Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo has voiced fears that not all of the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram would return. “It’s inconceivable to get all of them back,” he said in an interview with the Premium Times online news site…
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Danlami Ma’azu stood among a crowd jostling to secure a satellite TV decoder in the Nigerian city of Kano so he could watch the World Cup in the safety of his home — far from the threat of Boko Haram attacks. The Brazil tournament should normally spell…
World Cup venue Cuiaba’s road network is undergoing a facelift of Hollywood proportions. The charming provincial venue for Friday’s clash between Chile and Australia may be the smallest of all the 2014 World Cup cities, but it can proudly put in a claim…
Colombia and Greece clash on Saturday in Group C plagued by fears over where their World Cup goals will come from. The South Americans were rocked when talismanic striker Radamel Falcao lost his battle to be fit for the finals after suffering a serious…
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday criticised the conduct and “unguarded utterances” of leading politicians as they were stoking tensions in the country ahead of key polls next year. “Indeed the conduct and utterances of leading politicians…
Australia, basking in the role of world Cup underdogs, are up for the “massive” challenge of tackling Chile, coach Ange Postecoglou promised in Cuiaba on the eve of Friday’s Group B game. “Chile feel they can make a big impact in this tournament, they…
Franck Ribery could have played at the World Cup if he wasn’t afraid of injections, the France team’s doctor Franck Le Gall claimed Thursday. A week ago Bayern Munich star Ribery pulled out of the World Cup due to a back injury that virtually stopped…
Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has dismissed suggestions his side are past their best as they attempt to win a fourth consecutive major tournament at the World Cup in Brazil. The world champions get their campaign under way against the Netherlands…
Nigeria’s military indicated on Thursday that it could follow the example of Sri Lanka in fighting terror, to bring an end to an increasingly deadly insurgency by Boko Haram militants. A high-ranking military delegation from the South Asian island nation…
Manchester United forward Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez has paid for a frustrating season with his club by being relegated to the bench for Mexico’s opening World Cup clash with Cameroon on Friday. Hernandez started only six league games for a struggling…
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas has signed for English Premier League club Chelsea from Barcelona, he confirmed on Thursday. Fabregas, who is preparing for the World Cup with the Spain squad in Brazil, is believed to have signed a five-year contract…
The main political groups in the European Parliament on Thursday backed the “democratic” right of Jean-Claude Juncker to be the next head of the European Commission, in the face of fierce opposition from Britain. “There is growing support for Juncker…
Brazil kicks off the World Cup Thursday hoping to unite the football-mad country after a chaotic seven-year build-up plagued by violent protests. The 32-team extravaganza gets under way in the teeming mega-city of Sao Paulo, where the host nation’s…
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have been informed by governing body UEFA that they must include five and not eight homegrown players in their Champions League squads for next season. Premier League champions City and Ligue 1 winners PSG were…
Italian coach Roberto Mancini has parted company with Turkish club Galatasaray after just nine months in the job, the Istanbul outfit confirmed on Wednesday. “Our club has decided to end, at his request, Roberto Mancini’s coaching contract,” the club…
Blackpool have appointed Jose Riga as their new manager, the Championship club announced Wednesday. The former Standard Liege boss, who left Charlton at the end of the season having managed to help them avoid relegation during his 16 games in charge…
Embattled FIFA leader Sepp Blatter is expected to defy opposition from European football chiefs and declare his candidacy for a new term at football governing body’s congress on Wednesday. Controversy surrounding the 78-year-old Swiss official and accusations…
At least eight people, including three security officers, were killed when gunmen raided three villages in Nigeria’s volatile central Plateau state, army and police spokesmen said. The gunmen launched pre-dawn attacks in Bachit, Rim and Jol villages…
The head of the Dutch football association on Tuesday publicly called on FIFA president Sepp Blatter to stand down as the world governing body battles corruption accusations. Michael van Praag, head of the KNVB, said he challenged Blatter when he appeared…
England forward Danny Welbeck is a doubt for his side’s opening World Cup game against Italy on Saturday due to injury, according to British media reports on Tuesday. Several newspapers reported that the Manchester United player was forced to limp out…