Outfit
Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Agu acquires Portuguese citizenship
Nigeria midfielder Mikel Agu has acquired Portuguese citizenship after a decade of residency in the European country. According to Portuguese law, an individual is eligible for citizenship through naturalisation after six years of residence. That is the process Agu has gone through to get acquire his Portuguese passport. The 27-year-old took to the social media to share the news on Tuesday. “What God cannot do does not exist, now a Portuguese,” he posted on the social media, while holding his Portuguese passport. Agu linked up with Portuguese giants FC Porto in 2011 made just two league appearances for the senior side. The talented midfielder spent time on loan at another Portuguese club Vitoria Setubal, Club Brugge of Belgium and Turkish Super Lig outfit Bursaspor. Currently on the books ...
Cross River monarch, three others nabbed for kidnapping
The Cross River State joint military outfit code-named, Operation Akpakwu on Monday arrested a traditional ruler along with his two wives and son for alleged kidnapping. The royal father named Etiyin Akamba Eyo is the Clan Head of Ikot Atambi in Akpabuyo Local Government Area and was arrested for using his houses as base for kidnapping activities. His shrine and two houses where kidnappers and militants are fortified with juju were demolished by the security outfit The operation was led by the State Security Adviser, Mr Leo Nyambi, where the chief confessed that his son was involved in kidnapping. Also on Monday, a building at the Eta Agbo Satellite Town was demolished after kidnappers who abducted a medical consultant in the University of Calabar were kept some weeks back. Get more storie...
South-east governors reiterate support for state police
The South-East Governor’s Forum on Sunday reiterated its support for the establishment of state police in view of the current security challenges in parts of the country. The chairperson of the forum, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, disclosed this in a communique issued at the end of their security meeting with opinion leaders in the zone in Enugu. The governor said the forum had set up a committee to work out acceptable modalities for the workability of state policing and would submit the same to the National Economic Council (NEC). “The meeting is in support of restructuring, the setting up of state police and other national issues as discussed at the last NEC meeting. “A committee has been set up to work out acceptable modalities and submit the same to NEC in its next meeting,” he said. ...
PSG boss: Idrissa Gueye a pleasure to work with
Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed his delight to work with Idrissa Gueye and praised him for his contribution to his side. The midfielder is currently spending his second season at Parc des Princes, having teamed up with the club from Premier League side Everton in the summer of 2019. Gueye has featured in more than 60 games since joining the side and in the current campaign, he has made 42 appearances, scoring two goals and providing one assist across all competitions. His performances ensured the Parisians to their second spot on the Ligue 1 table and their progression into the semi-finals of the Champions League. Pochettino has lauded the impact of the Senegal international to his side ahead of their encounter with the Maroons. “He’s a player with experience, ...
Borussia Dortmund interested in Terem Moffi
Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund are monitoring Nigeria forward Terem Moffi. Moffi, 21, has caught the attention of top European clubs following his impressive displays for modest Lorient in Ligue 1 this season. The striker has scored 11 goals in 27 league appearances for the club. The pacy striker has scored against Ligue 1 big clubs; Paris Saint-Germain (one goal), Monaco (three goals) and Olympic Marseille (two goals) in the current campaign. According to footmercato, Dortmund have listed the Lorient star as one of the potential replacements for Norway striker Erling Haaland, who is a subject of interest from top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City. Moffi only linked up with Lorient from Belgian outfit Kortrijk last summer. He was a revelation in the Lithuani...
Chelsea squeeze through to UCL semis after late Porto scare
Chelsea booked their spot in the Champions League semi-finals despite a late goal from Mehdi Taremi for Porto on Tuesday night. The Portuguese outfit tried to set a fast tempo from the off but struggled to break down Chelsea in a first period where neither side had a shot on target. The pattern continued after the interval and it wasn’t until the 65th minute that Edouard Mendy was forced to make a save when he easily kept out substitute Mehdi Taremi’s header. The Blues had the better of the half chances through Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic but seemed content with a stalemate that was broken four minutes into added time when Taremi struck to give Cheslea a late scare. Chelsea, who will meet either Liverpool or Real Madrid in the last four, will now shift focus to the FA Cup semi final ...
Rivers government launches new security outfit
The Rivers State Government has launched a new security outfit to help maintain security in the oil-rich state. The security outfit, called C4i, was launched on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. Wike, in a series tweets, said the outfit comprises 400 police officers and 200 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and that they have been trained in “relevant skills to ensure they carry out their duty efficiently”. “We have made appreciable success in the area of security but we wouldn’t rest on our oars. “With C4i, we intend to take it a step further by adopting a proactive policing approach and nipping the effort of criminals in the bud,” the governor said at the inauguration ceremony which was attended the Assistant Inspector General of...
Ademola Lookman thrilled to play for Fulham
Ademola Lookman says he is enjoying his time with Premier League club Fulham. Lookman linked up with the Whites on a one-year loan deal from German club RB Leipzig last summer The 23–year-old has been one of the key performers for the Cottagers, contributing four goals and three assists in 22 league appearances. “I’m enjoying my football here, that’s the most important thing,” Lookman told the club website. “For me, it’s just all about improving every single day I can, learn as much as I can off the gaffer and off the coaching staff.” Lookman has urged the Craven Cottage outfit to give their best when they square off against Roy Hodgson’s men at Selhurst Park. “We need to be at the top of our game also but we’ll definitely be going there to get the three points like in any game that we are...
Kano set to design metro transport master plan
The Kano state Executive Council has approved the constitution of a committee, to design a Strategic Metropolitan Transport Master Plan, in order to regulate the transport system in the metropolis. This is contained in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Muhammad Garba, made available to newsmen on Friday. It said the development of a Transport Master Plan for the state would strengthen economic growth and development, in line with the megacity goal of the Ganduje administration. Garba, in the statement, noted that the terms of reference of the committee, included a comprehensive mass transit system, to address the current transportation challenges. “It will also identify facilities and services to manage the dynamics of Kano as an emerging Megacity.” the state...
Liverpool complete loan deal for Schalke defender
Liverpool have completed the deadline-day signing of Ozan Kabak from Schalke, subject to international clearance. The 20-year-old defender will move to Anfield on loan until the end of the season, with the Reds having the option to make the move permanent in the summer for a fee of £18 million ($25m). Kabak, a Turkey international who moved to Schalke from Stuttgart in 2019, will be the first of two signings on a busy day on Merseyside. He will be joined by Preston centre-back Ben Davies, who finalised his switch earlier on Monday. Goal understands that Liverpool will pay an initial loan fee of around £1m ($1.4m) for Kabak, while the deal for Davies could be worth in excess of £1.6m, should all performance-related add-ons be triggered. The Reds had been insistent that it would be a quiet w...
Alex Iwobi in action as Everton bow to Newcastle United
Alex Iwobi was on parade as Everton lost 2-0 to Newcastle United in Saturday’s Premier League game at Goodison Park. The 24-year-old returned for the Merseyside outfit against Leicester City on Wednesday, making a cameo appearance in the encounter. The Nigeria international missed his side’s outing against Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round of the FA Cup on January 24. The forward was then restored to the starting XI against the Magpies to afford him more opportunities to make a meaningful impact for the club. Iwobi gave a good account of himself in the encounter but his effort was not enough to help his side avoid their sixth defeat of the season. The game started with both sides striving to outwit each other but despite their efforts, the first half ended without goals. After the re...
Joan Laporta: PSG have been disrespectful in Leo Messi pursuit
Paris Saint-Germain have been “disrespectful” in their pursuit of Lionel Messi, according to Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta, who has threatened to report the Ligue 1 champions to FIFA. PSG have been strongly linked with Messi ever since his decision to hand in a transfer request at Camp Nou at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. The 33-year-old ultimately decided to see out the final year of his current contract with Barca after opposition from club officials and La Liga, but his long-term future remains up in the air. Parc des Princes has been mooted as the most likely next destination for Messi, and PSG sporting director Leonardo publicly sounded out the six-time Ballon d’Or winner earlier this month. “Great players like Messi will always be on PSG’s list,” said the Brazilian...
