Disputed Golden Ball Decision: FIFA faced criticism from Argentine journalist Antonio Serpa for awarding the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball to Spain’s Rodri instead of Lionel Messi, calling the choice an “almost insult” and a lack of sensitivity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• World Cup Final Outcome: Messi’s final World Cup appearance ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain after extra time, sealed by Ferran Torres following a red card to Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez.

• Journalist’s Defense of Messi: Serpa argued that Messi—who finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists—was the true heartbeat of the World Cup and that individual accolades should place greater emphasis on goal-scoring impact rather than passing statistics.

Call to Step Down: APC chieftain Osita Okechukwu urged Atiku Abubakar to prioritize the nation’s interest and withdraw from the presidential race during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Impact of the 2022 Decision: Okechukwu stated that Atiku’s choice to run for the PDP presidential ticket in 2022—despite demands to zone the ticket to the South—violated the rotation convention and caused heavy, unquantifiable damage that destabilized the PDP.

• Refuting One-Party Claims: He criticized Atiku for blaming President Bola Tinubu for pushing toward a one-party state, pointing out that Atiku glossed over how the PDP’s internal decisions and refusal to let a southerner contest weakened the party’s strength.

Reconciling Conflicting Accounts: Former DSS Assistant Director Dennis Amachree stated that the differing stories regarding the release of abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers could both be true, explaining that fluid rescue operations can involve simultaneous developments.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• The Pressure Factor: While a freed teacher noted that the captors allowed them to leave before security arrived, the Federal Government maintained it was a rescue operation; Amachree noted that intense military pressure—including cut-off supplies and communication—had already cornered the terrorists and forced their hand.

• Transparency vs. Classification: Amachree expressed that the public should be glad the DSS and military shared details on the operation, noting that such sensitive information often remains classified for years.

• Caution on Media Publicity: He cautioned that the press, particularly social media, must handle coverage carefully to avoid playing into terrorists’ core objective of seeking fear-inducing publicity.