Sports
UEFA Championship, Olympic Boost Travel in 2024 by 7% – WTO
By the end of 2024, international tourist arrivals had almost reached their 2019 levels, suggesting complete recovery for the sector, according to UN Tourism.
Image credit: Opta Analyst
The World Trade Organization (WTO) says that the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympics in France, boosted international travel by seven percent in 2024.
Ohibaba.com exclusively reports that WTO disclosed this in its international trade statistics for the third quarter of 2024, released on Tuesday, February 2025.
Said WTO: ” International travellers’ expenditure in foreign economies increased by 10 per cent in Q3 2024, and in the first three quarters of 2024, global travel receipts were 15 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Growth is stabilizing after the post-pandemic surge, and visa-free schemes adopted throughout 2024 by many economies have benefited international tourism worldwide.
” By the end of 2024, international tourist arrivals had almost reached their 2019 levels, suggesting complete recovery for the sector, according to UN Tourism.
Travel in 2024 was also boosted by the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympics in France, and Europe’s travel exports grew by 7 per cent from an already high base in 2023.
Many African economies recorded double-digit growth, including Namibia (+32 per cent), Morocco (+19 per cent) and Tanzania (+18 per cent).”
Sports
Edo Queens Win 2025/26 NWFL Title
They won the title after drawing goalless with Bayelsa Queens in the final round of NWFL Premiership Super Six fixtures at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
Edo Queens have been crowned champions of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) for the 2025/26 season.
They won the title after drawing goalless with Bayelsa Queens in the final round of NWFL Premiership Super Six fixtures at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
This was s their second NWFL title in three years for coach Moses Aduku’s team.
Before the game, Adaaa Edo Queens were on nine points, needing only one point to be crowned champions.
Sports
World Cup: Japan Holds Netherlands To 2-2 Draw
A draw gives each team one point, so neither gains an early advantage in the group. Their exact positions would depend on the result of the other group match.
Japan came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their opening World Cup match, with Daichi Kamada’s 88th-minute header rescuing a point in Dallas.
The Netherlands took the lead in the 51st minute when Virgil van Dijk headed home to make it 1-0. Japan responded six minutes later through Keito Nakamura, who levelled the score at 1-1 in the 57th minute.
The Dutch regained the advantage in the 64th minute when Crysencio Summerville curled a superb strike into the net for a 2-1 lead.
However, Japan struck again with two minutes remaining as Kamada headed in the equaliser to make it 2-2.
The Netherlands controlled possession throughout the game and held a slight edge in expected goals.
Both teams registered 10 shots, but the Dutch were more accurate, recording six shots on target to Japan’s three.
Despite spending less time on the ball and producing fewer efforts on target, Japan capitalised on their key opportunities and left with a valuable point, while the Netherlands were unable to turn their possession advantage into victory.
A draw gives each team one point, so neither gains an early advantage in the group. Their exact positions would depend on the result of the other group match.
Sports
World Cup: Sweden beats Tunisia 5-1
For Tunisia, the defeat leaves little margin for error heading into their next group fixture, while Sweden have immediately established themselves as serious contenders for a place in the knockout rounds.
Sweden on Monday started their FIFA World Cup campaign on a good note , cruising to a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia in their Group F opener at Estadio Monterrey stadium.
The Scandinavian side took control early through Yasin Ayari, who opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the seventh minute before Alexander Isak doubled the advantage after half an hour.
Tunisia briefly threatened a comeback when Omar Rekik pulled a goal back just before half-time, but Sweden returned after the interval with renewed intensity.
Viktor Gyökeres extended Sweden’s lead in the 59th minute before substitute Mattias Svanberg and Ayari added late goals to seal an emphatic victory.
Ayari was the standout performer, scoring twice in an impressive World Cup debut, while Isak finished with a goal and two assists and Gyökeres contributed a goal and an assist.
Sweden’s clinical finishing ultimately made the difference. Although Tunisia enjoyed periods of possession and created opportunities, they lacked composure in the final third and paid heavily for defensive lapses.The result gives Sweden an early advantage in Group F after Netherlands and Japan shared the points in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
For Tunisia, the defeat leaves little margin for error heading into their next group fixture, while Sweden have immediately established themselves as serious contenders for a place in the knockout rounds.
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