Atletico Madrid’s France striker Antoine Griezmann played 63 games this season racking up 5,454 minutes on the pitch, making him the most used player in Europe, the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) said on Tuesday. Griezmann, thought to be close to a transfer to Manchester United, played all but two league games and racked up 12 Champions League matches combined with domestic cup and international appearances to top the heap of most minutes played. Leicester City’s Nigerian defender Wilfred Ndidi, with 61 games and 5 290 minutes was second, whilst another Atletico stalwart, Koke, came third with 62 games…
Author: David Folami
Former Manchester United defender Viv Anderson believes Jose Mourinho will look to return to the club’s traditional footballing values after securing a Champions League place in his first season in charge at Old Trafford. The 20-time English champions defeated Ajax Amsterdam in the final of the Europa League last week to secure direct entry into the group phase of next season’s Champions League, the first time the club has acquired automatic passage to that stage of the competition since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013. Victory over the Dutch side brought a successful end to a challenging campaign that…
Midfielder Yaya Toure has signed a new one-year contract with Manchester City, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. Toure joined City from Barcelona in 2010 and has made 299 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 81 goals, but missed a chunk of the season after a public spat between his agent, Dimitri Seluk, and manager Pep Guardiola. Seluk criticised Guardiola for leaving his client out of City’s Champions League squad, resulting in Toure being frozen out by City at the start of September, only to be welcomed back a month later after issuing a public apology. “I’m…
There was a weary look and sound to Arsene Wenger throughout most of the past season that hinted at an Arsenal manager no longer capable of the dynamism needed to be the best. But after signing a new two-year deal with the Gunners, having won the backing of owner Stan Kroenke and the club hierarchy, the Frenchman is again sounding like a man with goals that match those of the club’s most avid supporters. “They are of course unlimited, our ambitions. We live in a very competitive world where you need the support of the owner as well. He’s highly…
Manchester United have cooled their interest in signing Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann, according to British media reports on Thursday. Europa League winners United were reported to be plotting an approach for 26-year-old Griezmann. But several media outlets, including the BBC and Britain’s Press Association, said United were instead shifting their focus towards a more conventional centre-forward, citing an internal source. United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has sustained a long-term knee injury and is due to be out of contract at the end of the month. The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday upheld a transfer ban against Atletico…
Manchester United will be encouraged to make a summer move for Gareth Bale if he begins the Champions League final on the bench, according to reports in Spain. Real Madrid forward Bale has been a long-term target for United, who wanted to sign him before his world-record move from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 and have been linked with him since. Bale has been a star for Real since, but has suffered injury problems this season with Isco putting in brilliant displays as his replacement. According to Barcelona-based website Mundo Deportivo, Isco’s form could see him start in Saturday’s final ahead…
Manchester United have reportedly made contact with Paris Saint-Germain over the signing of Lucas Moura in the summer. Sport Witness has been informed by several sources that the Red Devils are entered in negotiations with the 24-year-old who they nearly signed back in 2012 under Sir Alex Ferguson. Moura was being pursued by Europe’s elite after his brilliant performances for Sao Paolo, but United were unable to match the £40m offer tabled by the Parisiens. Now, they look likely to get their man with the Brazilian unable to nail down a regular starting spot and Jose Mourinho desperate for a…
Manchester United are interested in signing Ivan Perisic, Inter Milan sporting director Pierro Ausilio has told Mediaset, but the club have yet to make a formal approach for the winger. Perisic, 28, has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, with Sky Sports claiming United are in talks with Inter over signing the Croatia international. However, Ausilio has said that Inter have yet to receive any bids for Perisic. “If by offer you mean an official communication, then we’ve not had anything yet,” he said. “The media are always there first but there’s nothing to it.…
Ander Herrera will snub any approach from Barcelona to lure him to the Nou Camp from Manchester United. Reports from the Catalan capital have suggested the 27-year-old is a priority for incoming manager Ernesto Valverde’s. Valverde, who Herrera cites as one of the biggest influences on his career, succeeds Luis Enrique and is charged with winning back La Liga from Real Madrid and dislodging them in the Champions League rankings. Real contest this Saturday’s final in Cardiff against Juventus. Valverde is understood to have identified Herrera as the dynamo in the engine room to provide the base for Lionel Messi,…
The Markafi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scored the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progress Party (APC) government low as Nigerians celebrate this year’s Democracy day. In a statement by its publicity spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, the PDP said the APC has left Nigerians with nothing to celebrate two years after taking over power. The PDP accused the APC of ‘suppressing and denying it’ the political space to provide credible opposition in the country. The PDP accused the APC of selectively fighting corruption adding that the ruling party has become a shield for corrupt politicians. “The Question is what has…
The Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has reacted to the tale that he admitted registering for PVC twice. Fanwo Kingsley, the DG Media and Publicity to the Governor denied the claims which was reportedly circulated by Safiya Musa. “Our attention has been drawn to an unsolicited and derogatory publication doing the round and allegedly circulated by one Safiya Musa to the effect that the Executive Governor of Kogi State has admitted committing double PVC registration. “We crave the understanding of the public to the fact that the said Safiya Musa was not speaking on behalf of the Governor of Kogi…
DEMOCRACY DAY SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, COMMEMORATING THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUHARI ADMINISTRATION, MAY 29, 2017 Dear Nigerians, I bring you good wishes from President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who as we all know is away from the country on medical vacation. 1. Today marks the second anniversary of our assumption of office. We must thank the Almighty God not only for preserving our lives to celebrate this second anniversary, but for giving us hope, strength and confidence as we faced the challenges of the past two…
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says the Buhari administration will fulfill all that it promised Nigerians in the run up to the 2015 presidential contest. It’s been two years since the inauguration of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency, amid mixed reactions from Nigerians on the performance of the administration. Buhari has been dogged by health challenges for most of the period and is currently out of the country on yet another medical vacation. Osinbajo has been standing in for Buhari since May 7, 2017. Delivering the democracy day address to commemorate two years of the administration, Osinbajo said “we are ramping up…
The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, May 29, 2017 told Nigerians that the Buhari-led administration is to create solutions that respond to these grievances in the Niger Delta. Osinbajo said the plan of the Federal Government is to ensure that the people of the region enjoy the wealth in their area. He also said that the solutions are a product of wide consultation with stakeholders in the oil-rich region. Osinbajo said “Across the country, in the Niger Delta, and in parts of the North Central region, we are engaging with local communities, to understand their grievances, and to create…
Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives has scored the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of President Muhammadu Buhari high as it marks its second year in office, saying many commendable achievements have been recorded within the period. The Speaker also congratulated President Buhari, acting President Yemi Osinbajo, state governors and the entire leadership and all Nigerians for the 18 years of democracy in the country and second anniversary of the administration. While restating the commitment of the government to bringing succour to the common man, he saluted all Nigerians for their resilience in the face of challenges they…
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday May 29, 2017, delivered a nationwide address to mark Democracy Day. The acting President, while listing the achievements of the Buhari-led administration, said the government has boosted the confidence of the Nigerian Army. Osinbajo went ahead to paint the sorry state of the Army under the dreaded terror group, Boko Haram. He said “Our administration outlined three specific areas for our immediate intervention on assumption of office: these were Security, Corruption and the Economy. “ In the Northeast of our country, the terrorist group Boko Haram openly challenged the sovereignty and continued existence of…
The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has said that President Buhari’s administration has performed poorly. The group also said that the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) promise of change has not changed anything in Nigeria. According to Daily Post, Afenifere’s Secretary-General, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa called for the restricting of Nigeria. Arogbofa “As a matter of fact, we have not seen enough changes to justify the change mantra. The government might have planned for certain things but there are so many factors militating against its success so far. “The change mantra on corruption is a laudable idea but unfortunately, there has not been…
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government will set up specific courts to the trial of corruption cases. Osinbajo also said that Buhari’s administration will make sure that all stolen funds will be accounted for. He also highlighted some steps that the Federal Government has taken to curb corruption. Osinbajo said “We are also institutionalizing safeguards and deterrents. We have expanded the coverage of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). We have introduced more efficient accounting and budgeting systems across the Federal Government. We have also launched an extremely successful Whistleblower Policy.” “In the fight against corruption, we…
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has reaffirmed that policies and programmes of the present administration were deliberately targeted at the youth population in the country. He made the assertion on Monday in a broadcast to the nation on the 2017 Democracy Day and the second anniversary of President’s administration. The acting president said that Nigeria was a nation of young people, and that the government would ensure that its policies and programmes reflected that. “Several of our initiatives are targeted at our young people, who make up most of our population.” “From N-Power to Technology Hubs being developed nationwide,…
Mercy Aigbe has put her marital issues aside to share throwback photos with her daughter Michelle. The Nollywood star took to Instagram today, Thursday, May 25, 2017, with an adorable shot. She noted the youngster used to look like her as a little child. “16 years apart!…..@michelleio__ you used to look like me oh.” Life is looking like a crown of thorns for Aigbe who revealed in an interview with Broadway Africa that she does not intend to leave her husband after domestic violence allegations. She insisted that her husband who has now been tagged as a violent wife beater…