News
AFCON In Doubt As Violent Protests Spread In Morocco
Though Organisers have insisted the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will go ahead in Morocco despite growing political unrest in the country, with the government’s investment into football a key criticism, observers are however,still in doubt the soccer fiesta will hold successfully.
Youth-led protests have taken place across major cities in Morocco, which have seen calls for more investment into healthcare, education and transport among the demands.
Last week, interior ministry spokesman Rachid El Khalfi said 409 people had been arrested in the protests, which have turned violent in some areas.
The government confirmed 20 protestors and 260 police officers had been injured, while some police vehicles had also been torched in the clashes.
Three people were also shot dead when attempting to storm a police station.
Protestors have targeted the Moroccan Government’s investment into football, with the country hosting AFCON from December 21 and January 18.
Speaking at the Confederation of African Football meeting in the Congo, the organisation’s president Patrice Motsepe insisted AFCON will go ahead as planned despite the current unrest.
‘We are absolutely convinced that the CAN will take place as planned,’ Motsepe said.
‘Morocco is plan A, Morocco is plan B and Morocco is plan C
‘CAF will co-operate and work with the government and all the citizens of Morocco to host the most successful AFCON in history.’
A total of 24 teams are set to compete in the tournament, with nine stadiums hosting matches across six cities.
Liverpool star Mohammed Salah is expected to be among the Premier League players set to feature for their nations at AFCON.
Morocco are also one of three hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
As part of the plans, the government is building a 115,000-capacity stadium, the Grand Stade Hassan II.
It is hoped the £3.7billion venue will be selected to host the final of the tournament.
The protests began on September 27, after the deaths of eight women in a maternity ward of a hospital in the city of Agadir.
Some reports suggested the deaths could have been prevented with better care, equipment and more staff.
Protestors have reportedly been heard chanting ‘No World Cup, health comes first’ and ‘We want hospitals not football stadiums’.
Demonstrators have held up signs drawing a comparison between conditions in hospitals and proposed World Cup stadiums, with one protestor’s sign reading ‘invest in brains not games.’
Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has been among the leading figures to offer support to the protestors demands in recent days.
International News
Transfer: Real Madrid , Cucurella Reach Verbal Agreement
Chelsea reliable defender, Marc Cucurella may join Spanish giant, Real Madrid before the end of the current transfer window.if information from transfer journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by.
Romano In a latest transfer update, said Real Madrid has reached verbal agreement to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.
“Verbal agreement in place between all parties, player too — he’s the left back wanted by Mourinho” the update read.
News
Hakimi, Vinicius Barred From Speaking Spanish At World Cup
FIFA has come under scrutiny after several high-profile players, including Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior, were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The issue first surfaced ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.
Despite Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, indicating he was comfortable answering in Spanish, event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.
Hakimi attempted to reassure organizers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session. A compromise was eventually reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.
The controversy intensified during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.
The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organizers to switch languages.
Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius opted to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.
The incidents sparked widespread debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish—a language spoken by millions across North America—was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.
According to Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA only provides Spanish-language translation services at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.
The policy has generated criticism online, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.
The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.
The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.
News
It’s Illegal’…Falana’s Bombshell Indicts Govs, FG.
Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, has warned federal and state governments against negotiating with and rewarding terrorists.
According to Falana, the practice is illegal.
He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.
Falana claimed it is public knowledge officials of the Federal Government and some State Governments have been holding meetings and negotiating with terrorists and bandits, which has led to thousands of ‘repentant’ criminals being forgiven and given cash gifts of undisclosed sums of money.
Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”
Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”
-
Health & Wellness10 months agoPresident Tinubu Directs Cut in Dialysis Cost from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000
-
News10 months agoPICTURE: In Lagos Couple Sentenced to 22½ Years for Cannabis Trafficking
-
Business3 months agoDangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Gantry Price To ₦1,200 Per Litre
-
Trending News10 months agoNELFUND Disburses ₦86bn To 449,000 Beneficiaries
-
Business3 months agoAfter Plea Bargain, Court Discharges Stella Oduah of ₦2.5bn Fraud
-
International News2 months agoIndian Police Arrest Nigerian Over ₦290m Drug Haul
-
Business2 years agoHeritage Bank Customers’ Path to Securing ₦5m Insured Funds: A Step-By-Step Guide by NDIC”
-
Business2 years ago
Dangote; We Did Not Fix ₦600/Litre Petrol Price
