Author: Amina Mohammed

England enjoyed the narrowest of lucky escapes to secure a 2-1 win over Slovakia in their Euro 2024 last-16 clash after a last-gasp bicycle kick by Jude Bellingham took the match to extra time, before Harry Kane headed the winner. England were absolutely abject against a Slovakia team who were aggressive from the start and pressed their opponents relentlessly, taking the lead with an Ivan Schranz strike from a counter-attack in the 25th minute. Declan Rice hit the post from long range as England desperately sought an equaliser but it wasn’t until five minutes into added time that Bellingham finally…

Luciano Spalletti will stay on as Italy coach despite the Azzurri’s humbling elimination from Euro 2024, the country’s football chief said on Sunday. Italy were dumped out of the Euros at the last 16 stage after being soundly beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in Berlin on Saturday night, but a disastrous title defence has not cost Spalletti his job. “I’m pragmatic, it’s impossible to resolve problems by abandoning a long-term project or by abandoning the coach and players who have accompanied us in this project,” Gabriele Gravina, head of Italy’s football federation, told reporters. Italy came into the Euros as reigning…

A band of terrorists on Sunday morning invaded the Guto area of Bwari Area Council in the nation’s capital, Abuja, reportedly killing one person and abducting four others. Sources told Vanguard that the attack which began around 12:30am around the fringes of Guto and Piyawe communities, soon got into Tudun-Fulani and Sabon Gari areas, both in the Council. The armed men, numbering over 30 were said to have divided themselves into two groups and attacked the communities from various angles, having entered Piwaye through the swamps. They were consequently said to have killed a woman, Madam Alice, who was in…

Actress Tonto Dikeh has expressed her unapologetic stance on her past. In a recent Instagram post, she shared new photos of herself and stated that she was not embarrassed by any of her past experiences, no matter how challenging they may have been. Tonto emphasized that what others might view as gossip or scandal, she sees as a testament to her strength and resilience. She boldly invited anyone who wanted to discuss her past to sit down with her, sharing how God transformed her brokenness into something beautiful. “I’m not embarrassed about anything I went through. What may be “TEA”…

Singer Patoranking has given back to his community by building a mini-stadium in Ebute Metta, Lagos, where he grew up. He shared a video of the facility on Instagram, expressing his gratitude for his blessings and his desire to share them with his people. The stadium, named “World Best,” is a state-of-the-art facility with a playing surface, seating, and floodlights. “God blessed Me, I Blessed my People, I built this from a place of love to unite my Community Ebute Metta…First of Many. World Best”, he wrote. Patoranking’s generosity and commitment to giving back to his community have earned him…

Canada held 2015 and 2016 Copa America champions Chile to a 0-0 draw in Orlando, which was enough to see the Canadians into the last eight. Chile needed a victory to leapfrog the Canadians into the knockout rounds but were left with a mountain to climb early in the game when Gabriel Suazo was dismissed for a second yellow card after only 27 minutes. “It took a lot of hard work — it’s our first time in this competition and it’s not easy,” Canada captain Alphonso Davies said about his team’s advance to the last eight. No Messi, no problem…

Former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other people still in detention. Addressing reporters in Onitsha on Saturday, Obi said, for instance, that he did not see any need for the continued detention of Kanu, especially when the court had granted him bail. He said: “Government must obey the law as the rule of law is an intrinsic asset that we must cherish and live…

Chelsea announced on Saturday the signing of 18-year-old teenage midfielder Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa in a deal worth up to £19 million. Kellyman has played six times for Villa’s first team since joining the Birmingham club’s youth academy from Derby County in 2022. He also represents England at the youth level. “It’s a massive club with an amazing history, so it is great to join… I want to be successful in the Chelsea shirt, win games, and hopefully lift trophies,” Kellyman said. “Hopefully, I can become one of the faces on the side of the stadium. I want to…

One person was confirmed dead in an accident that occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos on Saturday morning. The fatal accident involved a Mini Truck (MUS 489 XS) and a Toyota Camry (KRD 470 JD). “Preliminary investigations revealed that the accident was caused by excessive speeding during a heavy downpour this morning,” the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said in a statement. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, in the statement signed by Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, said that three others were rescued at the accident…

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), has said the abuse of illicit drugs abuse was enabling crimes and criminality across the country. Marwa said this in his presentation during a National Youth Conference organised by the Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) detox centre on Friday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is “The Youths, Drugs, Mental Health and Nigeria’s Future. Marwa said that when youths indulged in drug abuse, the tendency for them to develop anti-social behaviour was high. This, he said, had in…