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France End Africa’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Dream as Mbappe, Dembele Knock Out Morocco

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France brought Africa’s remarkable FIFA World Cup 2026 journey to an end with a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco in Thursday’s quarter-final at Boston Stadium, booking their place in the last four.

The Atlas Lions, Africa’s final representatives in the tournament, held their own in a goalless first half before Didier Deschamps’ side shifted gears after the break.

Kylian Mbappe finally broke Morocco’s resistance in the 60th minute, firing home after seeing an earlier penalty saved.

Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembele doubled France’s advantage to put the contest beyond the North Africans.

France controlled possession and created the better chances throughout the match, finishing with 20 attempts on goal while limiting Morocco’s attacking threat.” alt=”” width=”240″ height=”300″ data-lzl-=”” data-lzl-src=”https://plateaureports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1783658886_25_France-End-Africas-FIFA-World-Cup-2026-Dream-as-Mbappe.jpg” />

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced several fine saves to prevent an even heavier defeat.

Morocco, who became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in Qatar four years ago, were unable to reproduce another historic run as their campaign ended in the last eight.

The victory sends France into a third consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final, where Les Bleus will continue their pursuit of a second world title in three tournaments.

For Morocco, the defeat signals the end of Africa’s challenge at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the disappointment, the Atlas Lions once again showcased the continent’s growing competitiveness on football’s biggest stage, reaching the quarter-finals and eliminating several top sides along the way.

France now stand just two victories away from reclaiming the FIFA World Cup trophy.

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Puma, Persianas Retail And The National Sports Commission Launch The Puma Afrobeat House For Team Nigeria At The 2026 Commonwealth Games

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Persianas Retail Limited (PRL), PUMA’s official partner in Nigeria and one of the country’s leading sports and lifestyle retailers, has opened the doors of the PUMA Afrobeat House in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC). The dedicated hospitality and cultural hub was created for Team Nigeria at the ongoing Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The PUMA Afrobeat House opened on Friday, July 24th and will be open for 10 days. Throughout this period, it has served, and will continue to serve, as a rallying point where athletes, delegates, guests, families and friends can connect and celebrate, with DJ sets, entertainment, Nigerian food, drinks and hospitality.

Read Also: GOLD RUSH CONTINUES! Ezekiel Nathaniel Blazes to Commonwealth Title, Delivers Nigeria’s Ninth Gold in Glasgow

The House also hosted a World Press Conference on Wednesday July 30th, where the NSC, PUMA and PRL celebrated Team Nigeria’s strong showing at the Commonwealth Games and recognised some of the country’s medal-winning athletes for their outstanding performances. Currently, Team Nigeria sits 5th on the Glasgow 2026 medal table with 14 medals.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, commended PUMA for supporting Team Nigeria’s preparations.

“The impressive preparations Team Nigeria enjoyed ahead of these Games would not have been possible without partners like PUMA. We are happy to have PUMA by our side because they believed in our vision, and together we can achieve even more for Nigerian sports as we build towards future international competitions, including the Olympic Games.”

He added that under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko, the Commission remains committed to improving athlete welfare, ensuring timely support and building sustainable systems that will strengthen Nigerian sport well beyond the Commonwealth Games.

Speaking at the event, Ayo Amusan, the CEO of PRL said the partnership with the NSC means a great deal to PRL.

“Sport has always had the power to unite people, inspire communities and showcase the very best of a nation. At PRL, that’s exactly what we look for, identifying talent and championing people who are truly passionate about what they do, and Team Nigeria’s athletes embody that.”

Mrs Amusan added

“Working alongside the NSC to support Team Nigeria means the athletes can focus on what matters most, which is performing and giving their all in competition. Through our partnership with the NSC, we’ve created a space that celebrates Nigerian culture, brings people together and gives athletes and supporters a place to share in the excitement of the Games. At PRL, we’re proud to help bring that vision to life with PUMA and we are looking forward to what the future will hold for both brands.”

Also speaking at the event, Bastien De Toledo, Head of Team Sport at PUMA, described the collaboration as the beginning of an exciting journey and is positive about the future of Nigerian sports under the current NSC leadership.

As Team Nigeria continues its winning streak in Glasgow, the PUMA Afrobeat House will remain open throughout the Games until August 2nd, welcoming athletes, delegates, supporters and guests to experience the culture and community, and to celebrate Nigerian excellence both on and off the field.

About Persianas Retail Limited (PRL)

Persianas Retail Limited (PRL) is Nigeria’s premium sports and lifestyle retailer, and the official partner of PUMA, Lacoste, and GUESS in the region, offering a wide range of sportswear and apparel through 14 stores nationwide.

Beyond the physical stores across the country, PRL has expanded its reach through its online platform, The Mix.Ng. This digital destination allows customers to conveniently shop for their favorite brands from the comfort of their homes, offering a seamless shopping experience

About PUMA

PUMA is one of the world’s leading sports brands, designing, developing, and selling footwear, apparel and accessories. Founded in 1948, PUMA helps the world’s best athletes and teams perform at their best with its innovative products. Known for its iconic cat logo and the Formstrip, the company offers performance products in categories such as Football, Running and Training.

The company distributes its products in over 120 countries, employs more than 20,000 people and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany.

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Aradel’s half-year profit grows far less than revenue as galloping costs bite

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Aradel Holdings reported a dramatically higher turnover for January to June but saw no commensurate boost in earnings.

Within the period, global oil drillers generally cashed in on the sweeping supply chain disruption induced by the US-Israeli War against Iran. The oil and gas corporation, which last year completed a majority stake purchase in ND Western, an oil drilling firm where it previously held a non-controlling interest, expanded revenue nearly seven times to ₦2.5 trillion from ₦368.1 billion.

That sharp pace of growth could not be matched by after-tax profit, which climbed to ₦191 billion from ₦146.4 billion as exploding costs ate away at revenue.

Escalation in the Middle East, following the eruption of the war against Iran in February, has hindered a seamless supply of crude around the world, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint that carries roughly 20 per cent of global petroleum and liquefied natural gas.

In consequence, oil price spikes are creating a bonanza for energy companies, with Big Oil like Exxon and Chevron reaping $26.5 billion in joint windfall off the back of the war, and Aradel’s local rival Seplat reporting a 430 per cent half-year profit surge on Thursday.

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Aradel derived 77.8 per cent of revenue from crude oil exports during the review period, according to its unaudited accounts issued on Friday. Average daily oil production jumped by 258 per cent, while average daily gas output increased by 1,121 per cent.

Its refining business, situated at the Ogbele field in Rivers State and capable of processing 11,000 barrels of crude daily, generated ₦129.5 billion from the sale of refined products, up 8.1 per cent.

The corporate results took a hit from other losses, which totalled ₦213.1 billion, compared with a gain of ₦8.6 billion one year prior. Finance costs, which rose to ₦326.1 billion from ₦11.1 billion, also weighed on performance.

READ ALSO: Aradel Holdings Plc celebrates dual honours at 2026 NOG Energy Awards

EBIT margin stood at 42.4 per cent, up from 32.2 per cent. Share of profit of an associate, which came in at ₦71.3 billion a year ago, delivered nothing this time around.

Tax spending ballooned by 1,150.4 per cent to ₦561.7 billion as current tax surged, heaping pressure on earnings. Profit before tax leapt 293.4 per cent to ₦752.7 billion.

“A firmer price environment supported performance, generating net cash from operating activities of ₦975.6 billion and a closing cash balance of ₦1,716.6 billion,” Adegbite Falade, the CEO, said in a separate statement on Friday.

“This drove the reduction in net debt to ₦46.5 billion at year’s end, from ₦475.1 billion in the prior year,” he added.


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