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AFCON: Super Eagles Grab Semi-Final Ticket: Trounce Cote D’ Ivoire 2-1 … Jonathan, Mark, PDP Hail Eagles
Nigeria shocked tournament favourites Ivory Coast 2-1 yesterday to progress to the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals in Rustenburg.
The Super Eagles took a first half lead through Emmanuel Emenike just before the break, but the Ivorians levelled on 50 minutes through Cheick Tiote.
However, Sunday Mba netted the winner 12 minutes from time for a sensational victory.
Elephants coach Sabri Lamouchi made eight changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Algeria in their last match, and it showed as Nigeria got out of the blocks faster, with Victor Moses firing in a shot on 10 minutes which Boubacar Barry parried to safety.
Emenike fired another shot over the bar on 27 minutes before their dominance was finally rewarded just before the break – the striker slotting a great free-kick after Moses was brought down just outside the area.
The Ivorians looked much better after the break and were duly rewarded just five minutes in when they drew level through Tiote, who headed in Didier Drogba’s free-kick at the back-post.
The Elephants kept up the pressure, though a warning sign of the Nigerian danger should have been forthcoming when Brown Ideye’s close-range header was well saved by Barry.
Yaya Toure was put straight through and looked certain to score, but the excellent Vincent Enyeama was equal to the task.
It proved a crucial save as Nigeria scored the decisive goal just 12 minutes before the end – Mba beating three defenders before his deflected shot left Barry with no chance.
Ivory Coast threw everything forward and had a number of chances, but just could not get the ball into the back of the net as the Eagles held on for a famous win.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the Super Eagles for their superlative performance at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.
A message on the Twitter account of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said Jonathan thanked the players “for their masterly and superlative performance.
“President Jonathan thanks the Super Eagles for their masterly and superlative performance in the just-concluded AFCON encounter with CIV.
“President Jonathan says to the Super Eagles now is the time to really begin to soar like the Super Eagles that they are.
“President Jonathan joins all Nigerians in celebrating today’s victory by the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
“The President has watched all the matches, including this last one.”
In a semilar vein, the Senate President, David Mark, has also thanked the Super Eagles for their 2-1 victory over the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.
The defeat of the Ivorians, the pre-tournament favourites, has ensured the National team’s qualification for the semi-finals.
A statement released in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Mumeh, quotes Mark as saying that football remained a unifying factor for the Nigerian people.
Mark urged the Eagles to stay focused and committed to the ultimate goal of winning the trophy.
“This victory has brought joy and smiles to the faces of Nigerians. I want you to sustain this triumphant momentum and go all the way to lift the trophy.’’
He, then, commended Nigerians for supporting the Eagles and pledged that the National Assembly would take necessary steps to reward the team.
“I salute Nigerians for their overwhelming support to the Eagles. We at the National Assembly will do the needful to reward them.’’
The Senate President urged Nigerians to pray for the continued success of the team when they battle Mali in the semi-finals.
In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Super Eagles’ victory over the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire as a good omen and a sign that the nation will soon surmount all its challenges under the present dispensation.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement yesterday said the party was overjoyed that the players did not let Nigerians down, adding that the victory was an indication that Nigeria is already coming out of the woods in all spheres of life.
The party said the victory over the Elephants, who had in the past stopped the Eagles in the tournament was an indication that nothing is impossible for Nigeria and that the doors have been opened for the nation to achieve other goals.
“The victory of the Super Eagles is a good omen. It is a sign of good things to come. The PDP sees it as a sign of a new beginning. It shows that we, as a nation can surmount all our problems. It is an indication that there is nothing impossible and that collectively we will overcome all the challenges we are facing as a nation. We will surmount all of them the way we surmounted the Elephants”, he said.
Stating that the victory did not come to it as a surprise, the party called on Nigerians to always believe in the potentials of the nation and urged pessimists to turn a new leaf especially as it has become clear that the country has already started experiencing a new dawn .
The PDP reminded that as a party that has the interest of the nation at heart, it had joined other well meaning Nigerians in praying for the Eagles. It said the victory showed that God answers prayers.
It however charged the team not to relax at this moment but to increase their zeal as they meet their next opponent in the semi final stage.
It told the players not to forget that millions of Nigerians are now counting on them to bring the cup home at the end of the tournament adding that they cannot afford to fail the nation at this critical time.
Each Super Eagles player yesterday pocketed $15,000 (about N2.4million) each for beating Cote d’Ivoire and qualifying for the semi-final of the 2013 AFCON.
A top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official disclosed that each player will also be $20,000 richer if the team triumphs in the semi-final.
For victory in the championship game on February 10, inside the National Stadium in Johannesburg, each player will pocket another $30,000.
Each player received $30,000 a day after the team qualified for the quarter-final last Tuesday.
Team sponsor, Guinness has also made a financial commitment for goals scored at the AFCON, while the Eagles are expecting billionaire, Aliko Dangote to splash more cash after they reached the last eight.
Each player was paid about $80,000 when Nigeria finished third at the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola.
Yesterday afternoon in Rustenburg, the Eagles faced 1992 champions, Cote d’Ivoire, and at the end of the game, trounced the Elephants, 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals.
The Super Eagles will now meet Mali, which eliminated hosts, South Africa in the quarter-final match last Saturday.
Eleven outstanding poetry collections are now in the race for the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature, arguably Africa’s biggest and most prestigious literary prize.
The 11 collections were selected from a total of 223 entries received for this year’s competition.
Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Prize, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who announced the longlist, said the emergence of the 11 collections marks a significant milestone in this year’s competition and reflects the exceptional quality, creativity and diversity of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
According to her, the longlisted titles, arranged in alphabetical order, are: Adult Love by Tanure Ojaide; Bakandimiya by Saddiq Dzukogi; Black Passport by Paul Akpomuje; 2000 Blacks by Ajibola Tolase; Ceremony For The Nameless by Theresa Lola; Corpus: Animistic Verses by Ayo Oyeku; and Floral’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu.
Other successful entries are, The Origin of Wounds by Malik Gbolahan; The Years of Blood by Adebayo Agarau; Unbind Me Now by James Ugwu Eze; and Why Does God Need a Gun by Ogaga Ifowodo.
Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo described the announcement as an important stage in the 2026 edition of the prize.
She noted that the collections demonstrate the remarkable capacity of poetry to illuminate human experience through thoughtful reflection, cultural memory and artistic expression.
According to her, the works revisit history while interrogating dominant historical narratives and exposing the forces that shape collective identities and social relations.
She stated that despite their varied emphases, the books share a commitment to exploring the endurance of individuals and communities in the face of violence, oppression and social fragmentation.
On style and language, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo said the books display an impressive diversity of poetic techniques marked by lyrical intensity, symbolic depth and artistic innovation.
“Many employ densely poetic, allegorical, and elegiac modes that invite multiple layers of interpretation, while others draw extensively on folklore, oral traditions, and contemporary realities to create a compelling fusion of past and present. Their language is generally fluid, evocative, and aesthetically refined, relying on vivid imagery, emotional resonance, and intellectual sophistication to communicate complex ideas. These works demonstrate how poetic language can illuminate social realities; challenge established perspectives and give voice to both individual and collective experiences.
“The next stage will demand a closer reading of each work, with attention to language, form, originality and lasting literary value,” she stated.
The Board chairman commended the judges for their painstaking work and reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s commitment to a credible process, literary excellence and the promotion of a strong reading culture.
With the announcement of the 11-title longlist, the competition now moves to the next phase, with a shortlist of three expected in August and the winner to be announced in October.
Sponsored by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), The Nigeria Prize for Literature carries a cash award of $100,000 for the author of the winning book.
Now in its 22nd year, the prize rotates annually across four genres – prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature – with the 2026 edition devoted to poetry.
The Rivers State Government has applauded the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State Branch, for its steadfast dedication to advancing medical excellence and contributing significantly to healthcare development in the state and the country at large.
Speaking at the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the NMA held in Port Harcourt last Wednesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, described the association as a vital partner in the quest to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Wokoma, according to a statement by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit in his office, Julian Masi, noted that the NMA’s sustained advocacy for professional standards and quality medical practice has continued to impact positively on the healthcare sector and national development.
He said the conference theme, “Medical Practice in Nigeria: The Past, the Present and Quo Vadis,” offers a valuable platform for stakeholders to evaluate the progress made in the health sector, examine present realities, and develop practical solutions for future challenges.
He paid tribute to Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals for their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to service despite the challenges confronting the sector.
“We deeply appreciate the immense sacrifices made daily by Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals. In the face of numerous challenges, they continue to demonstrate exceptional resilience, professionalism, dedication and commitment to saving lives. Their contributions remain critical to national development,” he said.
In her keynote address, the immediate past Commissioner for Health, Prof. Adaeze C. Oreh, called on participants to critically examine the current state of medical practice in Nigeria and explore innovative approaches that will address emerging healthcare challenges in line with the conference theme.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State Branch, Dr. (Prof.) Annabel Ureh Oparaodu, expressed gratitude to Governor Siminialayi Fubara for his continued support for the medical profession in Rivers State.
She urged delegates to maximize the opportunities provided by the conference through active engagement and knowledge sharing.
Highlights of the event included the commissioning of the Nigerian Medical Association Doctors’ Lodge and the NMA Water Factory, initiatives designed to improve members’ welfare and promote sustainability within the association.
The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced the commencement of a nationwide digital registration of births and deaths in Rivers State under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, E-CRVS, System, using the new VitalReg platform.
Federal Commissioner, NPC, Rivers State, Prof. Itotenaan Henry Ogiri, announced said this recently during a press briefing in his Port Harcourt office.
Ogiri said the full digital registration of births and deaths took effect nationwide on July 1, 2026, and is now being implemented across Rivers’ 23 Local Government Areas as part of the Commission’s rollout in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a modern, technology-driven civil registration system,
“It reflects the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every birth and every death occurring in our country is accurately captured through a secure, efficient and digitally enabled platform,” he said.
The Federal Commissioner noted that while Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, coverage remains low.
“Birth registration currently stands at about 57%, while death registration is below 20% nationwide.
“These gaps underscore the urgent need for a more efficient and accessible registration system,” he stated.
To address this, he said the commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across the 774 LGAs, with plans to expand to about 8,000 centres nationwide.
According to him, in Rivers State, structures have been put in place and personnel are working with health facilities, LGAs and community stakeholders to ensure accessibility.
Ogiri explained that the VitalReg platform offers faster registration, 24-hour access, automated data validation for accuracy, reduced paperwork and waiting time, enhanced record security, and a stronger national database to support other government information systems.
He added that the platform would integrate seamlessly with Nigeria’s national digital identity framework, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to improve coordination and service delivery.
“The initiative builds on the launch of the E-CRVS System and the inauguration of the National Coordination Committee on CRVS by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 8, 2023.
“It also aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on digital transformation and transparency,” he said.
The NPC Commissioner stressed that success depends on partnerships and public participation and listed key collaborators as ALGON, NIMC, UNICEF and Barnksforte Technologies Limited.
“In Rivers State, we will continue to work closely with the State Government, Local Government Councils, healthcare providers, traditional institutions, religious organisations, development partners, civil society organisations and the media to ensure that no child or family is left behind,” he said.
The commissioner called on parents, guardians, healthcare workers and community leaders to ensure prompt registration of every birth and death, noting that a complete civil registration system strengthens governance and supports sustainable development.
He reassured the public that birth registration and birth notification services remain highly subsidised, though specialised administrative services such as record modification, certificate reissuance, attestations and verification will attract approved charges to support system sustainability.
Ogiri appreciated the Rivers State Government for its support, and commended NPC staff in the State, as well as development partners, LGAs, healthcare institutions, traditional and religious leaders for advancing civil registration in the state.
He also urged the media to continue to amplify the message “that every birth counts, every death matters and every Nigerian deserves a legal identity.”
“As we commence this new chapter, let us all work together to build a civil registration system that is modern, inclusive and trusted by all,” Ogiri concluded.