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World Cup: Ronaldo Header Knocked Morocco Out of World Cup

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Cristiano Ronaldo continued his sensational start to the World Cup with the winner as Portugal knocked Morocco out of the tournament.

All eyes at the Luzhniki Stadium were on the Real Madrid star after his hat-trick in Portugal’s opening game with Spain and, typically, he did not disappoint.

It took the captain only four minutes to make his mark in the way Morocco had feared, diving to get on the end of a Joao Moutinho cross and planting an unstoppable header into the net.

Ronaldo’s goal put the European champions top of Group B before Spain play Iran at 19:00 BST on Wednesday, and extended his lead as the top scorer in Russia in the race for the Golden Boot.

Morocco, who last week failed in their bid to host the 2026 World Cup, became the first team to be eliminated from this one with one Group B game to go – but they did not go down without a fight.

Backed by thousands of noisy fans, who packed one end of the ground, they created enough chances to earn at least a draw – and would have got something out of the game with better finishing.

Too many of their shots flew wide, however, and the one time the North Africans did find the target with an effort of note, new Wolves keeper Rui Patricio produced a brilliant one-handed diving save to keep out Younes Belhanda’s header.

The North African nation, beaten 1-0 by Iran in their opening game, are playing at the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

Ronaldo again shows why Portugal rely on him

Ronaldo has been the undoubted star of the first week of this tournament and he ensured he will stay in the headlines with another decisive contribution.

He was the centre of attention from the moment his image flashed up on the huge screens, cheered by the Portugal fans and others who had travelled to Moscow solely to watch him – and jeered by the Morocco fans.

The 33-year-old’s performance was not as spectacular as the one he produced about Spain, but he again showed why his team rely upon him so heavily.

Of Portugal’s eight shots, he had six of them – including the one that mattered the most.

Ronaldo’s other contributions, other than the flicked pass that released Goncalo Guedes to force a fine stop from Munir Mohamedi, were more fitful, but the intelligence of his movement and sheer presence up front meant he remained a threat.

There were no more magic moments, however, to the disappointment of the thousands in the crowd who recorded his two free-kicks from the edge of the area with their smartphones, only to see him smash them into Morocco’s defensive wall.

Portugal offered little else in the way of a threat, and defensively the number of problems Morocco caused them must be a concern for their coach Fernando Santos, with bigger tests likely ahead.

But Ronaldo’s Russian roadshow rolls into Saransk on Monday, and shows no sign of stopping.

Morocco out but not disgraced

Morocco now know they will be heading home after the group stage, but they will not depart in disgrace.

They gave their fervent support plenty to cheer in the Moscow sunshine and, just as in their opening defeat by Iran, can count themselves unlucky to leave left empty-handed.

The talk before the game was whether Herve Renard’s side had a plan to stop Ronaldo and, while the former Cambridge United manager did not manage that, he did find a way to open up the Portugal defence.

Sadly for Morocco, they failed to capitalise when they found themselves in front of goal – of their 15 shots, four were on target, and only two truly tested Patricio.

The worst culprit was Mehdi Benatia, the Juventus defender who was tasked with tracking Ronaldo. He got forward too, but blasted wide when well placed and also missed the target with a header.

Morocco’s defeat means African sides have lost five of their six games at this tournament, with Senegal’s win over Poland the continent’s only success so far.

Man of the match – Cristiano Ronaldo

‘We have to earn more possession’ – what they said

Portugal boss Fernando Santos: “It’s a World Cup. This is a strong team, as were Morocco, but we have to grow.

“We did well defensively and we played well, but we need more than that. We have to change and earn more possession.”

Morocco boss Herve Renard: “We qualified for a World Cup after 20 years and we’ve showed that we can play football.”

Set-piece specialists – the stats

  • After scoring 13 successive goals from open play at the World Cup, three of Portugal’s four goals at 2018 have been from set-pieces.
  • Morocco have lost seven of their past nine World Cup matches (W1 D1), failing to score in five of those games.
  • Portugal have not lost against a non-European nation at a World Cup since June 2002, when they lost 1-0 to South Korea (W6 D3 since).
  • Morocco have lost their opening two group games in three World Cups (also 1970 and 1994).
  • Portugal have lost only one of their past 11 World Cup group games (4-0 v Germany in 2014), winning six and drawing the other four.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo has scored Portugal’s past five goals in World Cups, the first player to do so since Russia’s Oleg Salenko in 1994.
  • Portugal kept a clean sheet in a World Cup match for the first time since 2010, when they kept three in three group games – they had conceded in five consecutive games prior to this game.
  • What’s next?

Portugal will look to finish top of the group by beating Iran in Saransk on 25 June (19:00 BST), while Morocco face Spain in Kaliningrad at the same time.

Entertainment Gists

“Lagos Gave Me My Greatest Successes and Deepest Heartbreak”: Cuppy Opens Up in New IFEOLUWA Documentary

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On her birthday, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola invites viewers beyond the public image and into a more personal story of home, family, identity and purpose.

For years, Nigerians have known Florence “Cuppy” Otedola as the internationally recognised DJ and philanthropist with the famous pink hair and vibrant public personality. This birthday, she is inviting audiences to see a side of her that rarely takes centre stage.

Released on 11 November 2026, her new 12 minute documentary, IFEOLUWA, follows Cuppy back to Lagos, the city that shaped her and remains close to her heart. It is also, as the film explores, a place connected to some of her greatest successes and deepest heartbreak.

The title IFEOLUWA means “The Love of God”. Rather than another glamorous birthday celebration, Cuppy is marking the occasion by sharing a more reflective portrait of the woman behind the spotlight. The film explores womanhood, ambition, identity, belonging and the ongoing process of becoming.

There are tender moments, too. Viewers see Cuppy not just as a public figure, but as a daughter, sister and granddaughter. Her time with her grandmother offers an especially intimate glimpse of the affection and family ties at the heart of her story.

The documentary also captures an evolution that audiences may already have noticed. The signature pink hair has given way to a new look and a more grounded chapter, with faith, education and service increasingly central to how Cuppy speaks about her future. It is not a rejection of music, but a fuller picture of the person behind it.

Her philanthropic work remains an important part of that picture. Through the Cuppy Foundation, she has helped raise more than $17 million to support displaced children in Nigeria in partnership with Save the Children. She has also established education funds at the University of Oxford, New York University and King’s College London to help students overcome financial barriers, particularly those from Africa.

Alongside this work, Cuppy remains active as an international DJ, with performances including Glastonbury, Wireless Festival and Cannes Lions, as well as events during United Nations General Assembly week.

At its heart, IFEOLUWA is about more than a familiar celebrity image. It is a personal homecoming and an invitation to understand how family, faith, Lagos and lived experience are shaping Cuppy’s next chapter.

Watch IFEOLUWA on YouTube

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Druppythekid Set to release New Two-Track Pack

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Nigerian emerging artist Druppythekid is set to release his new two-track pack, No Love and LA LA LA (Serenade), on November 13, 2026, delivering a message of ambition, self-belief, and defiance in the face of criticism.

Originally from Kwara State and based in Lagos, Druppythekid developed a love for rap, hip-hop, and pop music as a teenager. Introduced to poetry in high school, he found a natural connection between words and rap, eventually joining a rap group before exploring music production at university. After graduation, he began rapping over his own beats, turning his passion into a growing musical pursuit.

On “No Love,” Druppythekid speaks to the determination required to chase dreams despite doubt and opposition. “LA LA LA (Serenade)” takes a more unapologetic approach, dismissing the opinions of those who never believed in him.

Together, the two records reflect one central message: keep pursuing your vision and never let the opinions of others define your journey.

No Love and LA LA LA (Serenade) arrive on major digital streaming platforms on November 13, 2026.

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Who Is Chinwe Zoe? The Nigerian Gospel Singer Behind “Undeniable

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Chinwe Zoe, a Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter, began recording music in December 2025 after years of singing in church and at home. Less than a year later, she has released three singles, including “Chinwendum”, featuring gospel singer Frank Edwards, “Undeniable” and “Jesus Don Win”, her October 2026 release produced by Masterkraft.

For Zoe, the decision to record was connected to a personal experience that changed how she viewed her life and faith. She has described it as a near-death experience that left her with a renewed sense of gratitude. “In that moment, when I thought it was over, God showed me mercy,” she said. “He gave me victory. And that victory was too loud to keep inside.”

Her debut, “Chinwendum”, was released in December 2025 with Frank Edwards featured on the record. She followed it with “Undeniable” on May 7, 2026. The song’s official video has recorded more than 460,000 views on YouTube. In October, she released “Jesus Don Win”, produced by Masterkraft, with a video directed by Avalon Okpe.

Zoe’s approach to songwriting draws on personal experiences and scripture. She has said that she does not begin the process by searching for a melody, but by waiting for a message that she can develop into a song. She describes a process in which an experience or scripture stays with her until it takes musical form. The melody follows, and she hums it before committing anything to writing.

Her guiding principle is that a gospel song should be accessible to listeners while remaining suitable for congregational worship. “It should be simple enough for a child to sing and strong enough for a choir to carry,” she said.

Zoe has identified CeCe Winans, Nathaniel Bassey and Dunsin Oyekan among the musicians whose work has influenced her. She sings in English and Igbo, and occasionally in Pidgin, drawing on the worship tradition in her musical expression.

“Every song I sing comes from a place I have lived,” she said. “My pain taught me how to worship, my joy taught me how to praise.”

Her music has also begun attracting an online audience. Her YouTube channel has recorded more than 627,000 views across nine videos, while her Spotify monthly listeners have been reported at approximately 6,500. Her Audiomack profile is verified. Zoe records under her own imprint, H2 Records, with distribution through ONErpm. She made her first public performance at the 2026 Annual Virtuous Women Network conference in Enugu, where she performed “Undeniable”.

Outside music, she has spoken about her interest in soul winning and described it as connected to her musical work. She has also said that she wants her songs to encourage listeners facing difficult circumstances. “I want my songs to shift mindsets from worry to worship,” she said. “Whenever anxiety comes, whenever life tries to make you feel small, I want you to hear my sound in your spirit and declare victory over your life.”

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