Jose Mourinho is set to make his first appearance at Old Trafford since being named Manchester United manager in Sunday’s prestigious Soccer Aid charity match. Just nine days after the official confirmation of Mourinho’s appointment, the 53-year-old will be in Manchester to give his support to Unicef, who use the friendly fixture to raise money for children in danger. Former Chelsea boss Mourinho had agreed to manage an ‘England’ team consisting of former internationals, musicians, actors and other celebrities, against a Rest of the World team coached by Leicester chief Claudio Ranieri and featuring a host of retired legends. But,…
Author: David Folami
Inter Milan director Piero Ausilio insisted that the club are prioritising the ownership change over signing Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure. The Serie A giants are reportedly close to having Chinese investors Suning Commerce Group purchase a majority 70 percent stake from club president Erick Thohir. With the new ownership structure taking priority, there have been no negotiations to bring in former Barcelona and City star Toure. Despite scoring six goals in 32 Premier League matches for City, the Ivory Coast midfielder is set to leave the club, with Inter being named as a possible destination for the player. “Yaya…
Fresh off news that United are nearing their deal with Ibrahimovic, Mourinho’s new club could already be planning for life after the Swede. The club has reportedly made two approaches for Lionel Messi in the past three weeks in an effort to find out whether the Barcelona superstar would entertain a move to Old Trafford in the future. The Mail claims United are realistic enough to admit they would not be able to prise Messi from Barca this summer and will wait until they are able to offer Champions League football, hopefully ahead of the 2017-18 season, by which time…
Manchester United are in the process of finalising terms on a one-year contract for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the Sweden international could seal his move to Old Trafford before Euro 2016 kicks off on June 10. Sky Sports reports Ibrahimovic is the only frontman on Jose Mourinho’s wanted list this summer amid hopes Marcus Rashford can continue to develop next season. The former Chelsea boss is so confident in his 18-year-old charge that he reportedly passed up the opportunity to move for Leicester striker Jamie Vardy (more on him below) this week. Former Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and…
The prevailing theme of the European Championship’s history is its constant expansion. For the first 20 years, just four countries competed at each Euros, doubling to eight in 1980, 16 in 1996 and now, for the first time, 24 at Euro 2016. There will doubtless be a couple of memorable stories made this summer by outsiders, but overall the latest expansion is likely to encourage defensive football, and might make the group stage somewhat underwhelming. Admitting eight extra countries has, by and large, made the tournament lineup more defensive. Underdogs realise they’re unlikely to punch above their weight by playing…
Harry Kane says his strike partnership with Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney needs time to develop after England’s 1-0 win over Portugal. The trio led England’s attack in the victory at Wembley on Thursday, but their link-up play lacked cohesion as Roy Hodgson’s men stuttered to an uninspiring victory thanks to Chris Smalling’s late header. England now get set to face Russia in their Euro 2016 opener a week on Saturday and Kane is unconcerned by the poor form the triumvirate displayed in their final warm-up. He believes that, given time, the three Premier League strikers can form a formidable…
Bayern Munich could have sold Thomas Muller to Manchester United for a world-record fee in 2015, according to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Muller was repeatedly linked with a switch to United last year, and the Bayern chairman admitted he was the subject of a “mad” transfer bid from the Premier League side. But Rummenigge cited the importance of having home-grown players in the squad as a reason for passing up the offer. “Thomas Muller came out of it [the youth academy]. [He is] born near Munich, formed here, the hero of the fans,” the Bayern chief told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “We had…
Edinson Cavani can step into the void left by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and lead the line for Paris Saint-Germain, says president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Ibrahimovic has been a revelation in the French capital over the past four seasons, scoring 156 goals in all competitions to help them become the dominant force in Ligue 1. The Sweden international’s contract at PSG will expire at the end of the month, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Alexandre Lacazette linked with replacing him. However, Al-Khelaifi is confident Cavani – who has occupied more of a wide role due to Ibrahimovic’s presence – is…
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have reported that 786 people were involved in road accidents in the Okene-Zariagi-Lokoja-koton Karfe-Gegu area, within five months. According to Punch, 79 people were killed, while 399 were injured in crashes involving 147 vehicles, out of the number. The reports was released on Tuesday, June 1, 2016, by the Zonal Commanding Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps, Zone RS8SQ, Assistant Corps Marshal John Meheux. According to Meheux, the road accidents were due mainly to impatience and recklessness of the drivers. He mentioned that the corps chose to inaugurate a special intervention patrol in the area…
Governor Adam Oshiomhole has blamed the current economic challenges hitting some states on the alleged misrule that took place during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure. The Governor said most state Governors in Nigeria have complained that they cannot pay salaries of workers. He said this after having a closed door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Oshiomhole said “These issues were discussed yesterday (on Tuesday) and as usual President Buhari has been extremely supportive even though we all agree including PDP governors among us that the crisis that we are being faced was as a result of…
The Kaduna State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed Senator Shehu Sani for forming a splinter group of the party in the state. On Friday, June 3, 2016, Sani and some key APC members in the Kaduna state formed a group known as APC Akida (a Hausa word which means“Our interest”). The party said they are united, adding that they support the administration of the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. The acting publicity secretary of the Kaduna state APC, Salisu Wusono said “As a party, the Kaduna State APC stands united behind governor Nasir El-Rufai, in delivering service for…
Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau on Monday inaugurated nine community-based projects initiated by local government councils in the state. These include two rural electricity projects located at Tapo, Heipang district of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area and Duei, in Du district of Jos South Local Government Area. During the occasion, Lalong called for peace among the communities, especially Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South Local governments which had been flash points in the past 10 years. The governor said the projects were initiated and completed due to the return of peace and urged the people to sustain the peace effort.…
Medical doctors in Nasarawa State have embarked on an indefinite strike action over salaries. Dr Friday Omolei, Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Secretary, Dr Peter Attah said at a news briefing on Friday in Lafia. The doctors said that the strike was due to alleged government failure to correct their salaries in tandem with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the association had issued a one-week strike notice to the state government on May 26. Omolei said the association took the “painful” decision, as the government…
The Pastor of the New Dawn Baptist Church, Victoria Island, Lagos, Rev. Samson Adedokun has called on President Buhari to put more effort in reviving the economy as he is doing with the fight against corruption. Adedokun, who endorsed the anti-corruption stance of the President, also said he should not dwell in the past. The clergyman said “It’s time to remind the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration that fighting corruption is not equal to progressively improving the lives of Nigerians. To be clear, we endorse the war against corruption. Infact, it should be widened and faithfully prosecuted. However, the current administration…
Nigerian Army troops have killed three Boko Haram members and arrested one during a military operation in Borno state. The Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, in a statement obtained from the Nigerian Army official website, said “The captured Boko Haram terrorist, Umar Mustapha, who claimed to have come from Sabsawa, has been handed over to the Brigade Headquarters for further interrogation and processing.” Usman also added that the troops have continued with their clearance operations of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists within the Sambisa forest. The Army spokesman said “In a related development, earlier this…
President Buhari has revealed that some fraudsters are demanding money from the Federal Government for the release of the Chibok Girls. The Boko Haram sect abducted over 200 girls from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state in April, 2014. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, “President Muhammadu Buhari said Friday in Abuja that while the rescue and safe return of the remaining Chibok girls remains a top priority of his administration, he will not fall for the antics of fraudsters who have been asking the Federal Government for money to negotiate the release…
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has condemned the arrest and detention of the leaders of the Oyo state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) by the police. The labour leaders were arrested by the police while they were protesting the planned privatisation of government schools in the state. Speaking on the development, Falana said the action of the police was a gross violation of the labour leaders’ rights. He also slammed the Nigerian Army saying they have “unleashed mayhem at Onitsha, Anambra State, to prevent the members of the indigenous People of Biafra…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has slammed the Oyo state Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, for allegedly intimidating labour leaders in the state. NLC also accused the Governor of arresting and harassing protesting workers in the state. Reports say the police arrested leaders of the Oyo state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) while they were protesting the government’s plan to privatise public schools in the state. The President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba said the decision to privatise the public schools is unjust, adding that the children of the poor will be not be able…
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has ordered banks to stop sacking their staff. Ngige explained that there was an ongoing conciliatory meeting, adding that all retrenchments should stop, pending the outcome of talks. The minister said this on Friday, June 3, 2016, while speaking to newsmen. Ngige said “Following the high spate of petitions and complaints from stakeholders in the Banking, Insurance and Financial Institutions, I hereby direct the suspension of the on-going retrenchment in the sector pending the outcome of the conciliatory meetings in the industry. “This is as a result of the apprehension by…
As Nigerian rapper Ice Prince forges ahead in preparation for his third studio album to be released under his newly founded record label, Super Cool Cats, he is trying to work with the best in the music industry. The Jos-born artiste’s soon-to-be-released studio project, J2TW (Jos to the World) had its lead single ‘Chike’, released over a week ago. Ice Prince has now announced that another single off the album will feature iconic South African singer, Yvonne Chaka Chaka. ‘Dreams come thru my man! Finally recorded with Mama Yvonne Chaka Chaka! My favorite female artist of all time #J2TW,’ he…