Brazil’s charge to secure World Cup qualification with four rounds still to go can be explained in two ways. One factor has been their own excellence, finding under their coach, Tite, a collective idea of play which has been bringing the best out of their individual talents. The other explanation is the weakness of the opposition.The overall standard of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers has been disappointing. It is a gruelling competition, and no one is able to maintain consistency over the full 18 rounds. This time, though, few have hit the heights. Brazil aside, no one else can truly…
Author: David Folami
Jamaican legendary sprinter Usain Bolt was pictured helping to dig the grave of his late friend and Olympic silver medallist, Germaine Mason. Jamaican-born Mason who represented and won silver for Great Britain died after losing control of his motorcycle in accident in April. Mason was said to be returning from a soca party in a convey that had Bolt and another Jamaican sprinter Michael Frater when the accident happened. Bolt was reportedly at the scene shortly after the accident. From some videos that have emerged on social media, Bolt is seen helping to dig the grave where Mason will be…
Tapping up, the practice of one club courting a player of another without permission, is football’s worst kept secret. And it is one that the general public only ever hear about when a club or player get caught. The rest of the time, hidden in plain sight, transfer dealings are often conducted in direct contravention of the regulations and no one bats an eyelid. It is widespread but only when a club is particularly determined to keep hold of their player, or there is a feeling that the unwritten rules of discretion have been thrown out the window entirely, is…
A move for Ivan Perisic to Manchester United looks to be on, and the Independent reports that the Inter Milan winger is “hugely keen and excited” to work with Jose Mourinho. The Croatia star would cost about £50 million, with the player reportedly already agreeing personal terms with the Red Devils. The Nerazzurri have sat back and watched Derby della Madonnina rivals AC Milan splash the cash while their situation appears more restricted. United have been given confidence they can prise away the former Wolfsburg star due to Inter’s need to sell with £26m required before the end of June…
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has urged James Rodriguez to leave Real Madrid to find regular first-team football, saying he has “no doubts” that things will change in the summer. James, 25, has become a fringe player at the Bernabeu since Zinedine Zidane took charge 18 months ago, starting just 13 league games last season. Reports in Spain suggest he will be sold, and Marca reported Pekerman as saying: “It is incredible that a player of James’ level doesn’t play regularly. “His performances, his quality and his numbers have been good. It’s difficult to maintain that long-term, though, when you’re in…
Captain Harry Kane admitted England had just not been good enough after 10-man France battled back to secure a 3-2 win in Tuesday night’s international friendly in Paris. Kane’s close-range finish and second-half penalty, which saw consultation with the video assistant referee and a red card for home defender Raphael Varane, had cancelled out efforts from Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe. However, Ousmane Dembele won it for Les Bleus 12 minutes from time when he punished some sloppy England defending. Kane was disappointed England failed to go on to get a positive result, as they had with a last-gasp equaliser…
Africa’s champions Cameroon were handed a severe wake-up call in Tuesday’s international friendly against Colombia as they were thumped 4-0 only five days before their Confederations Cup opener. The Indomitable Lions beat Egypt to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon earlier this year, but despite downing Morocco at the weekend, they were thoroughly outclassed by Jose Pekerman’s side at Getafe’s Coliseum Alfonso Perez Stadium and also had Robert Ndip Tambe dismissed. James Rodriguez opened the scoring with a fine effort from a narrow angle after 16 minutes when he beat Andre Onana with a thunderous effort, before Yerry…
The news that Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is set to move to Everton for an eventual fee of £30 million (£22m up front, and £8m in add-ons) has made us question everything we ever knew about how much a player costs. Pickford, 23, will be No. 3 on the list of most expensive goalkeepers in world football. Not just the Premier League. But the entire world. Narrowly behind Gianluigi Buffon (£32.6m) and Man City’s recent signing from Benfica, Ederson Moraes (£34.7m). The England Under-21 international’s potential move suggests that goalkeepers are now viewed with a bit more respect in the…
Senate President says it would be insensitive for political office holders to be preoccupied with 2019 politicking without meeting their electoral promises to the people. Saraki stated this at the weekend while speaking with journalists in Ilorin. The Senate president advised serious minded politicians to focus on delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians rather than be engrossed with 2019 to the detriment of good governance. “2019 is a long way,” he said. “Any serious minded politician that is interested in his people should not be talking about 2019 especially if we want to be honest with ourselves, some of…
The agent of Bayern Munich’s Douglas Costa, a reported transfer target for Liverpool, met with Juventus on Tuesday as the Italian giants look to bolster for next season, say reports. Costa, who is known for his ball control and mazy runs up the wing, is reported to be looking for a way out of Bayern after a frustrating season under Carlo Ancelotti. According to Sky Sport 24, Costa’s agent, Cesar Bottega, met with Juventus officials in Turin to discuss the player’s personal terms. Costa, 26, reportedly earns €7 million a season at Bayern, who according to the report would aim…
Davido’s baby mama, Sophia Momodu, shared this photo of herself and little Imade at her graduation. “I’m so proud of my lil baby!! We Up,” she wrote. In the photo you see a smiling Imade, without shoes of course, and her proud mum smiling for the camera.
Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecutions, has said that part of the 2017 budget will be financed by recovered looted funds. Obono-Obla stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen on what the Federal Government was doing with looted funds so far recovered. “About 20 per cent of this year`s budget will be financed from our recovery effort,’’ he said. He added that the Federal Government would, however, liaise with National Asembly for permission before the funds would be used. The president’s aide commended the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government, saying that…
A Jos-based medical laboratory scientist, Mr Solomon Chollom, has called for a steady upgrade of medical diagnostic facilities toward effective diagnosis of diseases. Chollom made the call on Tuesday in Jos, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “If diagnostic centres are upgraded, they will generally improve quality of medical services in the country and also reduce medical tourism. “There is the need to migrate to modern technologies in disease remote sensing; this is particularly efficient in the diagnosis of emerging diseases,” he said. He particularly regretted that many medical laboratories in local government health centers, cottage hospitals…
Smoking and other tobacco use kills more than seven million people each year, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, also warning of the dire environmental impact of tobacco production, distribution and waste. The UN agency said tougher measures were needed to rein in tobacco use, urging countries to ban smoking in the workplace and indoor public spaces, outlaw marketing of tobacco products and hike cigarette prices. “Tobacco threatens us all,” WHO chief Margaret Chan said in a statement. “Tobacco exacerbates poverty, reduces economic productivity, contributes to poor household food choices, and pollutes indoor air,” she said. In a report released…
Given everything he has accomplished in his career, you would think people might grow tired of debating LeBron James’ legacy and place amongst the league’s best players. But after another loss in the NBA Finals, the old discussions are back, and the naysayers are out to prove a point. Leave it to a Lakers fan to not just lead the pack, but have to make things up to do so. TMZ caught up with The Game in Los Angeles on Monday night, and he was asked about the G.O.A.T. discussion, which led to him getting into it with a friend…
Premier House DJ Cuppy is out with a new mixtape tagged “Cactus On The Roof”. Cuppy will be hosting a series of rooftop parties which she hopes to take across different continents. Nigerian-born DJ, Cuppy, a pioneer of ‘Neo-Afrobeats’ has created this mix bringing out a fusion sound. Download, listen and share the vibe!
Nollywood actor Kunle Afod has welcomed a baby boy. Afod who mainly stars in Yoruba Nollywood flicks announced this good news on his Instagram today, Thursday, June 8, 2017. Kunle Afod shared a photo of his son and wrote “A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on and with each one comes a limitless ability to love…Welcome to my world Prince…” In another caption, he revealed that his wife wanted a girl this time around. ” I thank you, lord …..you gave me another bouncing baby boy …am grateful and I will forever be…she wanted a girl but…
Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt will run the 100m at the Golden Spike on June 28, his first European start before August’s world championships, organisers said Tuesday. “Last weekend, he confirmed he was ready to race,” Miroslav Cernosek, head of the TK Plus agency, said in a statement. This will be Bolt’s ninth — and last — appearance at the event in the eastern Czech steel hub of Ostrava. The 30-year-old nine-time Olympic gold medallist has said he will retire from international competition after the world championships in London. Other big names at the Golden Spike include reigning 800m Olympic…
Rafael Nadal will resume his bittersweet relationship with Wimbledon buoyed by his record-breaking French Open but wary of the traps which have ensnared him at the All England Club. The 31-year-old Spaniard routed Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros on Sunday 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to become the first man in history to win the same major 10 times. That took him to 15 Grand Slam titles, one ahead of Pete Sampras and just three behind the 18 of old rival Roger Federer. Next up on the Slam list in three weeks’ time is Wimbledon where Nadal was champion in 2008 and…
Retired boxing champion Floyd Mayweather is expected to arrive Nigeria today, Monday June 12, 2017. This was made known by the chairman of inni Media Group, in a recent chat. Okonkwo noted that Mayweather, who quit boxing in 2015, will be touring few states in Nigeria between June 12, 2017 and June 15, 2017 before moving out to few other African countries. Mayweather’s scheduled visit was confirmed by the 40-year-old boxer in a video shared on the Instagram page of Rumours Night Club. “It’s your one and your man only Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, Nigeria June 12, June 13 and June…