Gerard Pique admitted that Barcelona’s season would be a failure if they did the seemingly impossible and lost their La Liga title. Pique has seen his team surrender a comfortable lead at the top of the La Liga table, following a 2-1 loss in the El Clasico against Real Madrid early in April. That defeat was the first of three straight losses in La Liga which has allowed Atletico to move equal on points with Barca, while Madrid trail by one point. Barca were also eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico at the quarter-final stage. Spain international defender Pique…
Author: David Folami
Jurgen Klopp felt Liverpool conceding a stoppage-time goal on the counter-attack against Villarreal made “not too much sense”. The first leg of the Europa League semi-final at El Madrigal appeared to be petering out to a forgettable stalemate before a flurry of goalmouth action at both ends culminated in substitute Adrian poaching the only goal of the game for the hosts. Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno, who a few moments early blazed over on a break of his own, was out of position as Bruno’s chipped pass caught out Kolo Toure for Villarreal playmaker Denis Suarez to expertly pick out the…
Marcelino insisted Villarreal “did not beat Liverpool by being lucky” after the Spanish outfit claimed a last-gasp 1-0 win in their Europa League semi-final first leg. Adrian’s 92nd-minute goal was all that separated the two teams at the El Madrigal on Thursday. With time running out and the match petering out for a draw, Denis Suarez teed up team-mate Adrian for a simple finish, capping a fine counter-attacking move. However, Marcelino insisted Villarreal were deserved winners. “Until the final whistle you can score or concede a goal and this time we were lucky enough to score in the very last…
Atletico Madrid have received praise from Sam Allardyce, who is a huge admirer of their remarkable defensive solidity under Diego Simeone. Atleti have conceded just 16 goals in 35 La Liga games this season and won 1-0 in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich on Wednesday, despite having only having 26 per cent possession. Sunderland have ground out results in recent weeks – losing just one of their past seven to boost their hopes of Premier League survival – and Allardyce paid tribute to Atletico and Simeone’s tactics. “The more goals you concede ultimately results in…
Jurgen Klopp has explained his decision not to use Daniel Sturridge in Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Villarreal on Thursday, stressing that his focus was on maintaining stability. Sturridge had been expected to lead the line for the Europa League semifinal first leg at El Madrigal in the absence of the injured Divock Origi, but Klopp opted to use Roberto Firmino as the focus of his attack. Speaking ahead of the match, Klopp had told BT Sport it was “a very difficult decision” and said: “I thought about a lot of things and at the end I decided for a little…
Leicester City defender Danny Simpson insists the prolonged absence of star striker Jamie Vardy won’t stop the Premier League leaders clinching the most incredible title triumph in English football history at Manchester United on Sunday. Claudio Ranieri’s side have the eyes of the world on them as they head to Old Trafford knowing a victory against United would see the 5 000-1 outsiders crowned champions for the first time in their 132-year history. In an era where the greed is good mantra of the Premier League’s big spenders has proved a turn-off for many, Ranieri’s collection of unsung heroes have…
Arsene Wenger will be forced to confront renewed supporter protests at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday as he attempts to stop Arsenal’s troubled season imploding in the final weeks. A number of fans’ groups are planning to mark the visit of struggling Norwich by displaying placards during the game demanding change after another frustrating campaign. The Gunners’ Premier League title challenge was finally ended following last weekend’s failure to beat lowly Sunderland, leaving Wenger’s side to face another relegation-threatened team with their focus now trained on preserving a top four spot. The goalless draw at the Stadium of Light opened…
Liverpool have been told by a tribunal to pay Championship (second-tier) leaders Burnley up to eight million pounds ($11.7 million) for striker Danny Ings. Ings, who has missed most of the season with a cruciate ligament injury, left Burnley when his contract expired at the end of last season. Burnley were entitled to compensation for his development as the England international is below the age of 24, and the matter went to a tribunal after both clubs were unable to agree terms. The tribunal ruled that Liverpool should pay Burnley an initial 6.5 million pounds, plus 1.5 million pounds in…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja condemned the reported attacks by suspected herdsmen on some communities across the country. A statement issued in Abuja by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the President particularly condemned Monday’s attack on Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State The President assured all Nigerians of his administration’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of the country. “President Buhari unreservedly condemns the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and other such acts of extreme violence against communities in other states of the federation. “Acting…
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, named Dolphin Park after the late Dr Tunji Braithwaite, in recognition of his contributions to the political development of Nigeria. Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, made this known at a special service of songs organised by the Braithwaite family in Lagos. He said that Braithwaite’s struggle for the emancipation of Nigerians and his daily agitation for improved living condition for the masses was commendable. “The late Dr Braithwaite gave all his life to the betterment of the lives of the masses; on several occasions…
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, on Thursday said that the monthly environmental sanitation would hold on April 30. This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Public Affairs and Research in Lagos. He said the exercise had not been cancelled and the restriction on vehicular movement would be enforced from 7a.m. to 10 a.m. ”I expect residents to come out in large numbers and participate actively in the exercise by cleaning their homes, gutters, drains as well as their frontages. ”The period of the sanitation is not meant for any social and…
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, held a meeting with Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over the recent attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the state. The meeting between the duo held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Armed herdsmen attacked the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state on Monday, April 25, and killed about 40 peopleUHA
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has said that a group of herdsmen once invaded his home when he was out of Nigeria. Prof Soyinka made the disclosure on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in an address to the National Conference on Culture and Tourism, PM News reports. “Let me narrate a personal experience – just one among many – that was brought home to me, right against my doorstep. Before that specific happening, I had observed a change of quality in forest encounters with cattle herdsmen over the years,” he said. “These changes had become sufficiently alarming for me to arrange…
The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 2, 2016 as a Public Holiday to commemorate the celebration of 2016 Workers’ Day. The Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Bassey Okon Akpanyung on Thursday, April 28. According to the Minister, Nigerian workers’ resilience, hard work and commitment to the Change Mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari is commendable. He urged them to continue to support the President’s anti-corruption fight and his desire to ensure security of lives and property, and to stabilize the economy. Dambazau also to urged the Nigerian…
The Senior Special Assistant to the Senate President on Youth and Students Matters, Barr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, who is in detention, has refused to eat since he was arrested three days ago, Vanguard reports. At a press briefing on Wednesday, April 27, Ugochinyere’s family disclosed that he has rejected food or water that the Department of State Service (DSS) served him. According to the activist’s brother, Obinna Ikeagwuonu, the DSS did not allow the family to bring food or water to Ugochinyere in detention, noting that his health is at stake if this continues. However, the family is demanding an unconditional…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is easier to conduct general elections than rerun elections. This was disclosed by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, Punch reports. “It is easier to conduct general election than rerun. In general, you do general mobilisation and prepare generally. But rerun, that stands alone. Everyone is focused on it. It becomes too challenging,” he said. “So far, we have conducted 49 out of 80 rerun elections. We have issued 20 certificates of return as ordered by the courts as well.…
20 opposition political parties have expressed their support for the corruption trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and urged him to use the opportunity to clear his name. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who spoke on behalf of the parties, at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. “We want to put it on record that we are solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption; a fight that we believe is crucial to the survival of our country,” he said according to Punch. “We however wish to…
The acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, has begged to members planning to decamp to have a change of heart. He made the appeal in Abuja on Thursday, April 28, at the party’s 70th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. While he acknowledged that the party has made some bad choices, he said leaving the party is not the solution. “Many of us who are founding members of PDP will not leave the PDP and the PDP will never die. We will continue to be in PDP,” Jibrin said. “Whatever mistake that…
A member of the Presidential Flood Relief Rehabilitation Committee Mr Ifiok Abia, has said that the Federal Government will build hostels for Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) in 24 states affected by floods. He disclosed this while presenting relief materials to flood victims in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, on Thursday, April 28. According to him, the Federal Government will also build 10 solar-powered boreholes for the IDPs. “Already, work has begun on some of the boreholes in some states while some have even been completed”, he said. Abia listed materials donated to Akwa Ibom flood victims to as 100 bags of…
Popular singer Banky W, 35, has pleaded to Tunji ‘Tee Billz’ Balogun not to commit suicide. Today (Thursday, April 28, 2016) Tee Billz has made shocking accusations and revelations about his wife Tiwa Savage, his marriage and his mother-in-law. In his emotion laden rants Tee Billz sounded like he was contemplating suicide. At the end of his rant Tee Billz wrote “I’m sorry i must have disappointed you guys . I just dint have the strength to fight this battle any more. May God Forgive me and accept my soul in peace.” Banky W who was Tee Billz’s best man…