Luis Diaz scored twice in quick succession during the first half, leading Liverpool to a dominant victory over Bournemouth at Anfield, putting them back on track in the Premier League.

Arne Slot’s side, who lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, thought they had taken the lead when Antoine Semenyo converted Justin Kluivert’s cross, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR for offside.

Liverpool responded swiftly, with chances for Diaz, Mohamed Salah, and Darwin Nunez.

Diaz eventually broke the deadlock, rounding Kepa Arrizabalaga to slot the ball into the net.

Just minutes later, he doubled the lead, finishing a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold by firing through Kepa’s legs.Nunez, making his first Premier League start since April, extended the lead to 3-0 with a stunning curling effort, his first league goal in over five months.

Federico Chiesa, in his Premier League debut, also made an impression, hitting the woodwork late in the game, though from an offside position.

Bournemouth had their own chance thwarted by the crossbar as they suffered their second straight defeat.

The win temporarily lifts Liverpool to the top of the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.

In a separate match, Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Chelsea inflicted a third consecutive home defeat on a lackluster West Ham.

Chelsea took the lead early when Jadon Sancho set up Jackson after West Ham’s defense switched off at a free kick.

Jackson then outpaced Edson Alvarez and slotted past Alphonse Areola.

Fourteen minutes later, Jackson doubled the lead, taking advantage of space to beat Max Kilman and score with a deft finish.

Chelsea sealed the win just after half-time when Jackson set up Cole Palmer, who fired home with precision.

West Ham felt hard done by after a strong penalty claim was denied following a tussle between Crysencio Summerville and Wesley Fofana.

Mohammed Kudus had a goal disallowed for offside, and Jarrod Bowen forced a save from Robert Sanchez after the break.

Chelsea’s win moves them within two points of league leaders Liverpool, while West Ham remains in the bottom half, just three points above the relegation zone.

The Presidency has refuted a report by Bloomberg claiming that Nigeria had delayed coupon payments on its savings bonds, affirming that all financial obligations are being met on schedule.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on his verified X handle, described the report as incorrect.

According to Onanuga, Finance Minister Wale Edun confirmed that Nigeria has sufficient liquidity to meet all its obligations and does not owe anyone at the moment.

He said Edun had affirmed that the country has enough funds to meet its financial commitments, with no outstanding payments.

According to him, Edun’s position was corroborated by Patience Oniha, Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Oniha said the Central Bank of Nigeria had processed all due payments as of September 19, with the payment due September 20 also being processed.

“Bloomberg is not correct with this report. Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, says that Nigeria does not owe anyone at the moment,” Onanuga said.

“We have enough liquidity to meet all our obligations. We do not have any outstanding payments.

“Director General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, also confirms that, as of September 19, the Central Bank of Nigeria has processed all due payments. The payment due today, September 20, is also being processed for payment.”

Specifically, Bloomberg’s report alleged that Nigerian authorities had failed to make timely coupon payments on two savings bonds, citing “system and processing issues” as the cause for the delay.

Bloomberg’s article claimed this was the second such delay in two months, involving coupon payments on two- and three-year debt sold in June, totaling ₦4.2 billion ($2.56 million).

Rwanda has launched Africa’s first mpox vaccination campaign, marking a crucial step in the continent’s fight against the disease.

As of Tuesday, 300 vaccine doses were administered to high-risk individuals in a border region near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), confirmed the start of the campaign, emphasizing the urgency of controlling the outbreak.

“This outbreak must be stopped quickly,” Kaseya stated, while also highlighting the importance of local vaccine production.

“We are working closely with manufacturers and partners to ensure these vaccines are produced in Africa,” he added.

The Rwandan Ministry of Health prioritized health workers, cross-border traders, hospitality staff, and other high-risk groups in the initial phase of the rollout.

The DRC, the epicenter of the mpox outbreak in Africa, reported 2,912 new cases and 14 deaths in the past week, raising its total to 6,105 cases and 738 deaths since January.

The DRC is set to begin its vaccination campaign in early October, with 165,000 doses already delivered and more pledged by European countries.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), called for global cooperation to contain the spread of mpox, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “International collaboration and support are needed to stop the virus.”

Other African countries, including Nigeria, have also received vaccine donations.

In August, the United States provided 10,000 mpox vaccine doses to Nigeria through USAID to support containment efforts.

The official dates for the Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Libya have been confirmed, Wavenewsng can exclusively report.

The doubleheader is set for next month, with the Super Eagles hosting the Mediterranean Knights for the matchday three fixture at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, October 11.

The return leg, a matchday four encounter, will take place in Tripoli four days later.

Nigeria currently leads Group D with four points from two matches, while Libya sits at the bottom of the group with one point from the same number of games.

As electorate prepares to vote in the upcoming gubernatorial election to select a successor to outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, security measures have been significantly heightened across the state.

According to Journalist, voters have already begun arriving at their polling stations.

Security personnel, primarily from the Nigerian Army and police force, have set up roadblocks on several major streets and roads.

In Benin City, military operatives have blocked both sides of the road at Agho and Joromi junctions along Ekenwa Road, causing disruptions for motorists.

Similarly, Oba Market Road, as well as Ebiwe, Forestry, and Mission Road junctions, have been secured by the Army and police.Further roadblocks have been set up by military personnel at Sokponba junction, Sapele, and Airport Roads.

Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) belonging to the Army are stationed at Akpakpava Road near the Central Bank of Nigeria.

As part of its youth talent development program, the Nigeria Football Federation has successfully completed a two-week training program for the National U15 Boys, otherwise known as Future Eagles in Abuja.

This is in line with FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS) initiative aimed at creating a sustainable legacy for long-term talent development in the country.

Head of TDS delegation in Nigeria, Mr. Nasiru Jibril, a former Nigeria international, said the program is a welcome development which will serve as a pathway for every child within the ages of 12-15 to showcase themselves and be discovered.

With the main goal of the TDS project being to help raise the standards of national-team football around the world for both men and women, which is driven by FIFA’s desire for a long-term dedication to global talent development, Jibril said he is confident the program will form the major plank for supplies to our senior national teams in no distant time.

“Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is a project initiated by FIFA in all countries of the world to benefit places like Africa.

Presently, we are trying to go round and give every single child the opportunity to showcase their talent.

Players from the ages of 12, 13, and 14 are the ones we are bringing to this center so we can pick the best out of them and build them into a group where the national teams will be getting supplies from. From 2025, the U17 AFCON will become an annual project, and if there is no program like this, any country may struggle in assembling the best legs to represent her.

” Also speaking, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U15 national team, Mr Patrick Bassey said the process of recruitment has been transparent with merit as key factor, without any form of bias or sentiments.

“In the selection of the players, there has not been any sentiment; every player that was scouted and brought here has the talent, the skill and the commitment to the game.

I believe these players will be very useful to the nation in the long run.

” A total of 120 players divided into two batches were invited to camp for the first phase of the program, with 40 players to be selected for another schedule before the end of the year, according to Coach Bassey.