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World Cup 2022: Wales Hoping For History Repeat After Bale Salvages USA Draw
Even in unfamiliar territory, Wales will feel like they have been here before.
Playing at their first World Cup for 64 years, the nation turned to a familiar saviour in Gareth Bale as they pulled a point from the fire in their opening game against the United States.
And although they had not graced this stage since 1958, Wales can turn to more recent history for inspiration as they plot their way forward in Qatar.
Having been absent from major tournaments for 58 years, Wales have qualified for three out of four since 2016. And it is the most recent of those, last year’s delayed Euro 2020, which could form the template for progress at this World Cup.
In the sweltering heat of Azerbaijan, Wales’ first match in 2021 was not going to plan as they trailed 1-0 at half-time against Switzerland, whose lead was no reflection of their dominance.
On that occasion, Kieffer Moore’s header earned Wales a 1-1 draw and set the platform for the second group game – when they blew Turkey away to take a huge stride towards the second round.
In Qatar on Monday night, there were echoes of that campaign’s beginning in Baku.
Wales were thoroughly outplayed by the USA in the first half and were fortunate to be only 1-0 down at the break, before Moore’s introduction transformed them.
Bale, their captain, all-time leading scorer and scriptwriter in chief, then conjured yet another decisive moment with a late penalty.
It felt like a film they had seen before.
“The goal was exactly what we needed,” said Bale.
“It didn’t matter who scored it and it gave us a foothold to try and go to win it. I felt that we played very well in the second half.
“Personally, it was great to get the goal but the most important thing was that the team scored. We just need to keep the momentum going, recover and go again.”
This latter-era Bale is not the all-action winger of a decade ago, but he is still a match-winner – though at 33, he now has to choose his moments; “wise” and “intelligent”, as manager Robert Page said after the game.
Bale is still capable of rolling back the years and producing performances of vintage quality, as he did for that victory over Turkey at Euro 2020.
Bale, Moore and the rest of Wales’ players adapted during that match against Switzerland, survived the onslaught and put themselves in a position where beating Turkey took them to the cusp of the knockout stages.
Against the United States on Monday, those same players helped ensure Wales completed the first part of repeating the trick.
After a draw first up, they now need to beat Iran on Friday (10:00 GMT kick-off) to take a similar stride towards the second round of the World Cup.
“Lessons have been learned,” said Page. “It was important we didn’t lose the game. We’ve got some tired bodies in there, so we’ve got to get a team ready to go again on Friday.
“The good thing we’ve got, if you look on the bench now, we’ve got Brennan [Johnson] playing in the Premier League, he came on and made an impact, Kieffer came on and made an impact.
“We have strength in depth. I can look over my shoulder to the bench and we’ve got players who can come on and have a real impact on games.”
At Euro 2020, Wales reached the round of 16 despite losing their final group game to Italy, who went on to win the tournament.
They conclude their group stage at this World Cup with a match against England next Tuesday.
Where their own fate is concerned, Wales would be glad for a repeat of Euro 2020. It might just be that the goodwill does not extend to wishing that their final group opponents go on to lift the trophy again.
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
East Ham, East London — 8 August 2026: The vibrant Igbo community in the UK came together for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, culture and social connection at Igbotic Game Night, one of the biggest social gatherings celebrating the Igbo community in the United Kingdom.
Among the night’s standout moments was an electrifying performance by Afrobeats artist Obeena, who took the stage and immediately captured the attention of the crowd.
Obeena delivered performances of two of his hit songs, “Wara Wara” and “Banging,” bringing his energetic sound and distinctive stage presence to the event. From the opening moments of his set, fans responded with excitement, singing along, dancing and enthusiastically supporting the artist.
His performance of “Wara Wara” created an instant connection with the audience, while “Banging” took the energy to another level. Obeena’s ability to engage the crowd transformed his set into one of the most memorable entertainment moments of the evening.
Held in East Ham, East London, on 8 August 2026, Igbotic Game Night provided a unique platform for members of the Igbo community to celebrate their heritage while enjoying music, games and social interaction. Events such as this continue to play an important role in bringing together Nigerians and the wider African diaspora in the UK.
For Obeena, the performance was another opportunity to showcase his growing artistry and connect directly with fans. His energetic delivery, stage confidence and ability to command the audience demonstrated why his live performances continue to attract attention.
By the end of his set, Obeena had left the crowd amazed and added another memorable chapter to his journey as an Afrobeats artist. His appearance at Igbotic Game Night was not simply a performance—it was a celebration of Nigerian music, culture and community.
With performances like this, Obeena continues to demonstrate his ambition to take his sound beyond the studio and onto major stages, connecting with audiences through music, energy and an unmistakable African identity.
Igbotic Game Night brought the Igbo community together. Obeena gave them a performance to remember.
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