Manuel Pellegrini, favourite to succeed David Moyes at West Ham, appeared closer to a return to the Premier League Saturday after his Chinese club released him.

The Chilean manager, who led Manchester City to the title in 2014, has been heavily linked with the Hammers job, as the London club tries to reassure supporters with a high-calibre appointment following a turbulent season.

Pellegrini joined Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune in 2016 after he was replaced at City by Pep Guardiola.

We feel thankful for Pellegrinis contribution to our club, and wish him good luck in the future, Hebei said in a statement posted on Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like social media platform.

West Ham finished 13th in the Premier League after a slump early in the season saw them drop into the relegation zone.

Slaven Bilic was sacked in November and replaced by Moyes, who helped them avoid the drop but still departed at the end of the campaign.

I would like to reassure our supporters that we have left no stone unturned in selecting the individual we believe is the right man to take West Ham United forward, joint chairman David Sullivan had said in a statement on Thursday.

Despite top-flight survival, West Ham struggled with problems on and off the pitch throughout the 2017-18 season.

Discontent among supporters had been bubbling for months over the teams performance and teething problems at the London Stadium the clubs home since 2016.

Source: NAN

Eintracht Frankfurt claimed an upset 3-1 win in the German Cup final on Saturday, beating Bayern Munich.

The victory gave Frankfurt boss Niko Kovac his first trophy as a coach in his final match before leaving to take over from Heynckes at Bayern.

But the obverse was the case for Heynckes. Frankfurts Ante Rebic brace and substitute Mijat Gacinovic goal ruined Jupp Heynckes farewell as Bayern Munich coach.

After Rebics opening goal, Robert Lewandowski equalised for Munich early in the second half.

However, Rebic added his late second before Gacinovic tapped into an empty net just before the whistle to delight Frankfurt fans and break Bayerns hearts.

This was supposed to be Heynckes farewell party with Bayern sending their 73-year-old head coach into retirement with the German cup and league double having wrapped up a sixth straight Bundesliga title.

Instead Rebic and Frankfurt grabbed the glory at Berlins Olympic Stadium.

Bayern made a bright start in the capital when Lewandowski hit the underside of the Frankfurt bar with just eight minutes gone.

However, Frankfurt scored from their first clear chance.

When Bayern midfielder James Rodriguez was robbed of possession in midfield, Kevin-Prince Boateng threaded a pass through to Rebic.

The Croatia striker dodged the challenges of Bayern centre-backs Niklas Suele and Mats Hummels to plant his shot past Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich with 11 minutes gone.

The shock goal sent a ripple of panic through the Bayern ranks as it was the third straight game they have fallen behind.

Bayern went close with 25 minutes gone when Lewandowski fired wide of the empty goal after Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller had already opened up the Eintracht defence.

It should have been 2-0 to Eintracht eight minutes before half-time when Rebic squared for Jonathan De Guzman, who was unmarked, but the midfielder stumbled with the goal at his mercy.

Tempers started to fray as Frankfurt defender Jetro Willems was booked for body-checking Joshua Kimmich but it stayed 1-0 at the break.

Bayern drew level on 53 minutes when Suele combined with Kimmich, who picked out Lewandowski near the penalty spot to slot home the equaliser.

However, Frankfurt and Rebic were not to be denied.

The Croatia international burst in between Suele and Hummels and brilliantly lifted the ball over Ulreich.

The referee checked the replay on advice of the video assistant referee, but the goal stood to make it 2-1 on 82 minutes.

Bayern had calls for a penalty after a foul on Javi Martinez deep into added time turned down.

Source: NAN

Elina Svitolina underlined her status as a top favourite for the French Open by sweeping Simona Halep aside 6-0, 6-4 to successfully defend her Italian Open crown on Sunday.

In a repeat of last years final at the Foro Italico, Ukrainian Svitolina, seeded fourth, was up against Halep a day after the Romanian top seed had ousted Russian Maria Sharapova.

But Haleps hopes of overturning last years defeat to her 23-year-old opponent quickly evaporated in a completely one-sided encounter that saw the Romanian fail to produce a real challenge.

Svitolina, the world number four, has now successfully defended three career titles, in Baku, Dubai and also Rome; she also won in Brisbane and Dubai this season to take her 2018 title total to three.

The win also marked Svitolinas 12th career title on what was her eighth final in succession.

Its amazing that I could do this here a second time and defend, said Svitolina. This is something very, very special.

Congratulations to Simona, she had a great week of tennis.

The French Open at Roland Garros starts in just over a week, and Svitolina added: Roland Garros is still a week away, but this gives me confidence.

I cant make any predictions as its very tricky in Paris, but Im sure I will enjoy the next tournament.

Halep, who was broken four times and lost the opening set in 19 minutes, did not win a game until the start of the second, 24 minutes in.

The world number one saved match point before bowing out after 67 minutes.

Congrats to Elina, she played amazing, Halep said.

Its like this court is now her home. But I didnt do so badly, reaching the final again. I hope to be back next year.

Maybe third time is lucky for me.

Thanks to reaching the final in Rome Halep will take the top seeding for Roland Garros.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano has returned its former Chairman in the Kano state congress conducted on Saturday.

Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas was declared re-elect, with 31 others emerging as new state leaders of the party.

The congress into 53 vacant positions of the party was conducted at the Indoor Hall of the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new party executives were sworn in by the Attorney-General of the state, Mr. Ibrahim Muktar shortly after the results were announced.

Prince Austin Nweke, the Chairman of the Kano Congress, while announcing the results said, Abdullahi Abbas scored 3,080 votes to emerge the chairman in accordance with the APC Congress Guidelines.

He added that the Deputy Chairman of the party, Shehu Maigari scored 2,952 votes while the secretary of the party, Zakari Sarina, scored 2,817.

Other key state officials elected unanimously include Bashir karaye, Publicity Secretary; Habiba Yardalla, Women leader.

NAN also reports that the event was witnessed by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje as well as some party leaders, including Sen. Kabiru Gaya and Sen Barau Jibril-Maliya from Kano North and Kano South senatorial districts.

Ganduje, who signed the swearing note alongside the newly elected chairman shortly after the leaders were sworn in, noted that the election was meant for 53 positions that needed to be filled.

We give glory to God for giving us the opportunity to conduct it peacefully without any problem, he said.

He said that the party would continue to remain united in Kano.

He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts in fighting corruption and insurgency in the country.

Ganduje promised to give President Buhari five million votes in 2019.

The newly elected Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Abass, thanked the governor for his diligent and pragmatic zeal in developing the state.

While commending members of the party for the confidence reposed in him, Abass assured that the new executive, under his watch, would take the party to greater heights.

He also called on the newly elected executives of the party to give necessary support and cooperation to the governor to ensure the success of the administration.

NAN reports that delegates from the 44 local government areas of the state were at the congress.(NAN)

Source: NAN

All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved to challenge the victory of PDP in four councils in the recently concluded local government elections in Kaduna state.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai said APC in Kaduna State would head to the tribunal to challenge opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

El-Rufai spoke at APC State Congress in Kaduna on Saturday and said: We gave them what they dont know, we gave them justice. Unfortunately, even with that justice they tried to cheat.

We are going to challenge the chairmanship they said they won at the tribunal. We already have 14; for the remaining five we want to have 14 plus five.

We can do that if we stay together, unite and work hard. We must be firm. Remember we are dealing with PDP people who are not honest.

They dont know the meaning of honesty, integrity, fairness, it has been taken from their vocabulary for the last 16 years.

So, we must be prepared. We want to play fair but they dont know the meaning of fairness, he said.

The governor said he was confident that under the new APC executive, led by retired Air Commodore Emmanuel Jakada, the party would grow from strength to strength.

He thanked other party members that wished to contest for their positions but who in the spirit of unity and consensus, stepped down for a smooth consensus-based congress.

I want to assure them and to say that the party and the government will not forget them, this I promise.

I want to thank the party leaders for the smooth congress that we have had, at the ward and the local government and now the state without any problem. This is because of your maturity and commitment to the party.

I also want to commend the party members for their performance during the local government elections.

When we started planning for these local government elections, we made it clear that we are a party of justice.

That we are not going to cheat in the elections. And we believe that people should be given the opportunity to choose which party they want to govern them at the local government level.

We went the extra-ordinary length to purchase the EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) so that the elections will be free and fair. We did what the PDP has never done to any other party.

We gave them what they dont know, we gave them justice. Unfortunately, even with that justice they tried to cheat.

The governor urged the party members to be prepared.

We want to play fair, but they dont know the meaning of fairness. We must not sleep but be prepared, mobilise to the remaining local government (areas) and make sure we are not cheated.

But we will not cheat anybody, we want the votes of the people to count.

APC won 14 chairmanship seats in the council polls and PDP won four seats, while elections were rescheduled in five local government areas.

PDP on Sunday rejected the results of the elections and said it would challenge the outcome in court.

Meanwhile, at the state congress held on Saturday, APC members elected Jakada as Chairman and Malam Muhammad Shuaibu as Secretary.

Mr Frank Ikpe of the APC National Congress Committee conducted the congress elections. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Chief Derin Adebiyi, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Political Affairs is the new Chairman of the state executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun.

In a peaceful exercise, former Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Bashiru Fadayiro and Patrick Ogunde emerged Deputy Chairman and Secretary respectively.

A former media aide to former Gov. Olusegun Osoba, Wole Elegbede, equally, emerged as the Publicity Secretary.

The Chairman of the Congress Committee, Rev. Peter Obadan, announced the result at the conclusion of the exercise.

He disclosed that a total of 1,749 delegates from 20 local governments in the state, were accredited and participated in the congress.

Obadan, who described the election as peaceful, said out of the total votes cast, 18 were voided, just as he commended the party members for giving good account of themselves.

In his acceptance speech, Adebiyi, said his executive council would ensure politics of inclusion and work to ensure victory for the party in 2019 general elections.

Adebiyi, who assured that the new exco would obey the national leadership of the party, also said the party will be firm and not tolerate indiscipline, declaring era of indiscipline is gone in Ogun APC.

He noted that the peaceful conduct of the congress was a reflection of outstanding leadership of Gov. Amosun, adding that the party will continue to follow the leadership style of the governor.

In his remark, Amosun, commended the former executives for their hard-work, endurance and sacrifice.

He urged the new executive committee members to continue working towards making the party formidable ahead of next years general elections.

Earlier, a governorship aspirant in the party, Jimi Lawal, in a chat with journalists, expressed confidence that the congress would produce capable hands to steer the party to success in 2019.

Source: NAN

By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa

Mr Hillary Ekeh has been re-elected as Imo APC party Chairman in the just concluded APC state congress in Imo.

The party delegates who described the congress election as peaceful and successful also re-elected Deputy Chairman Mr Ugochukwu Nzekwe.

However, Gov. Rochas Okorocha described the election as illegal claiming that there was a court injunction restraining the party from conducting the election.

Okorochas Chief press Secretary Mr Sam Onwuemeodo on Saturday issued a statement that the governor had obtained an injunction from an Owerri high court to stop the congress.

The party Chairman Hillary Ekeh countered the claim by saying neither he nor any member of the executive was served the injunction notice.

But the Imo police command claimed an injunction notice was served them and appealed that the congress be put on hold.

Andrew Enwerem, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) who disclosed this added that police will not allow any illegal gathering in the state.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the election, Sen Ifeanyi Araraume described the congress election as peaceful and well-coordinated.

He said there was no fracas or any form of violence during the process and commended the party chairman for his re-election.

He also lauded party delegates who in their wisdom decided to retain Ekeh as their chairman.

Asked if he has any idea of the injunction notice, Araraume said there was nothing like injunction stopping the conduct of the election.

We the party stakeholders have no idea of any injunction, but even if there is an injunction nobody had been served so our election has to move on, he said.

Sen Hope Uzodinma in a telephone interview told NAN that there was no hitch during the conduct of the election, adding that the congress in Imo indicated that democracy is growing in Imo.

Deputy Governor Mr Eze Madumere said the state congress was held successfully and the mandate of the people has been protected.

But the Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Okorocha, Kingsley Uju insisted that a faction of the party went into an unknown place to hold state congress even when a court injunction was served against the conduct of the election.

Source: NAN

By Victor Adeoti

Sen. Iyiola Omisore, a former Deputy Governor of Osun , has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Omisore, who announced his defection in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Sunday, said he intended to contest the Sept. 22 governorship election on the platform of SDP.

He said his mission was to rescue the state from what he described as years of misrule.

According to him, the PDP in Osun is in disarray and likely to remain in prolonged political captivity over the next four years.

The statement reads partly, engaging and working with like-minded leadership, we have sought for an alternative platform that will assures both credible and legitimacy that will rescue Osun state from its current reckless misrule.

Our quest for an alternative political platform is basically in pursuit of a credible political structure that would guarantee that our people enjoy the benefits of accountable leadership at the state level from now.

Notwithstanding my enormous contributions over the past years or so to building the PDP, after very deep thought and the widest consultations with my God, my family, my supporters in and outside Osun state,

It is with great concern that I have made a very expedient decision today, to withdraw my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the Social Democratic Party (SDP); a party that believed in a balanced, equitable and truly functional Nigeria.

On the platform of the SDP, I shall with the support of my supporters, followers, and the electorate of the state, seek the nomination to contest for, and by His grace, be elected as the Executive Governor of Osun state on September 22, 2018.

Omisore was Osun Deputy Governor on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) between 1999 and 2003.

He was also elected to the Senate on the platform of PDP in 2003 to represent Osun East Senatorial District.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army said some courageous civilians on Sunday foiled a suicide bomb attack by a suspected female Boko Haram member on a mosque in Gashua, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe.

Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this in a statement released in Maiduguri.

What would have otherwise been a devastating suicide bomb attack on a mosque in Gashua village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state has been successfully foiled today by vigilant members of the community.

A female Boko Haram suicide bomber had infiltrated the mosque, while members were about to commence a prayer session but was detected when struggling to detonate a suicide vest strapped to her body.

She was quickly restrained by the locals, arrested and handed over to troops at Azare.

Members of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Component of Operation Lafiya Dole at the location have safely defused the suicide vest, while the suicide bomber is currently receiving medical attention due to injuries sustained during her arrest.

Source: NAN

Pope Francis has named 14 Roman Catholic prelates to the high rank of cardinal, the elite group of churchmen who are his closest advisers and can enter a conclave to choose his successor if they are under 80.

There was no Nigerian priest on the list, although three Nigerians are at present cardinals. They are Cardinals Francis Arinze, 85, Olubunmi Okogie, 81, and John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, 74.

The first Nigerian to be appointed a cardinal in 1976 was Dominic Ignatius Ekandem. He died in 1995. Arinze was appointed in 1985, Okogie 2003 and Onaiyekan 2012.

The pope made the surprise announcement on the new cardinals during his weekly Sunday address. He said the ceremony to elevate the nominees, known as a consistory, would take place on June 29.

According to www.vaticannews.va, the men who will receive their red hats from the Pope include bishops from Iraq, Pakistan, Portugal, Peru, Madagascar, Italy and Japan.

The list also includes Polish archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who serves as the papal almoner in Rome, and three Italian archbishops, Angelo De Donatis, the vicar general of the Rome diocese, Luis Ladaria, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Giovanni Becciu, the Substitute of the Secretary of State and Special Delegate for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Pope Francis said their nominations manifests the unbreakable bond between the See of Peter and the local Churches throughout the world.

Alongside them, Pope Francis also nominated to the College of Cardinals a retired archbishop of Mexico, a retired bishop of Bolivia and a priest from the Claretian order, all of whom, he said, have distinguised themselves for their service to the Church.

The names of the new Cardinals are: Louis Raphal I Sako, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Babylon, Luis Ladaria, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of Rome.

Giovanni Angelo Becciu,Substitute of the Secretary of State and Special Delegate for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of the Office of Papal Charities, Joseph Coutts Archbishop of Karachi, Antnio dos Santos Marto, Bishop of Leiria-Ftima, were also named.

Others are Pedro Barreto, Archbishop of Huancayo, Desir Tsarahazana, Archbishop of Toamasina, Giuseppe Petrocchi Archbishop of LAquila, Thomas Aquinas Manyo Archbishop of Osaka, Sergio Obeso Rivera, Emeritus Archbishop of Xalapa, Toribio Ticona Porco, Emeritus Bishop of Corocoro and Reverend Father Aquilino Bocos Merino, member of the Claretian order.

Appointing new cardinals is one of the most significant powers of a Pope, allowing him to steer the future of the 1.2 billion member Catholic Church.

After the June ceremony, Pope Francis will have nominated 74 cardinals since being elected Pope in 2013, according to statistics on the Vaticans website.

Only cardinals under the age of 80 can enter the closed-door conclave which chooses from its ranks a new pope and are known as cardinal electors.

It was not immediately clear how many of the 14 qualify.

Two of those named by the Pope are Bishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, head of the Vaticans doctrinal department, known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Archbishop Angelo Becciu, deputy secretary of state.

Both currently work in the Vaticans central administration, known as the Curia.

Source: NAN