In characteristic fashion, the aftermath of Real Madrid’s 6-2 aggregated victory over Napoli in the last-sixteen round of the Champions League brought a lot less joy than outright questioning of Zinedine Zidane’s decisions. Fans of other teams might look at this as an inexplicable taste for criticism. Real Madrid supporters prefer to believe it’s another example of their own incomparable obsession with excellence, something that drives them to analyse their team’s drawbacks in exasperating detail. The fact is that right after Dries Mertens scored, Napoli were only one goal away from outclassing Real Madrid and dumping them out of their…
Author: David Folami
Pep Guardiola fears that dropping points at home has cost Manchester City a shot at the Premier League title. City were held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke City at the Etihad on Wednesday night as they missed the chance to move up to second behind Chelsea in the table. His side closed the gap to 10 points behind the leaders, who they lost at home to earlier this season, while they have also drawn five games at home in total to give them the worst home record of all the teams in the top-five. City do, however, have the…
It has been a good few days for Chelsea fans. If beating London rivals West Ham 2-1 on their own ground wasn’t already a cause for celebration, rumours that manager Antonio Conte will sign a new contract imminently certainly will be. There has been much speculation of late around Conte’s future despite the fact that his current deal still has more than two years to run. Perhaps the greatest concern for Chelsea supporters came with the admission last week that his wife and daughter still live back in Italy. Although the reason for this is ostensibly so that his wife…
One of Wenger’s key principles is that he almost never criticises his players. Whenever Arsenal fall short, he tends to take responsibility himself, sometimes even praising his team’s “mental strength” or technical quality in spite of a loss. It’s a policy that has served him well for the longest current managerial reign in English football. However, in the wake of Arsenal’s 10-2 aggregate defeat against Bayern, perhaps his approach is due some scrutiny. When Wenger entered his post-match news conference after watching his side humbled 5-1 at home, silence descended over the assembled journalists. It was almost respectful — no-one…
N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard. The former has emerged as the popular favourite but the latter has truly been Chelsea’s outstanding performer this season. The title winners don’t always provide the season’s outstanding performer but with Antonio Conte’s men currently 10 points clear and voting set to begin shortly, it’s inevitable that their fellow professionals will choose someone from Stamford Bridge. Besides, all potential rivals have blotted their copybook this week, namely Zlatan Ibrahimovic with his elbow on Tyrone Mings and Alexis Sanchez after his squabble with Arsene Wenger. Perhaps only Tottenham’s Harry Kane, who is enjoying yet another prolific…
Paul Pogba’s season keeps hitting the woodwork. The Manchester United man has struck the bar or post eight times in the Premier League, more than any other player, and so the metaphor feels like an obvious one — his first year back at Old Trafford often seems mere frustrating inches from being so much better. Frank Lampard recently suggested Pogba could be a £90 million problem, in the sense he is not being played in his best position, and is therefore struggling to be effective. Pogba could argue, given the above statistic, that fortune has not fallen his way, yet…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State has said that it will ensure free education for all if elected into office in 2019. The declaration was made by Adamawa PDP chairman, Abdulrahman Bobboi during a meeting with journalists. “By the time PDP takes over in 2019, we will declare free education for all the time PDP takes over in 2019 we will declare free education for all,” Bobboi said according to Daily Sun. “Illiteracy is a major problem to any society and this government has made it difficult for Nigerians to have three square meals talk more of paying…
It was unthinkable, improbable and unbelievable. PSG played the ultimate Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde role. They have gone from fireworks to darkness, from joy to sadness. However, there is no pity for the chokers. No empathy for the losers, because the Parisians have only themselves to blame. Barcelona believed they could achieve this “remontada” but belief and hope were their best weapons. PSG’s errors, Unaï Emery’s choices and a little bit of help from the referee did most of the rest. Were Barcelona out of this world on Wednesday? Surely not. Were PSG far below par? Definitely. No one…
You can make your jokes about Groundhog Day, Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the mountain or simply Waiting for Godot. Like many, I’ve probably used all of them when talking about Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Everything is so familiar and so repetitive. From the guys on Arsenal Fan TV to the calls for “change.” First, a word on the game and the outcome. It would have taken something improbably Herculean to overturn the 5-1 first leg deficit at the Allianz Arena and that wasn’t going to happen. What you could legitimately ask for is a decent performance and until Laurent…
Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, has said the political freedom being enjoyed in the state was made possible by Tinubu’s wisdom and sincerity. Shettima made this known on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 during the commissioning of an estate named ‘Bola Tinubu Court’. In a report by TheCable, the governor reportedly said the ex-Lagos governor made it impossible some individuals to hijack the APC structure in Borno state especially towards the 2015 elections. He said: “For us in Borno State APC, I must confess that we owe our political freedom and independence to not only our firmness but importantly, to the…
Neymar says his stunning performance in Barcelona’s belief-defying 6-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain was the best he has ever produced. Sergi Roberto scored the winning goal in stoppage time, but the Brazilian was the driving force as Barca scored three times in the final seven minutes of their Champions League round-of-16 second-leg tie against the French champions en route to the competition’s biggest ever comeback. As well as being his side’s biggest threat throughout the match, Neymar scored two goals and created another to knock PSG out of Europe, 6-5 on aggregate, in an exhilarating ending to what developed into…
Kemen just might be feeling some remorse after the stunt he pulled in the Big Brother Naija house and he wants to show how sorry he is. The ex-BBN housemate who was disqualified on Sunday, March 6, 2017, for sexually harassing Tboss, while she slept, has taken to Facebook to tender his apology. Kemen’s post read: “My name is Ekemini Ekerette, popularly known as Kemen (@Kemen_Fitness) one of the Big Brother Naija 2017 Housemate. I am a Fitness Trainer and a model before joining the Big Brother house. “I hereby tender my sincere apologies to TBoss and ask for her…
Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings has been given a five-match ban for stamping on the head of Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Football Association said on Wednesday. Bournemouth said they were “extremely disappointed” with the decision, which they described as “extraordinary”. Mings, 23, trod on Ibrahimovic’s head during the first half of Bournemouth’s 1-1 draw at United in the Premier League last Saturday. Ibrahimovic retaliated by elbowing Mings in the head, for which he accepted a three-game ban on Tuesday. “AFC Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings will serve a five-match suspension, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today,” the FA said in…
Head coach Thomas Tuchel was full of praise for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who scored a hat trick to help Borussia Dortmund beat Benfica 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League round tie. After a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, the German club came out strong and Aubameyang made sure there was no repeat of his poor showing in the first game as he recorded a hat trick, while Christian Pulisic also got on the scoresheet. Pulisic’s goal made him the youngest-ever goalscorer for Dortmund in the Champions League, surpassing Felix Passlack’s record. Tuchel was ecstatic with his…
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff has told the party’s workers to resume their duties at the national secretariat in Abuja. Some staff of the party rejected Sheriff’s leadership and refused to resume at the secretariat unless their safety was guaranteed. Sheriff issued the order via a statement released by his spokesman, Bernard Mikko. The statement reads in part: “Members of the PDP Welfare Association and indeed all committed staff of the national secretariat who have not resumed duties should immediately get back to work, as they are neither on trial nor involved in any crisis or litigation…
Oritsefemi drops visual for ‘Happy day’, track two on his “Corporate Miscreant” album. The musical taliban is basically having fun and inspiring viewers in some type of way not to continually strive to prosper. Watch the visuals.
Following the release of songs like ‘J’ete’ and ‘Jigi Jigi’, Naija review singer Niniola teams up with super producer Sarz in ‘Maradona’. Download, listen and share your thoughts.
X3M Music singer Praiz serves the remix of song ‘Heartbeat’ which features the veteran American R&B singer Kenny Lattimore. The ‘Folashade’ singer rolls this out to mark his birthday. Gospelondbeatz produced this. Listen.
Black Diamond Entertainment singer Wande Coal releases visuals for ‘Ballerz’, one of the singles released late 2016. The video was directed by Ani James for Aje Filmworks, with cameo appearance by Maleek Berry. Enjoy the party tune.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has commended the Federal Government over inauguration of the Lagos-Ibadan fast rail project. The governor while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan on Wednesday, described it as the “best thing that happened to the state’’. Ajimobi said the state gain more from the project as it would open it to a new vista of development. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had on Tuesday inaugurated the rail project at Yaba, Lagos. The governor said that the project would boost the earning capacity of the government and the people.…