One of the constants in the Premier League over the past couple of months has been Chelsea’s position at the top of the table. They have been a rare example of stability as the rest of the division continues in a state of flux. The relegation battle has been shaken up by managerial changes at Swansea and Hull that have galvanised their campaigns while champions Leicester have found themselves dragged into the mire. In mid-table, a previously brittle West Ham have rediscovered their backbone at the same time as Bournemouth and Southampton have mislaid theirs. Further up the table the…
Author: David Folami
Memories of the 4-0 drubbings by Bayern Munich in 2013 and AC Milan in 1994 came rushing back as Barca endured a nightmarish 90 minutes to rival those two debacles as their worst ever European night. Luis Enrique’s side were overwhelmed by Unai Emery’s men, and the Spaniard enjoyed a dish of revenge served extra cold after suffering so many defeats at the hands of Barca over the years. The knives will be out for Luis Enrique, not just because the coach suffered his worst defeat in a major competition, but because the team looked so ill-prepared for the game.…
Manchester United are not worried about recent reports that Marcus Rashford is unhappy at the club and stalling over terms of a new contract, sources close to the club have said. Rashford, 19, burst onto the scene last season and has cemented himself in manager Jose Mourinho’s first-team squad after heading to Euro 2016 with England in the summer. However, a report in The Times claimed that the young forward is growing increasingly frustrated with a lack of game time as he competes with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard for a place in the XI. But…
On Saturday, February 11, 2017, CoCoIce caused a stir on social media after she breastfed Bassey during a game of truth or dare. In an interview with Pulse Nigeria on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, the former housemate revealed that she has no regret baring her breast on live TV. According to her, it was just a game and she didn’t think anything of it. “It was just a game,” CocoIce said. “That was basically… You know when I say ‘it’s your girl CocoIce (raps in indigenous language). “The bad girl Coco, the naughty girl Coco came out during the truth…
Following the eviction of Soma, Miyonse and Cocoice, Biggie decided to introduce two fake housemates to galvanize the game in Big Brother Naija house. The two housemates were introduced during the Sunday, February 12, 2017, Live eviction show. The first housemate to be introduced was 25-year-old former reality TV show star, Jon, who has a liking for mischief and is simply in the house to stir up some dust. There was a mixed bag of emotions and reactions from the other Housemates as they welcomed him into the House. The second fake housemate to join the game was Ese, a…
It’s been four years since Goldie passed away and Denrele Edun still can’t get over it. The eccentric media personality paid a visit to her grave side yesterday, February 14, 2017, the fourth year anniversary of her death. Denrele also wrote a poem dedicated to his late best friend. He wrote, “You can shed tears that she’s gone, Or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she comes back, Or you can open your eyes and see all she has left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, Or…
Daniel Ademinokan has just confirmed his marriage to actress Stella Damascus. The ex-husband of actress, Doris Simeon, has just confirmed the question on everyone’s lips. The movie director took to Instagram yesterday, February 14, 2017, to celebrate the love of his life. He wrote, “While people across the Atlantic are waiting for the announcement of a wedding date, I celebrate you today my beautiful WIFE @stelladamasus. You came into my life and gave me the right perspective. Thank you for being such a supportive wife, a remarkable mother to our kids and the glue that holds this home together. EVERYBODY…
Afrobeat singer and activist Seun Kuti has started another campaign against the government. According to him, it’s time for the Federal Government to invest in tertiary education rather that private refineries. In a series of tweets, Seun Kuti is calling for a resistance from the populace.
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has taken over Odengene Air-Shuttle Services (OAS) Helicopters in Lagos following a court order. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that AMCON had on Tuesday sealed the company at Maryland in Lagos, indicating that the company had been taken over by AMCON. The order on the company’s office reads: “POSSESSION TAKEN TODAY 14/2/17 BY AMCON COURT ORDER ON SUIT NO. FHC/4CS/1139/2016 NAN may not authoritatively confirm if the company is indebted to some banks that could have warrant such take over. However, the company was among the airlines that received the Federal…
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has described the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy as a success story, saying the Federal Government is determined to expand it to more agencies in 2017. According to a statement by the Special Adviser, Media, Mr Festus Akanbi on Tuesday in Abuja, she said this at the opening of a two-day retreat on TSA. Adeosun said that the Federal Government would expand the programme and continue to persuade statutory agencies to come under it. She said that the Federal Government was already discussing with service providers with the aim of improving the implementation…
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, has directed contractors who abandoned projects in oil bearing communities of Imo State to return to site with immediate effect. Osibanjo gave the directive on Tuesday in Owerri during a stakeholders’ forum held at Imo International Convention Centre. He said that from the list submitted to him by various groups, Imo had over 40 abandoned projects awarded in oil bearing areas apart from numerous roads projects that were abandoned. He warned political office holders not to divert projects meant for oil bearing communities. He added that diversion of projects contributed to restiveness and cry…
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has appointed a new Secretary to the State Government(SSG), and sacked four commissioners. According to Mr Tahav Agerzua, Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, the new SSG is Mr Tony Ijoho, who replaces Mr Targema Takema. The sacked commissioners included Mr Odeh Agih, information, Mnyim Mwuese, women affairs, Nick Wende, water resources and environment, as well as Sekav Iortyom, arts, culture and tourism. No reason was given for the action, but the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that the governor recently promised to sack inactive commissioners.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the amount of counterfeit Naira in circulation is less than one per cent. The acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr Isaac Okorafor disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja A former Deputy Governor of the CBN, said on Monday in Abuja that 20 per cent of the total currency in circulation in the country was fake. Okorafor said that the information given by the former apex bank staff was grossly exaggerated. “While we acknowledge that no currency in the world is immuned from counterfeiting, we make bold to state that…
US President Donald Trump has confirmed his telephone conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari. On Monday, February 13, the Nigerian Presidency released a statement highlighting the discussion that ensued between Buhari and Trump. Confirming the telephone conversation between the two Presidents, the White House Press Secretary and Communications Director, Sean Michael Spicer, in his introduction of Tuesday’s White House Press Briefing, mentioned that Trump spoke with Buhari of Nigeria and Jacob Zuma of South Africa on Monday. He added that the US President also received the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau on the same day. Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, had…
The only downside with a so-called “golden era” is that you don’t know what you’ve got until it is gone, but as the Champions League returns this week, the Premier League has discovered the hard way that its period of European dominance has become a fading memory. For English clubs, reclaiming their place at the top of Europe appears to be becoming an increasingly frustrating task, despite the riches and talent of the league. So when will the Premier League empire begin to strike back? With Chelsea and Manchester United having failed to reach this season’s competition and Tottenham knocked…
Defined by grander games, Wayne Rooney and Bastian Schweinsteiger bypassed the Manchester United altogether for years. Players of their stature were rested for domestic cup games against lower-league opponents. Not now. Instead, Manchester United’s Europa League meeting with Saint-Etienne and the FA Cup tie with Blackburn could provide outings for two men accustomed to bigger stages. The fact they may figure in a weakened United side is an indication of demotion and decay. They have had careers in parallel, with considerable similarities, but they have taken very different paths to a similar destination this season. Both now reside within Jose…
Arsene Wenger will take charge of his 177th Champions League match when Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, painfully aware that the 178th may well turn out to be his last. The Arsenal manager might yet stay on at the Emirates beyond the end of this season, taking his reign past the 21-year mark, but the old certainty of the North London giants securing Champions League football — regardless of their performance in the competition itself — is no longer quite so secure as it has been over the past decade-and-a-half. With the 2016-17 Premier League…
Barcelona defender Sergio Busquets said PSG were both the better team and played more physically in the French side’s 4-0 Champions League triumph on Tuesday. Angel Di Maria scored twice on his birthday while Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani also added goals as PSG cruised to victory at the Parc des Princes. Heavy favourites heading into the match, Barcelona must now become the first team ever to overcome a 4-0 deficit in the second leg to reach the quarterfinals. “The were better than us,” Busquets said of PSG, according to UEFA.com. “They played better, they were better tactically and they…
Luis Enrique was visibly agitated with a reporter following Barcelona’s 4-0 humiliation against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, but admitted his team were clearly inferior in defeat. Two Angel Di Maria goals and one each from Draxler and Cavani left Luis Enrique’s side with a mountain to climb in the second leg at the Camp Nou next month. Speaking to TV3 immediately after the game, the Barca coach said to reporter Jordi Grau: “I don’t like your tone and I would have liked the same treatment all the times we have…
Angel Di Maria paid tribute to his teammates and coach after scoring two goals to inspire Paris Saint-Germain to a 4-0 Champions League victory on Tuesday, but warned that Barcelona are not yet finished. The Argentina international scored once in either half, while Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani both added strikes to complete a famous thrashing at Parc des Princes. Speaking with beIN Sports after the final whistle in the French capital, Di Maria admitted he has turned a corner since the start of 2017. “To do that on my birthday was incredible,” the 29-year-old said. “As the coach requested,…