Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has opened the door to out-of-favour midfielder James Rodriguez leaving the club by admitting the player’s lack of appearances could become a problem. The Colombia international joined Real in 2014 for a reported 80 million euros ($90 million) after earning the Golden Boot at the World Cup with six goals in five games. After a successful first season in Spain, he has failed to hold down a regular place since Zidane took charge in January. Rodriguez was excluded from the starting line-up in the European Super Cup win over Sevilla and last week’s 3-0 La…
Author: David Folami
Manchester United will come up against their former striker Robin van Persie after being drawn in a tough Europa League group on Friday alongside Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk. Three-time European champions United must negotiate a competitive group if they are to win one of the few titles that has eluded them. The Premier League side will face 19-times Turkish champions Fenerbahce, who missed out on the Champions League group stage after a 4-3 aggregate defeat by AS Monaco in the third qualifying round. They are managed by former Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat and include ex-United forward Van Persie who…
Former France star Thierry Henry has been named as the new assistant coach of Belgium, the national coach announced Roberto Martinez announced on Friday. “Thierry is an important figure. He will bring something different. He agreed right away to join us,” said ex-Everton Martinez, who was appointed at the start of the month to succeed the sacked Marc Wilmots. “Honoured to be assistant coach @BelRedDevils. Thanks to Roberto Martinez & the Royal Belgian Football Association. Very excited.Can’t wait,” Henry tweeted. Henry, 39, finished his glittering playing career in 2014 with New York Red Bulls after previously starring for Monaco, Juventus,…
Uefa announced significant changes to the Champions League on Friday with the top four European leagues each guaranteed four places in the group stage from the 2018/19 season. Under the present system, the top three leagues — currently Spain, Germany and England — have three places each while their fourth-placed teams must play off over two legs for a place in the group stage. The fourth ranked league, currently Italy, have only two guaranteed places plus one in the playoff round. Uefa uses a complicated coefficient to determine the rankings of the national leagues. The changes came after Europe’s top…
The Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi II, has cautioned the President Muhammadu Buhari administration that if it does not retrace its steps, it would fail like the immediate past government. He said the present government should stop blaming the Goodluck Jonathan administration for the current economic challenges in the country, adding that Buhari has also made some mistakes. Sanusi stated this on Wednesday, August 24, at a Special Session at the 15th Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning. He warned those “clamouring to break up the country because of oil” to stop the agitation, stressing that oil…
A civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, has said the reported request by President Buhari for emergency powers to handle the economy, is unnecessary. On Monday, August 22, 2016, according to Reuters, a government source revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to ask the parliament for extra powers allowing him to take “emergency” decisions to revive the economy. The group also said there are enough laws in the constitution for Buhari to revamp the economy. A statement by its Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, reads: “Buhari’s administration has since September 2015 castrated the 1999…
Senator Shehu Sani has condemned the kidnapping of a kaduna lawmaker, Ibrahim Samaila. Sani also called on Nigerians to rise and speak up against the crime, saying kidnappers threaten the livelihood of the people. According to Sani, kidnapping “is evidently the next threat to national security after a dying insurgency. “As a people we can only save ourselves by standing up and speaking out collectively against kidnapping and kidnappers in our society. “Kidnappers are embolden and encouraged by our silence, our resignation and our submissive resort to payment of ransom to secure our freedom.” The Senator also said “There exist…
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers said his administration has ensured that the people of the state enjoyed good governance and development. This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Electronic Media to the governor, Simeon Nwakaudu, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Wike said this while addressing the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 9 at the Institute of Security Service (ISS), Abuja, on Wednesday. He also said that his administration had revived the state judiciary and made it more functional and independent. The governor stated that the State House of…
Prominent lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana has accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of hampering the Federal Government’s fight against corruption by invoking human rights in its defence of high profile suspects accused of stealing public funds. Falana made the comment while delivering a paper titled, ‘Law, media and economic development of Nigeria’, at the ongoing NBA Annual Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. “The theme of the 2015 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was ‘Law and Economic Development’. At the end of a robust discourse, far-reaching resolutions were adopted by the participants,” Falana said…
The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a failure due to the government’s inability to rescue the abducted Chibok girls. The comment was made by a BBOG leader, Aisha Yesufu on Thursday, August 25, 2016, after the group was prevented from entering the Presidential Villa. “Mr President you are a failure, I dare President Muhammadu Buhari, you should stand up and behave like a man,” she said according to The Cable. “We are tired of hearing no credible intelligence, I can say that the president is not doing anything,” she added. President Buhari had…
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River on Thursday announced his administration’s plans to legalise street hawking. Ayade told a news conference in Calabar that he had sent a ‘Hawkers’ Rights Protection Bill’ to the state assembly. The governor said that the development was part of his government’s commitment to make life more meaningful for the residents. “The Hawkers’ Rights Protection Bill is to provide a legal framework for hawking to thrive in the state. “It is my belief that people have the right to live and earn a living. If a man refuses to be a beggar and decides to…
The leader of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, Oby Ezekwesili has mocked the Nigerian military over its recent announcement that it had fatally injured Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau. The military announced on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, that Shekau had been hit during an airstrike. “Another key issue in the last 72 hours is the military’s announcement that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, was fatally wounded during air raids,” Ezekwesili said on Thursday, August 25, during a protest march in Abuja. “We want it on record that this is at least the fourth time the Nigerian state has…
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has addressed his reported health challenges, acknowledging that he indeed went through an unusual experience beyond the physical but “ancestors turned me back saying it was not yet time.” He stated this on Thursday, August 25, shortly after arriving Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, from a foreign trip. “I am not in a hurry to die; I will live to complete my assignment for Imo people. “I went to the land of the dead and our ancestors turned me back saying it was not yet time,” he told a large crowd that gathered at the airport…
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed condolence to Italy and the victims of the deadly earthquake that claimed more than 200 lives in the central parts of the country. He said his government and Nigerians sympathise with the Italian government and the affected families. The President state this a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, August 25, by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. The statement said: “My heart and prayers go out to the people of Italy at this time of national mourning, caused by the devastating earthquake. “President Buhari told the Italian Prime Minister,…
During an exclusive interview, the “Iya Alake” actress spoke on how the Actors Guild of Nigeria has helped her careeer. “It has helped my career in so many ways, because I am proud to say I am a member of it,” she said. “I have done so many productions through them. I have been to so many places through them with the help of my friend Ibinabo Fiberesima. So, I will say AGN has done a lot in my life,” Balogun added. Speaking on how the body has helped upcoming actors, the actress said, “what I tell the upcoming actors…
50 Cent was angry when his penis found its way to the fourth episode of “Power,” in a masturbation scene. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The executive producer and actor on the show spoke on reactions he got from his family members after the nude scene. “My aunt sees the show, and she’s like, ‘I’m traumatized!’,” he said. “She texted me like, ‘What the f**k? Why didn’t you tell me?'” He went further to explain that he had not known about the scene as Kemp Courtney, the showrunner of “Power,” kept the final cut away from him. “Courtney,…
Jide Alabi is back to Nollywood after a six-year-break, which he took to focus on journalism. Alabi quit acting in 2010 to become the Manager, Radio programmes Rhythm 93.7 FM, and sports presenter on both Rhythm 93.7 FM and Silverbird Television. The actor has made his return to acting with the movie “Sade Pepper,” which stars him alongside Funsho Adeolu,Lanre Hassan, Monsuru Obadina, Olu Olowogemo, Tunde Sobayo, Bimbo Oshin, Jide Alabi among others. Before he took a break from Nollywood, Alabi was popular for movies and TV series including “Palace,” “Papa Ajasco,” “Super Story,” “Asiri Eko,” “Ida Oluwa,” “Schemes” among…
Popular actress, Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz real name Abdulrasheed Bello are reportedly married. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the award-winning actress got married to singer/producer JJC in a secret wedding ceremony yesterday, August 23, 2016, in London. Images shared on Snapchat on August 23 appear to confirm they got married yesterday. JJC’s daughter Tamira Bello shared some photos which appeared to be from the wedding. Now, media personality Freeze took to his Instagram page to wish her a happy birthday and also congratulate her on her wedding in a subtle way. He wrote,”Happy birthday my gorgeous sister @funkejenifaakindele. God gave…
In June 2016, rumours began to surface that Nigerian pop star Wizkid, 26 and American singer Justine Skye, 20 had started dating. The singer took to Instagram yesterday, August 24, 2016, sending a shout out to Justine Skye. “Happy birthday!!!” he wrote alongside a sexy photo of the singer. According to music industry sources, the pair are in a romantic relationship. The news of Wizkid supposedly dating the American singer quickly became a hot topic on Twitter. The Star Boy act has now reacted to the stories of him being in a relationship with Justine Skye. He shared a photo…
Comedian Bovi and Basketmouth today, August 24, 2016, shared a post on his Instagram page and it seems like he’s shading controversial OAP, Freeze. The comedian shared a photo insinuating Freeze is a coward. According to the photo shared by him and reposted by Basketmouth, some people on social media behave like lions while in real life they are just cats. “This just made me Freeze! Thank God for fire.” he wrote alongside it with many tagging it a call out to the media personality. Basketmouth also shared that same photo writing, “They bark but can’t bite.” The Instagram war…