The Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up six places in the new FIFA Ranking released on Thursday, June 2. Nigeria, at number 67 in the previous ranking is now the 61st football nation according to FIFA. They still remain outside Africa’s top 10 behind Algeria (32), Cote d’Ivoire (36), Ghana (37), Senegal (41), Egypt (45), Tunisia (47), Cape Verde Island (49), Congo DR (52), Guinea (55), Cameroon (58) and Congo (60). Argentina still remain the number one country in world football with Belgium in number two. Colombia, Germany and Chile make up the first five. Spain, Brazil, Portugal, Uruguay…
Author: David Folami
Former England striker Michael Owen has defended John Stones in the wake of recent criticism and believes the Everton centre-back is good enough to play for Barcelona. The 22-year-old is widely regarded as one of England’s most promising defenders and was heavily linked with a big-money move to Chelsea ahead of the 2015-16 campaign. A transfer never materialised, though, and Stones eventually endured a disappointing season with Everton. The defender received his fair share of criticism following his underwhelming performances, but Owen has little doubt he has a bright future ahead of him. “He’s probably the only player in the…
Eric Cantona has defended Karim Benzema over the Real Madrid striker’s comments that France coach Didier Deschamps “bowed to racists” by leaving him out of the squad for Euro 2016. Benzema claimed on Wednesday there were no sporting reasons to omit him from France’s squad for the upcoming tournament, stressing Deschamps’ decision was influenced by the political climate. The forward’s comments resulted in an angry reaction from France Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet, but Cantona feels Benzema had every reason to speak up. “I am absolutely not surprised by Benzema’s comments. I’d like to point out that -…
Darmstadt striker Sandro Wagner has made it clear that he is not interested in a return to Bayern Munich because he does not want to be second choice at the Bundesliga champions. Wagner came through the ranks of the Bayern youth academy, but failed to secure regular first-team action with the Bavarians and eventually left the club for Duisburg. The 28-year-old also enjoyed spells with Werder Bremen, Kaiserslautern and Hertha Berlin before joining Darmstadt in 2015, where he impressed with a string of fine performances. Bayern allegedly see Wagner – who scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga in 2015-16 –…
Darmstadt striker Sandro Wagner has made it clear that he is not interested in a return to Bayern Munich because he does not want to be second choice at the Bundesliga champions. Wagner came through the ranks of the Bayern youth academy, but failed to secure regular first-team action with the Bavarians and eventually left the club for Duisburg. The 28-year-old also enjoyed spells with Werder Bremen, Kaiserslautern and Hertha Berlin before joining Darmstadt in 2015, where he impressed with a string of fine performances. Bayern allegedly see Wagner – who scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga in 2015-16 –…
Lionel Messi was greeted with abuse upon his arrival at the Eighth Court of Barcelona to testify in a tax case. Messi and his father, Jorge, have been charged with three counts of tax fraud worth €4.1million which date back to a period from 2007 to 2009. The Barcelona forward’s lawyer Enrique Bacigalupo was present when proceedings began on Tuesday, but the 28-year-old arrived to testify personally on Thursday. Messi was met with a mixed reaction during his walk up the courthouse steps, but one voice from the crowd jeered: “P*** off and play in Panama, b*****d!” Messi is due…
Having just been name the new coach of Manchester United, Jose Mourinho is opening his life more to the public. After months of speculations, Mourinho was last week announced as the new Manchester United coach replacing Louis van Gaal who was sacked just after winning the FA Cup. Ahead of his life at United, Mourinho has opened an Instagram account where he shared a photo of him and his film director friend Guy Ritchie. The manager is seen in the photo sitting and facing the British filmmaker. “Every top performance needs a top coach” @guyritchie,” he captioned the photo. The…
Although Lionel Messi has denied knowledge of any wrongdoing while testifying in a tax case at the Eighth Court of Barcelona, the football genius might be facing jail time. Messi and his father, Jorge, have been charged with three counts of tax fraud worth €4.1million, dating back to a period from 2007 to 2009. Proceedings began on Tuesday but the Barcelona forward arrived to testify in person on Thursday, just four days before he is due to represent Argentina in the Copa America Centenario in the United States. The 28-year-old denied knowledge of any fraudulent activities, stating that football was…
Barcelona star Neymar has unveiled football first Michael Jordan shoe-line. NBA legend Michael Jordan has a huge successful sneaker-line with Nike which has been replicated by several basketball stars. Neymar has become the first footballer to launch his own line of the same shoe-line. The new Nike boot has the Jordan’s iconic ‘Jumpman’ logo on it his boots, the NBA legend’s No 23 at the back along with No 10 – which is the number Neymar wears for Brazil. Called the Jordan V, the boot has the fighter jet shark teeth on the front. Jordan’s brand will release a Neymar…
Barely 24 hours to the scheduled visit of sitting President, Muhammadu Buhari to the Niger Delta, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has returned to the country. After weeks abroad, Jonathan returned to Nigeria on Wednesday night, June 1, 2016 and reportedly headed straight to his hometown in Otuoke, Bayelsa State. This is coming as plans are in top gear by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike to beef up security as President Buhari commences his scheduled visit to Ogoni in Rivers state on Thursday, June 2, 2016. Buhari’s visit, which is to flag-off clean-up of oil spills in Ogoni, will be his second…
President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled a planned trip to Ogoniland, incoming reports say. Buhari was expected to visit Bodo city in Ogoni, Rivers State today, June 2, 2016, to flag off the clean-up of oil spills caused by oil companies in the area. According to Sahara Reporters, the cancellation is connected to a threat by new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers to kill Buhari if he steps foot in the region. The President will now be represented on the visit by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek the help of experts in order to revive Nigeria’s economy. Okogie made the call during a news conference in Lagos, which was organized as part of activities to commemorate his 80th birthday, PM News reports. “I want to commend the president for his commitment to clean the polity. There is also the need for him to be more systematic in the fight so that even after he leaves office the structure in place would make it difficult for corruption to thrive,” he said. “There have been…
The Delta State Government has said that the people of the state have nothing to do with the agitations for Biafra. The comment was made by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Festus Agas via a statement released on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. The statement reads: We object in its totality, the inclusion of Delta State without our consent in the proposed Biafra Republic. This clarification has become necessary to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding regarding the status of Delta State in the renewed Biafra agitation. While some communities in Delta state may have cultural affinity with the people…
The Legal Adviser, International Secretariat of Amnesty International, London, Kolawole Olaniyan has criticized former President, Olusegun Obasanjo for calling Federal High Court judge, Justice Mohammed Idris stupid. Obasanjo was said to have insulted Idris after the judge made a ruling ordering all past civilian presidents to account for loot recovered from late dictator, Sani Abacha. Olaniyan made his comments via a statement released on Thursday, June 2, 2016. If judges have to decide cases on the basis of what politicians or someone else wanted the law or the result to be, the very principle of the independence of the judiciary…
The Adamawa Government says it has uncovered 12,609 ghost workers in the state’s local government payroll. Mr Maurice Vunobolki, the Chairman of the Local Government Staff Verification Committee in the state, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the committee’s report to Gov. Muhammadu Jibrilla in Yola. Vunobolki said that 38,760 workforce was cleared and migrated to the e-payment data base as against 51,369 earlier presented to the committee. He said that over 5,000 workers did not turn up for the verification exercise, while 1,780 among those that turn up were under aged employees. He said that the gross figure after…
Ecobank Nigeria has sacked more than 1040 employees, reports say. The affected staff include full time and contract workers, according to Punch. The management of the bank also confirmed the mass sack via a statement released by Managing Director, Charles Kie. The statement reads: “The bank, in its renewed drive for optimal performance, has in addition realigned certain roles bank wide to ensure improved efficiency. This necessitates the exits of some staff who were adequately compensated. “This is in furtherance of a market repositioning exercise designed to strengthen the bank’s business across all markets where it operates. Our focus is…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday warned that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate the current theft and illegal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta. Buhari, represented by Vice-President, Yemi Osinbanjo, gave the warning at the launch of “Clean-Up of Ogoniland’’ at Bodo, Gokana Local Government of Rivers. Buhari urged the regulators of oil industry to carry out their responsibilities in line with best practices. “The current oil theft and illegal refining will not be tolerated. The regulators in the oil industries must live up to expectations. “They must ensure that oil companies carry out their operations in…
The House of Representatives on Thursday, June 2, 2016 invited the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, the National Electricity and Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other stakeholders to a hearing to discuss and proffer solutions to the epileptic power supply being experienced across the nation. The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion on urgent matters of public importance entitled “Urgent need to address the epileptic electricity supply across the nation” sponsored by Johnson Agbonayinma. The lawmaker said the privatisation of the power sector has failed to bring about positive impact to the Nigerian people. “What…
Former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director (GMD), Mohammed Barkindo, is the new Secretary-General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Barkindo also served as the acting secretary-general of OPEC in 2006, and was NNPC GMD from 2009-2010. An excerpt of an official statement obtained from OPEC’s website reads: “The Conference decided to appoint Mr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, from Nigeria, as Secretary General of the Organization, with effect from 1st August 2016, for a period of three years. In doing so, the Conference expressed its appreciation to HE Abdalla Salem El-Badri for his leadership of the Secretariat and…
Nigerian pop singer, Davido, has taken shot at Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, in the new music video of Falz, titled “Bahd, Baddo, Baddest” featuring him and YBNL boss, Olamide. Davido, who sang in the third verse of the hot music video mentioned the phrase, “Mr. Dele na my boy, Dele na my boy”. The phrase has grown quite popular among fans, as Davido was reported to have made the same comment during a recent concert in which his fans chorused the same line. The singer also encouraged fan with the user ID “Yung Presido” on May 27, 2016, who…