Italy coach Antonio Conte assured supporters that he had not just “come down from the moon” ahead of his side’s Euro 2016 last-16 clash with Spain. Conte’s Italy topped Group E, but that was not enough to guarantee them an easy draw with reigning European champions Spain awaiting in the next round. The tie sees a repeat of the Euro 2012 final, which Spain won 4-0. Italy lost their final group game 1-0 against the Republic of Ireland, and as Conte seemed to grow tired about persistent questions about how he would prepare his side for Spain, the soon-to-be Chelsea…
Author: David Folami
Barcelona refuse to consider a potential exit for superstar Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain or elsewhere. The Brazil international has been linked with a move to the Ligue 1 giants and Premier League outfit Manchester United. However, Barca financial vice-president Susana Monje said there was not even a consideration for the 24-year-old leaving Camp Nou. “We have not studied the impact of hypothetically losing Neymar,” Monje said. “We don’t contemplate it.” Neymar, who is set to play for Brazil at the Olympics, enjoyed an excellent campaign for Barca. He scored 31 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions as his side…
One of the biggest surprises of Euro 2016, from an England point of view at least, is how well Wayne Rooney has performed for his country. Ahead of the tournament, there were calls for the captain to miss out on a place in Roy Hodgson’s squad, while other supporters believed he wasn’t deserving of a starting role. When Rooney spoke at the news conference before England’s opening game against Russia, he had to defend himself against a journalist who said the Russian players no longer feared him. Having once been his country’s greatest prospect, the player who upon all hopes…
Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is proud of the career he has had for his country in the wake of their Euro 2016 exit on Wednesday. Ibrahimovic announced his retirement from international football earlier this week after 16 years playing for Sweden in which he’s recorded 116 caps and 62 goals — the most of any Swedish player. The former Ajax, Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, AC Milan and PSG man has been named Sweden’s top footballer eight times, and participated in two European Championships and two World Cups for his country. Though he and his teammates were eliminated from Euro 2016,…
A late goal by Premier League target Radja Nainggolan earned Belgium a last-16 berth with a 1-0 win over Sweden making superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic end his international career with a defeat. The Roma midfielder, reportedly wanted by Chelsea, controlled a cross from Eden Hazard outside the area and powered it into the net in the 82nd minute. Belgium now take on Hungary in Toulouse on June 26. Sweden finished third in the group and will look back with regret on a flat performance in their opener against Ireland. Facing elimination if defeated, both teams pushed forward to attack which produced…
Chile stormed into the Copa America final here Wednesday, beating Colombia 2-0 in a weather-disrupted semi-final that took more than four hours to complete. The defending champions advanced to a repeat of last year’s final against Argentina on Sunday after a whirlwind start left Colombia chasing the game. Chile, who had destroyed Mexico 7-0 in the quarter-finals on Saturday, picked up where they left off, scoring twice in the opening 11 minutes to take a grip on the contest. Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Charles Aranguiz opened the scoring in the seventh minute before Jose Pedro Fuenzalida made it 2-0 after 11…
Portugal’s coach Fernando Santos says Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-goal display against Hungary proves he has shaken off a poor start to return to his best at Euro 2016. Ronaldo scored a pair of brilliant goals in Lyon on Wednesday to go down in European Championship history as the first player to score at four finals. Portugal came from behind three times for a 3-3 draw which allowed them to scrape into the last 16 to face Croatia in Lens on Saturday, although they will only have two days’ rest. Ronaldo, Portugal’s most-capped player ever with 128 appearances, rescued his country and…
Robbie Brady’s header five minutes from time sparked wild scenes of celebration in Lille as Ireland ended a much-changed Italy’s 100 percent record at the tournament to set up an enticing last 16 meeting with Didier Deschamps’ French side. It was Ireland’s first win over Italy in a competitive match since the 1994 World Cup in the United States. But Martin O’Neill’s men had looked set to be denied by a combination of Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan. Sirigu, standing in for Gianluigi Buffon in the Italian goal, made a superb save to deny Daryl Murphy,…
Cristiano Ronaldo hit a double to become the first player to score in four European Championships and rescue Portugal in a thrilling 3-3 draw that secured a last-16 place on Wednesday. Iceland set up a last-16 clash with England on Monday as substitute Ingvi Traustason’s last-gasp winner earned the Euro debutants a famous 2-1 win over Austria. Republic of Ireland scored their own memorable 1-0 win over Italy and Belgium beat Sweden by the same score to both move into the last 16, as the international career of Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended in defeat. The Irish, Belgians, Iceland and…
Gworldwide signee, Kiss Daniel who just dropped his debut album, “New Era” seems to be the shooting the video for a track off the L.P, “Alone”. Kiss on his Twitter page to hint on the release of the visuals to one of the best songs on the album. After sharing a couple of photos from the shoot via his instagram page.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has approved the report of the Ministerial Committee on modalities for the establishment of the Nigerian fleet in the maritime sector. Amaechi, while receiving the report of the committee in Abuja, pledged to provide the necessary instrument for the implementation of the recommendations of the committee. According to him, part of the fund to be used in the implementation of the report will come from the Cabotage Fund. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) was created by the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003,…
Aisha Buhari, the individual whose name and passport is being bandied as the bribe giver in the Haliburton Scandal has denied involvement in the matter. In a report by The Street Journal, Ms Buhari reportedly broke her silence on her alleged involvement in the Halliburton bribery scandal. Ms Buhari reportedly stressed that though she shares the same name with the President’s wife, Mrs Aisha Buhari, she’s neither the person referred to in the bribery scandal by the Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose nor by the ex-EFCC boss, Ibrahim Lamorde. Ms Buhari was further reported to have maintained that involving her…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to redouble their efforts in praying for a better and peaceful Nigeria. The president, who was speaking at the breaking-of-fast dinner for members of FEC at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Abuja, said that the Month of Ramadan was a special time when “God listens and answers prayers from the faithful.” According to him, the Ramadan period provides leaders the opportunity to be more conscious of their responsibilities to the people they are leading. “It strengthens our resolve to build our country to make it stronger and to…
The Group Chairman of NICON Investment Limited, Jimoh Ibrahim has said that nobody in Nigeria can seize any of his properties. Ibrahim made the comment in response to claims by the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) that it had secured a court order permitting it to seize Jimoh’s property to satisfy a N50 billion debt. The businessman gave his response via a statement released on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. It reads: My attention has been directed to lies being spread around by an institution called AMCON over an interim order of injunction she had lied to collect before an…
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum led by Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has decried the actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The Governors’ forum called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the anti-graft agencies to order In a report by Daily Post, the forum while speaking on the freezing of the personal accounts of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, described the actions of the EFCC as a gross abuse of the constitution. Chairman of the forum and Ondo State Governor, Mimiko said EFCC cannot interfere with the account of a sitting governor, noting that, it…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro of participating in the $15 billion arms deal fraud. An EFCC source made the disclosure to Punch following the freezing of Fayose’s accounts by the agency. “The entire fraud started from the company that Obanikoro’s sons were operating. The company was set up by some people but curiously made Obanikoro sons signatories to the account,” the source said. “The owner of A. A. G. B. S Oil and Gas confirmed to us that the company is a…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the National Assembly over plans to grant life pension and immunity to the principal officers of the assembly. The comments were made by NLC President, Ayuba Wabba via a statement released on Tuesday, June 22, 2016. It reads in part: We are convinced, nothing but ego and greed are the over-riding interest for wanting to put the leadership of the legislature on life pension. ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads What the governors have done is unrealistic and immoral and rather than ensure the right thing is done, some senators have elected to set…
The Borno State Government has not owed salaries in five years despite grappling with the Boko Haram insurgency, Governor Kashim Shettima has said. Shettima made the disclosure while hosting members of the Borno Elders Forum and the Business Community in the State to dinner at the Government House on Monday, June 20, 2016. “Ordinarily, I don’t consider payment of salaries as achievement because salaries are debts, people worked and should be paid. However, in today’s Nigeria, payment of salaries has become rare and this makes it an achievement especially for a state like Borno that which has been battling with…
According to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Federal Government has already dealt with Boko Haram “militarily”. Osinbajo made the comment on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, during a meeting with the Assistant Secretary of Australian Foreign Affairs, Mathew Neuhaus and High Commissioner, Paul Lehmann. “We have already dealt with Boko Haram militarily, we now have to deal with the ideology (of terror) and this is something that the entire world has to also deal with,” Osinbajo’s media aide, Laolu Akande, quoted him as saying. “The terrorists basically reject any engagement, simply preaching hate and murder. It is a new kind of…
A retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dejo Osuolale has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will not be able to spend funds recovered from looters until a court permits him to do so. Osuolale made the comment during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “People are saying where are the fund recovered so far by the government, as a retired police officer, the funds are exhibits,” he said. “Unless the cases are disposed of in court, the government cannot spend the recovered looted funds because it is only the court that can give the go ahead. And that…