Liverpool’s 4-3 win at Arsenal might have been the highlight of the opening weekend of the Premier League in terms of drama, but there were plenty of deficiencies for the managers to ponder. Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger, bemoaning the ill effects of the European championship on his pre-season, will hope returning players give his squad a lift, even as he was given new injury headaches. Wenger had to field an inexperienced centre-back pairing of Calum Chambers and debutant Rob Holding, with Laurent Koscielny given an extended rest after reaching the Euro 2016 final with France little more than a month ago.…
Author: David Folami
Jose Mourinho believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s influence on his Manchester United teammates will be just as crucial as his inspirational contribution on the pitch. Ibrahimovic marked his Premier League debut for United in memorable fashion as the flamboyant Swedish striker hammered a 25-yard strike past Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc to cap his new team’s 3-1 win at Dean Court on Sunday. The 34-year-old has now scored on his maiden appearances in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League. While maintaining that impressive statistic served as a notable introduction to English football, Ibrahimovic has his sights…
Luis Suarez insisted the Spanish Super Cup is not Barcelona’s yet after helping his team shoot down Sevilla 2-0 to give them a comfortable lead after Sunday’s first leg of the final. The Uruguayan opened the scoring early in the second half, making amends for two earlier misses, before Munir El Haddadi sealed the win when he ran on to a Lionel Messi through-ball and fired home. Having been beaten 4-0 by Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of last year’s final, Barcelona were determined to improve on that showing, setting themselves up nicely for the return at Camp Nou…
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech’s day went from bad to worse as he conceded four goals in a 4-3 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday before crashing his car into a pillar. The former Czech Republic international, 34, was beaten four times at the Emirates Stadium as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool came from behind to condemn Arsenal to defeat in their opening Premier League game. Philippe Coutinho’s double inspired Liverpool to come from behind and beat Arsenal 4-3 in an action-packed clash of Premier League heavyweights at the Emirates Stadium. After seeing a penalty saved by Simon Mignolet, Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead,…
Embattled chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff, has vowed not to let the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Ekiti counterpart, Ayo Fayose hijack the party. Sheriff said this following reports that the Northern caucus of the PDP has given their support for the party’s convention slated for August 17 in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state. He said he is ready to step down if the executives of the party agree to his call for the convention to hold in Abuja. According to the embattled chairman, he never begged to become chairman, adding that the party leaders…
Factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has claimed ignorance of the party to have a repeat of national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. In a report by Tribune Newspaper, Sheriff maintained that he is not aware of the plan by the party to have another national convention by the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi. Speaking on his behalf, Sheriff’s Special Assistant on media and publicity, Inuwa Bwala, said Sheriff was not interested in the convention as he was busy fixing the party. “We don’t have to be reacting. He is doing…
The former Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin has asked for the All Progressives Congress (APC) family and leaders to forgive him for helping Yakubu Dogara emerge as Speaker. Jibrin said he started avoiding Dogara when he realised that the House Speaker was involved in some fraudulent deals. He said this in a letter he wrote to the APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun. He said “I wish to state that I deeply regret the role I played in the emergence of Yakubu Dogara as Speaker. I seek the understanding and forgiveness from you, our leaders and…
A group under the aegis of Concerned Christians of Nigeria and Northern Nigerian Christians have threatened to petition the EFCC over some activities of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor during his reign as he President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The clerics under the Concerned Christians of Nigeria and Northern Nigerian Christians said they are also reverting their membership to join the pre-independence Northern Nigeria Christian Association over what was termed improprieties of CAN and its immediate past leader. Speaking on Sunday, the leader of the aggrieved clerics, Luka Shehu said, “We are writing to EFCC to come and investigate…
The Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose, has alleged that President Buhari is doing nothing to improve the economy of Nigeria. Governor Fayose also said the country is in the hands of bad managers who do not have a clue of what to do. He said Nigerians are suffering, adding that the economy has totally collapsed under the present administration. Fayose, speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said “The only qualification to hold key positions in the Presidency is to know a certain nephew of the President or be a member of his family,…
Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is being affected by bad luck. He said “In addition to hard work, all leaders need luck on their side to create what is sometimes seen as economic miracles. As leader, President Buhari never had the luxury of high oil prices as did his predecessors in office. “When he first emerged as the military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari saw oil price, the mainstay of the nation’s economy sank to as low eight Dollars a barrel. “He rolled up his sleeves, worked on diversification strategy of the economy only…
The militant group, Niger Delta Avengers has said President Buhari is insincere and should not be trusted. The militant group also called on the Niger Delta elders to stop asking them to negotiate with the Federal Government. The militants also dared the Nigerian military to come and get them in the creeks of the oil rich region. According to the group’s spokesman, Agbinibo Mudoch, “To the elders of the Niger Delta, hope it is clear to you our elders that the Buhari-led government is unreliable, unreasonable and irresponsible. Can you tell the world the government official you have been dialoguing…
The Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has threatened to imprison parents who refuse to send their children to school. Governor El-Rufai also said parents who do not want to send their wards to school, can leave Kaduna state. He said this on Saturday, August 13, 2016, during the screening of a documentary titled: He named me malala. The Kaduna Governor mandated parents in the state to enrol their children in schools by September 2016. El-Rufai said “You can leave Kaduna State if you don’t want to send your child to school next month. No street begging again. All our children…
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Uguru Usani, says the contractors handling Section iii 0-15 km from Port-Harcourt to Onne junction in Rivers have been mobilised back to site. Usani confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Uyo. He said the project was awarded to the Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Nigeria Limited. Usani said that the ministry was concentrating on the road projects that are of economic importance to the nation in spite of so many development projects to be executed by the ministry. He said that upgrading the existing…
The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it had sealed off the Western Lodge Hotel, located on Isawo Road, in Ikorodu area of the state, over alleged illegal and criminal activities. This is contained in a statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde. According to Ayorinde, recent security investigations in the Ikorodu area of the state have revealed that the hotel has been associated with criminal activities. He said that the state government had decided to seal it until further notice. The commissioner said that government would immediately reinforce the presence of security agents…
The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has charged personnel of the army to be committed and keep fit always, saying there is no room for laxity in the military. Buratai gave the charge while addressing 200 cadets of Regular Course 63, who had concluded their training, shortly after inaugurating the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) base camp in Jos. He also reminded them that the military had done the country proud and must be ready to continue to make the military proud. “I want to tell you that in the military there is no room for laxity. Whatever…
The National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerian youths against use of illicit drugs because of its adverse effects in the society. The Kwara Coordinator of the agency, Mrs Roseline Ajayi, gave the warning in Ilorin while fielding questions from newsmen on Sunday. She expressed concern over the current rate at which youths now take over dose drugs, which she describe as a big challenge facing the agency due to the harmful effect on such consumer’s health. According to her, the agency is scaling up enlightenment campaign in schools, markets and other public places, and…
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government is doing everything possible to secure the release of the Chibok girls and put an end to the horrible saga of their abduction. This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the Minister. The minister, who was reacting to the latest video of some of the girls, said that the government was in touch with those purportedly behind the video. ”We are on top of the situation. But we are being extremely careful because the situation…
Kevin Hart has tied the knot! Comedian Hart and Eniko Parrish tied the knot in a romantic wedding ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, yesterday, Saturday, August 13. The lovebirds, who first met in 2009, exchanged their sweet I do’s in front of 200 of their closest friends and family members. Hart’s 8-year-old son, Hendrix, served as the best man. The Ride Along star posted a photo on Instagram with his new wife and his two children from a previous marriage, captioning the pic, ‘#Harts what’s understood doesn’t need to be said!!!! #LiveLoveLove.’ The bride wore a lace mermaid gown while…
Nigerian singer, Shaydee has said he may not renew his five-year deal with the Banky W led E.M.E records when his deal expires in mid 2017. Like Wizkid and Skales who all failed to renew their contract with the labels when it expired, Shaydee may also tow the line to be his own boss. With his album ready to drop soon, Shaydee exclusively tells Thenetng, ‘my album should be out this month (hopefully we don’t have any delays). The songs on it range from genres like R&B to reggae to afrobeats to house etc and also features the likes of…
Star actress Juliet Ibrahim has officially announced the launch of her Reality Television show called The Perfect Assistant. The project according to her has been in works for a few years and its ready to kick off in the last quarter of 2016. The show is centered on the actress’ quest to discover young acting talent. Scouting for contestants on the show will kick off in September in Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana.