A slew of high-profile players was expected to light up the 2017 African Cup of Nations while some others were not expected to make great impacts. It was a disappointing outing for high profile players like reigning African Player of the Year, Riyad Mahrez and Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang while new stars like Christian Bassogog and Fabrice Ondoa emerged. With the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations over, We bring you their best XI of the tournament. Goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon) With Carlos Kameni out of the reckoning and Guy-Roland Ndy Assembe and Andre Onana rejecting call-ups, Ondoa had a clear path…
Author: David Folami
Following his €23.3m move from Watford to Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai, Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo has stated his desire to return to England. After two and half years in England with Watford, Ighalo signed four-year-deal with Yatai where he will earn close to £200,000 per week. The striker who was unveiled at his new club on Monday, February 6 has revealed that he would love to return to England. “Of course, if it is possible to come back to the Premier League one day, I would love to do that. It is a great league with so many…
Israeli manager, Avram Grant has resigned resigns as Ghana coach 27 days before the expiration of his two-year contract. Grant led the Black Stars of Ghana to a fourth place finish at the recently concluded 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon. Under his reign, Ghana were also beaten in the final of the AFCON 2015. Details later by eventual winners, Ivory Coast.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State has called on Nigerians to pray for the well-being of President Muhammadu Buhari and his safe return to the country. The state’s CAN Chairman, Rev. Echioda Mathias, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday. Mathias said that based on the teachings of the Holy Bible, Nigerians should always pray for their leaders. “It is God, who made Buhari our leader; therefore, we should imbibe the habit of praying for his well-being. “Let us pray he gets well completely and returns quickly…
Jose Mourinho will not have been fooled by Manchester United’s 3-0 victory against Leicester City on Sunday. His team may have humiliated the reigning Premier League champions at the King Power Stadium, recording their biggest Premier League win since defeating Claudio Ranieri’s men 4-1 at Old Trafford back in September, but the centre-forward he had prioritised before the trip to the Midlands remains the focal point of United’s summer recruitment plans, regardless of the comfortable manner of the win against Leicester. United and Mourinho, quite simply, are desperate to find the 20-goal-a-season striker who can lift them from top-four chasers…
Music stars including M.I Abaga, Davido, and Burna Boy, who showed support for the 2face Idibia’s planned protest, were nowhere to be found today, February 6, 2017. 2face had released a video on February 4 announcing that the planned protest has been called off. But over 500 Nigerians in Lagos came out to carry on with the planned march from the National Stadium to National Theatre. Celebrities spotted during the protest include Seyi Law, Charly Boy, Yomi Fabiyi and Hush actor, Baaj Adebule. The likes of 2face’s former associate, Blackface, comedian Bovi and Nollywood actress Stella Damasus made it known…
The former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha has said that Imo state has not gained anything from Governor Rochas Okorocha’s position in the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to Punch, Ihedioha said Okorocha’s closeness to President Buhari has not brought any federal presence to Imo state. He also said Nigerians have become wise and they will not allow any politician to take them for granted. Debunking his claim,a spokesman of Governor Okorocha, Sam Onwuemeodo said “Ihedioha cannot criticise Owelle Okorocha; this (Ihedioha) is a man who was in the House of Representatives for many years with…
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has sent a bill to the State House of Assembly to amend the state’s Pension Scheme of 2010. A letter on the bill amendment, signed by the governor, was sent to the Assembly on Monday. The letter read in part: “Mr Speaker, find attached 30 copies of the bill for your consideration and passage. “The bill, if amended, will enable the state to commence the contributory pension scheme to put an end to pension related issues in the state.” The Speaker, Justin Okonoboh, referred the bill to the House Committee on Rules and Business. Meanwhile,…
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has disowned Mr Chucks Nwoga, who has been parading himself as the party’s National Youth Leader. Mr Ifeatu Obiokoye, APGA National Publicity Secretary, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday that Nwoga was expelled from the party in December 2016. According to him, Nwoga who hails from Enugu State had been making publications on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media as APGA national youth leader. “Let it be known that the APGA National Executive Committee (NEC) in its meeting held at Awka on December 21, 2016, expelled the said Chuks Nwoga and…
Nigerian stars Timi Dakolo and Bovi decided to take a picture together as Niger Delta’s most wanted. The duo can be seen sitting on a counter smiling for the camera. “Two of niger-delta’s most wanted and the same place at the same time . They say we look alike so…. well… all I can say is my daddy was a playa,” Bovi captioned the shot.
Popularly known as Area Fada, Charly Boy is best known for his alternative lifestyle, political views, and media productions, most notably The Charly Boy Show, Charly Boy has been president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, and in 2011 an Idol Series judge. An unashamed activist, Charly Boy has been very vocal in his fight against corruption, oppression, division and the forces that seek to undermine democracy. The controversial star was born into a Catholic household and is the cousin of Swedish musician Dr. Alban. His most popular album “1990”, was a reference to Nigeria’s corrupt military government which…
Timaya and Davido team up for the release of this new single ‘Kekwanu’. The new single is produced by Shizzi. Listen and download.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s masterclass left Leicester fighting for their Premier League survival as Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over the troubled champions on Sunday. Jose Mourinho’s side condemned dismal Leicester to a fourth successive league defeat thanks in large part to Mkhitaryan’s dynamic contribution at the King Power Stadium. The Armenian playmaker opened the scoring with a cool solo strike just before half-time and then teed up Juan Mata for United’s third goal after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had doubled the lead. United’s first win in four league games extended their unbeaten run to 15 and lifted them to within two…
Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr has insisted that striker Odion Ighalo, who now plays in China is still in his plans. Ighalo has sealed a move to Chinese side Changchun Yatai from Premier League club, Watford. After the move, the striker revealed that he has not received a call from his National team boss, prompting fears that he might be dropped. Rohr has however assured the striker of a place in his Super Eagles and said he understood why the striker moved to China. “He wasn’t getting games at Watford, in China he will play and be match fit aside…
David Beckham on Saturday blasted reports that he used his children’s charity work to boost his public image and chances of getting a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. A spokesman for the football icon claimed “hacked and doctored” private emails had given a “deliberately inaccurate picture”. The former England captain, who retired in 2013, was the subject of a “Football Leaks” probe by the European Investigative Collaborations network, a consortium of 12 European media organisations, including France’s Mediapart. Citing emails between Beckham and his staff, the reports claimed he initially refused to put his own money into his humanitarian 7…
Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President has said the period of extension of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vacation in London was not specified because “there is no vacuum in government’’. Adesina, who stated this in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Sunday night, said the time was not stated so as enable the president to get clean bill of health from his doctors. He said the president has already transmitted power to the Vice-President who had been performing his constitutional duties as acting president. According to Adesina, with the extension of his…
Protesters marching on the streets of Lagos under the “I Stand With Nigeria” banner, have called out musician Innocent Idibia aka 2face, for pulling out of a planned nationwide protest. 2face was supposed to headline the nationwide protests today, February 6, 2017, but in a teary Instagram post, he announced he wouldn’t be going ahead with the march, citing security concerns. However, advocacy group ‘Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, stepped up its campaign ahead of the protest on Sunday, saying the planned marches in Lagos and Abuja, will go ahead as planned. A handful of celebrities and entertainers also joined…
The Northern Christian Youth Assembly has commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai for laying the foundation for the building of a military barracks in Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Christian Youth Assembly also commended Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for his part in finding a solution to the Southern Kaduna crisis. The statement was signed by Peter Bawa who is the National Chairman of the group. According to the group, the “development would go a long way to curtail the menace of maurading killers that have plunged too many…
Pensioners under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), in the state of Osun, have reiterated support for the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration. Speaking over the weekend, some of the pensioners drawn from various parts of the State, revealed that the government of Osun under Aregbesola has paid them all their pension arrears till December 2016, according to the agreement signed with the government. Some pensioners who received at least N120,000 each in pension arrears as at December 2016, had in January 2017 in conjunction with a retired judge and members of the opposition party in the state,…
Nigerians in the United Kingdom joined their folks back home in nationwide protests, but they took a different approach. They stormed the Nigerian High Commission in London, demanding to see President Muhammadu Buhari for five minutes. On Sunday, February 5, 2017, the Presidency announced that Buhari had asked for an extension of his leave indefinitely. Buhari embarked on a 10-day vacation on January 23, 2017. It was immediately announced that he’ll use the period of his vacation to carry out routine medical checkup, fuelling speculation that he is battling a debilitating ailment. Presidential spokespersons Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina announced…