Kylian Mbappe’s inexorable rise as one of world football’s biggest stars has been nicely summed up by his appearance on the cover of Time magazine. The 19-year-old (NINETEEN!) having his image on the front of the iconic publication as one of it’s “Next Generation Leaders” for 2018 is the latest example of his star eclipsing that of Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar. The France international won the World Cup with Les Bleus this summer and has been received jubilantly in his home country since returning to domestic action. Meanwhile, Neymar has been working hard to bolster his waning position among the…
Author: David Folami
Orphans in Malawi are set to receive over 100 Sadio Mane Liverpool shirts donated after the forward changed squad number in the summer. Mane took up Liverpool’s No. 10 jersey in July after it had previously been worn by Philippe Coutinho. Liverpool then offered supporters who had purchased Mane No. 19 shirts before the switch was announced the opportunity of a like-for-like exchange for a Mane No. 10 strip. Those No. 19 shirts have now been gathered and handed to KitAid, who are working with Friends of Mulanje Orphans (FOMO) to distribute the kit to the underprivileged children in Malawi.…
Michael Carrick ended his 19-year playing career in the summer to take his first coaching job at Manchester United. As a player he won five Premier League titles and the Champions League, as well as picking up 34 caps for England. But in his new autobiography, “Between the Lines” — the profits of which will go to the Michael Carrick foundation — the 37-year-old has revealed things did not always go as smoothly off the pitch, opening up about his battle with depression following the 2009 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in Rome. In an interview, Carrick talks about…
Romelu Lukaku scored twice to earn Belgium a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in the Nations League on Friday, lifting the mood in the country after a week marred by match-fixing allegations. Belgium’s second win in the group means they have won 11 of their last 12 matches, the only blemish being the World Cup semifinal defeat by France in July. Lukaku broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, finding himself unmarked on the right as Thomas Meunier set him up for a left-footed shot that squeezed under the body of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer. But the Belgian defence were…
Mohamed Salah scored a wondergoal to take his Egypt tally up to 40 goals as the Pharaohs defeated Eswatini 4-1 in Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, but was forced to limp off late with an injury. The Liverpool forward found the net in the 45th minute directly from a corner following goals from Ahmed El Mohamady, Amr Warda and Trezeguet. Sibonginkosi Gamedze netted a consolation for the visitors. Salah’s goal makes him Egypt’s all-time top scorer in AFCON qualifying, with his tally of 13 putting him ahead of Hossam Hassan on 12. Hassan is the Pharaohs’ all-time top scorer…
Gernot Rohr has stressed the importance of a Nigerian victory against Libya in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo, but is confident that his side can live up to the occasion. Libya’s currently lead Group E on four points after thumping the Seychelles before demonstrating their obduracy by taking a point from South Africa in Durban on September 8. “I don’t see it as pressure,” Rohr said. “I see it as a pleasure to be playing this game, and I know that by the end of these two matches, we hope to be closer to qualifying for the…
Michael Carrick has talked about of his ambition to manage Manchester United but insists he has a lot to learn before he is ready for the Old Trafford hotseat. Carrick, 37, hung up his boots in the summer to begin his coaching career as part of Jose Mourinho’s backroom staff at Old Trafford, and the former midfielder is hopeful it is the first step on the road to proving he is up to the top job when the time comes. “It’s impossible for me to sit here and talk in those terms at this stage,” Carrick said at the launch…
Usain Bolt was wary of calling himself a professional footballer following a two-goal performance in his maiden start for Central Coast Mariners, a 4-0 friendly win over Macarthur South West on Friday. Calls for the eight-time Olympic champion sprinter to be offered a contract are growing, and while Bolt said he was pleased with his improvement he refused to label himself a pro yet. “Until I sign, I am not saying that,” he said after the match. “When we will sit down with the club, we will sit down and discuss that if we want to move forward and what…
Eric Bailly is ready to consider his future next summer if his prospects at Manchester United do not improve, sources said. The defender started 15 games in all competitions last season — one fewer than Henrikh Mkhitaryan who left in January — and has been restricted to three Premier League starts so far this term. He has been linked with moves to Arsenal and Tottenham but sources have told ESPN FC the 24-year-old is determined to give himself at least until the end of the season to win a regular place in Jose Mourinho’s team. United, according to sources, would…
Arsene Wenger to become their general manager after the January transfer window, with sporting director Antero Henrique’s future under threat, sources have said. Former Arsenal manager Wenger would be a likely replacement for Henrique, who has failed to secure deals for several PSG transfer targets. Wenger has told PSG he is keeping his options open, and although he would prefer a coaching position he has not ruled out the possibility of joining them if a significant role became available. The 68-year-old is unlikely to make any decision until nearer Christmas — and the Ligue 1 champions would look to replace…
Oby Ezekwesili has criticized the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari over Nigeria’s poor rating in the World Bank’s Human Development Index (HDI). In the HDI report, Nigeria is placed in the 152nd position among 157 nations reviewed. “Nigeria unfortunately ranks 152nd out of 157 countries in Human Development index,” Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the President of the World Bank Group, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, says at the Annual Meetings going on in Bali, Indonesia. Ezekwesili who is running for the presidential post under the platform Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) blames the heartbreaking ranking on the absence of good…
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Thursday assured the people of Idoani in Ose Local Government Area that the Oba-Idoani Road would be captured in the next budget for total rehabilitation. Akeredolu gave the assurance during a special thanksgiving service to mark the 4th coronation anniversary of the Alani of Idoani, Oba Olufemi Olutoye, at Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Idoani in Ondo State. He said that the road had already been designed and would be looked into in due course, reiterating his commitment to attend to the needs of the people. The Governor thanked God for preserving…
Ayodele Fayose has once again reiterated his willingness to turn himself in to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) immediately his second term expires on October 16, 2018. The governor had previously sent a letter to EFCC’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, in September, to notify him of his willingness to surrender himself for questioning immediately he transfers executive power to Ekiti governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday, October 16. Since then, the governor has filed a lawsuit against the anti-graft agency for its alleged unconstitutional witch-hunt against him which he claims has brought him public ridicule. This was after…
President Muhammadu Buhari declared the readiness of his administration to deal with anybody who threatens the unity of Nigeria. He stated this when Eze Abdulfatah Emetumah III, the Offor of Umuofor Kingdom, Oguta LGA, Imo State visited him at the Aso Villa in Abuja. In a chat with the monarch and his delegation on Thursday, October 11, 2018, Buhari expressed that he will never get tired of making Nigeria better. The traditional ruler had good words describing the efforts of the president in nation building. He seemed impressed with the leadership qualities of his host tackling the problem of security…
The members of a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River state, have called for the sack of the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. According to reports, the spokesman of the group, Sylvester Nsa said Oshiomhole’s actions might end up destroying the APC. The members of the APC faction, also accused the national chairman of refusing to recognize the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, as the bona fide governorship candidate of the party in the state. Speaking further, Nsa said “The people of APC in Cross River have gone out to protest against impunity,…
Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central – PDP) has threatened to dump the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) just months after he rejoined the party, according to a report by Daily Trust. The lawmaker has reportedly threatened to dump the party if the party’s leadership removes any member of his Kwankwasiyya movement from the list of aspirants contesting in Kano State. The recent primary elections held in the state had seen the emergence of candidates chosen by Kwankwaso, including his in-law, Abba Kabiru Yusuf, picking up the governorship ticket. Another PDP faction in the state led by Senator Mas’ud El-Jibril Doguwa conducted parallel…
Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, arrived the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on the afternoon of Thursday, October 11, 2018 and received ‘Baba Iyabo’s’ blessings ahead of a crucial vote for Nigeria, Pulse has just been told. Atiku arrived the Obasanjo library complex at about 1:05pm alongside PDP Chairman Uche Secondus, Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Atiku campaign organization Director-General and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Sheikh Gumi and Senator Ben-Murray Bruce, among others. Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel…
Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, the Director-General, Kayode Fayemi Governorship Campaign Organisation, said on Thursday that the governor-elect would implement people-oriented policies and programmes after his inauguration on Oct.16. Bamidele, who recently won the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Ekiti Central Senatorial District, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja. “The second coming of Gov. Kayode Fayemi is very crucial and timely because he is on a rescue mission to redeem the battered image of Ekiti under PDP. “We cannot pretend that it is going to be an easy task, going by the…
Dr Oby Ezekwesili has dismissed insinuations that she’s contesting in the 2019 presidential election to merely make a statement, boasting instead that she’s in the competition to win it. While speaking during an interview with Pulse on Thursday, October 11, 2018, the former Minister of Education said she’s committed towards taking down the dominant political class. She said, “You think I’m doing this for jokes? I’m sorry, I’m running to win. “There are two classes of people running in this election: the political class (the old order) and the Nigerian citizens. I’m the candidate for the Nigerian citizens. These two…
Governors on the platform of the ruling-All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised the party to bring all warring factions together so as to have a united party capable of facing the challenges ahead. The chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, gave the advice after a closed door meeting between five APC governors and President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governors included Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos; Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Kashim Shettima of Borno and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state. The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi…