Arsene Wenger is confident Alex Iwobi can flourish at Arsenal after the 19-year-old repaid his manager’s faith in him by impressing on his third start for the club in Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup fourth round victory over Burnley. The attacking midfielder, nephew of seven-time Nigerian footballer of the year Jay-Jay Okocha, rounded out a solid display by laying on key passes in the build up for both Arsenal goals against their Championship (second tier) opponents. Wenger said he was glad he persevered with Iwobi, who has come off the bench four times in the Premier League this season, after recognising…
Author: David Folami
Wayne Rooney can help ease the pressure on beleaguered Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and move closer to Bobby Charlton’s club scoring record if he maintains his hot streak against Stoke City in the Premier League on Tuesday. United forgot their league woes on Friday when they won 3-1 at Championship side Derby County in the FA Cup with Rooney’s superb curling shot taking his tally to six in six games and 243 for the club, six behind Charlton. Van Gaal’s team return to league action for the first time since losing 1-0 at home to Southampton, lying fifth…
Chelsea will tackle fellow Premier League heavyweights Manchester City in the stand-out tie of the FA Cup fifth round. Chelsea booked their place in the last 16 with a 5-1 win at Milton Keynes Dons and were immediately dealt a home game against City, who won 4-0 at Aston Villa on Saturday. Third-tier Shrewsbury Town, who shocked Championship side Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 in round four, were rewarded with a glamour tie at home to Manchester United. Meanwhile, Arsenal, seeking a third consecutive FA Cup success, were handed a home tie against second-tier Hull City, who they defeated in the 2014…
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney testimonial game this summer will be against his former club, Everton. Rooney have been handed a testimonial by Manchester United in recognition of 12 years at the club. Back in October, United scheduled August 3, 2016 to mark for Rooney to mark his 12 years at Old Trafford, and Everton have confirmed they will be involved with the game. The game will be played as part of one of United’s pre-season games in the summer. Rooney joined the youth team of Everton at the age of nine and made his professional debut in 2002 at…
Italy coach Antonio Conte believes Serie A is no longer among the top leagues in Europe owing to a lack of investment from club owners. Conte won five Scudettos as a player with Juventus between 1995 and 2003, claiming three more as coach of the Bianconeri before taking over from Cesare Prandelli as Italy boss in 2014. Juve’s dominance continued under Conte’s successor Massimiliano Allegri last term, while he also guided the Serie A holders to a Champions League final where they were beaten by Barcelona. That was the first time an Italian side had made the final in five…
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insists he is not thinking about speculation linking Neymar with a move to the club and is adamant the rumours do not impact the dressing room. Reports in Spain have indicated Madrid see Neymar as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been repeatedly linked with a transfer away from the Santiago Bernabeu – with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain mooted as potential destinations. Madrid are reported to have met with Neymar before the Ballon d’Or ceremony this month, but the rumours have been firmly rejected by Barca vice-president Jordi Mestre. And, speaking ahead of…
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has admonished State governors to stop the illegal practice of appointing caretakers to run the affairs of Local Government Areas (LGAs). Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi, the Chairman of Ibadan branch of the association stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ibadan. Gbadamosi said that there is no provision in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, for the appointment of a caretaker as chairman of local government. “This unconstitutional act has become a tradition in the states; can the president appoint caretaker governors. “We should collectively fight the illegality of…
The Kano State Fire Service on Saturday cautioned black marketeers against selling fuel in or around residential houses in the state. The State Director of the agency, Alhaji Balarabe Kabara, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano. He said the warning became necessary following incessant fires in the state especially in Kano metropolis. ADVERTISING “Of recent we experienced fire outbreaks in the state as a result of people selling fuel near residential houses. “This illegal practice must stop or those involved will face the wrath of the law,’’ Kabara said. He said…
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it is intensifying surveillance to locate the abducted Chibok girls and other captives held by the Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa forest Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, the Deputy Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole in charge of Air Component made this known when he briefed newsmen in Maiduguri on Saturday. Amao said that NAF had also destroyed the terrorists’ leadership hideouts; logistics support bases and infrastructure in its numerous air strikes. ADVERTISING “In continuation of the counter-terrorism operations under Operation Lafiya Dole, the air component has intensified air strikes against the Boko Haram…
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, on Saturday opened part of Goodluck Jonathan Expressway in the Central Business District to ease traffic in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Goodluck Jonathan expressway before now was known as Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX). Bello urged the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to consider the full expansion of the Abuja-Keffi Road to 10 lanes to reduce traffic bottlenecks on that axis. He said the expansion of road to 10 lanes with interchange bridges at critical junctions would guarantee traffic flow in and out of Abuja city from the North-East…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Imo chapter, has criticized the state government’s plan to concession some of its institutions, expressing fears that the policy would expose the people to serious danger. The Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr Austin Chilakpu, expressed the workers’ fears in an interview in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Sunday. NAN recalls that Gov. Rochas Okorocha on Jan.17 announced the sack of more than 5, 000 workers in 19 parastatal organizations, agencies and departments in the state, in line with the policy. ADVERTISING But Chilakpu said, “concessioning the…
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said on Sunday that it recorded 118 road crashes and 37 deaths in Akwa Ibom in 2015. The Sector Commander of the corps, Mrs Cecelia Alao, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo. Alao said that those that died in the crashes were 19 males, 17 females and a child, while 39 lives were lost in 2014. She said however that 118 road crashes recorded in 2015 was slightly higher than the 153 cases recorded the previous year. The sector commander also said that 81 persons were…
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has urged Nigeria’s elite to embrace the change agenda of the Federal Government to make Nigeria great again. Bello made the call when he received participants of Senior Course 38, Command and Staff College, Jaji, in Abuja on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Course 38 participants were on study tour of FCT administration. He said that the topic under discussion, “Repositioning Nigeria’s non-oil sector as a major source of revenue’’,, was timely considering the dwindling oil prices at the international market. The minister further urged Nigerians to have a rethink…
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule on Saturday urged residents to adopt attitudes and practices that could promote good environmental sanitation and cleanliness to pave way for good health. Adebule made the plea during the monthly environmental sanitation inspection at Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the residents dumped refuse and waste indiscriminately on some streets and in the drainage channel on Ijora-Badiya railway. Many residents were seen seated in front of their houses, chatting away in dirty surroundings without observing the environmental sanitation. Adebule decried the dirty…
The Delta Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on security agencies to address the issue of kidnapping in the state. This is contained in a statement signed by its Chairman Rev. Gideon Oyibo, in Asaba on Saturday. He described as ungodly and unholy the recent kidnap and murder of the traditional ruler of Ubulu-Uku kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state, Chief Edward Ofulue III. Oyibo, who expressed his condolence to members of family and people of Ubulu-Uku kingdom, also appealed to security agencies to help track down those involve in the act.…
The Lagos State Government on Saturday said that it would utilise the opportunities in the tourism sector to boost its Internal revenue. The Gov. of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, said this at the official inauguration of the redeveloped Apapa Amusement Park in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 40- year- old Amusement Park was shut down on March 17, 2012 by the state government for upgrading. Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Arts and Culture, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, said that the park was now opened to the public. He said that there were…
This year, we have had two record labels come up against each other. The Don Jazzy-led Mavins ruffled the feathers of the YBNL rap boys, with leader Olamide making the fight his own. This is not a permanent fixture, but the war still rages on other fronts, with music being the core weapon of competing. We bring you the state of the union in record label positions in 2016. Who’s on the rise? Who’s taking a beating? Will Five Star Music give us another trick show or will Kcee continue his dry spell of no hits? Who’s the big hitter…
Pop queen, Rihanna’s new album, ANTI, which she dropped only yesterday has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA). ANTI which is Riri’s 8th studio album recorded 1 million downloads barely 15 hours after it was dropped. The 27-yr-old landed a $25m deal with South Korean Electronics giant, Samsung, with this same album and is set to have her album and tour sponsored by them. Although critics have speculated that Samsung had bought the million copies that has now gotten her a platinum as well as boosting sales for her, RIAA, still bestowed the honour whose…
Banky W has revealed that he will be releasing three albums this year. The singer has had a successful career, with a lengthy list of hit songs and albums. But he is set to make that list longer with three personal projects to be released this year. The singer/record label boss, revealed this information while talking about his label act, Shaydee’s album, via Snapchat. According to Banky, Shaydee’s album will be everyone’s favourite for the year 2016, while his own album will come in at 2nd, 3rd or 4th place. In 2015, Banky W worked on a number of projects,…
3 years after signing up with Banky W’s EME, Nigerian singer, Shaydee is set to drop his debut album. The singer and songwriter will be releasing the album in the coming weeks with label boss, Banky W already working on the promotion and publicity. The album is reportedly titled, ‘SOS’. Shaydee joined EME in 2012 alongside talented vocalist Niyola. They joined Wizkid and Skales, who have since departed the label. Banky W has also revealed that he will be releasing three albums this year. The singer has had a successful career, with a lengthy list of hit songs and albums.…