Antoine Griezmann has told France Football he has no plans to leave Atletico Madrid, despite Laurent Koscielny’s attempts to bring him to Arsenal. Griezmann, 25, has been linked to a host of clubs following two spectacular seasons since joining Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014. In an interview with France Football in which various figures in Griezmann’s life asked him questions, Koscielny, 31, suggested his France teammate could satisfy his wanderlust with a move to the Emirates Stadium. “For Arsenal, he speaks to me about it often. But I’m good in Madrid. I don’t want to leave. I’m happy here,”…
Author: David Folami
Late veteran actress Bukky Ajayi has been listed by search engine Google as the most searched actor in Nigeria for 2016. The Diamond Ring actress passed away at the age of 82 on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 in the arms of her last child, Olakunle Fawole. Others on Google’s list of the most searched acts include late Henrietta Kosoko, Ani Iyoho, Falz, Dede One Day, among others. See the full list below: 1. Bukky Ajayi 2. Henrietta Kosoko 3. Arakangudu 4. Dede One Day 5. Falz 6. Alan Rickman 7. Ani Iyoho 8. Juliet Ibrahim 9. Olumide Bakare 10. Halima…
YBNL boss, Olamide drops a video to his sixth studio album, The Glory. The video was directed by Moe Musa and previews the first track of the album, which drops on o December 26.
Iyanya has released his first music video under Mavin Records, which he joined in October. Ghanaian cinematographer, Gyo Gyimah directed the audiovisual of ‘Up to Something’ which features Don Jazzy and Dr Sid. We exclusively gathered that the video was shot in Ghana, a week before the artiste was unveiled. While the song produced by Don Jazzy was recorded a month earlier. Fans look forward to more hits and achievements from Iyanya, and we hope he won’t disappoint.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, said in Abuja the Federal Government had earmarked N185 billion in the 2017 budget for new initiatives. Udoma announced this at Public Presentation of the 2017 Budget Proposals in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari presented the budget proposal of N7.30 trillion to the National Assembly on Dec. 14. The minister identified the initiatives as the Social Housing Programme; Special Economic Zone Projects; Export-Expansion Grant; and Recapitalisation of the Bank of Industry. He said “Some of the new initiatives are the provision of…
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, says President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed to improving the lives of youths in the country. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Dr. Amina Shamaki, Lawal added that the Buhari-led government remained committed to improving the lives of young Nigerians to help them to realise their full potentials. He spoke during the presentation of National Lottery Intervention Sports Equipment to 48 public primary schools across Sokoto State. He added that sports remained a bridge builder aside its economic benefits. “The government’s interest in sports has encouraged the local…
President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that the Federal Government does not have enough money to fund its foreign missions as they should be funded. Buhari called on Ambassadors to learn to do more with less, adding that their funding will improve as the economy gets back on its feet. According to Punch, the President said this while addressing diplomats who were just confirmed by the Senate. This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Buhari, Femi Adesina. Buhari said “We are optimistic that the external factors that partly contributed to push our…
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez hopes teammate Lionel Messi will follow his lead by signing a long-term contract to see out the remainder of his prime years at the Camp Nou. Suarez celebrated a new five-year deal by scoring twice in a 4-1 rout of Espanyol on Sunday as Barca closed to within three points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. However, the Uruguayan was still overshadowed by a series of astonishing moves from Messi as he wriggled through Espanyol defenders at will before finally sealing his display with Barca’s fourth goal a minute from time. Messi only…
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is doing all he can to raise team spirit at the club as he made a surprise appearance at the staff’s annual Christmas party. Chelsea staff are used to not seeing a manager attend their Christmas party since Carlo Ancelotti. Staff like the receptionists, security personnel and caterers were pleasantly surprised to see Conte at their Christmas party. There were expecting just a video goodwill message from Conte but the manager was there in person to thank them for their contributions to the club. The Italian was given a rousing ovation after delivering a speech in…
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger suggested referees were over-protected after complaining “two offside goals” had accounted for his team in Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Manchester City. Theo Walcott gave Arsenal a fifth-minute lead, but Leroy Sane equalised early in the second half, getting the benefit of the doubt in a tight offside call to run in and score from David Silva’s pass. Raheem Sterling struck a 71st-minute winner, but Wenger felt Silva’s attempt to play the ball in front of goalkeeper Petr Cech should have seen the goal ruled out. “We conceded two offside goals, which is very difficult…
Just four minutes had been played between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United on Saturday, when Paul Pogba scooped a lofted pass from the middle of the pitch, across his defence towards right-back Antonio Valencia, whose position was directly in front of my seat, low down in the corner of the away end. Valencia stopped the ball and then quickly hit it forward in the direction of Jesse Lingard, like a quarterback launching as pass ahead of a wide receiver. Two opponents were taken out of the game by the ball, before Lingard crossed with his first touch to the…
Nigerian music stars 2face Idibia, Flavour and Kiss Daniel are all set to perform at this year’s Headies awards. Rapper and comic act, Falz and actress, Adesua Etomi will host the prestigious Nigerian music award ceremony holding at Eko Convention Center in Victoria Island, Lagos on December 22. Other artistes scheduled to perform include Seyi Shay, Aramide, Mr. Eazi, Darey and Humblesmith.
The 227th Merseyside derby was shaping up as one of the least eventful. That is, of course, until Daniel Sturridge offered a reminder of his priceless capacity to make things happen and Sadio Mane tapped in the winner in the 94th minute. With his goal, Mane ensured Liverpool could make the short journey back across Stanley Park with three precious points that restored them to second place in the Premier League. Sturridge had only been on the pitch for 15 minutes following five games out with his latest injury when he shot from 20 yards. It was scarcely his cleanest…
Nollywood actor Chiwetalu Agu is not a fan of Lagos. According to an interview the star granted Punch, he revealed that he has bid the city goodbye. And here was Mr Agu’s reason: ‘I have said goodbye to Lagos. Agberos and the perennial traffic snare in Lagos are what chased me away.’ On whether or not he would be visiting anytime soon, he said, ‘I don’t think I will be coming back anytime soon. I am more at peace here in Enugu because things work at an orderly pace.’ Ugh, damn agberos!
The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay has urged President Buhari to re-submit the name of Ibrahim Magu to the Senate. Magu, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) confirmation was rejected by the Senate following some allegations raised against him in a report authored by the Department of State Services (DSS). A presidency source who spoke to Premium Times said Sagay described the allegations against the EFCC boss as weak and unsubstantiated. He also said “That it seems it was just internal politics and it was interest groups fighting back to stop the…
The Majority leader of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume has said that his colleagues did not reject the nomination of Ibrahim Magu, the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) boss. According to Daily Post, Ndume made the revelation to newsmen after a closed door meeting with President Buhari at the Villa in Abuja on Monday, December 19, 2016. The Senator said the Senate only stepped down Magu’s screening till all security concerns are resorted out. He also said the Senate will let the President know its next step regarding the confirmation of the embattled EFCC boss. The Senate reportedly rejected Magu’s…
The Federal Government has initiated plans to use technology as an enabler to fight smuggling and increase revenue collections. This was announced in a statement in Abuja on Monday by Mr Festus Akanbi, the Special Adviser, Media, to Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun. According to her, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, at a workshop in Gwagwalada, said the initiative aimed to introduce technology to counter the activities of smugglers and boost revenue collections. In attendance at the workshop were the Customs Comptroller General, retired Col. Hameed Ali; Secretary of the Joint Tax Board, Muhammed Abubakar; Federal Road…
Coach Thomas Tuchel on Monday slammed the sending off that will see Marco Reus banned for Borussia Dortmund’s last Bundesliga match of 2016. Fifth-placed Dortmund host Augsburg on Tuesday in their final game before the four-week winter break, but will have to do without their star winger, who was dismissed in Friday’s 2-2 draw with unbeaten Hoffenheim. The 27-year-old was shown a second yellow card by referee Benjamin Brand on 41 minutes after a clash with Nadiem Amiri. But Tuchel insisted that Reus “didn’t do anything”. “It’s absurd, I don’t understand it,” fumed Tuchel of Reus’ subsequent one-match ban. “It’s…
Tottenham Hotspur still have a chance of overhauling Premier League leaders Chelsea and winning the title, according to manager Mauricio Pochettino. Tottenham, who trail Chelsea by 10 points, beat Burnley 2-1 at home on Sunday to stay fifth in the table, a point behind north London rivals Arsenal. “Our position is good,” Pochettino told British media. “It’s true that we have a 10-point gap with Chelsea. But in football, anything can happen. There are a lot of games to play. “We can attack the second half of the season and try to push ourselves a bit more.” Tottenham pushed hard…
Mikel John Obi is very likely on his way to France to team up with Olympique Marseille according to Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr. Mikel has struggled to break into the Chelsea first team this season, failing to make a competitive appearance for the Blues under new manager, Antonio Conte. Mikel joined Chelsea in 2006, making over 350 appearances for the club, but he has yet to feature for the Premier League leaders in all competitions this season. The 29-year-old is now expected to be let go by the Premier League leaders and is seemingly on the verge of a…