The Federation of International Football Association confirmed on Friday that it is investigating an allegation of misconduct in relation to the Zambian women’s national team in the ongoing Australia and New Zealand 2023 World Cup.

Coach Bruce Mwape was accused of rubbing his hands over the chest of one of his players, The Guardian reported Thursday.

The allegation came two days before the team’s final group game against Costa Rica.

A FIFA spokesperson said, “FIFA takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident.”

He stated further details can’t be given as investigation is going on, but he confirmed that the football body has received the complaint.

“We can confirm that a complaint has been received in relation to the Zambian women’s national team and this is currently being investigated. We cannot provide further details regarding an ongoing investigation for obvious confidentiality reasons,” he stated.

The spokesperson further said, “Anyone who wishes to report allegations or information related to abuse in football can do so via FIFA’s confidential reporting platform, with all information that is submitted to FIFA handled in the strictest of confidence.”

He also said FIFA takes “the strongest possible sanctions” when guilt is established.

The spokesperson also mentioned that the world football governing body provides support to witnesses.

“In addition, FIFA offers support and assistance to ensure the safety of those who report a safeguarding issue, including witnesses who come forward and give testimony in FIFA Ethics cases. Where guilt is established, FIFA takes the strongest possible sanctions, including removing people from the game for life. Our track record demonstrates this,” he assured.

The Football Association of Zambia announced last September that it had referred a report regarding allegations of sexual abuse within the women’s football team to FIFA.

According to a report by The Guardian, Mwape was among those being investigated.

Upon the publication of The Guardian’s article, which featured an anonymous player saying “if he [Mwape] wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes,” the FAZ referred to the statement it made last September.

This year’s FIFA World Cup tournament is the first in which the Zambian women team ever participated.

The team beat Costa Rica to record the country’s first-ever victory at the finals, although they exited the tournament at the group stage after defeats to Japan and Spain.

Zambia’s win in their World Cup debut has been overshadowed by the allegations against Mwape, who has been in charge since 2018. The news conference prior to their game against Spain ended early due to persistent questions about a prior investigation relating to misconduct within women’s football in Zambia.

Captain Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji were both on target as they recorded a first-ever victory in what was the first World Cup appearance for any Zambian team, men or women.

President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking its support for military intervention against the military junta in the Niger Republic.

He also sought the backing of the legislature on the cutting off of electricity to the country.

The PUNCH had reported that Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was toppled by his guards.

Tinubu, Nigeria’s president and the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, had on Sunday met with some fellow ECOWAS leaders to discuss appropriate ways to restore democracy in Niger.

The leaders of the West African regional bloc met to discuss sanctions to be placed against the military personnel who toppled Bazoum on July 26, 2023.

The President’s letter read, “Political situation in Niger. Following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected govt in a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique.”

The president further sought support for, “Military buildup and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.

“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.

“Cutting off Electricity supply to the Niger Republic, mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.”

“Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; Blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports,” he added.

Tinubu also told the Senate that the country was embarking on sensitisation of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions, particularly via social media.

The immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has reacted to his nomination as a minister.

Naija News earlier reported that President Ahmed Tinubu included Keyamo in a fresh list of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this on Friday while reading a letter sent by the president during plenary on Friday.

Reacting to his nomination in a tweet via his verified Twitter handle, Keyamo appreciated God for the appointment with a popular Gospel song.

He wrote: “He’s a miracle-working God. He’s a miracle-working God,He’s the Alpha and Omega, He’s a miracle-working God!”

This development comes hours after Keyamo was mocked on social media after his name was missing from the second batch of ministerial nominees.

It would be recalled that Keyamo and former Minister of Aviation, Femi-Fani Kayode were actively one of the leading voices on Twitter during the 2023 presidential election that saw the emergence of Bola Tinubu as president.

Following their missing names, some Nigerians besieged both the Twitter account of Keyamo and Fani-Kayode to query and mock their omission from the ministerial list.

On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu assigned two delegations to address the crisis in Niger Republic.

A delegation led by Nigerian diplomat Babagana Kingibe was dispatched to engage with the leaders of Libya and Algeria, while another delegation, headed by former Nigerian Head of State Gen.

Abdulsalami Abubakar, was sent to Niger to swiftly resolve the current political impasse.

Tinubu, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, charged both delegations to robustly engage with all stakeholders and work towards an amicable resolution that promotes African peace and development, avoiding the adoption of geopolitical positions from other nations.

“We don’t want to hold brief for anybody. Our concern is democracy and the peace of the region,” the Nigerian President said.

Speaking after the meeting, Abdulsalami said the delegation would meet the coup leaders in Niger to present the demands of the ECOWAS leadership.

“We have just been given our marching orders to go to Niger and convey the feelings of our Heads of State in the region that they are not happy with what happened.

“And then gave them an ultimatum that the coupists should desist from what they are doing and give back power to an elected President.

“We are going there to convey this message to them and hear their response and report back what they have said,” Abubakar explained.

On his part, Kingibe said talking with Libya and Algeria, two countries bordering Niger to the North, would stimulate the solidarity required for peaceful talks.

“Of course, this kind of situation requires solidarity. It requires coordination with all parties that are relevant to the situation.

“In that regard, Libya and Algeria are also very important neighbours of Niger. So, my mission is to go there with a message from President Tinubu; to brief them on the ECOWAS position and solicit solidarity and cooperation,” Kingibe said.

He expressed optimism that the talks would avert a possible military intervention.

“We hope to find a diplomatic solution. Nobody wants to go to war, especially with neighbourly, brotherly people across the border with whom we share a common language, culture and religion,” he said.

On the Abdusalami’s delegation is the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray.

The media and publicity adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale has assured workers of a significant salary increase with the implementation of the new minimum wage.

During an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Ngelale stated that workers should expect their current salaries to at least double once the new minimum wage comes into effect.

Ngelale’s announcement came as part of a broader discussion on what the Tinubu administration is doing to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal on the population.

He said, “I don’t want to preempt the president or the work of the minimum wage committee that is getting it down in those states, but what I would say is this: the president will want nothing less than a doubling. I mean doubling of the current minimum wage.

“As of June 36 states have received N300 billion more than they had received in any previous month in the last two years. They already have more money right now.

“The federal government on its part is making sure it brings down the cost of food and energy by supporting transport companies and coming up with agriculture intervention as well as SMEs capitalization. States have all agreed during the last NEC meeting that they would support the new minimum wage.”

UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has expressed an interest in venturing into professional wrestling (WWE) but has said he won’t want to be involved in it for a long period.

While discussing his prospect of venturing into professional wrestling with “The Halfcast Podcast”, Israel Adesanya made it clear that, rather than committing to a full-time WWE career, he said he would prefer making one, two, or possibly three appearances.

He said, “I always thought maybe I would, but I think I’ll do like stints like one, two, or maybe three but not like a weekly thing”.

The 34-year-old Nigerian-born Australian mixed martial artist opened up about his concerns about taking a full-time job with WWE by stressing that he liked to write his own stories and not let others choose the characters or the overall course of the story.

Hence, Israel Adesanya believes that committing to a lengthy spell in wrestling will be a betrayal of his identity and what he represents.

“I like to write my own story, I don’t want a writer writing my story and making me a heel this month and then the good guy this month. I’d rather just write my own story and yeah, I just feel like it’ll take away from me and it’ll be a disservice to myself. If I let someone else write my story and dictate how I’m perceived”, he said.

On who inspires him to consider a spell in wrestling, Adesanya said, “Watching him (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) on the mic, just roast five people five minutes straight and that’s just like a stand-up show. You know, playing with the mic and that kind of stuff, it seeps in and then you take bits and pieces, you’re inspired by those things.”

The contract extension talks between Italian Serie A champions Napoli and the representatives of Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen, have reportedly been halted due to unresolved aspects of the deal.

Since the 2022-2023 season ended in which Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years, the Italian giants have been trying to extend Osimhen’s contract even though it is set to expire on June 30, 2025.

Reports from an Italian publication, Football Italia claimed that Roberto Calenda, who represents Victor Osimhen, communicates frequently with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis over the pending contract extension. Despite multiple discussions, no agreement has been reached yet.

So far, Calenda has had six meetings with Napoli over the contract extension of Victor Osimhen but nothing has been accomplished from the meetings.

Reports claimed that De Laurentiis has placed about £150 million price tag on Osimhen who scored 26 goals and provided 5 assists in 32 games last season.

The reigning Italian Serie A champions are anxious to sign the 24-year-old Nigerian striker to a new long-term contract, but talks have not yet resulted in a new agreement amidst interest from clubs throughout Europe.

According to Football Italia, Osimhen is willing to continue with Napoli but wants a release clause that would provide him some security for the future.

Tuesday’s meeting between Calenda and Napoli was intended to resume contract discussions; however, as highlighted by Corriere dello Sport via TMW, Calenda left without reaching a new arrangement.

Reports claimed that the negotiations are hanging on the failure of the parties involved to agree on Osimhen’s wage demands and the release clause Napoli are proposing.

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has approached the Court to seek protection from his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to avoid an imminent impeachment and removal from office.

In a motion of notice brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and made available to the media on Thursday, the Applicant (Shaibu) sought an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the Respondents or their agents from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing or preventing him from carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of Edo State including attending State Executive Council (SEC) meetings and other functions pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The Court papers, which listed the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, the Governor of Edo State, Speaker of Edo House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State as Defendants, were sighted by our Correspondent.

Further investigations revealed that in the past two months, all have not been well at the Denis Osadebey Avenue seat of power in Benin City between Governor Obaseki and his Deputy, Shaibu.

Trouble started when Comrade Shaibu was seen in a viral video with Senator Adams Oshiomhole during the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly in Abuja.

Sources further alleged that a few days after the Abuja viral video, the governor summoned all PDP members of the State House of Assembly to his mansion, excluding his deputy, which was extremely unusual.

The deputy, who was briefed about the meeting, drove directly to the governor’s mansion but was rebuffed and stopped by the DSS personnel, who told him he was not on their list of invitees.

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Operatives of a private firm, Tanita Security Services on Wednesday intercepted a Nigerian Navy boat escorting a vessel loaded with crude oil suspected to be stolen in Delta State.

The vessel, MT PRAISEL, was being escorted by a Nigerian Navy boat led by a commander.

The private security firm intercepted the vessel in the Koko area of the state.

Despite resistance by the Nigerian Navy boat, “Tantita operatives stood their ground with the backing of the national security adviser (NSA) and the chief of naval staff (CNS) and have taken the suspicious vessel into custody,” a source said.

The Tantita operatives were conducting a routine patrol when they spotted the vessel.

The vessel was flying a Togolese flag, but the operatives had intelligence that it was carrying stolen crude oil.

When the Tantita operatives attempted to board the vessel, they were met with resistance from the Navy boat. Cdr Musa threatened to deal decisively with the Tantita operatives, but they refused to back down.

The NSA and the CNS were eventually contacted and they gave the Tantita operatives the authorisation to take the vessel into custody.

When contacted, the Nigerian Navy spokesperson Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan said a statement on the issue would be released soon.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Nigeria Plc on Thursday disclosed that it will shut down its production line in Nigeria due to unfavourable economic situation.

The company said it plans to stop operations after evaluating the options for moving to a third-party distribution model for its pharmaceutical products.

The company is well-known for its products such as Augmentin, Neosporin, Panadol, Sensodyne, Advair, Ventolin, Theraflu, among others.

GSK Nigeria announced the development in a statement sent to the Nigeria Exchange Limited (NGX) on Thursday and signed by Frederick Ichekwai, the company secretary.

The company said it is working with its advisers to agree on next steps and plans to submit a scheme of arrangement to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which if approved, will see it return cash to shareholders except its parent company, GSK UK.

The company, which employs over 290 people, assured that all necessary legal proceedings would be met as regards employees and shareholders.

‘In our published Q2 results we disclosed that the GSK UK Group has informed GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria PLC of its strategic intent to cease commercialization of its prescription medicines and vaccines in Nigeria through the GSK local operating companies and transition to a third-party direct distribution model for its pharmaceutical products,” the statement reads.

“The Haleon Group has also separately informed the Board of its intent to terminate its distribution agreement in the coming months and to appoint a third-party distributor in Nigeria for the supply of its consumer healthcare products.

“For the above reasons, and having, together with GSK UK, evaluated various other options, the Board of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc has concluded that there is no alternative but to cease operations.

“Today we are briefing our employees whom we will treat fairly, respectfully and with care, meeting all applicable legal and consultation requirements.

“The Board is conscious that shareholders will have many questions; we have been working assiduously with our professional advisors to agree on next steps and we will be shortly submitting to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a draft Scheme of Arrangement which may, if approved, see shareholders other than GSK UK, receive an accelerated cash distribution and return of capital.

“The Board acknowledges the support of the GSK Group in its intentions to make this possible, full details of which we hope to publish shortly. In the meantime, however, we cannot give you assurance of the final terms of any scheme, or that any scheme will be approved by the SEC or by shareholders.

“Shareholders are advised to seek professional advice and continue to exercise caution when dealing in the company’s shares until a further announcement is made.”