![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
A Mitch Duke header gave Australia their first World Cup victory in 12 years with a 1-0 win over Tunisia in a hard-fought contest on Saturday that kept alive their hopes of progressing from Group D.
Target man Duke scored in the 23rd minute with a glancing header that flew past keeper Aymen Dahmen’s despairing dive, and the Socceroos then held back a largely toothless Tunisian attack over the remainder of the contest.
The victory, only the third for Australia in six visits to the World Cup finals, was the perfect response to their 4-1 drubbing at the hands of France at the same Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday.
Australia moved to three points in the group, level with world champions France who could secure their place in the last 16 with a victory over Denmark later on Saturday.
“I’m hugely proud of the boys. They showed Aussie fighting spirit. They were in their faces all the time and I’m sure they made the nation very proud,” said Australia coach Graham Arnold.
“The other night we played against the current world champions and the boys showed the same effort today. When the doubters hate us, bring it on.”
Tunisia, who opened their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Denmark, now face a Herculean task if they are to get into the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time with their last group fixture being against France.
“It was a very tough match between two very tough teams,” said coach Jalel Kadri.
“I think today we should have played to win. We still have one match to play and we will play with our hearts out.”
Tunisia, roared on by a vast army of red-shirted compatriots, made clear their intentions from the start, ranging five defenders and two holding midfielders across the pitch and inviting the Australians to try to break them down.
Australia had some success getting the ball down the flanks but the final ball into the area rarely got anywhere near a blue shirt as the Tunisian defenders wrapped up the Socceroos forwards.
Craig Goodwin’s cross from the left looked to be heading the same way until it took a hefty deflection off a Tunisian defender and looped to Duke, who caressed it into the far right corner of the net.
The goal was the first conceded by Tunisia against any team barring Brazil in their last 11 matches and forced the Tunisians to come out of their defensive shell.
Defender Mohamed Draeger and skipper Youssef Msakni had chances just before the break but Harry Souttar blocked the first and the second flashed past the post.
Australia kept compact in the midfield, where the outstanding Aaron Mooy ran the show for the Socceroos, and Tunisia were reduced to punting long balls to the wings.
Tunisia brought on the squad’s top scorer Wahbi Khazri in the 68th minute as they upped the tempo in search of an equaliser, but the Australian defence stood firm with goalkeeper and skipper Mat Ryan a calming presence at the back.
Naim Sliti broke free of the defence with only minutes left on the clock but Souttar stormed across the pitch to put in a crunching last-gasp tackle.
The victory snapped Australia’s seven-match winless run at World Cups since they last picked up three points in a victory over Serbia in 2010. They play Denmark in their final group match on Wednesday.
