Nigerian Ambassador To Morocco, Nuhu Bamalli Dies @42

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, Alhaji Mansur Nuhu Bamalli, who also held the title of Magajin Garin Zazzau and was a Prince of the Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State, has passed away at the age of 42. Alhaji Mansur Nuhu Bamalli was the younger brother of the current Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Nuhu Bamalli. According to a statement from the Media and Publicity officer of the Zazzau Emirate Council, Ambassador Bamalli breathed his last at a private hospital in Lagos while on his way to Morocco.  The statement noted that details about funeral arrangements would be provided at a later time. Ambassador Mansur Nuhu Bamalli is survived by his wife and two children. His appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco came in 2022, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.  Prior to this role, he had served as a deputy director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

24 Countries Seal Qualification For 2023 AFCON

All 24 countries that will trade tackles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire have sealed qualification for the tournament. Five-time AFCON champions Cameroon on Tuesday spanked Burundi 3-O to complete the star-studded list of qualified teams. A breakdown of the qualified countries shows that 12 former AFCON champions, including three-time champions Nigeria will be on parade come January, 2024. Hosts, Cote d’Ivoire will be leading a strong West African contingent of 11 countries, including holders Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Burkina Faso among others. Tanzania representing East Africa returns for a second finals after a brave showing in the qualifiers. The North Africans are represented by seven-time champions Egypt, World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Egypt will be looking for an eighth unprecedented title, having reached two of the last three finals in 2017 and at the 2021 edition. There will be no debutants in this edition, as the continent’s football power houses managed to maintain and seal qualification. The 2023 AFCON will take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, after it was postponed from it’s original June, 2023 date. Full list of 24 qualified countries are: Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire (Hosts) and DR Congo. Others are Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco and Mozambique, Others are Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal (Title Holders), South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia.