Wayne Rooney rates Gareth Bale among the world’s best, but England’s collective quality means he is not getting hung up on Wales’ star turn ahead of their Euro 2016 clash. All eyes will be on the tiny French city of Lens on Thursday as the neighbours do battle in a mouth-watering Group B clash at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. England head into the match reeling from a late sucker punch against Russia in Marseille, where Eric Dier’s thunderous strike was cancelled out by a stoppage-time Vasili Berezutsky header. That 1-1 draw adds an extra ingredient to Thursday’s already fascinating encounter, which…
Author: David Folami
Roy Hodgson has told Gareth Bale not to question England’s passion or patriotism ahead of Thursday’s crunch Euro 2016 clash against Wales. Bale claimed last week that Welsh players had more desire than their neighbours and that England “big themselves up before they’ve done anything.” Wales went on to win their Group B opener 2-1 over Slovakia, while Hodgson’s men were held to a 1-1 draw after Russia’s injury-time equaliser. That makes the stakes in Lens even higher than they already were, with qualification potentially at stake as well as bragging rights. But Hodgson believes the Real Madrid superstar’s jibes…
The ‘Noodle’ has broken again with Angel Di Maria injured during a third consecutive major tournament playing for Argentina at the end of a busy club season. Di Maria, nicknamed Fideo (noodle) for his thin frame, is out of the Copa America Centenario after a groin injury during Friday’s 5-0 win over Panama in Chicago and unlikely to play again unless Argentina reach the June 26 final. He missed the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil after a muscle tear during the quarterfinal against Belgium and he injured a hamstring early in the 2015 Copa America final in Chile. “During…
The Copa America Centenario erupted into controversy on Sunday after a refereeing blunder sent Brazil crashing to a 1-0 defeat against Peru – and out of the tournament. The defeat left Brazil struggling to digest their worst performance in the Copa America since 1987, the last occasion the five-time world champions failed to make it past the group stage. Brazil, needing only a draw to qualify for the quarterfinals as winners of Group B, looked to be on course for a place in the last eight with 15 minutes to go against Peru. But a rare foray into Brazilian territory…
zLSweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Sunday said Manchester United fans will have to wait a little longer before finding out if he will be at Old Trafford next season. “For me in Manchester, there is nothing to say. I feel happy for the moment – what future there will be you will see soon,” Ibrahimovic, who is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain, told a press conference ahead of Sweden’s Euro 2016 clash with the Republic of Ireland on Monday. “Wherever I go I will be happy and will still enjoy.” The 34-year-old also responded to praise from United legend,…
Leicester City defender Danny Simpson is hopeful that striker Jamie Vardy will reject the overtures of Arsenal and still be at the Premier League champions when the new season kicks off. Arsenal have triggered a release clause in Vardy’s contract with a bid believed to be 20 million pounds (28.43 million) for the England striker, with the player yet to commit to the move, according to British media. “I have spoken to Jamie,” Simpson told the BBC. “Everyone wants him to stay. We would like everyone to stay, even if it’s just for one more year. “It’s his decision and…
Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger came off the bench to score his first international goal in figve years and seal a perfect start to the world champions’ Euro 2016 campaign with a 2-0 win over Ukraine. Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi powered home the opener from Toni Kroos’s free-kick after just 19 minutes of Sunday’s game in Lille. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer then made a fine save from Yevhen Khacheridi and Jerome Boateng made a spectacular clearance off his own line as Ukraine pressed for an equaliser. However, Schweinsteiger, who had played just 23 minutes since tearing a knee ligament in March,…
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has denied reports of a conflict between himself and President Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu spoke in reaction to a rumour that he publicly condemned Buhari’s policies and his performance, Punch reports. “They were angry that some people would just manipulate and fabricate stories and go ahead to publish lies and absolute nonsense. All I could do was to calm them down,” Tinubu’s aide, Sunday Dare, said via a statement. “In the social media age, any knucklehead can publish or turn fact on its head. But we know this recent one…
Akin Akinbobola, the Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, on political and mobilisation matters, has slammed President Buhari for travelling abroad to treat his ear disease. Akinbobola said the hospitals in Ondo state have all the medical facilities needed to treat the President. He also said the President’s decision to travel abroad for treatment will project Nigeria’s health sector as incompetent. Akinbobola said “Good and very up-to date facilities abound in Nigeria that can handle such ailment. Ondo State today is proud to have state of the art Tertiary medical institutions. it’s worthy of note to mention that…
President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated 47 Nigerians to serve as ambassadors in his administration. The list of names was contained in a letter sent to the Senate and read by Senator Bukola Saraki, the president of the upper legislative chamber today, June 9, 2016. Some of the names on the list, according to The Cable, are: Obinna Chukwuemeka, Okeke Vivian, Ngozi Okeje, Bello Kazaure, Garba Baba, Umar Salisu, Kadiri Ayinla Audu, Ibrahim Isa and Bankole Adeoye. Others are Ibrahim Hamza, KC Nwachukwu, Olufemi Abekoye, Adekunbi Abibat, Salisu Umoru, Liman Munir, Mohammed Hassan Hassan, Olatunde Adesesan, Usman Bakure, Balogun Akeem and…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interrogated former Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime in connection with the $115 million election bribery scam which was allegedly supervised by former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Chime was questioned on his participation in the fraud at the EFCC’s zonal office in Enugu. He reportedly denied sharing the money and said that it was collected by his former Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Rita Chinelo Mba. Chime also said that he gave the money to his orderly for safe keeping and ordered that only Mba should have access to it. The…
John Mayaki, media aide to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has said that the governor is determined to ensure that his successor comes from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mayaki also said that Oshiomhole will aggressively support the APC’s governorship candidate in the September 2016 elections, The Nation reports. “The Comrade Governor has been very respectful of all the aspirants, while placing the interest of the party first. He is careful not to put his thumb on the scale, but at some point, the verdict is the verdict and that point is almost certainly here,” he said. “I expect Mr.…
The Deputy Senate President. Senator Ike Ekweremadu has said that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki is the most persecuted politician in Nigeria. Ekweremadu said this while congratulating Senators for their understanding and unity in the past one year, on Thursday, June 9, 2016. He also said the Senate President’s trouble started immediately he emerged as the leader of the Red chambers, against the wish of those he called the powers that be. The Deputy Senate President also thanked the lawmakers for giving him their support, despite the fact that he is a member of the opposition – Peoples Democratic Party…
Nigeria’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) has not achieved anything after one year of its inauguration. In a tweet by the official handle of the party @PdpNigeria, the party said: “The government has not achieved anything in 1yr but photos, photos and more photos. It promises 3yrs of more photos.” In another tweet, the party said: “When they were in opposition, APC had solution to every Nigerian problem. Now in government, they have excuses for everything.” Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said that…
Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop presenting Nigeria in a bad light. Akpabio made the comment on Thursday, June 9, 2016, while also recalling the events of June 9, 2015, when Senator Bukola Saraki became Senate President against the wishes of the APC. “You (Saraki ) were jittery and sweating on that day. If we had wanted to take over the Senate, the PDP would have done that. We had the chance to take all the positions but because we are not greedy, we decided to allow the APC take over,” Akpabio…
Ten out of twelve aspirants for the All Progressives Party (APC) primaries have alleged intimidation and harassment of party officials by an “interest group.” This was contained in a letter addressed to the National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun and signed by the following aspirants; Prof Osermiemen Osunbor, Pius Odubu, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Charles Airhiavbere, Ken Imasuagbon, Austin Emuan, Blessing Agbomhere,Tina Agbarha, Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula and Comrade Peter Esele. The letter read in part; “There has remained consistent harassment and intimidation of party officials and political appointees on account of their support for aspirants of their choice. “The latest of these acts of…
Troops of 156 Task Force Battalion of 29 Task Force Brigade, Civilian JTF and local vigilante in Yajiwa, Alanganro forest, Borno state have destroyed eight camps belonging to the Boko Haram terrorist sect. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman disclosed this on Friday, June 10, 2016. According to him, items recovered include 2 primed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 3 pressure plates, a 36 hand grenade, 2 Dane guns, 7 motorcycles and 5 empty cases of 12.7mm rounds of ammunition, 1 damaged mine detector, a vehicle and camel bag. He noted that the troops also recovered a…
Following a Monaco Grand Prix in which Lewis Hamilton finally arrived in the Formula One title race at the expense of a fuming Daniel Ricciardo, we take a look at what’s been happening in the world of F1 ahead of this weekend’s trip to Canada. ‘Then I won a race, now I’m a Belieber!’ Never one to shy away from the limelight, Hamilton celebrated his first win of 2016 by hanging out with new BFFs Neymar and Justin Bieber. The trio attended Brazil’s Copa America Centenario opener against Ecuador in California and had the time of their lives if some…
Highlife singer Flavour goes head to head with popular Ghanaian artiste, Shatta Wale to give fans a thrilling performance on Saturday, May 21, at the Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana. It’s widely known that there has been historic good-spirited rivalry between the two great nations – Ghana and Nigeria, whenever both countries are pitched against each other, competition is always fierce. At the Ghana meets Naija Battle, Flavour had the Ghanaian audience in awe, singing along to many of his greatest hits. His contender, Shatta Wale was equally impressive giving his home crowd a thrilling performance. Both artistes have had…
Popular singer, Flavour is one besotted dad! The crooner shared a photo of himself and one of his daughters taking a ride in his luxurious car. The ‘Golibe’ crooner has two children from two Nigerian beauty queens. He welcomed a child with beauty queen Sandra Okagbue in September 2014 and another last year August from former MBGN queen Anna Ebiere Banner.