The youngsters have been key on their side’s run to the final in Berlin and combined to send Spain ahead against England, a moment that felt fitting given their supreme summer.

READ ALSO: Spain beat England to win Euro 2024 final with late Oyarzabal goal

Williams’ well-taken strike gave Spain a deserved lead and the duo both came close to extending it before Cole Palmer’s equaliser for England.

Yamal, 17, and Williams, 22 — both celebrating birthdays in the days ahead of the final — have given Spain an exciting cutting edge in attack they have lacked for much of the last decade, pulling the team to a record fourth European Championship triumph.

Spain previously last won a major trophy in 2012, ending a golden era that saw them lift the Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup trophies.

READ ALSO: Spain’s Rodri named best player of Euro 2024

Since then they have struggled in the wilderness both on the field and more recently off of it too because of their crisis-hit football federation.

This summer many did not consider them among the top favourites to lift the trophy but Yamal and Williams’ flair and contagious spirit added vital spark to a national team known for their ability to dominate possession.

Yamal became the youngest ever Euros goalscorer at 16 in the semi-final triumph over France with a brilliant long-range effort and was named young player of the tournament.

Williams was instrumental in the group stage win over Euro 2020 winners Italy and shone in the last 16 victory over Georgia where Spain came from behind to triumph.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said the pair had a “gift from god” earlier in the tournament and he deserves credit for choosing to deploy both, rather than choosing a more cautious path.

As a result Spain did not always end up with more of the ball than their opponents but that did not matter to them or their fans as they celebrated with the trophy.

– Nerves –
Despite their superb performances leading up to the final, De la Fuente’s young Spain side, many playing in the biggest match of their careers, failed to hit their stride in the first half against England.

Gareth Southgate’s cautious team stifled them to an extent but La Roja also showed some nerves, misplacing some passes, making more errors in precision than on the road to the Olympiastadion.

Yamal, the youngest ever player to play in a Euros or World Cup final, initially struggled to impose himself on Luke Shaw, despite it being the Manchester United defender’s first start since February.

The England coach switched his system to 4-2-3-1 to ensure there was less space for Spain’s wingers to take advantage of and for a while it worked.

Williams swung a cross behind for a goal kick as Spain’s frustration built. However they came out for the second half renewed, encouraged by their coach, and quickly reaped the reward.

Yamal surged in from the right and looked for Williams with a cutting low pass into the area. The Athletic Bilbao winger caressed the ball beyond Jordan Pickford and into the far corner, an assured finish.

It was the 22-year-old’s second goal of the tournament and Yamal’s fourth assist, the most this summer with various other players tied on two.

Williams fed Dani Olmo who dragged wide and then hammered a low drive inches past the post, offering Spain’s biggest threat by far.

Yamal played a cute pass for Alvaro Morata but the captain dragged his shot and John Stones was on hand to swipe it to safety.

With England starting to chase the game the teenage Barcelona star was getting the joy he could not find before the interval and Pickford made a smart save to deny him.

In the end it was substitute Oyarzabal that settled the game but Spain’s successful campaign will rightly be remembered for their swashbuckling wingers.

The post Spain wing wizards Williams and Yamal inspire Euro 2024 triumph appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.

The two journalists are AbdulGafar Alabelewe of The Nation Newspapers, his wife and two children, and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint Newspapers.

READ ALSO: Two journalists abducted in Kaduna regain freedom

Idris commended the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and security agencies for the speedy recovery of the victims.

“We are most grateful of what you have done. We are aware that this is part of your ongoing effort to ensure that all kidnapped victims are rescued alive and reunited with their families,” Idris said.

“I want to urge Nigerians to keep faith with the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our security agencies.

“The security agencies under the coordination of the NSA are working tirelessly to ensure that all those who have been taken into unlawful custody are freed without paying any ransom.”

Earlier, the NSA said the five victims were rescued following a combined effort of security agencies which led to a swift search and rescue operation.

One of the rescued victims, Alabelewe, thanked the NSA and his team for the swift intervention.

“The rescue mission which brough us out of the bush yesterday gave us hope in our country and gave us confidence to believe that the government is serious about tackling this problem of kidnapping. I never thought that within a week of our kidnap we could get out,” Alabelewe said.

“We are grateful that the government swung into action and ensured that we were released.”

The post Kaduna journalists freed without payment of ransom – Minister appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.

“I couldn’t be happier, we are a real team, champions of Europe, I get prouder of them every day. Thank you for the support from all over Spain.”

— Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.

READ ALSO: Spain beat England to win Euro 2024 final with late Oyarzabal goal

“Euphoric. Very happy. All our people deserve it. The family, the fans… European champions and now we’re going for the World Cup (in 2026).”

— Spain’s opening goalscorer Nico Williams on what it means to win Euro 2024.

“I did my job, what I had to do at every moment. I was lucky enough to score the winner. You value it a lot. And if you’re lucky enough to score the goal… It’s the best.”

— Oyarzabal on his match-winning strike in the 86th minute.

READ ALSO: Spain’s Rodri named best player of Euro 2024

“Losing in a final is as tough as it gets… We done really well to get back in the game at 1-1 and then we couldn’t use our momentum to push on… It’s as painful as it can be in a football match.”

— England captain Harry Kane.

“Gareth will go away and take time to decide. We wanted to win it for him.”

— Kane on the future of manager Gareth Southgate who hinted he might step down if England failed to win Euro 2024.

The post Who said what after Spain beat England to win Euro 2024 appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.

READ MORE: Dangote Refinery to resolve Nigeria’s forex issues, says S&P Global

“The reason I don’t have a house in London or America is solely because I wanted to focus on industrialisation in Nigeria,” Dangote explained. “I figured that if I had those houses, there would be one reason or another for me to visit those places, thereby causing distraction.”

READ MORE: Who is afraid of Dangote’s refinery?

In her closing remarks, the Group Executive Director of Commercial Operations, Fatima Dangote, praised her father for his unwavering dedication to Nigeria.

“I have not seen anyone as hardworking as my father. Sometimes I wonder how he never gives up,” she said. “I wish we had a few more men like my father in Nigeria; the country would be a better place.”

The post Why I don’t own houses outside Nigeria – Dangote appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.

Rodri had to be replaced at half-time of the final after picking up a knee injury but was rewarded for his excellent performances as Spain also overcame hosts Germany and France to reach the final.

READ ALSO: Spain beat England to win Euro 2024 final with late Oyarzabal goal

The Manchester City man’s only goal of the tournament came in scoring the equaliser in a 4-1 win over Georgia in the last 16.

However, he was hailed by coach Luis de la Fuente as a “perfect computer” for his metronomic passing and reading of the game that proved vital to carrying a young side through a devilishly difficult draw to glory.

Rodri has now lost just once in his last 80 games in all competitions for club and country and can add the Euros to a glittering list of silverware in that time.

The 28-year-old has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, one FA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup with City, as well as the Nations League with Spain.

The post Spain’s Rodri named best player of Euro 2024 appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.

Spain lost influential midfielder Rodri to injury at half-time, but shrugged that off to take the lead within two minutes of the restart through Nico Williams, who was set up by his fellow star winger, Lamine Yamal.

READ ALSO: Spain’s Rodri named best player of Euro 2024

England came from behind as they have done so often at this Euros, as substitute Cole Palmer drove in the equaliser on 73 minutes, moments after entering the fray.

But their resurgence in the game was cut short as Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad forward, turned in a cross in the 86th minute to hand Spain a record fourth European Championship crown, and a third in the last five editions.

They previously won in 1964, 2008 and 2012, the last two titles coming either side of their triumph at the 2010 World Cup during the golden era of Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta.

Whether this generation, led by the brilliant Yamal who was playing here a day after his 17th birthday, manage to repeat the achievements of that magnificent side remains to be seen, but theirs was a fitting victory.

Spain have been comfortably the best team over the last month in Germany and were not intimidated by the atmosphere at the Olympiastadion, where the majority of the crowd were given over to England’s cause.

England had hoped to finally claim a first men’s international title since their fabled victory at the 1966 World Cup, but fell just short in their first ever final on foreign soil.

After the agony of their defeat on penalties to Italy three years ago, they are the first side ever to lose back-to-back Euros finals.

Captain Harry Kane, meanwhile, is left at the age of 30 still looking for the first trophy of a career so rich in goals, this defeat coming after a season in which he also won nothing with Bayern Munich.

– Spain overcome Rodri injury –
It was always likely that Spain would control this game, and England spent most of the first half chasing the ball.

Spain controlled the game from the off, but it took until stoppage time at the end of the first half for either team to manage a shot on target, with Phil Foden’s effort from a Declan Rice free-kick delivery being easily saved by goalkeeper Unai Simon.

But it was just before that in which Rodri hurt himself, sliding into teammate Aymeric Laporte on the follow-through as he blocked a Kane shot.

Spain’s outstanding holding midfielder was unable to continue, and made way for Martin Zubimendi at the restart.

It felt like the loss of such a presence in the middle of the park could completely throw Spain off course, and yet they wasted no time in opening the scoring.

England were braced for the danger to come from Spain’s two wingers, and it was they who combined for the goal, as Yamal collected a Dani Carvajal pass and darted inside.

He released a pass for Williams, who scored with a controlled, low first-time shot across Jordan Pickford and into the far corner.

England would now need to come from behind, but then again that was exactly what they had done in each of their three previous knockout games.

Southgate took off his talisman Kane on the hour mark and sent on Ollie Watkins, a repeat of the substitution that won the semi-final against the Netherlands.

Spain had chances to increase their lead and their fans began to greet every successful pass with an ‘ole’, as Southgate tried to turn the tide by sending on Palmer for Kobbie Mainoo.

Within three minutes England were level as Bukayo Saka’s ball in from the right was laid off by Jude Bellingham for Palmer, who found the net from range with a low first-time effort into the corner.

However, Spain grabbed the winner with four minutes to go thanks to their own super-sub.

Oyarzabal played the ball out to Marc Cucurella on the left before racing into the middle to turn his teammate’s low cross into the net, staying just onside in the process.

Spain then held on, although only after a vital clearance off the line from Dani Olmo to deny Marc Guehi at the death.

The post Spain beat England to win Euro 2024 final with late Oyarzabal goal appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.

As winner of the 2024 Nigerian Idol, Chima claimed a N30million cash prize, a car, a music deal, DSTV Explorer plus a year premium subscription.

READ ALSO: Stevie ‘Wonders’ Ends As Kaffy, Ice Prince Grace Nigerian Idol Live Show

The countdown to the winner of Season 9 of the music competition show officially began on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

Each episode brought out the best in the contestants, who showcased their incredible vocals and stage presence to impress the judges and secure their place in the competition.

This year’s theme, “Let Your Dreams Take Flight,” perfectly captures the essence of the competition as the contestants brought their very best in each episode.

After a staggering 40 million votes, it was announced that Chima and Lammy had made it to the finale. This left Mira Clear and Chioma in the bottom two, with one of them potentially going home.

Ric Hassani, faced with the tough decision of saving one or letting both go, ultimately chose to save Chioma, resulting in Mira Clear’s departure.

The second round of performances showcased the top three contestants in their final efforts to secure votes ahead of the finale. After weeks of intrigues, tears, entertainment, pure music, and energy, Chima Udoye eventually, emerged the winner.

With Nigerian Idol as his platform, Chima shared his gift with the world. For the rising star, the show represents a stepping stone to stardom.

The post Chima Udoye wins 9th Nigerian Idol appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.

The Israeli military, meanwhile, said it had targeted a Syrian military command centre as well as targets and infrastructure belonging to the Syrian army and air defence in response to two drones launched towards Israel from Syrian territory.

The statement was a rare acknowledgement by the Israeli military of action in Syria, where it has launched hundreds of strikes since the country’s civil war erupted in 2011, mainly targeting army positions and Iran-backed fighters.

“A soldier was killed and three others injured following an aerial aggression launched by the Israeli enemy after midnight” on Sunday, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported.

The strike “was launched from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights”, which Israel seized in 1967, and targeted “several military positions in the southern region and a residential building in the Kafr Sousa district of Damascus”, it added.

SANA said that aerial defence systems had intercepted and downed a number of missiles “despite their intensity”.

The news agency published a photo showing a fire in what appeared to be a crater caused by the blast.

An AFP journalist visiting the scene said the strike caused a crater about 30 metres (nearly 100 feet) long and 10 metres wide.

The facade of an eight-storey building was damaged, with its windows shattered, while around 30 cars were left charred or damaged around the impact site.

The vicinity was cordoned off by police, while firefighters attempted to extinguish the fire in the area.

‘Unpredictable consequences’

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later gave a toll of two personnel from Syria’s air defence forces dead in Israeli strikes targeting a building in Kafr Sousa and a military headquarters south of Damascus.

The war monitor had earlier said one pro-government fighter was killed and six others were wounded in the strikes.

Local radio station Sham FM had reported “the explosion of a munitions depot following an Israeli attack that targeted a position near the capital”.

“The blasts were very strong and came in succession,” a resident of the eastern Damascus neighbourhood of Mazzeh told AFP, adding that this was followed by “the strong odour of gunpowder”.

The Israeli army meanwhile said that two drones launched “from Syrian territory… were successfully intercepted” on Saturday.

In response, the military said it struck overnight “a Syrian military command centre and infrastructure sites. Additionally, terror targets used by the Syrian military’s Aerial Defence Unit were struck.”

Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes in a statement carried by SANA, and warned that Israeli attacks in Syria and other countries in the region risked leading to “a dangerous escalation” with “dire, unpredictable consequences”.

Israel’s strikes on Syria had intensified after Palestinian militant group Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip, then eased after an April 1 strike blamed on Israel hit the Iranian consular building in Damascus.

Israel has repeatedly said it will not allow arch-foe Iran to expand its foothold in Syria.

The attack came as Syria prepares to hold parliamentary elections on Monday, in a vote expected to return power to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s ruling Baath party.

The post Syrian state media says soldier killed in Israeli strike on Damascus appeared first on Guardian Nigeria News.

NBA spokesperson Akorede Habeeb Lawal in a statement said the comment was made without the consent or authority of the association.

The NBA emphasized that Aikpokpo-Martins and Adeogun were removed from their positions as Chairman and Secretary of the NBA-Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) as of February 29, 2024. Their removal, along with other executive members, was followed by the appointment of a Caretaker Committee, headed by Sir Steve Adehi, SAN.

The statement said despite being aware of their removal, Aikpokpo-Martins and Adeogun had challenged this decision in court.

The NBA condemned their unauthorized issuance of statements as both a misrepresentation and gross misconduct.

While the NBA discredits the statement mentioned earlier, it recognizes the public concern over the new CMRIS levy.

Lawal said the NBA President, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, has initiated discussions with the Nigeria Police Force to reconsider this additional financial burden on citizens amidst Nigeria’s challenging economic conditions. A conference addressing the broader issue of multiple taxations is scheduled for July 18, 2024.

The NBA urges the public to disregard any unauthorized statements and reassures its commitment to advocating for fair economic policies.

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LASEMA said that it responded to distress calls received via the 767/112 Emergency Toll-Free lines at 2244 hrs on Saturday, July 13, 2024, from its Igando and Cappa Base.

The Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said that upon arrival at the scene, investigations revealed that it was the boys’ quarters domiciled behind a storey-building at the above-mentioned location that self-collapsed.

Fortunately, the single family involved was able to escape before the collapse.

There were no casualties nor fatalities involved in the incident, LASEMA added.

LASEMA stated that further investigations revealed that the boys’ quarters of the said storey-building self-collapsed as a result of neglect and poor maintenance.

“Agency’s Response Teams conducted Public Enlightenment for Awareness and Knowledge on the inherent and real dangers to occupants of the building on their continuous stay there.

“The main building, which consists of nine rooms downstairs and two flats upstairs, has been cordoned off. All occupants have been advised to evacuate the building immediately for the safety of their lives and properties. The location of the self-collapsed boys’ quarters is inaccessible.

“Therefore, manual demolition of its remnants is recommended. Manual clearing of the debris from the self-collapsed boys’ quarters is equally recommended for the above reason of space. Integrity tests by Material Testing Laboratory have also been recommended for the main building, to determine its continued existence.”

LASEMA Response Teams from Cappa and Igando Base, Agency’s Pre-Hospital Care Team, and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service responded to the incident.

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