Dino Melaye (Kogi West, APC) appeared to condemn the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when he took to social media to express his happiness at missing it. The senator took to his Instagram account (@dinomelaye) on Friday, June 23, 2018 to post about how happy he is to be away from the country today which happens to be when the party is conducting its long-awaited national convention which he appeared to call a ‘joke’. He posted, “Happy to be away from the joke going on in Naija today.” The APC national convention, taking place at Eagle Square…
Author: David Folami
Hector Cuper will not return as Egypt’s coach after his team lost all three group-stage games in their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. The Egyptian Football Association made the announcement on Tuesday, one day after a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia left them bottom of their group. Egypt also lost 1-0 to Uruguay in their opener and 3-1 to hosts Russia in their second game. Cuper, 62, was appointed Egypt’s coach in 2015 and took them to the final of the African Nations Cup in 2017, when they lost to Cameroon.
Spain coach Fernando Hierro and playmaker Isco agreed their team needed some serious “self-criticism” after La Roja qualified for the last 16 in a 2-2 draw with Morocco on Monday night. A mistake between Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos allowed Morocco’s Khalid Boutaib to open the scoring on 14 minutes, with Iniesta making amends by teeing up Isco for an equaliser just five minutes later. La Roja continued to mix some superb passing with sloppy defending, and substitute Youssef En-Nesyri headed Morocco ahead with nine minutes remaining, only for Spain replacement Iago Aspas to make it 2-2 in added time…
The excellent news for Manchester United is that Romelu Lukaku has had a stellar World Cup, with four goals in his first two games as Belgium have dismissed their opponents. Some will quickly counter that they have only so far faced Tunisia and Panama, the latter being by some distance the worst team at the World Cup. Yet Lukaku’s intelligent play and general presence would have unsettled far better sides than the two he and his colleagues have dispatched. His goals have shown the range of finishing that exists within his game. He is surprisingly elusive for such a large…
Antoine Griezmann admitted that Les Bleus’ World Cup Group C-ending 0-0 draw with Denmark was a dull affair but said he didn’t mind because he often plays that way for Atletico Madrid. Griezmann, 27, suffered again as Didier Deschamps’ men failed to click in attack and the French No. 7, who was the centre of attention pre-tournament until his future was resolved, apologised to those who were under the impression that both teams would go all-out to win at Luzhniki Stadium. “Frustrated? No, I am used to playing like that…” Griezmann told journalists in the mixed zone. “At club level,…
John Obi Mikel was left confused and frustrated after Marcos Rojo was not whistled for “a clear handball” late in the Super Eagles World Cup-ending 2-1 loss to Argentina. With the match tied 1-1 and Nigeria finding space between the Argentina backline, Rojo went for a headed clearance that deflected off his hand and led to a video review. Nigeria’s players were adamant it was a penalty, but Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir — who awarded Nigeria a penalty early in the second half that Victor Moses converted — used VAR and stood by his initial decision not to award a…
Gareth Southgate called the decision over whether Harry Kane will feature in their Group G finale on Thursday against Belgium a “complex balance.” The Three Lions have two wins from two matches — beating Tunisia 2-1 in their opener before thrashing Panama 6-1 — with captain Kane scoring five times so far. However, with passage to the round of 16 alongside Belgium already guaranteed, Southgate has to decide what changes to make to his XI in an effort to rest some player and give others from the bench a chance. Speaking to TalkSport, Southgate said: “As a manager you’ve got…
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes his positive mentality has been key to dealing with the devastating knee injury he sustained last campaign, which ruled him out of contention for England’s World Cup squad. The 24-year-old scored five goals and provided eight assists for Liverpool in his debut campaign at the club before sustaining a season-ending cruciate ligament rupture in the Champions League semifinal win over AS Roma. The injury meant that Oxlade-Chamberlain missed his third major international tournament for England through injury, after the midfielder was ruled out of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 European Championships. “It’s obviously been really…
Jorge Sampaoli called his team “true rebels” and lauded their mental strength after defeating Nigeria 2-1 to secure passage to the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup. Argentina appeared to be on their way to victory when Lionel Messi put the Albiceleste up 1-0 in the 14th minute, but Nigeria’s Victor Moses equalised from the spot early in the second half. With Argentina needing to win to advance out of the group stage, it pushed forward. This left them exposed on the counterattack and Nigeria had several opportunities to go ahead, but couldn’t convert. It also survived a shout…
Robert Lewandowski has again said he does not want to end his career with Bayern Munich. Lewandowski signed for Bayern on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund, where he played for four seasons under Jurgen Klopp, in 2014. “I am now 29 years old and think that I can still play for many years yet if I don’t get injured,” Lewandowski told Players Tribune. “We will see. I know that I have been in Germany for eight years and I remember saying a few years ago that I will not stay my whole career in one league, that’s for sure.”…
Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday, visited Plateau following attacks that left scores of people dead. He said that Special Forces have been deployed to restore peace in the state. “The Inspector General of Police has deployed more personnel to Plateau and the Chief of Defence Staff has announced this morning that Special Forces will be deployed to Plateau. “The Special Forces will complement the Operation Safe Haven’s effort that has been keeping peace in the state,” he said. The vice president expressed sadness over the development. “The president has said in his statement that whatever it takes, those that committed the…
President Muhammadu Buhari has said he isn’t a big fan of the restructuring concept. Buhari said even though he had heard their suggestions for a restructuring of the federation, he wasn’t sold on the idea just yet because calls for restructuring have been largely parochial and sectional. “You mentioned something which is topical these days—the restructuring of Nigeria”, Buhari told his audience gathered inside the Council Chambers of the villa. “Every group calling for restructuring has got its own agenda and I hope that agenda can be accommodated by the constitution. “I assure you that you are not forgotten and…
Dr Oby Ezekwesili has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari yet again for his lack of emotional intelligence in dealing with tragedies in the country. Speaking about the president’s trip to Cross River, Ezekwesili said, “It tells us that the president, unfortunately, is a leader without emotional intelligence. He lacks capacity to empathise with a certain segment of his people. The president cleverly distinguished between deaths in certain states and deaths in other states at an international forum. How can a leader do that? “The president, being comfortable to go and sit in Cross River State today while some maidens were dancing…
Muhammadu Buhari has urged residents of Plateau state to learn to live in peace with one another. The President said this on Tuesday at a meeting with stakeholders on the current security situation in Plateau. It would be recalled that scores of the people were killed in several communities across four local government areas of the state. Vice President Yemi Osibanjo was in the state on Monday where he assessed the situation and also interacted with stakeholders. Less that 24 hours, the President came himself to console the people and interact with them. “I have contested elected elections to protect…
Adams Oshiomhole has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to hold former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to account on the $16 billion he spent on power projects during his tenure. Buhari and Obasanjo recently engaged in a public war of words when the incumbent raised questions over the $16 billion allegedly spent on power projects during Obasanjo’s administration. While speaking at the Presidential Villa on May 22, 2018, Buhari remarked, “One of the former Heads of State was bragging that he spent more than 15 billion USD on power in Nigeria. Where is the power?” He said, “I watched our president recently asking…
Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya has told the Federal Government to overhaul the Nigeria Police Force, to make the force to live up to its responsibilities. Sonaiya, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the Kowa Party in the upcoming general elections, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday. She said it would be difficult to stop the rampaging herdsmen, unless the police were equipped adequately to counter the bloody onslaught of the herdsmen. “Do the police not know their jobs anymore? Is their responsibility not to protect lives and property? Don’t they know how to fish…
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is among the new members invited to join the group behind the Oscars film awards. The actress, alongside Nigerian filmmaker Femi Odugbemi [Battleground, Gidi Blues] are among the 928 people who’ve been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. Including a 14-year-old actress Quvenzhané Wallis, 86-year-old Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina, and new members from 59 different countries, this year’s invitees marks the academy’s largest and most diverse class ever, topping last year’s 774 new members, which itself was a jump over the previous year’s 684 invitees. Other new members from different countries include South…
Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said the ongoing national convention of the All Progressives Party (APC) is a sign that the party will win the 2019 general elections. On his expectation about the convention, Ajiomobi said: “That Oshiomhole is coming as the party’s chairman is a sign that APC will win 2019 election.” On his part, a chieftain of the party and ex-governor of Bayelsa, Chief Timipre Sylva, said: “We are expecting a very great and successful convention.” Another party chieftain from Abia, Mr Emeka Nwogu, said his expectation was high and it would be met. “We are going…
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has notified People Democratic Party (PDP) of his intention to contest the 2019 presidential poll and called for free, fair and transparent primaries. He said free and transparent primaries would boost the party’s chances in the presidential election as well as restore its lost glory. Abubakar commended the party for the conduct of a free and fair primary election which produced its candidate for the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti. He pledged to work in the interest of the party, whether he won or lost its ticket. “Whether I become the presidential candidate or not, I…
Sunday Akinniyi has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), alleging that the PDP is in crisis. Akinniyi disclosed his defection to the media on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, alleging that the “high-handedness and disrespect” of state governor, Ayodele Fayose, for party leaders forced him out of the party. He noted that the party is currently experiencing a mass defection of influential members due to the same reason. The Ekiti House of Assembly suspended Akinniyi on June 13 for allegedly breeding terrorism within the chamber and neglecting to pay attention to his people. Akinniyi was…