The first confirmed Round of 16 fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will see co-hosts Canada take on Morocco after both teams secured dramatic victories to book their places in the knockout stage.

Canada advanced after edging South Africa 1-0 in their Round of 32 encounter, with captain Stephen Eustaquio scoring a late winner to end Bafana Bafana’s campaign.

Jesse Marsch’s men have already made history by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time and will now be aiming to extend their fairytale run when they face the Atlas Lions.

Morocco, meanwhile, overcame the Netherlands in a tense last-32 clash that was decided on penalties.

The North Africans fought back to level the score late in the game after Issa Diop cancelled out Cody Gakpo’s opener, forcing the contest into a shootout.

The Dutch suffered heartbreak from the spot as Quentin Timber, Crysencio Summerville and Justin Kluivert all failed to convert their penalties, sending Morocco through to the Round of 16.

The clash between Canada and Morocco is scheduled for July 4, with kick-off set for 6 p.m. WAT.

The winner will progress to the quarter-finals as both nations continue their bid for a historic World Cup campaign.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Adeshina, professionally known as Elegbeje Ado, is dead.

Elegbeje Ado who is also a pastor, died on Monday, June 29, 2026, after a brief illness.

He was 66.

The founder of Best of Nollywood Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, confirmed his passing in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

Oloketuyi wrote, “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Pastor Taiwo Adeshina, a beloved Nollywood legend.

“Your remarkable contributions to Yoruba movie industry and the lives you touched will never be forgotten. May God grant you eternal rest and comfort your family, friends, and fans. Rest in peace, legend.”

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, says it has rescued a kidnap victim and arrested a father and his three sons at Oba-Ile Akoko in the Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Adetunji Adeleye, Amotekun Corps Commander, made the disclosure while parading 28 suspects for kidnap-related cases and 15 others for criminal offences on Tuesday in Akure.

‎”Today, we have Usman, 33; Wahab, 27; Yakubu, 18; and their father, Iliasu, 56, arrested in Oba Akoko, Ondo State.

“Not only that, we equally recovered drugs, drinks, cigarettes and what looked like a camouflage used to cover the eyes of the kidnapped victim,” he said.

Adeleye explained that the suspects were arrested after the victim’s family reported the incident to the command.

The Amotekun commander, who said that the victim was kidnapped on his way to Oba Akoko, explained that the family arranged ransom without informing Amotekun.

“In spite of the ransom payment, the kidnappers refused to release the victim. They also threatened the family not to report the incident.

“This eventually brought the family to the Amotekun office, and we immediately swung into action. ‎

“At the end of the day, we found a family, a father and three sons directly involved, using cattle as cover.

“In the course of the operation, they (kidnappers) attacked our men, but we succeeded in rescuing the victim,” he said.

Adeleye also said the kidnappers tortured the victim with knives and cutlasses on the head, while the victim had been rushed to a nearby hospital.

According to him, Amotekun personnel were able to recover over 75 per cent of the ransom paid. ‎

“As far as the command is concerned, we do not encourage the payment of ransom. Since the money belongs to the family, it has been returned to them.
“In fact, we handed over all the money recovered at the scene to a member of the victim’s family for safekeeping, and we only brought it here for display,” he said. (NAN)