Author: Chief Editor

Alexis Sanchez is not certain to leave Manchester United even though there are ongoing transfer talks with interested clubs, according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Chile forward Sanchez was not in the matchday squad for United’s first two Premier League games of the season with Chelsea and Wolves, having not taken part in any pre-season fixtures following his efforts at the Copa America. The 30-year-old has been heavily linked with Inter, who have already signed Romelu Lukaku from United in this transfer window and are said to be interested in a loan deal. It is claimed Sanchez’s wage demands are…

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted on Wednesday his long-time rivalry with Lionel Messi has made him “a better player” and that he enjoys a “healthy” rivalry with the Argentine great. However, Portuguese star Ronaldo, whose influence at Real Madrid mirrored that of Messi at Barcelona before he left for Juventus, admitted that the pair have never socialised together. “I really admire the career he has had and from his side, he has already talked of the disappointment when I left Spain because it was a rivalry that he appreciated,” Ronaldo told TVI in Portugal. “It’s a good rivalry but it’s not unique…

By Matthew Ozah There has not been a good performance indicator on the DISCOs operations across the country since they scrambled for the partition of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The difficulties in accomplishing their task suggest that the DISCOs may be facing some hurdles hence the low performance that has characterised their sojourn. Perhaps, it could be that the DISCOs were blinded with profits from the venture than thinking of facing challenges or they are simply being rewarded for shoddy preparations. At the moment, the heaven is preparing to dry its tears and the window of the scary and…

By Alade Rotimi-John We open with a classical allusion. Gordius, a legendary peasant, whose son, Midas, rose to be king of Phrygia was said to have dedicated his chariot or ox-cart to Zeus with the yoke tied to the pole in a special knot. Anyone who discovered how to undo it was to become lord of all Asia. Alexander the Great saw this at Gordium and simply solved the problem by cutting the knot with his sword. The story was often told in antiquity and “cutting the Gordian knot” has become proverbial for finding a way out of a difficulty. The…

By Tony Erha The managerial run of the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will begin this week with the announcement of portfolios and swearing-in of ministers-designate. As important as petroleum, together with its derivatives, is to the Nigerian economy, being the biggest revenue earner to the country, a very competent and untainted hand should be assigned to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in order to effectively supervise the critical sector. Putting a round peg in a round hole should be the concern of President Muhammadu Buhari in this regard. Considering the predilection to assign only those with the requisite…

Cristiano Ronaldo has finally admitted to paying $375,000 in a settlement and confidentially agreement after sexual assault allegations stemming from a 2009 incident in Las Vegas, according to CNN. Former model Kathryn Mayorga accused Ronaldo of raping her in a suite at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas in 2009. Ronaldo insisted that they had consensual sex, though Mayorga said that the Juventus star “forced himself on her and penetrated her vaginally and anally while she begged him to stop.” The two settled out of court in 2010, when Ronaldo paid her $375,000 in the settlement and confidentiality agreement. However, Ronaldo has long denied…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Monday that they were “shocked” by a life ban on former national coach Samson Siasia by FIFA for bribery, vowing to overturn it. On Friday, the governing body of world football banned Siasia, 52, from football, following a long-running investigation into convicted match-fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal. After his arrest, Perumal collaborated with investigators. FIFA’s Ethics Committee found Siasia “guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics.” Siasia, a striker, played 51 times for Nigeria and had two…

Andy Murray on Monday fell in the first round of the ATP Winston-Salem Open, where the three-time Grand Slam champion was giving his surgically repaired hip just its second test in singles. Britain’s Murray, who feared in January that his hip trouble would end his career, accepted a wild card into this week’s tournament in North Carolina after falling in his singles comeback in Cincinnati last week. He again showed glimpses of his once-dominant self, but was inconsistent in a 7-6 (10-8), 7-5 loss to 73rd-ranked American Tennys Sandgren in a match lasting 2 hours and 10 minutes. “Some things…

*Denies ‘raiding’ ex-gov’s residence The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday said it was investigating the administration of former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode. There were media reports earlier in the day of a raid on the Epe residence of the former Lagos State chief executive. But the anti-graft agency in a statement, denied ‘raiding’ Ambode’s residence. “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has since early hours of today, been inundated with calls that operatives of the commission raided the residence of the former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode. “We need to state for the records…

Manchester United are working to identify the individuals who aimed “disgusting” racial abuse at Paul Pogba following the Premier League match against Wolves. Midfielder Pogba was the subject of discriminatory posts online after failing to convert a penalty in the 1-1 draw at Molineux on Monday. It is the third high-profile instance in less than seven days of a footballer in England being targeted with racial abuse on social media. Chelsea last week condemned “abhorrent posts” aimed at Tammy Abraham after the forward had a spot-kick saved in the UEFA Super Cup loss to Liverpool. Reading striker Yakou Meite shared…