A host of Nigerian X users are taking pleasure from the posts of the Confederation of African Football after the football governing body tweeted in some local languages of the country.
CAF joined a host of other people across the world in celebrating Nigerian trio Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie after they were recognised as the best players and goalkeeper in Africa on Monday night while also celebrating the Super Falcons team that emerged as the best Women’s team on the continent.
Osimhen was named African Footballer of The Year after beating Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to the award at a ceremony in Marrakech on Monday, with compatriot Oshoala winning the top prize in the women’s category.
Nnadozie beat fellow goalkeepers in the form of Moroccan shot-stopper Khadija El-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Olaminii to claim the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of The Year for 2023.
The achievement means Osimhen became the first Nigeria to win the men’s best player award for the first time since 1999 after Kanu Nwankwo claimed the honour. But for Oshoala, it was a record-extending sixth award and the first for Nnadozie.
In celebrating the Nigerians and the women’s team, CAF in a series of posts on their official X handle has been tweeted in Yoruba, Igbo and, pidgin languages.
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One of the tweets in Yoruba read, “Mo so fun yin o #CAFAwards2023”
Another tweet in pidgin read, “Naija full ground, Naija gather dey, Naija no dey carry last!”
Tweeting in Igbo, CAF wrote, “Osi na nwata buru ogaranya 1! Inspiring the next generation with greatness.”
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Reacting to the tweets, an X user, JosephOnuorah wrote, “This guy na one of us – Nothing anyone can tell me! Proper naija boy behind the CAF handle 😂 We see you bro 😎”
Klinsdon commented, “Admin where are you from? You speak Yoruba and now Igbo! 😂. This admin must be a Nigerian. You spoke our languages including pidgin English! I twalle for you jor! 🙌”
Aisah Baby added, “Globally recognised. Yoruba too sweet.”
Basking in the euphoria, Otunba GCFRN wrote, “Thank you #CAF_Online. Yoruba to the world!”
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Unjoerated Joe also commented, “Igbo to the world.”
One person died and multiple people were injured on a Singapore Airlines flight that experienced “severe turbulence” while heading from London to Singapore before it was diverted to Bangkok on Tuesday, the company said.
“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board,”the airline said on Facebook.
The PUNCH reports that the airline also on its X account, #SingaporeAir, confirmed the incident.
It posted, “Singapore Airlines flight #SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route.
“The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 1545hrs local time on 21 May 2024. We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
“Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft. More details at https://bit.ly/4bLqfCF. Regular updates will be provided on our Facebook and X accounts.”
The airline added that it was working with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance to passengers, and was sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed.
Turbulence during a flight refers to the irregular or unpredictable movement of air that causes the aircraft to experience sudden, erratic motions.
It is a common occurrence and can range from mild bumps to severe jolts.
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi had a “lot of blood on his hands”, the White House said on Monday despite Washington offering condolences after his death in a helicopter crash.
“This was a man who had a lot of blood on his hands,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, saying Raisi was responsible for “atrocious” rights abuses in Iran and had supported regional proxies including Hamas.
Kirby said, however, that “as in any other case, we certainly regret in general the loss of life and offered official condolences as appropriate.”
Earlier, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced on Monday five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash.
“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,”said Khamenei in an official statement a day after the death of Raisi and other officials in the crash in East Azerbaijan province.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assigned vice president Mohammad Mokhber to assume interim duties after the death of president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash a day earlier.
“In accordance with Article 131 of the constitution, Mokhber is in charge of leading the executive branch,” said Khamenei in a statement, adding that Mokhber will be required to work with the heads of legislative and judicial branches to prepare for presidential elections “within a maximum period of 50 days”.
Recall that President Raisi was confirmed dead on Monday after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country.
Raisi was travelling with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who also died in the accident.
Rescue teams had been scouring the area since Sunday afternoon after a helicopter carrying Raisi, the foreign minister and other officials had gone missing.
Early Monday, relief workers located the missing helicopter, with state TV saying the president had died.
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“The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,” state television said Monday, with Mehr news agency also saying he was dead.
State television broadcast photos of Raisi, with the voice of a man reciting the Koran playing in the background.
Iran’s vice president for executive affairs Mohsen Mansouri posted on X a Koranic verse used to express condolences.
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Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced a five days of mourning for President Raisi.
“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” said Khamenei in an official statement a day after the death of Raisi and other officials in the crash in East Azerbaijan province.