Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday took the “painful but necessary decision” to sack coach Alfred Schreuder after a 1-1 home draw with relegation-threatened Volendam in the Dutch league. The result left the defending champions in fifth place in the table, seven points behind leaders and bitter rivals Feyenoord. “This is a painful decision, but it’s necessary. Regardless of the good start to the season, we lost a lot of unnecessary points,” Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar told the club’s website. “The football itself was precarious too. We gave Alfred our time and trust to change the way things were…

Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard has broken his silence after he was shown the exit door as Everton manager. Lampard, one of the greatest midfielders of the English top-flight, was sacked by Goodison Park landlords on Monday after a 10-game winless run that included eight defeats. The former Chelsea and Derby County boss left Everton sitting comfortably in the relegation zone The Toffees are 19th in the table after 20 games. They have never been relegated from the Premier League, and may find themselves in the Championship next season. The Toffees were also sinking last season before Lampard was appointed on…

Cristiano Ronaldo has suffered his first official defeat since moving to Saudi Arabia from Manchester United. Ronaldo captained Al Nassr to a 3-1 defeat to Al Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup on Thursday night. The Portuguese and his side were knocked out of the competition as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side ran out 3-1 winners at the King Fahd International Stadium. Goals from Romarinho, Abderrazak Hamdallah and Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti ensured that Al-Ittihad knocked Al Nassr and their superstar signing out of the cup competition. Ronaldo nearly found the back of the net for his team in the 43rd minute, but…

The UK government on Wednesday said it had cut tariffs and extended duty free trade in goods exported from Nigeria Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones, Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria said this at the launch of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) which took place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Llewellyn-Jones said the scheme would help to boost Nigeria’s non- oil exports in line with the Federal Government’s wider trade policy objectives and take off in April 2023. He noted that the scheme would reduce import costs by over £750 million per year, thereby reducing prices, and increase…

Jose Mourinho is “still number one” in the eyes of former Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder. The Portuguese boss celebrates his 60th birthday on Thursday and is back in Italian football with Roma, who he led to glory in the inaugural season of the Europa Conference League in 2021-22. That triumph was Mourinho’s fifth continental title, having won the Champions League with Porto and Inter, the UEFA Cup with Porto and the Europa League with Manchester United. Mourinho’s treble-winning season with Inter in 2009-10 is one of the highlights of his illustrious career, with Sneijder part of the team that…

Popular Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, a.k.a Tems, has been nominated for the 95th edition of the Oscars award, scheduled to hold on March 12 2023. This was announced in the 2023 nomination list released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Twitter handle on Tuesday. Tems was nominated in the category of Best Original Song ahead of the 95th Academy Awards scheduled to take place in Los Angeles. She received the Best Original Song nomination for her collaboration with Rihanna on the song ‘Lift Me Up’. The duo was nominated in the ‘Best Original Song’ category. ‘Lift Me…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday decried the style of political campaigns in the country, calling for a change in orientation. Obasanjo spoke at an international conference on “Deepening Democratic Culture And Institutions For Sustainable Development And Security in Nigeria”. He delivered a keynote address on “Respecting the principles of democracy” at the Obi Wali Convention Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Obasanjo lamented how ordinary citizens are dragged into the directionless, meaningless and opportunistic personal or narrow ambitions of leaders. Political campaigns are taken over by insults, lies, self and selfish interest and diversions, not on issues of national…

Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum has invited 23 players for next month’s Revelation Cup tournament in Mexico. Barcelona forward, Asisat Oshoala, Atletico Madrid star, Rasheedat Ajibade and Leicester City defender, Ashleigh Plumptre were included in the squad by Waldrum. Other regulars named in the squad by the American are; Chiamaka Nnadozie, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Francisca Ordega, Halimatu Ayinde and Toni Payne. Jennifer Echegini, a midfielder, who plays for Florida State University has been handed her maiden invitation to the Super Falcons. Colombia and Costa Rica are the two other countries that will take part in the invitational tournament. The competition…

Names of about three clubs France legend, Zinedine Zidane, would prefer to join in the near future have been revealed. According to The Athletic, Zidane is reportedly eyeing a return to Real Madrid. However, the former midfielder is also open to managing Juventus or Marseille when he gets back into management. The report added that Zidane is open to a return to Los Blancos for a third stint once the La Liga champions are done with Carlo Ancelotti. Zidane has not taken charge of any team since he left Real Madrid back in 2021. The 50-year-old recently missed out on…

Barcelona are through to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey after a 1-0 win against 10-man Real Sociedad at Camp Nou. The hosts were unable to find the breakthrough in the first half despite dominating, but were handed an advantage when Brais Mendez was sent off in the 40th minute. Ousmane Dembele gave the Blaugrana the lead early in the second half after being played through by Jules Kounde, finishing powerfully past Alex Remiro. The contest between LaLiga’s first and third-placed teams was rarely as close as the scoreline suggested until a late push from Sociedad, and Xavi’s men march…

Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi has said that it has commenced a master plan to digitize all of its processes and implement strategies to encourage inclusivity in the public service. Dasuki on Wednesday said the Bureau has introduced some processes in Public Financial Management that has made Nigeria Federal Public Service one of the leading drivers in use of technology through transparency and accountability. He made this known at the Human Capital Strategy Forum, organized by Bratim Business School, with the theme, Inclusive workplace, workforce motivation and performance. Dasuki also disclosed that BPSR has developed…

The United States on Wednesday announced visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria. The American government said those affected undermined the democratic process in a recent election. The recent electoral race in the country were the governorship polls in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States. A statement by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, reiterated the commitment of the U.S. to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world. “Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process in a recent Nigerian election.” Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the…