Author: Olukayode Oke

President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the latest coup in Gabon, where President Ali Bongo has been outsted and placed under house arrest. Recall that some military personnel had hinged their plot to seize power from Bongo on what they termed as observed flaws in the recent general election in the central African country. The officers had also admitted that the organisation of the general elections of August 26, 2023, did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon. They had also cited irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting…

Chelsea are ready to test Manchester City’s resolve in keeping Cole Palmer before Friday night’s transfer deadline. The London club are believed to be preparing a formal bid for the 21-year-old after head coach Mauricio Pochettino supported an approach for Chelsea to add one more attacking player to their squad. Palmer is under contract at City until 2026 and made an encouraging start to the season after scoring in the team’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal and their UEFA Super Cup victory against Sevilla. It is unclear whether City would sanction a departure, but Chelsea will try to bring the England under-21 international to…

Manchester City have reached a verbal agreement with Wolves over a £47.3m deal to sign midfielder Matheus Nunes. The deal for the 25-year-old has not been formally agreed yet but if completed, there will be no add-ons. City had a previous bid for the Portugal international rejected last week, with Wolves believed to be wanting in excess of £60m. Nunes has been absent from training recently after making it clear he wants to join Pep Guardiola’s side. In addition, Wolves have agreed to sign City’s England Under-21 international Tommy Doyle on loan, with the option of a £4.3m transfer that…

Manchester United have confirmed that Raphael Varane will not be fit enough to travel with the squad for this Sunday’s trip to Arsenal. The French centre-back has consistently struggled with injuries during his two years with the Red Devils so far. His latest knock came in Saturday’s 3-2 comeback win at home to Nottingham Forest, with Man Utd now confirming that he has been ruled out of this Sunday’s match at the Emirates Stadium. A club statement read: “Raphael Varane will be missing from the team when Manchester United face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday due to injury. “The France…

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), says turning away from open trade will lead to greater price volatility, inflationary pressures and weaker growth prospects. She spoke at the recent Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, United States. Okonjo-Iweala said predictable trade was a source of disinflationary pressure, reduced volatility, and increased economic resilience, whereas fragmentation of trade into rival blocs “would be very costly.” “A world that turns its back on open and predictable trade will be one marked by diminished competitive pressures and greater price volatility,” she said.…

Traders of Adire fabrics in the Ogun State have called for an end to the importation of adulterated Chinese adire in the local markets. The traders disclosed this while embarking on an advocacy walk in Abeokuta, sensitizing buyers and sellers on the danger of patronizing adulterated Chinese adire. The traders urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to ban the sales of Chinese adire to preserve the state’s cultural heritage. Addressing journalists, one of the traders, Ogunfidodo Michael, lamented that the incursion of adulterated Chinese adire into the local market “Is pushing the locally made adire into extinction. “We are trying to sensitize…

AC Milan are nearing a deal for Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi from Portugese club Porto. Barcelona are ready to activate ‘Operation Joao Felix’ in the next 48 hours. The board is looking for a solution on the Finanial Fair Play side. The player has been keen on a barcelona move from the start. Nottingham Forest will complete the signings of Nuno Tavares from Arsenal and Murillo from Corinthians today. Arsenal will receive £2m loan fee plus and a £12m option to buy. While Corinthians are selling the player for €15m. Ajax have signed Georges Mikautadze from Metz for a reported…

Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly has won the PFA women’s Players’ Player of the Year award, while Chelsea star Lauren James was named Young Player of the Year. England’s Daly, 31, was top scorer in the Women’s Super League with 22 goals in her debut season at Villa. She also played a key role in the run to the Women’s World Cup final, scoring in the 6-1 group stage win over China. Daly was also named in the PFA’s Women’s Super League Team of the Year. After a six-year spell at US side Houston Dash, Daly moved to Villa last…

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has won the PFA men’s Players’ Player of the Year award, with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka named Young Player of the Year. Norway forward Haaland, 23, scored 52 goals in all competitions in his debut season with Pep Guardiola’s side. Haaland beat team-mates Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones, Arsenal’s Saka and Martin Odegaard and Tottenham’s Harry Kane, now at Bayern Munich. City won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last season. Haaland joined City from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £51.2m in June 2022. He was also nominated for the young player prize,…

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has suspended its candidate in the Feb. 25 presidential election, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for alleged anti-party activities. The BoT also suspended the National Working Committee, NWC, members of the party. It also appointed new national officers headed by Dr Agbo Major as acting National Chairman and Mr Ogini Olaposi as the Acting National Secretary. The suspension is for six months. Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, Secretary of the BoT, Babayo Muhammed Abdulahi accused Kwankwaso of hobnobbing with President Bola Tinubu,…

Arsenal held initial talks last week over signing Victor Osimhen next summer, according to FootballTransfers. Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar contacted the owner of the Serie A club, Aurelio De Laurentiis, to ask about the availability of the player, having been given encouragement by the 24-year-old’s agent, Roberto Calenda. The club wish to bring in a world-class No.9 in 2024. The Gunners’s squad last season shared the goals throughout, with Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka all scoring 15 each, while Gabriel Jesus, who contended with a serious injury, managed 11. Eddie Nketiah and Granit Xhaka scored nine a piece, the…

The Spanish Football Federation is exploring its options over whether it can sack Women’s World Cup-winning head coach Jorge Vilda. Vilda remains in post despite most of his coaching staff resigning in protest against federation president Luis Rubiales’ refusal to quit for kissing squad member Jenni Hermoso after their World Cup win on 20 August. Eighty-one Spain players, including all 23 World Cup winners, have also said they would not play for the team again while Rubiales remained in position. Vilda was spotted applauding Rubiales at the Spanish federation’s (RFEF) extraordinary general assembly on Friday, when Rubiales repeatedly insisted he…