At last, a Manchester United performance full of swagger under Jose Mourinho. There were times at Swansea, especially in the first half, when their passing triangles were reminiscent of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. And their finishing, so hesitant in recent weeks, was at last explosive. Two summer signings heavily criticised during United’s recent malaise made hay against a desperately poor Swansea. Paul Pogba’s spectacular 15th-minute goal was rifled in from 25 yards, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted in the 21st and 33rd minutes. Swansea staged a fightback over the last 20 minutes after being buoyed by Mike van der Hoorn’s…
Author: David Folami
Gerard Pique says Lionel Messi should have won the Ballon d’Or every year since 2009 because his Barcelona teammate is “on another level.” Cristiano Ronaldo won the old Ballon d’Or award in 2008 during a year in which he had played alongside Pique at Manchester United, but Messi took the crown for the first time the following year. The Argentina captain then won the combined FIFA Ballon d’Or award in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 but Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid in 2009, was named the world’s top player in 2013 and 2014. Portugal captain Ronaldo is considered favourite to…
Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata says Cristiano Ronaldo is “not a robot” who can be expected to score five goals in every game but is still the world’s best player. Madrid announced on Sunday that Ronaldo had agreed a contract extension until 2021, but he was not able to celebrate the new deal with a goal in the 3-0 victory over newly promoted Leganes. Gareth Bale scored a brace and Morata rounded off the scoring as Ronaldo endured another frustrating 90 minutes, managing zero shots on target and being booked for shouting at referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. It now almost…
Philippe Coutinho has revealed exactly what manager Jurgen Klopp demands from his frontline as Liverpool went top of the Premier League following a wonderful attacking display in Sunday’s 6-1 victory over Watford. Coutinho was in fine form at Anfield on the weekend as he scored the Reds’ second goal of the day and provided the assist for Sadio Mane’s opener. Fellow frontman and compatriot Roberto Firmino was also on the scoresheet against the Walter Mazzarri’s team, and Coutinho explained how the movement from the forward trio has helped Liverpool reach the summit of the table. “The manager asks us to…
Arsenal’s opening goal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur has sparked a debate over the offside rule, with former officials Howard Webb and Graham Poll backing the call to allow it to stand and ex-referees’ chief Keith Hackett saying it should have been disallowed. Arsenal took the lead when Spurs’ Kevin Wimmer headed into his own net, but Alexis Sanchez was standing ahead of the final defender when Mesut Ozil took the free kick. The offside rule stipulates that it is an offence for a player to stand ahead of the second-last opponent when the ball is played if…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said players need to “go to the limits” for the club. Mourinho revealed that defenders Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling did not feel fit enough to face Swansea City. The withdrawals of left-back Shaw and centre-back Smalling compounded United’s defensive problems, with right-back Antonio Valencia and centre-back Eric Bailly having already been ruled out. That meant Mourinho had to field a makeshift defence including Ashley Young at right-back and Matteo Darmian at left-back. Phil Jones started in central defence after 10 months out with injury, playing alongside Marcos Rojo. United secured a 3-1 victory at…
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he has been “a bit unlucky” not to have scored more goals in recent games. Ibrahimovic ended his goal drought when he struck twice in the 3-1 win at Swansea City on Sunday, having not scored in his previous six Premier League appearances. Until the trip to South Wales, the 35-year-old had managed just one goal in 11 games in all competitions, against Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League. Ibrahimovic told MUTV: “Yes, it has gone a couple of games where I haven’t scored but I’m still trying, I’m still going, and the chances…
A pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa, Integrity Group, has asked Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa to pay attention to the welfare of workers in the state. The Leader of the group, Mr Christopher Abarowei in a statement entitled, ‘Singing in a Strange Land,’ lamented the plight of civil servants, saying they were suffering untold hardship. Abarowei noted that the inability of the government to pay full salaries in Bayelsa considered as a civil service state had increased the level of hunger and poverty in the state. “We are all on the same page irrespective of…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has hailed the suspension of the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, by the National Working Committee of the party. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Frank was suspended for allegedly putting the party’s image in public odium. Speaking with newsmen in Akure on Saturday, the APC Publicity Secretary in Ondo state, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said, “the action of the NWC is long overdue because Timi has really embarrassed the party in recent times. “He has shown that his character does not possess the quality required of him…
Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Friday approved the dissolution of the management of the 16 local government councils in the state. The dissolution was announced by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji lsiaka Gold, in a statement issued in Ilorin. Gold explained that the tenure of the affected councillors expires this November. The dissolved councils are Asa, Baruten, Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Irepodun, Isin, Kaiama, Moro, Offa, Oke-Ero, Oyun and Pategi. He said that the dissolution of the councils was in conformity with the Kwara State Legal Notices No.4-19. The scribe added…
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday said Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has changed the narrative of the state. Oyegun said this at the sent-off party organised by the South South zone of the APC in honour of Oshiomhole who exit as governor on November 12, 2016 following completion of his two terms of eight-year tenure. Oyegun said before Oshiomhole assumed office as governor, the state was considered as a civil service state and as such not viable. He stressed that through desire to effect positive change in the state, Oshiomhole embarked upon…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Sokoto inaugurated 500 Kalambaina Housing Units. Speaking at the event, Buhari stated that all tiers of government had the sacred responsibility of addressing the welfare of the governed in all possible ways. According to him, provision of shelter to the teeming populace is a priority for a purposeful leadership. He noted that the completion of the projects started by the previous APC-led administration of Aliyu Wamakko was a demonstration of humility and a fulfilment of the promises made by the APC administration. The President, therefore, saluted the efforts of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and all…
Former Presidential Spokesperson, Reuben Abati has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Saturday. EFCC Spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was released to a surety without further conditions. An online medium, PREMIUM TIMES, had earlier reported that Abati confirmed his own release on Saturday morning and was “putting up somewhere in Abuja’’. The ex-presidential aide turned himself to the EFCC on Oct. 21 after he was accused of receiving N50 million from detained former National…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday saluted the efforts of the Nigerian Army for rescuing another Chibok schoolgirl. In his twitter handle, Buhari commended the soldiers for their gallant efforts to secure the people and territory of Nigeria, describing them as the nation’s heroes. “ I have received the heart-warming news of the rescue of another of our Chibok girls by the Nigerian Army “I commend our troops, who continue to work gallantly to secure the people and territory of Nigeria. You are our heroes. “No man, woman, or child will be left at the mercy of Boko Haram. This has…
The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) has threatened to blow up more crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta. The militant group also claimed responsibility for the destruction of the Trans-Forcados Crude Export pipelines in Warri South-West Council Area of Delta State. The NGDJM described the meeting of the Niger Delta elders as a humiliation of the people of the oil rich region, and also said that they are ready to go to war. This is following an announcement by the Minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, that Nigeria’s crude oil production has increased. The militant group also…
Maryam Ali Maiyanga, the latest Chibok schoolgirl to regain freedom from the captivity of Boko Haram, says the father of her ten-month-old son, has been killed. According to Lucky Irabor, theatre commander of 7 Division of the Nigeria Army, Maiyanga said this while undergoing screening on Saturday morning. Irabor said: “At about 6am, while screening some escapees from Boko Haram terrorists’ hideout in Sambisa forest, we discovered one of the abducted Government Secondary School Chibok girls named Maryam Ali Maiyanga, among them,” he said. “She was discovered to be carrying a 10-month-old son, named Ali. “She revealed to us that…
The Provost, Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Dr Dikko Goshe is dead. The News Agency of Nigeria( NAN)reports that, the deceased died on Saturday night at the Uthmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, after a brief illness. He was aged 54 and is survived by two wives, 17 children and grand children. His funeral prayer was led by the Chief Imam of the College, Dr Abubakar Mai-Hankali. The funeral prayer was attended by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, former Deputy Governor in the state, Alhaji Chuso Abdullahi and the Secretary to the State Government,…
A Minna based legal practitioner, Taidi Jonathan on Sunday said the rescue of another Chibok school girl demonstrated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to national security. Jonathan said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the effort also reinforced the determination of the Federal Government to safeguard the lives and property of all Nigerians. He said that the Nigerian military have demonstrated professionalism and rare commitment to ending Boko Haram insurgency in the North East. The legal practitioner expressed confidence that the remaining school girls would also be rescued alive soon. He said…
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Sunday said he planned to turn the Lagos Presidential Lodge to Heritage Centre for Leadership. Mr Steve Ayorinde, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said in a statement that Gov. Ambode planned that the lodge would be designed and equipped for landmark research and as a tourist arena. The statement said it would be open to local and international visitors. It also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the hand-over of the Presidential Lodge at Marina to the Lagos State Government. The president’s gesture followed a request by Ambode for the presidential lodge…
Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity has said no serving minister or APC chieftain has been indicted with evidence. Adesina gave reasons for the alleged omission of chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and those in the president’s cabinet in corruption prosecutions by anti-graft agencies. Speaking as a guest on a radio programme, Sweet F.M’s Podium in Abeokuta, Adesina said no concrete evidence has been brought forward against any member of the president’s cabinet or APC chieftains. Arguing that the federal government’s anti-corruption fight was not selective, Adesina said,“The onus lies on he…