Everton will be ready to compete in the Europa League next season despite the demands placed on the club by additional fixtures after they sealed a seventh-placed Premier League finish, manager Ronald Koeman has said. Everton will play 41 games across three domestic competitions this season but can expect a much busier fixture list next year when the European ties are added to the schedule. Koeman said that his players would be in better shape than at the beginning of this campaign, where eight players sustained injuries in August and September, as they had become accustomed to the manager’s training…
Author: David Folami
Jose Mourinho admitted Manchester United defender Eric Bailly had been naive to allow himself to be baited into the red card against Celta Vigo that rules him out of the Europa League final. Bailly was sent off along with Celta’s Facundo Roncaglia after a bout of pushing and shoving involving players from both teams in the final minutes of the 1-1 semifinal second leg draw at Old Trafford. The Ivory Coast centre-back will be suspended for the final against Ajax in Stockholm later this month, leaving United manager Mourinho to grumble about Roncaglia’s provocation and his player’s needless reaction. “I…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that the 14-point gap between his club and leaders Chelsea is not an accurate reflection of the difference in quality between the two Premier League sides. While Chelsea can seal the title with a win at West Brom later on Friday, Liverpool are clinging to a spot in the top four. They are third, a point and a place above Manchester City, having played a game more. Fifth-placed Arsenal are also challenging for a top-four finish and lie four points behind Liverpool, also with a game in hand. “Everything is still in our hands,”…
Gareth Bale is set to miss the remainder of Real Madrid’s league campaign after coach Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday he did not know when the Wales international will return from injury. Bale has endured his longest spell on the sidelines in his fourth season with Real, which has been littered with injuries, and faces a race to get fit for the Champions League final against Juventus on June 3 in his home town of Cardiff. The forward has been limited to 17 league starts this season due to a serious ankle injury and repeated muscle problems and was absent…
Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel criticised the officials after Manchester City’s opening goal in their 2-1 win on Saturday was allowed to stand despite an apparent offside. David Silva put hosts Manchester City ahead in the 29th minute, but Raheem Sterling, who appeared to be in an offside position, had a clear swipe at the ball as it went past him. “The Man City player is in an offside position and the ball is struck,” Schmeichel told BBC Sport. “The ball goes across him, which prevents me seeing, and he’s stood in front of Christian Fuchs and he also goes…
The Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdurrahman Danbazau, on Friday said that the Federal was confident that the Boko Haram would release more Chibok school girls soon. Danbazau stated this in Minna while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the wedding Fatiha of Halima Babangida, daughter of Former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida. “By the grace of God, I believe more of the girls will be released as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari. “Before this administration came on board not a single girl was released, but now over 100 have been freed,” he said. Danbazau called on Nigerians to have…
N6 is out with new music ‘Hammer’ featuring Young Skales. “This year we must hammer ” Skales chants on the catchy hook. N6 goes in confidently as well on the celebratory track. Download, listen and groove to this.
Two victories from their final two matches will book Liverpool’s place in next season’s Champions League, but Jurgen Klopp’s side won’t be taking anything for granted when they face West Ham on Sunday. Liverpool dropped two points as they were held 0-0 at home by Southampton last weekend, and can be grateful that their fate is still in their own hands thanks to Manchester United’s defeat at Arsenal. The Reds have already struggled against West Ham this season, recovering from a halftime deficit to earn a 2-2 draw at Anfield in December. At least they are playing better on their…
The factional leader of the Boko Haram insurgent group, Abubakar Shekau has allegedly threatened to bomb Abuja. A journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who had previously obtained insider information from the terrorists’ camp, disclosed this on Twitter. In a series of tweets on Friday, May 12, Salkida said Shekau made the threat in a yet-be-released video. He said the video also featured Shuaibu Moni, one of the swapped Boko Haram commanders, threatening the Nigerian authorities and President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the journalist, Moni said that more than five Boko Haram commanders were exchanged for the 82 freed Chibok girls. He noted…
The Governing Council and Board of Trustees, Mining Investment has nominated Gov. Darius Isiaku of Taraba State to show case the state mineral resources at the forthcoming Mining Investment in Europe. The mining investment in Europe would take place in Frankfurt, Germany, from June 12 to June 14. Taraba is blessed with different types of minerals, such uranium, zircon, zinc ore, topaz, sapphire, futile, quartz, graphite, gold, beryle among others. Mr Saturday Jackson, conference facilitator, an investment expert and member of the Nigerian-German Business Exchange Council made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Jackson said that the…
There are reports that the Federal Government won’t be giving required updates on the health and treatment of President Muhammadu Buhari while in London. Punch reports that the possibility of providing daily bulletin/update on the President’s health has been ruled out by sources in the Federal Government. It was further reported that sources stressed that there was no need for such updates since Buhari had handed over to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who is now the acting President. The minister of information, Lai Mohammed as well as media aides to President Buhari, Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina are yet…
Nigerian singer Niyola has just lost her friend, Karabo Mokoena to the clutches of death. According to the star, her friend was murdered by her ex and burned beyond recognition. She shared a screen shot of their last conversation writing, “I really shouldn’t be doing this but the worst has happened and someone’s life might be saved. My friend was murdered by her ex and burned beyond recognition. Before then he had battered her black and blue on one occasion and would constantly drain her emotionally. These signs were there, he tried to kill her many times until he succeeded.…
Talk about drama! Peter Okoye gave us something to think about with his latest Instagram post. The P Square singer shared a video on Friday, May 12, 2017, revealing that himself and his friends decided to use a helicopter to the stadium to watch the football match between Westbrom and Chelsea in order to avoid traffic. Sporting a Chelsea jersey, the singer explained to his fans that he believed his team would be winning the game which took place earlier tonight. He captioned the post, “Reporting live from London to Birmingham….. on our way to da game. #upBlues #Upchelsea Westbrom…
Beat FM On-Air Personality, Toolz is settling down comfortably as she begins the early journey to her due date. The expectant mum who announced that she is pregnant via an Instagram post last weekend was seen showing off her baby bump while rocking a colourful African fabric. Isn’t she quite a trendy mother to be? One would be inclined to agree when you have seen the OAP slay in some recently released pictures. Toolz is currently on a visit to London in company of her husband, Tunde Demuren for the One Africa Music Fest holding today, May 13, 2017, at…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho accepts the club’s season will be judged a failure if they do not beat Ajax in the Europa League final on May 24. Mourinho says he has worked “harder than ever” during his maiden United campaign, which has already featured a League Cup triumph and victory over Leicester City in the Community Shield. But with United needing to beat Ajax to secure a place in next season’s Champions League, he knows he will not be spared by the media if his side succumb to defeat at Stockholm’s Friends Arena. “I think you, the media, have…
Even as he nursed a thick lip and lamented his sodden suit amid the mayhem of Chelsea’s Premier League title celebrations, Antonio Conte was already targeting his next trophy bid. The Chelsea manager said his players should enjoy the success they clinched with a 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Friday to give him glory in his first season in charge. But the Italian now has his eyes on completing the Double with victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 27. “Now it’s very important to enjoy this moment and celebrate this win because…
Even as he nursed a thick lip and lamented his sodden suit amid the mayhem of Chelsea’s Premier League title celebrations, Antonio Conte was already targeting his next trophy bid. The Chelsea manager said his players should enjoy the success they clinched with a 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Friday to give him glory in his first season in charge. But the Italian now has his eyes on completing the Double with victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 27. “I think that now it’s very important to enjoy this moment and celebrate…
An Abuja High Court has granted bail to former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Bala Mohammed. Presiding judge, Justice Abubakar Talba, on Friday, May 12, granted Mohammed bail in the sum of N500m with two sureties in like sum. The judge said further that one of the sureties must be a Senator, while the other must be a director in the Federal Civil Service. Both sureties must have landed property in the FCT and show evidence of tax payment in the last three years. Mohammed has been charged with six counts of fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission…
Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) has called for the inclusion of officers and men of the commission in the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme. Mr Mohammed Manga, Assistant Director, Media Relations, in the Office the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, (HOS) stated this in a statement he signed on Friday in Abuja. Manga said Oyeyemi made the call when he led the top management of the commission on a courtesy visit to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita in her office in Abuja. Oyeyemi said the…
The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the election of Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Abia. Delivering the judgment, Justice Ejembi Eko held that the apex court had no reason to set aside the Aug.18 decision of the Court of Appeal that upheld Ikpeazu’s victory. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two out of the three-man panel of the court had struck out the appeal instituted by Mr Uche Ogah. Ogah, also a PDP member had challenged Ikpeazu’s nomination as candidate of the party to contest the 2015 governorship election on account of…