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From 150,000 People To The World Stage: Curacao Achieves Unthinkable World Cup Feat.

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Curacao has made history by becoming the smallest country ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, following a goalless draw against Steve McClaren’s Jamaica in Kingston. The Caribbean island, home to just over 150,000 people, surpasses Iceland’s 2018 record. To put it in perspective, Curacao is seven times smaller than Lagos State by land area and has a population comparable to the Epe Local Government Area.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The draw ended Jamaica’s hopes of returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. The Reggae Boyz needed a win on home soil, but a last-minute penalty was overturned by VAR, leaving them unable to secure qualification. Coach Steve McClaren resigned shortly after the match.

Curacao’s coach, Dutch veteran Dick Advocaat, was absent from the match due to personal reasons but will make history as the oldest coach at a World Cup at 78 years old, surpassing Otto Rehhagel, who led Greece at age 71 in 2010.

The island’s rapid football rise has been remarkable. Curacao became a separate country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010, following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. At that time, the nation was ranked 150th in FIFA standings. Today, they sit 82nd after winning seven of ten qualifying matches without suffering a single defeat.

The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup, combined with automatic qualification for hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, created opportunities for smaller nations such as Curacao. They will join debutants Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan in next summer’s tournament.

Haiti qualified for the first time since 1974 after a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua, while Panama also secured a spot. Jamaica will now compete in the intercontinental play-offs for a final chance at qualification.

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Abiodun Launches Massive Grassroots Campaign, Unveils 50,400 Renewed Hope Apostles.

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Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has inaugurated 50,400 grassroots political mobilisers, known as Renewed Hope Apostles, across the state as part of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s strategy to secure victory in the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The initiative will see the canvassers conduct coordinated door-to-door campaigns across Ogun State’s 236 wards, with the aim of strengthening grassroots engagement, expanding the party’s support base and informing voters about the achievements of APC-led governments at the federal, state and local government levels.

Abiodun announced the initiative during a series of strategic meetings with party leaders and stakeholders across the state’s 20 local government areas. The meetings were attended by local government and ward executives, council chairmen, councillors, governorship and other party candidates, party elders, governors’ liaison officers and political appointees.

The governor explained that the Renewed Hope Apostles would serve as the party’s grassroots communication and mobilisation network, taking information about government policies, programmes and achievements directly to residents.

He said the initiative was also aimed at tackling misinformation and ensuring that voters understood how government policies and projects affected their daily lives.

“We have called them the Renewed Hope Apostles. They will now begin to propagate so that the people can be better informed because when there is no information, there is misinformation, and that is what we are addressing.

“In the first instance, in Ogun East, we have 15,000 of them, and across the state, we have 50,400. We expect them to multiply and spread the gospel of the party’s performance,” he said.

Abiodun disclosed that the canvassers were selected from different local government areas and organised around polling units to ensure that the campaign reached voters at the community level.

According to him, the recruitment and verification process lasted approximately three months, during which the necessary details of the participants were compiled and verified to establish an effective and accountable mobilisation structure.

He added that the canvassers would be equipped with information about the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Ogun State Government to enable them to explain the impact of APC policies to residents.

Abiodun highlights Tinubu’s projects in Ogun

Speaking on the impact of the Tinubu administration on Ogun State, the governor listed the reconstruction of the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Ore Road, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the facilitation of the Gateway Deep Sea Port, the revival of the Ogun LNG project and the establishment of a major Customs facility in the state.

He said the projects, alongside other federal interventions, were improving Ogun’s economic prospects, attracting investments, creating employment opportunities and strengthening its position as one of Nigeria’s leading industrial destinations.

Abiodun described the economic and policy decisions introduced by Tinubu as necessary measures that had helped stabilise the national economy and placed it on a path towards sustainable growth.

Ogun government lists achievements across sectors

The governor also highlighted the achievements of his administration in infrastructure, housing, education, healthcare, agriculture, energy and economic empowerment.

He disclosed that his government had constructed more than 1,700 kilometres of roads across the state’s three senatorial districts, rehabilitated and constructed over 1,600 schools, and provided more than 7,000 housing units currently occupied by residents.

In the health sector, Abiodun said 160 Primary Healthcare Centres had been equipped and upgraded as part of his administration’s plan to establish at least one functional primary healthcare facility in each of the state’s 236 wards.

He added that contracts had recently been awarded for the construction of new hospitals in Odogbolu, Isara and Itori, while the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital had been repositioned to improve healthcare delivery.

The governor also announced the completion of the 250-bed Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence in Abeokuta, which he said had been abandoned by previous administrations.

On electricity, Abiodun said his government had established two independent power plants in Abeokuta to support industrial and social activities.

He further disclosed that more than 20,000 farmers had benefited from the distribution of agricultural inputs, including pesticides, fertilisers, seedlings and tractors.

According to him, over 60,000 women had received support through the Oko Owo Dapo initiative, while cooperative societies and artisans had benefited from more than ₦1 billion in financial assistance to expand their businesses.

In education, the governor said his administration had recruited and deployed more than 7,000 teaching personnel to address manpower shortages in public primary and secondary schools.

Abiodun also highlighted the state’s aviation project, noting that beyond developing a world-class airport, his administration had established an airline whose aircraft had commenced international operations from Lagos to Bangui.

Abiodun urges APC members to unite ahead of 2027

The governor charged the newly inaugurated Renewed Hope Apostles to carry out their duties with commitment, discipline and a clear understanding of the party’s achievements.

He said their responsibility was to engage voters, address their concerns and mobilise support for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Abiodun also appealed to party leaders and members to set aside personal differences and work together to secure the party’s electoral success.

He maintained that unity and effective grassroots coordination were essential to achieving the party’s objectives.

“A divided party cannot win an election. We must work together as a team, strengthen our relationships and ensure that every member understands the importance of this assignment,” he said.

The governor explained that the meetings with party stakeholders were also designed to strengthen internal cohesion, review mobilisation strategies and establish a common direction ahead of the elections.

Prominent APC leaders, including the state chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi; Director-General of the Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council, Senator Lekan Mustapha; Deputy Director-General, Dr Apaye; Ogun East Senatorial Chairman, Chief Adeleke Adedotun; and APC Chairman in Odeda Local Government, Hon. Musulumi Saka, pledged their support for the party’s success.

They assured the governor of their readiness to mobilise members and supporters across their constituencies in support of President Tinubu, Governor Abiodun and other APC candidates.

The inauguration and stakeholder engagements have so far covered Remo North, Sagamu, Ikenne, Ijebu North East, Ijebu-Ode, Odogbolu, Ijebu East, Ijebu North, Ifo, Ewekoro, Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Odeda and Obafemi-Owode local government areas.

The engagements form part of a wider political outreach programme by Abiodun, who has also held consultations with religious organisations, traders, artisans, traditional worshippers, labour leaders and cooperative societies to build broader support for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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2027 Election: SERAP Gives INEC Seven-Day Ultimatum Over Electoral Offenders

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to prosecute individuals suspected of involvement in electoral violence or risk facing legal action.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a letter addressed to INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, the organisation urged the commission to take urgent steps to ensure that those responsible for electoral violence are brought to justice ahead of the 2027 general elections.

SERAP warned that failure to prosecute the suspects could encourage politicians and political thugs to continue using violence to intimidate voters and manipulate election outcomes.

The rights group also called on INEC to make public the identities of the suspects and provide updates on the progress of their prosecution to demonstrate its commitment to credible, free and fair elections.

“We are giving INEC seven days to take concrete steps to prosecute electoral violence suspects. If nothing is done, we will head to court to compel the commission to do its job,” the organisation stated.

SERAP described electoral violence as one of the major threats to Nigeria’s democracy, noting that fear of attacks has discouraged many citizens from going to polling units to exercise their voting rights.

The organisation further maintained that INEC has the authority under the Electoral Act to prosecute electoral offenders, insisting that the commission should not ignore its responsibility to address the problem.

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Super Eagles Coach Chelle Sets Fresh Target Ahead Of Tanzania Encounter.

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Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has charged his players to sustain their winning momentum when Nigeria take on Tanzania in Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match in Zanzibar.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

News reports that Nigeria defeated Tanzania’s Taifa Stars 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13, after recovering from a first-half equaliser to claim all three points.

Alhassan Yusuf opened the scoring for the Super Eagles just two minutes into the encounter. However, Tanzania restored parity before the break.

Substitute Tolu Arokodare later scored twice in the second half to secure Nigeria’s victory.

The result moved Nigeria to second place in Group L with six points from three matches, one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who played out a 1-1 draw with Madagascar on Thursday.

Despite the victory, Chelle has warned his players against complacency, insisting that they must reproduce the performance in the return fixture. He maintained that the victory in Uyo would count for little if the team failed to secure another win in Tanzania.

The Nigerian coach expressed disappointment over his side’s inability to protect their early lead after Yusuf’s opening goal.

“They have nothing, and you give them something to eat. So they took it,” Chelle said during his post-match press conference.

He emphasised the need for greater concentration and determination ahead of Tuesday’s encounter.

“We have to go to Tanzania to win this game. So I am happy for the players because, you know, it is not easy. But the reality is nothing. We have the second game after. The most important is the next game,” he said.

Chelle also disclosed that the team were motivated to respond positively after suffering a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their previous qualifying match.

“We played badly against Guinea-Bissau. We spoke to the players after the game, and our motivation was to bounce back. We played under pressure. This victory is good, but it is important that we think about the next game, which we must also win,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will be without forward Ademola Lookman for the return fixture after he sustained a knee ligament injury during Friday’s match.

The Atletico Madrid attacker, who provided the assist for Yusuf’s opening goal, was forced off in first-half stoppage time and replaced by Moses Simon.

However, Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Fredrick have reportedly recovered from cramps suffered during the encounter and are expected to be available for Tuesday’s match.

Tanzania have already secured their place at the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts, leaving Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar to battle for the remaining qualification spot in Group L.

The Super Eagles will face the Taifa Stars at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm Nigerian time.

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