Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane wants star striker Karim Benzema to concentrate on regaining his form and fitness rather than a series of off-field scandals affecting the French international in his homeland. Benzema wasn’t included in Didier Deschamps’s latest French squad on Thursday due to an ongoing investigation into his role in a sex-tape blackmail plot involving international teammate Mathieu Valbuena. The 28-year-old has also given evidence to French authorities in a separate money laundering investigation. “I am not going to say whether the treatment of Benzema is fair or unfair,” Zidane said on Saturday ahead of Sevilla’s visit to…
Author: David Folami
Riyad Mahrez moved Leicester one step closer to pulling off the most remarkable title success in decades with the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Claudio Ranieri’s side sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League after Algeria winger Mahrez’s 16th league goal of the season piled the pressure on Tottenham, 24 hours before the second-placed side face Bournemouth at White Hart Lane. No matter the outcome of that clash, Leicester will head into their remaining seven games of the season as strong favourites to become the most unlikely champions in English…
A goal in each half by Ahmed Musa ensured that CSKA Moscow defeated Kuban Krasnodar two-nil in Saturday’s Russian Premier League game at the Arena Khimki. Despite the poor state of the pitch, Musa got his first chance of scoring on 19 minutes but fired off target from close range. Two minutes later, the Nigeria captain opened scoring. He smashed in a left-footed effort from a corner kick past Kuban goalkeeper Aleksandr Belenov. Playing as a centre forward with the trio of Zoran Tosic, Aleksandr Golovin and Roman Eremenko behind him, Musa’s pace troubled Kuban and he came close to…
Jose Mourinho has signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United with a view to replacing Louis van Gaal as manager of the English giants next season, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Sunday. Citing sources from Gestifute, the agency company owned by Mourinho’s representative Jorge Mendes, El Pais suggest a deal has been struck that could see the former Chelsea boss make £15 million (19 million euro), even if he doesn’t end up taking charge at Old Trafford. If United don’t complete the deal by May 1, Mourinho will be entitled to £5 million compensation, should negotiations drag on beyond…
Barcelona moved ever closer towards a successful defence of their La Liga title after nearest challengers Atletico Madrid suffered a shock late collapse at struggling Sporting Gijon to lose 2-1 on Saturday. Relegation-threatened Gijon scored twice in the last 11 minutes with Carlos Castro securing the winner in the 89th to deliver a potentially fatal wound to Atletico’s title chances. The result leaves Barca eight points clear at the top, with a chance for the rampant leaders to stretch their lead to 11 points with eight games left when they play at Villarreal on Sunday. Atletico, who have been drawn…
“We should have two points more. We are gutted. Proud, but gutted,” West Ham manager Slaven Bilic told reporters, describing referee Robert Madley’s decision to award the penalty “unacceptable”. The Hammers stayed in fifth place with 50 points, one behind Manchester City who play sixth-placed Manchester United (47) in Sunday’s derby. Chelsea remained unbeaten in the league under interim manager Guus Hiddink, but an 11th draw of the season for last season’s champions left them 10th. Some Arsenal fans displayed banners at Goodison Park urging manager Arsene Wenger to step down, but his side produced a vibrant display to at…
Indomitable Leicester City stayed bang on course for the Premier League title as Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal at Crystal Palace on Saturday to open up an eight-point lead with seven games left. Third-placed Arsenal, 11 points behind with a game in hand, made a timely return to form with a 2-0 win at Everton and Tottenham Hotspur can reduce the gap to five on Sunday. But any hopes that the two London rivals and fourth-placed Manchester City harbour of Leicester imploding are fading fast. Leicester’s 3 000 fans were chanting “We’re gonna win the league” long after their…
The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has commended Nigerian youths for being agents of change in the life of the present administration. Buhari gave the commendation on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of a book titled: “The New Dawn Nigeria”, written by a group of youths under the canopy of Flex Digest Concept, a print media organisation. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book was in honour of the change mantra of President Muhammudu Buhari. Representing the wife of the President, Mrs Pauline Tallen, a former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, called on…
Former aide to ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati has said that Nigerians are Nigeria’s problem. Abati also explained that Nigerians are special because they always adapt to whatever situation life brings their way. He made the remarks in an article titled “Why Nigerians are special”. Read it below: Whatever problem we may have in Nigeria at this or any other time, this country is sustained by the fact that we are indeed a very special people. We have been described as the happiest people on earth, we have also described ourselves as resilient, gifted and determined, and in one report,…
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Friday described the twin bomb attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Wednesday in Maiduguri as a show of cowardice by the sect. A statement by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, noted that targeting innocent persons by the group was a manifestation of their barbarism. He said the regional body was sad over the unjustifiable attacks and urged residents to be more security conscious and continue their support to the military to end the insurgency. “Villages in the outskirts of Maiduguri…
The 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Abeokuta, Ogun State has begun the detonation of expired bombs in the state. This was disclosed by the Brigade’s spokesperson, Major Rilwan Ishida on Friday, March 18, 2016, via a statement. The statement reads in part: “The purpose of the demolition exercise is to reduce the risk associated with the continuous storage of unserviceable and obsolete ammunition and explosives at the Nigerian Navy Ordinance Depot.” “It should be noted that demolition of explosives and ordinances come with loud noise that might be frightening especially to the elderly and babies.” Major Ishida…
Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Friday, sacked the Secretary to Government of Imo (SGI), Mr Jude Ejiogu. with immediate effect. Principal Secretary to the governor, Dr Pascal Obi, who announced the sack in a statement in Owerri, said it was with immediate effect. The statement directed the former SGI to hand over to the Permanent Secretary in his office. It said that the governor commended Ejiogu for his services to the state during his tenure and wished him well in his future endeavours. No reason was given for the development. Ejiogu was Chief of Staff to the governor in…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has promised that the Federal Government would prioritise the reform, re-orientation and re-equipment of the Nigeria Police. Osinbajo made the promise on Friday in Abuja at the inauguration of operational vehicles for the deployment of policemen to liberated communities in the North-East. In his speech at the occasion, Osinbajo described the police as “a critical actor in the criminal justice system of the country.’ “Consequently, any nation that is desirous of national security, economic development and democratic governance must of necessity be determined to evolve a people friendly and rule of law compliant police force,“he said.…
Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has rewarded the best graduating student of the Imo State University with a sum of N1m and an automatic employment as a lecturer at the university. The lucky graduand, Chigozie, who hails from Ogbaku, Mbaitolu Local Government Area and studied optometry, was announced the best graduand of the University at its 7th convocation with CGP of 4.71 on Friday, March 18, 2016. According to multiple reports, Chigozie was also awarded a scholarship for his masters abroad as well as additional cash token of N500,000 from the contribution of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, representing Okigwe South…
The Federal and State Assembly Rerun elections in Rivers State is scheduled to hold today, Saturday, March 19, 2016. According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper, there is calm in Buguma, headquarters of Asari Toru local government area as at about 7: 50am. It was also reported that there were no sign of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in several wards in the area. The report further revealed that at Ward 4 there was no material as at about 7.53am and a youth leader, Livingston Membere, alleged that the soldiers had moved into the community to calm…
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has been reported to have voted in the Federal and State Assembly Rerun elections amidst heavy security. According to a report by Vanguard Newspapers, a heavy security presence was noticed around the Governor father’s home situated in Rumuepirikom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. It was further reported that the heavy presence of security operatives around the area may not be unconnected with the tension that has trailed the rerun election in the state. Quite a number of fully armed security operatives are reported to be in the state ready to avert breakdown of…
On Saturday, April 9, 2016, Nigerian pop stars, Flavour and J Martins will headline the ‘Unification Concert‘ in Bamako, Mali. The concert will hold at Modibo Keita Stadium with Dj Kess and Dj Blue on the wheels while other African stars like Liberia’s F-Dot, Iba One, Sidiki Diabate, Gaspi and more will be on hand to perform as well.
Drake took to Instagram to promote Virginia Black, a new whiskey brand that he had an endorsement deal with. According to HIPHOPDX, as at the time of Drake’s first post, there were no details about the product, only that it was ‘coming soon’. Drake recently posted on Instagram on March 16, and offered more details about the whiskey, providing a first look at the product itself. In the caption he wrote: ‘First look@virginiablackwhiskey’ Shortly after Drake’s post, Virginia Black’s Instagram page revealed a more detailed look at the whiskey’s bottling. As of press time, there’s no word on when the…
Drake has confirmed ‘Views From The 6’ release date is set, via an Instagram post. Although Drake didn’t share a specific release date for Views From The 6, the Toronto singer/rapper did announce that his much-anticipated project will in fact be released in April. On March 15, Drake uploaded a picture of a Views From The 6 billboard, and added the follow caption: ‘APRIL’
Meek Mill is still serving time under house arrest, but that doesn’t mean he’s lonely. Nicki Minaj recently visited her beau, and now Rick Ross is hanging out with his MMG brother. The ‘Imma Boss’ collaborators showed off their matching ankle monitors on social media on Wednesday, March 16. ‘God bless the hustlers and the soldiers,’ says Rozay in the clip (via TMZ). ‘We gon’ be alright. Stay focused.’