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Super Eagles prepare to start their AFCON 2027 Qualifying Campaign

Nigeria are starting their bid to get to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when they host Madagascar on September 25 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. It’s the first game in the Group L qualifying campaign.

Eric Chelle’s side will then go to Bissau four days later to take on Guinea-Bissau on September 29. This kicks off what is an awkward qualifying group compared to the other matchups that the bigger teams got.

The qualifying campaign is far from straightforward for the Super Eagles as they’re still hurting after not qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, so the coaching staff and players know that patience is in short supply among fans.

A Group With an Unusual Catch

Every dropped point in Group L could prove to be costly. Nigeria are in a group with Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania. The complication is with Tanzania, as they are one of the co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON. As they’ve got automatic qualification, only one other team will get through Group L, so there’s no margin for error for Nigeria.

It’ll be a three-way battle between Nigeria, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau for the one spot. Tanzania has nothing at stake in terms of qualification, but it can still disrupt the chances of its rivals. Complacency needs to be weeded out straight away and the Super Eagles require a fast start.

Manager Eric Chelle echoed these sentiments when he said that his side can’t afford to drop even a single point. As well as Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya are co-hosts to the 2027 AFCON. The tournament is taking place a little later than the usual date, with games happening in June and July 2027.

Nigeria finished third in the most recent AFCON, so they’ll be listed among the top contenders in the latest betting tips for the tournament. They last won the AFCON in 2013 and were runners-up as recently as 2024, when they lost out to Côte d’Ivoire.

The Injury to Osimhen

Injury worries regarding key players is a concern for Eric Chelle. Victor Osimhen, who is a core part of Nigeria’s attacking play, won’t be participating in either of September’s fixtures. Galatasaray confirmed recently that he’s got a serious groin injury, so he’s ruled out for the rest of the month.

This is frustrating for Chelle and Nigerian sports fans, as Osimhen had a hot start to the new season, scoring six goals in four league appearances to date in Turkey, as well as two assists. He then limped off in the 35th minute of a September 4 game in Istanbul.

His absence means that there will be less of a goal threat and not as much of a physical presence when Nigeria lines up against Madagascar.

Other forwards are also on the treatment table, which complicates matters. Striker Paul Onuachu has a broken chin, and Zaidu Sanusi is a major doubt too. Further back in the field, there are other possible issues, so it’s a tough situation for Chelle.

Changing the Attack

The array of injuries means that Chelle needs to think outside the box with his first-choice options not being available. Some attacking threats have started the season with their clubs, including Kelechi Iheanacho, Tolu Arokodare, Rafiu Durosinmi, and Cyriel Dessers. Chelle has also named Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi as being in contention for a starting place.

Thankfully there are no concerns in the goalkeeper position. Arthur Okonkwo, Stanley Nwabali, and Maduka Okoye are all vying for a starting place, with the team in safe hands regardless of who ultimately lines out.

The Opponents

Madagascar are a team that shouldn’t be underestimated. They’re an emerging side since getting to the AFCON quarter-final in their debut tournament in 2019. They beat Nigeria in the group stage of that tournament, with some Super Eagles players remembering that defeat.

The success stories of the likes of Cape Verde in the World Cup give hope to similarly sized nations. Guinea-Bissau are a familiar opponent for Nigeria, having crossed paths on many occasions recently. This included a defeat in the 2023 AFCON qualifying. A trip to Bissau is a tough proposition and not one to be taken lightly.

The September window is only the starting point, as the second set of games will take place in November and the final rounds in March 2027.

Finchglow Plans Private Flying School At Gateway Airport

Finchglow Holdings is advancing plans to establish a private flying school at Gateway Airport in Ogun State, subject to regulatory and airport approvals, as the company seeks to expand access to professional pilot training in Nigeria and West Africa.

Group Managing Director of Finchglow Holdings, Mr. Bankole Bernard, disclosed the plan during a briefing, saying the proposed school would respond to growing demand from aspiring pilots seeking professional training.Bernard said some prospective students were being discouraged by concerns about existing training options in Nigeria, prompting them to consider training in countries such as South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

‘The good news is that we have a lot of students within the West Coast that want to come to [Nigeria]…’ he said.

According to him, some young people could eventually abandon their ambitions of becoming pilots, while others may be forced to seek training outside their home countries.

‘So, they will either abort the dream, or they now have to fly outside their country, maybe to South Africa, London, or America,’ he added.

Bernard said Finchglow saw an opportunity to create another training option within Nigeria while attracting students from neighbouring West African countries.

He said the company was awaiting the necessary regulatory approvals before proceeding with the project. Finchglow is also seeking approval from Gateway Airport for space where construction and related activities can commence.

‘We have said to ourselves, we’re hoping that when the approval comes out, we’ll take our school to the Gateway so that we can open that chapter of our thesis,’ Bernard said.

Nigeria already has established aviation training institutions, including the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and the International Aviation College, Ilorin, which offer professional pilot training programmes.

Finchglow would therefore enter an existing domestic training market, although Bernard indicated that the company intends to target students across West Africa.

Bernard said Finchglow would not necessarily compete by offering the lowest fees, stressing that the priority would be to develop a training programme capable of attracting students through quality and its overall offering.

‘We cannot start talking about availability, because what is important first is to create something that will even appeal to the people,’ he said.

He acknowledged that maintaining training standards could result in a different pricing structure.

‘Price is not in competition. When we started here too, we realized that if we are going to keep to the standards, we have to charge something different from others,’ he said.

Electrical worker dies after falling into Sukhumvit drain

A 32-year-old electrical contractor worker has died after apparently slipping and falling into a drainage pipe beneath Punnawithi BTS skytrain station in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district on Friday morning.

The Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department was alerted via the 199 emergency hotline at 7.04am that a worker involved in an underground electrical pipe installation project had fallen into a drainage pipe beneath the BTS station on Sukhumvit Road, in the Bang Chak area of Phra Khanong district.

The man was believed to have slipped and fallen into the pipe, which was about two metres deep and 80 centimetres wide. Rescue officials immediately launched a search and rescue operation.

At 8.55am, divers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation’s underwater rescue unit located the worker’s body inside the drainage pipe and were able to remove the deceased.

The body was handed over to the relevant authorities for further procedures.

The operation was supported by officers from Phra Khanong police station, Phra Khanong Fire and Rescue officials, Poh Teck Tung volunteers and the foundation’s underwater rescue unit.

Uniosun alumni body, online job platforms train 1,000 graduates on skill acquisition

In a bid to tackle youth unemployment, the alumni body of Osun State University has trained more than 1,000 new graduates to become self-reliant and wealth creators ahead of their convocation.

The training was delivered in partnership with online job platforms Jobberman and the Mastercard Foundation and was titled ‘Beyond the Degree: Positioning for Careers, Opportunities and Impact.’

The programme, held Friday at the Downtown Multipurpose Hall, Main Campus, Osogbo, trained graduates in Artificial Intelligence, Content Creation, business branding, self-packaging, and career and growth development.

Addressing the new graduates, the President of the Alumni Association, Dr AbdulBasit Abubakar, said that obtaining a university degree is not enough to stand out in a labour market with limited opportunities.

He explained, ‘The programme was organised to equip graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge that would give them a competitive advantage.’

Abubakar lamented that most young people who finish at higher institutions cannot find work or create jobs for themselves to earn a living.

He noted that the induction helps monitor and evaluate former students and allows graduating students to connect with their seniors and pitch themselves for opportunities.

He urged the graduates to remain confident, make sacrifices, and continually improve themselves, while encouraging them not to forget their alma mater.

Earlier, Growth Marketing and Digital Strategy Professional Abraham Ogunmola underscored the importance of graduates developing skills relevant to their chosen careers, including communication, human interaction, and discipline.

Akanbi Kareemat, a Business and Personal Branding Consultant, said graduates often focus mainly on their degrees while neglecting other skills, urging them to build portfolios, create content, develop personal brands, and learn digital and AI skills while still in school.

Woman, 4 children burnt to death in Rivers residence

A mother and her four children were burnt to death in the early hours of Friday when fire engulfed their residence at Okochiri community in Okrika Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.

Daily Trust gathered that the incident occurred while the family was asleep, although the actual cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained.

It was gathered that the fire was eventually put out through the efforts of community youths who launched a rescue operation after hearing about the incident.

Some neighbours told newsmen that the fire was caused by petrol which was ignited by a spark, but the claim has yet to be verified. The Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Okrika, Mr. Igwe Godswill, who confirmed the incident, said details were still sketchy.

He said, ‘We just heard the news this morning about the fire incident. There are no proper details as to what happened, but when we got there this morning, we saw that about four children and their mother, a total of five persons, were burnt to death.

‘But the police had already arrived and taken proper details of what happened. It is so disheartening that this is happening again in our community.

‘When we got there this morning, the fire had been put off and the police had already come to the scene. I believe proper investigation will be carried out.’

The Rivers State Police Command was yet to react to the incident as of the time of filing this report, as the spokesperson, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, did not respond to calls seeking clarification.

UPDATE NEWS:

Obi demands probe into death of 37 suspects in NSCDC custody

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for an urgent, transparent and independent investigation into the deaths of 37 persons who reportedly died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

Obi, in a statement posted on his Facebook page, described the incident as a deeply troubling tragedy that requires urgent answers from the authorities.

The former Anambra State governor said the deceased were suspects who had been arrested in connection with alleged offences, stressing that their status as suspects did not deprive them of their fundamental rights as human beings.

‘Whatever offence they were suspected of committing, they were still human beings, and the responsibility of the State was to keep them alive, safe, and treated humanely while due process took its course,’ he said.

Obi expressed concern over the reported number of deaths occurring within a detention facility over a short period, saying Nigerians deserved to know what led to the tragedy.

He noted that investigations were reportedly ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including reports of disease, overcrowding and inadequate ventilation.

According to him, the investigation must be credible and sufficiently transparent to establish what actually happened to the detainees.

‘It is particularly disturbing that so many people could die within a place of detention in such a short period,’ Obi said.

He argued that the responsibility of security agencies goes beyond arresting suspects, noting that institutions entrusted with maintaining security must also protect lives and uphold the dignity of citizens in their custody.

‘Security is not merely about arresting people. Security is about protecting lives, upholding the dignity of every citizen, and ensuring that the institutions entrusted with our safety operate within the law,’ he said.

Obi further said the incident raised broader questions about accountability and respect for the rule of law in Nigeria.

‘A nation cannot claim to value human life when people can enter government custody alive and emerge dead without immediate, transparent, and credible accountability,’ he stated.

The NDC presidential candidate extended his condolences to the families of those who died and urged the authorities to ensure that justice was served.

He also called for a system in which the rule of law protects all citizens, including those being held in government custody.

‘??Nigeria must become a country where the rule of law protects every citizen, not only those who are free but also those who are in custody,’ Obi said.

Protests erupt in Minna over deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody

Properties worth millions of naira have been damaged in parts of Minna, the Niger State capital, as youths protested the deaths of 37 suspected illegal artisanal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The protest, which began on Thursday night, escalated on Friday morning and spread to several parts of the city.

Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago had planned to visit the families of the deceased to commiserate with them but could not proceed with the visit because of the unrest.

The demonstrations started in Tunga and Maitumbi before spreading to Kpakungu, Bosso, Tudun Natsira and Berger areas.

The protesters blocked roads, including the Flamingo Junction, while demanding justice. Vehicles, public property and campaign materials were also reportedly damaged in some areas.

Security personnel, including policemen and soldiers, were deployed to restore order. There were reports of the use of tear gas and, according to some unverified accounts, live ammunition as protesters confronted security operatives.

Unconfirmed reports also said some youths were shot during the protest. A video circulating online appeared to show a youth with an injury to the face at the NSTA park.

The NSTA park was reportedly invaded by protesters who vandalised buses, including vehicles preparing to depart and others that were parked at the facility. Shops and traders’ goods around the park were also damaged, forcing passengers to flee by jumping over fences.

Two banks located near the NSTA park, GTBank and Access Bank, were also reportedly attacked, while traders at Tunga Market hurriedly closed their shops as the situation deteriorated.

Along Bosso Road, protesters reportedly damaged the glass windows of a security post at the Bahago Sports Complex in an attempt to gain access to the facility.

Posters bearing the governor’s image were also destroyed, while the Chanchaga Local Government APC secretariat, opposite Bahago Secondary School, was reportedly attacked.

Vehicles, windows, a security post, televisions and other property were reportedly damaged at the secretariat, while its watchman was said to have sustained injuries from stones and shattered glass.

An AEDC Hilux vehicle and other vehicles belonging to residents and businesses were also reportedly targeted during the unrest.

Motorists have been advised to avoid affected roads as authorities work to restore normalcy.

The state government has imposed a curfew in Minna to prevent further destruction and restore order.

GCash IPO seen to boost Philippine capital market

The scheduled initial public offering (IPO) of GCash parent Mynt Inc. could give the Philippine capital market a significant boost by potentially bringing millions of Filipinos who already use digital financial services closer to stock-market investing, a lawmaker said.

Rep. Jan ‘JP’ Padiernos, a member for the majority of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediary, said about 49 million Filipinos, or roughly 42% of the country’s population, now use GCash, which gives Mynt an unusually broad consumer base as it moves toward what could become one of the largest IPOs in Philippine corporate history.

The scale of the GCash ecosystem, according to the lawmaker, takes on added significance as the Philippine economy is reportedly experiencing a weaker growth momentum.

The Philippine Statistics Authority has reported that the economy grew by only 2.3% in the second quarter of 2026, while gross capital formation – a broad measure of investment activity – contracted by 9.2% during the quarter.

The figures, however, do not mean the Philippine economy is stagnant, but they underscore the importance of investment, business expansion and stronger participation in the country’s capital markets.

‘Against this backdrop, Mynt’s IPO could provide a fresh avenue for both institutional and retail investors to participate in the growth of a homegrown digital-finance company,’ stressed Padiernos.

The scheduled offering has a maximum indicative price of P10 per share, with the IPO expected to involve up to P92.3 billion worth of shares, including primary shares issued by Mynt and secondary shares being sold by an existing shareholder.

The final IPO price, however, will be determined through the book building process and may be lowered to P8.50 or P7.50 per share.

For ordinary Filipinos, the attraction of the offering is not simply the prospect of owning a stock, according to Padiernos.

He explained that the same mobile wallet app which is already being used to send money, pay bills, buy goods, receive salaries, save, borrow and invest could also become a means to buy a share of GCash stocks.

For higher-income and experienced investors, meanwhile, the investment story goes beyond GCash’s massive user base.

Mynt has reported P79.8 billion in revenue and P17.2 billion in profit in 2025, demonstrating that the company has developed a substantial commercial ecosystem around digital financial services.

Reports have it that GCash’s business is no longer limited to electronic payments.

The ecosystem reportedly includes digital payments and money transfers, merchant transactions, lending, savings, insurance and wealth-management products, giving Mynt several sources of revenue and multiple avenues for future expansion.

Its lending business has also reached considerable scale, with Fuse Financing reporting P362 billion in cumulative loans reportedly disbursed by 2025 and more than 10.5 million unique borrowers.

On the investment side, GCash is reportedly increasingly connecting ordinary Filipinos to the capital market itself.

Reports also have it that GStocks PH had 1.7 million users in 2025, while Mynt said its platform accounted for 53% of online retail stock-market accounts with the Philippine Stock Exchange at the time.

‘This makes the Mynt IPO particularly relevant to the broader effort to deepen retail participation in the Philippine capital market,’ the lawmaker explained further.

On GCash IPO’s impact on the country’s capital market, Padiernos also explained that what the 49-million figure represents is a potentially enormous pool of Filipinos who are already familiar with digital finance and therefore have a shorter distance to travel toward formal investment products.

‘That potential is especially important outside Metro Manila,’ he added.

Mynt has said that more than 78 percent of GCash users are outside Metro Manila, while a large majority come from lower-income households, underscoring the platform’s reach among Filipinos who have historically had less access to conventional financial institutions and investment channels.

For a market that needs broader participation, the GCash ecosystem could reportedly serve as an important bridge between everyday financial activity and long-term investing.

The primary portion of the offering is expected to generate approximately P14.95 billion in net proceeds, which Mynt plans to use for expansion of digital financial services, product development and general corporate purposes.

Padiernos also said that the scheduled IPO is also significant for the Philippine Stock Exchange because Mynt is expected to become the country’s first listed fintech company.

Senior SLPP member remanded over permit corruption charges

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered that National Transport Commission Former Chairman Renuka Perera be remanded until 29 September, 2026, following his arrest by the Bribery Commission in connection with a corruption allegation.

The remand order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama after considering submissions from Bribery Commission officials and Perera’s lawyers. Perera, a senior Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) figure, was produced before the court earlier in the day, after which the order was delivered.

Investigating officers told the court that Perera was arrested over the issuance of 56 passenger transport permits for the Southern Expressway in violation of regulations, and that he was taken into custody on charges of corruption.

According to the submissions, the permits were issued outside Cabinet approval, with 30 allocated to Perera’s committee and 26 distributed at his own discretion to individuals of his choice.

The Bribery Commission said it is conducting further investigations into the case.

Group backs Hamzat’s experience to sustain Lagos development

The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Lagos State Chapter, has described the experience of Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as an asset that could help sustain and expand the state’s development under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hamzat is the APC candidate for the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.

The group made the assessment in a statement issued on Friday to mark Hamzat’s 62nd birthday.

The movement said the deputy governor’s years in public administration had equipped him with the institutional knowledge, leadership skills and policy experience required to consolidate existing achievements and respond to emerging challenges.

It said Lagos’ development had been shaped by successive administrations, beginning with the tenure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as governor, followed by the administrations of Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and the incumbent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to the group, in a statement on Friday by its Lagos State Coordinator, Amosu Tomi, the administrations laid and expanded foundations in institutional reforms, infrastructure and other sectors.

It said Hamzat’s experience positioned him to maintain continuity while introducing new ideas and widening the state’s development frontiers.

The movement listed infrastructure, healthcare delivery, security and public safety, youth empowerment, skills development and economic inclusion as areas where his experience could be applied.

‘Continuity in governance does not mean the absence of innovation, but the ability to preserve successful policies and institutions while identifying areas that require improvement and introducing new solutions to emerging challenges,’ Tomi said.

The group also described Hamzat’s leadership approach as calm and measured, adding that his accessibility, attention to detail and commitment to public service had earned him recognition among stakeholders.

It said his ability to engage diverse stakeholders, listen to different perspectives and promote constructive dialogue had been evident in the discharge of his responsibilities.

It also wished him success in his political endeavours and the 2027 governorship election.