Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo has voiced fears that not all of the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram would return. “It’s inconceivable to get all of them back,” he said in an interview with the Premium Times online news site…
Author: Adewale A.
Danlami Ma’azu stood among a crowd jostling to secure a satellite TV decoder in the Nigerian city of Kano so he could watch the World Cup in the safety of his home — far from the threat of Boko Haram attacks. The Brazil tournament should normally spell…
World Cup venue Cuiaba’s road network is undergoing a facelift of Hollywood proportions. The charming provincial venue for Friday’s clash between Chile and Australia may be the smallest of all the 2014 World Cup cities, but it can proudly put in a claim…
Uruguay will give star striker Luis Suarez every chance to prove his fitness less than a month after having knee surgery ahead of their World Cup opener with Costa Rica in Fortaleza on Saturday. The Premier League Player of the Year had an operation…
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday criticised the conduct and “unguarded utterances” of leading politicians as they were stoking tensions in the country ahead of key polls next year. “Indeed the conduct and utterances of leading politicians…
Australia, basking in the role of world Cup underdogs, are up for the “massive” challenge of tackling Chile, coach Ange Postecoglou promised in Cuiaba on the eve of Friday’s Group B game. “Chile feel they can make a big impact in this tournament, they…
Franck Ribery could have played at the World Cup if he wasn’t afraid of injections, the France team’s doctor Franck Le Gall claimed Thursday. A week ago Bayern Munich star Ribery pulled out of the World Cup due to a back injury that virtually stopped…
20:05 GMT – 5 mins – Brazil free-kick swung in from the left flank by Real Madrid’s Marcelo finds Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva – he nods it back across goal to David Luiz but the big centre-back’s header poses Stipe Pletikosa no problems…
Nigeria’s military indicated on Thursday that it could follow the example of Sri Lanka in fighting terror, to bring an end to an increasingly deadly insurgency by Boko Haram militants. A high-ranking military delegation from the South Asian island nation…
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas has signed for English Premier League club Chelsea from Barcelona, he confirmed on Thursday. Fabregas, who is preparing for the World Cup with the Spain squad in Brazil, is believed to have signed a five-year contract…
Brazil kicks off the World Cup Thursday hoping to unite the football-mad country after a chaotic seven-year build-up plagued by violent protests. The 32-team extravaganza gets under way in the teeming mega-city of Sao Paulo, where the host nation’s…
England striker Wayne Rooney said Wednesday that he expects Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck to be fit to face Italy on Saturday despite an injury scare. “Danny will be fine,” Rooney told a press conference at England’s Rio de Janeiro training…
Blackpool have appointed Jose Riga as their new manager, the Championship club announced Wednesday. The former Standard Liege boss, who left Charlton at the end of the season having managed to help them avoid relegation during his 16 games in charge…
The head of the Dutch football association on Tuesday publicly called on FIFA president Sepp Blatter to stand down as the world governing body battles corruption accusations. Michael van Praag, head of the KNVB, said he challenged Blatter when he appeared…
England forward Danny Welbeck is a doubt for his side’s opening World Cup game against Italy on Saturday due to injury, according to British media reports on Tuesday. Several newspapers reported that the Manchester United player was forced to limp out…
Top European football officials on Tuesday publicly called on Sepp Blatter to end his reign as FIFA president amid accusations of corruption against Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid. Michael van Praag, head of the Dutch football association, said Blatter…
Former England midfielder Joe Cole has prolonged his top-flight career by joining Aston Villa. The Birmingham club, who flirted with relegation from the English Premier League, before finishing five points clear of the drop last season, announced Tuesday…
Ivory Coast’s African Player of the Year Yaya Toure is doubtful for their opening World Cup group game with Japan on Saturday, coach Sabri Lamouchi told the Ivorian press on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Manchester City star — whose performances and 20…
England must be clinical and stop squandering scoring opportunities to have any hope of beating the All Blacks, hooker Dylan Hartley said Tuesday. A weakened England side came close to upsetting the world champions in Auckland on Saturday, only to lose…
More than 2000 Argentine hooligans will be prevented from entering Brazil ahead of the World Cup because they are considered to be violent, Brazil’s Interpol chief told AFP. The 2,100 ‘barra bravas’ hooligans are already the subject of banning orders…