Premier League clubs are set to discuss proposals to re-introduce standing areas at English top-flight grounds for the first time in more than 20 years when they meet in London next Thursday. The issue of so-called “safe standing” areas will be on the agenda of a Premier League shareholders’ meeting. Moves to make all-seater stadiums compulsory in the top division of English football followed a recommendation made by Lord Justice Peter Taylor’s report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which saw 96 Liverpool fans standing on a terrace at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground effectively crushed to death. Yet with many traditional English…
Author: David Folami
Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has revealed that he fleetingly thought he was offside just before he scored Nigeria’s second goal in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Algeria in 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying. Mikel appeared to be offside shortly before he scored though television replays showed an Algerian defender had played him onside at the last moment. The captain was pleased about the goal which saw the Super Eagles take a 2-0 lead into the break. “I had just one thing at the back of my mind (when I received the pass from Oghenekaro Etebo) and that was to…
Atletico Madrid stars Antoine Griezmann, Yannick Carrasco and Jose Gimenez are all targets for Manchester United, according to the Mirror. There has been long-standing interest in Griezmann and Gimenez at Old Trafford, but the Red Devils are now looking at Carrasco too, and even sent scouts to watch him in action for Belgium against the Netherlands. The 22-year-old, who scored for Los Colochoneros in the Champions League final last season, penned new terms just last month, which included the same buyout clause as Griezmann, reportedly set at €100 million.
Nigeria dismissed Algeria with a 3-1 win on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to open up a four point gap at the top of their 2018 World Cup qualifying group. Two goals from Victor Moses, either side of teammate John Obi Mikel’s strike helped seal the deal despite some nail-biting moments occasioned by Nabil Bentaleb’s ferocious drive from distance. Here are five thoughts from the match: It’s hard to imagine what Algeria were thinking when they decided to travel with their own water and bedding. OK, water one can almost understand, even if they can just go…
Top level Premier League football has changed during the past couple of seasons. It wasn’t long ago that everyone appeared obsessed with possession play and high-ball retention statistics were considered essential to creating a winning side. That attitude has changed significantly in the past couple of seasons, not simply because of the re-emergence of counterattacking football, epitomised by last season’s title winners Leicester City, but also because managers have placed a greater emphasis upon pressing. And while pressing isn’t quite an opposing concept to possession — the whole idea is to regain possession quickly, which is why a manager like…
Former Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat says relegation from the Premeier League might allow the Black Cats to overhaul their squad and come back stronger. The Dutchman, who saved Sunderland from the drop in 2014-15, compared the situation with local rivals Newcastle, who are thriving under Rafa Benitez despite demotion in May. “Maybe it’s better to go down, to build a new team like Newcastle who have a great club, a great fan-base and a great stadium just like Sunderland,” Advocaat is quoted as saying in the Mirror. “Sunderland simply cannot go on this way because other clubs invest in the…
Usain Bolt has told the Guardian he has “been genuinely talking to people” about the possibility of a post-athletics football career and is set to train with Borussia Dortmund “and see what happens.” Bolt, 30, is a big Manchester United fan and still dreams of playing for the club he supports. He said: “For me, if I could get to play for Manchester United, that would be like a dream come true. Yes, that would be epic.” The Jamaican has been in contact with Dortmund and will soon spend two days training with Thomas Tuchel’s squad in Germany. Bolt previously…
Philippe Coutinho is happy at Liverpool and wants to win the Premier League and Champions League with the club, according to Rodney Goncalves, the Brazil international’s former youth coach at Vasco da Gama. Coutinho, 24, has made a flying start to the season for the Reds, scoring five goals and setting up five for teammates in his first 11 appearances, and that form has seen Barcelona linked. But Goncalves insists a move is not on the agenda for Coutinho. “Whenever we speak he always says that is very happy at Liverpool and his biggest challenge is to win the Premier…
Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has told the Armenia FA’s website that manager Jose Mourinho is “one of the best in the world” and said he wants to show that he deserves to be a “key player.” Armenia international Mkhitaryan also said that he is “hungry” to deliver because of the way that the fans have backed him. The summer signing from Borussia Dortmund last started a game for United on Sept. 10, when they lost 2-1 against Manchester City, and his only appearance for the club since then was off the bench in the 2-1 defeat against Fenerbahce on…
Everton boss Ronald Koeman has confirmed he is interested in signing Manchester United forward Memphis Depay. Former United boss Louis van Gaal signed Depay, 22, from PSV Eindhoven in 2015 but the Netherlands international has struggled to meet expectations at Old Trafford despite glimpses of his potential. Depay has started only one game in all competitions since Jose Mourinho took over in the summer and he is reported to be surplus to requirements, with Everton among the clubs linked. Asked about the attacker, Koeman told Fox Sports’ “De Tafel van Kees” programme: “I would like to sign him. I think…
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said that Ronaldo was someone he tried to copy as a youngster because the Brazilian was capable of “magic.” Ibrahimovic, 35, followed in the footsteps of Ronaldo by playing up front for Barcelona, Inter Milan and AC Milan but they were never teammates. When Ibrahimovic started his career at Malmo, Ronaldo had already won the FIFA World Player of the Year twice and was a prolific scorer for Inter and Brazil. Ibrahimovic told United Review: “I think Ronaldo was phenomenal. He was the player that whatever he did it became ‘wow.’ He could do…
Manchester United have the highest wages in world football according to a global sports salary survey, produced annually by the Sporting Intelligence website. United’s first-team squad earn £5.77 million-a-year basic salary on average, which is £110,961-per-week. That is reportedly more than double the average basic first-team pay in England’s top division, which is £2,438,275-a-year or £48,766-a-week. The club are the fourth highest paid in world sport, behind Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA (£6.54m average), New York Yankees of the MLB (£5.81m) and LA Clippers of the NBA (£5.78m). The next highest football clubs on the list of world sports teams…
Spain retained top spot in Group G after a 4-0 scoreline at home to Macedonia was matched by rivals Italy in Liechtenstein. Having missed a good chance to put Macedonia ahead, Darko Velkovski’s own goal broke the deadlock in the 34th minute and Vitolo doubled the lead after half-time before Nacho Monreal and Aritz Aduriz finished things off.
Italy were in cruise control after just 45 minutes against Liechtenstein, having scored four times in the first half of a competitive match since January 1987 when they put five past Malta in a European Qualifier. Andrea Belotti’s two goals sandwiched efforts from Ciro Immobile — his fourth in as many appearances for Italy — and Antonio Candreva. With the job done the second half was a less intensive affair and although Italy stay level on 10 points with Spain their goal difference is inferior by five.
Taraba Commissioner of Health, Dr Innocent Vakkai, said on Friday that 956,875 children in the state were vaccinated against poliomyelitis under the Third Polio Outbreak Response Campaign. Vakkai spoke in Ardo-Kola at the launching of the Fourth Polio Outbreak Response Campaign. According to him, the state was selected for the campaign, as Taraba was among the states with the high risk of contracting polio. Gov. Darius Ishaku, said his administration was committed to the ‘total eradication’ of the viral disease in the state. Ishaku, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr Simon Angyu, said the state government would…
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, November 11, met with Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola in Abuja. The trio were pictured while having a chat at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Atiku’s meeting with Fayose, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has led to insinuations that the men might be planning a political alliance. Aregbesola and Atiku are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Fayose has however denied planning a move to the APC saying only a mad man would make such a decision.
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that Nigeria’s democracy is in danger. Secondus said further that the country’s democracy would crash if the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not checked. He made the comments via a statement issued on Thursday, November 10. The statement reads: Events surrounding the electoral body since Prof Yakubu took over from Prof Attahiru Jega leaves one with no other conclusion than that it is not only incompetent but obviously a bias agency designed to dance the music of the ruling All Progressives…
Factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede has said that no amount of opposition will stop him from becoming governor. Jegede made the comment via a statement released on Friday, November 11. The statement reads: “I remain indebted to the wonderful people of Ondo state who have always remained steadfast with us knowing fully well that this is one project that will succeed no matter the volume of opposition from any quarters.” “I again reiterate that I am absolutely committed to the rule of law, I have submitted my grievances to the courts and despite the…
Factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimoh Ibrahim, has promised to fix the electricity problem in some areas of the state. Ibrahim also accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of negligence for failing to address the issue. He made the comments during his campaign in the Okitipupa Local Council area on Wednesday, November 9. “The issue of electricity is very embarrassing and shameful. The last time I checked with the BEDC, the company said the senatorial district owed a backlog of unpaid bills of about N300 million, which made it to cut off its electricity supply,” Ibrahim said. According…
Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose has accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of destroying the Nigerian economy. Fayose also urged Buhari not to go ahead with plans to borrow $29.96 billion to finance the 2016 budget. The governor made the comments on Thursday, November 10, in Ado Ekiti, the state capital. “The current situation whereby the federal government is running after perceived opposition suggests that of a man that is interested in pursuing reelection rather than solving economic problems,” Fayose said according to Leadership. “A situation whereby government is borrowing far and above its external reserves means that the 2016 budget…