Author: Chief Editor

Niran Adedokun If we were to be honest with ourselves, it is hard to be incorrupt in Nigeria. I imagine this would cause a lot of anger in many honest compatriots and it is understandable. However, this sometimes impulsive, other times hypocritical posturing is itself, one of the core problems of Nigeria. A problem acknowledged is half solved but like the ostrich, most Nigerians bury their heads in the sand when corruption is brought up. That failure to accept our reality is a major impediment to dealing with this cankerworm. So, these past two weeks, we have had fantastic stories and allegations of corruption in high places. From the…

Virgil van Dijk held his hands up to an uncharacteristic error that cost Liverpool the chance to set a new Premier League record points tally as Arsenal came from behind to beat the champions 2-1. Just a third league defeat of the season for Jurgen Klopp’s men means the Reds cannot now match Manchester City’s record 100 points from two seasons ago. Sadio Mane put Liverpool in front as the visitors dominated for the first 30 minutes at the empty Emirates. But Van Dijk’s slack pass allowed Alexandre Lacazette to equalise before Alisson Becker also produced a rare mistake to…

Final for 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium on December 18 Unlike the previous FIFA World Cup competitions, which usually started in the second week of June and ended in the second week of July every four years, the Qatar 2022 championship will kick off towards the end of November and end on the second week of December. According to a statement by the world football governing body, FIFA, the 2022 competition will feature four matches a day throughout the group stage to ensure optimal rest time for the teams. FIFA said Qatar’s unique footprint allows later assignment of group matches for the…

•President’s anti-graft fight ruse, Adamawa CAN insists The suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was yesterday released after 10 days in detention. He had been arrested and hauled before the Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential panel to answer the fraud charges preferred against him by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN). Magu was in a police facility in Abuja from where he had been taken before the probe committee every morning. His lawyer, Tosin Ojoamo, had written the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, last Friday,…

Manchester City’s summer transfer plans received a huge boost after their UCL ban was overturned. We identify five players that Manchester City should target heading into the transfer window. Manchester City have made headlines all over the world after their UEFA Champions League ban was overturned a couple of days ago. The Cityzens were hit with a two-year ban from Europe’s most prestigious competition and a €30m fine after breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. However, it was revoked, and the fine was reduced to a figure of €10m, clearing City to compete in the 2020/21 UCL. The potential ban led…

Veteran Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins has rejoined Shanghai Shenhua, the Chinese FA Cup winners said on Wednesday, more than two years since his last competitive match. The 35-year-old former Inter Milan and Newcastle United forward was without a club last year as he battled a hamstring injury. His last game was in April 2018 for Chinese Super League side Shenhua, for whom he scored 32 goals in 59 matches during his previous spell. Shenhua did not say how long Martins’ new contract is for but he helps replace fellow Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, who is on loan at Manchester United.…

Marcus Rashford is to become the youngest person to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester for his work campaigning against child poverty and his sporting achievements. The 22-year-old Manchester United and England forward will follow in the footsteps of United greats Alex Ferguson and Bobby Charlton in earning the accolade from the university, which is the highest honour it can bestow. Last month he forced a government U-turn after he wrote an open letter to MPs asking for the reversal of a decision not to award free school meal vouchers to vulnerable children outside term time. The…

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, on Wednesday distanced himself from the detention of the suspended acting Chairman of the country’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu. Magu, the embattled former anti-corruption helmsman is being quizzed by Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential investigation panel. Specifically, the former EFCC boss has been detained for 10 days running by the committee for sundry corruption allegations brought against him by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. While still being detained, Magu’s lawyer, Tosin Ojoamo, had written to the police boss seeking bail for…

French Ligue 1 outfit Lille and Italian Napoli appears to have finally settled on a transfer fee believed to be in the region of 50 million Euros plus a player, Adam Ounas, before Nigerian international, Victor Osimhen, will make a switch to the Serie A club. The total amount Napoli is expected to pay Lille to conclude the deal was put at 81 million Euros. French top media, L’Equipe reported yesterday that both teams are believed to have finalised on this on Monday when they met. The worth of the much-discussed transfer has varied from 50 million Euros to as…

Nigerian-born Michael Akinfenwa is still in cloud nine after Liverpool Manager, Jurgen Klopp messaged him on WhatsApp in celebration of his Wycombe Wanderers’ promotion to the English Championship after beating Oxford United at the Wembley on Monday. After the Chairboys triumphed 2-1 on Mondayto reach the second tier for the first time, veteran striker Akinfenwa gave an on-pitch interview to Sky, in which the 38-year-old referenced a similar post-match interview from four years earlier. On that day in 2016 – after scoring a penalty for AFC Wimbledon against Plymouth Argyle in the League Two play-off final – he famously said:…