loladeville

Opinion: Nigeria, Xenophobia & Ramaphosa’s Apology| By: Reuben Abati

Posted by loladeville | Sep 18, 2019 | Africa, Opinion |

We are told that South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa apologised on Saturday for the xenophobic attacks against foreigners living in South Africa, particularly persons involved in business who are seen by the ordinary South African as enemies. He reportedly did this in Harare, Zimbabwe, at the funeral ceremony of former president Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Most appropriately, the South African President was booed. He was offering too little too late, and other Africans have every reason to think that South Africans having behaved badly deserve to be booed and even shut out of the African Union, or reported to the International Criminal Court...

How Nigeria Can End Xenophobia Without South Africa’s Help |By: ‘Fisayo Soyombo

Posted by loladeville | Sep 10, 2019 | Opinion |

For the first time ever, Nigeria-based Nigerians gave a violent response to the killing and maiming of their countrymen in South Africa. South African enterprises, the most unfortunate being food retailer Shoprite and telco MTN, were targeted, leading to the destruction of property and obstruction of trade. In some instances, innocent Nigerian shoppers and business owners were affected. The attacks have since been quelled but the worst mistake anyone can commit is to discountenance them. Xenophobic attacks have been a distinct feature of South African life for decades. At the latest, they’ve been occurring since 1994, and have reached...

Emmanuel Adebayor joins 9th professional club.

Posted by loladeville | Aug 27, 2019 | Africa, Sports |

Former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor has joined Turkish club, Kayserispor on a 2 year-deal. The Togolese who has previously played for Metz, Monaco, Arsenal, Man City, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Crystal Palace and İstanbul Başakşehir, replaces Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan whose two-year contract expired last season. The 35 year-old who spent two seasons with Turkish outfit, Istanbul Basaksehir — where he scored 28 goals in 76 matches is expected to make his debut on Friday when Kayserispor host Galatasaray on Match Day 3 of the Supalig. The Togo skipper was omitted from the squad for his country’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers against...

Opinion: FBI 80: Igbo Is Not The Colour Of Fraud ~By ‘Fisayo Soyombo

Posted by loladeville | Aug 26, 2019 | Opinion |

The last 10 days have been very damaging for Nigeria’s already-battered international image. The spark was Obinwanne Okeke, once remembered for his listing by Forbes among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans 2018 but now an emblem of dirty wealth, following his arrest by the FBI over an $11 million advanced internet scam traced to him. This was followed by the belated revelation of Jumia, Africa’s largest e-commerce operator, about fraudulent orders placed by its network of commissioned agents in Nigeria, costing the company $17.5million between the last quarter of 2018 and the first two quarters of 2019. FBI...

FIFA Life Ban: Samson Siasia to tell his side of the story tomorrow.

Posted by loladeville | Aug 16, 2019 | Sports |

FIFA’s independent Ethics committee, has banned former Super Eagles player & coach Samson Siasia, from all football related activities, after he was found guilty of taking bribes in connection with match fixing. In a statement, the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s independent ethics committee said the probe the probe that began in February 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,” the statement said. In addition to being banned from all football related activity for life, Siasia was also handed a fine...

Super Falcons deserve equal pay, says Oparanozie at Ladies in Sports Conference.

Posted by loladeville | Jul 30, 2019 | Sports |

Super Falcons captain, Desire Oparanozie has asked that the women’s senior national team be paid the same amount of money paid to the men’s national team, the Super Eagles. She made the call at the 2019 Ladies In Sports (LIS) Conference held on Friday, July 26 at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. “I think we deserve equal pay. We are the most successful female team in Africa. We have done the nation proud. I believe we will get there, one step at a time,” Oparanozie said. She also advocated for the Nigeria Women’s Football League to be televised....

Algeria are AFCON 2019 champions.

Posted by loladeville | Jul 19, 2019 | Africa, Sports |

Algeria have won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, thanks to Baghdad Bounedhaj’s second minute goal earning the Desert Foxes a 1-0 win in the final against the Teranga Lions of Senegal at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday night.. Algeria was crowned champion for only the second time in its history, the first time in 29 years. Senegal fought hard for the remainder of the match but was unable to find an equalizing goal. The official man of the match for the final was Algeria goalkeeper Rais M’bohli, while Senegal captain Kouyate picks up the Fair Play award....

Odion Ighalo wins AFCON 2019 golden boot award.

Posted by loladeville | Jul 19, 2019 | Africa, Sports |

Talking about leaving the stage when the ovation is loudest. A day after hanging his boots for the Super Eagles, Odion Ighalo has won the African Cup Of Nations AFCON 2019 Golden Boot award with five goals. He becomes the sixth Nigerian after Segun Odegbami, Rasheed Yekini, Julius Aghaowa, Jay-Jay Okocha & Emmanuel Emenike to win AFCON top scorer prize. The former Watford forward made his Super Eagles debut under the tutelage of Daniel Amokachi in 2015 and later played his first competition with the senior team at the 2018 World Cup in...

Mikel retires from international football.

Posted by loladeville | Jul 18, 2019 | Africa, Sports |

Barely 24 hours after leading the Super Eagles to their 8th bronze medal at the African Cup of Nations tournament (AFCON), Mikel Obi has retired from international football. The 32 year-old announced his decision on his instagram page with a lovely portrait of him donning the Green White Green jersey. “Egypt is a country where I’ve started and have finished my National career. In 2006 I played my first official championship for my Country. 2019 African Cup of Nations marks my last championship for National Team with Super Eagles. My national career started in 2003 under 17 World Cup...

AFCON: Nigeria win bronze with victory over Tunisia.

Posted by loladeville | Jul 18, 2019 | Africa, Sports |

Nigeria has won a record 8th third-place match at the African Cup of Nations. The spot was sealed after Odion Ighalo scored in the third minute on Wednesday to secure a 1-0 victory for Nigeria over Tunisia. Ighalo scored from close range when he took advantage of a mix-up in the Tunisian defence at Al-Salam Stadium to net his fifth goal in Egypt is the second Nigerian striker to score 5 goals in a single AFCON after Rashidi Yekini in 1994. He is also the tournament’s leading goalscorer. The Super Eagles, who dominated the game, have now won the...

Africa: Sports as a Business and a Brand – By Victor Oladokun

Posted by loladeville | Jul 17, 2019 | Opinion, Sports |

At the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, the visual imagery of almost empty stadiums is a powerful narrative. But not the kind that African sports, African football, or corporate sponsors deserve. The empty seat syndrome in suggests that football fans are voting with their feet, or better still with their backsides. Fans are choosing not to watch live football events, and instead are opting in increasing numbers for the ‘intimacy’ of their crystal clear digital flat TV screens, or not all. Before Egypt’s stunning 0-1 loss to South Africa in the round of 16, the host country was...

Dani Alves becomes the first player in history to win 40 trophies in his career.

Posted by loladeville | Jul 8, 2019 | Sports |

Brazil captain, Dani Alves was named the best player of the 2019 Copa America following his side’s 3-1 victory over Peru in the final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracan Stadium on June 22. The 36 year-old has also become the first player to win 40 titles for both club and national team. Alves, who is currently without a team having left Paris Saint Germain last month won 5 trophies in Sevilla, 23 in Barcelona, 2 in Juventus, 6 in PSG and 4 in Brazil. Tournaments include; UCL, UEL, Supercup, Club World Cup, La Liga, Supercup, CDR, Serie A, Cup,...

Chelsea appoint Frank Lampard as new manager.

Posted by loladeville | Jul 4, 2019 | Entertainment |

Five years after leaving the club, Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard have signed a three-year deal to become the club’s new head coach. He takes over from Maurizio Sarri who left for Juventus after winning the UEFA Europa League and securing a third-place Premier League finish in his only season at Stamford Bridge. His first match at the reins is at Manchester United on Sunday 11 August. The 41 year-old told the club’s website, “I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea as head coach, Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared, however, my sole focus is...

The Power of Storytelling |By: Victor Oladokun

Posted by loladeville | Jun 25, 2019 | Opinion |

I’ve always been fascinated with stories. It’s one of the reasons why in high school I jettisoned physics, chemistry, and math in favor of literature and history. The decision has served me well in my media and communication career. I realized early on – to quote the poet Muriel Rukeyser – that “the universe is made up of stories, not atoms.” The truth is, stories are not loaded with hard data but rather with something more powerful: emotional data. That’s why we remember good stories long after we first hear them. Jesus was a master storyteller. At the age...

Super Falcons protest unpaid bonuses in France.

Posted by loladeville | Jun 23, 2019 | Sports |

Following their shocking exit from the Women’s World Cup, Players and officials of the Nigerian women’s team, on Sunday refused to leave their Mecure Hotel in protest over a backlog of unpaid bonuses for World Cup appearance fees and other outstanding payments. The Super Falcons who lost 3-0 to Germany in the Round of 16 are reportedly owed 5,600 US dollars from a win against Senegal in 2016 and a triumph against Gambia in 2018. “They paid us 1 million naira and said that is all. We want them to pay the balance,” one player told ESPN. “Part of that money...

Petr Cech rejoins Chelsea.

Posted by loladeville | Jun 21, 2019 | Sports |

Foremost goal keeper, Petr Cech has returned to Chelsea Football Club,a s technical and performance advisor. The club announced this in on their website this morning. The skipper who joined The Blues in 2004, will provide advice on football and performance matters throughout the club, as well as facilitating strong links between the Chelsea first team and Academy sides. The Czech Republic international moved to Arsenal in 2015, won the FA cup again and retired at the end of the 2018/19 season. “I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to join Chelsea FC again and help create the best...

William Ekong campaigns against Neglected Tropical Diseases in Nigeria.

Posted by loladeville | Jun 20, 2019 | Health, Sports |

Nigeria national team defender, William Ekong has started a campaign to draw attention to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect more than 120 million Nigerians. In partnership with the END Fund and Common Goal, William appears in a 48 seconds public service announcement where he calls on affected Nigerians to seek free treatment. Neglected tropical diseases are a group of parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases that affects more than 1.5 billion of the world’s most impoverished people, including 869 million children. They include intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (bilharzia), river blindness, trachoma, and lymphatic filariasis. Preparing to represent the Super Eagles...

The Growing Epidemic of Domestic Violence | By: Tony Ogunlowo

Posted by loladeville | Jun 7, 2019 | Opinion |

Despite the fact we’re living in the 21st century, the ugly issue of domestic violence against women ( – and sometimes men!) is on the increase and growing to epidemic levels. The main perpetrators of this crime are some Men who believe God gave them a pair of fists for the sole purpose of beating up their spouses: to them it’s their only way of asserting their superiority, authority or masculinity. This is wrong. Domestic violence is on the increase and the figures are alarming: a recent UN study found that up to 38% of women, in Africa, are physically...

Neymar out of Copa America after tearing ankle ligament.

Posted by loladeville | Jun 6, 2019 | Sports |

It has been a really terrible week for Brazil’s Neymar. Days after a woman accused him of raping her in a Paris hotel, an allegation he vehemently denied and published images on social media in his defence, the former Barca player has been dealt another severe blow. The Brazilian superstar has been ruled out of the Copa America Thursday after tearing his right ankle ligament during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Qatar. A troubled Neymar was seen covering his face with his hands as he sat on the bench after hobbling from the field in the 20th minute at...

Maradona wants to manage Manchester United.

Posted by loladeville | Jun 5, 2019 | Sports |

Argentine football legend, Diego Maradona has spoken of his intention to manage Manchester United if the club decides to show current coach, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the exit door. Speaking to FourFourTwo, the 58 year-old, If given the opportunity, will first of all ditch Paul Pogba as he feels he ‘doesn’t work hard enough’ to remain in the side. ‘If Manchester [United] need a coach, I’m the man to do it,’ he said. ‘I know they sell lots of shirts around the world, but they need to win trophies, too. I can do that for them. Manchester United used to be my...