“Everything we had in the country belonged to the nation, belonged to the people and we must not touch anything. We made sure nothing like corruption happened, especially in the civil service”, former Nigerian military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon said. Gowon made the comments at the 8th Annual General Meeting and Conference of Heads of Anti-corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa. Speaking this week, Gowon says he feels really bad whenever anyone says all past Nigerian leaders were corrupt, because he wasn’t. “It is sad to read reports that all former Heads of State are thieves. During our time, we…
Author: David Folami
Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the new head office building of anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Abuja on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. He commissioned the new building after returning from his two-day working visit to Jigawa state. At the commissioning, President Buhari said his administration’s fight against corruption is an attempt to save the country and not to persecute anyone. “My objective of fighting corruption remains steadfast. The goal of this administration is to protect public trust. We are not engaged in witch-hunting,” he said. The office, located along Airport Road, Jabi, in the Federal Capital…
Rafa Benitez told Marca the Champions League final will pit Real Madrid’s experience against Liverpool’s advantage in intensity. He said Madrid had come through awkward moments to get to the final on May 26 in Kiev, Ukraine, while Liverpool’s ability to blitz opponents was shown in their semifinal against Roma. “It will be a very interesting final,” Benitez said. “Watching Madrid against Juventus and Bayern [Munich], you a realise they have experience and quality, know how to manage difficult situations in games. … That is a plus. “Liverpool, by contrast, have a lot of intensity, quality, rhythm. … The rhythm…
Manchester United are set to make attempts to sign Chelsea midfielder Willian and Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld this summer, sources have said. Jose Mourinho was keen to bring Willian, 29, to Old Trafford last year and, according to sources, the Brazil international was open to the move. Chelsea, however, refused to sell and Mourinho was forced to turn his attention to Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic before finally bolstering his forward line with the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in January. Since the Chile forward’s arrival, Mourinho has been adamant he will not look to sign another attacker before…
Gareth Southgate has said that the continued development of his team is more important than reaching a certain round of the World Cup. The former England under-21 coach said his focus was not only on the current World Cup but also on the tournaments that will follow. “I could sit here and say this round or that round — but it doesn’t mean anything, really, because we have to keep improving as a team,” Southgate said when asked what he would see as a successful World Cup. “We’re trying to change the style of play — we have our young…
Arsenal have let a number of key backroom staff members go as they continue their biggest restructuring in two decades following Arsene Wenger’s departure. A club source confirmed that head of medical services Colin Lewin was told on Monday that he was losing his job after 23 years at the club, joining several other long-term Wenger allies in departing. First-team coaches Neil Bamfield and Boro Primorac, goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton and fitness coach Tony Colbert have also been let go. Wenger’s assistant Steve Bould has been told he can stay, although the Telegraph reported on Tuesday that the former Arsenal…
Diego Simeone has said “humility” will be key to his team’s chances in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Marseille. Simeone’s side, who dropped into the competition from the Champions League, are favourites to win in Lyon. “We are playing another final where there is a lot of emotion and excitement but, above all, humility,” he said. “When you play here, you need to have that attitude to work hard. Experience is important, but not decisive.” Marseille lead the Europa League table for yellow cards (30) and reds (three), while Atletico right-back Sime Vrsaljko and Simeone were sent off in the…
Mario Gotze was not included in Germany’s preliminary World Cup squad announced on Tuesday by the German football federation (DFB), which also revealed a contract extension for coach Joachim Low through the 2022 World Cup. Low, who had been linked with a move to Arsenal to replace Arsene Wenger, had been under contract through Euro 2020 and said he is driven by the idea of “developing and furthering a team which sets it sights on the highest goals.” “The planning horizon over four years is ideal, I’d like to think, especially because there might be some changes in the squad…
Joe Hart, Jack Wilshere and Gary Cahill have all missed out on England’s World Cup squad, sources have said, as manager Gareth Southgate overhauls the team that will compete in Russia. Southgate chose to omit West Ham goalkeeper Hart in favour of Burnley No. 1 Nick Pope, with Arsenal midfielder Wilshere’s space set to go to Manchester City’s Fabian Delph, sources said ahead of Wednesday’s confirmation of the 23-man squad. There is also no place for former England captain Cahill, with Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski on standby for a spot in Russia. Hart had been expected to join England as…
Georginio Wijnaldum says the opportunity for he and his Liverpool teammates to cement themselves in Anfield folklore is another motivating factor ahead of the Champions League final. “That’s what makes it more exciting,” the midfielder told reporters. “You can put yourself there with legends that won the Champions League. “That’s what everyone wants. That is what makes it really exciting for us because we have the opportunity now to win a big trophy with a massive club [that has been] waiting a lot of years for a trophy. We are lucky that we can give them one if we win.…
There was something fitting about Manchester City leaving it until the last kick of the season to secure 100 Premier League points, becoming the first club ever to make that landmark in the top flight. Gabriel Jesus’ strike right on the stroke of full-time in his side’s 1-0 success at Southampton came almost exactly six years to the minute that Sergio Aguero netted in the 3-2 victory over QPR to win the club’s first Sheikh Mansour era title in 2012. Add that to Paul Dickov’s equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Gillingham in the infamous Division Two playoff final in…
Roberto Mancini will talk to Nice forward Mario Balotelli about a return to the Italy team after being named the new national coach on Tuesday. Balotelli last appeared for his country at the 2014 World Cup but knows Mancini well from their time at Inter Milan and Manchester City. The 27-year-old could return for the forthcoming friendlies against Saudi Arabia, France and Netherlands. “I’ll definitely talk to him,” Mancini said at a news conference. “Probably I will call him up. We want to see Balotelli like he was under [Cesare] Prandelli at Euro 2012. “There will be room for everybody…
Antonio Conte admitted that he is in the dark about Chelsea’s postseason plans amid ongoing speculation that he will leave the club after the FA Cup final against Manchester United. Chelsea are expected to part with Conte this summer, after months of public and private tensions with senior figures over the club’s transfer policy as well as a sharp decline in results since the turn of the year. Conte has always publicly maintained that he intends to see out the final year of his current contract at Stamford Bridge, which expires in June 2019, even while declining to answer questions…
Manchester City’s record-breaking form is the only thing which can prevent Liverpool from mounting a genuine title challenge next season, says Brighton boss Chris Hughton. Champions City have enjoyed a remarkable campaign under Pep Guardiola, smashing Premier League records for points earned, goals scored and games won. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds beat their north-west neighbours en route to setting up a Champions League final with Real Madrid but have failed to keep pace domestically, falling a staggering 25 points adrift. Hughton’s Seagulls finish the season at Anfield on Sunday having lost their penultimate fixture at the Etihad Stadium in midweek. And…
Neymar will return to training this weekend, while the forward has admitted he was afraid he might suffer a relapse of his metatarsal injury during his rehabilitation. A statement on the PSG website confirmed that Neymar would train with the ball again after he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in February and is looking now to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup with Brazil. “Today’s [Saturday] check-up exams have revealed that the fractured fifth metatarsal of the right foot has consolidated satisfactorily,” it read. “Neymar will now begin physical training, from tomorrow [Sunday], with the…
Zinedine Zidane says there would be no compatibility issues if Neymar were to one day play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, though he is not aware of any talks to sign the Brazilian from Paris Saint-Germain. Recent reports have said Madrid president Florentino Perez is close to finally landing long-time target Neymar, with AS reporting that a meeting had taken place to put together a summer move which would break the €222 million world transfer record set when the Brazilian joined PSG from Barcelona last year. Two weeks out from Madrid’s Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev, Ukraine, the issue dominated…
N’Golo Kante has been named as Chelsea’s Player of the Year for 2017-18, with Willian taking the players’ award. Kante was recognised by supporters for his consistency in a season of fluctuating fortunes for Chelsea. The France international he ranks first in the Premier League for successful interceptions and third for tackles and registered a career-best 89.3 percent pass accuracy. Willian was chosen by his teammates after contributing 13 goals and nine assists this season, producing a run of outstanding performances even as Chelsea’s Premier League form collapsed in the first four months of this year. The Brazil international also…
Barcelona have replaced Real Madrid as the strongest brand in football, according to a study carried out by the consultancy firm Brand Finance. Madrid could still end the season with a third consecutive Champions League triumph but Barca’s domestic success, coupled with a number of new sponsorship deals, has seen them take top spot off their Clasico rivals. Ernesto Valverde has led the Catalans to a league and cup double, while off the pitch the club began a new sponsorship deal with Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten worth a potential €246 million over four years. “After a season in which they…
Cristiano Ronaldo has given another indication that he is fit and well ahead of the forthcoming Champions League final. The Real Madrid star gave his side a scare when injuring his ankle against Barcelona last weekend, with the Champions League showpiece with Liverpool fast approaching. The two sides will meet in Kiev on May 26 and ahead of Real’s penultimate league game of the season against Celta Vigo, Ronaldo shared a photo of himself training on social media. Captioned “back on track,” the Portugal international and five-time Ballon d’Or winner appears to be over the problem, with boss Zinedine Zidane…
Gareth Bale has been named as the richest young footballer in Great Britain and Ireland in the 2018 Sunday Times Young Rich List. The study found that 14 of the top 17 wealthiest athletes aged 30 or below are footballers. Bale, the highest-earning player, is paid £18.2 million a year after tax, along with a further £8m from sponsors, with his net wealth rising by £20m over the past year to £74m for 2018, according to the Sunday Times. Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero is next in line with £48m, £26m below Bale’s total, while Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is the third-richest…