South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, on Wednesday, beat Italy 3-2 to qualify for the Round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

South Africa’s Chrestinah Kgatlana’s scored a 93rd-minute winner in stoppage time to seal a second-round qualification. This is a historical feat for the South Africans as it is their first time ever.

Although South Africa led 2-1 with Magaia strike in the 67th minute, Italy levelled the scores after a crucial header from Arianna Caruso.

Italy needed at least a draw to qualify for the knockout round but Kgatlana’s late strike was the difference. The Africans finished on four points, behind group leaders Sweden. They join the Super Falcons of Nigeria in the next round of the tournament

South Africa’s Bayana Bayana will play the Netherlands in the last 16 on Sunday, while Nigeria will face England on Monday.

FIFA has announced that the 2023 World Cup prize money will be paid directly to the players — without interference from a third party.

In a viral video on social media, Fatma Samoura, FIFA secretary-general, said the policy change is due to unpaid allowance issues involving Nigeria’s Super Falcons.

During the lead-up to the World Cup, Randy Waldrum, Falcons head coach, revealed that some players are owed “per diem and bonuses” from two years ago.

The development caused a stir and almost affected the preparation of the Nigerian players.

However, in the video, Samoura acknowledged that “things have been tough” for the Falcons.

She added that FIFA — for the first time — will monitor that match bonuses get to the players directly.

“I know that things have been tough. We have to face the realities of Nigeria. It pains me a lot. It is because of you [the Super Falcons] that, for the first time, the prize money has been ring-fenced in the history of FIFA to ensure that it goes to you,” the FIFA secretary-general said.

FIFA had announced that every player participating in the World Cup group stage will earn $30,000.

The match bonuses will increase to $60,000 in the second round of the competition.

The Falcons have qualified for the round of 16 after finishing second in group B. Every player on the team will be earning at least $60,000 for the feat.

Nigeria is billed to take on England in the second-round contest on Monday.

[TheCable]

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are through to the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after a 0-0 draw against Ireland yesterday.

The feat means Nigeria is the first African country to have reached the World Cup knockout rounds in two successive finals as well as becoming the first African team to keep two clean sheets in the tournament.

Following their qualification, the Super Falcons are guaranteed at least $1, 380,000 (N1.1bn) in prize money to be shared amongst the players, a figure that could rise depending on their progress in the competition.

The money promised to teams that reach the round of 16 by FIFA will amount to $60,000 (N46m) per player when divided amongst the 23 Super Falcons squad members.

The nine-time African champions dominated the game from the blast of the whistle but were a bit wasteful and unlucky in getting the goal as the first half ended 0-0.

During the second half, Coach Randy Waldrum made the changes, introducing Monday Gift and Ifeoma Onumonu as he sought to get a goal, which failed to come as the game became stagnant for a while with both teams creating little in the closing stages.

In the end, the Super Falcons were able to hold off Ireland late in the game, settling for a draw.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of world football-governing body, FIFA, Ms Fatma Samoura commended the Super Falcons for reaching the Round of 16 saying their feat has brought joy to women’s football as a whole with their elegance and self-assuredness on the pitch, as well as African women football and the African girl-child.

“I must say that personally, I am proud of you. As you know, I am the first woman to be Secretary General of FIFA since the organisation was founded in 1904, and I am also an African. So, I am easily excited by any accomplishment that glorifies women’s football and African football.

“You have won one match here, as Morocco and Zambia, but you are the only team that has made it to the knock-out stage yet. I am also excited because when FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced my name as the new FIFA Secretary-General, I was in Nigeria working for the United Nations. So, Nigeria is a second home for me.”

[DailyTrust]

Paris Saint-Germain are planning to report Real Madrid to FIFA over what they deem a potential illegal tapping up of Kylian Mbappe, the UK Telegraph reports.

Mbappe is unwilling to extend his contract with the Ligue 1 champions beyond June 2024.

The extension clause that exists in the 24-year-old’s current contract expired on July 31.

As things stand, Mbappe will become a free agent in the summer of 2024.

There have been suggestions that Madrid already have an agreement in place with Mbappe, which will see the player pocket a €160million signing on fee if he joins the LaLiga giants.

Such agreements are banned by FIFA as they require a player to have been approached without the blessing of his current employers being sought first.

[NewsDirect]

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has claimed Manchester City is the only team that can realistically aim to win the Premier League title next season.

The Reds endured a poor 2022/2023 campaign, finishing fifth in the league and failing to win any silverware.

Ahead of the new season, Klopp has admitted that his team can only challenge City, who he rates at the favourites to retain their crown.

“Nobody besides maybe City can have the real target to become champions again this year.

“All the other teams fight for the Champions League and that’s what we do as well. The earlier you qualify for the Champions League, the higher you are in the table.

“If you are second and in striking distance to first then you might have a chance. I don’t know who will be there,” Klopp said ahead of Liverpool’s friendly against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

[DailyPost]

The Super Falcons registered five points to finish second behind Australia with six points. The Nigerian women will now face England in the last 16 after the Lionesses thrashed China 6-1 to finish as leaders of Group D.

The Lionesses of England on Tuesday thrashed China 6-1 to set up a last 16 clash against the Falcons

The Randy Waldrum tutored side defeated the Maltidas of Australia 3-2 to register their only victory in their group after playing out goalles s draws in their remaining two games against Canada and Republic of Ireland.

The Lionesses of England on the other hand made a dream start against China on Tuesday to settle any nerves as Russo fires a low shot into the bottom corner.

Russo started the move with a great ball down the line for Hemp who made a cross. James then set it back for Russo to bury it brilliantly past the China goalkeeper.

England soon after got their second with a a sensational goal from Lauren Hemp. Bright had picked up the ball in midfield before slotting it through for James.

The forward then spots Hemp in between the defenders, playing a fizzing ball into the Man City’s winger’s feet.

It’s then an easy run and finish for Hemp, which she takes delightful leaving England up and running.

Lauren James eventually registered her name on the score sheet for England’s third goal. It was a well-worked free-kick routine as Greenwood plays a ball to James on the edge of the box and she whips a first-time finish into the bottom corner.

The 21-year-old is having an exciting outing with a goal and two assists for the forward in this game.

The Chelsea forward tore China to pieces, scoring two goals and laying on three assists for her team-mates. Had it not been for VAR, which was more of a thorn in England’s side than China, James would have had a hat-trick.

The 21-year-old deserved one as she was simply unplayable here as the Lionesses well and truly clicked into gear at this World Cup.

This 6-1 victory over China secured them top spot in Group D and setup a last-16 showdown against Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday. On the evidence of this, England will take some stopping as they excelled with a formation that caught everyone off guard.

The belief before this World Cup was that Sarina Wiegman is reluctant to make changes. But faced with the major headache of having no Keira Walsh for this final group game, the Lionesses boss sprung a huge tactical surprise.

Wiegman made three changes to her starting XI, the most she has ever made for a game at a major tournament during her managerial career, and England lined up in a back-three.

The last time they did that was November 2021, when England won 20-0. This victory over China wasn’t quite as emphatic, but the Lionesses still ran out comfortable winners and sent out a message to their tournament rivals.

After winning their first two matches 1-0, the Lionesses looked like themselves again here in Adelaide.

The new 3-4-1-2 formation got them flowing in attack as all of Wiegman’s tactical tweaks paid off. The Dutch women’s golden touch has not evaded her since Euro 2022.

The back-three looked solid, with Jess Carter justifying her place. Captain Millie Bright also looked the sharpest she has all tournament and was involved in the first two goals, winning the ball and setting England on their way to scoring.

In midfield, Katie Zelem, starting her first ever game for England, was neat and tidy. She wasn’t Walsh, no one is, but she was a solid understudy who should get more minutes going forward.

Zelem kept it simple and let those ahead of her thrive, in particular James. The 21-year-old was the match winner for England’s win over Denmark last Friday and she was the star of the show here too.

James was the Lionesses’ spark and around her everyone shone. Rachel Daly had boundless energy as a left wing-back, causing China all manner of problems. In attack, Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp clicked as a front-two, with both putting sub-par starts to the tournament behind them.

Indeed, it was Russo and Hemp who put England two goals to the good within the first half an hour.

Russo’s goal came in under four minutes, when everyone inside the Hindmarsh Stadium was still working out what formation England were playing. Hemp got in down the left and her cross found James, who set it to Russo to score.

Just over 20 minutes later, it was Hemp’s turn. Bright won the ball, shrugged off another player and fed James. The Chelsea forward then found Hemp with a through-ball which split the defence. Hemp has looked short of confidence recently, but she raced through and slotted the ball home with so much composure.

By now, England were flying and James made it three just before the break. A free-kick was rolled to her on the edge of the box and she curled it first time into the bottom corner. Leah Williamson was right, James is a “cheat code”.

She should have had a second before half-time when she curled one into the top corner, this time with her left foot. VAR, however, baffling judged Lucy Bronze was offside in the build-up.

Shortly after half-time, Bronze was on the wrong side of another VAR call. This time she was said to have handled a goal-bound shot. A penalty was given and Wang Shuang made no mistake.

For a brief moment after that, it looked like China may rally. They had the vast majority of support here inside this 14,000-seater stadium and the goal got their tails up.

James, however, swiftly ended that comeback. First she volleyed one home with her left foot from a Bronze cross, and then she setup Chloe Kelly for a fifth.

England added a sixth late on through Daly and, for once, James wasn’t involved. By that point she was, literally, wrapped in blanket on the bench.

And no wonder, the 21-year-old is England’s new star.

[https://www.standard.co.uk]

Everton may still be interested in Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho this summer as Sean Dyche explores what attacking options are available to him.

The 26-year-old Nigerian international striker scored eight goals for the Foxes in all competitions last season.

And while Everton have a “mild interest” for the Nigeria international, “no approach has yet been made”.

That is according to BBC Sport, who report that Everton boss Sean Dyche has confirmed that the Toffees have missed out on some key targets this summer.

Dyche said: “It’s a tough market. 

“There is only so much that we can do, so we are working very hard – I can assure everyone of that – to construct deals that can work.

“There is no exact moment until it’s over the line. 

“There have been situations where we have been into where we thought we were going to get it over the line and we don’t – that’s the way it goes.

“A lack of goals is always a concern because you need to score to win games.”

[EagleOnline]

Holders the United States survived a huge scare to reach the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw against Portugal, who were unlucky not to claim a sensational win at Eden Park that would have taken them through instead.

The USA struggled to impose themselves against opponents ranked 21st in the world and appearing at their first World Cup, and Portugal almost won the game in injury time when substitute Ana Capeta hit the post.

Holding on for the draw means Vlatko Andonovski’s side finish in second place in Group E.

The Netherlands go through as group winners after a 7-0 demolition of a Vietnam side who were beaten just 3-0 by the Americans in their first match at the tournament.

That means pre-tournament favourites the USA will move to Australia to play a last-16 tie on Sunday against the winners of Group G, in all likelihood Olympic silver medallists Sweden.

Nothing about their performance here in front of almost 41,000 in Auckland, or in their two previous matches at the tournament, suggests the United States will find it easy going against a side who finished third at the last World Cup.

It is just the second time in Women’s World Cup history that the USA have failed to top their group, although on the last occasion, in 2011, they reached the final before losing on penalties to Japan.

They had never before won just one group game, and the regression from four years ago in France is striking.

That time they won all three matches in the first phase, rattling in 18 goals without reply.

Andonovski has insisted a youthful new team will need time to find its feet, but an urgent step-up will be required if they are not to be eliminated early in the knockout phase.

The US have never before failed to reach the semi-finals in the eight prior editions of the World Cup.

– Lavelle handed start –

Andonovski made two changes from the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, with Rose Lavelle rewarded for her game-changing role off the bench in that game with a first start at the tournament.

Savannah DeMelo made way for her, while Lynn Williams was brought in on the right wing as Trinity Rodman dropped out.

Portugal had to win to go through but played as if there was no pressure on them at all, with Andreia Norton shooting over early on and the lively Jessica Silva dragging a shot wide from a good position soon after.

They had more of the possession, and the much-fancied Americans struggled to match the intensity or aggression of a Portugal team who had beaten Vietnam 2-0 in their last match.

Starting a World Cup match for the first time, Williams found the going tough but did have her team’s best chances in the opening half, including a snap-shot in stoppage time that was saved by goalkeeper Ines Pereira.

The US started better in the second half but Andonovski was alarmed enough to call for Megan Rapinoe, the veteran replacing Sophia Smith just after the hour mark.

Yet clear chances remained at a minimum and there were some nervy moments at the other end, like when Naomi Girma was booked for a panicked pull on Silva late on.

There was more panic in the US defence in the first minute of injury time when Capeta, who had just come on, smashed a shot off the upright as the holders grimly held on.

One of the major sore points in the Nigerian story has been the negative role played by non-state actors in the making and the unmaking of Nigeria – those characters who drag the country back and down, those who seize state assets, those who steal our crude oil, the merchants of death and disgrace who denigrate and devalue the Nigerian green passport and collective humanity but there are also many non-state actors whose actions project the nation positively, reminding us that in the midst of the increasing mass psychosis in our land, the blood of humaneness still runs in some veins.

In this category, you would find the philanthropists – the men and women who give back to society and whose actions confront the rest of us with strong intimations of what it means to be human- Femi Otedola, Michael Adenuga, Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Mrs Folorunso Alakija, Otunba Subomi Balogun, now of blessed memory, Florence Otedola (DJ Cuppy), David Adeleke (Davido) and so on. While some of them may be associated with the state either directly or by proxy, a common link is the fact that they have shown a consistent pattern to identify with the downtrodden, the underprivileged, the poor and the down and out in society. I would place into this category the genuine non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are doing quality work as a bridge between state and society, certainly not those camouflage, profit-seeking NGOs that do more harm than good and whose clandestine purpose is to access donor funding for selfish reasons. They know themselves. It would be a most useful academic exercise someday to inquire into the role of non-state actors, in a comprehensive, detailed and objective manner to locate their roles properly within the matrix of nation-building: the diverse personas involved, ideologies and complexities, reach, influence and impact.

I have tried to draw attention to this as I reflect on my attendance at two events on Friday, July 28, namely, the Air Peace/NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame which took place in two parts: a morning event titled “The 4th Conversation: From Olympic Boycotts to Hosting the World – West Africa’s March to FIFA 2034”, which held at the premises of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) at Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos and in the evening, the Investiture of Air Peace Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, also in Victoria Island Lagos. The key objective was to honour Nigeria’s 1976 Olympics team and the 1980 Green Eagles African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Team. I had more than one reason to be at both events, but the part that is directly relevant to this review is the fact that I am an Associate Fellow of the NIIA, which by the way earned me a reserved seat in the front row. But to return to my earlier point about positively-oriented non-state actors, I begin by drawing attention to the fact that both events were supported and sponsored by Mr. Allen Onyema and his company, the airline known as Air Peace.

Onyema and his team, with the support of consultants – Chief Segun Odegbami, Z-Edge Consulting’s Kikelomo Atanda-Owo and others came up with a plan to honour the men and women who could not participate in the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Canada, because of the decision by African countries to boycott the Olympics. The boycott was as a result of the apartheid politics in South Africa and especially New Zealand’s Rugby tour of South Africa at the time. African countries chose to boycott the 1976 Olympics because the organizing body allowed New Zealand to participate in the Olympics. Africa had made it clear that it would not participate in the Olympics if New Zealand, openly supporting the racist, apartheid government in South Africa was allowed to participate. African leaders made good their word. Nigeria went to the Olympics but it was the first country to leave, followed by Kenya. In total, 27 African countries boycotted the Olympics. Their exit almost crashed the 1976 Olympics, and the city of Montreal, the host city alone lost over $2 billion. But the point was made. The protesting countries had made an ideological point: racism was unacceptable especially as the Olympics was being held shortly after the 1976 Soweto massacre which resulted in the death of over 100 persons. It was one special moment in African history when Africans spoke with one voice even if two countries- Senegal and Ivory Coast went ahead to participate. The effect of the boycott was that many of the athletes who had prepared so much to compete and shine at the event had their dreams aborted. They had to make the sacrifice because of the choice made by their countries. Filbert Bayi of Tanzania who had been Commonwealth Games and world record holder in 1500 metres, who was looking forward to the Olympics in 1976 was denied the dream of participation. He was in Nigeria at the Friday events. So was Ron Freeman, US Olympics world record holder in 4 X 400 metres relay.

The whole idea was to honour the heroes from Nigeria who did not even get a chance to participate in the 1976 Olympics because Nigeria had taken an ideological position, from a foreign policy end on apartheid in South Africa. The other set of honorees were members of the 1980 Green Eagles squad that won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) for Nigeria. It was a team that brought glory to Nigeria and unified the nation. On Friday, the joint forces of Allen Onyema’s Air Peace and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs came together to honour and iconize these forgotten, under-appreciated heroes. It was a beautiful town and gown collaboration, signposting useful lessons in private sector, non-state actor participation in nation building, and the value of soft, sports diplomacy and the expansive scope of an intellectual think tank like the NIIA. Allen Onyema provided the funds and the logistics. NIIA gave it an intellectual cover and allure and provided the grounds for actual and useful historification.

As I did before in this same column with the examples of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Otunba Mike Adenuga, I recommend Allen Onyema for special commendation. Many would remember him as the entrepreneur who continues to use his wealth to support helpless Nigerians. When Nigerians were stranded in South Africa due to xenophobic attacks in September 2019, he sent his aircraft to South Africa at no cost to bring the distressed Nigerians back home, without collecting a kobo from the Nigerian government. In 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, many Nigerians were stranded in many parts of the world, Onyema again dispatched his aircraft to rescue persons and deliver relief materials at no cost to the persons or government. Again in 2023, when crisis erupted in Sudan, Allen Onyema sent aircraft to Egypt to evacuate stranded Nigerians. At every point, he keeps showing that legacy creation is more important than the creation of wealth for profit motives. He told the audience at the NIIA on Friday, July 28, that he is motivated by love of nation, not wealth. “I cannot go to the grave with my wealth. It is better to use what we have to help our country and build a legacy”, he said. He got a standing ovation. He also received fulsome praise from Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former DG of the NIIA (1975-83), and former Minister of External Affairs (1985 -87) who described him as “a noble Nigerian with generosity in his DNA” ” and further from Professor Eghosa Osaghae of NIIA who described Allen Onyema as a man who is “redrawing the contours of non-state actors.”

The irony is that this same Onyema who was the star at the NIIA last Friday has not been properly honoured by his country. His love for Nigeria remains unrequited and yet he keeps doing more. His name originally appeared in one of those last-minute National Honours List by the Buhari administration, but it was eventually removed before the event. It must be that some clowns in the corridors of power thought he didn’t deserve to be so honoured and probably smuggled their own unknown, less deserving names onto the list and they now parade themselves as persons worthy of recognition. Nigeria is a country where the thieves get the crown, and the more honest people are turned into spectators. When people are asked to give to their country, it is only fair to expect the country to appreciate them in return. Onyema is probably too modest to demand the recognition that he deserves.

His joint operation with the NIIA in the area of sports diplomacy is pointedly the catalyst for this review. He and the NIIA at the risk of sounding repetitive have done so well, and I must now add to the commendation list Professor Eghosa Osaghae, an absolutely brilliant scholar, teacher and author who since his assumption of office as DG NIIA (2021) has transformed that place, and reinvented it as an intellectual power house for Nigeria. NIIA is Nigeria’s equivalent of Britain’s Royal Institute of International Affairs, or Chatham House as it is more commonly known, and America’s Council of Foreign Relations (CFR). These bodies do research, think for government and recommend policies. The NIIA has had an illustrious history under the watch of Dr Lawrence Fabunmi, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Gabriel Olusanya, Professor George Obiozor, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Professor Joy Ogwu, Professor Osita Eze, Professor Bola Akinterinwa and others, but Professor Eghosa Osaghae has brought a new dynamism to the place. For a while, NIIA became an events venue for book presentations, birthday lectures and all kinds of NGO events, a watering hole for photographers and people selling all kind of things, but Eghosa Osaghae has cleaned up “his father’s place” and restored it to its original glory established by “NIIA ancestors” like Professor Akinyemi who correctly stood in for President Olusegun Obasanjo as Chair of the occasion and did an excellent job of it.

Osaghae is a product of the finest tradition of scholarship, the Ibadan School of Political Science and he has in the course of his career distinguished himself as a teacher, prolific scholar, orator and administrator. His outlier qualities were on display on July 28 to the benefit of the institution that he leads. NIIA now has a transformed courtyard where there is a wall of fame, honouring all the heroes who missed the 1976 Olympic because they had to make a sacrifice and respect their country’s resolve to stand against apartheid in South Africa, and the 1980 Green Eagles who won the 1980 African Cup of Nations. The names of these heroes are now forever enshrined in a wall of fame at the NIIA courtyard. It is a long list – names like Modupe Oshikoya, Gloria Ayanlaja, Benjamin Omodhiale, Taiwo Ogunjobi, John Okoro, Chuks Abigide, Bruce Ijirigho, Dele Udoh, Dennis Otono, Emmanuel Okala, Joseph Erico, Mudashiru Lawal, Christian Chukwu, Godwin Odiye, Haruna Ilerika, Sanni Mohammed, Samuel Ojebode, Kunle Awesu, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amaesimeka, Sylvanus Okpala, Shefiu Mohammed, Baba Otu Mohammed, Felix Owolabi, David Adiele, Henry Nwosu, Okey Isima, Charles Bassey, Obisia Nwakpa, Davidson Andeh --- a long list of 57 names! Those names are now emblazoned forever on a wall of fame at Nigeria’s Institute of International Affairs, turning that foreign think-tank into a tourist/intellectual centre under Professor Osaghae’s watch.

The other high point at the morning event was the keynote address by Professor Idy Uyoe who gave a thrilling, engaging presentation on the theme of the day. He took us through the history of the apartheid, racist regime in South Africa and why Africans had to stand up in support of their long-suffering brothers in South Africa, the 1976 boycott of the Olympics, the heroic 1980 Green Eagles as the Super Eagles were formerly known, and then the question which he posed and answered: Is it possible to bring the FIFA World Cup to West Africa in 2034, and how? Uyoe kept us glued to our seats and the screen, the first event in the NIIA 4th Conversation series. It is most apposite that the organizers have started with such an important theme as the value of sports as a tool of soft diplomacy, but more importantly, the need to recognize the contributions of the nation’s sports heroes. In Nigeria, sports heroes are rarely remembered. Jerry Okorodudu, 1994 USA Olympics star died recently. His corpse was seized for a few days because his family could not pay a certain N600, 000 hospital bill. In 2019, multi-billionaire, Mr. Femi Otedola had to pay the medical bills of former international and coach, Peter Fregene. He also did the same for Christian Chukwu, who by the way was at the events on Friday in Lagos, looking good, now ageing well. Nigeria’s sports heroes deserve better treatment.

The more telling import of the day’s event was driven home at the evening investiture event of Air Peace Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors at the Eko Hotel and Suites. Having been duly told that pepper soup and jollof rice would be served aplenty, I showed up and stayed till after midnight. The intellectual part having been dispensed with during the day, Air Peace and Allen Onyema rolled out the drums. It was a night of fun, fest, felicity and feferity to celebrate our heroes past and the living legends that through sports did Nigeria proud. Many of them were in attendance physically, those who had passed were represented by family members. Time has passed. The year 1976 was 47 years ago. It has been 43 years ago since Nigeria won the Cup of Nations. Half of the heroes that were in the hall could not climb the stairs to the stage. Quite a few relied on walking sticks for mobility. It was an emotional moment. These were the same athletes who broke records in the prime of their time. These were the same footballers who once upon a time shut down the city anytime they played at the National Stadium and inspired the flowery, poetic genius of sports commentators like Ernest Okonkwo and Ishola Folorunsho. The best of them looked truly like time has passed. Allen Onyema and Air Peace gave them plaques of honour, decorated them with sashes of honour, gave them a cash gift of N1.5 million each, and free air tickets on Air Peace to their chosen destinations locally and internationally. There were mushy tears of joy! Oh, what a night, made even more memorable with interlude performances by Timi Dakolo, the Extreme Dancers, Chief Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, KCee and Ludareh Music. There was a lot to eat and drink.

Nigeria has an obligation to become a country that looks out for its best in all disciplines and provides for them even when they are past their prime, and this can be best done, through collaborations with the private sector. There are many more to honour. Well done, NIIA. Thank you, Air Peace.