Former Italy attacker Fabrizio Ravanelli feels Mario Balotelli is nowhere near winning the Ballon d’Or despite his encouraging start to life at Nice. Balotelli stated earlier this season he remains hopeful of winning the prestigious award at some stage in his career, despite struggling badly for consistency in recent years. The striker has impressed at Nice since his transfer from Liverpool ahead of the 2016-17 campaign, but Ravanelli is adamant his compatriot still has a lot of work to do before he can realistically start targeting the game’s prized individual accolade. “Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic are…
Author: David Folami
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has highlighted the importance of experience and feels the core of a successful team has to be between the age of 23 and 30. Wenger has regularly been criticised for his tendency to rely on promising youngsters rather than seasoned stars, but he has now acknowledged a young team is unlikely to win any major trophies. “To be a real football player, you need to be 23 years old because before you have learned your job, you can have a great game and after, sometimes an average game,” Wenger told the club’s official website. “You can…
Former Manchester United winger Nani says a clash with fierce rivals Liverpool can propel Jose Mourinho’s side to greater success in the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s high-octane side are one of the league’s form teams on the back of four consecutive top-flight wins and will welcome United to Anfield on Monday looking to open up a six-point advantage over their rivals. Nani – now at Valencia – enjoyed six wins over Liverpool in 11 contests as a United player, scoring once spectacularly in a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in March 2008. The Euro 2016 winner revealed the famous fixture’s…
Just after helping Brazil to a 2-0 win at Venezuela in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier, Chelsea midfielder Willian has been hit with the death of his mother. Willian’s mum died at the Syrian-Lebanese hospital after battling a brain tumour for over two and half years. The 57-year-old had undergone five operations and received chemotherapy before losing the battle to cancer. Willian took to his Instagram to share a photo of him and his mum, writing a poem as a tribute to her. The 28-year-old midfielder will miss Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Leicester City on Saturday, October 15…
Paul Pogba has admitted he wants to play further forward for Manchester United, as a deeper role is “costing” him. The Frenchman returned to Old Trafford for a world-record fee in August, but has so far shown only glimpses of his undoubted talent. While United boss Jose Mourinho has had Pogba playing in a number of different positions, the 23-year-old is hoping to get a chance in an attacking midfield role having impressed on international duty with France. “I try to adapt,” he was quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News. “I am a player who would rather go…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday, October 11, said that governors are Nigeria’s “greatest obstacles” to the development of Local Government in the country. He stated this during an interactive session after delivering his keynote address at the maiden International Conference on Politics, Security and Development held at the Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State. Obasanjo accused the governors of stealing council funds thereby endangering the development and growth of the councils. He said once the Local Government Allocations are released from the federal account, the state governments deduct a substantial sum from it, and spend the remaining on shoddy programmes…
Youths belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos have condemned Chairman, John Oyegun for lying. The youths, under the umbrella of the Progressive Youth Leagues (PYL), further said that Oyegun has betrayed their confidence in him. The comments were made via a statement released by their spokesman, Adeleke Abdulhakeem. The statement reads: Last Friday (October 7), the National Chairman of APC, Pa. Oyegun, responded to the allegations levelled against him by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But, sadly after about a fortnight, Pa. Oyegun could not come up with clear, detailed and cogent statements or even accept the fact…
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has accused his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam of certificate forgery. Ortom’s statement is in reaction to Suswam’s allegations that he (Ortom) is running a corrupt and deceitful government. According to the Governor, Suswam forged his certificates which informed his inability to appreciate the workings of the legislative arm of government. Ortom said: “It becomes impossible to conduct local government elections because of paucity of funds. That is what led us to the appointment of sole administrators. “Moreover, the provisions of the constitution allow the House of Assembly to make laws and amend same where necessary;…
Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday said the Federal Government would employ 200,000 unemployed graduates by the end of the month. Osinbajo, who spoke to journalists at the Presidential Villa, said a number of social investment programmes of the Buhari presidency has reached advanced stages. The direct government jobs are meant to keep young people occupied, pay them some amount of money and also give them a device. He said the device would also help them to learn several skills that they could develop with time. He said, “We expect that before the end of the month, we will…
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has referred to state governors in Nigeria as frauds and thieves who defraud the Local Governments. Obasanjo said this at a conference in Babcock University, Ilisan, Ogun State on Tuesday, October 11, 2016. Recalling how he initiated Local Governments reforms between 1976 and 1979 to make them autonomous, functional and developmental, Obasanjo lamented that the current happenings is saddening. He said once the FG pays the Local Government, such money were illegally deducted by governors with no LGA chairman daring to question or challenge such illegality in the state. “I called such fraud, stealing and corruption. It…
The nomination of two judges for the Supreme Court by President Muhammadu Buhari has been backed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki. In a tweet by the Senate President on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, Saraki said that the nomination of two new justices is in order. “Nomination by @NGRPresident is in order. It’s to replace Justice Galadima from North Central & CJN from North East both turn 70 this year,” he tweeted. President Buhari had, during the Senate’s Tuesday session, forwarded the names of the two justices, Paul Jauro and Sidi Bage, to replace Justice Galadima the Chief Justice of Nigeria.…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has affirmed that no one will be spared in the ongoing anti-corruption war. Osinbajo said even those close to President Muhammadu Buhari and are culpable will face the full wrath of the law, stressing that Buhari will not cover anyone. The Vice President stated this on Tuesday, October 11 while speaking to a group of radio journalists and producers at the Presidential Villa. “No one will be spared in the fight against corruption because even the close friends of the president know that they will not be spared. He (President Buhari) will not cover for them.…
The Oba of Lagos has said Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is behind the state not having a special status. Oba Rilwan Akiolu made the comment after the Senate rejected a bill to officially recognize Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial capital on Wednesday, October 5. “Obasanjo is the reason Lagos has not got a special status. I personally led eminent Lagosians to meet him during his tenure to ask for a special status for Lagos,” Oba Akiolu said on Tuesday, October 11, during a Town Hall meeting in Surulere. “Obasanjo told me and others that he had already drafted the special status plan…
President Muhammadu Buhari is set to travel to Germany on Thursday, October 13, for an official visit. This was disclosed via a statement released by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina. The statement reads in part: “In furtherance of the administration’s objective to attract more foreign investment and create economic opportunities in the country, President Buhari will participate in a Business Forum in Berlin with leading German companies already active in Nigeria and other prospective investors.” “Before returning to Abuja, the president is expected to meet with representatives of the Nigerian community in Germany.” Buhari will be…
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has denied reports that he’s suffering from a secret illness. Earlier reports had it that Okowa collapsed in his office last week and has been unable to attend public functions since the incident. Okowa made the denial on Wednesday, October 12, while speaking at the Government House chapel. “It is unfair and uncharitable to disseminate false information. It is very unfortunate at this age and time that people will intentionally misinform others when there are opportunities to find out what might have happened,” he said. “I’m told that certain section of the social media reported…
The bold 19-year-old has finally posed half nude, but she managed to protect her dignity with her hands held over her boobs. Well done, Kim Kardashian, you’ve been a good teacher so far. Will the student outdo the teacher? We wait.
Superstar rapper, M.I Abaga had an incredible moment while performing at Star Music The Trek in Abuja, after he spotted a core fan called Archie. M.I asked that Archie be brought on stage as they both performed and played a game of throwback songs to the admiration of the concertgoers. The Chocolate City rapper was impressed that Archie could sing all his songs with so much dexterity that he gifted him a gold bracelet.
A Trip to Jamaica by Nigerian comedian, AY has generated over N80m in just over two weeks after premiering. A source told True Nollywood Stories: ‘I can confirm that the box office figure is accurate, the number is now actually N80m.’ The new Nollywood film is set to surpass the recent box office record set by Ayo Makun’s first movie, 30 Days in Atlanta as the highest-grossing film in Nigeria. 30 Days in Atlanta generated about N160m during its time in the country’s cinemas. A trip to Jamaica premiered at the Filmhouse IMAX Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos on September 25.…
Urban music and lifestyle channel, Nigezie is 10 and to celebrate the anniversary, the channel has announced a huge concert tagged ‘Freedom Fest 2016’ to mark the occasion. The festival will feature performances by 9ice, Reminisce, Sound Sultan, Praiz, Kiss Daniel, Sean Tizzle, Orezi, Pasuma Wonder, Obesere, Idris Abdulkareem, Niniola, Modenine, Ruggedman, Jaywon, Olu Maintain, Terry Apala, Ras Kimono and many more. DJ Jimmy Jatt, DJ Neptune and DJ Humility will be on the wheels of steel while comic performances will be provided by AY, Gbenga Adeyinka and Ali Baba. The Freedom Fest will hold on Saturday October 29, 2016…
It was all thrills and excitement on Saturday, October 8, 2016, as Darey challenged dancer, Kaffy to a dance-off during his performance at Star Music Trek in Abuja. The duo made the night a memorable one as Kaffy swiftly beat Darey in the challenge, retaining her crown as the ‘Queen of Dance’ in Nigeria.