By: Desmond Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from Portugal's national football team, bringing an end to an extraordinary international career that lasted 23 years. The 41-year-old superstar made the announcement on Thursday, November 5, 2026, through a farewell message shared on social media. Ronaldo said the time had come to hand over Portugal's famous No. 7 shirt to the next generation, describing the decision as an emotional and difficult one. His international journey began in August 2003, when he made his senior debut for Portugal. Since then, he has become one of the most influential footballers in the history of the national team. He retires with an incredible record of 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, making him the men's all-time leading international goalscorer and appearance holder. Among his greatest achievements was captaining Portugal to victory at the 2016 European Championship, the countr...

By: Desmond Nigeria’s U-17 women's national team, the Flamingos, have made history after producing a magnificent 3–1 victory over Brazil in the semi-final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. The Nigerian youngsters delivered an outstanding second-half performance to overcome their Brazilian opponents and book a place in the final for the first time in the country's history. After a goalless first half, Queen Joseph broke the deadlock in the 56th minute to give Nigeria the much-needed advantage. The Flamingos continued to dominate proceedings, and their determination paid off again in the 71st minute when Awawu Bashiru found the back of the net to extend Nigeria's lead to 2–0. Bashiru was not finished yet. She completed her brace in the 80th minute, putting Nigeria firmly in control with an impressive 3–0 advantage. Brazil managed to pull one goal back through Greise Kelly in the 89th minute, but the late strike was insufficient to stop Nig...

By Desmond Tragedy has struck the Nigeria Police Force following a deadly bandit attack on officers travelling to Zamfara State to provide security for the All Progressives Congress (APC) rerun primary election. The attack, which occurred along the Sokoto–Gusau highway, claimed the lives of five police officers after armed bandits reportedly ambushed their vehicle while they were travelling for the special security assignment. According to reports, the officers were members of the Nigeria Police Force's Zone 10 Command in Sokoto. They were deployed to provide security for the APC rerun primary election in Zamfara North Senatorial District, scheduled to take place in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area. The attackers reportedly opened fire on the vehicle conveying the officers, leaving several personnel dead and others injured. The Nigeria Police Force subsequently confirmed the tragic incident, disclosing that five officers lost their lives in the attack. The pol...

By Desmond Nigeria's U-17 women's national team, the Flamingos, have continued to make the nation proud after defeating Mexico 2–1 to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. The Nigerian youngsters delivered an impressive performance in their Round of 16 encounter on Thursday, October 29, demonstrating determination, attacking quality and resilience to overcome their Mexican opponents. The victory keeps Nigeria's dream of lifting the prestigious trophy alive. Umejiaku fires Nigeria ahead Oluebube Umejiaku opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a brilliant individual effort. The Nigerian forward showed outstanding composure and skill to beat Mexican defenders before firing past the goalkeeper. Her goal gave the Flamingos a deserved advantage heading into the half-time break. Dunstan doubles the advantage Nigeria continued their impressive display after the restart, refusing to surrender their a...

By Desmond Nigeria is facing growing concerns over extreme heat as the El Niño climate phenomenon strengthens, prompting warnings about possible health risks, changing rainfall patterns and threats to agriculture and food security. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) confirmed the onset of a strong El Niño event in its August 2026 climate update, while the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged Nigerians to take precautionary measures against its possible effects. According to recent reports, temperatures have reached 41°C in Nguru, Yobe State, and 34°C in Lagos, highlighting the intense heat being experienced in parts of the country. NiMet has also warned of hotter conditions and increased heat discomfort as Nigeria moves into the dry season. What Is El Niño? El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs when the surface waters of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become warmer than normal. This warming affects atmospheric ci...

By Desmond England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English footballer in 25 years to claim football’s most prestigious individual award. Kane was crowned the world’s best men’s footballer at the 70th edition of the awards ceremony held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, 2026. The 33-year-old striker beat strong competition from France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s Lamine Yamal to secure the honour following an outstanding campaign for Bayern Munich and England. According to UEFA and Reuters, Kane scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country during the 2025/26 season. His remarkable performances helped Bayern Munich secure major domestic honours and strengthened his reputation as one of the most prolific strikers in world football. Kane’s achievement ends England’s 25-year wait for a men’s Ballon d’Or winner. The last Englishman to receive the award was Michael Owen in 2...

By Desmond Nollywood has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran Nigerian actor Francis Duru, who reportedly passed away at the age of 57 after a brief illness. The sad news was announced by his family in a statement shared on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026. The family expressed deep sorrow over the loss and appreciated fans, friends and well-wishers for their prayers and support during the difficult period. “We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement read. The family added that they appreciated the love and understanding shown to them, while praying for the peaceful repose of the actor’s soul. The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abubakar Yakubu, also confirmed the development, paying tribute to the late actor and describing his death as the loss of another great talent in the Nigerian film industry. Francis Duru: An Ico...

By Desmond The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly arraigned five suspects before a court in Imo State over the alleged abduction of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in a case that has drawn public attention to security concerns along major highways in southeastern Nigeria. According to reports by Nigerian media outlets, the victims were abducted on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, while travelling to their NYSC orientation camps. The incident triggered concern among Nigerians, particularly prospective corps members and their families, as the victims were reportedly travelling to begin their national service when they fell into the hands of their abductors. Five suspects have now reportedly been brought before the court in connection with the incident. Their arraignment marks a significant development in the investigation, althou...