Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech said it was a “huge disappointment” to crash out of Euro 2016 after losing 2-0 to Turkey and finishing fourth in Group D on Tuesday. With both sides needing a win to retain hopes of advancing, Turkey took the lead early in the first half through Burak Yilmaz and Ozan Tufan ended Czech hopes in the 66th minute. Cech, 34, said his team knew their opening games against Spain and Croatia would be difficult, thereby making the final test crucial. “It’s a huge disappointment for us because prior to the tournament, we knew that we…
Author: David Folami
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he will retire from international football after Sweden’s participation at Euro 2016. Last week, Ibrahimovic, 34, was included in Sweden’s provisional 35-man squad to play at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics this summer. However, the striker, who looks set to join Manchester United, said at a news conference on Tuesday that he will be calling time on his career with Sweden. Ibrahimovic said: “The last game for Sweden in Euro will be my last game with Sweden, so I hope it will not be tomorrow.” The striker added that he “will not participate in the Olympics”…
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan wants to secure a move to Manchester United to join “his dream club,” according to the player’s agent. Mkhitaryan, 27, has been linked with a move away from Dortmund this summer, even more so after contract talks over a new deal beyond 2017 broke down. And his agent Mino Raiola has claimed Manchester United have made a €24 million offer, while sources have told ESPN FC that Arsenal are very much interested in signing the Bundesliga player. Dortmund, meanwhile, have insisted that they don’t have any plans to sell Mkhitaryan and will force him to…
England’s under-fire goalkeeper Joe Hart is backing the Three Lions to to prove critics of their goalless draw with Slovakia wrong in the Euro 2016 knock-out phase. Hart acknowledged the “tension” caused by England’s second draw which left the side waiting to meet the Group F runners-up — either Iceland, Portugal, Hungary or Austria — in Nice on Monday in the last 16. The Three Lions arrived at the European championship finals among the favourites after winning all 10 of their qualifying games. But having finished second in Group B behind Wales, Roy Hodgson’s England has been hammered back home…
Burak Yilmaz and Ozan Tufan scored a goal in each half as Turkey beat Czech Republic 2-0 to keep alive slim hopes of reaching the Euro 2016 last 16 on Tuesday. The defeat eliminated Czech Republic, who had already suffered at Turkish hands at a past Euro finals. Turkey lost their first two Group D matches and were punished for their unruly fans. And there were more wild scenes in the stands as Turkey stole the match. Eighteen year-old Emre Mor, who has just been signed by Borussia Dortmund, burst down the right after 10 minutes, saw Yilmaz in the…
Eduardo Vargas will aim to extend his astonishing goalscoring record in the Copa America on Wednesday when holders Chile face Colombia in the semifinals at Soldier Field. After a remarkable four-goal display in the 7-0 destruction of Mexico in the quarterfinals, Vargas has now amassed 10 goals in two editions of the Copa America in the space of a year. The Hoffenheim forward spearheads one of the most potent attacking units in the tournament, with Chile scoring 14 goals on their way to the last four after steadily improving following an opening defeat by Argentina. Vargas has been supported by…
“It is not ideal, that would have been to finish first (in the group),” said Del Bosque. “We have to recover well. We are prepared to turn this situation around.” Morata’s return to European champions Real Madrid from Juventus had been confirmed earlier on Tuesday. And he moved level with club teammate Gareth Bale on three goals in the fight for the golden boot by finishing off a slick Spanish move after seven minutes. David Silva’s cute reverse pass picked out Cesc Fabregas’s run and the Chelsea midfielder’s cross was tapped into an empty net by Morata. Spain looked rarely…
Ivan Perisic struck a sensational winner three minutes from time as Croatia ended Spain’s 14-game unbeaten run at the European Championship finals to top Group D after a 2-1 victory on Tuesday. Spain will now face Italy in the last 16 in Paris on Monday in a repeat of the 2012 final. Alvaro Morata’s early strike got Spain off to a flying start. But despite the absence of Luka Modric through injury, Croatia battled back to equalise before half-time through Nikola Kalinic. Spain captain Sergio Ramos saw a penalty saved by Danijel Subasic 18 minutes from time. And that miss…
McGovern was solicited three times in the first 12 minutes, saving alertly with his body and feet from Gomez, Mesut Ozil and Mario Goetze, who dropped into an attacking midfield role to accommodate Gomez up front. Mueller twice went close, thrashing a shot across goal and then striking the base of the right-hand post with a plunging header, before creating the opener for Gomez. Gomez’s subtle pass sent the Bayern Munich forward scampering through and after luring McGovern from his line, he showed great awareness to lay the ball off for Gomez, who steered the ball through a thicket of…
Mario Gomez struck as world champions Germany beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Paris on Tuesday to qualify for the Euro 2016 knockout phase as winners of Group C. Drafted in to address the goal-scoring problems witnessed in Germany’s 0-0 draw with Poland, the on-loan Besiktas striker netted from Thomas Mueller’s pass in the 30th minute at Parc des Princes. That Germany did not win more handsomely was due largely to the excellence of Northern Irish goalkeeper Michael McGovern. But it was enough to preserve their position at the top of the group on goal difference above Poland, who beat Ukraine…
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday appealed to Nigerians to unite to wage war against cancer. Ambode made the call in Ikeja at a special luncheon to raise funds for the provision of three Mobile Cancer Centres across the three Senatorial Districts in the state. The event, tagged #GivingTuesday” and put together by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria), held as Ambode turned 53. The governor said the centres would go a long way to save millions of Nigerians from the cancer scourge. He lamented the rate at which the terminal disease had claimed thousands of lives in…
The Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) has called on the Federal Government to formally recognise the World Sickle Cell Day (WSCD). This, according to the foundation, is to help actualise the goals of reducing the burden of sickle cell disease in the country. The President of the foundation, Prof. Adeyinka Falusi, said this while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ibadan against the backdrop of the annual June 19 WSCD. Falusi, a professor of haematology, said that the country needed to affirm its position in subduing the disease. She added that the disease was…
The All Progressives Congress on Monday, June 14, 2016, has reacted to the allegations made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the APC and the Presidency are behind the Ali Modu Sherrif-led PDP faction. In a statement signed by the APC national secretary, Mai Mala Buni and made available to Pulse, the ruling party described PDP’s allegations as baseless and laughable adding that the opposition is currently “suffering from its sins of the past.” The statement reads in full: “The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in reacting to the baseless and laughable allegations of a faction…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has said that no amount of intimidation can prevent him from speaking his mind. Fayose also accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to persecute its enemies. The governor made the comments while addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, June 20, 2016. Read Fayose’s address below: I called you here to intimate the public through your various medium, the new clandestine plot by the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government to destabilise the Ekiti State Government, using the instrumentalities of the Economic and Financial…
The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has expressed disappointment and concerns over the Governor, Olusegun Mimiko’s trip to UK despite his inability to resolve industrial action following five months of unpaid salaries. Mimiko and Labour unions failed to reach any agreement to call off the strike despite interventions by traditional rulers as the Governor insists the government has no money to pay workers. The Ondo chapter of the ruling party stressed that the Governor’s trip outside the country is not only callous but unacceptable to the people as it had little or no economic benefit to the state. “This…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Jide Omokore, an associate of former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on money laundering charges. Omokore was arrested by the agency today, June 20, 2016, and will reportedly be charged today. The EFCC is also said to have arrested a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu who will expectedly be tried along with Omokore. According to Premium Times the case will be handled by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court. Omokore had previously been questioned in connection with the case against Ms Alison-Madueke…
The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has said that Nigerians are looking for a talkative president who will talk till they’re tired of him. Adesina made the comment during a recent interview with Radio Continental when he was asked why Buhari had not issued a statement on attacks being carried out by Fulani herdsmen around the country. “Maybe you didn’t hear the President when he spoke. When the Agatu crisis happened, he decried it and said he was going to ask for security briefing on it and something will be done,” he said.…
Special Adviser to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has revealed that the president still makes out time for his grandchildren despite his busy schedules. In an interview published by Premium Times, Adesina said Buhari still creates time for his grandchildren, who enjoy jumping on him. In his words, “Because he is president of a country of 170 million people, work is not restricted just to the office. There are things he treats at home. He has an office at home where he continues his work. But you will be surprised that on weekends his grand…
The Nigerian Senate has accused the Federal Government of plotting to imprison Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. The Senate made the comment in reaction to charges of criminal conspiracy and forgery levelled against the duo. The remarks of the upper legislative chamber were contained in a statement released by spokesman, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The statement reads in part “… We are compelled to alert the good people of Nigeria and the international community, that our democracy is in danger.” “We are in a state of economic emergency such that what the…
President Muhammadu Buhari has resumed work. Buhari was pictured with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in his office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The president returned to Nigeria on Sunday, June 19, 2016, after a 12-day medical trip to the United Kingdom.