Despite still being locked in the dreamland of winning their first Africa Cup of Nations game, Tanzania coach Miguel Gamondi expressed a bit of satisfaction about his team’s performance during the 2-1 defeat against Nigeria on Tuesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. After Semilogo Ajayi had given Nigeria a first-half lead, Charles M’Mombwa struck the equaliser for Tanzania in the 50th minute, but their hopes of overturning the result faded almost immediately as Ademola Lookman struck the match-winner for Nigeria. Despite the defeat, Gamondi hailed his players for surpassing expectations against Nigeria. “I think Tanzania played better than many people expected. Nigeria had a lot of possession, but we neutralised them well through our tactical system,” the Argentine coach said after the game.

He reacted—in fact, overreacted—to the mere film title that associated “dirt” (and its filthy connotations) with the Christmas season. Until CAN mentioned it, no Christian I know lost sleep over that film title. Even if the CAN leadership succeeds in getting the artists to change a film title, what does it translate to beyond mere symbolism? Christmas has come a long way, and quibbling over a film title is picking the wrong fights. If they had been the ones to ask Ini Edo to change her film title, the response would have been very different.

A 29-year-old Nigerian woman, Olajide Iyanuoluwa, has been arrested in India with 121 grams of cocaine valued at about Rs 1.20 crore (approximately N195m), which she allegedly concealed inside bread loaves. PUNCH Metro learnt that Indian authorities have remanded Iyanuoluwa in judicial custody and initiated procedures to deport her to Nigeria. According to a report by The Indian Express on Wednesday, Iyanuoluwa was arrested by the Karnataka Police for allegedly smuggling cocaine from Mumbai to Bengaluru. Investigations revealed that the suspect had travelled to India in 2024 on a student visa and initially moved to Delhi before her arrest. Iyanuoluwa’s arrest adds to the growing list of Nigerians arrested and deported from India over drug-related offences.

BY refusing assent to the contentious Central Gaming Bill, President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated an understanding of the need to uphold true federalism. In a landmark decision delivered on November 22, 2024, the Supreme Court invalidated the National Lottery Act 2005. The Act had established the National Lottery Regulatory Commission with the mandate to regulate lotteries in Nigeria. The Central Gaming Bill marks the third piece of legislation in a row so far rejected by Tinubu. By trying to force a gaming bill on states through underhanded tactics, the lawmakers have shown blatant disregard for the laws of the land.

The Federal Government has trained scientists drawn from key research institutions across the country on mRNA technology for malaria vaccines, as part of efforts to boost local production of critical vaccines in Nigeria. The initiative is aimed at strengthening national capacity in biotechnology and vaccine development, with a focus on mRNA design, synthesis, formulation, delivery systems and quality control. He noted that Nigeria must move from being reactive to being fully prepared to respond to emerging health threats. In his presentation, Dr Olawale Salami told participants that understanding how the immune system interacts with vaccines is critical to achieving long-term immunity, especially in malaria vaccine development. “As we think about malaria vaccine development, it is important to understand how the immune system collaborates with the vaccine to achieve long-term protection.

Super Eagles forward, Moses Simon, has pleaded with Nigerians not to give up on the national team after their cagey performance in their opening game of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Nigeria managed to hold on to a 2-1 defeat of Tanzania in Group C’s opening game in Fes. Thereafter, the Nigerians barely managed to contain the Tanzanians, who came out forcefully in search of another leveller. Speaking after the game, Moses, a second-half substitute, said the game was not easy because the Tanzanians also wanted to win. He played 60 minutes, and we have 26 players in this team.” Tunisia leads Group C on goal difference after beating Uganda, and the Super Eagles will have a tough match against the North Africans on December 27

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has condemned the suicide bomb attack at Gomboru market mosque in Maiduguri metropolis on Wednesday evening, describing it as inhumane and barbaric. PUNCH had reported that a suspected bomb detonated while worshippers were performing the Maghrib prayer at Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque, killing five people and injuring 35 others. The governor said, “I am deeply saddened by the Gamboru mosque suicide attack which occurred on Wednesday evening when worshippers were performing Maghrib prayer, killing 5 people and injuring 35 others. PUNCH online had earlier reported that operatives of the Borno State Police Command have cordoned the area and assured residents of safety. In a brief statement earlier, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, called for calm.

The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the explosion that occurred at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, describing the incident as a tragic reminder of the worsening insecurity across the country. The PDP noted that the continued loss of innocent lives, particularly in places of worship, underscores the severity of Nigeria’s security challenges and the urgent need for decisive action. “This is totally unacceptable; the irreducible minimum the government should offer its people is the protection of lives and property. This administration has failed woefully in this respect and should rise to the occasion rather than resort to rhetoric and playing politics with security. According to the PDP, the current state of insecurity in the country has become unbearable and must be addressed with urgency and seriousness

At least five persons have been confirmed dead, while 35 others sustained injuries following a bomb explosion at Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque around the Gamboru Market area of Maiduguri, Borno State. PUNCH Online gathered that victims of the blast were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Borno State Specialist Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment. Confirming the latest casualty figures, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, told PUNCH Online on Wednesday night that security agencies were still monitoring the situation. “As of now, we have confirmed five deaths and 35 people injured among those rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Borno State Specialist Hospital,” Daso said. “Ongoing sweeping operations by police EOD as suspected explosion incident was recorded at Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque in Gamboru Market today at about 1800hrs during prayers,” the statement read.

Credit: LASEMAEmergency responders are currently battling a fire outbreak at a plaza known as the Great Nigeria Insurance House, located on Martins Street in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State. According to the LASEMA PS, the fire, whose cause could not yet be ascertained, emanated from the fourth floor of the plaza before escalating to other floors. Oke-Osanyintolu stated, “Upon arrival of the Shark Response Team at the scene, a 22-storey building (Great Nigeria Insurance House) was found to have been engulfed by fire. “The fire is currently affecting up to the fifth floor of a 25-storey building. “The affected building is primarily used for warehouse storage and the sale of clothing materials, with corporate offices and a few shops also located within the premises.

Credit: LASEMAThe Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has urged residents and traders around the scene of the ongoing fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, to evacuate the area immediately. The LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made this known in a public safety alert issued after an assessment of the incident on Wednesday night. Oke-Osanyintolu had earlier stated that the number of casualties could not yet be ascertained as rescue operations were ongoing. He therefore urged residents and traders within the vicinity to evacuate to prevent casualties. “LASEMA reiterates its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and appeals for public cooperation as emergency operations continue,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

Globally-renowned writer, Chimamanda Adichie, has refuted claims of being appointed a visiting professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Adichie refuted the claims in a statement by her communications team on Wednesday, signed by Omawumi Ogbe. The statement reads, “It has come to our attention that several news outlets are reporting that Ms. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been appointed as a ‘Visiting Professor’ at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Adichie has not received any such appointment, nor has she been in communication with the University regarding a professorship. The appointment was said to be a move aimed at repositioning the institution on the global academic stage.

Jake Paul's mum Pam has claimed she wants to punch Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn following her son's defeat last weekend. Pam Stepnick, the mother of YouTubers Jake and Logan Paul, praised Joshua's conduct in the aftermath of the fight. Pam, however, hit out at Joshua's promoter Hearn, who she had accused of looking 'smug' following the contest. It is not the first time Jake Paul's mother has been vocal around one of her son's fights. Paul and Joshua reportedly shared £140m from the fight last weekend.

Algeria’s parliament has unanimously passed a law declaring France’s colonisation of the country a crime, escalating tensions between the two nations and renewing demands for an official apology and reparations, The Guardian reported. The law formally lists what it describes as the “crimes of French colonisation”, including nuclear tests, extrajudicial killings, “physical and psychological torture” and the “systematic plundering of resources”. It also stated that “full and fair compensation for all material and moral damages caused by French colonisation is an inalienable right of the Algerian state and people”. Algeria says the conflict killed 1.5 million people, while French historians estimate a total death toll of about 500,000, including 400,000 Algerians. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously described the colonisation of Algeria as a “crime against humanity” but has stopped short of issuing a formal apology.

A Russian-backed court in occupied Ukraine on Wednesday sentenced a Colombian man to 19 years in prison for fighting for Kyiv’s army. Last week, the same court sentenced a British man to 13 years in prison, also for fighting for Ukraine. “We are currently transferring the horses at this stud farm to other stud farms in Ukraine,” director of the state-owned enterprise “Horse Breeding of Ukraine” Vitaliy Brovko told AFP. In the Zaporizhzhia stud farm, the evacuations continued, with over a dozen transports already carried out. “If the situation worsens, we will evacuate the entire stud farm,” Vitaliy Brovko said.