On Saturday, the inaugural PFL Africa season would come to a close, with the Professional Fighters League crowning four regional tournament champions. Bantamweight, featherweight, welterweight, and heavyweight tournaments were wrapping up, with 135lb'ers Nkosi Ndebele and Boule Godogo headlining the event, which saw the promotion making its debut in the nation of Benin, its third African country visited following South Africa and Rwanda.
Tinubu praised his troops and said they had helped stabilise a neighbouring country. The Nigerian statement came shortly after Talon, the president of Benin, appeared on national television and said his security forces had successfully blocked the attempt to overthrow his government. Talon said forces loyal to him stood firm, recaptured our positions, and cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers.
The Super Eagles' task is momentous: Benin lead them by three points and by two on goal difference, making the fixture a must-win for the Nigerians if they want to have any chance of qualification, either as the group winners or as the runners-up who could potentially compete in November's interconfederation playoff for a possible 10th African World Cup spot.
An image that stands out to the photographer is from his encounter with a young woman carrying two of her children - one on her shoulder and the other tied to her back, "all while wearing the biggest, most radiant smile". He describes this moment as deeply human and quietly heroic, capturing the resilience, care, and strength enveloping the series.
