Israel is bracing for a barrage of missiles to be launched toward military positions along its northern front from Syria by Shiite militias trained and funded by Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran is reportedly very determined to carry out an attack. Intelligence reports have indicated such an attack is in the advanced planning stages and might soon be executed as Iran vowed to do in retaliation for an alleged Israeli air strike against the T4 airbase near Homs used by the IRGC two months ago.

Israel has allegedly uncovered involvement by Hezbollah commanders and senior operatives from Shiite militias in the planning of the retaliatory strike.

It is believed these militias, along with experts from Hezbollah under the command of the IRGCs Quds Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, will launch precision-guided missiles or armed drones from a base in Syria.

The idea is to use heavy Iranian missiles, including the Fateh-110 under the command and with the advisory work of Hezbollah but without an IRGC presence, Channel 10 reported on Sunday night, adding that Hezbollah members from Lebanon have been brought to Syria to train Shiite militia members for the attack.

While military officials have briefed mayors across the country on the latest developments, the heads of local councils in northern Israel have told residents there have been no special instructions or precautions issued.

While Hezbollah and the IRGC are the only groups that have the weapons and know-how to launch such an attack, it is believed the missiles will be launched by one of the many Shiite militia groups deployed in Syria to give Tehran the ability to deny their role.

14 killed in alleged Israeli airstrike on Syrian airbase, April 10, 2018 (Reuters)

According to Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a research fellow at the Middle East Forum, there are several key candidates who might launch the missile barrage for Iran.

The Syrian civil war has led to the expansion of the IRGCs network of regional clients, Tamimi told The Jerusalem Post.

[There are] a variety of groups that could possibly strike Israel on its behalf, such as one of the many new Syrian Hezbollah groups integrated into the registers of the Syrian armed forces, or one of the Iraqi groups that emerged during the war, like Harakat al-Nujaba and its Golan Liberation Brigade.

Another possible group, Tamimi said, was a Palestinian organization linked to Hezbollah and the IRGC, such as the Force of Return, which is currently fighting for the regime of Bashar Assad in the Yarmouk camp outside Damascus.

But it still remains the case that Lebanons Hezbollah, which maintains some bases in Syria, is the most likely and capable of carrying out an attack, Tamimi said.

According to Michael Horowitz, senior regional analyst at Le Beck, a Middle East-based geopolitical consultancy group, having Hezbollah carry out the attack would go against the plans by Tehran, which is said to be trying to avoid full-fledged war with Israel.

This would defeat the purpose of using Shiite militias, which in my opinion was meant to enable Iran to respond without actually provoking an escalation, Horowitz told the Post.

In recent months, Israel has have identified and released pictures of several air bases throughout Syria it said are being used by Iranian forces. The pictures have been released to the media in an effort to deter Iran from carrying out their strike, as those bases would likely be targeted by Israel in response.

According to Horowitz, Israel chose to publish such threats to send the message that it will see any attack coming from an Iranian-backed group as one actually coming from Iran, and thus will respond in kind.

Tensions have risen dramatically between the two arch-enemies recently. In late April, Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told the UN Security Council that there were over 80,000 extremists from all over the Middle East who are members of Shia militias in Syria under Iranian control.

Israeli officials have been warning of Iranian entrenchment on the Golan Heights, an area of key strategic importance for the Jewish state. They have stressed that such activity is a red line for Jerusalem. Officials have also said the northern border is no longer considered two separate entities, but one continuous front.

In February, OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Amit Fisher warned not only of the Iranian entrenchment across the border, but also of the return of Syrian troops to an area which was relatively quiet for close to six years while under the control of rebels.

We must prepare ourselves operationally and in terms of intelligence for the growing threat: the return of the Syrian Army and Iranian forces, Hezbollah and others, he said.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Source: NAN

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who has long been outspoken in his defence of womens rights, resigned Monday after denying allegations he had physically abused four women.

While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the offices work at this critical time, Schneiderman said in a statement.

Four women with whom he was romantically involved had accused the 63-year-old of non-consensual physical violence, the New Yorker magazine reported earlier Monday, leading New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to call for the lawyers resignation.

Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam, the two women who went on record with the magazine, said they sought medical treatment after Schneiderman choked them and slapped them hard across the ear and face.

They did not report the alleged abuse to the police, with Schneiderman reportedly threatening to kill them if they broke up with him.

He denied the allegations in a statement to dpa.

In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity. I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in non-consensual sex, which is I line I would not cross, Schneiderman said.

The attorney general made headlines in February after filing a lawsuit against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment and assault and by dozens of women, which he denies.

They knew what was happening, they know how pervasive it was. And yet they did nothing, Schneiderman told reporters in Manhattan at the time.

We have never seen anything as despicable as what weve seen right here, he added.

Under instruction from Governor Cuomo, Schneiderman in March began investigating Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr for his involvement in a 2015 decision not to prosecute Weinstein.

It is of great concern that sexual assault cases have not been pursued with full vigour by our criminal justice system, Cuomo said in a statement at the time.

The district attorneys office reportedly told NBC late Monday that it had begun investigating Schneiderman over the allegations in the New Yorker.

Schneidermans ex-wife Jennifer Cunningham said she found it impossible to believe the accusations.

Ive known Eric for nearly 35 years as a husband, father and friend. These allegations are completely inconsistent with the man I know, who has always been someone of the highest character, outstanding values and a loving father, she said in a statement.

Manning Barishs former boyfriend, novelist Salman Rushdie, told the New Yorker that Schneidermans behaviour crossed a line.

She called me and told me he had hit her, Rushdie was quoted as saying.

Schneiderman served in the New York Senate from 1998 to 2010, before becoming the states 65th attorney general in 2011. He was re-elected in 2014 and rose to recent prominence as a champion of feminist causes. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

By Polycarp Auta

The Plateau Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the attack on the residence of John Dalyop, the District Head of Gashish in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.

The commands spokesman, ASP Terna Tyopev, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the attack was carried out by some armed hoodlums on Sunday at about 10 p.m.

Tyopev, who could not immediately confirm if there was any casualty, however, said that the traditional rulers residence and a vehicle were burnt.

Immediately we received information of the attack, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Riyom mobilised the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) to the scene.

On arrival, it was discovered that the gunmen who are not yet known razed down the residence of the chief and also burnt to ashes a Peugeot 406 vehicle.

Though no life was lost, the district head had shock and was rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where he is receiving treatment, he said.

Tyopev said that normalcy had returned to the area, adding that investigations were ongoing for possible arrest and prosecution of those behind the crime.

He urged the residents of the area to be calm and law abiding.

Source: NAN

NAN Reporting

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Daura, Katsina state met behind closed doors with Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo and Abdul aziz Yari of Zamfara.

The President’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad confirmed this development on his Twitter handle on Sunday.

He posted: “President Muhammadu Buhari this evening received chairman of the Progressives Governors‘Forum (PGF), Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo.’’

Okorocha, who spoke to newsmen after the meeting, said that he updated the president on the outcome of the ward congresses conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country.

He frowned at the way some members of the party in some states conducted themselves during the exercise, saying the party would check such incidents in future.

Okorocha said; “We expect internal democracy and internal democracy is the way to go. Those kind of funny politics that were played must stop, where people want to carry ballot boxes, steal results looks so primitive.

“I intimated Mr President and we will make sure that such things must stop.’’

On the president’s response, the governor said; “He spoke like the President and he will take the necessary steps to correct this in our party, APC, not just in Imo but across the whole nation, to make sure that there is respect for internal democracy.”

However, Gov.Yari, who spoke on the outcome of the ward congresses, said the exercise went well in the North West region.

He said; “You know in a democracy you cannot expect everything to work 100 per cent.

“But in our region from the information available to us, everything went well in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kano, where people expected that there may be a problem, the exercise was successful.

“But anybody that has complain, there is a committee set up by the national executive of the party, they should take their complains there so that they will be attended to.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that mixed reactions characterized the outcome of the APC ward congresses across the country.

In Delta, the exercise was bloody as the Police Command in the state confirmed that a chairmanship candidate died in the APC ward congresses in Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The command’s spokesman, Mr Andrew Aniamaka, said Mr Jeremiah Oghoveta, was stabbed to death during the exercise at Jeremi Ward 3, Okwagbe.

The ward congresses in Adamawa and Oyo states were conducted on May 6 as against May 5 following political misunderstandings among top APC members and stakeholders in the states.

In Adamawa, mixed reactions characterized the conduct of the ward congresses on Sunday.

While the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustafa, said the exercise was smooth and hitch free, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said the exercise was not conducted in his Ward of Bako in Yola.

Mustafa participated in the exercise in his Ward at Gwadabawa in Jimeta area of Yola.

NAN also reported that a faction of the APC in Kebbi State had staged a peaceful protest to the party Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi against consensus arrangement during the Saturday Congress held across 225 wards in the State.

The protesters were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions like: Kebbi APC Congress no consensus’;We need true party Congress not consensus’;`We say no to injustice’

The Leader of the aggrieved members, Adamu Gulma, told journalists at the APC Secretariat that ” what happened in Kebbi state is not congress but government and major APC stakeholders hijacked the event to their advantage.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State Chapter had commended the peaceful conduct of ward congress, held across 203 wards of the state on Saturday.

Mr Abayomi Adesanya, the spokesman of the party in the state, told NAN that the reports he got from various wards were good.

NAN also observed that the ward congresses were successfully conducted in many states of the federation including Lagos, Kaduna, Gombe, Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Borno, Yobe and others.

Meanwhile, the party had on Sunday called on its members that may have been aggrieved following the conduct of its Saturday Ward Congress across the country to seek redress in its Appeal Panel.

Malam Bolaji Abudulahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary made the call in a statement in Abuja.

He, however, congratulated all members of the party, saying that the conduct of the congress was generally peaceful.

Source: NAN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s office has revealed details of mind-boggling corruption during the Jonathan era and even called them a tip of the iceberg.

The details were published last night in a reaction to the accusations by spin doctors of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who claimed Osinbajo made unsubstantiated allegations about grand corruption during the Jonathan era.

The statement by senior special assistant on media, Laolu Akande, said the Vice President did not at anytime accuse Jonathan in person, but only said the blatant corruption cases were committed during his presidency.

The full statement:

WE have read reports attributed to “a media office of former President Goodluck Jonathan”. It is clear from the foul language of the authors that the statement could not have come from the former President, but from the motley group of loud and rude characters whose brief seems to be to deny all and anything said against the former PDP government and to do so in the crassest possible language.

The alleged spokespersons of the former President say that facts long in the public domain, some even being used to prosecute several corruption cases are lies and that those of us in government restating these well known facts are liars.

They accuse Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, of lying against the former President or his government citing their involvement in the stealing of three billion dollars, while speaking recently at The Platform event on the 1st of May.

Just for clarity, I quote the Vice President “Grand corruption remains the most enduring threat to our economy. Three Billion US dollars was stolen in what was called the strategic alliance contacts in 2013, three Nigerians were responsible, today three billion dollars is one trillion Naira and our budget is 7trillion! ….”

Two issues emerge. First, no mention is made of the former President.

Second, the story is not only true, it has been in the public domain for almost three years and it is the subject of criminal investigation and trials both here and in the UK.

The spokespersons also say that the allegations of corruption against the PDP government are mere lies. For clarity, the facts are laid out as follows:

As the Vice President said, $3B was stolen in the so- called NNPC Strategic Alliance Contracts. The three persons involved are Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko and the former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison- Maduekwe. The companies of both Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko lifted Nigerian crude oil and kept the proceeds. The total sums converted is in excess of three billion dollars including royalties, taxes and fees unpaid for the asset from which the crude was taken. The case is the subject of a trial in Nigeria, and criminal investigation in the US and UK, and the assets of all three individuals have been forfeited in Nigeria, the US and the UK.

The criminal diversion and theft of sums in excess of $2.5 billion meant for purchase of arms to prosecute the war against Boko Haram: The first phase of the investigations revealed several sordid details, many of the assets of culprits have been seized from them and they are facing trial.

The release of the sum of $289m in cash on February 25, 2015: Documents including cash vouchers indicate that the the sum of $289,202,382 was taken from the Joint Venture (JV) Cash Call Account No. 000-0000-11658-366 of the NNPC/NAPIMS with JP Morgan Chase Bank, New York, USA.

N70 billion was released in parts from the national treasury between January 8 and February 25, 2015.

In another illegal disbursement, 25th August 2014, N60B in cash in tranches of N40billion and N20billion: The sum was not tied to any project or procurement and was then shared between two security agencies under the supervision of the then NSA. Most of these sums ended up in the hands of senior PDP members some of whom have returned parts of the loot. Some are standing trial for these offenses. These facts are in the public domain.

There was yet another set of illegal fund withdrawals under one week between January 8and 16, 2015, where the sum of N1.5 billion was released in three tranches of N300m, N400m and N800m respectively. This money was released from the MEA Research Library Account

Another document showed that N10 billion was released to the Office of the National Security Adviser by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on September 15, 2014. The money was released in tranches of foreign exchange of $47 million, $5 million, 4 million Euros and 1.6 million Euros. A letter from the Office of the NSA in November 2014 further showed that the monies were released as ‘funds for special services’. This particular release of N10B was sourced in November 2014 from a N40 Billion CBN released funds meant for Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR. Investigators showed that this money was released for the PDP Presidential Primaries.

Lamido Sanusi, then CBN Governor was sacked for speaking up about the over $20billion missing from oil proceeds.

These cases of grand corruption and open looting of public resources pauperized Nigeria and left us with little or no savings in the years when oil was selling at 100 to 114 dollars a barrel and we were producing 2.1 million barrels a day. When in 2015 oil prices went even as low as between 28 and 35 dollars a barrel and oil production fell to less than one million barrels a day we had no buffer, no savings, to tide us through.

The amount released from CBN in cash on a single day, ie the US$289M ( N88.1Bn) is enough to fund 244,000 N-Power graduates for a year, or pay for 1.2Billion school meals or complete half of Lagos -Ibadan or half of Abuja -Kaduna -Kano roads.

The Vice President also made the point that in 2014 with oil prices as high as 120 dollars per barrel, the total capital released for Power, Works, Housing, Defence, Transport, Agriculture and Defence were just N152Billion for the whole year.

By contrast, the Buhari administration committed N578Bn to the same Ministries in 2016 with oil prices as low as US$28 per barrel as part of the strategy to end the recession. The government was able to do more with less by stopping grand corruption and impunity.

Recently, the Minister Coordinating the economy in that administration has written a revealing book : Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines. Who knows, perhaps her stories too are all lies!

Source: NAN

Indian movie star Salman Khan was due back in court on Monday over a five-year jail sentence he received for killing rare antelopes.

The Bollywood icon arrived in Jodhpur, in the western state of Rajasthan, Sunday after flying from Mumbai for the hearing, India media reported.

Khan, one of the worlds highest-paid actors, was convicted last month of shooting dead two antelopes known as black bucks on a hunting trip while filming a movie in October 1998.

He was sentenced to five years in prison and is currently out on bail.

At Mondays hearing Khans lawyer is expected to call for the sentence to be suspended pending an appeal.

On April 6 a court found him guilty in the 20-year-old case while acquitting four other actors.

He spent two nights in Jodhpur Central Jail before being released on bail by a judge and returning to Mumbai the home of Indias multi-billion-dollar Hindi film industry.

Khan has repeatedly denied killing the endangered animals and accuses Rajasthans forest department of trying to frame him.

His lawyers claim the black bucks died of natural causes such as overeating, insisting there was no evidence they were shot.

Throughout the multiple cases, eyewitnesses have stated they saw Khan firing a gun.

The 52-year-old enjoys a cult-like status in star-obsessed India and is one of Bollywoods biggest draws, despite a host of controversies.

Khan was in a vehicle in Mumbai in 2002 when it mounted the curb and killed a homeless man sleeping on the pavement.

He was found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to five years in prison, but the verdict was overturned in a higher court in 2015. His acquittal is being challenged in the Supreme Court.

Source: NAN

Four years after, Cardiff City returned to the Premier League on Sunday when a goalless draw at home to Reading was enough to give veteran manager Neil Warnock a record eighth promotion.

Only the top two at the end of the regular season were guaranteed a place in English footballs lucrative top flight and second-tier title-winners Wolves had already secured one of those spots heading into Sundays final round of regular-season Championship matches.

A draw left Cardiff waiting on Fulhams result at Birmingham, but the Cottagers 3-1 loss left the London club facing the lottery of the play-offs, where the teams finishing third-sixth compete for the lone remaining promotion place.

The draw saw Cardiff return to the Premier League after a single season in the competition in 2013/14. We are going up, the club celebrated on their website.

When Warnock took over some 18 months ago, Cardiff were at the other end of the table but Malaysian owner Vincent Tans decision to bring the experienced manager to the Welsh capital paid dividends.

Birmingham were still facing relegation when they kicked off but first-half goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz (15) and Harlee Dean (43) settled their nerves.

Tom Cairney scored for Fulham with six minutes left but Che Adamss 89th-minute goal put the result beyond doubt.

Barnsleys 4-1 loss at Derby ended their brief stay in the Championship, with Burton managed by Nigel Clough also relegated after a 2-1 loss at Preston.

Meanwhile Bolton beat the drop in remarkable fashion after beating Nottingham Forest 3-2.

Bolton were going down with three minutes left when Forest led 2-1 after goals from Ben Osborn (70) and Jack Colback (79) overturning Adam Le Fondres early volley.

But David Wheater (87) and Aaron Wilbraham (88) scored to keep northwest side Bolton in the division to the delight of their delirious home crowd.

Elsewhere, bottom club Sunderland stunned champions Wolves 3-0, in front of prospective new owner Stewart Donald.

On-loan pair Ovie Ejaria (19) and Ashley Fletcher (45) put the hosts 2-0 up before Paddy McNair scored Sunderlands third midway through the second half.

Atdhe Nuhiu (14, 60 and 90) hit a hat-trick in Sheffield Wednesdays 5-1 thrashing of Norwich at Hillsborough, with Wednesdays city rivals United winning 3-2 at Bristol City.

Leeds beat QPR 2-0 with goals from Kemar Roofe (30) and Kalvin Phillips (47), while Brentford and Hull drew 1-1 at Griffin Park.

Source: NAN

Nigerias Enyimba International FC of Aba brightened their CAF Confederation Cup Group C campaign on Sunday at the U.J. Esuene stadium with an emphatic 2-0 defeat of Malis Djoliba in Calabar.

Isiaka Oladuntoye scored in the 48th minute while Stanley Dimgba converted a penalty in the 81st minute for the homers second in a Match Day 1 fixture at the Group Stage of 2018 CAF Confederation Cup competition.

The Bamako-based team controlled the midfield in the first half and had a few efforts on goal although poor shooting was their undoing.

Enyimba struggled to find their rhythm in the first half which ended goalless before taking control in the second half.

The Peoples Elephant will be in action in Group C of the CAF Confederations Cup on May 16 away to CARA Brazzaville while Djoliba will host Willamsville of Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, same day.

Source: NAN

Departing manager of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger was given a fitting send-off in his final home game at the Emirates on Sunday as Arsenal produced a devastating performance to thrash Burnley 5-0.

After 22 years in charge of Arsenal as manager, Wenger said he is looking forward to a fresh start for the club, despite his sadness at bidding farewell.

On a day dominated by tributes to the Frenchman, Wenger was greeted with a guard of honour before kick-off and presented with a special gold trophy originally given to the club for winning the Premier League without losing a game in 2003/04 under his guidance.

This stadium I have worked on every single part from your press conference to the technical areas, so it is part of myself, said Wenger, who was given a heros reception on a final lap of honour at full-time.

I can say guys who managed 22 years in a club of that stature, there are not many.

I have been lucky to have the comfort to work for such a long time in a club of that stature.

On the other hand, I have to think, I will cherish every minute I had here, but as well it is a new start for me.

Wenger, 68, hasnt hidden his desire to continue working in some capacity next season, having also hinted his departure wasnt entirely his own decision.

Despite winning three Premier League titles in his first decade in charge, many fans had become frustrated with the Gunners inability to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League in recent years.

Arsenal will finish this season in sixth, as low as they ever have in Wengers reign, and defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-finals means for a second straight season Wenger has failed to qualify Arsenal for the Champions League.

Nevertheless, there was rightly an atmosphere steeped in nostalgia for the great days Wenger has given the club on Sunday in a 60,000-capacity stadium he helped to deliver and design when the club moved from Highbury in 2006.

It means that even if they are not always happy, they still respected me and wanted to show at least I gave my total commitment to do well, said Wenger of his ovation from the supporters.

Thats how I see it. They know my commitment was genuine, total, with complete integrity, it is of course a big compliment.

Source: NAN

Taro Daniel secured his first career ATP title with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 defeat of Tunisias Malek Jaziri in Istanbul on Sunday.In Portugal, Joao Sousa became the first home player to win the Estoril Open with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of American Frances Tiafoe.

The 25-year-old Daniel hit the tennis headlines when toppling 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells in March.

The thrill of taking that heavyweight scalp his first win over a top 20 player in the ATP rankings soon dissipated as he lost four of his next five matches.

But the world number 114 regained his form in Turkey this week, advancing for the first time to the semi-finals and maintaining his composure to take the title.

I was feeling pretty nervous before the match, Daniel, who was born in New York and trained in Spain said.

I was nervous, but I told myself, Im sure hes more nervous than me. So that helped. When I started not badly I started to calm down a bit more.

Im obviously pretty surprised that I suddenly won an ATP (title). But I guess things like this happen.

His moment of glory was not without its anxious moments.

He let slip two match points at 5-3 on the Tunisians serve, then double faulted on his third match point but sealed the landmark success with a backhand winner down the line at the fourth opportunity to earn the title.

The win is expected to lift him up to number 82 in the latest ATP rankings published Monday.

In Estoril, Portugal, Joao Sousa had to battle at the end before becoming the first home player to win the Estoril Open with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of American Frances Tiafoe on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Sousa, ranked 68th in the world, needed to call upon his reserves to claim the opening set by saving three break points in the final game.

Serving for victory at 5-2 in the second, the Portuguese was broken as Tiafoe briefly delayed the festivities.

But the local hero came good two games later as he clinched a third career title, a feat which quickly got the mainly Portuguese crowd into the mood for a mass sing-along chorus of celebration.

This is fantastic, its such a special win, especially coming at home, Sousa said. Im so proud to win here.

There are no words to describe this emotion, the fans were fantastic all week. It was incredible, it was a dream come true.

I always wanted to win here in Portugal.

The previous Portuguese high point at the event came in 2010 when Frederico Gil played the final, losing to Albert Montanes of Spain.

Tiafoe, realising how much the victory meant to his opponent, crossed the net to speak with Sousa and congratulate him.

Sousa, playing in his 10th final, also won Valencia in 2015 and at Kuala Lumpur five years ago.

Tiafoe, 20, was thwarted in his bid to collect a second career title after making his trophy breakthrough in February at Delray Beach, Florida.

The world number 64 fell short in the end as he failed to generate the momentum which had kept him in clay contention all week.

Source: NAN