Juventus’ general manager Beppe Marotta says the Serie A club are “obliged” to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League after the 2015 finalists were drawn in a group with Sevilla, Olympique Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb. The Bianconeri got the better of the Spaniards a year ago, finishing second in their group behind Manchester City and condemning Sevilla to a place in the Europa League, which they went on to win for a third straight season. Without the presence of City this time around, Juve and Sevilla will be favourites to progress and Marotta said that he expects nothing…
Author: David Folami
Real Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was named UEFA Best Player in Europe following the Champions League draw ceremony on Thursday. European football’s governing body whittled a shortlist of 10 down to Real Madrid duo Gareth Bale and Ronaldo and Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann. Ronaldo, who won after the 2013-14 season, joined Barcelona star Lionel Messi as the second player to win the award twice. Ronaldo captained Portugal to glory at Euro 2016, when he was taken off injured during the final, and scored the winning shootout penalty for Real Madrid as they won the Champions League for…
Everton manager Ronald Koeman has dismissed reports suggesting that Manchester City’s Joe Hart was nearing a move to Goodison Park, saying his club had never registered an interest in the England goalkeeper. Hart made his first start of the season for City in Wednesday’s dead rubber Champions League win over Steaua Bucharest with City manager Pep Guardiola preferring Willy Caballero. The arrival of Chilean keeper Claudio Bravo from Barcelona on Thursday will push Hart further down the pecking order and is will probably signal the end of the 29-year-old’s 10-year stay at City. “No. Everybody is trying to improve. But…
Barcelona have signed goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen from Ajax Amsterdam on a five-year contract in a deal worth €13 million (approximately R206 million), the La Liga champions said on Thursday. The 27-year-old, who made 31 league appearances last season to help Ajax finish second in the Dutch Eredivisie standings, will fight with keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for a starting place at Barcelona. “FC Barcelona has decided to purchase 27-year-old Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen from Ajax Amsterdam on a five-year contract,” the Spanish club said in a statement on their website. “The transfer fee is a guaranteed €13 million plus a further…
Chelsea winger Victor Moses believes he has the talent and ability to succeed at the club. The 25-year-old former Crystal Palace man netted on Tuesday (his first goal for the club in three years) as Chelsea beat Bristol Rovers 3-2 in the League Cup. He explained afterwards that he never doubted his ability to succeed in the big time. “It was a great game from the lads, I thought we all worked hard. “We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, we had to show a good attitude to go into the next round and we’re pleased with…
Manchester City have completed their swoop for Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to push Joe Hart closer to an unwanted exit from the Premier League club. City manager Pep Guardiola’s move for Bravo is likely to mean England goalkeeper Hart will be sold before next week’s transfer deadline after he lost his place to back-up Willy Caballero at the start of the season. Guardiola, who arrived from Bayern Munich in the close season, wanted to sign Bravo because he felt Hart’s passing wasn’t good enough to fulfill his desire for a ‘sweeper-keeper’ who can effectively retain possession. Chile international Bravo has…
The United States secretary of state, John Kerry, has reaffirmed the US support for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, acknowledging that it inherited depleted State. “You inherited a big problem, and we will support you in any way we can. We will work with you very closely. We don’t want to interfere, but will offer opportunities as you require,” Kerry was quoted as saying. Kerry stated this on Tuesday, August 23, during his meeting with Buhari at the State House in Abuja. In a statement issued by the Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President assured Kerry that the anti-corruption crusade…
President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to put an end to the activities of the dreaded terror group, Boko Haram. While condemning their activities, the President expressed his administration’s resolve to wipe out Boko Haram. Speaking on Buhari’s behalf, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo said “The government is determined to ensure that the safety of every single Nigerian is a priority; this is why I have repeatedly ordered our law enforcement agents to ensure that perpetrators of violent acts are arrested and made to face the law. “We will not allow anyone, under any guise, whether it is politics, culture or…
Former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon on Tuesday in Abuja lauded the efforts and determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to rid the country of corruption. Gowon made the commendation while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. He identified corruption as one of the main challenges facing the country. According to him, president Buhari deserves the support of all Nigerians to enable him transform the country to an enviable position. “These are some of the issues we talked about, one appreciates his efforts and determination to rid the…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday pledged that the anti-corruption crusade in the country would be deepened and institutionalised to last beyond the life of the current administration. Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity, said in a statement that Buhari made the pledge when he received U. S. Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, at the State House, Abuja. The president stated that his administration was laying down administrative and financial instructions in the public service that must be obeyed. We will insist on the standards we’re establishing. “We are laying down administrative and financial instructions…
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has warned state governors against reduction in remunerations and hours of work of workers. In a statement issued by Mr Samuel Olowokere, Deputy Director Press in the ministry, Ngige said the warning was necessary to restore industrial harmony and forestall breakdown of law and order. He said the warning followed protracted industrial crisis involving the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nasarawa State Government. The minister said the step was pursuant to the powers invested on him by section 5(1) and (2) of the Trade Dispute Act, Laws…
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Tuesday shunned the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which protested the reported recent killing of workers in Nasarawa. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workers, comprising of affiliate unions of the congress, marched to the Government House, Umuahia from the state assembly to present their petition to the governor. The placard carrying protesters, led by the Chairman of the congress in the state, Mr Obi Igwe, however, marched back to their secretariat on Aba Road disappointed when the governor failed to personally receive them. The group staged the…
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that terrorism in Nigeria was prolonged by greedy officials who stole funds meant to aid the war against Boko Haram. Buhari also said that the selfishness of the officials in question led to massive loss of life in the country. The president, who was represented by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, made the comments at the launch of the Reviewed National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, ThisDay reports. “In the past few years, our nation has faced the threat of terrorism characterized by…
Senate Leader, Ali Ndume has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari has good intentions for the country. Ndume also said that there’s no prepared solution for the current hardship being faced in the country. The senate leader made the comments while speaking to journalists on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, in Abuja. “I am one of the strong supporters of the president because I know that the person of President Muhammadu Buhari has very good intentions for this country,” Ndume said. “He didn’t come to power in other to make anything for himself but to fix Nigeria and move Nigeria forward,”…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has said that the people of the state will remember him for good because he has done well. Fayose made the comments on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, during a festival in the state. “Whatever you sow you shall reap. If you do good for the people, you will get goodness. I have done well for Ekiti people,” the governor said according to Vanguard. “Look at the Amphi-theatre I built in Ewi’s palace, the dual carriageway from Basiri to Ajilosun, the ongoing flyover, the Awedele dualisation and many others. All these are the projects that are…
The Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, says we created the recession we are in now. The Emir was speaking at the 15th Joint Planning Board & National Council on Development Planning, and excerpts of his speech were tweeted online by the handle of the Ministry of Budget @KDMobp. Below are 15 important quotes from his speech. 01. Nigeria must drop the habit of borrowing to pay salaries and service recurrent expenditures. 02. There is nothing happening today that we didn’t forecast years ago because all actions have consequences. 03. We created billionaires from Oil subsidies in the past.…
Music icon 2Baba has dropped the video for his highly rated pan-African single ‘Oya come make we go’ which features Kenyan superstar pop group, Sauti Sol. The highly entertaining video was shot in Kenya on several locations including the exotic Lake Magadi in the Great Rift Valley, Nairobi Kenya by ace Director, Unlimited L.A. The video duly brings to life, the inspirational and positive lyrics of the song that encourages intercultural learning, self-belief, hard work and other positive vibes. The J Sleek-produced single is definitely one for all ages, and its video will surely resonate with audiences across the world…
American rapper, Jay Z, has left no doubt about how crazy in love he is with his wife, Beyonce, after aggressively pushing off a fan who had attempted to take a picture with her. The incident happened on Monday, August 22, 2016, as the pair were departing from the SVA Theatre in New York. Jay Z was captured in a video as he tried to fend off the intrusive fan who swooped in as Beyonce was trying to enter a limo that would convey her and the rapper away from the venue. There has been nothing but strong affection between…
‘Rack City’ rapper, Tyga, has found himself in another financial mess, after another landlord case erupted from the blues. According to TMZ, the lawyer won a judgment against him for his shabby handling of an apartment he rented for his Egypt Last Kings Clothing company. It was alleged that the rapper poured ink down the drainage system, as well as other conduct that breached rent agreement between him and the landlord. He is now expected to pay a sum of $186,275.89 to F&S Investment Properties, the leasing agency that offered him the apartment. This is coming a few weeks after…
Top Nigerian actress Funke Akindele of ‘Jenifa’ fame has hit the big 39! Yes, the screen goddess is 39 today, August 24, 2016, and she is in London celebrating her birthday. Funke Akindele has started the day off with a celebration with her boyfriend, record producer and artiste JJC Skillz (Abdul Rasheed Bello) and his kids in London. While Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz haven’t confirmed they are dating, it is industry knowledge that the two of them have been dating for months. In April 2016, Funke Akindele met JJC’s kids in London and in the same month JJC’s mother…