World Cup fever is well and truly on and the hosts will be hoping the feel-good factor continues as the Russian football team battle the odds today when they face their biggest challenge to date in one of the pre-tournament…
Morocco is first country to report referees to FIFA (Guardian)
Morocco yesterday became the first country to take its case against officiating at the on-going World Cup to football governing body, FIFA. Morocco, which was in group B of the competition in Russia, complained that a series of officiating mistakes…
Russia is preparing for war, British military experts warn (Mirror)
Russia is preparing for war, a top Defence Minister warned senior military officers on Wednesday. Tory Mark Lancaster insisted the Kremlin was getting ready for conflict after learning lessons from recent battles it has fought. And the new head of…
British men thrown off World Cup train to Volgograd after one ‘grabs at police officer’s gun’ (Independent)
Two British men have been removed from a train travelling to the Russian city of Volgograd, where England were due to play their opening match in the World Cup. The pair were charged with minor hooliganism and being drunk in…
Super Eagles and Marcus the pig at the World Cup -Reuben Abati
There has been nothing in recent memory like the build up to Nigeria’s first match at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia. Football is Nigeria’s greatest unifier: when it is football, our compatriots drop all ethnic, religious…
Russia’s World Cup headache: Keeping it safe, keeping it fun (FoxNews)
When a taxi driver suddenly rammed into pedestrians near Red Square, despite intense security measures around Russian cities for the World Cup, fans and other visitors asked themselves: Are we safe? Moscow authorities insist Saturday’s taxi crash was an accident,…
Russia, Saudi Arabia kick off FIFA World Cup action (Nation)
The World Cup kicked off in Russia on Thursday as years of preparations dogged by diplomatic scandals gave way to a month-long feast of action on the field. Russia got the ball rolling against Saudi Arabia at the completely refurbished…
Kanu Nwankwo robbed of $11,000 at Russia airport (Punch)
Former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu had $11,000 (9,300 euros) stolen from his suitcase at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on his way to playing in a friendly match organised by FIFA, TASS reported. Kanu, 41, who captained the Nigerian national team and…
Russian cabinet resigns after Putin’s inauguration (Concise)
Russia’s cabinet resigned after President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration for a new presidential term, the government press service said in a statement on Monday. “Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an order on the Russian government’s resignation,” the government said. Presidential elections…
*Obasanjo meets Kwankwaso, Duke, Agbakoba, 35 parties in Lagos (Punch) * Ambode, others for International Day of Happiness (Nation)
THISISLAGOS MIDDAY NEWS UPDATE MARCH 18, 2018 Obasanjo meets Kwankwaso, Duke, Agbakoba, 35 parties in Lagos (Punch) Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and some political parties have been meeting as part…