Jose Mourinho has praised Paul Pogba for his response to his father’s death as he prepares to recall him for Manchester United’s final Premier League game of the campaign. Mourinho has promised to make sweeping changes for Sunday’s fixture against Crystal Palace, ahead of United’s Europa League final date with Dutch side Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday. But the United manager has confirmed the world’s most expensive footballer will be in the starting line-up despite the death of his father this week. “Paul Pogba is fine,” Mourinho said. “A strong guy, strong mentality. He’s learning how to live after his…
Author: David Folami
With Tottenham assured of second place in the Premier League and Hull already condemned to relegation, Harry Kane’s bid to win the golden boot will be the focus of attention at the KC Stadium on Sunday. Kane moved two goals clear of Everton’s Romelu Lukaku in the race to finish the Premier League’s top scorer when he scored four times in Tottenham’s 6-1 victory at Leicester on Thursday. That performance took Kane’s haul to 26 goals and underlined his importance to Mauricio Pochettino’s side. The England forward’s tally has been amassed from just 29 league appearances and Kane appears certain…
Arsene Wenger will be praying for an unexpected slip from Liverpool or Manchester City as Arsenal try to salvage their traumatic Premier League campaign by snatching a Champions League berth in Sunday’s season finale. Rocked by Arsenal’s failure to live up to his expectations and battered by mounting criticism from furious fans, Wenger has been under fire like never before in his 21-year reign — and the lowest moment of all is likely to come at the Emirates Stadium this weekend. As if finishing below arch rivals Tottenham for the first time in 22 years wasn’t bad enough, Wenger’s bid…
Chelsea’s extended victory parade will reach a climax with the trophy presentation when Sunderland arrive at the home of the Premier League champions on Sunday. Having wrapped up the title with two games to go, Antonio Conte’s side have been able to see out the season in comfort, although Monday’s 4-3 victory over Watford confirmed they were certainly not running down the campaign quietly. The meeting with a Sunderland side long since condemned to relegation will allow them to sign off in style before the presentation of the Premier League trophy caps off a memorable campaign. John Terry will collect…
Real Madrid are poised to win a first La Liga title in five years on Sunday as Zinedine Zidane’s men hold a three-point lead over Barcelona heading into the final day of the season. Barca need to beat Eibar at home to have any chance of a third straight title in outgoing coach Luis Enrique’s farewell to the Camp Nou. Madrid have looked in ominous form as they’ve edged towards the title by thrashing Sevilla and Celta Vigo 4-1 in the past week with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice in both games. “We have to continue what we are doing because…
One point at Watford on Sunday will make certain of Manchester City’s place in next season’s Champions League, while a victory will take them into the group stages without the need for a play-off. Securing qualification would ensure finishing the an upbeat end to a season that has been littered with frustrations for Pep Guardiola. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager arrived in Manchester last July with a record of 21 trophies in seven years as a coach, and was widely expected to continue that record of success in England. Instead, he has ended the campaign with no trophies,…
The Nigerian military has denied reports that its officials are profiting from the Boko Haram insurgency. The denial was made by Defence spokesman, Major General John Enenche. Enenche was reacting to a report by global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International, accusing the military of corruption. “The attention of defence headquarters has been drawn to an inciting corruption allegation against military officials, by Transparency International,” Enenche said at a press conference in Abuja. “Let me start by making it clear that this sweeping allegation is false with the following clarifications. “The present leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria has done a…
Borussia Dortmund will hold showdown talks with coach Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season, amid reports that Nice manager Lucien Favre will take over. Chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke denied Tuchel’s fate was already sealed but relations between the pair have become publicly strained since the bomb attack on the Dortmund team bus on April 11. Tuchel says that neither he nor his shell-shocked players were consulted about whether they should play the Champions League quarter-final home tie against Monaco less than 24 hours after three bombs targeted the bus. Watzke denied that was the case and said the…
The first season of The Voice Nigeria saw Waje and A’rese emerge winners. The second season is almost here and from a debut date to the coaches, check out everything we know about the second season of ‘The Voice Nigeria.’ 1. 2face Idibia, who was one of the coaches in season one will not be returning. 2. 2face Idibia will be replaced by the ‘Johnny’ singer, Yemi Alade. 3. Alade joins season one judges, Timi Dakolo, Waje and Patoranking. 4. The second season of the reality series will be hosted by IK Osakioduwa, who hosted the first season. 5. The…
Jose Mourinho admits Manchester United’s youngsters are not ready for their sudden introduction to the Premier League against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Mourinho intends to play a weakened side against Palace in a bid to keep his senior stars fit and fresh ahead of the Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm next Wednesday. With United unable to finish in the Premier League’s top four, Mourinho is banking on winning the Europa League to seal a place in next season’s Champions League. That means Joel Pereira, Kieran O’Hara, Demetri Mitchell, Scott McTominay, Josh Harrop, Matthew Willock, Zachary Dearnley and 16-year-old…
Mercy Aigbe’s former friend Opemititi Ajayi has slammed the actress and Linda Ikeji and Mercy Aigbe with a N500Million lawsuit. Ajayi is suing each for alleging she slept with Lanre Gentry and destroyed the actress’s marriage. According to the letter prepared by her attorneys, the 500Million is to ‘repair’ the damages caused by the defamatory publications and statement. Mercy Aigbe and Linda Ikeji have just seven days to satisfy this demand. Meanwhile, the actress’ husband, Lanre Gentry, who was released after fulfilling his bail condition has accused the Nigerian government of neglecting those in prison and focusing on other things.…
Osas Ighodaro is a pretty cover girl for Koko Magazine. The Nollywood actor sports looks from Amarelis Atelier and Makioba spoke about childbirth and getting her body back, her career and what makes her tick in the new edition. Ighodaro who is married to co-actor Gbenro Ajibade chose a sheer detailed yellow and white piece for one cover shot wearing her hair side swept complete with soft glowing makeup look and statement earrings. For the second cover she chose tassel detailed contrasting piece wearing matte red lips while showing off her enviable frame. Credits: Photography: Lai Makajuola Styling: Funke Opasina…
Mercy Aigbe’s husband, Lanre Gentry, is finally out of jail. The actress’ husband who was released after fulfilling his bail condition.
Gov Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Friday donated N5million to the state’s Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for the renovation of the press centre in the state. The governor announced the donation in Lafia when the officials and members of the council paid him a courtesy. He also directed the state Commissioner for Education to commence the process of building a block of five classrooms for a nursery and primary school at the council’s site of choice. Al-Makura who said that the gesture was part of the government’s determination to build the capacity of practising journalists…
The Kebbi State Government has ordered immediate closure of the Na Kowa Guest Inn and Restaurant in Birnin Kebbi over alleged accommodation of criminals. The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Musa Kalgo, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Friday that Gov. Atiku Bagudu directed the closure. Kalgo said that Bagudu also directed that all occupants of the inn should be arrested and interrogated. According to him, any occupant suspected to be a criminal would be charged to court. “Some nefarious activities have been taking place in the area. It was alleged that the hotel is the hideout of criminals that…
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang says Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has the authority to sign the 2017 budget. Enang made the clarification on Friday, May 19, after handing the document over to Osinbajo for assent. The presidential aide initially said that the document would be sent to the president to sign in London. Buhari is currently in London on an indefinite medical vacation after leaving Nigeria on Sunday, May 7. “The budget as passed by the National Assembly has just been transmitted to the Acting President. I just delivered it,” Enang said…
Pep Guardiola has questioned the need to ban players for diving, suggesting instead that it would be better to concentrate on giving Premier League referees help by using more video technology. Guardiola believes referees need more assistance from television because they find it difficult to keep up with play because the game is so quick. The Football Association has passed new rules to come into force in England next season, which will allow them to use television evidence to sanction divers. Under the new set-up, a panel will review footage each match to examine cases of alleged diving, with suspensions…
Antonio Conte is planning a fitting farewell for John Terry as the Chelsea legend prepares for his Stamford Bridge send-off against Sunderland on Sunday. Terry will leave Chelsea at the end of this season and his last appearance at Stamford Bridge, in a blue shirt at least, promises to be an emotional experience for the defender. The 36-year-old has hardly played for Chelsea this season after losing his place, but he started in the league for the first time since September in Monday’s 4-3 win over Watford. He will lift the 15th major trophy of his career after the Sunderland…
Paul Pogba will return for Manchester United for Sunday’s home game against Crystal Palace after missing the last two matches due to the death of his father, manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday. The Portuguese is focusing on next Wednesday’s Europa League final against Dutch side Ajax and is set to field a youthful team for the largely meaningless final game of the Premier League season. With United sixth in the domestic league and unable to finish in the top four, the Europa League is Mourinho’s only hope of securing Champions League football next season. But he told reporters that…
Looks like Amber Rose is ready to spill the tea! The 33-year-old model went on quite a Twitter rampage yesterday — and she didn’t leave any celebrity stones unturned! She had the entire Beyhive freaking out when she revealed a dirty little secret about Jay Z and Beyoncé yesterday — check out the video to see what she said! Of course, Muva later retracted the statement, claiming that she got hacked and was not the person behind the mysterious tweet, but oddly enough, she didn’t delete the “hacker’s” message about Bey! This isn’t the first time Amber has come for…