Author: Chief Editor

SIMON KOLAWOLE You are forgiven if you think an English high court just awarded a $9 billion fine against Nigeria in a case of breach of contract with Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID), a little-known Irish engineering and project management company. Actually, the award was made as far back as July 2015 by an arbitration panel sitting in London. What happened in London on Friday was a failed legal move by Nigeria to stop the enforcement of that judgment. If it is implemented, Nigeria’s bank accounts in the UK, where parts of our foreign reserves are warehoused, would be…

Dani Ceballos starred on his full Arsenal debut, creating both the Gunners’ goals as Unai Emery’s side triumphed 2-1 at home to Burnley. The midfielder – on loan from Real Madrid – put in a sensational performance, running the show for Arsenal, having 97 touches – more than any of his team-mates. Ceballos also attempted 70 passes and created four chances and became the third Arsenal player to register two assists on his first Premier League start. https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1162717869068697601 Henrikh Mkhitaryan, against Everton in 2018, and Ray Parlour had previously achieved that feat. It was some way to make an impression…

Anthony Martial is relishing the opportunity to prove himself in a central striking role all over again at Manchester United with the help of team-mate Marcus Rashford. The France international reclaimed the number nine shirt this season following Romelu Lukaku’s exit and he impressed through the middle in last weekend’s 4-0 win against Chelsea, scoring the second of his side’s goals. A change in position means increased responsibility to get on the scoresheet but Martial is embracing the pressure that comes with leading the line, having been shunted out to the flank by former boss Jose Mourinho. “Since I was…

The swimming section of a paratriathlon test event for Tokyo 2020 was cancelled Saturday due to high levels of bacteria in the water, the latest in a series of difficulties over water quality and temperature. Olympic organisers have won widespread praise for their preparations but extreme summer heat and poor water quality have brought headaches at practice events, with less than a year to go until the opening ceremony. The International Triathlon Union (ITU) shelved the swimming leg after tests showed levels of e-coli more than double the acceptable standard. The 70 paratriathletes instead competed in a duathlon format with…

Pep Guardiola sees no reason why Raheem Sterling cannot break through the 30-goal barrier for Manchester City this season. England winger Sterling has started the new campaign in sparkling form, opening the scoring against Liverpool in the Community Shield before netting a hat-trick in last weekend’s 5-0 demolition of West Ham. The 24-year-old hit 17 Premier League goals last season and 25 in all competitions as City won an unprecedented domestic treble. Sterling’s West Ham treble brought up 50 top-flight goals in City colours, 38 of which have come since the start of the 2017-18 campaign. Guardiola has no desire…

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino joked he would like to face Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in the boxing ring. Pochettino’s Tottenham will travel to Manchester for Saturday’s Premier League blockbuster against reigning champions City at the Etihad Stadium. Spurs boss Pochettino has enjoyed success against Guardiola after dramatically knocking out City in the Champions League quarter-finals last season. Pochettino said he is ready to go head-to-head with Guardiola, though he insisted football is a collective sport. [heavyweight boxer] Anthony Joshua and create a ring and fight,” Pochettino said. “I don’t know [who would win]. He is strong. You don’t know.…

The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee of FIFA has found former Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia, guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes to manipulate matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics. In a statement posted on its website this Friday afternoon, FIFA said the formal ethics proceedings against Siasia were initiated on 11 February 2019 and stemmed from an extensive investigation into matches that Mr Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes. “This large-scale investigation was conducted by FIFA via its competent departments and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and…

By: Dele Momodu Fellow Nigerians, permit me to borrow one of those wisecracks popularized by Chief Moshood Abiola, “no one can hide behind one finger.” He should have been here today to see how our leaders are struggling to hide behind one finger. His initial complete confusion would have been replaced by subsequent total amazement! I don’t know if you have noticed the jamboree going on between Abuja and Daura, this Sallah season. Visitation upon visitation by both the high and the lowly, the rich and the poor, even the military Chiefs have joined the fray, with one thing in…

Premier League football is back this weekend after the UEFA Super Cup concluded on Wednesday night. Champions League winners Liverpool emerged vitorious over Europa League winners Chelsea in a closely contested encounter. The most exciting encounter this weekend is at the Etihad, where Manchester City take on Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester City have started this season right where they left in 2018/19, topping the Premier League table with 3 points and a goal difference of 5 after they thrashed West Ham away at the London stadium. City forward Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick in the rout. Meanwhile, Tottenham were 3-1 winners…

Chelsea midfielder in much the same manner. Former boss Sarri exclusively deployed Kante in a box-to-box role rather than in his more familiar place in front of the defence. The World Cup winner contributed four goals in the Premier League last season but pundits and fans alike called for him to be restored to the position in which he previously shone for Leicester City and the Blues. Lampard resisted those pleas when he named Kante in a slightly more advanced area for the UEFA Super Cup loss to Liverpool on Wednesday, believing predecessor Sarri to have the right idea. “It’s…