American footballer, Megan Rapinoe has announced her decision to retire at the end of the season, as she prepares to play in her fourth and final Women’s World Cup. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, July 8, ahead of her 200th appearance for the United States in a match against Wales on Sunday, July 9, Rapinoe said; 
Megan Rapinoe celebrating a goal. Source: Getty ‘This is going to be my last season, my last World Cup and my last NWSL season,’ she told reporters. ‘Obviously there will be more to come, further down the road, after hopefully we get done what we want to get done. ‘I just want to say thank you to everybody, to Vlatko [Andonovski, US head coach], to US Soccer, to everyone I’ve played with, all of my coaches. I could never have imagined where this beautiful game would have taken me. ‘I’ve been able to have such an incredible career, and this game has brought me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people. ‘I feel incredibly grateful to have played as long as I have, to be as successful as we’ve been, and to have been a part of a generation of players who undoubtedly left the game better than they found it. To be able to play one last World Cup and one last NWSL season and go out on my own terms is incredibly special. 
Megan Rapinoe speaking at a press conference. Source: Getty ‘I want to thank my family for being by my side all these years. Thanks to all my teammates and coaches all the way back to my first days in Redding, on to college at the University of Portland and of course thanks to U.S. Soccer, the Seattle Reign and especially Sue, for everything. ‘I will forever cherish the friendships and support over the years in this game, and I am beyond excited for one last ride with the National Team and the Reign.’ Megan Rapinoe went public with her decision to retire from football, weeks after she spoke at a ceremony celebrating the jersey retirement of her partner Sue Bird at WNBA team Seattle Storm. Rapinoe is an iconic figure and one of the greatest female players ever to grace the game. The 38-year-old has won the World Cup twice with the USWNT, winning 199 caps for the national team and scoring 63 times in an extraordinary career. Rapinoe has also won the Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, the Ballon d’Or, and the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year as well as claiming the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot on her way to lifting the 2019 World Cup.
Cesc Fabregas at a football meeting. Source: Getty “From lifting the World Cup, the Euros, to winning everything in England and Spain and nearly all the European trophies, it has been a journey that I’ll never forget. “All those who have helped me, my team-mates, coaches, directors, presidents, owners, fans and my agent. To all my family, from my parents and my sister to my wife and kids, I cherish your advice, mentorship and guidance. To my opponents who tried to knock me, thank you for making me stronger. “It has already been more than worth it with all the great memories and friends that I have made on the way. “I’ve also learnt 3 languages and became more compassionate and wiser along my travels. I lived experiences that I never thought in a million years I would even come close to.” 
Simeon Ekpa He urged all market leaders, companies and individuals in the southeast to comply. “The Biafra Republic Government In-Exile (BRGIE) and Biafra De Facto Government-In-Homeland wish to notify Biafrans that there will be sit-at-home civil disobedience starting from 3rd July 2023 to 10th July 2023. There will be a break on 6th July 2023, where all Biafran markets will be open. The sit-at-home is for the following reasons: “Demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who remains illegally detained at the DSS dungeon; In preparation for Biafra’s self-referendum; To further put the world on notice that Biafrans are taking their future into their own hands; To demonstrate that the Biafra Republic Government In Exile remains the only legitimate government to whom the Biafran people listen and are loyal; To invalidate the illegitimacy of those who parade themselves as Nigeria’s representatives within the Biafran territory. “The sit-at-home will therefore take place in the following order: Monday 3rd July 2023 to Wednesday 5th July 2023, there will be total lockdown in Biafraland; Thursday 6th July 2023 (Break), all Biafran markets will open; Friday 7th July 2023 to Monday 10th July 2023, there will be total lockdown in Biafraland. “We hereby call on all market leaders to strictly adhere to this order and treat it with utmost seriousness. We also call on all oil companies operating in the Biafran territory to shut down oil exploration on these dates to avoid the anger of the Biafran people, which may come with heavy consequences” the statement read.