Sports
SAD! Nigerian Student, Athlete Shot Dead in US Days Before MBA Graduation
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The Nigerian academic and sporting communities have been thrown into grief following the tragic death of Oluwabukola Pereira, who was reportedly shot and killed in the United States just days before she was due to graduate with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Pereira was said to have lost her life on Friday, May 8, 2026, during an alleged robbery incident at Arise Auto Center, where she worked at the time of the attack.
Authorities in the United States, including the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, have since launched an investigation into the killing, although officials have not yet confirmed a specific motive behind the incident.
According to local reports, a co-worker identified as Don Simpson alleged that Pereira attempted to pursue a suspect who fled with approximately $1,500 before she was shot during the confrontation.
“She was loyal, good and brave,” Simpson reportedly said.
“She came to this country trying to build a good life,” he added.
Pereira, who was originally from Nigeria, was a student at Xavier University and was expected to graduate on May 16, 2026, with an MBA degree.
The university also disclosed that she had already secured admission to begin another postgraduate programme in Business Analytics later in the year.
Reacting to the tragic development, Xavier University President Colleen Hanycz described Pereira as a student known for positivity, strong faith, and kindness toward others.
Friends, colleagues, and classmates also reportedly remembered her as intelligent, hardworking, and compassionate, noting that she actively participated in academic and extracurricular activities.
Outside the classroom, Pereira was said to be actively involved in athletics as a member of Cincinnati’s Elite running group.
She reportedly participated in several races, including the Flying Pig Marathon, earning admiration for her passion for fitness and community engagement.
Her family described her as “a bright and shining star” who was deeply committed to her faith, family, and helping people around her.
According to reports, she was the first of four children and had recently become engaged in 2025, with preparations reportedly underway for her wedding.
Meanwhile, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect is believed to be a man aged between 25 and 35 years old.
Authorities described him as either Black or Hispanic with long braided or dreadlocked hair and stated that he was last seen fleeing toward the Gardner Park area.
Investigators have urged members of the public with useful information to contact Crime Stoppers as efforts continue to identify and apprehend the suspect connected to the killing.
Spain are the latest team to confirm their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
The European champions thrashed Austria 3-0 in their Round of 32 clash on Thursday evening.
It was a display of complete dominance by Luis de la Fuente’s men, as they lived up to their pre-tournament billing as favourites.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain in the first half, before Pedro Porro doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.
Oyarzabal continued his fine scoring form with a second late on.
They will now face the winner of Portugal.
Other teams confirmed in the last 16 are: USA, England, Belgium, France, Brazil, Norway, Morocco, Paraguay, Canada and Mexico.
Spain coasted past Austria and into the World Cup last-16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.
The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defense in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.
The win — which could have been by a greater margin, with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork — sets up a tantalizing round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.
The SoFi Stadium was a sea of red and excitement was sky-high over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favorite to America’s second city.
Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.
Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.
Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post.
Austria’s defense finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the ‘keeper.
Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.
An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved.
Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.
‘Ole’
After the break Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.
Austria sent on two giant strikers — Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic — and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.
But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.
Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goalline clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.
Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.
In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Ex-Arsenal striker, Ian Wright, has named the only team that can stop France from winning the 2026 World Cup.
Les Bleus qualified for the last 16, thanks to a 3-0 hammering of Sweden, with captain Kylian Mbappe scoring twice.
Mbappe is leading the race for the Golden Boot with six goals and two assists.
France will take on Paraguay in the next round, as they seek to play in their third consecutive World Cup final.
Didier Deschamps lost the 2022 tournament to Argentina on penalties and Wright has claimed only Lionel Messi and co can stop them again.
“It’s going to take something [to beat France],” Wright said.
“It’s going to take an Argentina because of the warrior nature of Argentina.”
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