Writing this piece, I am aware that perhaps the biggest lessons and examples in leadership and management in the world today, trapped as it is in a season of crisis are better extracted from the Russia vs. Ukraine war, as well as the Israel vs. Hamas war that broke out subsequently on Saturday, October 7, and the concerted efforts by the international community to safeguard international humanitarian law, the body of legal codes guiding armed conflict. In this regard, we have heard the voices of President Joe Biden of the United States and the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, now on a frantic shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East, UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak also in the Middle East trying to make peace from Jordan to Israel and elsewhere. And the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, of whom Josef Stalin in 1943, legendarily, perhaps apocryphally, once asked: how many divisions does the Pope have?

The Pope incidentally does not command divisions. He wields strong moral and spiritual authority, and this is what Pope Francis has done by calling on all the warring parties in the Middle East, this last Sunday, to give peace a chance by respecting international humanitarian law. He has asked for prayers around the world today, Tuesday, October 17, for peace. It is a charge from the Pope for an urgent need for leadership in the world, in the face of the failure, if not the ineffectuality of the divisive United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It is not certain that anyone would listen. The same US that is talking across board, even via back-door channels to China, to rein in Iran, has sent in two military carriers to back up Israel, similarly in Europe the sentiment on official sides is pro-Israel.

Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister has vowed to “demolish” Hamas, the Palestinian militant group and inflict a long and prolonged war. Israel however faces war from three fronts: Lebanon from where the Hezbollah has already fired rockets into Northern Israel, and Israel has retaliated, and also from Gaza and Syria. The fear that the situation could escalate rapidly is well-placed. For more than 100 years, the world has tried to deal with the menace and the barbarity of war by creating structures for managing conflict. It would appear however that the prevailing logic is the position by Carl von Clausewitz, in his book, On War (1943). Clausewitz was a Prussian military strategist whose theory of state was perhaps stronger than his theory of war, given his argument that “war is politics by other means among states.”

The reality is that the world has been torn apart by this corrosive, selfish ambition of states couched in nationalistic terms or as patriotism but nonetheless most of the distortions of the last three centuries and even earlier have persisted. It is a throw-back to the selfish nature of man. Netanyahu, Mohammed Deif and all the other leaders involved in the current conflict claim that they are fighting for their own people’s interests. In doing so, they and their allies are not too keen about the humanity of others. Pope Francis’s intervention is a throw-back to the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949, the additional protocols of 1971 and 2005 and the guidelines of 2009, which taken together uphold the connecting, common Article 3 of the Conventions to wit that war no matter how tough must have a human face: there must be a humanitarian corridor, as the Pope demands, non-combatants, children, Prisoners of war, the sick and the wounded must be protected, relief providing bodies like the Red Cross, the Red Crescent and others must be allowed access to the distressed and the wounded. In the Israel vs. Hamas conflict, over 4, 000 persons have been killed, more than 3, 000 are injured, over 7, 000 have been displaced, and the casualties continue to increase. Hamas is still bombing Israel. Israel is insisting that hospitals in Gaza must be evacuated. We have seen similar barbarity between Russia and Ukraine. Before now, Russia not only cut off energy supplies to Europe, it also shut down the major global food supply route.

The story of Israel vs Hamas is about “terrorism, evil and hate”. In. 1917, the British, through Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour announced the establishment in Palestine of “a national home for the Jewish people”, and “will use the best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country”. With the fall of the Ottoman Empire, at the end of World War I, the British took control of Palestine until Israel emerged as an independent state in 1947/48. The objectives enunciated by Balfour have never been met since then. Israel has known no peace from Palestinians and the Arab States who object to its existence. The conflict between Jews and Arabs is more than a century old, dating back to ancient times, further made worse by conflicts over historical sites and monuments. Everything came to a head on October 7, with the surprise attack on Israel, on a holy day, 50 years almost to the day after a similar attack on Israel by Egypt and Syria, the Yom Kippur war of 1973. Since then, the world has been scrambling to manage the situation and find leadership. The conflict reminds us poignantly of the failure of leadership from Babylonian times to the British, the United Nations, and the reign of evil/hypocrisy in our world and the increasing helplessness, non-meaning and expendability of man, in a world driven by might and arrogance. Man qua man is the biggest threat to humanity, and world peace. The world has failed Israel, and also the Palestinians.

II. CAC And NIPOST

Our second lesson in management and leadership is local, and closer home and it has to do with the contrastive dramas that we have seen this week, at the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria (CAC) and the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST). In recent appointments, President Bola Tinubu reportedly changed the CEOs of the two government agencies. The reactions by the staff have been different, somewhat hilariously morbid and of a burlesque nature but useful all the same as case studies in management and the nature of man. On Monday, it was announced that the Registrar-General and CEO of the CAC, Garba Abubakar had been removed, and upon hearing the news of his removal, lawyers, law firms and staff of the CAC broke out in jubilation.

Lawyers accused Abubakar of messing up the CAC, even when no one knows what awaits the agency with the appointment of a replacement, Hussaini Mogaji (SAN). What I found even more shocking is the fact that yesterday, the staff at the CAC headquarters in Abuja recruited a musical band to celebrate the exit of their former boss. They put up banners and placards calling Abubakar an “emperor” and “a vicious tyrant”, and as the band belled out tunes, they danced joyously. They even prayed for the new CAC CEO and sang in praise of President Tinubu: “On your mandate, Tinubu, we shall stand” to pledge their loyalty.

They accused the former CAC CEO of being too wicked. Mr. Abubakar has not been given an opportunity to defend himself, and he may take all the staff complaints about his failure to attend to staff welfare, nepotism, high handedness, arrogance, abuse of office, backwardness and insensitivity… in his stride. But still I do not think that the CAC should become a hideout for closet politicians. There is a lesson here however, for all managers and chief executives. In the CEO Handbook, managers and CEOs are expected to be people persons, exhibit emotional intelligence and realize the simple fact that any organization is only as successful as its people. The complaints about Mr. Abubakar’s tenure by lawyers and CAC customers may have been a direct consequence of the former CEO’s disconnect with his own team. This may not be the first time this kind of reaction will occur. There have been reports of former CEOs who were not even allowed to return to the office to clear out their offices, after their departure. The banner at the CAC headquarters in Abuja listing Abubakar’s offences should be photographed and used as reference material in the teaching of management and leadership.

In contrast, yesterday, however, there was a different situation at NIPOST. The new NIPOST boss, Post-Master General/CEO, Tola Odeyemi whose appointment was announced on October 11, had gone to the headquarters to assume duties. The workers said they did not want her. They carried placards and blocked the gate. They insisted they preferred the former Post-Master General, Adeyemi Adepoju. Somehow, Ms. Odeyemi managed to find her way in at about 1 pm to meet with top Directors of the agency. Having been met with such hostility, and the pro-Adepoju sentiments of the staff, the lady rejected the seat that she was offered and chose to sit elsewhere. This one is clearly a superstitious appointee! If she survives the storm, she would be the first female to be appointed head of NIPOST, which by the way, is a moribund organization despite the massive assets it owns across Nigeria. But the staff seem to like the former Post-Master General. The uncertainty that now hangs over Odeyemi’s appointment is not helpful. Whatever may have recommended the former CEO to the staff as a good leader, the Presidency must quickly clarify the situation at the agency. Was the former Post Master General reinstated after his sack? What is his exact status today? Heads of MDAs hold their positions at the pleasure of the President, on whose behalf every appointee executes delegated authority. We can only hope that if Odeyemi survives her present ordeal, she would be confident enough subsequently, to sit on the CEO’s chair and endeavour to make the kind of difference that would endear her to the staff. Again, the personnel make much difference in any organization. They do the work. They write obituaries.

III: Nigeria Goes A-Borrowing?

One of the issues during the Presidential campaigns for the 2023 general elections was Nigeria’s debt profile. The point was made repeatedly that Nigeria ‘s debt burden was too high, but the Debt Management (DMO) kept insisting that Nigeria could in fact borrow more money, because we had a relatively low debt burden compared to other African countries. Those who should know argued then that the problem was that the country was borrowing not for productivity, but crass assumption. By the time the Tinubu administration assumed office in May 29, the debt profile had grown bigger with about 98% country revenue to debt service ratio. Subsequent disclosures showed that inflation was well over 26%, food inflation much higher, the foreign reserves was down to a paltry $4 million, equivalent of just 4 months of imports, the country’s unemployment rate was over 36%, later reviewed strangely downwards, through voodoo methodology. But more persons had slipped into multidimensional poverty. By the time President Tinubu took key steps in the economy: removal of fuel subsidy, that the Buhari administration tactfully dodged, and the harmonization of the foreign exchange regime, our nightmare was complete.

To address this, the government of the day has been busy announcing palliatives and loans, up to about N3. 27 trillion that would be used to alleviate the suffering that has descended heavily on the land: as follows: N200 billion to boost agriculture, N75bn for manufacturers, N125 bn for MSMEs and the informal sector, N185 billion as palliatives for states, N1 trillion as student loans, N315 billion to pay federal workers allowances for six months, N1. 13 trillion to 15 million households at N25, 000 for 3 months, N100 billion to acquire 3, 000 units of 20-seater CNG fuelled buses, N70 billion as palliative for lawmakers, N75 billion loan for market women… and so on. The way this Nigerian government has been announcing a spending spree of billions since June 2023 is frightening. Wale Edun, the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy has said the country will no longer rely on Ways and Means. So where is the money to run the economy and fund wastage and leakages coming from? Even the IMF/World Bank, at their recent Annual Summit in Marrakech, Morocco while praising recent reforms in Nigeria have said openly that the Naira is under pressure, with inflation at 26% year on year, and while reviewing Nigeria’s growth projection downwards, advised that Nigeria has to tighten monetary policy and address its foreign exchange to build trust and confidence. IMF says it is willing to lend Nigeria money if it is approached by Nigerian authorities. May we not end up like Sri Lanka and Venezuela. And Ghana next door.

The truth is that we have been on a borrowing spree since June 2023: $449 million in IBRD loan and $301 million IDA credit totalling $750 million, $500 million from the World Bank to invest in improving livelihoods of Nigerian women; in July, it was further reported that Tinubu’s administration is to take $800 million pre-approved loan to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, by September 2023, within three months, Nigeria had borrowed $1.95 bn from the World Bank. By last weekend, it was reported that Nigeria was poised to borrow an additional fresh loan of $1.5 billion from the World Bank, what is otherwise called HOPE loan. Who is going to pay? Hope? How? The projected revenue of N10 trillion for 2023 cannot support fresh borrowings. The Senate has asked the government to bring a supplementary 2023 budget, nobody has said anything, perhaps because the lawmakers themselves have been allocated N70 billion for expensive SUV vehicles. Yesterday was World Food Day, food inflation in Nigeria is above 24%, much higher in some of the states. And yet on top of it all, the government continues to make appointments on a daily basis, driving up the cost of governance. One or two Governors have more than 50 media aides, most of them bearing the same titles, doing nothing.

Is the Tinubu government planning to run the country by borrowing? Some commentators have praised the choice of President’s economic managers: Wale Edun – Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Yemi Cardoso – Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and National Planning, but all the praise from the international community about suitability just because these managers appear to be dancing to the tunes of the neo-liberal economists at the IMF and the World Bank would be of no use to Nigeria, if the average citizen can no longer eat bread or corn. Nigerians cannot be fed with rhetoric and platitudes. Can we stop the grandstanding, and do real work? It is a question of management and leadership.

India, MumbaiCricket will be one of five new sports added to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, organisers revealed Monday.

Cricket, along with baseball/softball, flag football, squash, and lacrosse, was authorised by the International Olympic Committee’s session in Mumbai.

The IOC’s executive board last week accepted a proposal by LA organisers for Twenty20 cricket, the sport’s shortest format, to be included along with the four other new events.

But the final choice still had to be voted on Monday at the IOC session in Mumbai, one of the global centres for cricket, as India hosts the men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup.

Los Angeles chiefs have proposed a six-team event, in both men’s and women’s T20 cricket.

The United States is set to field sides as the host nation, but no firm decision has been made on the number of teams, or how they will qualify.

Cricket last featured at the 1900 Paris Olympics, when a team from Britain beat a side representing France.

Adding cricket to the Olympic programme is an obvious move, financially speaking.

It would tap into the lucrative South Asian market, attracting fans in countries such as India and Pakistan.

The Indian Premier League, featuring cricket’s global stars, has helped India become the unquestioned economic driving force of the sport, thanks to legions of fans and lucrative broadcasting deals in a nation where the game is almost a religion.

[OpinionNigeria]

Victor Osimhen has returned to his base in Italy as the Super Eagles striker awaits the scan result of the  hamstring injury he suffered during Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia at the weekend.

Osimhen was replaced in the 55th   minute due to a hamstring injury and he has been ruled out from today’s friendly against Mambas of Mozambique.

But  decent sources at the Super Eagles camp yesterday informed that the result of the MRI  scan conducted in Portugal is expected  today even as the player has  jetted out to his base in  Naples for further evaluation by his Italian club, Napoli.

“We should have a clearer picture about the extent of the hamstring injury by Monday,” a source told NationSport.

[Nation]

Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho commited a howler in the Super Eagles friendly match against the Saudi Arabia’s Green Falcons at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão in Portugal which ended in a 2-2 draw and his performance has left fans with concerns as the AFCON tournament approaches.

Nigeria began the match on the front foot, with early chances from star players like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze. However, they couldn’t capitalize on these opportunities, and the game headed to halftime with a score of 0-0.

The turning point came in the 60th minute when Salam Al-Faraji scored a free kick for Saudi Arabia largely due to an attempted clearance from Uzoho who sent the ball into his own net.

In the 83rd minute, Nigeria managed to equalize as an own goal by Saudi defender Al Amri tied the game. Iheanacho then scored a powerful goal from outside the box in the 91st minute, putting Nigeria ahead. However, just when victory seemed within reach, the Super Eagles conceded another free kick on the edge of the box during added time as the strike from Mohamed Kanno deflected off Calvin Bassey and go the opposite direction of Uzoho’s dive.

Since the exit of Carl Ikeme, Nigeria’s goalkeeping department has been struggling to find a suitable replacement. South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi was the target of severe criticisms on social media as the Super Eagles emerged third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in July.

Maduka Okoye, who was in goal when Nigeria lost to Tunisia in the last-16 of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, was hounded by Nigeria fans on social media with comments ranging from trolling over his looks to death wishes upon him and his loved ones.

Uzoho’s performance has come under scrutiny, especially considering that he conceded two free-kick goals in this match.

Eagles coach Jose Peseiro defended Uzoho, suggesting that the goalkeepers were under tremendous pressure from fans. He pointed out the inconsistency in criticizing goalkeepers while other players who make mistakes are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny.

“When I arrived here, I remember I was told to change the goalkeeper. I spoke with all of them, No one feels comfortable because everybody attacked them.

“I like our players, when they make mistakes it is my responsibility. The goalkeepers never play free or calm because of the people. I don’t know why they attack the goalkeepers every time,” he said.

“Why don’t they attack the strikers when they lose the ball or miss a goal, why? They could make mistakes, it is my responsibility. Next time I need to train him (Uzoho) better.”

Legendary Nigerian goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, expressed his bewilderment at Uzoho’s performance and the team’s selection in general saying, “I am also wondering how he could have conceded two free-kick goals.

“As fans though, if the coach and others who are responsible present a team for us and their selection proves wrong, they deserve to be questioned.”

Another ex-Nigerian goalkeeper Joseph Dosu was disappointed with Peseiro’s comments on Nigerians reactions to the goalkeeping errors.

“I am not sure I should say anything after what coach Peseiro has said after the game. He said Nigerians are the problem of his goalkeeping area so if he can say that, I leave his statement for them to decide on.

“If we have a national team and we cannot say one or two thinigs against our national team, that means we are not even in Nigeria anymore. For such performance, and the coach can come out and say Nigerians are the problem of our own national team, that means we are not allowed to talk anymore,” Dosu said.

Fans on social media also criticized Uzoho’s lack of regular playing time for his club and questioned the decision to field him in the match.

Journalist Ikenwa Nnabuogor wrote, “In the beautiful game, you leave regular competitive football for a day, it leaves you for a week. You can’t give what you don’t have, it’s no rocket science to know this. Francis Uzoho is bound for such a howler, he’s not playing regularly for his club, been out of the sticks in his club since 20 May 2023 and our dear good old Jose Peseiro hauled him into the game fantastically match rusty.”

A Nigerian, Godwin Antai compared Uzoho with United goalkeeper Andre Onana who is currently enduring a poor run writing, “Nigeria should have even won the game but Uzoho decided to turn Onana on the day.”

Yayah Lukman wrote that he feels the Nigerian captain Wilfried Ndidi wanted to slap Uzoho for the mistake that led to the firs goal, “Ndidi reaction like make him slap uzoho aswear.”

Another Nigerian with the handle @oyimzy believes that Nigeria needs a new man between the sticks before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

“Three Months to the start of AFCON and I’m already having flashbacks of Ghana WC qualifier, if Super Eagles want to go far in Ivory Coast then we need to get a proper goalkeeper now. None of this Francis Uzoho nonsense!” he wrote.

Manchester United fans who remembered his heroic night where he made 12 saves against the Red Devils in a 1-0 win for United at Old Trafford in the Europa league last season took to social media to blast the goalkeeper.

That display led to the 24-year-old nominated for Europa League player of the week, with United ending up second in the group and forced to play two knock-out playoff fixtures by matter of a single goal.

One fan wrote, “I can’t believe that’s the same Francis Uzoho in goal for Super Eagles.”

“The same guy decided to become (Manuel) Neuer and force us to play 2 more games for no reason,” a second added.

A third wrote, “Only when he keeps against Man Utd you’d see a stellar performance from Uzoho… funny dude.”

As the AFCON tournament approached, it has become clear that the Super Eagles need to address their goalkeeping concerns. Prospects like Hapoel Jerusalem’s Adebayo Adeleye and LASK’s Tobias Lawal should be considered as potential solutions to bolster the goalkeeping department.

These concerns reflect the team’s need for stability and reliability in one of the most critical positions on the field.

[Punch]

Black Stars of Ghana on Sunday succumbed 2-0 to Mexico’s El Tri in an international friendly

This is the first of two international friendlies the Black Stars are engaging in as they are currently touring the United States as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to begin in November.

The four-time African champions started the game on a good note launching early attacks.

Mexico, however, reclaim dominance of the match from the 25th minute onward.

PSV Eindhoven star Hirving Lozano broke the deadlock in the 57th minute to put Mexico in front.

El Tri then extended their lead in the 72nd minute through Atuna, who took advantage of a counter-attack.

Ghana struggled to penetrate Mexico’s high defensive line for a foam with Atuna capitalizing on an error in the 72nd minute to secure the second goal and seal victory for Mexico.

Ghana will now shift their attention to their second friendly against the United States on Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Going by the loss, Ghana are now winless in four games against Mexico’s El Tri with a 6-1 aggregate scoreline and failed to record a shot on target.

[Vanguard]

Logan Paul has defeated MMA fighter Dillon Danis by disqualification after their six-round heavyweight grudge match ended in a mass brawl at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday night.

The final round escalated into chaos when Danis attempted to take Paul down with a guillotine move and Paul tried to punch his opponent while on the ground.

Initially, the incident brought one security guard into the ring, but he was promptly followed by more than 30 others with Danis starting to throw punches at them, and even Jake Paul getting involved, while Logan stood on the ropes celebrating.

‘El Jefe’ Danis has been relentlessly trolling Paul’s fiancee Nina Agdal on social media ever since the fight was announced and it eventually spilled over in the final round in a chaotic and controversial ending.

Paul, wearing pink shorts, boxed on the outside and at range, while Danis took the centre of the ring in a cagey opening round.

Paul won his Misfits heavyweight fight against Danis at the AO Arena after it descended into chaos.

Paul, 28, then opened up late in the next, unloading with a series of crushing body shots which Danis managed to soak up.

Danis threw a couple of backhand shots before lying flat on the canvas taunting his rival. It had Paul and the crowd frustrated and agitated at what resembled a pantomime, rather than a pay-per-view fight.

Danis had never competed in a boxing match before, with his experience instead coming in jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts, although he has not fought in MMA in four years, and he only has two professional bouts to his name.

The 30-year-old was set to fight KSI months ago but withdrew, but he got his crack at Logan Paul, whose only pro fight defeat came against KSI.

Paul, who has over 23 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, won easy fourth and fifth rounds with his opponent just looking to avoid the knockout, while Danis was deducted a point in the final round for trying to wrestle Paul to the ground before the brawl broke out.

The official result of the fight is a win for Logan Paul by disqualification.

[Leadership]

Qatari Billionaire, Sheikh Jassim has withdrawn from the race to buy Manchester United from the Glazers family.

The Qatari businessman has been competing with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe to buy United after the Glazers put the club up for sale last November but new reports say the Glazers took United off the market last month after realising that neither interested party would meet their £10 billion valuation.

Sheikh Jassim had a £5bn offer for a complete takeover of United rejected earlier this year, while Ratcliffe, the petrochemicals billionaire, had considered buying a minority stake.

Both Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe had retained their interest, despite the Glazers’ high valuation, but the Qatari billionaire has now pulled out of the race.

‘Sheikh Jassim has had further discussions with Glazers family to buy 100 per cent of Manchester United,’ transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel on Saturday, October 14.

‘Sheikh Jassim’s bid proposition has been rejected again by Glazers family. As a result, Sheikh Jassim informed Glazers that he’s ready to withdraw from the process.

‘Sheikh Jassim has presented fully cash bid, clearing all old debt, with zero new debt, for 100% of the club.

‘Sheikh Jassim’s team decline to comment on this news citing ‘confidentiality restrictions’, but have confirmed they’ve withdrawn from the process.’

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has vowed to return to the octagon after announcing that he is taking a break from the UFC.

Israel Adesanya decided to embark on the break about a month after he lost his Middleweight belt to an underdog, Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia.

His defeat to the 32-year-old American mixed martial artist is said to be the biggest upset in MMA history.

The 34-year-old Nigerian-born Australian fighter said his break from UFC is to help him refocus, change his way of life, and prepare for the future after suffering his third competitive loss in the UFC.

“I’m not making any excuses. Strickland got me on the night because he was the better fighter on the night, and he did his work well. He had a good team behind him. Now I’m going to take time to look after myself. I’m not going to fight for a long time. I’m definitely not going to retire, because that’s not me,” Adesanya told The Rock FM.

“But if I did, I’m fine. I don’t need to prove anything else. But I know what I can do, and I know what I can change in my lifestyle to make my body adapt to where I need to be. I’m going to heal myself up, you won’t see me fight for a long time.”

He added, “Four fights in the last 14 months, takes a toll on your body.

“I’m just going to take my time to heal, and then when I come back, f**king run for the hills”.

Israel Adesanya revealed that Khamzat Chimaev could have been his opponent at UFC 294, but his team declined the opportunity due to his sabbatical.

On Saturday, October 21, the unbeaten Chimaev will face fellow Nigerian fighter Kamaru Usman instead.

Meanwhile, Adesanya admitted guilty to charges of drunk driving in New Zealand and now faces a sentence of up to $2,680 in fines or three months in jail.

On August 19, Adesanya was stopped, and it was found that he had a blood alcohol level of 87 milligrams per 100 milliliters. The legal limit in New Zealand is 50 milligrams.

He will go back to court on January 10 to receive his punishment.

[NaijaNews]

In a thrilling night of football, three national teams secured their qualification for the 2024 European Championship, as France, Portugal, and Belgium emerged victorious in their respective matches.

France, led by star forward Kylian Mbappe, overcame the Netherlands with a 2-1 victory to secure their spot in the Euro 2024 finals. Mbappe, who played a pivotal role, scored twice, with the first goal coming just seven minutes into the match.

He added another early in the second half, while Quilindschy Hartman scored a consolation goal for the hosts late in the game. France has maintained a perfect record, winning all six Euro qualifying matches, confirming their place in the tournament with two matches to spare.

Belgium secured their qualification with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Austria. The match in Vienna was a winner-takes-all contest, and Belgium emerged victorious to top Group F with 16 points, securing their place in the finals. The match was intense and closely contested, but Romelu Lukaku’s performance helped Belgium win.

Portugal also secured their qualification to the Euros after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Slovakia. Goncalo Ramos opened the scoring for Portugal, and Cristiano Ronaldo added two goals, including one from the penalty spot. David Hancko and Stanislav Lobotka scored for Slovakia, but Portugal held on for the win. Portugal won all their qualifying matches, and they join France, Belgium, and Germany as the teams qualified for Euro 2024.

The competition promises to be an exciting showdown, with these three strong teams booking their places in the tournament.