Angel Di Maria says he left Manchester United for Paris Saint-Germain to win trophies and has not seen anything this season to make him think he made an incorrect decision. The Argentina international, 28, also felt Louis van Gaal’s decision to move him into different positions hampered his chances of settling in the side following his 2014 move from Real Madrid in a £59.7 million deal. After starting only 20 Premier League matches, he joined PSG for a reported fee of £44.3m last July and has already won Ligue 1 as Laurent Blanc’s men chase an historic quadruple. “It’s more…
Author: David Folami
Laurent Blanc is unsure if Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-1 rout of Nice was the perfect dress rehearsal for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Manchester City. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was at his brilliant best as his hat-trick inspired the Ligue 1 champions to a comfortable win at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, David Luiz also on target on for the hosts. With the title already sewn up, PSG’s main focus is on making the breakthrough in the Champions League, where they are looking to make the semi-finals for the first time since the takeover of wealthy owners Qatari Sports Investments…
Adrian Ramos came off the bench to score a priceless late winner for Borussia Dortmund as Thomas Tuchel’s side edged a thrilling 3-2 victory against struggling Werder Bremen. The substitute’s intervention proved a crucial one for Dortmund, who remain five points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, after Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 earlier on Saturday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Dortmund the lead shortly after half-time with his 23rd league goal of the season, the Gabon international chipping Felix Wiedwald after Henrikh Mkhitaryan played him through. The lead did not last long as Bremen hit back swiftly, Gonzalo Castro diverting…
Javier Mascherano believes Barcelona “were not smart enough” after suffering a 2-1 Clasico defeat at the hands of rivals Real Madrid on Saturday. Barca took the lead approaching the hour-mark at Camp Nou courtesy of Gerard Pique’s header but Karim Benzema tied things up six minutes later with a stunning overhead kick. Sergio Ramos was sent off with seven minutes remaining for a second bookable offence but Cristiano Ronaldo produced a brilliant winner for 10-man Madrid just two minutes later. Mascherano lamented Barca’s inability to hold on in the final stages and rued their missed opportunities in front of goal.…
England manager Roy Hodgson expects Wayne Rooney to be one of the first players on the plane for Euro 2016 but warned the captain that his spot in the starting XI is not certain. Rooney has been out of action since February after suffering knee ligament damage, missing England’s international friendlies against Germany and Netherlands last month. In the Manchester United skipper’s absence other players pressed their claims for a spot in England’s Euro 2016 squad, with Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy scoring, while Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck also featured. However, Hodgson has no intention of leaving Rooney’s name…
Andres Iniesta said Barcelona are “hurting” after Saturday’s Clasico loss but have already turned their attention towards next week’s Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid. Barca’s run of 39 games without defeat in all competitions was ended by La Liga rivals Madrid, who came from behind to win 2-1 at Camp Nou. Gerard Pique had given the home side the lead but Karim Benzema levelled things up just past the hour-mark before Cristiano Ronaldo hit the match-winner with five minutes left to play, despite Madrid going down to 10 men after Sergio Ramos saw red for a second bookable offence…
Real Madrid defender Pepe rounded on the club’s detractors after Zinedine Zidane’s side stunned La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-1 Clasico win at Camp Nou. Karim Benzema equalised in the 62nd minute after Gerard Pique headed Barcelona into a second-half lead. The impressive Gareth Bale had a goal disallowed for the visitors, who snatched victory through Cristiano Ronaldo five minutes from time in the aftermath of a red card for their captain Sergio Ramos. Pepe turned in a typically confrontational performance alongside Ramos at the heart of the Madrid defence and was delighted to hand Barca a first defeat…
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has revealed that he was slapped by a naval officer when he was a cab driver in the United States of America. Tinubu also spoke on another incident which involved him being robbed at gunpoint by a drunk passenger. He made the disclosure during an interview with TheNews. “One experience I will not forget was when I over-charged a naval officer who was returning to the country. It was not intentional. Apparently, I didn’t know the direction; there was no GPRS in those days to locate directions,” Tinubu said.…
Boko Haram members have renewed their commitment towards wrecking havoc on Nigerians and West African communities. In a recent report, the sect made this known in a newly released video on Friday, April 1, 2016. Denying any suggestion that it might negotiate, surrender or retreat its actions, a masked man in camouflage reportedly said in a prepared script in Hausa that, “You should know that there is no truce, there are no negotiations, there is no surrender. This war between us will not stop.” It was further reported that the masked terrorist insisted that Shekau remains the leader of the…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Washington DC reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the global fight against the threat of nuclear terrorism and other forms of terrorism. The President made this known in Nigeria’s country statement to the 4th Nuclear Security Summit hosted by U.S. President, Barack Obama. A statement issued in Abuja by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, noted that the Nigerian leader also pledged continued support for all multilateral efforts aimed at promoting common approach and commitment to nuclear security at the highest levels. He said “Nigeria accords high priority to all global efforts…
The Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN) on Saturday said it was planning to gradually increase its meter production capacity from 25,000 to 50,000 monthly. The Executive Secretary of EMMAN), Mr Muideen Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the gradual increment was to meet the country’s metering need and nationwide coverage. Ibrahim said the association had expressed its commitment to the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s presidential initiative on the metering scheme for Nigerians. “The presidential initiative on the metering scheme for Nigerians is indeed a good step in the right direction. “This…
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government is determined to significantly reduce the high bill for importation of food products to Nigeria. Speaking at a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mr Lars Rasmussen, in Washington DC, U.S., Buhari also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the rapid diversification of Nigerian economy. “We developed a mono-product economy and lost opportunities to diversify in the past. “We have great potential for agriculture and solid minerals; we are now determined to exploit them to the fullest,’’ Buhari said in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina on Saturday.…
Various individuals who are believed to be loyalists and fans of the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, held a prayer service to commemorate the administration’s 300 days in office. The event, which held on Friday, April1, 2016, at the area 11 Juma’at Mosque in Abuja, had hundreds of Nigerians from across the states in attendance. Reportedly sponsored by Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, the session had Shiek Muhammadu Kabiru Gombe as a guest speaker and other dignitaries in attendance. The session was the third prayer in the series for president Buhari, which is being marked after each 100 days of the administration’s lifespan.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has again slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over his incessant foreign trips. Fayose says Buhari’s trip to the United States on Wednesday, March 30, for the 4th Nuclear Security Summit at a time Nigerians are groaning in pain is laughable. The Governor who spoke through his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, said the President should stop “junketing around the world, wasting the country’s scarce foreign exchange.” “It remains a mystery what President Buhari that met power generation at 6,000MW and could not manage it such that power generation crumbled to Zero Megawatt yesterday, will contribute to the Nuclear…
Alhaji Bashir Rimi-Zaya, Publicity Secretary of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi state, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for measures taken to curb insurgency in the country. Rimi-Zayam made the commendation on Saturday in Bauchi while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said that he was impressed with the measures taken by Buhari towards curbing terrorism in the North-East, and in combating other vices, including corruption, in the country. He said that though it was too early to assess the achievements of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in its nine months in government, “one has to praise…
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has suspended the state’s Commissioner for Works, Mr Kevin Wachukwu, The Nation reports. The Governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, April, 2016. With no reason given for the Commissioner’s suspension, the statement said it is with immediate effect. Wike’s Special Adviser on Special Projects has been directed to temporarily assume the Commissioner’s responsibility of supervising projects in the ministry.
Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has approved the appointment of Sole Administrators in 11 out of the 13 local government areas in the state. This is contained in a statement signed by Aliyu Tijani-Ahmed, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and made available to journalists on Saturday in Lafia. According to the statement, the appointment followed the expiration of the tenure of office of the 11 local government chairmen on March 24, 2016. “By virtue of the expiration of their tenure on March 24, the eleven LGA chairmen stand dissolved hence the need to appoint sole administrators…
Nigerian singer, Timi Dakolo releases his new single ‘The Vow’ to celebrate his 5th weddingaAnniversary today March 31, 2016. For the third single off his forthcoming album ‘Love And Consequences’, Timi Dakolo teamed up again with Cobhams Asuquo to produce another record that oozes love, promises and deep emotions as his wife Busola, once again plays the lead role in the music video. In his words, ‘It’s been 5 years of learning and loving with my wife. I believe there is no better time to release this single and video than now. I call it my gift to her and…
Naomi Campbell loves Idris Elba ‘dearly’ but insists they are no more than just friends. The 45-year-old supermodel has laughed off reports she is dating the ‘Luther’ actor who recently split from girlfriend Naiyana Garth because they have been friends for so long and she would never think of him in that way. She said: ‘I don’t know why people thought we were dating. Because I’ve known Idris for like for 10 to 15 years, 15 years. And when he takes a picture of me on my fashion events for my charity, no problem there. ‘All of a sudden, bing-bam-boom,…
Snoop Dogg is keen to date Brandi Glanville but she won’t embark on a romance while he is still legally wed to estranged wife Shante. The ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ hitmaker hit it off with the 43-year-old reality star when they appeared on Khloé Kardashian’s show, ‘Kocktails With Khloé’, in January and the pair have been ‘talking’ ever since. However, sources told the New York Post newspaper’s Page Six column the ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ star – whose marriage to Eddie Cibrian broke down when he had an affair with now-wife LeAnn Rimes – won’t date the 44-year-old…