News reports that Ghana became the latest African nation to advance to the knockout stage after securing a 2-0 victory over Canada on Saturday.

The win saw Ghana finish second in Group C with four points from three matches, behind Brazil, who topped the group with seven points.

Nigeria had booked their place in the last 16 a day earlier after defeating North Korea 3-1 on Friday.

The Nigerian side finished second in Group B with six points from three matches, securing qualification for the next stage of the competition.

With both African nations through to the Round of 16, Nigeria and Ghana will be hoping to maintain their momentum and progress further in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has invited 31 home-based players to the Olympic Eagles squad ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

The invited players are expected to arrive at the team’s camp on Sunday, October 25, at AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, to begin preparations for the two-legged second-round tie.

The squad consists of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and 10 forwards. Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City are among the clubs with multiple players represented in the selection.

Nigeria were granted a bye in the first qualifying round, while DR Congo advanced after overcoming Mauritania across two legs.

The first leg of the encounter is scheduled to take place on November 13 at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi, while the return leg will be played on November 17 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

The Olympic Eagles must defeat DR Congo to progress to the final qualifying round, which will be staged in Egypt in 2027.

The tournament will determine Africa’s representatives in the men’s football competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Nigeria are aiming to return to the Olympic men’s football tournament after missing the last two editions. The country previously won gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016.

News reports that Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu made the clarification in an interview with Sunday Punch, explaining that the tax legislation in question had been passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu nearly a year ago.

Adaramodu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, accused Kingibe of attempting to misrepresent the legislation for political purposes.

He maintained that the provisions contained in the enacted law should serve as the basis for any discussion about the tax reforms.

“Already, the tax law has been passed, and then it has become a public document.

“So, whatever is not in the tax law that is passed has never been included. Whatever is there is what has been passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“So, anybody bringing anything back from the tax reform or law is just becoming a revisionist. It’s only a revisionist that could still be talking about that. The tax law we are talking about was passed almost one year ago,” he stated.

The Senate spokesperson also clarified Kingibe’s position in the chamber, stressing that she was not the presiding officer but a senator representing the FCT.

“Point of correction, Senator Kingibe is not the presiding officer. She is just a Senator of the FCT,” he said.

Adaramodu added that the Senate would not engage in political exchanges over the matter, noting that lawmakers who had concerns about the legislation could formally raise them through the appropriate parliamentary procedures.

“If any senator feels so nibbled by whatever law we have passed and has been assented to, he or she can come to the floor of the Senate and raise a motion or send a petition.

“We cannot be reacting to somebody passing a political comment. So, we cannot be reacting to that,” he added.

Kingibe, who is seeking re-election to the Senate under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had earlier urged residents of the FCT not to vote for the APC in the 2027 elections.

In a widely circulated video delivered in Pidgin English, the senator called on Nigerians to take responsibility for the country’s future and demand political change.

“This is our country; we must claim it back. Nobody will do it for us. We are the ones to do it. As the country is not enjoyable for us, no one will change it except us. We must be the ones to stand up and say that enough is enough. We have had enough,” she said.

The FCT senator also alleged that lawmakers had approved a 25 per cent tax on earnings but that the government was delaying its implementation because of concerns about public reaction ahead of the elections.

“Tax will soon be increased to 25 per cent of everything you earn. The money you currently have is not even enough for you. And what I am telling you, it has been passed. We have passed it in the National Assembly, but they are scared to implement it. As soon as you make the mistake, the amount of suffering you would endure, you haven’t even started to imagine it,” Kingibe said.