Spanish newspaper Marca was challenged by other outlets on Monday after reporting that Lionel Messi told Barcelona in the summer that he wouldn’t consider a new deal with the club until his current one expires in 2018. Barcelona leaders have previously said that their priority is to tie the Argentina captain to a long-term deal and are hopeful of doing so before the end of this year. However, Marca, citing unnamed sources, reported that the 29-year-old Messi does not wish to consider his future until the end of his current deal. Marca says that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner communicated…
Author: David Folami
Gareth Southgate’s tenure in charge of England has not begun in earnest but it is already possible to imagine John Stones becoming a symbol of another disappointing era for the Three Lions. If interim coach Southgate persists in trying to play the ball out from the back in the same manner as his team attempted to do in Friday’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win against Scotland, they will struggle to progress and the Manchester City defender could become the scapegoat. Fashions come and go in football. An effective new style or formation gets copied across the game, generally losing its…
Alexis Sanchez is available for Chile’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay after returning from injury, La Roja coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has confirmed. The Arsenal striker missed last Thursday’s goalless draw in Colombia after suffering what the Chile Football Association described as a ”low-grade muscle injury” during training. Sanchez’s recovery was being monitored ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Uruguay to Santiago but, after returning to full training with his team-mates, the 27-year-old is now in line for a recall. Pizzi also said Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal are available after knocks. “Sanchez was not…
There has often been talk of an eye-wateringly expensive move for Harry Kane — Real Madrid and Manchester United are among those mentioned in reports — but could that possibility be drawing closer? It could, according to the Sun, which reports that the England striker and Tottenham Hotspur “have agreed to put all talks over a new contract on hold.” The report claims Spurs and Kane are “at loggerheads” because the club are “refusing to offer a deal in line with his England strike partners or even make him one of the highest earners at White Hart Lane.” There is…
News flash: Barring some kind of footballing cataclysm, Argentina will be at the 2018 World Cup. It’s true that if qualification ended right now, then La Albiceleste would be watching the tournament on TV for the first time since 1970. But it doesn’t. They may be sixth at present, but they are two points away from third place, and there are seven rounds to go. That said, there aren’t too many “gimmes” left in their schedule, whether at home — Colombia visit Tuesday, with Chile up after that — or on the road — among other not-so-fun trips, they still…
Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina has said there is no way to contain Argentina’s Lionel Messi, but that his team must to try to do so. Argentina host Colombia in a World Cup qualifier at the Estadio del Bicentenario San Juan on Tuesday needing three points to keep their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia alive. The last time Colombia won in Argentina was in 1993, when they triumphed 5-0. Since then, they have played a total of 11 games with just one victory compared to seven for Argentina. “There is no way to stop Messi,” Arsenal goalkeeper…
Gary Neville says he would leave out both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney from Manchester United’s starting XI. In a talk at the Oxford Union, the former United defender said he would play Marcus Rashford up front, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial both starting in wide positions. Neville went for David De Gea in goal, a back four of Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind, and a midfield trio of Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick. Discussing his own future, the former Valencia coach said: “I don’t think I will go back into management. But…
Bastian Schweinsteiger has said he is fit and ready to return to action for Manchester United — and he hopes that will happen soon. Schweinsteiger recently returned to training with the United first team after being told by Jose Mourinho in the summer to train with the reserves. Although the former Bayern Munich midfielder does not appear to have a future at Old Trafford, he has not given up hope of forcing his way into Mourinho’s plans. Sources have told ESPN FC that he is in talks with MLS club Chicago Fire. “I’m trying to keep myself fit for the…
Ander Herrera insists Wayne Rooney remains a crucial influence in the Manchester United dressing room despite doubts about the captain’s future. Rooney, 31, is just two goals behind Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s all-time record goal scorer, but has lost his starting place under Jose Mourinho after a dip in form over the last 12 months. In an interview with The Guardian and The Daily Mail, Herrera explained why Rooney is still a vital player at Old Trafford. “Wayne’s been playing at the highest level from 16,” Herrera said. “I didn’t reach the first division until I was 20;…
Youths from 19 Northern states have called on the leadership of the All progressives Congress (APC) to reverse the suspension of the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank. Frank was suspended following the recommendations of the APC disciplinary committee. The Northern youths, under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Youths (CNY), also issued a seven day ultimatum to the APC to call the embattled spokesman back. The group said Frank’s suspension shows that the leadership of the party does not want youths to participate in the government. At their stakeholder meeting in Kaduna, the CNY called on Buhari to…
The Federal Government is to rehabilitate Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport runway, Abuja, with one billion Naira. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a reliable source from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), disclosed this to aviation correspondents in Lagos on Sunday. NAN gathered that the runway had been in bad state due to overuse and had been a source of concern to Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers. The source said the Minister of State, Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, had set up a committee to oversee the work. “Government is making urgent effort to start the rehabilitation of…
The Kebbi State Government has directed Sole Administrators of the 21 local governments in the state to guard against the activities of illegal miners in their areas. Alhaji Abubakar Augie, the state Commissioner of Finance, gave the directive in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Monday. Augie said that government was committed to checking the activities of illegal miners and directed the council administrators to mount surveillance in such areas. As chief security officers of their localities, the council administrators have the responsibility of securing both public and government assets in their areas,…
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has made his first appointment since being sworn in on Saturday, November 12. Obaseki has chosen the Director-General of his campaign organization, Osarodion Ogie, as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Ogie was sworn in by Obaseki on Monday, November 14, at the Government House, in Benin. The new SSG had previously served as Commissioner for Works under former governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
The Governor of Ondo state, Godwin Obaseki has asked youths in Edo state to be patient with his administration. Obaseki said “If you have been patient all these years, will you not give me 90 days? We want to change things radically. We have not less than half a million of young men and women between the ages of 19 and 35, at least half a million who are doing nothing. “I know if I have the figures, I will have to begin to do something about it. So please, just be patient with me. We will get there and…
TB Joshua has revealed why his prophecy on the US presidential election caused an uproar in Nigeria. The General Overseer, The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), on Sunday, November 13, 2016 also used the opportunity to chide his critics over the prophecy. He said: “We have seen the outcome of the election in America. Having read, you will notice that it is all about the popular vote, the vote of the majority of Americans. “In this case, we need the Spirit of a Prophet to recognize or to know a Prophet. Our levels are different. We are not on…
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana has called on President Buhari to release the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki. Falana also added that the government should obey the ruling of the ECOWAS court ordering the release of the former NSA. He also asked the President to instruct security agencies not to violate the rights of people as they carry out their duties. According to Punch, the lawyer told Buhari to put a stop to all human rights violations and also release all political detainees. Falan said “With respect to the substantive relief, the ECOWAS Court held that the…
The Chairman of the House Committee on Media, Abdulrazak Namdas, has described Abdulmumin Jibrin as a desperate man. Namdas said this, in response to reports that Jibrin had written a letter to President Buhari on the budget padding allegation which he levelled against House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara. The embattled lawmaker had accused Dogara and other principal officers of inflating the 2016 budget. Namdas also said “His desperation is unfortunate. All the issues he wrote in the letter to Mr. President are not new. “He already said he petitioned the EFCC, ICPC and other security agencies. Why is it that he…
The Governor of Adamawa state, Jibrilla Bindow, has denied endorsing former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for President. According to Leadership, the Governor described the reports as false, adding that his focus is on developing Adamawa state. Bindow also said the false reports will not distract him from his goal of delivering his campaign promises to the people. He said “The attention of Adamawa State governor, Senator Muhammad Umar Jubrilla Bindow have drawn to a story on Peoples Daily newspaper of Friday, 16 November 2016, titled, ‘2019 Presidency: It’s Either Atiku Or Nobody, Says Gov Bindow’. “Governor Bindow wish to categorically state…
Saraki explained that the programme was aimed at empowering the youth in the state. Saraki explained that the programme was aimed at empowering the youth in the state. The president of the senate stressed the need to arrest the increasing unemployment and youth restiveness across the country for meaningful development to take place. He said the Senate was considering the use of local fabric “Aso-Oke” as material for school pupils’ caps and cardigans to provide large number of jobs and generate enough revenue. Saraki said this was in line with his firm belief and advocacy for patronage of home made…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Christians to be guided daily by the instructions and teachings of Christ and the Holy Bible. Osinbajo, who is also a Pastor, made the call while at the 8th Annual Festival of Minna Choral Society on Sunday in Minna. The Vice President, who took his text from the book of Romans, Chapter 8 verse 37, re-echoed the portion of the Bible that says “we are more than conqueror through Christ that loves us.’’ He reminded the people of St. Paul’s teachings about the various problems that must be confronted by man, saying that people…