It was only teaching we were not doing. We were doing research and members engaged in community services. The teaching that was not done, we are doing already. We are clearing the backlog of work.
“So, today, we called parents and students to carry the issue to the public. Let them not see it as a fight for only ASUU because we know and it is so clear now that the ruling class wants to decimate the public universities. And of course, as the eggheads of the nation, we will not allow that to happen.”
“What we are going to do if the FG refuses to listen to us is so simple. If government continues to say they will not pay us, we will abandon the work to do for those sessions and that will mean outright cancelation of those sessions.
“We will now wait for admission to be done for the 2022/2023 session so that we will continue from there.” What that means is that the old students in the university will have to lose those sessions, that is the implication.”
Some of the inscriptions on their protest placards read, “No to Pro Rata Salary Payment, “Lecturers are not casual workers” and “FG, stop maltreatment of lecturers”.
Two Nigerian artistes, Ayo Balogun popularly known as Wizkid and her female counterpart,Temilade Openiyi also known as Tems have bagged another award this time, at the American Music Awards.
The event was held on the 21st of November, at the popular Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, with popular media personality and comedian Wayne Brady as the host.
The award ceremony which added its first category of “Favorite Afrobeats Artiste” to its list saw competitors like Wizkid, Fireboy DML, Burna Boy, Ckay, and Tems battling for the prize. However, the Ojuelegba crooner went home with the plaque.
Tems was also named the collective winner of the “Favourite Hip Hop Song” category for her part in Future’s “Wait For You” featuring Drake. The popular duo, Wizkid and Tems also won the category for “Favorite R&B Song” “Essence”, under Wizkids 2020 album “Made in Lagos”.
American artiste Taylor Swift was the biggest winner of the event as she won six awards including the “Artist of the Year”.
A Qatari youth, Ghanim Al Muftah has been showered encomimums after delivering a strong message during opening ceremony of World Cup.
The young man was joined on the stage at Al Bayt stadium by veteran American actor, Morgan Freeman.
During the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there was a surprise appearance by iconic Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman but he was not on the Al Bayt stadium pitch alone.
The American superstar was spotted with a young physically-challenged Qatari boy, who grabbed the attention of the world with his beautiful message and Quranic recitation.
The boy, known in real life as Ghanim Al Muftah, is a Qatari youth icon, who has become an inspiration for many young people in the Gulf.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup started with host nation Qatar losing their opening game to Ecuador
Who is Ghanin Al Muftah?
Al Muftah was born a twin and has Caudal Regression Syndrome, a rare disorder that impairs the development of the lower spine. Despite his condition, Al Muftah lived for 15 years.
He is one of FIFA’s ambassadors at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Al Muftah has defied all odds and currently studies political science as he has ambitions of becoming a diplomat.
He has about 3 million followers on Instagram and is very popular on Tik Tok. The Qatari youth icon has garnered huge following his appearance on the world stage after he made a powerful speech during the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
Even though Al Muftah walks with the aid of his hands, the young man does a lot including driving.
His story is seen as a perfect example of disability does not mean inability.
Morgan Freeman delivers a strong message at World Cup Earlier. The celebrated American movie icon Morgan Freeman made an appearance at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Freeman alongside a Qatari poet Gandem Al Muftau opened the games with a message of unity, respect, and community as the Gulf nation hosts the World Cup for the first time.
Morgan Freeman delivered a strong message at the World Cup opening ceremony. In photos posted on social media, Freeman with his splendid grey hair is seen walking in the middle of the Al Bayt stadium.
BTS star dazzles at World Cup opening ceremony BTS star Jung Kook produced a spectacular musical performance at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The member of the South Korean boy band group performed the official World Cup song Dreamers as he thrilled spectators at the Al Bayt stadium.
Thousands of fans sang and danced along to his delivery as Qatar welcomes 31 nations for the global showpiece.
In sustained offensives against terrorists, Nigerian Airforce, NAF aircraft have hit the enclave of notorious gun runner Mallam Ila at Manawa Village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
A defence operative told PRNigeria that the gun runner was the major supplier of sophisticated weapons to the notorious terrorist, Bello Turji in Zamfara.
“The NAF aircraft under Operation Hadarin Daji carried out the strikes on the enclave of Mallam Ilu in the evening of 18 November 2022.
“Mallam Ila remains a high value target due to his closeness and association with terrorist leaders Bello Turji and Dan Bokoyo. Their foot soldiers have also been responsible for attacks in Shinkafi general area of Zamfara State as well as parts of Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, and Sokoto States.
“After the airstrike on the location, multiple explosions were observed with huge fireballs, indicative of other high inflammable materials hidden in the location. Scores of terrorists were eliminated during the operation,” the operative said.
Another source told PRNigeria that Mr Ila narrowly escaped but sustained critical injuries.
When contacted, the NAF spokesperson, Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the strikes and maintained that the military operations continued to check the activities of bandits and terrorists in the states.
“The NAF and other security agencies remain on track to seeing the ongoing counterterrorism effort to a conclusive end.
“We call on Nigerians to continue supporting the security agencies with information on activities of criminal elements as solving the current security impasse requires the involvement of all,” Mr Gabkwet, an air commodore, added.
A civil society group, Concerned Citizens Forum (CCF), has called for stringent punishment for the dismissed former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig Gen MK Fadah.
The group, at a press conference, in Abuja at the weekend, demanded that Fadah returns all his earnings as NYSC DG and salaries from the Nigerian Army since October 2020.
In his address, Musa M. Attah, National President/Convener, said it stands by the petition written against Fadah to demand his sack.
According to Attah, not only is the Brigadier General unqualified for the job, he displayed gross incompetence in six months in charge.
The Concerned Citizens Forum, therefore, rubbished a report by a group, Yobe Elders Forum, which attempted to exonerate Fadah of any wrongdoing.
Attah said: “We find it shocking that rather than arranging for legal representation to help the disgraced general reduce whatever sentence would come his way from a possible trial in court, the group is alleging that people conspired against him to have him booted out of office,”
“For history not to be distorted in favour of lawbreakers, it is pertinent to remind Nigerians, particularly the Yobe Elders Forum that President Muhammadu Buhari fired Brigadier General M. K Fadah owing to gross incompetence, which we reasonably believe stemmed from his lack of qualification to have occupied the post in the first place.
“In addition, the criminal component of Fadah’s six months in that capacity has to do with his falsification and forgery of credentials, age falsification, evasion of the mandatory one-year youth service and misrepresentation of facts as to his competence to be in the Nigerian Army and subsequently occupy the position of NYSC DG.
“Arising from the recalcitrance exhibited by Yobe Elders Group in attempting to paint a man who committed fraud as the victim, the Concerned Citizens Forum, which is the group that wrote the earlier petition to Mr President to expose Brig. Gen MK Fadah for parading forged credentials, evading National Youth Service as well as age falsification, hereby warns the so-called elders to immediately stop ruffling feathers or else we will release even more damaging information that would guarantee their paymaster a long residency in jail.
“They should take it that Brigadier General MK Fadah was responsible for his own downfall as he could have lived a controversy-free life as a storekeeper, herder, artisan, farmer, or any other occupation that does not require advanced credential or mandatory national youth service.
“Even after using false credentials, falsified age, and non-participation in national youth service to secure a job in the Nigerian Army and attaining the position of NYSC DG, he could have at the very least developed the competence needed to thrive in that position. Instead, Fadah’s performance was so dismal in that position that he sent the scheme into decline in a matter of six months.
“We nonetheless have our demands in the interest of justice and fairness. We demand that Gen MK Fadah be made to refund all earnings and allowances he got as the Director General of NYSC, the same having been obtained fraudulently.
“We further demand that Fadah returns all salaries and emoluments he has received from the Nigerian Army since October 2020 having turned 60 years old at the time since he was born in October 1960. The Nigerian Army must similarly adjust Fadah’s rank commensurate with his actual qualifications and compute his due cumulative salary on this basis while asking him to refund the deferential he earned with rank acquired with the forged credentials.
“As we insist that there must be consequences for Fadda’s fraud against Nigeria, the Concerned Citizens Forum shall continue to monitor the situation to ensure that he pays for his crime against Nigerians, especially those who comply with the law of the land. The NYSC Scheme is too central to Nigeria’s unity and social cohesion for a fraud to have led it even for six months”.
The Shura Council of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) has banned the receiving of Naira from farmers and fishermen due to the move by the Nigerian government to redesign and reissue higher denominations of the currency, a Republic of Chad-based Zagazola Makama Media network has reported.
Zagazola Makama is a fast-rising go-to handle for authentic news and analysis on the insurgency in the Lake Chad region and beyond.
The Islamic State’s West Africa Province is a militant group and administrative division of the Islamic State, a Salafi jihadist militant group and unrecognised proto-state.
ISWAP is primarily active in the Chad Basin, and fights an extensive insurgency against the states of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
The Nigerian government had announced its decision to redesign N200, N500, and N1000 notes which the government would start issuing by December and the old notes would cease to be legal tender by January 31, 2023.
It was gathered that this move by the government has thrown the ISWAP population in the Tumbus of Lake Chad and away from bank branches, into confusion as they would find it extremely difficult to change their money into the new currency notes.
The Central African CFA franc (French: franc CFA or simply franc) is the currency of six independent states in Central Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Findings show that N1,000 currently exchanges for between CFA1,400 to CFA 1,430.
Zagazola Makama reported that an Intelligence source told a counter insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, that the insurgents are now receiving the West African CFA Francs which they intend to use as replacement to the Nigerian Naira as currency of trade in the area.
The sources said that the terrorists had also banned all Nigerian fishermen, herdsmen and farmers from sneaking into the Lake Chad through Marte, Abadam, and Gamborun Ngala in order to prevent the Naira from reaching into the camps of the terrorists in the Lake Chad
Ibn Umar and Malam Ba’ana, ISWAP commanders in charge of taxes and levies, who imposed the ban, said the people were only allowed to come through safe routes established by the terror group – Bulgaram, Cikka, Guma, Maltam, Doron Liman and Ramin Dorina villages in Cameroon Republic.
In exchange, ISWAP collects 1,500 West African CFA Francs, monthly taxes from the people who appear very willing to pay.
They have also secured trade routes for marchants, to enable them access foodstuffs, weapons, fuel and other logistics.
Only recently, Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, said the proposed Naira redesign by the Central Bank of Nigeria is wrongly timed and would not curb kidnapping as many are thinking because bandits would start to collect ransom in dollars.
“As for the question of starving kidnappers of Naira, it goes without saying that they will resort to dollars and other hard currencies which will further put more pressure on it making the rotten situation bad.
“Kidnapping can only be stopped by robust policing, social justice for all, and equitable wealth distribution. Any cosmetic measures will not stop it,” Mr Gumi was quoted as having said.
Mr Gumi, a self appointed mediator for bandits, whose media aide, Tukur Mamu, is under investigation for illicit dealings with bandits, disclosed this in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, currency dealers said the rally in Naira at the parallel market waned on Tuesday, as the currency depreciated to N800/US$1 from N690 per dollar recorded on the penultimate week Friday. For the rest of the week, the Naira staggered between N780 and N850 and settled at N785 on Friday.
How did the other Southsouth states, aside from Rivers, spend their 13 per cent derivation arrears?
This is the question on the lips of stakeholders.
It followed the revelation of Governor Nyesom Wike that President Muhammadu Buhari approved and paid the arrears to Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Akwa Ibom states.
Wike spoke on the arrears last Friday during the inauguration of the N17billion Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School.
The governor said President Buhari’s gesture was the major source of revenue for his projects, including the flyovers, the law school and the cancer centre.
He said: “Monies that were not paid to the Niger Delta states since 1999 mainly 13 per cent deductions, the President approved and paid all of us in Niger Delta states.”
Wike repeated his comments at two other events afterwards.
Stakeholders have started asking questions of their governors on how they spent or are spending their shares of the money.
Our correspondents also reached out to some state officials on the issue.
Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the state had drawn only N30billion from its accrued share of N270billion from the 13 per cent derivation arrears.
Okowa said his administration earlier disclosed to Deltans the state’s share of N270billion.
He said his administration opted to access its share through a bridge finance loan of N150billion from a bank.
Okowa, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, said the N150billion bridge finance loan was a discounting of receivables from the Federal Government for petroleum subsidy payments made without recourse to the 13 per cent derivation due to oil-producing states from 2010 to date.
He said the funds totalling N270.6billion ought to have been received long ago but because the Federal Government could not pay it in bulk, the oil-producing states agreed for some part of it to be paid within three years and the other within five years.
He said: “Okowa told Deltans that the Federal Government owed Delta arrears of 13 per cent, which amounted to N270 billion. Okowa did not hide the fact that the Federal Government promised to pay the arrears.”
He said of the N150billion loan, only N30billion had been drawn by his administration.
Bayelsa stakeholders took to social media over the slow pace of development amidst huge resources.
A resident, Nimizuo Pereseigha, said: “So, the big question is, What happened to Bayelsa’s share of the money paid by the Federal Government?”
Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ibiba, said: “The state will address the issue tomorrow (today). Kindly contact the Commissioner for Information.”
Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ayibaina Duba, did not pick up calls or respond to messages sent to him.
More questions asked A coalition, Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF), an umbrella body of over 40 active NGOs in the state, said it was expecting answers.
Its coordinator, Dauseye Torki, said: “We just wrote a letter to the Bayelsa State Government through the Ministry of Finance for the procurement plan on what they planned to do in 2022.
“That will help us to monitor the projects that are done in the state.
“We will also have the information on how much they are receiving every month and there will be a thorough analysis of what they have done.”
Chairman of Phase 2 of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Imoh Okoko, urged the Federal Government to probe the usage of the funds, especially by Akwa Ibom.
He lamented the deplorable state of infrastructure and condition of living in oil-producing local government areas of Eket, Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Mbo, Ikot Abasi and Esit Eket.
He said: “The oil-bearing areas in the state lack basic infrastructure such access roads, internal roads, hospitals, and potable drinking water, among others.
“I want the Federal Government, civil society groups, traditional rulers, stakeholders and the ordinary people to ask Governor Udom Emmanuel what he has been using the derivation money for.”
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) plan to use the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act to compel the Obaseki administration to account for the money.
One of their leaders, Kola Edokpayi, said the residents would no longer keep quiet but would demand accountability from the governor.
The frontline rights activist said: “God bless Governor Wike for exposing the non-performing governors in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, who collected huge derivation funds and arrears, but without any project on the ground to justify the monies.”
The Itsekiri Liberation Group (ILG) urged Governor Okowa to account for Delta state’s share.
Its coordinator, Oris Mone, said the funds should reflect in massive developmental and infrastructural projects, as seen in Rivers.
“The only thing we can do is to call out our governor, Dr. Okowa. We are asking him: ‘Where is our money?’ Is he saving it? Has it been looted? Has it been diverted for other purposes?”
