Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Former African footballer of the year Didier Drogba has blamed Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir for Nigeria’s dramatic exit from the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.
The west Africans conceded a late goal, scored by Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo, to lose 2-1 to Argentina in a crucial Group D match
Nigeria went into the last group game, needing at least a point to advance to the next round, while the South Americans had to win to stand a chance of progressing.
Lionel Messi ensured his country started brilliantly by putting them ahead after 14 minutes, before the Nigerians bounced back, thanks to Victor Moses, who clinically put away a penalty in the second-half.
The Nigerians, thereafter, missed some descent chances of going ahead with striker Odion Ighalo the biggest culprit.
But with four minutes left in the regulation time, Marcos Rojo scored for the two-time champions to send their fans to a world of jubilation and Nigeria’s to the opposite direction, sorrow.
The referee had earlier rejected Nigeria’s shout for a penalty after Rojo had headed the ball onto his hand in the 18-yard-box.
The referee consulted VAR after the insistence of Eagles captain Mikel Obi but insisted Rojo had done nothing wrong.
However, Drogba, who was a guest analyst on BBC One, said the referee favoured Argentina unjustly with the decision not to award the second penalty.
“I think it’s a bad decision from the referee not to give Nigeria a second penalty. It’s the defender’s mistake – he didn’t read the ball well. It’s difficult to give the penalty because it would take Argentina out of the competition,” he said.
Comments
Post a Comment