Author: New Daily Prime

By Daniel Akinte Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of the one trophy missing from his glittering career begins as Portugal face DR Congo in their Group K opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Portugal will kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against DR Congo at Houston Stadium on Wednesday, with the spotlight firmly fixed on Cristiano Ronaldo. The Group K encounter is expected to draw worldwide attention as Ronaldo prepares to feature in what is widely believed to be his final World Cup appearance. For the Portuguese icon, this tournament represents one last opportunity to conquer football’s biggest stage…

By Daniel Akinte Lionel Messi once again etched his name into football history with a stunning hat-trick as Argentina began their World Cup title defence in style against Algeria. The 38-year-old produced a vintage display, scoring all three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 victory to guide the reigning champions to a perfect start in Group J. It was a night filled with milestones for the Argentine captain. Messi’s hat-trick took his overall World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing him level with Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. One of his three goals came from outside…

In 2025, after hearing of a minor girl who, alongside her two companions, has been trafficked to Gambia from Nigeria and later Ghana as part of an effort to earn a living in search of a better place in 2022, and who has miraculously returned home back to Nigeria, the New Daily Prime reporters, Helen Okechukwu and Fatimah Idera thought that they should obtain some firsthand details of the tough times she faced from the girl herself. In the early hours of 7 August, 2025, Newdailyprime journalists set out on a quest to interview the trafficked under-age minor, who has…

The British government is considering a new rule that could prevent thousands of students in England from receiving loans to attend university. Under the proposal, students may be required to have a passing grade in GCSE English before they can qualify for government-backed tuition and living-cost loans from the Student Loans Company. GCSEs are qualifications usually taken by pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland at about the age of 16. The proposed English-language requirement would effectively become a national minimum entry standard for students who depend on government loans to fund their university education. The plan could affect more…

by Ayomide Balogun  Defending champions Argentina launched their 2026 FIFA World Cup title defense in style with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J at Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium). Lionel Messi deliver a masterclass, scoring his first-ever World Cup hat-trick on his 200th appearance for his country.  The 38-year-old superstar found the net in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes, moving him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals and tying another scoring milestone. Messi showed no lingering effects from a recent hamstring concern, dazzling fans with his vision, dribbling, and clinical finishing.  Argentina, managed…

by Ayomide Balogun France got their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 victory over Senegal at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A bumper crowd watched as Kylian Mbappé stole the headlines with a second-half brace, while substitute Bradley Barcola added a delightful goal on his tournament debut. Senegal responded late through Ibrahim Mbaye, but it was not enough to spoil the party for France. The match carried historical weight, coming 24 years after Senegal’s famous 1-0 upset over France in the 2002 World Cup opener. This time, however, France showed…

By Daniel Akinte Argentina will kick off the defence of their World Cup crown against Algeria in Kansas City on Wednesday morning and the reigning champions are aiming to become just the third nation in history to retain the World Cup title. La Albiceleste have been drawn in a competitive Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. On the other hand, Algeria are making their first World Cup appearance since 2014 and the Fennec Foxes arrive with a talented squad capable of testing even the strongest teams in the tournament. Both sides know that a positive result in their opening…

By Daniel Akinte France and Senegal renew one of the World Cup’s most memorable rivalries when they meet in their Group I opener at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday. The fixture remains etched in football history after Senegal stunned defending champions France 1-0 on their World Cup debut in 2002 through the late Papa Bouba Diop’s iconic winner. More than two decades later, both nations meet again with hopes of making a strong start in a group that also includes Norway and Iraq. France arrive in North America among the favourites to lift the trophy and become only the third nation…

By Daniel Akinte  Senegal will head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup without the backing of the passionate supporters who have long served as their “12th man,” after many fans were denied visas to travel to the United States. Despite the setback, the Secretary General of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye Sow, remains confident that the Lions of Teranga can still make a significant impact at the tournament. Senegal is one of several countries participating at this year’s World Cup whose supporters have been unable to travel due to strict immigration restrictions imposed by co-hosts the United States. The Lions…

by Ayomide Balogun In a thrilling Group G opener at Lumen Field in Seattle, Belgium and Egypt played out a 1-1 draw on Monday, denying the Pharaohs a historic first-ever World Cup victory while highlighting the competitive balance in what promises to be an intriguing group. A crowd of 66,775 watched as Egypt took a surprise lead through a stunning strike from Emam Ashour in the 19th-20th minute, assisted by Mohamed Salah. The midfielder unleashed a powerful right-footed drive from outside the box that left Thibaut Courtois with little chance, marking only the second time Egypt had led in a…