Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez rounded off an excellent breakthrough season by extending his contract with the Champions League finalists to 2021, the club confirmed on Wednesday. “I am very happy to continue defending this shirt,” said Niguez, 21, who famously scored a wonderful solo goal against Bayern Munich in the semifinals to help lead Atletico to their second Champions League final in three years. That strike was one of nine goals in 47 appearances in all competitions this season. And Niguez’s fine form was also rewarded with a call-up to Vicente del Bosque’s provisional 25-man Spain squad for Euro…
Author: David Folami
Leicester City’s Thai vice-chairman Aiyawatt “Top” Srivaddhanaprabha vowed on Wednesday to make “amazing” signings in the close season as the Foxes prepare to defend their title and tackle the rigours of Champions League football. Speaking in Bangkok at the start of a two-day tour by most of the Leicester City team, Top expressed his “extreme happiness” with a squad that shocked the sporting world by running away with the English Premier League title. But “we will have some amazing players before the transfer market closes”, he vowed. He later explained his billionaire family were not about to depart from the…
Nigeria international striker, Brown Ideye was on the losing side with Greek champions, Olympiacos on Tuesday night as they fell 1-2 to AEK Athens in the Cup final. Olympiacos had won the 2015/16 Greek Championship (Super League) in crushing fashion, amassing 85 points from 30 matches. The Thrylos however met a resolute AEK side that beat them 2-1 in the Cup final decided at Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis (Athens). Goals, either side of the break from Petros Mantalos and Rafik Djebbour gave AEK a commanding 2-0 lead but Alejandro Dominguez netted five minutes from time to set up a grand…
Chelsea captain John Terry signed a new one-year contract with the Premier League club on Wednesday to end speculation he would be forced out of Stamford Bridge. Terry sparked fears he was on the verge of leaving Chelsea against his will when he claimed in January he hadn’t been offered an extension to his contract, which was due to expire in June. With Italy coach Antonio Conte due to take charge at Stamford Bridge once his Euro 2016 commitments are over, it had been reported Terry could be eased out by the new boss. But the 35-year-old former England defender…
Wayne Rooney insists he is willing to permanently give up his role as the spearhead of Manchester United’s forward line to move into a midfield berth. Rooney won the man-of-the-match award for his influential display in midfield during United’s 3-1 win against Bournemouth on Tuesday and is keen to keep that role in the future. Aware that he is no longer the same bundle of energy that burst onto the Premier League stage as a teenage striker with Everton, the 30-year-old has impressed in a deeper midfield role under United manager Louis van Gaal in recent months. Some pundits wondered…
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu has said that his ministry and relevant agencies cannot guarantee rational behaviour of managers at all NNPC Mega stations nationwide. Kachikwu made the statement in Abuja on Monday while addressing members of the House of Representatives during a special interactive on the “New Framework for PMS Supply and Distribution, organised by the assembly. He said that monitoring was necessary with regard to product sale at a price that was below those of independent marketers. The minister spoke in response to a question on why NNPC stations, which got locally refined…
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has urged labour leaders in the country to shelve plans to strike on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, in protest of the recent fuel price increase. Mohammed made the plea on Monday, May 16 while speaking to journalists in Abuja. “For instance, the United Arab Emirates, the third-biggest oil producer in OPEC, has become the first country in the oil-rich Persian Gulf to remove transport fuel subsidies. In addition, the country has announced that with effect from August 1, 2016, fuel prices will be deregulated,” the minister said according to ThisDay. “Also, in response…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the former governor of Kaduna State, Ramalan Yero. Yero was arrested on Monday, May 16, 2016, in connection with funds shared by former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke prior to the 2015 elections, Daily Trust reports. The agency also reportedly arrested the Kano state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the elections, Salihu Sagir Takai. The PDP Kano Secretary, Auwalu Ibrahim Danzabuwa was also reportedly arrested. “If the commission is serious about the fight against corruption, it should extend its operation to some APC members because they too shared…
The United States Government, on Tuesday donated 11 vehicles to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), to enhance it operations. The U.S. Consul-General in Lagos, Mr John Bray, said at the handing-over ceremony in Lagos that the donation was to strengthen the agency’s efforts at fighting drug trafficking and abuse. “The donation of these 11 vehicles is to enhance the agency’s operations. “We believe that combating drug trafficking and abuse in this country is the responsibility we share as democratic nations. “This is again to say that the U.S. will continue to support the NDLEA and Nigeria in combating drug…
Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Tuesday says that the state government loses about N24 billion annually to the activities of payroll fraudsters. This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in Yenagoa. The statement described the activities of the fraudsters as “massive problem’’. The statement also said that the administration, in the last four years, had paid over N100 billion on bonds and overpayment incurred by his predecessors. It said that about N1.3 billion went for bond deductions, while more than one billion naira was deducted as overpayments, amounting to about N2.5 billion…
The Nigerian Senate has withdrawn the controversial frivolous petitions bill, which was also known as the anti- social media bill. The bill was withdrawn today, May 17, 2016, after the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Human Rights and Legal Matters, David Umar presented the committee’s report. Umar advised that the bill be withdrawn due to the controversy it had caused and citizens’ strong opposition to it. The bill was sponsored by Kebbi State Senator, Bala Ibn Na’Allah.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has again defended President Muhammadu Buhari over the recent hike in fuel price. Osinbajo said that if left to the President, fuel price would not go up by one naira, adding that that he (Buhari) was handicapped. Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, May 17, at the public presentation of a book titled “Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges & Solutions, a collection of essays,” Osinbajo said that the decision was necessary if the country must source for foreign exchange to import fuel. The Vice President said even if the local refineries are resuscitated, the country…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) faction led by Joe Ajaero has backed out of the proposed nationwide strike over the hike in fuel price, which is expected to begin on Wednesday, May 17. The faction took the decision after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government to set up a committee to resolve agitations over the new pump price. According to Channels TV, the committee is expected to address the downward review of the pump price, determine new minimum wage and consult with the PPPRA for effective price regulation of petroleum products. The committee is to submit its report in…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have decided to proceed with the nationwide strike, beginning on Wednesday, May 18. The labour unions’ move is despite the restraining order issued against the action by the National Industrial Court against the planned strike. The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami had filed a suit challenging the proposed action of the unions. According to reports, the decision was reached at its the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held on Tuesday, May 17, at the NLC headquarters in Abuja. The indefinite strike action is expected to commence at…
Former Minister of Aviation and a Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Femi Fani-Kayode, is still being detained by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) five days after meeting his bail conditions, report says. The ex-minister’s aide, Jude Ndukwe, condemned the continued detention of his boss, describing the EFCC and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration as “dictatorial, vengeful and vindictive”. “This tactic of keeping key and vocal members of the opposition out of circulation without due regard to our laws and or harass them with charges that cannot stand the test of judicial requirements has got to stop. The…
Former Italy striker Luca Toni believes record-breaking Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain has shown this season that he is even stronger than Luis Suarez. Higuain netted a hat-trick in Napoli’s 4-0 win over Frosinone at the weekend to take his tally to 36 goals in the 2015-16 Serie A campaign, eclipsing Gunnar Nordahl’s record of 35 set back in 1950. The 28-year-old finished four goals behind Suarez in the race for the European Golden Shoe, but Toni nonetheless prefers the Napoli man over the Uruguay international. “I think Higuain has done a fantastic job,” Toni told Tiki Taka. “He has done…
Mesut Ozil is adamant Germany are still one of the favourites to win Euro 2016 and stressed they do not fear hosts France. The world champions have endured their fair share of difficulties since their successful 2014 World Cup, with a number of players retiring from international football, an unconvincing qualification campaign and plenty of injury problems. Nevertheless, Ozil – who was included in Germany’s provisional 27-man squad on Tuesday – remains optimistic his side can go far at the Euros. “I think we are favourites, or at least one of the favourites. That’s why we go there of course…
Antoine Griezmann has called on Atletico Madrid to deliver a “perfect” performance in the Champions League final. Diego Simeone’s side edged past Bayern Munich on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw in the last four and will meet their city rivals in the final at San Siro for the second time in three seasons. Griezmann, who joined from Real Sociedad after Atletico were beaten 4-1 by Madrid in Lisbon in 2014, is desperate for his side to deliver this year in order to cap what he believes has been an impressive campaign. “Collectively, we’ve had a great year. The…
Liverpool midfielder Emre Can believes the Reds’ legendary battling qualities can help end their 11-year wait for a continental trophy against treble-chasing Sevilla in Wednesday’s Europa League final. In their first European final since defeat by AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League, Liverpool are bidding to scupper the Spanish side’s bid for an unprecedented third straight Europa League title at Basel’s St. Jakob-Park. It brings Liverpool’s breathtaking journey through the competition under new manager Jurgen Klopp to a thrilling climax, following dramatic wins over Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal in recent months. After seeing his side sink Villarreal…
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic is banking on Manchester United winning the FA Cup to give his team automatic qualification for next season’s Europa League. West Ham lost 2-1 at Stoke City in their last game of the season, allowing Southampton to leapfrog them into fifth place in the Premier League standings and leaving Bilic’s men seventh in the table, just outside the Europa League places. United, in sixth place, can also qualify for the Europa League by beating Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday. If they do so, a Europa League spot will become available…