Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone admits it will be difficult for his side to reach the same points tally in La Liga next season. A 2-0 win over Celta Vigo on the final day of the 2015-16 season saw Atletico Madrid finish on 88 points with 28 wins from 38 games. Fernando Torres kept up his goal-scoring form with a strike in the 51st minute before Antoine Griezmann doubled the advantage three minutes later at the Vicente Calderon. Simeone said the side reached their target this year and was happy to see them challenge eventual winners Barcelona and rivals Real…
Author: David Folami
Brazil legend Pele feels Lionel Messi is arguably the best player of his time and has hailed the Barcelona star as “the prince” of football. Pele was nicknamed ‘the king’ during his career and he thinks Messi is as important to the game as he was during his playing days, even if he believes the prolific attacker is not the best Argentine player ever. “If I am the king, then Messi has been the prince over the past 15 years,” Pele told La Vanguardia. “I cannot call him the king, because there is only one king. I believe that Alfredo…
Jordan Henderson is pushing to be fit for Liverpool’s Europa League final clash against Sevilla. The club captain’s season appeared to be over after he damaged knee ligaments in the first leg of Liverpool’s thrilling quarter-final triumph over tournament favourites Borussia Dortmund. But England midfielder Henderson has progressed better than expected in his rehabilitation and, although Sunday’s concluding Premier League match at West Brom comes too soon for him, he is hoping to play a part in Basle against a Sevilla side pushing for an unprecedented third consecutive Europa League crown. “I’ve done everything I’ve been asked to do,” said…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made Ligue 1 history in his final home match for Paris Saint-Germain as the champions ended the season with a 4-0 win over Nantes on Saturday. The Sweden star, who will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, opened the scoring at Parc des Princes to draw level with Carlos Bianchi’s club record of 37 goals in a single league season. Lucas Moura and Marquinhos each found the net before Ibrahimovic powered in a header in the 89th minute to take the record outright and earn a second standing ovation of the…
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez paid tribute to his team-mates after scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Granada on Saturday that saw his side retain the La Liga title. Suarez claimed the Pichichi – La Liga’s top goalscorer award – as a result of his latest hat-trick, which took him to 40 league goals for the season, five clear of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. “It’s a unique moment to enjoy,” he said. “I’m happy with everything. “For the title, the goals, the happiness we’ve given to the fans.” Suarez added that he wanted to give thanks to all his…
A breakthrough season at Manchester United could be about to get even better for Marcus Rashford, with the striker included in England’s preliminary 26-man squad for Euro 2016. The uncapped Rashford burst onto the scene with doubles in victories over Midtjylland and Arsenal in February, and has now seen off competition from Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe to earn a place in Roy Hodgson’s pre-tournament training group. Despite Rashford’s relative lack of experience, the England boss has seen – and heard – enough to be confident the teenager can go on to be a regular for the national team. “We…
Nollywood actor, Femi Branch, who’s currently celebrating 25 years of being an actor, has shared some of the great moments he has had acting alongside industry colleagues. Narrating his experience acting with multi-award winning actress and Etisalat ambassador, Genevieve Nnaji, the 45-year-old actor said on Instagram: “LET ME TALK ABOUT” – (GENEVIEVE NNAJI) – My first and only working experience with @genevievennaji till date was in her very first Muson stage performance way back in d 90s. Tho many felt she might have taken the stage for granted then which might have affected her performance (maybe I thot so then…
With the current situation of Nigeria and different happenings I decided to write this ‘Open Letter’ to Nigerians. Dear Sir /Ma, How are you? I already know the answer to that, I know that living in Nigeria and surviving takes the Grace of God. I just want us to follow these guidelines for us and our families to live in peace and happiness. 1) Pray Pray and Pray, Prayer is the Key. 2) Spend wisely, we all know its very difficult to save in these times of petrol @ N145, three tomatoes for N200. Buy only what you really need.…
Nollywood actor cum producer, Femi Branch has disclosed that Fathia Balogun is one of his favourite screen wives. The 45-year-old actor who has taken to Instagram to reflect on some of the memorable moments in his 25 years acting career, declared that Faithia is an actress he’s always looking forward to working with all the time. “LET ME TALK ABOUT” – (FAITHIA BALOGUN) – Faithia or ‘Igwa’ as she is also called was the first actress to play my wife in a Yoruba movie, that was in the movie ELEBUTE by Oga Bello. We connected instantly on the Ikorodu set…
Popular Nollywood actor and producer, Femi Branch has disclosed that one of his most remarkable moments in his 25 years acting career is taking a role in a stage production alongside veteran actress, Joke Silva. Speaking on his experience acting with talented actress and wife of Olu Jacobs, Femi Branch said on Instagram: “LET ME TALK ABOUT” – (JOKE SILVA) – My very first encounter with Aunty Joke was seeing her work with a fresh graduate theatre Director many years ago, the way she respected and revered him gave us all a lesson on experience and true professionalism. She came…
Tonight, Kiss Daniel will join an elite list of Nigerian pop stars like Ice Prince, Wizkid and Davido who have had their debut album concerts at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The event will be anchored by Olisa Adibua with comedians like AY, Akpororo, Ushbebe, Seyilaw and Pencil as co-hosts. Top music acts like 2face Idibia, Banky W, Patoranking, Yemi Alade, Iyanya, Burna Boy, Tekno, Reekado Banks, Cynthia Morgan, Wande Coal, Ycee and more will also be performing at the concert. Fans will expect Kiss Daniel to perform new songs from his ‘New Era’ album and to also…
Banky W might have to quit bachelorhood soon, as a supposed God-sent lady has written to the singer that he is her ordained husband. The CEO of EME Records shared a screenshot of a message he got from an unknown lady, who says she has had revelations thrice that ‘Mr Capable’ is her husband. He captioned the screenshot, ‘People are seeing visions about me now ohhh “God” told her 3 times? At least He shld tell me once na ah ahn #lol #smh.’ Who can blame her; the singer is one of the most eligible bachelors around.
The other day, Lil Kesh complained to us that he hadn’t been able to get endorsements deals like other star artistes even after releasing close to five hits in less than two years in the music industry. Some people even said that’s the reason why he left Olamide’s label, blaming him for not doing enough in that regard. Mr Kesh, so you think Glo or MTN or Peak or Ribena will give you a deal when ALL you sing about is ghetto stuff? If he’s not singing about ‘Adenike the borrow poser’, Kesh will be singing about ‘bum-short’ or ‘weed’…
Wizkid confirms that all is well between him and L.A.X. Despite signing Efya, R2Bess and Mr. Eazi to his new label, Starboy Entertainment, Wizkid explains that he enjoys a good relationship with L.A.X that is deeper than what is stipulated in contracts.
Hurray…baby Imade is one! The adorable daughter of Nigerian HKN music head, Davido and Sophie Momodu clocked one yesterday, May 14. The father simply wrote in celebration of the little girl, ‘HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY PRINCESS IMADE !!!!! DADDY LOVES YOU!!!! TURN UP 2MORO!!!’ It is a relief to see saner and calmer heads prevail after the nasty – near shameful – custody battle between Sophie and Davido a couple of months ago. One that was messy enough to involve Sophie’s uncle, Dele Momodu with harsh words and jibes exchanged.
Mr Soldier himself, Falz The Bahd Guy, and his bae Simi bring their cuteness on the latest edition of Impelling Africa’s Lifestyle edition.
Luis Suarez locked up the the Pichichi crown as the top goal scorer in La Liga with a hat trick in Barcelona’s title-clinching 3-0 win at Granada on Saturday. The Uruguayan’s three goals took him to 40 goals in the league this campaign — five more than Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored twice on the season’s final day. “It’s a unique moment to enjoy,” Suarez said. “I’m happy with everything. For the title, the goals, the happiness we’ve given to the fans.” Suarez is the first player other than Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to win the Pichichi since Diego…
John Terry has told Chelsea supporters he wants to remain at the club but stopped short of saying whether he would accept the offer of a one-year contract extension. An emotional Terry, suspended for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with champions Leicester, addressed the Stamford Bridge crowd during Chelsea’s lap of appreciation. He thanked the fans for their support during his prolonged contract negotiations and reiterated his desire to finish his career at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea confirmed on Friday that Terry was considering a new one-year deal after a meeting with director Marina Granovskaia and chairman Bruce Buck last week. The captain…
Mauricio Pochettino apologised to Tottenham Hotspur fans after Sunday’s 5-1 defeat to relegated Newcastle and called it his “worst day as a manager.” More than 3,000 Spurs fans made the 570-mile round trip to St. James’ Park, with their team needing a point to guarantee second place and a first finish above local rivals Arsenal since the 1994-95 season. But Spurs were humiliated by a Newcastle side reduced to 10 men in the second half and slipped to third after Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa. The visitors trailed 2-0 at half-time but had hope when Erik Lamela halved the…
The suspect package which led to Manchester United’s Premier League game against Bournemouth being abandoned was a dummy device left over from a training exercise. Greater Manchester Police made the extraordinary announcement after a controlled explosion was carried out on the item at Old Trafford. Police and security staff were forced to evacuate the stadium shortly before the scheduled 3 p.m. kick off on Sunday and the game was called off soon afterwards. GMP said in a statement: “Following today’s controlled explosion, we have since found out that the item was a training device which had accidentally been left by…