Samuel Umtiti is ready to capitalise on a magical move to Barcelona. The 22-year-old centre-back has seen his stock rise dramatically over the past month, after Barca set in motion their €25m swoop to prize him from boyhood club Lyon. At the same time, he broke into France’s first XI, making an assured international debut in the 5-2 Euro 2016 quarter-final win over Iceland before retaining his place for the semi-final and final. Umtiti conceded the reality of Barcelona’s interest in him was initially hard to take in. “Sometimes I could not believe it and I thought it was not…
Author: David Folami
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are set to receive a huge financial boost of N1.7b ($5m) every four years from world football governing body, FIFA in 2017. FIFA is sending cash support over a four-year cycle for each member association across the globe with effect from 2017. According to a statement by FIFA, the financial support to member associations for football development is to jump to (N1.7b) $5m every four-year cycle from the former figure of N568m ($1.6m) with effect from 2017. With this arrangement, NFF and other FAs will now receive N443m ($1.25m) every year to support the specific…
Paul Pogba has described Manchester United as his “first family” in football as speculation over a potential transfer intensifies. The Juventus star has been heavily linked with a return to Old Trafford in the coming weeks for a potential world-record fee of £100million. Pogba endured a frustrating three-year spell as a youngster at United, in which he failed to earn a spot in Alex Ferguson’s first-team plans before he joined Juve when his contract expired in 2012. But the France international, also linked with Real Madrid, has done little to quieten rumours of a sensational return. When asked for his…
Euro 2016 passed without a single concern over match-fixing or irregular betting, UEFA has said. European football’s governing body introduced a series of integrity measures prior to the tournament in France to curb any concerns. Match officials were given guidance at a preparatory workshop before the finals to help them to deal with potential problems, including any approach from individuals attempting to fix matches. The 24 participating nations were given a similar presentation prior to travelling to France, while UEFA’s own Betting Fraud Detection System monitored bets placed on matches to check for irregularities. UEFA has described the measures as…
Borussia Dortmund are confident Marco Reus will be ready to resume squad training halfway through August after medical tests confirmed his recovery is on schedule. The Germany international was forced to miss Euro 2016 with an adductor injury he aggravated during Dortmund’s DFB-Pokal final defeat to Bayern Munich last season and initial reports suggested he could miss a large part of the first half of the 2016-17 campaign. Dortmund were quick to dismiss such suggestions last month, though, and they have now confirmed the 27-year-old’s recovery is going well. “There is nothing negative to report. Things have developed well,” Dortmund…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted twice to help Borussia Dortmund to a 3-2 friendly win over St. Pauli on Thursday. The Gabon international enjoyed a sublime 2015-16 campaign during which he scored 39 goals in all competitions and a similar season could be on the cards if his form in Austria is anything to go by. Aubameyang opened the scoring after just three minutes, slotting home after being set up by captain Sven Bender. The former Saint-Etienne star then doubled BVB’s lead when he converted a penalty, with the referee pointing to the spot after Adrian Ramos had been brought down inside…
Inter coach Roberto Mancini has conceded the Serie A giants are unlikely to sign Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure this transfer window. The Inter boss previously worked with Toure during his time in charge of City and was keen to lure him to San Siro ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. However, Mancini has now admitted there is little chance the 33-year-old will continue his career at Inter. “I say that he remains one of the greatest midfielders around in the game,” Mancini told Sky Sport when asked about a potential move for Toure. “But I think there is no chance…
President Muhammad Buhari has directed service chiefs and entire leadership of the nation’s Armed Forces to intensify and perfect current strategies and techniques toward curtailing criminalities across the country. The president gave the directive at the grand finale of the 2016 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) in Gusau on Thursday, July 14. Represented by the Minister of Defence, retired Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, the president said that intensifying current efforts would put an end to all forms of criminalities being perpetrated across the country. Expressing satisfaction with the level of professionalism displayed by the armed forces, he assured Nigerians that the…
Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has filed a N500 million suit against the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his unlawful arrest, Punch reports. Agbele was said to have arrested on June 27 in connection to the handling of over N1.219 billion on behalf of Fayose during the Ekiti State governorship election in 2014. The money was believed to be part of the N4.7 billion that was diverted from the Office of the National Security Adviser and deposited into the bank account of a company belonging to the sons of a former Minister of…
Nigerians have been assured that the federal government has not neglected her citizens in Juba, as discussions about their safety is ongoing. Senior Special Assistant to President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, that plans had been on to evacuate Nigerians from the war torn country. She however said that the delay was due to logistics and the non-willingness of those affected to return to Nigeria. Dabiri Erewa who spoke through her media aide, Mr Abdul-Rahaman Balogun, dismissed the claim that 100 Nigerians living in juba were…
The Senate has dismissed media reports that the hallowed chamber is plotting to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a rumour. The spokesman for the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement on Thursday, July 14, that purported report was a “figment of the imagination of the writers.” ”We expected the party to, at least, explore all the options open to it to verify that piece of fabrication which is only the figment of the imagination of the writers and their sponsors,” Abdullahi said. “It should be clear to the APC leadership that if there is any truth to…
Operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) on Thursday, July 14, arrested Hajiya Morufat Obanikoro, wife of former Minister of Defence Musiliu Obanikoro’s following intelligence reports, The Nation reports. She was said to have been picked up in connection to the corruption allegations against her husband, who is wanted for questioning over the N4.745 billion funds he reportedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The ex-minister’s wife was however released on bail after she the DSS transferred her to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – her international passport was confiscated and asked to return…
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved further investigation of people involved in the Defence Equipment Procurement scam from 2007 to 2015. This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by AVM Jon Ode (Rtd), the President of the Presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Armed Forces (2007-2015). He said the President’s approval followed the third interim report of the committee which was released on Thursday. Ode said that 18 serving and retired military personnel, 12 serving and retired public officials and 24 Chief Executive Officers of Companies involved in the procurement were to…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday hailed the transformation in the Nigerian Armed Forces, describing it as unprecedented within a short period. Buhari said this while addressing troops during a field training exercise organised to the mark the 2016 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) in Dansadau, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara. He said that the recent conduct of troops, their commanders and the Army’s leadership was impressive, noting that it was in tandem with the goal of his administration. He reminded the troops of his administration’s commitment to protect the lives of citizens, grow the economy and fight corruption, noting…
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has said that he is praying for Nigeria’s oil wells to dry up so that peace can reign in the country. Okorocha also said that the drying of the oil wells would also force Nigeria to diversify her economy. The governor made the comments during an interactive session with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state. Okorocha said further that the activities of militants in the Niger Delta would reduce if the oil wells dried up. The region has been suffering frequent attacks on oil installations, most of which have been…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has denied being the owner of a petrol station seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Akute, Ogun State. The station, identified as ‘Chance Oil’, was reportedly sealed by EFCC agents on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Fayose’s denial was contained in a statement issued by his media aide, Lere Olayinka. It reads: It is ridiculous to say such thing about a person that has been governor for two years. How would you say Governor Fayose has a filling station at Akute? If he would have had a filling station, he would have…
Former Senate President, David Mark has condemned the recent killings of Benue State indigenes by Fulani herdsmen. Mark also urged the Federal Government to find a permanent solution to the violence in the state. “Enough of the blood bath. Enough of this massacre. This war is senseless and needless .Why should we continue to kill ourselves and destroy our hard earned properties,” Mark said today, July 14, 2016, according to Vanguard. “It is time federal government steps in to salvage the situation. It has become too worrisome and truly intolerable. Benue state government must as a matter of urgency liaise…
Senator Dino Melaye has said that he cannot impregnate Senator Remi Tinubu because she has already reached the age of menopause. Melaye made the comment today, July 14, 2016, after saying on Tuesday that he would beat Mrs Tinubu up and impregnate her. “It is not biologically correct for me to impregnate her because she has attained Menopause,” Melaye said according to Daily Trust. The senator also said, while speaking with journalists, that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, who is Remi Tinubu’s husband, could not end his political career. Senator Melaye’s comments have attracted…
Controversial Senator, Dino Melaye has reportedly revealed that his colleague, Senator Oluremi Tinubu provoked him by calling him a dog and a thug. In a recent report by Daily Post, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District claimed that after the Executive session on alleged plot to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari, went awry, Senator Tinubu took on the floor and called him a dog and a thug in her contribution. “At the Executive session, an issue generated controversy and while contributing, Senator Remi suddenly stood up and called me a dog and a thug, of course, I had to react.…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will tackle state governors over non-payment and cuts in the salaries of workers in some states. The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the congress would meet with all its state councils to encourage them to respond effectively to some of the challenges in the states. “We may declare a state of emergency in the area of non-payment of salaries and we are going to have a meeting with all our state councils to respond effectively to some of these challenges. “We…