Luka Modric believes his team’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday turned up the heat on Group D favourites Argentina. Modric scored a second-half penalty to secure the win after Croatia went ahead through a first-half own goal by Nigeria midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo. The result left the European side top of the group ahead of Iceland and Argentina, who drew 1-1 draw earlier in the day. Crotia face Argentina next on Thursday in Nizhny Novgorod, and Modric said their respective table positions gives his side an edge. “They [Argentina] have quality but this win will boost our confidence and I…
Author: David Folami
Philipp Lahm expects World Cup holders Germany to pull together after their 1-0 opening defeat at the hands of Mexico and to find “a common path towards the right solution” for their tactical problems. Speaking on his role as ambassador of Germany’s Euro 2024 bid, the 34-year-old captain of the 2014 winners said the team faced similar difficulties in 2010 and four years ago, when poor results in their second games (against Serbia and Ghana, respectively) had put their progress from the group stage temporarily in doubt. “We have seen it before: sometimes a negative result can have a positive…
Eden Hazard said he only wants to stay at Chelsea beyond this summer if the club is in a position to improve on last season. Chelsea disappointed despite winning the FA Cup last season, finishing fifth in the Premier League, and are yet to sign any new players or settle their managerial situation despite both Hazard and Thibaut Courtois publicly challenging the club to show ambition this summer before deciding their futures. “If I stay, it’s for the team to be better than it was than in the season we have just gone through,” Hazard told L’Equipe. “I don’t want…
Harry Kane has said Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino texted to congratulate him on the two goals that beat Tunisia on Monday. Spurs star Kane struck early and again in the first minute of stoppage time as England began their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory. “Poch sent me a text message with lots of love hearts emojis and he wrote: ‘Come on, England!'” Kane said after the match. “He is rooting for us. He has a lot of lads in the squad. I get on very well with him. He is my boss, the manager, but he is a…
Poland coach Adam Nawalka said it was “kind of curious” how M’Baye Niang reentered the pitch to score the decisive goal in Senegal’s 2-1 victory on Tuesday. An own goal by Thiago Cionek late in the first half preceded the appalling defensive mix-up that let Niang score into an empty net on the hour. Nawalka had sympathy for his team over the second goal as Grzegorz Krychowiak looped a high-risk 50-yard back pass straight into the path of Niang, who was then presented with an open goal after keeper Wojciech Szczesny rushed outside his box but failed to reach the…
Dries Mertens said it was a “big relief” to score his fine volley that put Belgium on their way to a 3-0 win over Panama to open the World Cup. Belgium were frustrated for the first 45 minutes but Mertens broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart with a superb shot into the opposite corner beyond a helpless Jaime Penedo in the Panama goal. “The first goal was a big relief for everyone. It was really difficult,” Mertens said after the game. “You know when you begin at a World Cup after a long preparation and then it’s finally…
Jack Wilshere has decided to leave Arsenal, ending a 17-year stint at his boyhood club after being told he wouldn’t be a prominent part of Unai Emery’s rebuilding process. Wilshere confirmed in an Instagram post on Tuesday that he will not sign a new contract and that he was left with “no option but to pursue other opportunities.” Wilshere’s current deal expires in two weeks, and the 26-year-old has agreed to move on after learning he would see his playing time reduced under Emery, the new Arsenal coach who took over from Arsene Wenger in May. The move comes as…
Egypt were beaten 3-1 by Russia in their second World Cup outing as Hector Cuper’s side stand on the brink of an early elimination. The Pharaohs started tentatively, but grew into the game, although they collapsed in the second half and appeared unable to cope with the hosts after falling behind. Offensively, there were spells in which Egypt looked more adventurous – and more menacing – going forward than they ever did in their opener against Uruguay. Mohamed Salah also appeared not to aggravate his shoulder injury, although he did appear to lack match fitness. In truth, however, this was…
Rivaldo doesn’t want to talk about tactics. “The team is in good shape,” he said of Brazil ahead of their Group E opener against Switzerland on Sunday, speaking in his capacity as a Betfair World Cup ambassador, but that’s about the limit of the analysis as far as Tite’s system is concerned. What Rivaldo really wants to get into is the mental side of being at a World Cup: the business of coping with pressure, overcoming difficulties, writing a new story for oneself. These are subjects the current crop of Brazil players would do well to confront head on as…
Gernot Rohr says his young side can “do better” than what they produced in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Croatia in their Group D opener in Kaliningrad. The youthful Super Eagles’ deficiencies on set pieces were exploited by an experienced Croatia squad while the attack created very little offensively. “When you lose a match it is something we don’t like but we recognise that Croatia had the better team tonight and my young players made some mistakes,” said Rohr. “The first goal is coming on a corner, the second one also on a corner and a penalty. “I think these young…
Donald Duke has urged Nigerians to decide their own future in the 2019 general elections by registering to vote, collecting their permanent voter’s cards (PVC), and protecting their votes. He said, “Hello, I’m Donald Duke and I’m urging each and everyone of you watching me right now to go out there, get registered, pick up your voter’s card, and, on the day of elections, go there, cast your vote. “Ensure that your votes are counted before you leave the booth. This is important, it determines your future and how well you’ll live in this country.” When the 56-year-old made his…
The former spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank has said that Nigerians are regretting that the voted for the party in 2015. Frank said this in an open letter to the President with title: June 12 and the Burden of good governance. “A country where the RULE OF LAW, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ASSOCIATION, UPHOLDING THE RIGHTS OF EVERY CITIZEN AND ABOVE ALL RESPECT FOR FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS was and is the very pillar upon which Chief MKO ABIOLA and several others paid the ultimate price with their lives. “Anything short of this will amount to MILITOCRACY…
Festus Keyamo has commended the president for how he handled the controversial reinstatement of wanted ex-pensions reform chief, Abdulrasheed Maina. In October 2017, Maina had been recalled and promoted to head the Ministry of Interior’s human resource department despite pending corruption charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The president promptly ordered Maina’s dismissal after his reinstatement became public knowledge and drew relentless public backlash. While speaking during an interview with The Interview Magazine, Keyamo said the controversy is a credit to the president’s integrity and something to base his re-election campaign on. According to him,…
Muhammadu Buhari has wished the Super Eagles luck ahead of their opening match at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia. Buhari also spoke to the Nigerian team today, Saturday, June 16, 2018. The President said “180 million Nigerians have looked forward to today with great excitement. On behalf of all, I wish the Super Eagles the best of luck, as they display the gallant Nigerian spirit that sets us apart.” “People seem to have forgotten when former President Obasanjo was literally absent for about three years traveling all over the world when he was president and then nobody told…
Orji Kalu has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has no moral right to decide who becomes President in Nigeria. According to Premium Times, Kalu said Obasanjo was travelling around the world for three years when he became President in 1999. The former Governor said this on Saturday, June 16, 2018, in Jigawa state while rallying support for President Buhari’s re-election. He said, “Hello, I’m Donald Duke and I’m urging each and everyone of you watching me right now to go out there, get registered, pick up your voter’s card, and, on the day of elections, go there, cast your…
Nyesom Wike of Rivers has commended the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the successful conduct of Saturday’s council elections in the state, saying it was credible. He claimed that the non-participation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections turned out to be one of the reasons why the process was peaceful. He said: “Sixty-six out of 68 political parties participated, but no violence. That means that if APC had participated, probably we would have seen violence. “Sixty-six political parties, no violence, no shooting, nobody has died. “But, if the APC had participated, they would want to coerce…
Fela Durotoye, has warned Nigerians that transforming the country will take more than just electing a competent president in the 2019 elections. The management consultant stressed this during an interview with Starr Radio UK on Saturday, June 16, 2018, noting that it is important to have a government where the entire political structure has the same set of values that’ll develop the country. He said Nigeria’s different arms of government need to have ideologies and roadmaps that are aligned for the country to be able to work for its citizens in the way they demand.
Gov Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State says that he will not sponsor any candidate as his successor in 2019. Al-Makura stated this on Saturday when Permanent Secretaries and Chairmen of the 13 Local Government Areas (LGA) paid him a Sallah homage in Lafia. “But in supporting anyone, I will be very very careful in doing so and I will do so without any sentiment. “So, all those contesting would be scrutinised to make sure we have the best that would continue to work towards maintaining peace and progress in the state,” he added. The governor challenged the council chairmen to…
Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has denied reports that he is planning to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The Governor, in a statement signed by Olayinka, said “The statement was part of the many lies being circulated by the Ekiti APC and its unsellable governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, obviously to suppress reports of his rejection by Ekiti people. “Even when APC was still basking in the euphoria of its electoral success of 2015, Governor Fayose made it abundantly clear then that he will never have anything to do with the party, not to talk about now…
Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said he is ready to give detailed financial accounts of his stewardship in the state. Masari said this when the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, paid him a traditional ‘Sallah’ homage at the old Government House in Katsina on Saturday. The governor said that his administration had so far accomplished 78 per cent of the programmes and policies he promised the people of the state. According to him, those who are in doubt of his performance can come for the necessary documents to crosscheck the facts and figures. He said that his administration…