Dino Melaye (Kogi West, APC) appeared to condemn the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when he took to social media to express his happiness at missing it. The senator took to his Instagram account (@dinomelaye) on Friday, June 23, 2018 to post about how happy he is to be away from the country today which happens to be when the party is conducting its long-awaited national convention which he appeared to call a ‘joke’. He posted, “Happy to be away from the joke going on in Naija today.” The APC national convention, taking place at Eagle Square…
Author: David Folami
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has notified People Democratic Party (PDP) of his intention to contest the 2019 presidential poll and called for free, fair and transparent primaries. He said free and transparent primaries would boost the party’s chances in the presidential election as well as restore its lost glory. Abubakar commended the party for the conduct of a free and fair primary election which produced its candidate for the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti. He pledged to work in the interest of the party, whether he won or lost its ticket. “Whether I become the presidential candidate or not, I…
Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya has told the Federal Government to overhaul the Nigeria Police Force, to make the force to live up to its responsibilities. Sonaiya, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the Kowa Party in the upcoming general elections, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday. She said it would be difficult to stop the rampaging herdsmen, unless the police were equipped adequately to counter the bloody onslaught of the herdsmen. “Do the police not know their jobs anymore? Is their responsibility not to protect lives and property? Don’t they know how to fish…
Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said the ongoing national convention of the All Progressives Party (APC) is a sign that the party will win the 2019 general elections. On his expectation about the convention, Ajiomobi said: “That Oshiomhole is coming as the party’s chairman is a sign that APC will win 2019 election.” On his part, a chieftain of the party and ex-governor of Bayelsa, Chief Timipre Sylva, said: “We are expecting a very great and successful convention.” Another party chieftain from Abia, Mr Emeka Nwogu, said his expectation was high and it would be met. “We are going…
Sunday Akinniyi has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), alleging that the PDP is in crisis. Akinniyi disclosed his defection to the media on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, alleging that the “high-handedness and disrespect” of state governor, Ayodele Fayose, for party leaders forced him out of the party. He noted that the party is currently experiencing a mass defection of influential members due to the same reason. The Ekiti House of Assembly suspended Akinniyi on June 13 for allegedly breeding terrorism within the chamber and neglecting to pay attention to his people. Akinniyi was…
Antoine Griezmann admitted that Les Bleus’ World Cup Group C-ending 0-0 draw with Denmark was a dull affair but said he didn’t mind because he often plays that way for Atletico Madrid. Griezmann, 27, suffered again as Didier Deschamps’ men failed to click in attack and the French No. 7, who was the centre of attention pre-tournament until his future was resolved, apologised to those who were under the impression that both teams would go all-out to win at Luzhniki Stadium. “Frustrated? No, I am used to playing like that…” Griezmann told journalists in the mixed zone. “At club level,…
Hector Cuper will not return as Egypt’s coach after his team lost all three group-stage games in their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. The Egyptian Football Association made the announcement on Tuesday, one day after a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia left them bottom of their group. Egypt also lost 1-0 to Uruguay in their opener and 3-1 to hosts Russia in their second game. Cuper, 62, was appointed Egypt’s coach in 2015 and took them to the final of the African Nations Cup in 2017, when they lost to Cameroon.
The excellent news for Manchester United is that Romelu Lukaku has had a stellar World Cup, with four goals in his first two games as Belgium have dismissed their opponents. Some will quickly counter that they have only so far faced Tunisia and Panama, the latter being by some distance the worst team at the World Cup. Yet Lukaku’s intelligent play and general presence would have unsettled far better sides than the two he and his colleagues have dispatched. His goals have shown the range of finishing that exists within his game. He is surprisingly elusive for such a large…
Tite defended the tears of his superstar forward, Neymar, following the Selecao’s 2-0 World Cup win over Costa Rica, saying, “Crying is not a sign of weakness. I also cried when it was over.” Neymar wept after Brazil scored twice in stoppage time to beat the Central Americans, a reaction that led the Brazilian media to suggest their team might be emotionally brittle. “We mustn’t think that a moment of emotion is a sign of emotional imbalance,” Tite told reporters on the eve of the Group E match against Serbia where Brazil need a draw to qualify for the last…
Spain coach Fernando Hierro and playmaker Isco agreed their team needed some serious “self-criticism” after La Roja qualified for the last 16 in a 2-2 draw with Morocco on Monday night. A mistake between Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos allowed Morocco’s Khalid Boutaib to open the scoring on 14 minutes, with Iniesta making amends by teeing up Isco for an equaliser just five minutes later. La Roja continued to mix some superb passing with sloppy defending, and substitute Youssef En-Nesyri headed Morocco ahead with nine minutes remaining, only for Spain replacement Iago Aspas to make it 2-2 in added time…
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes his positive mentality has been key to dealing with the devastating knee injury he sustained last campaign, which ruled him out of contention for England’s World Cup squad. The 24-year-old scored five goals and provided eight assists for Liverpool in his debut campaign at the club before sustaining a season-ending cruciate ligament rupture in the Champions League semifinal win over AS Roma. The injury meant that Oxlade-Chamberlain missed his third major international tournament for England through injury, after the midfielder was ruled out of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 European Championships. “It’s obviously been really…
Robert Lewandowski has again said he does not want to end his career with Bayern Munich. Lewandowski signed for Bayern on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund, where he played for four seasons under Jurgen Klopp, in 2014. “I am now 29 years old and think that I can still play for many years yet if I don’t get injured,” Lewandowski told Players Tribune. “We will see. I know that I have been in Germany for eight years and I remember saying a few years ago that I will not stay my whole career in one league, that’s for sure.”…
John Obi Mikel was left confused and frustrated after Marcos Rojo was not whistled for “a clear handball” late in the Super Eagles World Cup-ending 2-1 loss to Argentina. With the match tied 1-1 and Nigeria finding space between the Argentina backline, Rojo went for a headed clearance that deflected off his hand and led to a video review. Nigeria’s players were adamant it was a penalty, but Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir — who awarded Nigeria a penalty early in the second half that Victor Moses converted — used VAR and stood by his initial decision not to award a…
Jorge Sampaoli called his team “true rebels” and lauded their mental strength after defeating Nigeria 2-1 to secure passage to the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup. Argentina appeared to be on their way to victory when Lionel Messi put the Albiceleste up 1-0 in the 14th minute, but Nigeria’s Victor Moses equalised from the spot early in the second half. With Argentina needing to win to advance out of the group stage, it pushed forward. This left them exposed on the counterattack and Nigeria had several opportunities to go ahead, but couldn’t convert. It also survived a shout…
Gareth Southgate called the decision over whether Harry Kane will feature in their Group G finale on Thursday against Belgium a “complex balance.” The Three Lions have two wins from two matches — beating Tunisia 2-1 in their opener before thrashing Panama 6-1 — with captain Kane scoring five times so far. However, with passage to the round of 16 alongside Belgium already guaranteed, Southgate has to decide what changes to make to his XI in an effort to rest some player and give others from the bench a chance. Speaking to TalkSport, Southgate said: “As a manager you’ve got…
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio urged action against repetitive fouling after his team was on the receiving end of 24 fouls in their 2-1 win over South Korea at the World Cup on Saturday. South Korea received four yellow cards while committing the highest number of fouls in a game of any team so far in Russia. They were also whistled for 23 fouls in their first game against Sweden, tied for the second-most with Morocco’s 23 against Portugal. “Usually, I don’t like to talk about referees but there was something I didn’t like and that was that there were…
Roberto Martinez has said he would field a much-changed side against England in their final World Cup Group G clash, resting a starting 11 who have all but qualified after scoring eight goals in two games. “It will be major changes against England,” Martinez told reporters after Saturday’s 5-2 thumping of Tunisia in Moscow that means the Belgians will be sure of reaching the last 16 if Panama, whom they beat 3-0, fail to beat England on Sunday. Injuries to striker Romelu Lukaku and his two forward support men did not seem to trouble the Spaniard, but given a lack…
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez was delighted after netting his 50th international goal on Saturday in the 2-1 victory over South Korea, but he still wants more from El Tri at the World Cup. Leading Group F on six points from two games, Mexico only need a draw in their next game against Sweden to reach the next stage as group winners. “There are no words to express all this we are going through,” Hernandez said. “For me, [the 50 goals] are very special. We will try to achieve a lot more. We have to imagine amazing things. “We have to channel…
Radja Nainggolan has confirmed that he will be leaving Roma for Inter Milan, although he insists it was not his choice. The Belgian midfielder is set to join the Nerazzurri for a fee of €24 million with Davide Santon and Nicolo Zaniolo both heading in the opposite direction. He has repeatedly turned down the opportunity to leave Roma, rejecting advances from Chelsea and Chinese clubs in the past, but he has told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport that he has practically been shown the door by the club this summer. “I will always carry every moment I spent with the…
Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Brazil international midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk. Fred, 25, has agreed a five-year contract at Old Trafford club and becomes their second first-team signing of the summer. “Fred will complement our other midfielders’ qualities, which we need; his creative brain and passing vision will give us another dimension to our game,” United manager Jose Mourinho told the club’s website. “I am very happy he is joining our club and I believe our players know how important he can be in our team.” Fred, with the Brazil squad at the World Cup in Russia,…