Having endured a few sleepless nights following the Champions League defeat last week in Madrid, Franck Ribery has issued his Bayern Munich teammates with a wake-up call. The French veteran sat out Saturday’s lacklustre 1-1 draw at home to Cologne in Germany’s top flight with tiredness after problems sleeping following last Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid. It was Bayern’s fourth straight away defeat to Spanish clubs and the Bavarian champions were then annoyed to drop their first Bundesliga points of the season in throwing away a 1-0 lead against Cologne. Despite their slight dip Bayern still hold a three-point…
Author: David Folami
Germany coach Joachim Loew wants the ‘same again’ for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland following his side’s demolition of the Czech Republic. Thomas Mueller scored twice and Toni Kroos also netted as Germany dominated the Czechs 3-0 on Saturday night. It was an impressive display from the hosts in Hamburg and the scoreline could have been much higher as Julian Draxler, Mario Goetze and Mueller all missed clear chances. Defenders Jerome Boateng and Jonas Hector suffered knocks, but Loew hopes the pair will be fit to face the Irish. “Jerome took a knock, Jonas has a slight muscular…
Former Nigerian coach Henry Nwosu says the away victory against Zambia in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier has put the Eagles at an advantage, but warned that the race has not been won yet. Eagles downed the Southern African side 2-1 in Sunday’s Group B opening clash at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia. Two first-half goals by Eagles forwards Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho proved enough to hand Nigeria the three points at stake while Zambian danger man Collins Mbesuma scored his side consolation. Nwosu said the Eagles’ hard-fought first win on Zambian soil does not call…
There was a lot of buzz among supporters when Klopp arrived. Has he been everything you thought he’d be? Dave Usher: He has, and then some. Morale was at rock bottom when Klopp arrived, and other than perhaps Pep Guardiola, there isn’t another manager out there who has the personality and reputation to have immediately lifted everybody’s chins off the floor in the way Klopp did. He has put smiles on everybody’s faces and made Liverpool a fun team to watch again. No-one has scored more goals than the Reds over the past 12 months, which is incredible when you…
When Wayne Rooney was at his apex, he scythed through opponents with vigour and relentless energy, often doing so on the brink of reason, a snarling bull terrier of a player who could bare his teeth at any time. Age has withered his temper as well as his legs, it appears. If the rage still burns within at 30 — almost 31– it has lapsed into impotence. If a younger Rooney was off his game, he would seethe as he tried to power himself back into form. The body no longer allows him the chance to do that. And his…
Nolito and Diego Costa were on point as Spain broke through in the second half to beat Albania 2-0 in Shkoder. A resolute Albanian side were cheered loudly at half-time by the home support after having held La Roja to a 0-0 draw in the first 45 minutes. But Spain, who dominated possession throughout the match, wouldn’t be denied in the second half. David Silva found Costa in the centre of the penalty area in the 55th minute and the Chelsea man converted to give the visitors their opener. Nolito carved up the Albanian defence, cutting in from the left…
Italy rallied to beat Macedonia 3-2 as the hosts fought back and were briefly in the lead against Giampiero Ventura’s team in their Group G World Cup qualifying match on Sunday. Andrea Belotti put the Azzurri in the lead in the 24th minute as he swept home from close range following Federico Bernardeschi’s cross into the area from a corner kick. But it was rapid-fire strikes from the hosts after the break that put them in the lead. Ilija Nestorovski’s right-footed strike found the right corner of the net in the 57th minute and two minutes later, Macedonia were in…
Wales were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Georgia as the visitors came from behind to secure a first point in Group D. The hosts had taken an early lead and looked to be in for a comfortable evening when Gareth Bale headed home the opener inside 10 minutes, rising the highest to head home Joe Ledley’s corner into the box. However, Georgia found themselves level shortly after the restart with Tornike Okriashvili beating the Wales offside trap before slotting past Wayne Hennessey for the equaliser. The visitors finished the match strongly and could well have left Cardiff…
Germany are making all of this look very easy. Another 3-0 win, their second in two qualifying games thus far, puts them top of Group C, a position they are simply unlikely to relinquish. The Czech Republic joined Norway in Germany’s trophy collection, swept aside with barely a second thought. Joachim Low was the subject of considerable criticism for failing to win Euro 2016. Unless something extremely surprising happens, he’ll have a chance to make up for that in Russia in 18 months’ time. Having taken a swipe at Chris Coleman by dismissing his side’s European Championship heroics as “lucky,”…
Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak has defended under-fire Wayne Rooney by claiming he is still England’s main threat. Rooney has been struggling for form for club and country, having been dropped to the bench at Manchester United, while he was booed during England’s 2-0 victory over Malta on Saturday. Atletico Madrid keeper Oblak, however, believes Slovenia will have to be wary of Rooney when they face England on Tuesday if they are to emerge with a result. “Rooney is a worldwide star and he is always very important for England’s game. He is the key player we must stop,” Oblak is…
Gov Nasir el-Rufai led administration in Kaduna state have issued an order declaring the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) led by Ibrahim Zakzaky, an unlawful society. In a statement signed by spokesman of the government, Samuel Aruwan, the movement was on Friday, October 7, 2016 disclosed as an unlawful society disrupting the peace of the state. The statement said further said the decision to outlaw the sect was arrived at during an executive council meeting which held on Thursday, October 6, 2016. Zakzaky was arrested after the Shi’te movement, which he leads, allegedly obstructed the movement of the Chief Of…
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said that the government has already begun to change. Mohammed made the comment in reference to the government’s “Change Begins With Me” initiative. Some persons had criticized the Muhammadu Buhari administration over the programme which they said was an attempt to lay responsibility on the shoulders of citizens instead of the government. He made the comments on Thursday, October 6, while unveiling the campaign to the corporate world in Lagos. “Today, ministers queue up at airports and filling stations. Their lifestyle is devoid of any ostentation. The federal executive council is not…
President Muhammadu Buhari, today, October 7, held a secret meeting with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. Buhari and Wike met behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, according to Leadership. The meeting is said to have lasted about 15 minutes but it’s not yet clear what the duo discussed. Meanwhile, Wike has warned that any attempt to rig the upcoming rerun elections in the state would be resisted.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his greatest wish is the courage to be fair to all Nigerians irrespective of religious, tribal and cultural backgrounds. Speaking in Abuja on Friday, October 7, 2016 while receiving Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin Muhammad Al-Qassimi, Imam of the Mosque of the Holy Prophet in Medina, Saudi Arabia, Buhari said his administration would continue to promote unity and peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians by ensuring fairness and social justice to all. He said: “God knows best- a population of 180 million people comprising more than 300 ethnic groups many of them with cultural ties stronger than religion…
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has stated restated the readiness of the FG to partner with SMEs in addressing the obstacles in their business finances. Speaking at the on-going SME Conference 2016 in Abuja, Osinbajo said the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari will partner with SMEs and local exporters to address some of the obstacles in their business, particularly access to finance. Osinbajo stressed that “one of the things we’ve assured a lot of those exhibiting today is that we’re going to be working with them day by day to see that they achieve all of their…
The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called on women in leadership positions to be role models for younger generation of women leaders to achieve full inclusion of women. Buhari said this in Abuja at the third annual conference organised by SHE Forum Africa with the theme: Regroup, Reboot and Remove the mask. Aisha Buhari was represented at the conference by Dr Toyin Saraki, wife of the Senate President. She said that women, including those in leadership positions, needed to come together to map out concrete plans on how to promote gender equality. Buhari said that women also…
The book on President Buhari: Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria, has unearthed some surprising stories lately. According to page 35 of the book, former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida gave a bag of money to Buhari when he was released from prison in 1988, reports say. The biographer also stated that the money was distributed to the poor by Mr. President. An excerpt of the book obtained from The Tribune, reads: “Buhari had married Safinatu Yusuf in 1971, and they had five children, a son and four daughters. In the end, Buhari and Safinatu would be…
A source from the presidency has revealed that President Buhari will hand-over some aircrafts in presidential fleet on Monday, October 10, 2016, to the Nigerian Air Force. According to Punch, the source said “I can confirm to you that based on the directive of the president, the commander of the Presidential Air Fleet will hand over some aircraft in the fleet to the Nigeria Air Force on Monday. The handover ceremony will be open to members of the public. President Buhari may be represented at the event by the minister of defence. It will hold at about midday on Monday.”…
The Presidency has expressed satisfaction over the South African Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision to confirm the conviction of Henry Okah to 20 years in prison. A presidency official, who preferred not to be named, confirmed this development to State House correspondents in Abuja on Saturday. The court, on Oct. 3, found Orkah guilty on two out of the 6-count charges relating to the Warri bombing labeled against him. The Court also upheld the 12-year sentence for his role in the Abuja bombing, that claimed many innocent lives. The convictions that were upheld are those in respect of the Warri…
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has said that it is not true that the Federal Government is working against the people of the Niger Delta region. He also said that the dialogue between the Federal Government and the people of the region to find lasting solutions to the lingering violence and pipeline vandalism in the region was on-going. The minister made the clarification on Saturday in an interview at the end of the 2016 Convocation Ceremony of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta. He said the president was very supportive of the project of ensuring…