Luis Suarez does not owe Uruguay anything following his actions at the 2014 World Cup, according to former international team-mate Diego Forlan. Suarez was handed a nine-game international suspension and banned from all football-related activity for four months after deliberately biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in their group-game fixture in Brazil. The suspension saw Suarez miss Uruguay’s round of 16 tie against Colombia – which they lost 2-0 – as well as their entire 2015 Copa America campaign. The 29-year-old made his return after a 20-month lay-off in March this year, scoring on his return in a 2-2 draw against…
Author: David Folami
Sweden captain and record scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic may be allowed to leave the squad’s Euro 2016 training camp to sign for Manchester United, coach Erik Hamren said on Saturday. The 34-year-old, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Paris St Germain, has been strongly linked in media reports to a reunion with former coach Jose Mourinho, who was named manager of the English Premier League side last week. “We have days off. We plan our activities and the players can act based on that,” a mildly irritated Hamren told reporters. “I’m not going to speculate about such things.”…
Leroy Sane says he feels sympathy for Marco Reus, after the Borussia Dortmund star’s injury paved the way for him to take a place in Germany’s Euro 2016 squad. Two-cap Schalke attacker Sane made Joachim Low’s selection as the World Cup winners look to add a fourth European Championship to their collection, after Reus failed to shake off an adductor injury in time. Bayer Leverksuen’s Julian Brandt and Karim Bellarabi, as well as Sebastian Rudy of Hoffenheim, also missed out of selection – with Sane preferred among Low’s attacking options after scoring nine goals in 42 games for Schalke last…
Phil Neville has issued a staunch defence of John Stones, backing the England and Everton defender “to go right to the top” despite suffering some “scandalous” criticism. Stones, 22, is one of just three specialist centre-backs in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2016 and will arrive at the tournament following a season blighted by several high-profile errors for his club. Former Toffees captain Neville is well acquainted with the impact a major mistake can have on a player’s career – as a 23-year-old, the defender conceded a last-minute penalty that saw Romania eliminate England from the European Championship in…
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has hailed the “unique” Wayne Rooney and believes the England captain still has a crucial role to play in the national team. Rooney’s place in the England line-up has been questioned with strike duo Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy in fine form ahead of Euro 2016. But former Manchester United team-mate Ronaldo has no such queries, insisting the 30-year-old is a key for Roy Hodgson’s side. Ronaldo and Rooney have history at international level, with the Portuguese star getting the Englishman sent off during a clash at the 2006 World Cup. “A match against England would…
Egypt and Senegal qualified Saturday for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon after 2-0 away victories over Tanzania and Burundi respectively. Roma striker Mohamed Salah scored in each half for the Egyptian Pharaohs in Dar es Salaam. The Egyptians are back in the biennial African football showcase after failing to qualify for the last three tournaments having won the previous three. English Premier League pair Sadio Mane of Southampton and Mame Biram Diouf of Stoke City were the scorers for the Senegalese Teranga Lions. Senegal are seeking a first Cup of Nations title after coming closest in 2002…
Germany coach Joachim Loew says his priority is getting captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and key defender Mats Hummels fit for Euro 2016, following Saturday’s 2-0 confidence-boosting friendly win over Hungary. Schweinsteiger played the last 23 minutes in Gelsenkirchen after three months sidelined by a torn medial knee ligament, while Hummels is out with a calf tear. Manchester United star Schweinsteiger admits he is unlikely to play the full 90 minutes of Germany’s opening Group C game at Euro 2016 against Ukraine in Lille on June 12 before facing Poland four days later, then Northern Ireland on June 21. Hummels has said…
A consortium headed by American businessmen Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan has purchased a controlling stake in Swansea, the Premier League club announced on Sunday. The deal, concluded after lengthy negotiations, will see Huw Jenkins remain in an executive role and charged with the day-to-day running of the club. “Jason and Steve have vast experience in running sporting franchises in America,” Swansea said in an official statement on their website. “Jason is managing general owner of MLS side, DC United while Steve is the executive vice-chairman of the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. “Both see the takeover of Swansea City…
Manchester United will swoop for Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer as new manager Jose Mourinho’s first marquee signing at Old Trafford, Sky Sports reported on Friday. United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is finalising a one-year deal with the player’s representatives and the 34-year-old could join before Euro 2016, Sky sources said. Sweden’s first Group E match against Ireland is on June 13. The former Malmo, Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan striker, whose Paris St Germain contract is about to expire, wants to add the Premier League title to a trophy cabinet that already…
New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will deliver the Premier League title within two years, predicted defender Ricardo Carvalho on Sunday. “Jose will have something to prove after what happened at Chelsea,” the Portuguese international who was coached by Mourinho at Chelsea, Porto and Real Madrid and now plays for Monaco, wrote in The Sun newspaper. “I think he will make Manchester United better and in the next two years they will be champions.” Carvalho’s comments come on a day when Mourinho could make his first appearance at Old Trafford since being named as Louis van Gaal’s successor in Sunday’s…
France and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has fuelled speculation that Jamie Vardy is on his way to the Gunners by saying he has heard the Leicester City striker is keen to move. “I have been told that Jamie wants to join us and it’s very good news for us,” the striker told Sky Sports after scoring twice in France’s 3-0 friendly win against Scotland on Saturday. British media reported on Friday that Arsenal, runners-up to champions Leicester last season, had triggered a buy-out clause in Vardy’s contract with a bid of around £20 million. There was no immediate comment from…
Trust Alicia Keys to be a trendsetter. The multiple award-winning American singer is breaking a personal code by shying away from heavy make-up. From her popular wavy locks when she debuted with her Grammy-winning album, Songs In A Minor to long cornrows on her second album The Diary of Alicia Keys, the mother of two has been defining her looks for years. Alicia is now on a quest for a bold embrace of her appearance, preferring to appear ‘natural’ over heavy make-up as she is tired of hiding behind ‘masks’. ‘Every time I left the house, I would be worried…
Nigerian rapper, Olamide has joined in mourning late boxing legend, Muhammad Ali who passed away at 74. The rapper revealed how Ali’s 1974 photo inspired the cover art of his 5th studio album titled ‘Eyan Mayweather’ that was released in November 2015. Olamide shared his sadness at the passing of the boxing great on Instagram saying, ‘R.I.P Champ. This picture inspired my last album art’.
The passing of iconic heavyweight boxer, Muhammad Ali is expectedly drawing reactions from various quarters, and Nigerian celebrities have not been left out in paying their respects to the charming slugger. Olamide, Vector, D’banj, Toolz, Lil Kesh, Jesse Jagz, YQ, Lynxxx, Kemi Adetiba, Lami Phillips, Genevieve Nnaji, and Victoria Kimani are just a few of those who have taken to their social media pages to eulogize Ali.
Recently departed sports icon, Muhammad Ali left lasting impressions on the millions of people he encountered in his lifetime, a memorable experience many will hold dearly to their hearts. Naija Ninja boss, Sound Sultan is one of those who had the opportunity of meeting the ‘peoples Champ’ upon his visit to Nigeria in the early 80’s. Sultan in his tribute to the boxing great who passed on aged 74, fondly recalled how Ali warmed up to his siblings during their meet at the International Trade Fair. ‘When I met Ali I was just 8 years Old and my Family was…
Tunji Balogun, the embattled hubby of Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage may have deleted his official Instagram page (@teebillz323). His last activity on the page occured April 28, 2016 when he publicly called out his wife and other family members in a series of posts, accusing the singer of cheating on him with artistes including 2face Idibia, Don Jazzy and Dr. Sid. The posts were later deleted after he was reportedly saved from committing suicide by Banky W and Peter Okoye. Since then, not a lot has been heard from his camp until yesterday when word got out that he was…
Banky W has recorded the theme song for the film “Gidi Blues”. The singer revealed this on photo/video sharing app Instagram. The ‘Jaiye ori mi’ crooner shared an image of the movie poster with the caption: “The producers of this film “Gidi Blues” were kind enough to let me work on the soundtrack’s theme song, while also giving me a small cameo appearance in the movie . . .” He also shared that his latest production was “pretty funny and creative”. This is not the first time Banky W has made a cameo appearance in a movie. In 2015 he…
Moji Olaiya’s new movie starring Foluke Daramola and Funsho Adeolu is set to premiere in Lagos on Sunday, July 31, 2016. The “Iya Okomi” premiere scheduled to hold at Classique Event Place, Ikeja will be hosted by Baba Tee and Lepacious Bose. When translated from Yoruba to English language, “Iya Okomi” means “ My Mother-in-law”. Olaiya’s movie also features the likes of Fausat Balogun (aka Madam Saje), Mide Funmi Martins, Ronke Oshodi Oke and Ebun Oloyede. The film was shot in Lagos, Nigeria. This is not the first film produced by the Yoruba actress. She has previously produced “Monsurat” and…
An undisclosed source has now revealed Taylor Swift’s hopes and dreams for her relationship with Calvin Harris prior to its abrupt end on May 2, 2016. Us Weekly reports that a source has exclusively disclosed to them that the 26-year-old singer was hoping to settle down with the 32-year-old Scottish DJ, after concluding that he was ‘the one’. Speaking with Us Weekly, the source said: “She used to talk about their future a lot, marriage, babies. And although he wants all of that, it just felt a bit like she was all full-steam ahead, whereas he is more of a…
Following allegations that Oritsefemi has been issued a quit notice by his landlord from his Lekki home, the singer wants us to know that he is far from broke. The singer who has just returned from his European tour, made the revelation while speaking during the radio show, Saturday Beats, boasting that he cannot be broke. Oritsefemi also adds that he and his landlord are best of friends, and that the man has not asked him to vacate the property, denying all reports of any debts he is alleged to owe his landlord. Speaking during the show, the “Double Wahala”…