Sports
Morocco’s ASFAR Lift First CAF Women’s Champions League
ASFAR defeated defending champion Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 to win the CAF Women’s Champions League for the first time on Sunday at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah.
Chuene Morifi and Bambanani Mbane’s long-range tries in the fifth minute, just before Jraidi’s try, gave the Moroccan and South African giants an even start to the final replay on the same field where their national teams played in July.
In the 15th minute, Fatima Tagnaout converted a penalty when Zanele Nhlapho pushed Zineb Redouani to the ground inside the penalty area to give the hosts a lead.
Having found themselves behind for the first time in consecutive editions, the miseries of Jerry Tshabalala’s ladies were further compounded when Rhoda Mulaudzi was handed the marching order on the half-hour mark after a poor challenge on Redouani.
The hosts threatened to double their lead through Ahmamou Douha but her weak effort inside the area could not trouble keeper Andile Dlamini four minutes from the half-time break.
The Moroccans came back into the contest on a high as they almost earn their second of the match when Aziza Rabbah’s header came off the crossbar three minutes after the restart.
The South Africans were further reduced to nine players after captain Nhlapho picked her second booking of the match following a poor challenge on Redouani in the 52nd minute.
The second breakthrough came for Mohamed Amine Alioua’s ladies from the resulting freekick when Tagnaout brilliantly teed up Jraidi to power home from inside the area two minutes later.
Despite being two-player down, the South Africans pushed for a comeback through Lelona Daweti and Melinda but the duo could not make the best of their half chances.
The hosts were done yet as Jraidi fired past Dlamini to notch the third in the 87th minute before bagging the treble at the death to complete the rout in sweet revenge for the Atlas Lionesses Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title loss to Banyana Banyana in July.
Meanwhile, ASFAR forward Ibtissam Jraidi was named Woman of the Match for the third time in the competition, following her remarkable treble inspired her side to a ruthless triumph over the Cup holders.
Morocco’s ASFAR Lift First CAF Women’s Champions League
Africa
Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, has handed over illicit drugs worth N117.59 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Comptroller of the command, Mr James Ojo, disclosed this during the handing over of the drugs to Mr Olusegun Adeyeye, the Commander of NDLEA, Idiroko Special Area Command, in Abeokuta, Ogun, on Friday.
Ojo said the customs handed over the seized cannabis and tramadol tablets to the Idiroko Special Command for further investigation in line with the standard operating procedures and inter-agency collaboration.
He said the illicit drugs were seized in various strategic locations between January and November 21, 2024, in Ogun State.
He added that the illicit drugs were abandoned at various locations, including the Abeokuta axis, the Agbawo/Igankoto area of Yewa North Local Government Area, and Imeko Afton axis.
Ojo said that the seizure of the cannabis sativa and tramaling tablets, another brand of tramadol, was made possible through credible intelligence and strategic operations of the customs personnel.
“The successful interception of these dangerous substances would not have been possible without the robust collaboration and support from our intelligence units, local informants and sister agencies.
“These landmark operations are testament to the unwavering dedication of the NCS to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens and uphold the rule of law,” he said.
He said the seizures comprised 403 sacks and 6,504 parcels, weighing 7,217.7 kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each, with a total Duty Paid Value of N117,587,405,00.
He described the height of illicit drugs smuggling in the recent time as worrisome.
This, he said, underscores the severity of drug trafficking within the borders.
“Between Oct. 13 and Nov. 12 alone, operatives intercepted a total of 1,373 parcels of cannabis sativa, weighing 1,337kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each,” he said.
Ojo said the seizures had disrupted the supply chain of illicit drugs, thereby mitigating the risks those substances posed to the youth, families and communities.
He lauded the synergy between its command, security agencies and other stakeholders that led to the remarkable achievements.
Ojo also commended the Comptroller General of NCS for creating an enabling environment for the command to achieve the success.
Responding, Adeyeye, applauded the customs for achieving the feat.
Adeyeye pledged to continue to collaborate with the customs to fight against illicit trade and drug trafficking in the state.
Africa
Ann-Kio Briggs Faults Tinubu for Scrapping Niger Delta Ministry
Prominent Niger Delta human rights activist and environmentalist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta, describing it as ill-advised and detrimental to the oil-rich region.
Briggs expressed her concerns during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
“The Ministry of Niger Delta was created by the late (President Umaru) Yar’Adua. There was a reason for the creation. So, just removing it because the president was advised. I want to believe that he was advised because if he did it by himself, that would be terribly wrong,” she stated.
President Tinubu, in October, dissolved the Ministry of Niger Delta and replaced it with the Ministry of Regional Development, which is tasked with overseeing all regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North-West Development Commission, and North-East Development Commission.
Briggs questioned the rationale behind the restructuring, expressing concerns about its feasibility and implications. “But that’s not going to be the solution because who is going to fund the commissions? Is it the regions because it is called the Regional Development Ministry? Is it the states in the regions? What are the regions because we don’t work with regions right now; we are working with geopolitical zones,” she remarked.
She added, “Are we going back to regionalism? If we are, we have to discuss it. The president can’t decide on his own to restructure Nigeria. If we are restructuring Nigeria, the president alone can’t restructure Nigeria, he has to take my opinion and your opinion into consideration.”
Briggs also decried the longstanding neglect of the Niger Delta despite its significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy since 1958. “The Niger Delta has been developing Nigeria since 1958. We want to use our resources to develop our region; let regions use their resources to develop themselves,” she asserted.
Reflecting on the various bodies established to address the region’s development, Briggs lamented their failure to deliver meaningful progress. She highlighted the Niger Delta Basin Authority, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), and the NDDC as examples of ineffective interventions.
“NDDC was created by Olusegun Obasanjo…There was OMPADEC before NDDC. OMPADEC was an agency. Before OMPADEC, there was the Basin Authority…These authorities were created to help us. Were we helped by those authorities? No, we were not,” she said.
Briggs further described the NDDC as an “ATM for failed politicians, disgruntled politicians, and politicians that have had their electoral wins taken away from them and given to somebody else.”
Her remarks underscore the deep-seated frustrations in the Niger Delta, where residents continue to advocate for greater control over their resources and improved governance.
Sports
Nigerian-British Bodybuilder Samson Dauda Wins 2024 Mr Olympia, Secures Historic $600,000 Prize
Nigerian-British bodybuilder Samson Dauda has claimed the prestigious 2024 Mr Olympia title, making history with a record-breaking $600,000 prize—the largest ever awarded in the sport.
The thrilling finale of the 2024 Olympia competition took place at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, United States, where Dauda faced off against 15 of the world’s top bodybuilders.
After an intense contest, Dauda secured the top spot, surpassing runner-up Hadi Choopan and 2023 champion Derek Lunsford, who finished third.
Dauda’s journey to bodybuilding stardom began in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was born, before moving to the United Kingdom during his teenage years. Initially a rugby player, he discovered bodybuilding through the encouragement of his teammates.
In 2017, Dauda earned his IFBB Pro card after winning the overall title at the IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup in Rome, marking a turning point in his career. He made his professional debut the following year at the EVLS Prague Showdown, finishing 5th.
His first major win as an IFBB Pro came in 2021 at the EVLS Prague Pro, which earned him a qualification for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, where he placed 6th in his debut.
Now, as the 2024 Mr Olympia champion, Dauda has cemented his place among bodybuilding’s elite, achieving a landmark victory in the sport.
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