Eagles slump in FIFA rankings

Africa Champions Nigeria were surprisingly three steps down on the monthly FIFA Rankings released Thursday by the world football governing body as they dropped from 28th to 31st spot.

The Eagles played out a 2-2 draw against CONCAF Champions Mexico in a high profile friendly in the United States and also defaeted the Harambee Stars of Kenya barely 24 hours before the latest rankings by FIFA was realeased.

Despite the drop in the world rankings, the Eagles maintained thier status as the fourth highest ranked team in Africa behind Ivory Coast, Ghana and Mali.

Algeria, Tunisia Zambia as well as Burkina Faso, Central Africa Republic and South Africa completes the list of Africa's top ten teams

World champions Spain remained top of the global list, while Ivory Coast, 13th in the world, retained No 1 spot in the African rankings.

It is expected that the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup and the latest round of qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil will ensure plenty of movement in the next edition of the FIFA Ranking.

For the latest edition of the rankings, FIFA said the results of 30 friendlies up to 2 June were taken into account, while it said the results of the FIFA World Cup qualification matches on 4 June is to be included in the next edition.

VANGUARD

Nigeria beat Kenya 0-1 in world cup qualifiers

Nigeria winger Ahmed Musa scored a late goal to dim Kenya’s hopes of reaching the 2014 World Cup final to be held in Brazil after the Super Eagles won 1-0 at Kasarani on Wednesday .

Musa latched onto a through ball from John Obi Mikel to beat his marker David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng’ before beautiful chipping the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng’ in Kenyan goal.

The win now takes Nigeria back to the top of Group F with 8 points while Malawi are second on six after battling to a 0-0 draw with Namibia in a match played in Blantyre earlier on Wednesday.

Kenya, who had win to keep alive their hopes of gracing the World Cup final, started the match badly with defender Brian Mandela almost handing the visitors a quick goal in the 1st minute of the match.

The South African-based defender failed to deal with a loose ball after restart allowing Nigerian striker Brian Ideye to charge forward but the Super Eagles' star could not find the back of the net with keeper Ochieng’ to beat.

Five minutes later, Musa Ahmed beat the Kenyan defense but his attempt to pick out an advancing Sunday Mba was blocked by Brian Mandela.

The Kenyans were having a great time in midfield and Oman-based Jamal Mohammed was showing some awesome creativity though he appeared self-fish sometimes.

In the 10th minute with Kepha Aswani advancing towards the Nigerian goal, Mohammed hesitated and allowed the Nigerian defense to recover lost ground.

One minute later, Nigeria had their first free-kick which Chelsea star John Obi Mikel lifting it high towards the Kenyan goal and rested on the side netting.

Duncun Ochieng in goal threw the ball quickly to a running Victor Wanyama but he failed to keep it into play. In the 13th minute, the visitors got their second free-kick just near the Kenyan goal but Musa Ahmed's shot was defended well.

Kenya got the first corner in the 24th minute when Francis Kahata efforts to beat Efe Ambrose in the Nigerian defense ended in vain.

Ambrose was forced to come out and stop Kahata once again in the 29th minute after Jamal Mohammed had picked him out with a splitting pass but Stars could only get a corner from the effort.

Kepha Aswani making his return to the Kenyan team after a long time was a pale shadow of himself and he looked injured as he time and again limped. He never made any effort at goal allowing Vincent Enyeama to have a long rest in the first half.

Nigeria got their first corner of the match in the 34th minute when a goal bound Musa Ahmed was stopped in his tracks by David Ochieng.

Four minutes later, Ahmed's shot was deflected by Mandela and calmly picked by Duncun Ochieng’, who made a throw to Johanna Omollo and he made the first attempt at goal but his effort was stopped by Vincent Enyeama.

The Kenyans were gaining confidence as the first half wore off and Peter Opiyo made the second shot at the Nigerian goal in the 39th minute.

Nigeria got their second corner in the 43rd minute but it was the home team who ended the first half on a high note with Victor Wanyama coming close only to shoot wide.

The worst would come with less that 15 minutes left to play, Stephen Waruru giving away possession cheaply in the opponent’s third, a counter attack resulting in Ahmed Musa lifting the ball over an advancing Duncun Ochieng.

GOAL

Video - Civilians among dead in Nigeria offensive

Al Jazeera has obtained the first images of the Nigerian army's battle against Boko Haram fighters in the northern state of Borno.

The pictures appear to show the bodies of Boko Haram rebels and many civilians, including women and children.

The Nigerian army have been fighting the group since a state of emergency was declared on May 14 in areas where the fighters have been operating.

Warning: Some viewers may find the images disturbing.

Man arrested for attempting to sell son

The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Chisom Ihemebirim from Amuzi Obowo in Imo State, for selling his one and half years old son, Chidubem Chisom for N500,000.

The command also arrested one Abraham Ukaiwe, 27, from Asaga Ohafia in AbiaState said to be Ihemebirim’s accomplice in the deal to sell the boy.

Little Chidubem Chisom was said to have been sold to one Mercy Nwachinemere, 45, of Umudi Abayi in Osisioma, Abia State who has also been arrested.

According to the Police Commissioner, Mohammed Tilli Abubakar, little master Chidubem Chisom was recovered from the buyer.

Parading the suspects, Abubakar said his men moved into action following a report by one Kasarachi John, 23, from Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Council said to be the estranged wife of Ihemebirim.

Kasarachi John, according to the Police Commissioner, reported that sometime in February 2013, she had a misunderstanding with Ihemebirim, her husband which made her to leave his house.

According to her, shortly after, in March 2013, she received information that their son, Chidubem Chisom, has been sold by the father, Ihemebirim.

Speaking to journalists, Ihemebirim admitted selling the boy for N500, 000. According to him, he used the money to process documents he wanted to use to travel to Libya or Spain. He also claimed that he used part of it to renovate his house.

CP Abubakar said that the fraction of the money was recovered from Ukaiwe, the said accomplice.

The command has also arrested a female suspect, Kate Agharanya 41, for conspiring with one and Onyinyechi Nwogu still at large to sell a baby boy for N200, 000.

The matter the police commissioner said was reported by the mother of the baby, one Victoria Nwachukwu, 20 years, of Obazor Asa in Ukwa West area of Abia state who claimed that she delivered the said baby on May 6, 2013, at Chile Maternity Home in Umunka in Ugwunagbo.

Abubakar who said that the matter is still being investigated, announced that both Onyinyechi Nwogu and the unnamed buyer of the baby were still on the run.

Meanwhile, the Abia police Command also arrested and paraded four suspects for robbing a Catholic school, Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy [DMMM] at Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were Chimezie Omasi, Odinakachi Ugorji, George Ohia and one Confidence, whose surname, the police said was yet unknown. They were said to have robbed the occupants of the school at gun point.

According to the police Commissioner, they robbed the occupants of the sum of N350, 000 cash, four Nokia Handsets and one Laptop valued at N200, 000.

The police commissioner disclosed that when they were arrested the sum of N97, 200, some of the handsets, one locally made single barrel short gun, the laptop and un registered Ladies Motorcycle said to have bought on the same day by one of the suspects.

Vanguard

Catherine Dupe Atoki is first African to win Asian Peace Prize

A renowned Nigerian female rights activist, Mrs. Catherine Dupe Atoki, will receive the distinguished Gusi Peace Prize International for 2013 on November 27 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila Philippines. She would be the first African woman to be honoured with the laureate which is considered as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mrs. Atoki was recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as new director general of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), a position she has assumed after serving her full tenure as chairperson of the African Union Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR). She was also the first African woman to hold that position. According to the organizers, Mrs Atoki was nominated for the Gusi Peace Prize by Justice Yeung Sik Yuen, a former laureate of the peace prize for her significant contributions to Peacekeeping in the field of Human Rights Advocacy of the African Union.

The event which is held annually in the Philippines is said to be mandated by the country's Presidential Proclamation 1476 declaring every fourth Wednesday of November as the Gusi Peace Prize International Friendship Day.

Dr. Evelyn Gusi, chairman of the Barry Gusi Peace Prize Foundation, organizers of the event, who conveyed Mrs. Atoki's nomination for the award in a letter she signed said: "The Gusi Peace Prize Philippines and international committees have decided to award the Gusi Peace Prize International for 2013 to you, Honourable Catherine Dupe Atoki, for your untiring efforts, working for people's amelioration to find peaceful solutions for people's welfare through Human Rights Advocacy in the African Union."

Accepting her nomination for the award, Mrs Atoki expressed appreciation to Justice Yeung Sik Yuen for recommending her and thanked the Gusi Prize Foundation for their work for humanity. "I am indeed delighted for my nomination for this award; I thank the Gusi Prize Foundation for recognizing my modest contributions and as I look forward to receiving the award it is my hope that it would spur me into doing more for my country, the continent and humanity in general", Mrs Atoki said.

Daily Trust