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England Manageress Sarina Wiegman could not believe her eyes when her favourite artiste showed up at the celebration of winning Women Euros 2025. A gobsmacked Wiegman blotted out: "No way!" as Rivers State born Damini Ogulu, popularly called Burma Boy mounted the stage in front of Buckingham Palace during the victory parade in London on Monday. England Lionesses had retained the Euros trophy after a hard-fought victory over World Champions Spain in Switzerland on Sunday night. The match had ended 1-1 in regulation and extra time. Hannah Hampton was the heroine as she saved two penalties with England winning 3-1. Wiegman was a Burna Boy fan and the authorities fulfilled her wish by surprisingly bringing on the Grammy winner. In fact, she had a duet with the artiste on the track: fall my hand. The Dutchwoman is on record to have taken a national team both men and women to five consecutive finals. She won the Euros in 2017 with the Netherlands and England in 2021. Then took the ...

It is about time to say the truth about happenings in Rivers State. This mineral resources rich state with abundant fertile soil and rich aquatic life in the heart lies in comatose state since the political crisis in 2013. That is 12 years of retrogression while other states like Lagos, Ogun, Enugu, Abia, Akwa Ibom are leaping and leaving others behind. Yes, Nigeria operates a flawed federal system of government where the component states carry begging bowls monthly to Abuja to share revenue. Of course, the one who shares takes the lion share! The federal government who receives the oil revenue- Nigeria's major source of foreign income- sits atop with over 50% share of the booty, though it almost does nothing apart from paying salaries of its workers. Federal roads are in deplorable states. Federal government owned tertiary institutions and health care system in decrepit and many others. Even the foreign embassies that require regular funding have been neglected.  The states receiv...

In an unprecedented gesture, the Nigerian Government has announced cash rewards, houses and national awards to the victorious Super Falcons players and officials. President Bola Tinubu, at the Aso Rock Villa on Monday evening announced a package of 100 thousand dollars for each player, a three bedroom apartment at the Renewed Hope Housing Estate and national honours of OON to the players and coaches. Asisat Oshoola's was upgraded to MON having received OON previously. The coaches also got 50 thousand dollars each plus the other awards, The Nigerian Governors Forum also gave the players 10 million naira each. The President during the event received the trophy won by the Super Falcons and individual awards of the MVP and best goalkeeper won by Rasheedat Ajibade and Chiamaka Nnadozie respectively. He thanked the players for their doggedness. Nigeria had rallied from 2-0 down in the final match at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Saturday night to make a remarkable comeback and won 3-2 ...

  The Nigeria Football Federation dubbed it MISSION X. That is, the Super Falcons were expected to win their 10th AWCON title in Morocco. It was a daunting task looking at the team and their rivals. Though Nigeria had dominated women soccer in Africa by winning nine titles from the 1998 edition held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The Super Falcons had won in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and lost for the first time in 2008 to the host nation, Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria reclaimed the title in 2010 by beating Equatorial Guinea in the final. It was a controversial match as the opponents were accused of using two males in the match. It was not proved though. Equatorial Guinea bounced back in 2012 to reclaim the trophy. Nigeria won in 2014, 2016 and lost in 2022, and for the first time without a medal. Nigeria lost to Morocco in the semifinal after being reduced to nine women. The match still ended in a 0-0 draw with Morocco winning the ensuing penalty shoot out. The Nigerian ladies also lost ...

PILEX CENTRE is aware of the plan by the illegitimate Sole Administrator in Rivers State to conduct the Local Government Elections. It is the view of PILEX CENTRE that the unconstitutional Sole Administrator doesn’t have the constitutional powers to set up RSIEC as stipulated in S. 198 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (As amended). Only an elected Governor can set up such body.  The job of the unlawful Sole-Administrator is to ensure peace in a state that was not at war. However, he has moved beyond his mandate to do the job of delivering the political and economic structure of Rivers State to some very greedy politician whom he acts in proxy for.  The powers of the President of Nigeria under S. 305 to declare State of Emergency, is in no way expanded to include the power to suspend or remove a sitting Governor duly elected by the people.In the case of A.G Federation V A.G Lagos State and A.G Plateau State V A.G Federation, the Court stated that the President has no powers to...

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are on course for their 10th Africa Women Cup of Nations' title after stunning defending champions Bayana Bayana of South Africa in the semifinal match on Tuesday. Rasheedat Ajibade had put the Falcons in front in the 44th minute through a penalty after a South African defender handled the ball in the 18-yard box at the  Larbi Zaouli Stadium in  Casablanca, Morocco South Africa also got on level via the spot after veteran defender Osinachi Ohale uppended a player inside the box. That was the first goal Nigeria had conceded in the tournament so far. The Super Falcons will now play hosts Morocco in the final on Saturday. When both sides met in the last edition semi final, 9-woman Super Falcons succumbed to Morocco in penalty shoot out after the match ended in a draw, despite the Nigerian ladies playing with two players down. In the second semi  final decided last night, Morocco defeated the Black Queens of Ghana 4-2 on penalties after the match ...

  Nigeria’s  Mission X  juggernaut rumbles inexorably to the finish line, as the Super Falcons say they are determined to abort the title-retaining dreams of Cup holders South Africa when both sides clash in the second semi final of the 13 th  Women AFCON finals in Casablanca on Tuesday.   In the competition’s 27-year history, the Super Falcons have never failed to make the semi finals, and boastful Zambia turned out to be too weak to shred that record when both teams met in the quarter finals on Friday, an encounter from which the Super Falcons ran out 5-0 winners.   South Africa’s Banyana Banyana have been traditionally a miserable opposition to the Nigerian girls for decades. It took the girls from the  Rainbow Nation  17 years, after a first meeting in March 1995, to secure a win over the Falcons – a 1-0 win in a Women AFCON match in Equatorial Guinea 13 years ago. Before then, they serially suffered, their take-homes including 7-1 and 5-0 dru...

The Super Falcons have finally received their training kits just ahead of the semi final clash against the Bayana Bayana of South Africa. The kits had been help up by Moroccan customs and the ladies had been training with their previous jerseys. Our correspondent has sighted videos of the team's first choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and defender Michelle Alozie rocking the new Nike Kits. Meanwhile, in a mind game, the South Africans have described Nigeria as "men" ahead of the clash. This could be linked to  the 5-0 thrashing of Zambia in the quarter final, contrary to expectations that it would be a tight game. Nigeria clearly dominated the match from the beginning to the end and sent chills to the Bayana Bayana camp. South Africa managed to defeat Senegal 4-1 on penalties after a gruelling 120 minutes of goalless action on Saturday night.

  Since South Africa made their AWCON debut in 1998 in Abeokuta, the team has waxed strong and become a great side in Africa. As an undergraduate then, I was among those that cheered the predominantly beautiful, slim white ladies with a sprinkle of black players then. They played badly and lost out but we cheered them on for their beauty and not football prowess. Years later, the Bayana Bayana have now become Nigeria's Super Falcons most formidable opponents. The Nigerian ladies still possess better head to head records, but the South Afrians are no longer far behind. In fact, they won the last edition also held in Morocco while Nigeria failed to win a medal for the first time in their history.  Now, the Nigerian side are beginning to right some of the wrongs of the previous edition. Head coach, Randy Waldrum showed deficiency in some areas, many us of don't really think we need a foreign coach for the women. The team had played their best football under Nigerian coaches. Reme...

The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) increases the Prize Money of the Winner of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (“WAFCON”) Morocco 2024 by 100% and the total Prize Money of this Competition by 45%. The President of CAF, Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “CAF is continuing with its commitment to the development and growth of Women’s Football in Africa. The 100% increase in the Prize Money of the Winner of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2024 and the 45% total increase in the Prize Money of this Competition should contribute to the increase of the salaries of Women Football players, coaches and employees. The quality and standard of Women’s Football in Africa is consistently improving and is world class.  We are excited about the substantial increase in the number of fans, broadcasting viewers and sponsors in the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2024. This Competition is going to be enormously successful.” The participating National Teams in the TotalEnergi...

  England were on the verge of losing out of the 2025 Euros when two quick goals in the 78th and 80th minutes settled the nerves at home and took the quarter final match to extra time. England trailed as early as the second minute as Sweden showed class from the blast of the whistle. A defensive mix up by a lethargic England saw the Scandinavian side race to a lead while it was doubled before 30 minutes. England laboured and it paid off later on with Chloe Kelly pulling strings with two assists as the ladies came back from the dead. The extra time produced no goal but the penalty drama that ensued was almost unprecedented. England won 3-2 on the night in the penalty shoot out but after both sides missed- or goalkeepers kept them out- as the champions proved their mettle once again on a difficult night. Reactions England defender and stalwart Lucy Bronze speaking to  womenseuro.com: "It's just so overwhelming. Sweden were unbelievable - both teams deserve to go through, if I...

The Orashi National Congress (ONC) has pledged its commitment to collaborate with Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in the fight against pipeline vandalism in the Orashi region and across Rivers State. This pledge was made today during a stakeholders' engagement meeting organized by PINL, aimed at strengthening community relations and addressing the persistent issue of pipeline sabotage. Speaking with our correspondent, the President General of the Orashi National Congress, Amb. Comr. Emeni Ibe, reiterated the Congress’s longstanding stance against vandalism and its readiness to work with all relevant agencies to end the menace. “We have been on this course for a long time. Vandalism is not a good thing; it brings economic loss, environmental degradation, and endangers lives,” Amb. Ibe said. “The Orashi National Congress will work hand-in-hand with PINL and other relevant agencies to carry out continuous sensitization across the region. We must engage our communities a...

The Bayelsa State Athletics Association says it has concluded plans to hold a one-day athletics meet for Under 15 boys and girls in the state. The athletics meet holds next week Tuesday, July 22, 2025 inside the main bowl of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Ovom, Yenagoa from 9am. A statement endorsed by Secretary of the association, Mr. Tariye Bidei, indicates that invitation has been sent to secondary schools across the eight Local Government Areas . According to the statement, the athletics meet is a platform to discover young talents in track and field events and also select a team to represent Bayelsa State in the forthcoming National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State. It notes that the competition will feature 100 metres race, 100 metres hurdles, 200 metres, 400m, 800m and 1500m for track events with shot put, Long Jump and High Jump for field events.

Since Cole Palmer bust into international consciousness last season at Chelsea many are wondering, who is this young lad? Chelsea-known sometimes for reckless spending- went for this unproven young man who was unsettled at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola felt the young star would not find a place yet in his star-studded team and not a place int he first team regulars. However, the 23-year-old felt otherwise and asked to leave. City let him go last summer, perhaps to their ultimate regret as the boy is now a world champion at Chelsea, with the best player award at the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States of America. Palmer is fully Caucasian by his outward look, taking wholly his mother's features. But it was his grand father, Sterry Palmer, fully black from the tiny Caribbean country Saint Kitts and Nevis that took a journey to the UK many years ago that changed all that. He arrived the UK and married a white lady who gave birth to Cole's father, Jermaine,...

Bayana Bayana of South Africa thrashed Mali to clinch the top spot in  Group C of the ongoing Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco. The match ended 4-0 in favour of South Africa who topped Group C with seven points ahead of Ghana with four points after the Black Queens also defeated Tanzania 4-1 Friday night. The results means Mali also advanced at the best loser in the group also with four points but minus three goal difference. In the quarterfinal fixtures from Friday, the Super Falcons of Nigeria will do battle against the Copper Queens of Zambia  from 5pm Nigerian time. The  match is at the Larbi Zuaoli Stadium in Casablanca. Also, later on Friday, hosts Morocco will do battle against Mali for a place in the semi final at the Olympic Stadium at 8pm.The match will be played at the Berkane Municipal Stadium. On Saturday, defending champions South Africa are up against Senegal at the Honneur Stadium.

Known for his expertise, diligence and honesty, Dr Ken Osunwa will be sailing this ship for the second time. This year's edition themed " Roots and Resilience" will be holding from October 30th - November 2nd 2025. For more information please call Ken 08033257337 or Thompson on 07039188917 or visit our website www.riffestivals.com or send an email to riff@riffestivals.com or visit our office @ No 127 Transamadi Road , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Dr Osunwa Kenneth Chigozie, is a journalist, a filmmaker and a film scholar who specialises in film marketing and distribution. His academic and professional qualifications include; Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), Masters of Film Art (MFA), both from University of Port Harcourt, B.Sc. (BAF) Rivers State University. Dr Kenneth Osunwa is the Chairman of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Rivers State, head of media services with Kenvica Optimal Limited, former General Manager CMTV Network, former Business Development Manager Mu...