Paul Pogba “cannot be happy” with his current happenings at Manchester United, according to France boss Didier Deschamps. Deschamps said: “This is a situation that he must not appreciate because of everything he would have been able to offer. There must be numerous reasons. “He cannot be happy with what he is going through with his club.” Pogba returned to United from Juventus for £89million in 2016 and won the Europa League and League Cup last season. Deschamps added: “It’s not specific to Paul. It can happen elsewhere that a player is a bit down or is going through a…
Author: David Folami
Antonio Conte hailed Chelsea’s character to overcome Leicester City in extra time to reach the FA Cup semifinals, but insisted that they will not enjoy an easy path to the final against Southampton. “We must be pleased for the character we showed in this game against a really good team,” Conte said. “Don’t forget, in the last game at home [in the Premier League] we suffered a lot against Leicester. They’re a really good team with great players and great talent. “After a game in the Champions League, it wasn’t easy for us to play 120 minutes in this way.…
Mohamed Salah has said he is flattered to have been compared with Lionel Messi. The 25-year-old has now scored 28 league goals, more than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues. And asked whether it was appropriate to put Messi and Salah in the same bracket as two of the best players in the world, manager Jurgen Klopp told a news conference: “Yeah, I think Mo is on the way. That’s good.” Salah said he was delighted by the comparison but added that he would not reveal his personal aims for the season. “Of course, when you are compared…
Georginio Wijnaldum has said that Mohamed Salah is in a three-way battle with Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane to be crowned Footballer of the Year. But players cannot vote for their teammates in the PFA award and, speaking before Liverpool played Watford at Anfield, Wijnaldum said: “I haven’t voted yet but, if I had to choose, I would probably vote for De Bruyne or Kane. “Mo Salah has had a wonderful year, the same with Kevin De Bruyne. Mo has scored a lot of goals, De Bruyne has scored a lot of goals and given a lot of assists.…
Zinedine Zidane praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s “unique ambition” after the Galactico’s latest four-goal haul in Sunday’s 6-3 La Liga win at home to Girona. He told the postgame news conference that the 33-year-old’s “positive energy” was good for him personally but also rubbed off on his teammates. “[Ronaldo] is very important for us,” Zidane said. “He transmits a very important, very positive energy for the rest of the group. “On a personal level he has 22 goals, three behind Messi, so I hope [that goes well] for him, as when he is good, the team is good. “He knows himself very…
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba has said he would love to play alongside Neymar one day. In an interview with La Liga’s website two years ago, Neymar sung Pogba’s praises and stated an ambition to play in the same side as the Frenchman. “I remember [what he said]. I really like him, too,” Pogba told the Argentine TV channel. “He is truly the definition of joy on the pitch. He also has this. “I know that in Brazil, football is everything. It’s life. Everyone plays football in Brazil. When I see him play on the pitch and enjoying himself, with his…
Arsenal and Real Madrid will stage two legends matches this year, with former club greats getting together to raise money for charity. Arsenal said their side for the games is expected to include former “Invincibles” Robert Pires, Sol Campbell, Freddie Ljungberg, Gilberto Silva and Lauren, with Tomas Rosicky also set to play. Madrid’s team will include greats like Raul Gonzalez, Roberto Carlos and Xabi Alonso. Arsenal staged their inaugural legends match against an AC Milan side at the Emirates in 2016, which helped raise £1 million for the Arsenal Foundation. “This double-header against Real Madrid will help us use football…
Lionel Messi has suggested he won’t get another chance if Argentina fail to win the World Cup in Russia this summer. Messi and his teammates have had a strained relationship with the Argentine media, feeling unfairly criticised, and he told La Cornisa TV: “It’s just the feeling that this group of players has. It seems that having reached three straight finals didn’t mean anything. Obviously, we depend on results and unfortunately, we reached three finals and we didn’t win them. “A lot was said about us. The criticisms hurt back then. But the demand is going to be there for…
Mohamed Salah wants his feats in the Premier League to serve as inspiration for his fellow countrymen. Salah, who had stints at Fiorentina, Chelsea and FC Basel before his time with the Giallorossi, says that it has been a hard road to get to the upper echelon of world football — and hopes he can be the first of many Egyptians to make the journey. “It was difficult for us — for any Egyptian player — to be at that level and continue playing that level for many years,” Salah said. “I knew from the first day I went to…
Liverpool’s club-record signing Virgil van Dijk insists he still has improvements to make despite making an immediate impact on his side’s defence. Asked whether the settling in period had been easier than anticipated, he said: “Quicker than I might have thought? I don’t know. Obviously you come here with expectations and you want to play as soon as possible and as much as possible this season and be as fit as possible and quick as possible. “Now I’m getting better and better and the understanding with all of the players is getting much better. I’m just playing my game and…
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Chinese President Xi Jinping on his re-election as the President of the Peoples Republic of China. Buhari praised his Chinese counterpart for his wisdom and vision, in a congratulatory letter, `personally signed’ by the President. “On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I congratulate you most sincerely on your re-election as the President of the Peoples Republic of China. “Your re-election is an indication of the trust and confidence reposed in you by the people of China on your ability to bring your vision and wisdom to bear…
Muhammad Sanusi II has said he earned his position as a monarch, noting that his outstanding work and rise in the banking sector was a precursor to the throne. On his ascension to the throne, Sanusi said: “It was what I’ve always wanted to be. As a Muslim, we believe that God decides who will be emir, then He creates a situation such that circumstances conspire to lead to that predetermined result. “It’s not for me to say but the kingmakers look at a number of qualities. I spent my life as a successful banker. I taught economics at the…
A group, Free Rivers Development Initiative, has accused Governor Nyesome Wike of arming cultists in Rivers state under the Neighbourhood Safety Corps. Addressing journalists in Abuja at the weekend, President of the group Ngerebala Sampson said there are about 200,000 cults and militia and armed groups in the state. Ngerebala noted that arming the youths under the guards of vigilante group was an attempt to create a private militia for political purpose. His words: “You all know that before, during and after the 2015 general elections, Rivers State experience unprecedented number of political assassinations, were members of our party were…
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State recently said that the combination of the experience of political elders and the innovative ideas of youth was crucial to achieving good governance and sustainable development in the country. Ambode said this at the second edition of Bola Tinubu Youth Summit in Lagos. He stated that the summit was apt especially with the clamour for increased participation of youths in governance and the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill that was fast gaining ground at the National Assembly. “I urge youths in the country to be steadfast and continue to demonstrate good character in their quest to make…
The professionalism and determination of ‘Operation Deep Punch 2’ led to the fall of Sambisa Forest in the North East part of the country. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said this at the 2018 West Africa Social Activities (WASA) programme which ended late on Saturday in Apapa, Lagos. He explained that it was usually organised to mark the end of a training year and the beginning of another. “Various field training exercises such as ‘Shirin Harbi,’ ‘Harbin Kunama 2’ and ‘Crocodile Smile 2’ were successfully conducted in all parts of the country in 2017. “The climax…
Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the closure of the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota. Ambode said the site was closed because the location poses a health risk to residents of the area. He stated this on Friday, March 16, 2018, while addressing scavengers and other workers following a recent fire outbreak at the site. The governor said apart from the negative health implication, the site could cause other hazards. Ambode was visiting the site for the second time since the fire incident in which no life was lost.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has commended students of the institution for conducting themselves well while the national strike by the non-teaching staff lasted. The unions comprise the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAATs). The unions, under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), were protesting the non-implementation of an agreement they entered into with the Federal Government in 2009. They were also protesting the sharing formula of the N23 billion released by the government as part of earned allowance of workers…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the late Sen. Ali Wakili as a vibrant grassroots politician, who distinguished himself during his work in the Nigeria Customs Service and as a federal lawmaker. Malam Bolaji Abudullahi did this recently. ‘The APC family expresses deepest condolences to his immediate family, the 8th Senate, the entire National Assembly and the Government and people of Bauchi State. ‘Indeed, the country has lost one of its most vibrant and patriotic federal lawmakers whose legislative contributions and engagements in the National Assembly touched on the core needs of less privileged Nigerians,’ he said. “Creditably to…
Sen. David Mark has described the death of the Senator representing Bauchi South senatorial District, Sen. Ali Wakili as a painful exit. Mark, reacting to the demise of Wakili in a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr Paul Mumeh, said “I am shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of our colleague and friend. It is devastating. “Senator Wakili was a peace maker. He always craved for fairness, justice and national unity. “He was a principled, focused and resourceful parliamentarian who identified with the ordinary people. He fought for the welfare of citizens without compromise. “He practiced inclusive politics that…
The Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has appointed Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari as UNAIDS Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Promotion of Treatment for Children living with HIV in Nigeria. Mr Charles-Martin Jjuuko, Communications and Global Outreach Officer, UNAIDS Nigeria made this known in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja. According to him, Executive Director and Under Secretary General of the United Nations, Michel Sidibé, is to issue the official appointment to Aisha Buhari on Monday, March 19 in Abuja. He said the appointment to Wife of the…