Nigeria have beaten Iceland 2-0 in Group D at the Volgograd Arena, lifting Argentina’s hopes of surviving at the World Cup as well as their own. Nigeria lost their opening match 2-0 to Croatia so have three points, while Iceland remain on the one point they earned in a 1-1 draw with Argentina.

The situation remains complicated but if Argentina can beat Nigeria in St Petersburg on Tuesday, then they will reach the last 16 unless Iceland beat Croatia in Rostov, in which case it will come down to goal difference and other tie-breakers. Nigeria will join Croatia in the last 16 if they beat Argentina, and would also do so with a draw unless Iceland beat Croatia, in which case once more it will come down to goal difference and other tie-breakers.

After a goalless first half, Ahmed Musa scored a fine goal on a breakaway from an Iceland set piece, half-volleying home after controlling Victor Moses’s cross in the 49th minute. With a quarter of an hour to go Musa doubled the advantage, controlling a long ball from the back without breaking stride and galloping towards goal, beating Kári Árnason in the process. Having drawn Hannes Thór Halldórsson from his goal and seen the Icelandic keeper commit himself, Musa shimmied a couple of steps right and then blasted the ball past two covering defenders.

Iceland were then handed a way back into the game from the penalty spot, after the New Zealander Matthew Conger consulted VAR to confirm the substitute Tyronne Ebuehi had brought down Alfred Finnbogason. Unfortunately for Iceland, Gylfi Sigurdsson blasted the spot-kick over the bar.

For Nigeria’s first goal, the team broke on the counter and Ahmed Musa fires them into the lead on the half-volley. For the second goal, Musa doubled Nigeria’s lead with a fine solo goal.

It was a splendid goal from Musa. He took and controlled a long ball from the back without breaking stride and galloped towards goal, beating Kari Arnason in the process. Having drawn Halldorsson from his goal and seen the Icelandic keeper commit himself, he shimmied a couple of steps right and then blasted the ball past two covering defenders. And he did it all that at full speed – fantastic stuff.

The game between Nigeria and Iceland stayed at a goaless draw stalemate by the end of the first half.

After a couple of Icelandic crosses into the Nigeria penalty area, the ref blows for the interval. It hasn’t been a classic by any standards, but it’s entertaining enough. Iceland began and ended the half brightly, but Nigeria were impressive in between. Both teams are looking toothless up front and with better finishing, Iceland should be a goal or two ahead.

Both managers will, probably be happy enough with how their teams are playing, although both seem to be lacking quality in the final third.

Iceland get the second half started. Nigeria have made a change. Brian Idowu has been replaced by attacking right-back Tyronne Ebuehi. Nigeria begin the first half at a tremendous lick, with Oghenekaro Etebo brimnging a smart save out of Halldorsson with a low drive.

The first was also a terrific goal from Ahmed Musa. From an Iceland long-throw at the far end of the pitch, Nigeria cleared and galloped upfield on the break. Victor Moses sprinted up the inside right, before curling a cross towards the near post. Up in support, Musa controlled the ball with a wonderful first touch and slammed it past the Iceland goalie Halldorsson  on the half volley.

– By Ak Kingsley

There are at least four military related courses taught in the department of History & International Studies, University of Uyo and one of them is Strategic Studies. We were taught the importance of keeping certain security and defense information of a country strictly classified, at least officially, except for cases of media leakages, which would remain for eternity as speculations.

In one analysis, we discussed the defense information policy of the United States (in part), which since ‘God knows when’, has been the refusal to negotiate with terrorists (that’s the policy at least), or give in to terrorists’ demands. The aim is to present the country as a strong force always more powerful than terrorists. Yes, there are countless stories flying that the US government do negotiate with terrorists, but through constant denial by the government, the world has been convinced that any story of negotiation is propaganda.

That said, I consider it very inappropriate for the Nigerian government to negotiate with BH and proudly state same in public. Worse is when such information comes from both the Commander in Chief, whose personality is the symbol of Nigeria’s security and defense and Information Minister, who is the official mouthpiece of the country. The issue is basically not in the negotiations (even conflict resolution experts recommend it), but in publicly and officially admitting it. Such is the height of self damage, highly suicidal to the security and defense structure of the country. It connotes weakness, lack of simple intelligence on security issues and more terribly, a window for more insurgency to spring and thrive.

Logically, having proscribed BH being a terrorist group, common understanding tells one that the government does not align with (directly or indirectly) whatever the sect stands for, including demands. In that sense, it is a clear contradiction (hypocrisy perhaps) to not only negotiate, but give in to the demands of the same terrorist group as far as releasing some arrested members of the sect (as earlier reported) in the guise that they have repented. Given this level of parley with BH, one would question the potency of the proscription as well as the honesty in getting rid of these religious vampires.

As I have noted, it should give the government no sense of pride to announce that there were negotiations, because for such supposedly classified information to become a matter of public knowledge, adds to discredit whatever looks like credibility from the government in many ways. It indirectly tells people with terrorism tendencies that the BH way is a lucrative venture and easier way to parley with the government in perpetrating crimes against humanity and ultimately, it drastically downgrades Nigeria’s integrity in the eyes of the world.

While we do not look forward to reoccurrence of Dapchi drama (or movie as some say), I pray Mr President, information managers of the federal government and handlers of Nigeria’s security and defense, to mind the information that are allowed to emanate from official channels, lest we regret tomorrow. Meanwhile, may we never experience Dapchi and Chibok again.

God bless Nigeria!

I kept on explaining my argument. I kept on asking him why he had to resort to insults. I kept on telling him he was only insulting me because he didn’t have any good point to prove his case. And that was a good point to increase his assault on me. Today, he suddenly wants to be my friend again. Every single fear I shared about buhari has come to pass. He hasn’t apologized to me. He suddenly acts like nothing happened between us. That’s the trend these days. In fact, it is even more disconcerting in Akwa Ibom state. Some lad who isn’t your mate in anyway will insult you on social media but when he sees you he hails you “Obong owo” or “Ette Ufok” meaning “Boss”.

Some will even try to insult your sensibilities by trying to deny the insult. Now here’s the one that blows my mind, “Obong owo, mbok yom mkpo nno mien…” Boss please look for something for me. What else could you possibly look for them if not a hot slap?! Imagine the lack of conscience. Unfortunately, those are the ones our politicians always indulge with favours. So why won’t the assaults and blackmails on social media progress?

The other one that beats me is when elderly people fight dirty with younger people on social media and want to come out unscathed.
I’m talking about an elderly man who should respect himself engaging in a war of words with his children over politics. Such an elder should be ready to dance to the song he chose. You can’t play with dogs and not want your clothes torn our people say. Instead of checking themselves they begin to threaten the young one. So why the threats if I may ask?! Not that I’m supporting insults but truth is what we call insults are not in the true sense insult but mere African blackmail culture. For instance, if I tell an elderly person that he’s stupid or foolish or mad that is out right insult. It’s very wrong.

But in this clime of ours to tell an elderly person that he’s telling a lie which may be the truth on your part is said to be an insult. To challenge an elderly person in an argument is said to be insults. This I disagree. Else we shall all die in silence while falsehood and evil thrive. Because trust me, old people these days can lie! That’s how I engaged some elders of oro extraction in a WhatsApp group for attempting to peddle lies about the Akwa Ibom Politics and the Oro nation. Meanwhile, they’d been part of that politics right from inception without wincing a word for oro people until when they found themselves on the other side of the table. I challenged them to first accept their contributory negligence before seeking damages from others instead of declaring themselves saints and others demons. Of course it takes only an oro man to tell his fellow oro people the bitter truth that they cannot reject. Guess what.

My elders commissioned an investigation bureau on me. First they wanted to fault my origin. A very clean decent for that matter. That failed them. They tried to reach me by themselves and emissaries but I wouldn’t oblige them. So they resorted to blackmail. How I was insulting my elders, how I was against people, how I was this and how I was that and sometimes insulted me outrightly. I didn’t insult them in reprise beyond the insults they inferred from the truths I told them. I didn’t threaten them beyond the usual notification “ewa is typing…” And boy they were so threatened albeit harmlessly. I have been threatened severally myself by certain elements some of whom are now my friends. But even in our friendship I still remember that they once threatened me.

Anyway today’s piece isn’t about me, so back to this general insult and threat trend.
Threat to me is worse than insult. An insult at most could end in civil litigation but threats can always be twisted and exaggerated into criminal allegations cum prosecution if not persecution. In fact, someone privy to a vaguely harmless threat like “I’ll deal with you” or you’ll hear from me” can turn around to harm the person being threatened to incriminate the “threatener”
Threat here is not just from the elderly like one Bassey Etim doled out recently to my brother Endurance Johnson even younger generation engage in it. I think young people even issue out threats the most. This is virtual violence! It is prosecutable but very few people know.
Trust me, there are a concourse of inmates wearing these shoes at the awaiting trial section of our prisons and much more serving time for it.
Thus, it is crassly foolhardy for anyone to threaten anybody on social media where evidence abounds against him even when he thinks he’s deleted it.

Now for those on the receiving end of the threats. So many people have been harmed for taking threats lightly. The fact that someone looks too frail or old or appears too far to act his word doesn’t mean he cannot or will never do so. There are many ways to catch a monkey our people say. That’s why it is advisable for one to raise alarm once a plate of threat is served before one is forced to eat the whole meal of harm.
Do not support assaults on social media and don’t excuse it either.
Tomorrow it could be you by mistake. But come to think of it, how did we even get here in the first place and where do we intend to go from here I look up to God everyday.
No cheers folks