FIFA Bars Moshood Abiola Stadium From Hosting International Matches

World football governing body, FIFA have slammed indefinite ban on Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja from hosting international matches.

The ban on Wednesday came after irate Nigerian fans invaded the stadium on Tuesday following their nation’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar

On Tuesday, the newly renovated turf hosted the final leg of Nigeria vs Ghana World Cup play-off but the Ghanaians snatched the ticket from their host in a dramatic fashion through away goal rule.

Angry Nigerian fans invaded the pitch after a 1:1 draw against Ghana forcing players and officials to run for their life into the changing room.

FIFA medical officer Dr. Joseph Kabungo who had cardiac arrest on his way to the dressing room was rushed to hospital but he passed on

Joseph suffered a cardiac arrest during the commotion and was pronounced dead soon after.

Dr. Joseph Kabungo is CAF medical committee member who was also recently appointed to the FIFA medical committee. He served as the Zambian team doctor from 2003 to 2016.

It is not clear what other sanctions FIFA and the regional body CAF could mete out to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF for failing to provide adequate security for the game but the too bodies frown at fans encroachment into the field of play

It could be recalled that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) disciplinary committee in May 2006 sanctioned Nigeria with a $5,000 for poor crowd control at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, where the Super Eagles hosted Egypt in a Gabon 2017 African Nations Cup qualifier in March.

The organisers of the match allowed a crowd of over 40,000 inside the stadium designed to hold 25,000 spectators.

The Super Eagles and the Pharaohs drew 1-1 in that encounter, with the Egyptians subsequently defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the return fixture to stop the Eagles from qualifying for the competition.

4 Dead in Tanker Explosion in Lagos

No fewer than four people have been confirmed dead in the fire accident that occurred at Lekki, Lagos yesterday.

An official of the Lagos Fire Service who confirmed the number of casualties, said a

45,000 litre-tanker fully laden with petrol exploded after ramming into a heavy-duty vehicle conveying cement inward Lekki.

The accident occurred at the Kaiyetoro end of Lekki-Epe Expressway by Eleko Bus Stop, Ibeju Lekki Lagos.

Adeseye Margaret, the Director, of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, said the accident happened at about 16:35 hours Sunday.

She noted that the vehicles involved burst into flames due to the impact of the collision.

Magaret added that; “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Epe Station, on arrival at the scene discovered that both vehicles had head collision as the tanker travelled in opposite directions to Lekki and trailer from Epe.

The crew swiftly doused the raging fire from the accidental spillage of contents from the tanker and recovered four bodies suspected dead from both vehicles.

“Three of the bodies were recovered from the tanker and one from the trailer. The victims are all male adults and operatives of both vehicles

Ukraine Forces destroy 3 Russian helicopters, fighter jets

Ukraine has taken down three Russian helicopters, Su-25 fighter jet over Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv.

Oleg Synegubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, said that the Russian Su-25 fighter was destroyed by Kharkiv’s Air Defence Forces earlier today.

Footage obtained by newsmen revealed how the plane erupted into a huge fireball as it is struck by two surface-to-air missiles (SAM) over Kharkiv’s city centre, before it exploded again upon impact with the ground.

Synegubov mentioned that the plane was part of a squadron of between five and seven aircraft which have been conducting regular bombing runs over Ukraine’s second city.

The Armed Forces Air Command also reported early Monday morning that two Su-34 fighter-bombers, two Su-30 SM planes, and three helicopters were also shot down yesterday.

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city is one of the cities worst-hit by Russian bombing campaigns in recent days.

Ukrainian soldiers can be heard cheering at the sight of their occupiers’ burning aircraft streaking falling out of the sky, as the nation’s armed forces continue to put up a bitter fight against the Russian onslaught.

Russia has recorded considerable losses since the attack on Ukraine began, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces reporting that a total of 44 Russian planes and 44 helicopters have been brought down in the past eleven days.