Edinson Cavani’s glaring 89th-minute miss in Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Venezuela saw them tumble out of the Copa America Centenario and the striker described it as “one of the worst moments” in his career Cavani worked the ball into space inside the box in the closing stages of the Group C clash at Lincoln Financial Field. However, the Paris Saint-Germain forward curled his shot wide of the upright, with Mexico’s victory over Jamaica later in the evening resulting in Uruguay’s elimination. Cavani was demoralised by the miss, but called for Uruguay to pick themselves up ahead of the resumption of…
Author: David Folami
Nigeria international midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has backed caretaker coach of the Super Eagles Salisu Yusuf for the permanent job. The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been without a permanent coach since the resignation of Sunday Oliseh in February. Search for a new coach has been on as the Nigeria Football Federation hope to announce one this month. Onazi however thinks Salisu who recently led the Super Eagles to victories in friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg is good enough for the job. The Lazio midfielder also revealed that Super Eagles players would like to see the caretaker boss given the…
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes and midfielder Nick Powell have both been released by Manchester United. Valdes, signed as a free agent in January 2015 as back-up to David de Gea, made just two appearances for United 13 months ago and was farmed out to Belgian side Standard Liege on loan in January this year after falling out of favour with then-manager Louis van Gaal. Powell, who scored on his senior debut after joining from Crewe in 2012, played a total of 10 matches with the last two of those coming in December before going to Hull on loan in February where…
When Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany limped out of the 1-0 Champions League semifinal second-leg defeat to Real Madrid after just eight minutes, his wave of appreciation toward the travelling fans could have carried more weight than initially thought. Of course, the Belgian was always going to remain positive about his body letting him down again — ahead of that match, he’d said that while people talk about his injuries, he talks about his comebacks. However, it’s difficult not to consider the captain’s long-term future at the club, as setbacks for the centre-back appear to be almost as sure as…
Starting with Saturday’s game against Russia in Marseille, Wayne Rooney knows his Euro 2016 performances for England will be under more scrutiny than ever before. Many believe he shouldn’t start, with former England captain Tony Adams saying this week: “Because Wayne is the captain and there isn’t a lot of leadership elsewhere, the temptation is to play him. I wouldn’t. Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy have been popping them in so let them run. I like the fearlessness of inexperience in attack. You can’t play all three.” Rooney showed the fearlessness to which Adams referred in the 2004 Euros when…
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…
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,…