Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale said on Wednesday he has an extra incentive to reach a third Champions League final in four years because the title game will be played in his hometown of Cardiff. “This is the reason I came to Madrid – to play in the Champions League, to win the Champions League,” the 27-year-old Bale said in an interview with UEFA.com. “To have the Champions League final in my home town is an even bigger motivation,” he said. The Wales international helped Real beat Atletico Madrid on penalties to march to their 11th European title and his…
Author: David Folami
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang insists that should a time come when he leaves Borussia Dortmund he will not force through a transfer. Aubameyang, 27, was linked with a move away from the Bundesliga side this summer but opted to stay put for one more season at least. However, Aubameyang in the past has said that he wants to play for Real Madrid one day, and it remains likely that he will one day leave the Westfalenstadion. “Those who know me, know that I am an open and honest guy, and it will always stay like that,” he told Sport Bild. “Should there…
Atletico Madrid and France striker Antoine Griezmann has said he believes he should win the Best Player in Europe award ahead of Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. Griezmann, 25, had an outstanding season for Atletico, scoring 22 league goals and helping them reach the Champions League final, before going on to win the Golden Boot as France finished runners-up at Euro 2016. He has been nominated as a finalist for the award alongside Bale and Ronaldo and said he felt he would be a deserving winner. “I was very happy and very proud [to be nominated],” he told…
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has told Mundo Deportivo he has an “affection” for Manchester City after the arrival of Pep Guardiola as manager — but Manchester United will always be his favourite Premier League club. Pique spent four years at Old Trafford in the early stages of his career, making 23 first team appearances before returning to the Camp Nou in 2008. He said Guardiola’s summer arrival in England — along with City’s appointment of Txiki Begiristain as director of football in 2012 — had made him look at City in a different way. But he added: “Between Pep and…
Nigerian starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho is set for his first start under Pep Guardiola as Manchester City take on Steaua Bucharest in the Uefa Champions League on Wednesday night. City thrashed the Romanian club 5-0 in the first leg in Bucharest last week, and this means that Guardiola is likely to rest several stars for Wednesday’s game at the Etihad Stadium. Argentinean striker, Sergio Aguero who has netted six times in his first three games this season is set to be rested by Guardiola meaning Iheanacho is poised to lead the line for the Citizens on Wednesday night. Iheanacho says he…
Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says he will not play for another club in Europe, despite being unable to seal a place in the squad under new manager Jose Mourinho. Schweinsteiger, who is yet to make a first team appearance for United this season, has been made to train with the club’s reserves and would be sold after Mourinho signed French midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus, according to media reports. “MUFC will be my last club in Europe. I respect other clubs, but Manchester United was the only one which could make me leave Bayern Munich,” Schweinsteiger said on Twitter.…
Neymar should return to Spain with renewed enthusiasm after leading Brazil to their first soccer gold medal at an Olympic Games, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said. Neymar, who has scored 85 goals in 141 games in his three seasons at Barcelona, was given permission to stay in Brazil until after international games set for early next month. “I think it’s a good decision to grant him (Neymar) that,” Pique told El Mundo Deportivo. “He has earned it. “I’m sure he is very happy and will come with a lot of enthusiasm to Barcelona.” Neymar scored the winning penalty in a…
A former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration means well for Nigerians, urging support for its developmental programmes. Wogu said this on Monday in Umuahia while speaking with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia. “I am advising Nigerians to give Buhari administration the necessary support to realise its economic policies and ideas.” According to him, the planned economic stimulus will go a long way in improving the nation’s economy. Wogu said that the Federal Government’s effort on security was paying off, adding that the anti-corruption programme was also…
Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari over the arrest of Joachim Chinakwe who named his dog after the president. Fani-Kayode said further that former president, Goodluck Jonathan was also insulted but he kept his cool. The former minister made his comments via an article titled “Mr. Chinakwe’s dog, the sons of Lucifer and the seed of Al Shaitan”. The article reads in part: When the likes of Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, the former Minister of Education and a hitherto great supporter and friend of the Buhari administration can publicly proclaim that “President Buhari does not deserve to…
The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola said lawmakers in the National Assembly have not right to increase the budget. Fashola said since the lawmakers do not have the power to collect tax, they do not have any business tinkering with the budget. The minister also said the Executive and Legislature should collaborate regarding the budget process to avoid friction. The House of Representatives has been in the news lately, following allegations of budget padding levelled against its Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, by the former Chairman of the appropriation committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin. Speaking on the role of the legislature…
The Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike has accused the Nigerian Police of being partial and partisan. He said this following the sealing of the Sharks stadium, Port-Harcourt, venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention on August 17, 2016 by the police. Wike also wondered why the police decided to implement the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordering the suspension of the PDP convention. Adding that the High Court in River state had earlier mandated the police provide security for the convention. Wike said “The Honorable Justice Okon Abang sat until about 1700…
The Federal Government says it will deepen its partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to fund critical projects in health, water and the infrastructure sector. This is contained in a statement issued by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Monday. Buhari stated this when he received, Dr Ali Madani, the President of the IDB Group at the State House, Abuja. The president commended the bank for supporting several developmental projects across the country. He acknowledged that the bank had funded several people-oriented projects in Osun, Kaduna, Jigawa, Niger, Katsina, Kano…
Former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili has denied reports that she said President Muhammadu Buhari does not deserve to be Nigeria’s leader. Ezekwesili also urged presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu to apologize for attacking her after the false report was published. The former minister and Bring Back Our Girls campaigner made the call via a statement released on August 22, 2016. The statement reads: I woke up yesterday to read a fictitious report credited to me by Sunday Tribune that I claimed President Muhammadu Buhari does not deserve to be president. And on the basis of the fiction weaved together by…
Members of the Transparency Group (TG) in the House of Representatives have said that former Appropriation Committee Chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin is just as guilty as the lawmakers he’s accusing of padding the 2016 budget. Jibrin has accused Speaker, Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor of smuggling N284 billion into the 2016 budget. 10 principal officers of the House have also disowned Jibrin due to the allegations. According to the TG however, Jibrin is also guilty of participating in the alleged padding. “Mr President returned the first budget, which both Senator Danjuma…
Senate President, Bukola Saraki has urged the international community to support Nigeria in its bid to resolve an ongoing food crisis in the North-East. The United Nations (UN) had earlier compared the crisis to the situation in Darfur, South Sudan. Saraki made the call via an article published on the website of international publication, The Guardian on Tuesday, August 23, 2016. The article, titled “Nigeria cannot overcome its gathering humanitarian crisis alone”, reads: The situation facing internally displaced people in the north-east of Nigeria is fast becoming a full-scale humanitarian crisis and Nigerian authorities and the international community have been…
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka will reportedly lead a dialogue team to facilitate negotiations between the Federal government and militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). This was disclosed by the spokesperson of the Dialogue Group, Mr Ballantyne Agiri to New Telegraph. “I was on my own when they invited me to work for them. But I told them that one person cannot hold dialogue with the government, that we should look for eminent Nigerians who have the pedigree to do a good job,” he said. “The moment I mentioned Professor Wole Soyinka, they became interested because, according to them, he…
Nigeria’s battle against Boko Haram will only succeed if it tackles the reasons why people join Islamist militant groups and if the government and its military gain people’s trust, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday. “We also know that beating Boko Haram on the battlefield is only the beginning of what we must do,” Kerry said in a speech in the northern Nigerian city of Sokoto at the start of a visit to the West African nation. “Building public trust in government also requires cooperation from the military and law enforcement. Extremism can’t be defeated through repression…
Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw is back to dishing out her daily doses of advice. The actress cum politician took to Twitter today, August 22, 2016, saying a woman should be financially stable and capable to hold her own. According to her, “I cannot for the life of me understand why a woman will not be financially stable or capable to hold her own should the need arise.” “You are cut off from family n friends. Taken out to another country. You cannot work..you don’t even have a phone..is that not prison?” she asked. Meanwhile, Henshaw has a lot of things…
From rocking a baby to dancing with a mystery lady at a party this year, Don Jazzy is sending subtle marriage hints to fans. The Mavin boss took to Instagram today, August 22, 2016 asking, “Dear future wife, where would you like us to have our wedding?” . He also shared another post asking what kind of designer she wants for her wedding gown. “#DearFutureWife. Designer Marchesa wants to start making this type of Cotton wool feather gown for you. Abeg wetin be your size?” he asked. The music producer seems to be joking but recently, he has been sending…
Nigerian rapper, Oludemilade Martin Alejo, aka Ycee has opened up on school, his career and keeping a girlfriend. The Tinny Entertainment signee in an interview with Naij talks about balancing his studies and being a rapper. According to him, “It’s not easy at all. It all comes down to my management. I have a working team that handles the music front when I have to be in school and school comes first no matter what and it’s great. My management draws out a schedule for me so it’s less stressful than it should be and it’s been working out. I’m…