Unai Emery took charge of his first training session as Arsenal coach on Tuesday as the Gunners started work on their preseason preparations. Most of Arsenal’s non-World Cup players were back at London Colney as Emery began the process of putting his stamp on the team following Arsene Wenger’s departure. The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Aaron Ramsey, Alexandre Lacazette and Shkodran Mustafi all took part in fitness tests indoors as well as an outdoors session on the pitch. Only eight of last season’s first-team regulars travelled to the World Cup — along with loanee Joel Campbell and new signing Stephan…
Author: David Folami
At one point, you wondered if they were going to leave. For most of the 90 minutes and stoppage time, the main block of canary-yellow-clad Sweden fans had called out the same name, through Emil Forsberg’s goal and goalkeeper Robin Olsen’s decisive last-ditch save. And they continued after the final whistle, through the handshakes and the postgame flash interviews and the waves to friends and family. The name continued to ring out even after the players — perhaps still stunned by the realization that, yes, they were in the elite eight of the World Cup after a 1-0 win vs.…
Jurgen Klopp has said Liverpool’s preseason will offer the perfect platform for new signings Naby Keita and Fabinho to adapt to learn and adapt to their style. Keita and Fabinho were both present at Melwood on Monday to undergo testing as a total of 26 Liverpool players returned to the club after the summer break. “Very, very happy to finally have Naby here. It took a while,” Klopp said. “Fabinho is also here and that’s perfect for the moment. “It’s even better they can start from the first day with the training because they have to learn the most, they…
Kwesi Appiah has said Africa’s failure to progress into the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since 1982 isn’t necessarily a sign that the continent is regressing on the world stage. Following Senegal’s somewhat controversial failure to reach the knockout stage, Appiah feels it has not all been gloomy for the African contingent in Russia. “It has been a difficult campaign for the African teams and we can’t run away from that,” Appiah said. “With five teams you would have expected at least one through and for the continent it is just not good but you…
Real Madrid have moved to strike down a report on Spanish television that claimed they had made a €310 million offer to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain. Neymar has been continually linked with a potential move to Real Madrid since he left Barcelona to sign with PSG last summer, but the club objected when TVE reported on Monday that Los Blancos had sent a stratospheric offer to the French champions. “In light of information broadcast tonight by TVE regarding an alleged Real Madrid offer to PSG and their player Neymar, Real Madrid C. F. wishes to state that this information…
Unai Emery is pushing for the signing of Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes this summer, sources have said. Gomes, 24, joined Barca from Valencia for an initial fee of €35 million two years ago but has failed to make an impression at Camp Nou. He made just six starts in La Liga last season and his lack of game time saw him cut from Portugal’s World Cup squad. Barca are ready to cut their losses on him this summer and have received enquiries from clubs in England, Italy and Spain. Valencia have confirmed they would like to take Gomes back on…
Thibaut Courtois has said his two Madrid-based children are the most important consideration when deciding his future. Chelsea goalkeeper Courtois, who played for Atletico Madrid on loan, has regularly been linked with Real Madrid. After his quick throw began the stoppage-time counter-attack that brought Belgium a 3-2 World Cup win over Japan on Monday, the 26-year-old told “El Partidazo” radio show that he would not think about his future until after the tournament. “I’m not going to talk about that now,” Courtois, who has a year left on his Chelsea contract, said. “The only thing I have always said is…
President Buhari has thanked the French President, Emmanuel Macron for his commitment towards Nigeria and West-Africa. President Macron paid Buhari a visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Buhari also said that Nigeria will continue to work with France in the area of security and the fight against corruption. The President, in a tweet, said “I thank President Macron for his understanding and his commitment towards Nigeria and West Africa. We will continue to work with France for the benefit of both countries, in security, the fight against corruption, the economy, and in tackling the…
Mr Paul Angbre has urged Nigerians to shun money-bag politicians, and vote for leaders with proven integrity during the 2019 general election. He said it would not only bring speedy development, but also ensure peace, transparency as well as even development in the country. The Village head enjoined Nigerians to continue to pray for leaders with integrity to enable them deliver the much needed dividends of democracy to the electorate. According to him, sustained prayers by the adherents of the two major religions in the country would assist leaders at all levels to succeed in the task ahead of them.…
Ayo Fayose has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate has hired four officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the results of the Ekiti governorship election, slated to hold on July 14, 2018. He said the officials are: Pasca Ukenwa, Deputy Director, ICT, Abdulrasak Agboola, Deputy Director, ICT, Kenneth Ukeagu, Procurement Officer, and INEC Commissioner, Amina Zakari. “I am still raising the alarm again of the plan of three Abuja senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Pasca Ukenwa, Deputy Director, ICT, Abdulrasak Agboola, also Deputy Director, ICT, and Kenneth Ukeagu, Procurement…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s call on INEC to cancel its just concluded National Convention showed that it is ignorant of electoral rules and internal party operations. Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. ”We read with dismay, but without surprise PDP’s statement calling on INEC to annul the results of the highly successful National Convention of our party held last Saturday” he said. Abudullahi maintained that the APC election guidelines provided that all party positions prescribed by its Constitution could be…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will continue to register any association that meet legal requirements for registration as political party ahead of 2019 general elections. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos. Yakubu, however, said that any party registered six months to the general elections would not be allowed to participate in the elections. “Once associations meet the legal requirements as political parties, the commission is under obligation to register them, but the law also provides for a period of six months to general elections.…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to make any attempt to rig the July 14, 2018 governorship election in Ekiti state. The PDP also accused the APC of planning to import its supporters from other states to vote on the day of the election. Kola Ologbondiyan said that Ekiti people will resist any attempt to manipulate the polls. Ologbondiyan also alleged that Ekiti APC has recruited some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to help input false results and clone unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). He said that those they are…
The Independent National Electoral Commissioner, (INEC) on Monday said the hopes and expectations of Nigerians on the Ekiti gubernatorial election which comes up in two week time will not be dashed. The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states, Mr. Solomon Soyebi and his counterpart in charge of Election Operations and Logistics, Mrs. Amina Zakari gave the declaration at a Pre-Election Preparation workshop organised for Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers and Head of Departments. Soyebi said the workshop was to tidy up things as every polling unit must be opened by 7am. “There will be no…
35-year-old Chike Ukaegbu has announced his decision to run for president in the 2019 presidential election and displace incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari. The Owerri-born US-based technology entrepreneur announced his decision to run for Nigeria’s highest office last week, noting that he hopes to become the country’s youngest civilian president. He said, “Nigeria needs a visionary leader now more than ever. This is our time and I am the right choice to lead our nation.” When contacted about his political association, he said he’s still looking out for one that fits his ideology. “I haven’t chosen a party yet, but will in…
No fewer than 500 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos on Tuesday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors, from the 57 councils in the state, were led by former PDP chieftain, Mr Elijah Awodeyi. They were received into their new party by the APC Chairman in the state, Mr Tunde Balogun. Balogun said that the APC was delighted to receive the new members and groups joining the party. He said their coming meant they had decided to join the progressive train and stay with the party that stood for development. “We are happy to…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Adams Oshiomhole has said that President Buhari will continue his developmental projects in the South-East, if he is re-elected in 2019. He said “Those who are writing letters now. Those who have become unelected advisers. They governed as absolute rulers for almost three years. They came back eight years, what did they do about second Niger bridge? And then he wanted to take us to Mugabe where there is no end of tenure. “Those who have spoken before me have spoken concerning all the initiatives and infrastructural projects that are going on in this…
Fathia Balogun gave her mother a befitting burial over the weekend and a number of celebrities stormed the event to support one of their own. The actress took to her Instagram page on Sunday, July 1, 2018 where she shared a number of photos from the event. She went on to thank her friends for their support during the burial. Celebrities who were in attendance include Mercy Aigbe, Ayo Adesanya, Laide Bakare and a host of others. “On behalf of Teniola family and Faithia Balogun we express our profound gratitude towards your presence at the final burial ceremony of our…
The final season of “Game of Thrones” is going to be bloodier and more emotionally torturous than preceding seasons, Sophie Turner reveals. In a recent interview with Gold Derby, the actress who plays Sansa Stark on the show destroys any hope fans had for a diplomatic and less violent finale “I can tell you that there’s definitely a coming together of people,” Turner told Gold Derby. “Everyone is coming together to fight the impending doom. There’s a lot of tension between these little groups, battling for what they think is right. It’s Game of Thrones, so it’s going to be…
Rumour has it that Blac Chyna after ending her relationship with 19-year-old rapper, YBN Almighty, has moved on to another teenager and this time it is the 19-year-old professional boxer, Devin Haney. The rumour of relationship began after the mother of two posted a photo of the 19-year-old boxer on Instagram and captioned it with a quote. “Hi, Babe.” It didn’t end there as the boxer replied her in the comments section with a love emoji. If this latest move is true then let’s just say the 30-year-old model has a thing for teenagers which is kind of weird. It…