Paul Pogba has called his long-awaited return to Manchester United “destiny,” and acknowledged that he is back to finish what he started at the club. Pogba became the most expensive footballer in history on Tuesday when he moved to Old Trafford from Juventus for a record-breaking fee of €105 million. The 23-year-old midfielder had started his professional career at United, making just seven appearances for the club before joining the Bianconeri on a free transfer in the summer of 2012. Speaking in an interview with MUTV following the announcement of the deal, Pogba characterised his United return as fate, and…
Author: David Folami
Meanwhile, Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel slammed the doubters who claim the champions have no chance of retaining the title. Claudio Ranieri’s 5,000-1 outsiders caused one of the greatest upsets in sporting history when they won the Premier League last season, but bookmakers and pundits have shown them little respect ahead of the new campaign. Although Leicester have lost key midfielder N’Golo Kante to Chelsea, Schmeichel is adamant his team-mates are still hungry to prove they can compete at the top of the Premier League. “When you win a Premier League after a couple of weeks it still feels surreal and…
Daley Blind believes Manchester United’s Community Shield victory can be the springboard for a Premier League title challenge. Jose Mourinho’s side beat champions Leicester 2-1 in the annual curtain raiser in the English top-flight season at Wembley on Sunday. While the Shield is not always a reliable barometer of future success, United defender Blind is confident the first silverware of the Mourinho era can be the prelude to bigger prizes. “I think we said it last year as well, a club like Manchester United always wants to play for titles,” Blind said. “So we are competing in every competition the…
Denmark goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, has described his Nigeria teammate, Ahmed Musa, at Leicester City as a man with “frightening pace.” The Leicester stopper said after his team lost to Manchester United in the Community Shield on Sunday that Musa will give the Foxes additional pace upfront. The Nigeria international did show a glimpse of what defenders in the English Premier League should expect from this weekend in the Community Shield against Manchester United. “Musa, his pace is frightening. We’ve got some great options going forward, bags of pace. The 23-year-old winger joined Leciester City from CSKA Moscow in July for…
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is an injury doubt ahead of the European Super Cup clash with Sevilla in Trondheim, Norway on Tuesday, joining a long list of absentees. “We’re aren’t going to take any risks regarding Karim” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told a press conference. “He is ok, but he hasn’t played the last two matches (…) I’m very happy that he’s with us, because he’s worked very hard, he’s done the whole pre season but we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” explained Zidane. Benzema sustained a hip injury at the end of last season and still hasn’t fully…
Ghana striker Andre Ayew has joined West Ham United from Premier League rivals Swansea City for a club record fee of £20.5 million, the Londoners said on Monday. The 26-year-old has agreed a three-year contract with the option for an additional two years. Ayew played a pivotal role in steering Swansea away from relegation last season, netting 12 times in 34 starts as Francesco Guidolin’s side finished 12th in the table. He leaves Swansea one year after joining on a free transfer from Olympique Marseille. “I am very proud and happy to be at this magnificent club. I hope to…
French superstar Paul Pogba on Tuesday completed a sensational return to Manchester United from Juventus for a reported world record fee. United said Pogba had signed a five-year contract but did not give the cost which British media have put at 89 million pounds ($116.4 million, 105 million euros), not including agent’s fee. That would see the 23-year-old eclipse the 85 million pounds Real Madrid paid Tottenham Hotspur for Gareth Bale in 2013. “This is the right club for me to achieve everything I hope to in the game,” said Pogba. Pogba moved to Italy when United let him go…
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, has said that he would like to write books and teach as part of his contributions to the society as a retired police officer. Arase, who disclosed this shortly after a reception held in his honour on Saturday in Benin, also described life after active service as very relaxing. “I am an academic. I will write books, I will rest and do humanity work. I want to spend the rest of my life touching the lives of the less privileged people within my community. “I will sit down to write some books,…
Boko Haram’s shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau has appeared in a new video vowing to fight on, shrugging off an apparent split in the hardline jihadist group blamed for thousands of deaths since 2009. “I… Abubakar Ash-Shakawy (Shekau), the leader of Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad made it a duty for myself (to fight) Nigeria and the whole world,” Shekau said in the video released on Sunday, using group’s name since it declared allegiance to the so-called Islamic State. Last week, Shekau said in an audio message he was still head of the group despite his purported replacement with Sheikh Abu…
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said on Monday that the efforts of the military in the North-East had paid off as incessant bombing attacks on the public had been halted. Buratai said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Gbong Gwom of Jos. Dr Jacob Buba Gyang. Buratai assured the traditional ruler that the military was committed to restoring peace to the Plateau and the entire country. “Our efforts in the North-East have really paid off. “As it was previously, the incessant bombings and attacks in different places of worship, markets and motor parks…
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has denied allegations that he forged the 2015 Senate Standing Rules. Ekweremadu is facing a forgery trial along with Senate President, Bukola Saraki due to the charges. The Deputy Senate President made the comments on Sunday, August 7, 2016, during a meeting with the Enugu State Economic Advisory Committee, a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu said. According to the statement, Ekweremadu said: “I am indeed humbled by your solidarity. As they say, the true test of a man is not where he stands in the time of comfort; it is…
Militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has denied reports of a split within its ranks. Reports had it that a faction of the group had emerged and identified itself as the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA). The claim was however denied by NDA spokesman, Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo via a statement. The statement reads: “The thinking to lure the public to another lie of spirit in the Niger Delta Avengers is only the ways of a government agents and agencies with delusional disorder.” “This is result of a government and security agencies that are only becoming childish every day for…
Niger Delta activist, Chief Ayiri Emami has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe claims that militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is being sponsored by prominent Nigerians. The claim was made by a supposed faction of NDA, known as Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA). The group named former president, Goodluck Jonathan as one the sponsors of NDA. Ayiri’s comments were contained in a statement released on Sunday, August 7, 2016. The statement reads: “The revelation by the splinter group of Niger Delta Avengers about the sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers has vindicated my earlier position that some corrupt politicians running…
A traditional ruler in Edo State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of bribing monarchs in the state to vote for its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the September 2016 elections. According to the Onojie of Uromi, Chief Anslem Okojie, Ize-Iyamu gave the monarchs N3 million while PDP chieftain, Chief Tony Anenih added another N3 million to the amount. The monarch made the claim on Thursday, August 4, 2016, while receiving All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Hon Philip Shaibu at his palace, The Nation reports. “I do not trust Pastor Ize…
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has said that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was helped into office by the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion. Ize-Iyamu also criticized Oshiomhole for disrespecting Igbinedion and other elders in the state. The PDP candidate made the comments on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, during a rally in the Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state, according to Sahara Reporters. “I feel sad when I hear Oshiomhole insults people like Chief Igbinedion when it was Chief Igbinedion that helped him to power,” he said. “He should have…
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has made his interest in the party’s chairmanship position official. George today, Friday, August 5, obtained a nomination form to join AIT founder, Chief Raymond Dokpesi in the race, ahead of the August 17 National Convention of the party. The Convention is expected to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Ijaw National leader, Edwin Clark, has said former president Olusegun Obasanjo is the most corrupt ex-president in Nigeria’s history. Clark, who was defending himself after he was accused of not speaking against corruption, said he confronted Obasanjo with allegations of corruption during former president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Speaking to newsmen at his Warri, Delta state residence on Friday, August 5, the elder statesman recalled that he accused Obasanjo of having just N20,000 when he left prison but is now one of the wealthiest ex-presidents in West Africa. “During Jonathan’s time, I accused Chief Obasanjo that he was the most corrupt…
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State says it will conduct a primary election on Aug. 8 to pick a candidate for Oorelope State Constituency re-run election. Mr Olawale Sadare, the Director of Media and Publicity of the party, announced this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant following the assassination of Assemblyman Gideon Aremu on July 1. NAN also reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Aug. 20 for the election to fill the vacant position. Sadare said that the eligible party members had…
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed claims that he attended a meeting with the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the party’s convention. While reiterating his exit from the opposition party, Obasanjo said having announced his exit from partisan politics publicly, it is impossible for him to return to a “divided, factionalized party gasping for breath.” In his words,“If I quit a party when it was alive and seemingly united, how could I go back to a now divided, factionalized party gasping for breath?” “Those who know me, know that I have publicly announced my quitting partisan politics…
Tanko Yakasai, an elder statesman has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will lose the 2019 elections. Yakasai, a former presidential adviser in the Second Republic stated this in his Kano residence when Raymond Dokpesi led members of his campaign team to seek his support for his PDP chairmanship bid at the forthcoming national convention in Port Harcourt. “In my opinion, Nigerians will vote out APC in 2019 because they are complaining over the cost of living and the rate of poverty is on the increase”, Yakasai said. I don’t see how APC will win if they don’t manipulate…