Brazil coach Tite dedicated his side’s impressive 3-0 win over Argentina to Carlos Alberto. The Samba Boys were playing for the first time since their 1970 World Cup winning captain died from a heart attack in October and they put on a show in his honour, blowing their great rivals away. Goals from Philippe Coutinho, Neymar and Paulinho made it five wins on the bounce, making them near certainties for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. But thoughts were in the past rather than the future before the game. “We dedicate this win to Carlos Alberto,” Tite told reporters. “The…
Author: David Folami
Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo left Thursday’s World Cup qualifier game with a hip injury in a goalless draw at Colombia. The Manchester City keeper was forced to depart in the 64th minute and was replaced by Johnny Herrera. He took an early knock after contact with Colombia’s Miguel Borja, then collided with Santiago Arias in the second half and could not continue. Bravo declined to speculate on whether he would be able to play against Uruguay on Tuesday, telling Fox Sports: “At this time, it bothers me a lot. But we have to be smart and realize we have another…
England interim manager Gareth Southgate is set to start Daniel Sturridge up front against Scotland on Friday, according to British newspaper reports. Sturridge, 27, has not scored in the Premier League for Liverpool this season, and has made Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI on four occasions. But The Guardian, The Sun and the Daily Mail report he will be given the nod over Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane. Kane, 23, has only recently returned from a seven-week injury absence so is expected to be on the bench for this week’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley. This means Sturridge will lead the line…
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned Chile not to make a “suicidal decision” regarding the fitness of Alexis Sanchez and risk aggravating his hamstring injury. Sanchez, 27, left Chile training on Tuesday to undergo medical testing on what the Chilean Football Federation later said was a muscle strain. The forward will not feature in his country’s World Cup qualifying match against Colombia on Thursday but will be evaluated before the Nov. 15 clash with Uruguay — which Wenger hopes he will miss, having heard Sanchez has sustained a hamstring problem. “I got a text last night [to say] that he…
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling faces a month on the sideline with a broken toe, according to a report by the Daily Mail. The newspaper says Smalling had more tests after Sunday’s game against Swansea, revealing fractures in in two places. If the injury is confirmed, it could be a source of embarrassment for manager Jose Mourinho, who questioned the bravery of Smalling and Luke Shaw for not playing with “a little pain.” Smalling last featured for United on Oct. 23 at Chelsea, and the Mail reported that the 26-year old needed two injections to get through that game. He…
Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza called the Albiceleste’s 3-0 thrashing at the hands of historic rival Brazil one of the toughest of his career, but urged his team to stay positive ahead of their next CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier with Colombia. Argentina have won just four of their first 11 games and currently sit outside of the automatic qualification spots after a heavy defeat in Brazi And they sank to new lows in Belo Horizonte as their main players — Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria — were all no shows. Boss Edgardo Bauza — only in…
Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he is open to the idea of managing Real Madrid after he hangs up his boots. Ronaldo, 31, signed a new contract at Madrid earlier this week which will keep him at the club until 2021, when he will be 36. The Portugal captain said upon signing the deal that he plans to end his career at the Santiago Bernabeu, and has now suggested that coaching Madrid after he retires is not out of the question. “I’ve said before that I think I’ll always be linked to Real, as a player and also when I…
Brazil roared to an impressive CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying 3-0 defeat of Argentina in their first game back at the Mineirao Stadium since falling 7-1 to Germany in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup. Given their recent history in the stadium, the hosts started tentatively against their main South American rival as Fernandinho was shown an early yellow card for a foul on Lionel Messi. And it was Argentina who dominated the early exchanges, with Lucas Biglia forcing a fine stretching save from Alisson off a half-volley from outside of the box on 23 minutes. But Philippe Coutinho soon…
Montreal Impact striker Didier Drogba has said he has no plans to end his playing career when his current contract expires. Drogba, who turns 39 next March, is out of contract with Montreal at the end of the current MLS season, which could still finish with the Canadian franchise being crowned champions. The former Ivory Coast international, however, is already looking beyond his team’s Eastern Conference Championship tie with Toronto. “My contract is up with Montreal, so I’ll be free at the end of the season. I think I’ll continue. I don’t know what my reaction will be if we…
Gareth Bale is the right player to replace Cristiano Ronaldo as Real Madrid’s main man, Dani Carvajal has said. Both Bale and Ronaldo recently signed long-term contract extensions tying them to the European champions for coming years, but Carvajal thinks the Wales international is capable of following in the footsteps of the club’s all-time top goal scorer. “Possibly. I think so,” he said when asked if Bale could take over Ronaldo’s mantle at the Bernabeu. “Time marches on and although we don’t know when it will be, the day will come when Cristiano won’t be at the top as happens…
[caThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that a lot of Nigerians are suffering under the Buhari-led administration. According to Punch, the party also decried the high cost of foodstuff in the market, adding that the economy has nose dived. The PDP North-East Chairman of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction, Emmanuel Njiwah also said Nigeria has become a nation of story under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Njiwah added that “Anybody with a plan for Nigeria cannot come into power and within the spate of a year, plunge the largest economy on the continent into recession. “They have actually devastated…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it will work hand in hand with US President-Elect, Donald Trump. The announcement was made by Deputy Senate President and senior PDP member, Ike Ekweremadu via a statement released by his media aide, Uche Anichikwu on Wednesday, November 9. The statement reads: “Mr. Trump has rightly described the election as historic. But it is not only historic for the U.S, but also for the world. It is an important reminder to the entire world of the true meaning and essence of democracy as government of the people. “I urge him to work…
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated US President-elect, Donald Trump on his election victory. Jonathan also saluted Hillary Clinton for conceding defeat, adding that it takes a great self-sacrifice to do so. “I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump. I also salute Mrs Clinton for conceding. Having done this, I know it takes great self-sacrifice,” he wrote via Twitter on Wednesdays, November 9. Jonathan had conceded defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari after losing the 2015 Presidential elections. Trump shocked the world on Wednesday when he emerged winner after defeating Clinton who conceded defeat via a phone call soon after the results became…
The Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has congratulated Governor Seriake Dickson on his victory at the Supreme Court. Ikpeazu also described Seriake’s victory as an affirmation of the fact that Baylesans in their majority, gave the Governor their mandate. The Abia state Governor said the judgement is also a victory for the judiciary, whom he said have continued to give rulings without fear, According to Vanguard, Ikpeazu also urged Dickson “to continue to deliver on his laudable programmes that have endeared him to the people.” The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also congratulated the Bayelsa state Governor following the ruling of…
Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan has said that women were robbed in the US elections due to the defeat of Hillary Clinton by Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton would have been America’s first female President if she had won the polls. “I am very sad about the outcome of the elections; we women have been robbed again,” Alhassan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, November 9 in Jos. Alhassan had, in 2015, come close to becoming the first female governor of Taraba State but was defeated in the courts by opponent Darius Ishaku.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, on Thursday accused Gov. Nyesom Wike of interfering with police investigation of those arrested allegedly printing fake INEC result sheets. This is contained in a statement issued by the party’s Chairman in the state, Chief Davies Ikanya, in Port Harcourt. The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] recalls that the police had on Saturday arrested some individuals allegedly involved in printing the fake result sheets, few days after the national electoral commission fixed Dec. 10 for legislative re-run elections in the state. Gov. Wike was reported to have accused the police of plotting to…
Madam Grace Egbon an elderly lady in Benin City, the Edo capital, has donated a goat to President Muhammadu Buhari to show her admiration for “his selfless lifestyle and passion to liberate the masses.” The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo received the `unique gift’ on behalf of the president. Egbon, a supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), registered in Ward 7, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo. She said she had longed to meet the President to show her admiration for his quality of leadership. NAN reports that a window of opportunity…
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has said he won’t destroy his United States’ residency permit until President elect, Donald Trump is inaugurated in 2017. In a report by Vangaurd Newspaper, Soyinka reportedly made this known on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. The writer reportedly said he will not destroy his residency permit until he sees what becomes of Trump’s administration after inaugurated into office. “Why don’t we wait until Trump actually takes office? I am just going about my normal commitments, but definitely not getting into any more commitments. Let’s put it that way for now,” he said. Days before the…
Fani Kayode appeared before the court on Thursday, November 10, 2016, on money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He will be required to provide a surety in like sum as part of the bail requirements. Fani-Kayode was taken into custody by EFCC agents on Friday, October 21, outside the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, Punch reports. He had visited the court for a continuation of his trial on fraud charges brought against him by the EFCC. Fani-Kayode had said, on Thursday, October 20, that the EFCC was planning to re-arrest him…
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said that she doesn’t own a Facebook account. She also warned members of the public to avoid making contact with the administrators of these accounts. Dabiri-Erewa made the comments via a statement released by her media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun. The statement reads: It has come to the attention of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa that some fake `Facebook’ accounts have been opened in her name. It was also brought to our notice that these hackers…