Nice coach Lucien Favre has blasted his star striker Mario Balotelli for putting in a “negative performance” as they crashed out of the Champions League at the playoff round on Tuesday. Balotelli had little or no impact on the game and was substituted at the start of the second half when Napoli scored their first goal of the night on their way to a 2-0 win. The controversial striker was called over for a jewelry infraction and while in the process of having it covered, his side conceded while down to 10 men. Balotelli had some words for the officials…
Author: David Folami
Paris Saint-Germain’s Serge Aurier is close to joining Tottenham Hotspur reports have said. Aurier, who has had a summer exit agreed with PSG since the beginning of July, will sign a five-year contract if he can obtain official proof of his successful appeal against a convertible two-month prison sentence and PSG will pocket around €25 million. Reports have said that if Aurier had not been awaiting his appeal against his convertible jail sentence for so long he would already be gone but that the delay has seen some suitors switch their interests elsewhere. Rumour has it that Aurier must still…
<img src="https://www.theinfostride.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/karim-benzema-523×294.png" alt="karim benzema" width="523" height="294" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93490" /In a summer of transfer activity fueled by the billions in television revenue flowing through the European market, Leicester City signed 20-year-old Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho for £25 million. The Nigeria international had 64 career senior appearances under his belt and had scored 21 goals, at a phenomenal per-minute rate, which was seen by the Foxes as sufficient promise to part with a fee that fell just shy of the club record £27m forked out a year earlier for Islam Slimani. Eight summers ago, Real Madrid paid a similar amount…
Gary Neville has warned Jose Mourinho to stay clear of any temptation to bench Marcus Rashford in favour of Anthony Martial. Rashford has started both United’s Premier League games so far this season — two 4-0 wins against West Ham and Swansea — but it is Martial’s impact as a late substitute that has gained the most attention after he scored in both games. Rashford is yet to score this season, but Neville says Mourinho should not be in a hurry to drop the 19-year-old to make room for Martial. “Martial has been devastating when coming off the bench but…
Neymar is set to fight a claim by Barcelona for compensation following his move to Paris Saint-Germain and has also promised to battle his old club for part of his 2016 contract renewal premium which he claims has not be paid. Neymar’s response is the latest move in an increasingly fierce war of words following his unexpected move to France. Neymar and his lawyers released a joint statement, quoted in the Spanish media, which read: “We inform everyone that Neymar and his lawyers are aware of the news released today regarding the legal actions filed by FC Barcelona before the…
Tiemoue Bakayoko has said the opportunity to work with Antonio Conte and follow in the footsteps of Didier Drogba were the vital factors behind his summer move to Chelsea. Bakayoko joined the Premier League champions on a five-year deal after an estimated £40 million transfer from Ligue 1 title-winners Monaco. “When I was at Rennes and he was coaching Juve, he was following me already,” Bakayoko said. “I wanted to work with him and I’m convinced he’ll make me improve and achieve my goals, individual and collective. If we’re talking about the coach and not the club, the choice is…
Paul Pogba has come out speak about his hope that Russia 2018 will not be tarnished by racism towards players and supporters, and begged all fans to focus solely on a footballer’s ability rather than his ethnicity. The tournament will take place with fears of discriminatory behaviour from fans due to a series of incidents in Russia’s domestic game in recent years. “When it comes to the World Cup, all those sports teams from all over the world coming [to Russia], I think we won’t hear a lot of racism,” he said. “I enjoy football and the people who do…
Paul Pogba has said that Manchester United can win the Premier League this season, insisting that Jose Mourinho’s team have no reason to be “scared” of any of their rivals. United currently sit top of the Premier League table having recorded consecutive emphatic 4-0 victories in their opening two league games against West Ham and Swansea. “I’m pleased and happy that we have started really well, but it is not finished yet,”. “It is just the start of the season. “The biggest challengers? We are our own rivals and we think about ourselves first. But we don’t have to be…
Paul Pogba, yesterday helped to launch UEFA’s new Respect campaign to promote greater inclusion, diversity and accessibility in football. The talk of english football right now attended the #EqualGame event with a hashtag of #Equal in his hair and spoke of the importance of the campaign, which has evolved from UEFA’s ‘No to Racism’ initiative. “It’s all about respect, all about equality everywhere in the world. We’re all equal when we play football. “This campaign, I’m really honoured to do it. We do what we love on the pitch and that’s the message we want to give to everyone. “Outside…
Jurgen Klopp has come out to say reaching the group stages of the Champions League can ease Liverpool’s stress in the transfer market. Liverpool convincingly defeated Hoffenheim 6-3 on aggregate in a two-legged Champions League playoff. “It’s a big influence on the transfer market, especially if you do it [qualify for the Champions League] more often,” Klopp told a news conference. “I said before the game that if you talk to players — and players better than ours are difficult to find, I know a lot of people think differently, but we do the work and it’s not easy to…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in total support of restructuring of the country in a manner that will effectively improve the growth, development and prosperity of Nigeria. Dayo Adeyeye, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, made this clarification recently. “As the word implies, restructuring is a process of re-arrangement, re-organization or re-formation of the manner or way in which something (in this case governance) is done. “As used in the Nigeria political lexicon, restructuring refers to the Modification of the System of governance to guarantee the socio-economic and political growth and development of the Nigerian…
The Nigerian military has taken crucial measures to open up strategic media centres to screen anti-government activities on social media. This was revealed by Director of Defence Information, Major-General John Enenche while he was speaking on a TV station. “Imagine when the President came back and addressed the nation, not up to 30 minutes later, a fake speech of the Commander-in-Chief was being circulated in order to do what? To derail the people. “If you are not very sharp and if you didn’t listen to the speech or you don’t have a copy of it like I had it almost…
The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Sept. 1, 2017 as Eid-el-Kabir day. This is contained in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu. “The advisory committee in conjunction with the National Committee on Moon Sighting received various reports on moon sighting across the country confirming the sighting of new moon of Zulhijja on Tuesday Aug. 22, 2017,’’ it said. The statement said that following the development, Muslims in Nigeria would observe Friday Sept. 1, as Sallah day.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Wednesday praised the European Union for establishing a modern judicial Research Centre in the state. He said that the centre was being sponsored by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). Aregbesola told the EU and UNODC that his administration would do everything possible to ensure synergy with the judiciary toward adequate use of the ICT facilities for justice delivery. He said the centre would assist more researchers to carry out more research in the best interest of the entire citizenry. According to him, ICT is playing key roles in the…
Ayo Fayose, has said that his constant criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari pressured him (Buhari) to return to Nigeria. He made known his opinion that Buhari is sick and tired, advising him to resign so he can pay undivided attention to his health. “If not for our efforts, Buhari wouldn’t have returned now. Buhari is sick and tired and even his physical appearance betrayed this and he needs to go home and rest. “Today, they have cancelled the Federal Executive Council meeting. You cannot hide the truth forever, it will reveal itself someday. You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians. “Every…
President Muhammadu Buhari has received the Presidential Investigation Panel Report on corruption allegations against suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and Director of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke at his home office. Yesterday, the president received panel members, led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who had been investigating the allegations for months. President Buhari suspended Lawal on April 19 after months of mounting pressure for his sack arising from allegations of his complicity in the misappropriation of funds earmarked for the welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) through the Presidential Initiative on…
Emeka Ojukwu Jr., the son of the late Biafra warlord, Emeka Ojukwu has killed reports that he refused President Buhari’s comment about his father. Buhari, in his controversial speech to Nigerians on Monday, said that Ojukwu agreed with him, after multiple discussions in 2003, that Nigeria should be united. In his words: “In 2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that…
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will never be seen in any armed conflict or rebellion, notwithstanding the killings, arrest and arbitrary detention of its members, says its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. “IPOB is a peaceful mass movement. “It is non-violent and our people carry no arms; so, it is wrong for anybody to compare the group with a terrorist group such as Boko Haram.’’ “There is no record of where people fought or engaged in open altercation in any of IPOB gatherings. “We are the most disciplined, well-behaved mass movement anywhere on the face of the planet.” “In this debate…
A group of Niger Delta militants have said that all Yorubas and Hausas living in the oil rich region must exit by October 1, 2017. According to reports, those who signed the statement are: John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs); Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers ); Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors ); Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters); Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters); Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice ); Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network) and Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate). They said “We wish to thank all well – meaning Nigerians who threw their weight behind…
Members of the Senate South-East sector have asked Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to lead his members in a peaceful manner. According to widespread reports, the Senators, led by the Chairman of the Caucus, Enyinnaya Abaribe met with Kanu recently in his home. Abaribe said “I thank Kanu for assuring (the caucus) to conduct his members in a peaceful manner and within the ambit of the law. This engagement is a continuous process that will lead us to finding a lasting solution to whatever grievances that necessitated the agitation in Nigeria. “The caucus will…