By Olayinka Owolewa

Dele Aiyenugba, erstwhile Super Eagles goalkeeper, says he is done with the national team, but now focusing on winning the league with Kwara United FC of Ilorin.

Aiyenugba stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Sunday.

I dont want to go back to the national team; I am done, he said.

The former Enyimba International FC of Aba goalkeeper, who played 17 times for the national team, between 2005 and 2015 spent 13 seasons in Israel with four teams.

Aiyenugba returned to Nigeria ahead of the 2020-21 season to play for Kwara United and he has been a huge success for the Ilorin-based Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side.

He won the NPFL four times with Enyimba in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and the Federation Cup in 2005; he also won the Nigerian Super Cup in 2003.

The 37-year-old also ruled Africa with Enyimba, winning the African Champions League twice in 2003 and 2004 as well as the African Super Cup two times in 2004 and 2005.

He joined Kwara Stars and played for them between 1998 and 2000 after which he signed for Enyimba between 2001 and 2007.

Aiyenugba moved to Israel in 2007 to sign for Bnei Yehuda and played 294 times for them until 2016, before joining Hapoel Ashkelon in 2016 until 2018 where he appeared 62 times for them.

The former Enyimba goalkeeper played 33 times for Hapoel Iksal between 2018 and 2019 and Hapoel Afula in 2019 until he returned to Nigeria in 2020 to sign for Kwara United FC. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

DTigress point-guard, Promise Amukamara, is very confident the team will be outstanding at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Amukamara said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos that she was sure the team would put up a decent performance Nigerians would be proud of.

This is possible with the right personnel selection and better preparation, in spite of the quality of our Group B opponents.

With many high-profile players showing interest in joining Nigeria in the wake of back-to-back Afrobasket titles, we are sure to do well, she said

Amukamara added that the senior women national basketball teams quarter-finals finish at the World Cup as well as a rising profile on the international stage have helped to make the team.

All seems to be looking good for the team ahead of the Games, the player said.

She expressed the belief that the first five new players invited to the teams camp in Atlanta are great additions who have easily adapted well as members of the DTigress family.

Elizabeth (Williams), Erica (Ogwumike), Amy (Okonkwo), Nicole (Enabosi) and Oderah (Chidom) have all done a great job adapting to our system which looks good.

On the 10-day camp for the team in Atlanta earlier this year, the Charnay Basketball Club player said the exercise provided the players an opportunity to come together.

The France-based player said it had been a long time ago the team were able to meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic which troubled the world in 2020.

On what they were able to achieve while in camp, the 27-year-old who made her debut at the 2018 FIBA Womens World Cup in Spain said: We focused on getting a lot of shots, and we went over our attack and defence.

I think it was just a great time to come together because we havent seen each other since February 2020.

So, it was a good time to come together, get familiar with the new players and the new coaching staff.

Looking at the 12 teams who have qualified for the games, the 2019 Afrobasket winner admitted that DTigress have some solid opponents to face.

With the experience, the new players and team that we have, coach Otis and the rest of the coaching staff will do a great job preparing us to do well, Amukamara said.

Nigeria are currently grouped alongside world number one U.S., France and Japan. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Atletico Madrid thrashed Eibar 5-0 to move three points clear at the top of La Liga on Sunday, with champions Real Madrid stumbling to a 0-0 draw at Getafe.

In spite of missing top goalscorer Luis Suarez and record signing Joao Felix, Atletico Madrid dealt bottom-of-the-table Eibar a heavy drubbing.

Angel Correa and Marcos Llorente struck braces either side of Yannick Carrascos goal, to put Atletico on 70 points from 31 games.

The important thing is to be able to win, it keeps you calm for the week ahead, said Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone.

The league season has a very nice run-in and I hope that we can keep growing so it doesnt become monotonous, and Real Madrid and FC Barcelona always win.

Simeones side are starting to recover after a bad run of form that saw Real Madrid and Barca cut down their large lead at the top to virtually nothing.

However Real Madrid, hampered themselves by significant injury and coronavirus problems, with Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Eden Hazard and others on the sidelines, struggled at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several excellent saves to earn his clean sheet.

In attack, they created little after Mariano rounded David Soria and found the net but the goal was ruled out for offside.

At the other end, Jaime Mata hit the post for the hosts and Mauro Arambarri came close with a low effort.

Soria kept out Vinicius Juniors header from eight yards towards the end of the first half, with Getafe going on to dominate after the break.

Courtois was forced into a brilliant save from Enes Unal and another fine stop to deny Nemanja Maksimovic.

Real Madrid, who drew with Liverpool in midweek to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, lacked energy and stamina in the final stages and could not score a late victory.

I think its always hard to play here, we knew what we were in for. But it is what it is, said Real Madrid defender Marcelo, recently back in the team after a long spell as a reserve.

I dont think we lost two points but instead gained a point because its tough here.

I think theres no time to rest, but thats what we have to do, we have to continue and give everything.

Football is like this right now. I dont see myself as a secondary player, Im one of the captains, I have to work every day and who has to play, plays.

Zinedine Zidanes side are on 67 points from 31 games, two ahead of FC Barcelona.

The former champions won the Copa del Rey on Saturday against Athletic Bilbao and saw their league clash with Granada postponed as a result.

Fourth-placed Sevilla came from behind to beat Real Sociedad, who are seventh, 2-1, while a vibrant Villarreal, who are fifth, thrashed Levante 5-1.

Rodrigo Battaglias late goal earned Alaves a crucial 1-0 win over Huesca at the bottom of the table.

The teams are 16th and 17th respectively, level on 27 points with 18th-placed Real Valladolid.

Elsewhere Osasuna earned a 2-0 win over 19th-placed Elche. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Segun

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super Six will kick off with Edo Queens of Benin facing Delta Queens of Asaba on Monday in Ijebu-Ode.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Six is a competition for the top six teams of the 2020/2021 NWFL Premiership after the league was terminated abruptly.

The competition was introduced to determine the two teams which will represent the country at the inaugural CAF Womens Champions League.

The competition will begin on Monday at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, with the draw held on Sunday.

NWFLs Chief Operating Officer (COO), Modupe Shabi, told NAN after the competitions draw on Sunday the league body was hopeful it would help produce the best teams to represent Nigeria.

Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa will face Sunshine Queens of Akure, while Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt will battle FC Robo of Lagos to complete Match Day 1 on Monday.

On Tuesday, Match Day 2 action will see Sunshine Queens against Edo Queens, with FC Robo facing Bayelsa Queens, and Delta Queens taking on Rivers Angels.

All the teams will take a rest on Wednesday for a return on Thursday, when Edo Queens will take on FC Robo.

Later that day, Bayelsa Queens will face Rivers Angels, while Sunshine Queens will take on Delta Queens.

Match Day 4 on Friday will see Rivers Angels taking on Edo Queens, with Delta Queens facing Bayelsa Queens and FC Robo against Sunshine Queens.

The competitions final day on Sunday will see the matches being played simultaneously, with Edo Queens against Bayelsa Queens, Sunshine Queens facing Rivers Angels and FC Robo meeting Delta Queens.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed as false, the purported suspension of former Kano State Governor, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso from the party.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Sunday, the PDP also said former governor of Niger, Babangida Aliyu was also not suspended.

The party was reacting to a document being circulated in which Kwankwaso was queried and suspended by the Kano State chapter of the PDP.

The PDP dismissed the document, saying it wascirculated by some mischievous individuals.

The PDP states clearly that Kwakwanso is not suspended from the party.

It also said, Our party frowns as such fabrications aimed at subverting the stability of our party and trigger disagreements and suspicions within our ranks.

The PDP urges our leaders and teeming members in Kano state and Niger to be at alert, resist distractions and continue to work together.

The party added that any claim of suspension by any individual or group, purporting to be representing any organ of the party at any level, was mere fabrication and should be discountenanced.

It stressed that the provisions of the constitution of the PDP were very clear on the suspension of a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) if and when such occasion arose.

The party cautioned those behind the misleading claims to desist henceforth.

The PDPwill not accept such reckless adventure by such misguided individuals, which is capable of destabilising our party and bringing it to public disrepute.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Precious Akutamadu

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on Sunday declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the overall winners of the just concluded Local Government Area elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the elections held on April 17, in Rivers state.

Justice George Omereji, the Chairman of RSIEC and the Presiding officer of the concluded election made the declaration at the commissions secretariat in Port Harcourt.

Omereji announced that PDP won in all the Chairmanship positions and the councillorship seats in the 23 Local Government Areas.

He stated that certificates of return would be issued to the winners on Monday, April 19 at the Commissions secretariat.

Omereji urged the elected Chairmen and councillors in the 23 local government areas to ensure good governance to the people. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olayinka Owolewa

The Kwara chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) says Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq does not interfere in the management of allocations to the local government councils in the state.

The clarification was contained in a statement on Sunday in Ilorin by the unions Secretary, Mr Hotonou Rafiu.

The statement explained that it was not true that the state government was pilfering local government funds.

The Union wishes to inform the general public that monthly allocation to all the sixteen (16) local government councils in Kwara State is being administered by local government representatives.

All the union leaders at local government level are also observers at the monthly allocation meeting, Rafiu said.

NULGE Kwara State chapter wishes to inform the general public and most especially Kwarans that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is not stealing local government fund as captured in a report credited to our national President, Alhaji Ambali Olatunji Akeem.

Rafiu said the misleading report has also been refuted by the NULGE President.

We assert that neither the Governor nor the state government is interfering in the management of local government funds, the NULGE scribe emphasised.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the union has joined the national secretariat of the NULGE to reject a bill to delist local government from the Nigerian constitution, describing the proposal as outrageous. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others criticising the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow it efficiently and effectively perform its mandate.

Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, the National Secretary of APC
Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Whether the CBN prints money or not, is not an issue, the apex bank should be allowed to perform its mandate.

The CBN has several ways of creating new money, he said, noting that money supply in the economy was at the appropriate level.

Akpanudoedehe added that the PDP needed to understand how money was created, saying that its utterances concerning CBN operations will create problems for the economy.

He advised the PDP to join hands with the APC to clear the mess it left behind, noting that to destroy is very easy, but to build is a task the APC is committed to.

He said that central banks all over the world printed money during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009.

The Reserve Bank of the U.S printed dollars to bail out companies that were too big to fail, there is nothing wrong in printing money provided it is well managed.

There is no evidence that the CBN is inefficient in managing the monetary aspect of the Nigerian economy.

Let us not forget that the CBN is banker to government and has exercised such function efficiently and effectively, Akpanudoedehe
said.

He added that the development function of the CBN had resulted in various intervention funds in several sectors of the economy.

He said the APC inherited an economy which showed signs of a recession from 2012, stressing that the economy left by the PDP had no forex to run the system.

According to Akpanudoedehe, looting of our commonwealth was unprecedented during the PDP administration even as productivity declined.

He added that the APC government implemented aggressive fiscal and monetary polices which resulted in the countrys economy exiting recession in 2016.

He said but as the economy was back on the path of positive growth trajectory, came the COVID-19 global health pandemic and sharp decline in oil prices.

This, he said, threw the economy into another problem, adding that the quick intervention of the APC government through the Economic Sustainability Plan fast tracked the recovery from crisis.

Akpanudoedehe said this was to the shock and surprise of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and other stakeholders. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yakubu Uba

The Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, has commended the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole combating insurgents in the north-eastern part of the country, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari appreciates their performance.

Magashi made the commendation on Sunday while addressing the troops at the headquarters of the Theatre Command in Maiduguri.

Let me begin by thanking you all with the work you have been doing.

The job you have been doing is highly appreciated by our Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, President Muhammadu Buhari and he said we should come here and talk to you to continue with the effort, Magashi said.

The minister who noted the injuries and lost of lives by some personnel in the course of the assignment, assured them that their losses would not be in vain.

He observed that Nigerian military has distinguished itself in various operations across the world and that of the insurgency would not be different.

You are doing your best and we recognise that.

You have already been baptised, all you need to do is to find the enemy and bring him to his knees.

We have the resources, the equipment to improve your standard and training to be able to do this good job.

We will continue to improve on your welfare and allowances and all what is due to you.

Very soon we will embarked on recruitment of other soldiers and officers so that we can improve the manpower of our armed forces.

Your commanders will brief you on further details of what we discussed with them, Magashi said.

The defence minister who also spoke to newsmen on his visit to assess the fighting spirit of the troops, urged journalists to be patriotic in reporting the military.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ministers entourage included the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Ishiaka Amao.

The minister and his team also visited injured soldiers at 7 Division Gospital.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mateen Badru

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Victor Ebhomenyen for allegedly driving against traffic at Four Point Hotel, Oniru in Lagos State.

Ebhomenyen was alleged to have also assaulted and caused severe bodily injuries on ASP Erhator Sunday at Four Point Hotel, Oniru, Lagos.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Lagos Police Commands Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

He said that the Command deemed it necessary to react and set the record straight regarding the incident that was captured in a video that went viral on the social media on Saturday April 17.

He said two men were repeatedly assaulting an officer on duty and creating a scene on the road at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

To set the record straight, on April 17 at about 10:30 a.m., one ASP Erhator Sunday and the team attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Command, who were on a convoy movement to drop off policemen at their various beats across the state, blocked and stopped a white Hyundai SUV, MUS 251 EH.

The car was facing the convoy on one way, driven by the suspect, Victor, at Four Point Hotel, Oniru, Victoria Island, LagosState.

When the police stopped the vehicle, the occupants, one Victor Ebhomenye and Etinosa Obaywana, angrily came down, confronted and violently assaulted ASP Erhator Sunday, inflicting severe bodily injuries on him.

The officer, who was armed with his official Ak 47 riffle, displayed a high level of professionalism amidst fierce provocations by resisting the temptation of using his rifle on the suspect.

Adejobi said that the prime suspect, Victor, was in the police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department Panti, for investigation and prosecution as and when due.

He added that the command was making efforts to arrest his fleeing accomplice, Etinosa.

Adejobi said that the suspects vehicle had been impounded and taken to the Lagos State Taskforce Office, Oshodi, for appropriate penalty according to the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

He said that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had commended the police personnel for their act of maturity, self control, perseverance and professionalism in managing the drama created by the suspect.

The CP also commended the tactical due enforcement of law and order without any infringement on the suspect or any persons human rights during the saga.

Odumosu,therefore,advised police personnel in the command to emulate the professionalism, maturity and perseverance displayed by the assaulted officer and his colleagues despite the provocations exhibited by the suspects and his fleeing accomplice at the scene.

The Police boss,however warned against any violence or attack on the police and other security operatives in the state.

He said that such action would be resisted and erring individuals dealt with according to the provisions of the law. (NAN)

Source: NAN News