France defender William Saliba has admitted he is competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup while managing persistent back pain. The Arsenal centre-back has been dealing with this injury for several months, including during the final stages of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League seasons. Despite his physical struggles, Saliba emphasized that he never considered missing the tournament and is focused on helping France in their upcoming Group I match against Iraq.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Injury Management: Saliba stated that France’s medical and coaching staff are effectively managing his workload to allow him to continue playing throughout the tournament.

• Perspective on Fitness: The 25-year-old noted that he is not at 100 percent fitness, but maintains that he cannot use his condition as an excuse, as many other players are also dealing with their own physical limitations.

• Praise for Michael Olise: Saliba praised his teammate’s abilities, describing him as a “world-class” talent who can dribble and shoot effectively.

• Caution on Comparisons: While he believes Olise has the potential to be an elite player, Saliba cautioned against comparing the winger too early to French icons like Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini, noting that Olise still has much to accomplish.

In Ilorin, Kwara State, several filling stations have begun lowering their petrol pump prices, five days following a reduction in the gantry price at the Dangote Refinery. Market observations on Sunday revealed that stations such as NIPCO, Matrix, BOVAS, and Ranoil have adjusted their rates to between ₦1,250 and ₦1,280 per litre, down from the previous price of approximately ₦1,300 per litre.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Despite these adjustments at independent retailers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) outlets have maintained their price at ₦1,295 per litre. Additionally, MRS stations supported by the Dangote Refinery lowered their price by ₦76 on Friday, bringing it to ₦1,241 per litre.

This downward trend in local pump prices follows the Dangote Refinery’s move to lower its gantry price to ₦1,175 per litre, prompted by a recent drop in global crude oil prices. As of the latest report, Brent crude was trading at about $80 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate was valued at $76 per barrel. Oil prices have experienced a minor rise following reports that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, occurring shortly after a peace deal involving U.S. President Donald Trump.

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has expressed his support for Ghana ahead of their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L match against England in Foxborough. Ghana enters this encounter following a dramatic 1-0 victory against Panama—a win that marked the Black Stars’ sixth World Cup triumph in 16 matches, equaling Nigeria’s previous tournament record of six wins in 21 games.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶