With Paris Saint Germain reportedly showing strong interest in Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool fans could probably have done without the Brazilian hitting a dazzling hat trick in the Copa America against Haiti this week. A successful tournament for the mercurial No. 10 could persuade one of his many suitors to turn admiring glances into an all-out pursuit, and that’s the last thing Liverpool need as Jurgen Klopp looks to turn the Merseysiders into contenders once again. Should the man affectionately dubbed “the Little Magician” by the Kop be tempted to seek a move elsewhere, Liverpool would be faced with the prospect…
Author: David Folami
The world’s most expensive footballer is about to finally make his bow in a major international tournament. Gareth Bale has already been in the Welsh side for a decade, having made his debut for the senior team at 16, but the closest he has come to a summer tournament is his flirtation with the Great Britain Olympics team in 2012. Bale missed that ill-fated campaign with a back injury, but after excelling during an impressive qualifying campaign, he helped Wales do something that neither Ian Rush nor Ryan Giggs could pull off: qualify for a major international tournament, the country’s…
Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David De Gea on Friday denied reports that he allegedly arranged a sexual encounter in 2012 between two Spain under-21 players and two women in a Madrid hotel, which is being investigated by police as part of a pornography case. The news comes as the European Championship is about to start with Spain due to play Czech Republic on Monday. De Gea did not elaborate about the case on Friday but repeatedly said the reports were false. “I am surprised by the news. It is serious and false,” De Gea said. “These accusations give me…
Lionel Messi scored three goals in a dazzling second-half display in his return from a back injury, and Argentina beat Panama 5-0 on Friday night to clinch a spot in the knockout round of the Copa America Centenario. Messi replaced Augusto Fernandez in the 61st minute, drawing a big ovation from a sea of No. 10 Argentina jersey wearing fans and the familiar colors of Barcelona, his club team. A few minutes later, the five-time FIFA Player of the Year got right back to work. First, Roderick Miller’s clearing attempt for Panama went off Gonzalo Higuain’s hands as he went…
Barcelona said on Friday they would decide next week whether to accept a deal with Spanish prosecutors over Neymar’s contested 2013 transfer and avoid going to trial on tax evasion charges. The star’s transfer from Brazil’s Santos was originally valued at €57.1 million by Barca, but Spanish judicial authorities estimated it at €83.3 million – with the difference allegedly going to Neymar, his family and Santos. Prosecutors accuse former Barca boss Sandro Rosell, current president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the club of fiscal offences, alleging Barcelona avoided paying taxes on the difference. According to the daily La Vanguardia, the club…
Dimitri Payet’s stunning 25-metre strike a minute from time got hosts France off to a winning start at Euro 2016 on Friday as they beat Romania 2-1. Payet was France’s standout performer all night. His cross also created the opener for Olivier Giroud before Bogdan Stancu’s penalty looked to have handed Romania a point. However, the mercurial West Ham playmaker produced a moment of brilliance as he smashed the ball into the top corner to ensure France’s month-long festival of football got off to a flier. “We had trouble getting out of the blocks,” French coach Didier Deschamps said. “But…
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick on Thursday, June 9 visited the family house of late Super Eagles great, Stephen Keshi. Keshi died on Wednesday, June 8 in his family house in Edo State from reported cardiac arrest. Tributes have been pouring in for the former Super Eagles coach who won the African Cup of Nations twice for Nigeria-one as a player and the other as a coach. Pinnick on Thursday led a delegation that include chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Tony Okowa, chairmen of the Football Associations of Edo and Bayelsa States, Frank…
European champions Spain have arrived France as they aim to defend their trophy at Euro 2016 that kicks off today, Friday, June 10. The squad earlier in the week arrived all dressed in designer suits and headed straight to their training camp near the city of La Rochelle in western France. The played three warm-up games ahead of the finals, beating Bosnia 3-1, thrashing South Korea 6-1 and losing 1-0 to Georgia. World champions Germany, one of the favourites for Euro 2016 also arrived France. The players were pictured posing for photos with fans in Chambery, before departure from Frankfurt.…
The United Kingdom has denied reports that it arranged a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan in London. The denial was contained in a statement released by the Press Officer of the British High Commission in Abuja, Joe Abuku. It reads: “Reports suggesting that the British Government has set up a meeting with President Buhari, former President, Jonathan, and representatives of Niger Delta groups to discuss a solution to recent violence in the Niger Delta region are incorrect.” “We are aware that President Buhari is currently in London seeking medical attention. We are not aware of…
Senate President, Bukola Saraki has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to look beyond the All Progressives Congress (APC) for solutions to Nigeria’s problems. Saraki made the call on Thursday, June 9, 2016, while commemorating his first year in office and the one year anniversary of the 8th Senate. “We are confident that one year after, the President must by now have better clarity on the capacity of his appointees. The Senate would not hesitate to hold any appointee accountable for the work he has accepted to do,” he said according to Vanguard. “We would like to seek Mr President’s support and…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is allowed to go on vacation whenever he wants. The APC’s comments were expressed by National Auditor, George Moghalu while speaking to Daily Sun. “There is nothing wrong with his (Buhari) going on vacation and what he does with his vacation period is entirely his business,” he said. “Let us assume he is sick; what is wrong with someone falling sick? On the contrary, Mr President should rather be commended because things that have not been happening before are happening now. “We have a president transmitting power to his…
The Jigawa Government said on Thursday it had approved the release of N1 billion to the state’s Agricultural Supply Company as loan to procure farm inputs for farmers. This is contained in a statement issued in Dutse by Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports, and made available to newsmen. According to the statement, the approval was given during the state executive council meeting held on Wednesday. It explained that the loan would enable the company to purchase fertilisers, improved seeds and other farm inputs for the forthcoming farming season. According to statement, the company had entered…
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said on Thursday in Abuja that he was not overwhelmed running the affairs of the three key infrastructure providing ministries. The minister stated this at the inaugural “Buharimeter Town Hall Meeting,’’ organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the separate Ministries of Power; Works; Housing and Urban Development were merged by the present administration and Fashola was appointed to oversee it. Fashola who was responding to questions from audience at the town hall meeting, said that the ministry was not bigger than…
The Ministries of Niger Delta Affairs and Youths and Sports, in partnership with St. Georges UK, are sending 100 Niger Delta youths to European countries for a programme tagged `Train and Engage.’ The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Usani, made the disclosure during interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, the ministry is set to address the major problems confronting the region. “No fewer than 100 Niger Delta youths will be sent abroad for training as we have entered training agreements with various European institutions, including United Kingdom, for that…
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the entire Christian Community, have commiserated with the family of the late Stephen Keshi. A statement signed by Rev Musa Asake, General Secretary of CAN, and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, also commiserated with football-loving Nigerians over his demise. It said CAN was pained with shock and a deep sense of loss to have received the news of the death of the former Super Eagles Captain and Coach. “Indeed, his passing is a great loss to the footballing community around the world and the Church. “Definitely,…
Nigeria plans to continue to engage with international investors as it explores fundraising options, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said on Thursday after a non-deal roadshow in London earlier this week. The one-day event, which took place on Tuesday, was attended by 65 representatives of European and global fund managers, said Adeosun adding that the event was aimed at updating existing bond holders on the government’s economic strategy. Adeosun was joined by officials from the Debt Management Office and central bank.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said that the Goodluck Jonathan led administration owes road contractors billions of Naira. Speaking at the inaugural edition of the “Buharimeter” town hall meeting in Abuja, Fashola said road contractors, who executed federal government’s road projects over the past three years were not paid for their job. In his words, “As far as my ministry is concerned, I think the best way to understand where we are is where we came from.” Continuing, he said, ‘If you look at the budget of the country from 2007, a country that was…
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello said this on Thursday, June 9, 2016 during the defence of the 2016 FCT Statutory budget before the Senate Committee on FCT at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja. The minister revealed that out of the N241,467,231,031 proposed, a total sum of N149,056,610,051 which represents 61.73 percent goes to capital expenditure. Malam Bello revealed that the personnel cost gets N52, 371,352,360 which also represents 21.69 percent of the total expenditure. According to him, the overhead is the least with N40, 039,268,620 out of the N241, 467,231,031 which is 16.58 percent. While stating that 2016…
The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay has said that former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh can’t escape justice by simply returning the sum of N400 million which he allegedly laundered. According to Sagay, Metuh is already facing a criminal case due to the charges so he must be punished if found guilty. “So, the point I want to make is that once a case has been taken to court, there can be no negotiation of return of money without punishment. That is impossible and can never happen because if that happens, then…
Parents of children in state primary and secondary schools in Ekiti have appealed to the state Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, to pay the outstanding salaries of teachers in the state. In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the parents expressed frustration over the indefinite strike embarked upon by the teachers. A parent, Mr Ajibulu Joshua, said the strike embarked upon by the teachers had caused setbacks for his children as they no longer read their books. Another parent and civil servant, Mrs Foluke Babajide, urged the state government to listen to the plea of…