BAYERN MUNICH: BOOM! The big one as Bayern Munich face holders Real Madrid. But Bayern will be relieved to avoid an all-German clash (no, it’s not a Klassiker) and also avoid Real’s noisy neighbours Atletico, who dumped them out in the semifinals last time under Pep Guardiola. Of course, the main narrative will surround Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti plotting his way past Real, whom he led to the historic La Decima, thrashing Guardiola’s Bayern 5-0 on aggregate in the last four in 2014. Arjen Robben, Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos will all face former clubs, too. REAL MADRID: Real Madrid…
Author: David Folami
Karanka, Mourinho’s assistant at Real Madrid, was relieved of his duties on Thursday with Middlesbrough in the Premier League relegation zone. Since arriving at the club three years ago, Karanka averted the threat of relegation from the Championship before steering them to a playoff final and then automatic promotion last season. And speaking at a news conference before United take on Boro at Old Trafford on Sunday, Mourinho said: “In this case, I know the names” when asked whether player power had led to the manager’s departure. The United manager sarcastically said Karanka “deserved to be sacked.” He added: “In…
Manchester City lost 3-1 to the Ligue 1 leaders on Wednesday night as his side crashed out in the round of 16. Monaco dominated the first half with their high-pressing causing huge problems to City’s defence and stopping them passing through midfield and creating chances. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool play in a similar style. But Guardiola said he won’t alter his tactics, particularly after City improved massively in the second half. “Of course we have to defend better but I think in 12-15 minutes against Monaco we created five chances and few teams can do that,” he told a news conference.…
Mourinho is angry that his team play at Middlesbrough at noon on Sunday, soon after their Europa League win against FC Rostov at Old Trafford on Thursday night. Speaking at a news conference, he said football governing bodies in “every” other country tried to help clubs in Europe in the way they scheduled domestic fixtures. And he said United’s situation was far tougher than any of their rivals near the top of the table with Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City now out of European football this season. “We played 11 matches in the last six weeks and it’s going to…
Atletico director Clemente Villaverde was asked on beIN Sports whether his team were delighted to have drawn Leicester, seen by most pundits in Spain as the weakest of the eight teams left in the competition. “I don’t know about that, as in their last tie and in the groups they showed they are a team who must be taken into account,” Villaverde said. “When you are in the quarterfinals, among the best eight teams in Europe, you must respect all opponents. “Leicester are here on their own merits. They overcome a very important team like Sevilla in the last round.…
Toure, back in the City side having been frozen out by coach Pep Guardiola earlier in the season over comments made by agent Dimitri Seluk, had been linked with a move to the Chinese Super League. The 33-year-old, who has been at City for seven years, has yet to be offered a new contract. Seluk said he expected Toure to leave in the summer and suggested he could cross Manchester to play for City’s closest rivals. “Why not? Jose Mourinho is a very good coach. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was together with Yaya in Barcelona,” he added. “I understand this is two…
Their bonkers 6-6 aggregate draw with Leonardo Jardim’s side consigned Pep Guardiola to an early Champions League exit on the away-goals rule, and though it might not prove as memorable as the aforementioned defeats, it has prompted another debate about the exact strength of the Premier League. The statistics did the rounds on social media quickly after full-time. In the past five seasons, England have provided just four Champions League quarterfinalists. Compared to Spain (15) and Germany (nine), it’s a particularly poor figure, with France (six) also ahead. Italy (three), Portugal (two) and Turkey (one) complete the lineup. In basic…
Few hours to her performance at the Afropolitan Vibes, singer Cynthia Morgan is sick! The ‘German juice’ star is set to perform at 8 pm today at Freedom park but has been struck with a fever. She took to Instagram today, March 17, 2017, to break the news to fans looking forward to her performances. She wrote, “Good morning guys… I know you are looking forward to watching me perform at Afropolitan vibes tonight, But I developed a fever last night and I won’t be able to make it. I need all your love and prayers as I recover. I…
Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the committee will not surrender the party to anybody in an undemocratic manner. Makarfi stated this on Thursday when a delegation of PDP Concerned Grassroots Stakeholders from Borno visited him at the party’s temporary secretariat in Abuja. He assured them that irrespective of the legal outcome of the leadership crisis, PDP’s democratic principles would not be abandoned. “Yes, we are open to political resolution provided it is genuine, sincere, comprehensive, democratic, and legally water tight. “We are not surrendering the party in an undemocratic manner to anybody, including…
The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to set up an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the operational activities of telecommunications equipment and services companies/vendors operating in Nigeria. This was to determine whether there were irregularities in the employment status and conditions of Nigerians viz-a-viz their foreign counterparts, both in Nigeria and overseas. The ad hoc committee would evaluate the companies’ administrative and operational procedures and assess their tax compliance status. It would also ascertain the parameters and procedures used by the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in approving funds transfer from these companies. The…
Former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume has reacted to the Senate’s rejection of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Senate, on Wednesday, March 16, refused to confirm Magu due to a report against him by the Department of State Services (DSS). According to Ndume, if Magu could be rejected due to allegations of corruption, then Senate President, Bukola Saraki should not be occupying the position because he has also been accused of same. “We have all been accused, I have been accused of sponsoring Boko Haram, the senate president is still going to…
Many villagers have been reported dead in the Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State following an attack by Boko Haram members. The attack is said to have occurred at about 6pm on Wednesday, March 16, when terrorists invade the village in six trucks and several motorcycles. The terrorists reportedly shot sporadically at villagers and also set houses on fire. “Our town is under heavy attack this evening, the insurgents large in number stormed Magumeri at about 6:30pm when Muslim Ummah were performing Magrib prayers,” a fleeing resident, Ali Baba Umar told Vanguard. “I cannot ascertain the number of casualty…
Born on March 17, 1972, the actor is a native of Anambra State. Chidi Mokeme made his acting debut in 1995, with the movie “Goodbye Tomorrow”. He studied Computer Science at the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu. In 2004, the actor made his debut as the Gulder Ultimate Search host.
Nigerian singer Banky W has renewed his contract with tech company, Samsung. This comes few days after he lost some properties to a fire incident in his Lekki residence. The excited ‘Made for you’ singer took to Instagram today, March 17, 2017, to share the news. “Feeling really #blessed today as I’ve just renewed my contract for yet ANOTHER year with my @samsungmobileng family. Working with and repping the brand has been an amazing honour.. big shout out to the MD Emmanouil Revmatas, the brand manager, and the entire team in the building. I’m proud of the work we have…
Wizkid has joined the blonde gang! The music star debuted his new look on Instagram today, March 17, 2017. “Issa Vibe,” he captioned it. Joining the likes of Olamide and Lil Kesh who have also gone blonde. Are you feeling his new look? Do you think he should maintain it or ditch the blonde?
Gabriel Oche Amanyi, popularly known by his stage name Terry G, is a Nigerian musician and producer. Described by the Punch as ‘One of the world’s weirdest singers, Terry is known for his eccentric dress sense, controversial lyrics and awkward identity. In 2013, he released his fourth album titled Book of Ginger. Gabriel Amanyi was born in Lagos State on March 17, 1986 and started singing in the choir of his local church. He has cited 2face Idibia as his greatest musical mentor.
2Face Idibia’s brother, Hyacient Idibia has debunked viral reports that he was denied entry into the United States. The US-based artist took to Instagram on March 10, 2017, saying the news came from a fake Facebook and Twitter page. According to him, “On a serious note, the rumour going around that I was stopped from entering the state is not true. It is absolutely fake. It’s not true. The Twitter account and the Facebook account used is not mine. I do not post anything on my account so I don’t know how that came in.” This comes after a fake…
Born March 14, 1995 as Keshinro Ololade, Lil Kesh, is a Nigerian singer, rapper and songwriter. He rose to fame after his chart-topping song titled “Shoki”. Lil Kesh born and raised in Bariga started his music career in 2012 while rapping among his peers in Bariga until he released ‘Lyrically a single that quickly became popular. In 2015, he was nominated for the Best New Act to Watch category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
Senator Shehu Sani has said that Ibrahim Magu’s rejection by the Senate is the result of a civil war in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet. The Senate, on Wednesday, March 15, refused to confirm Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The upper legislative chamber based its decision on a report by the Department of State Services (DSS) in which it accused Magu of corruption and said he had failed the integrity test. “Magu is a victim of the civil war in the President’s kitchen cabinet. It is high time the President stood his feet…
Federal public servants who retired since January 2016 on Thursday staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja over their unpaid pensions to the tune of N200 billion. The retirees under the auspices of the League of Federal Service Contributory Pension Retirees, led by the Coordinator, Mr Chike Ogbechie said that workers who retired 15 months ago were yet to receive their pension. He said the association had made a submission to the National Assembly on the 2017 budget to look into their plight. ‘’The next time we come here, we are going to occupy this premises;…