Jiti Ogunye, the legal consultant to Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, has pushed back against calls for his principal to resign over the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, arguing such demands are unjustified.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Minimal Interaction: Ogunye asserts that Gbajabiamila’s office had the least official engagement with the “fake DG” of the PFIPC, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, when compared to other high-ranking government officials.

• Wider Accountability: He contends that if Gbajabiamila were to resign due to this controversy, several other officials with more documented, direct interactions with Adeyemi would also be required to vacate their positions.

• Specific Officials Named: Ogunye explicitly identified the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the Accountant-General of the Federation as officials whose offices had deeper dealings with the individual in question.

• Unfortunate Fixation: The legal consultant characterized the public focus on Gbajabiamila as “unfortunate,” noting that those who processed requests and generated correspondence for Adeyemi are in a better position to address the scandal’s questions.

• Questioning the Logic: He challenged the rationale for targeting the Chief of Staff, questioning whether the public expects all identified officials involved in the “paper trail” to leave office simultaneously.

Following England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, manager Thomas Tuchel has stood by his tactical decisions. Despite Anthony Gordon giving England an early second-half lead in Atlanta, the team eventually conceded two late goals to Argentina, ending their quest for a first World Cup final appearance since 1966.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Tactical Assessment: Tuchel admitted that his team lost control and became too passive after scoring, which allowed Argentina to create numerous chances and shots.

• Defensive Adjustments: Addressing criticism over his substitutions, specifically the decision to switch to a back five after replacing Gordon with Ezri Konsa, Tuchel explained that the move was an attempt to close gaps that had already opened up before any changes were made.

• Response to Criticism: The manager insisted he has no regrets regarding his tactical approach, noting that criticism is natural after a loss and that he accepts responsibility for the decisions he made.

• Maintaining Control: Tuchel rejected claims that the team became overly cautious, explaining that they struggled to retain possession or win the ball back, which prevented them from pushing for a second goal.

• Future Commitment: Despite the exit, Tuchel confirmed he has no plans to resign and remains focused on his contract, which runs through the 2028 European Championship that England will co-host.

Wayne Rooney has expressed that England’s World Cup ambitions were derailed by their inability to manage the game effectively after taking the lead in Wednesday’s 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina. Although Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute following a cross from Morgan Rogers, the team subsequently lost both possession and momentum, allowing Argentina to stage a late comeback with two goals.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Rooney’s Criticism: Rooney lamented the team’s tactical approach, stating that after securing a strong position, they failed to maintain control, sat back, allowed Argentina to create chances, and ultimately “cracked” under pressure.

• End of a Campaign: This defeat halts England’s pursuit of their first World Cup final appearance since 1966, concluding a run that had included knockout stage wins against Norway and Mexico.

• Final Matchups: Argentina is set to compete against Spain in Sunday’s final, as they seek consecutive titles following Spain’s 2-0 victory over France.

• Next Fixture: England is scheduled to play France in the losers’ final on Saturday, July 18, at 10 p.m.