Late double from Ronaldo seals Real win

Football | Spain

 

A late double from Cristiano Ronaldo put some gloss on a stuttering performance from Real Madrid as they beat Celta Vigo 3-0 to cut the gap at the top of La Liga to five points.
The pressure was on Real with leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid having won their first matches of the year.
However, with Ronaldo unusually quiet and record signing Gareth Bale only fit enough for the bench Real were frustrated by a Celta side who had several chances to score before Karim Benzema broke the deadlock midway through the second half.
Ronaldo poked in Real's second after 82 minutes and then thumped in his second of the night from substitute Bale's cross for his 400th career goal.
"It was not a good performance and we need to learn how to be tighter at the back," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference. "We lacked balance as we had a lot of players going forward and were open to the counter-attack."

President Jonathan’s 11th private jet!

 

The Presidency has made a proposal for an upfront deposit of N1.5billion for a brand new private jet, which will become the Presidential Air Fleet’s (PAF) 11th aircraft. This figure is contained in the details of the 2014 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan through the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The Federal Government has budgeted another N1.52b for the maintenance of the 10 aircraft currently in the PAF in 2014 and it is now set to spend just about that amount on a new one. This prodigious squandering of taxpayers’ money is reckless and unacceptable.

The PAF already boasts two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and Gulfstream IVSP. Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet. The combined estimated value of the PAF is about $390.5m (N60.53bn). According to industry experts, it costs a minimum of 20 per cent of that figure to maintain them annually. So we’re looking at about $58.57m (N9.08bn) yearly for maintenance. Private jets are money guzzlers either in the air or on land.

The proclivity of this administration for frivolous spending is well documented.  The government has been severely criticised in the past for the colossal amount of embezzlement, rip-off and wastage that have been its hallmark. The rationale behind this new aircraft in the PAF must be condemned .

We are prepared to make sacrifices – Lecturers

 

As life returns to many universities after the New Year break, some lecturers have pledged to put in extra efforts to make up for the time lost during the recent protracted strike.

Life returned to many of the nation’s public universities on Monday.

Besides, resumption of normal academic work, business activities also picked up in many of the institutions.

Lecturers in public universities embarked on an indefinite strike under the aegis of ASUU on July 1, 2013.

The strike suspended on December 17, lasted for 169 days.

The University of Lagos-ASUU Chairman, Dr. Oghenekaro Ogbinaka, promised that members of the union would make sacrifices to make up for lost time. He spoke to News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

Ogbinaka said the union was satisfied with steps the government recently took to ensure that the country’s university system was on the same pedestal with those of many other countries.

He said UNILAG lecturers would ensure that areas that suffered during the strike were covered qualitatively.

He urged students to work hard to make up for the lost time.

According to him, the Federal Government has demonstrated willingness to create a conducive teaching and learning environment in public universities.

He said it was necessary for lecturers and students to play their respective roles well.

“The government, as part of its efforts to encourage us, has paid all our salary arrears; we are indeed happy with the development.

“The same government has set up a NEEDS Assessment Committee in public universities with members of other labour unions in the system well represented.

“With the development, we are optimistic that we shall be seeing a system that will be able to compete favourably with its counterparts in other climes.’

“Given this development, we see a situation where, not only students, lecturers and  parents will be happy,  but where the entire country will be better,” Ogbinaka, said.

Normal academic activities also resumed at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The LAUTECH-ASUU Chairman, Dr Oyebamiji Oyegoke, told NAN that he was happy the school had reopened.

He said all hands must be on deck to avert disruption in whatever form on campus because it would be inimical to the students’ study.

Oyegoke stressed the need for both lecturers and students to be up and doing,

“We have to hit the ground running because of the limited time,’’ he said.

The Deputy Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Babatunde Lawal, also said that the resumption was the best gift of the New Year.

He urged the lecturers and students to work extra hard to cover the lost ground.

The Students’ Union President, Mr. Ayorinde Rufus, commended the management of the institution for the prompt resumption of students after the strike.

We used wooden guns to rob passengers – Suspect

An alleged highway robber has told men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos, that he and his gang members used toy guns to intimidate passengers.

It was learnt that the 37-year-old suspect, Mmaduabuchukwu Ibe, was arrested with a locally-made bullet proof vests inscribed with ‘police’.

According to police authorities, the suspect belongs to a gang which specialises in robbing commercial buses on highways.

Ibe was alleged to have been part of a gang of armed robbers which attacked two East-bound passenger buses along Sagamu, Ogun State, dispossessing passengers of their belongings on December 31, 2013.

During the robbery operation, the suspects were said to have ordered passengers to lie face down while they robbed them.

CBN defended naira with $26.6bn in 2013 – Report

In a bid to save the naira from devaluation last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria defended the currency with approximately $26.6bn from the nation’s external reserves; findings by our correspondent have shown.

Information obtained from the CBN website on Monday revealed that the bank sold about $26.6bn to currency dealers in 94 Foreign Exchange Dutch Auctions between January and December 2013.

According to the data, the central bank sold about $19.8bn to currency dealers in 72 auctions through the Wholesale Dutch Auction System between January and September last year, while it offered $6.8bn to the dealers in 22 auctions through the Retail Dutch Auction System between October and December.

The CBN had on October 2 last year replaced the WDAS with the RDAS because of the ineffectiveness of the former in order to address hitches in the foreign exchange market.

The data showed that the central bank sold the highest amount of dollar in the month of July, offering $3.3bn; while it sold $833,501,279 in January, the least for the year

Presidency, police insurance, bank charges to gulp N556m

 

The Presidency, ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and Finance, as well as police formations and commands, among others, are to spend the sum of N555.98m on financial expenses such as bank charges and insurance premium this year.

The amount is contained in the 2014 budget proposals for the affected agencies currently before the National Assembly.

An analysis of the fiscal document, which was submitted by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to the National Assembly in December, showed that the police formations and commands, with a budget of N404.07m, have the highest figure for financial charges.

A breakdown of this amount shows that while about N402.98m will be spent on insurance premium, the balance of N1.09m is for bank charges.

Similarly, the budget details also indicate that the Ministry of Agriculture and its parastatals have earmarked the sum of N55.06m for financial charges, while the Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and its parastatals plan to spend N14.25m and N72.4m, respectively.

The Ministry of Finance has a budget of N2.55m for financial charges, while the Debt Management Office also has a provision of N1.6m for the same purpose.

Chukwu backs Eagles for CHAN title

 

Former Nigeria coach, Christian Chukwu, has tipped the team for success at the African Nations Championship, saying the Super Eagles team B will replicate the success the team A had at Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Nigeria are in the same group with hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique and will play their group game against the West Africans on the opening day of the tournament, January 11.

It will be Nigeria’s first appearance at the competition after missing out on the first two editions in 2009 and 2011.

Chukwu told the News Agency of Nigeria on the telephone on Monday that in spite of the Eagles’ first appearance at the tournament, they have stand a good chance as bookmakers’ favourites.

Portuguese salute, mourn soccer great Eusebio

tens of thousands turned out in tribute Monday to Eusebio after the coffin of the Portuguese soccer great was put on public display and taken in a funeral cortege through the streets of Lisbon, AP reports.

People filed out of offices and cafes on a rainy afternoon and applauded as the hearse with a police motorcycle escort passed. Traffic was halted on the capital’s main roads, and the cortege stopped for a ceremony at city hall.

Earlier in the day, dozens of dignitaries and hundreds of fans, some weeping, filed past the coffin at the Lisbon stadium of Benfica, Eusebio’s longtime club. Some 10,000 fans at the Stadium of Light cheered and sang when the coffin was placed in the center of the field.

The government declared three days of national mourning after Eusebio’s death Sunday from heart failure at 71.

The funeral was attended by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho and many soccer players, including former world player of the year and retired Portugal captain Luis Figo.

Jonathan demands laurels at Commonwealth Games

 

President Goodluck Jonathan has charged Team Nigeria preparing for the 2014 Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland to put in outstanding performances for best results the News Agency of Nigeriareports.

Jonathan said this when he received the Glasgow 2014 Queens’ Baton Relay from the representative of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mr. Sharad Rao, at the Forecourt of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

The Queens’ Baton relay, which will travel to 70 Commonwealth nations and territories over a period of 288 days, symbolises a curtain raiser to the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The relay was launched on October 9, 2013 by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace at a ceremony where she placed her message to the Commonwealth nations.

Jonathan said the relevant sporting authority should ensure that a compact and powerful team of athletes were sent to the Glasgow events.

I do what Mourinho wants –Mikel

 

 

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has explained his few numbers of goals for the club and style of play insisting he works strictly to the manager’s instructions.

The Nigerian, who has won the FA Cup four times with Chelsea, netted his fourth goal for the Blues in the 66th minute of the FA Cup match against Derby County on Sunday. The goal, coming in his 300th appearance for the club, sent the fans into wild jubilation, not only for the lead but for Mikel, who has been described as ‘goal shy’ in the team.

In his post-match reaction on Chelsea website, the midfielder insists he plays according to manager Jose Mourinho’s game plan hence the scarcity of his goals.

But Mikel obviously enjoyed the reaction of the Chelsea fans to his goal. As after his strike against Fulham earlier in the season, the song was ‘He scores when he wants,’ but the 26-year-old said, “You have to understand the manager wants me to do a job for the team and I have always done that, always tried to keep the shape and it is difficult for me to get in the box, but every time I can and I score I will be happy.

Jonathan’s presidency is incompetent, says APC

 

The All Progressives Congress on Monday, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of running an incompetent and fillipant presidency.

 It said the Presidency was chasing shadows instead of dealing with genuine issues of governance.

 The APC said this in response to earlier accusations that leading figures in the APC were inconsistent on national issues.

 In a paper titled, “Nigeria in 2014: Facts Versus Fiction,” written by the Special Assistant to the President, New Media, Mr. Reno Omokri, the Presidency had described the opposition and its leadership as a bunch of “hypocrites” who would stop at nothing to “secure political power by whatever means necessary.”

But in a statement issued in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC said the Jonathan-led Presidency lacked the moral authority to accuse its leaders.

 The party described the administration as “incompetent” and “flip plopping” because its leaders were not only respectable but also patriotic.

Gunmen kill 30, burn 40 houses in Plateau

No fewer than 30 people were reportedly killed and 25 others injured on Monday  when gunmen struck  at  Shonong    in Bachit District of the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The latest round of killings came barely  12 days after  the burial of the acting heads  of   Shonong  and Attarkar, who were murdered on December 23.

Our  correspondent gathered from eye-witnesses that apart from those killed, over 40 houses were torched by the gunmen believed to be Fulani cattle rearers . Also affected were domestic animals belonging to the villagers.

The attackers were said to have stormed the village around 7am on Monday  in a commando-like  manner, shooting sporadically. Those killed were caught in the pandemonium that followed staccato bursts of gunfire.

Shom Toma, one of the survivors, who is receiving treatment  at the Vom Christian Hospital, Jos, told journalists  that the attackers  numbering over 100  struck  at a time  most of the villagers had gone to their farms.

Toma said he was moulding some blocks near  his house when he heard  gunshots. He said most of the victims were children and elderly people.

$10.8bn spent on kerosene subsidy, others —NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has finally admitted that it spent the yet-to-be-reconciled $10.8bn on behalf of the Federal Government.

The sum was meant to be paid into the Federation Account.

The corporation, on Sunday, said the money was spent on kerosene subsidy and other expenses since 2007.

The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, had late last year alleged that the corporation failed to remit $49.8bn to the Federation Account between January 2012 and July 2013.

Of this sum, $30bn had been reconciled by the government agencies involved, while $10.8bn is still outstanding.

Explaining that the $10.8bn was not missing, the General Manager, Media Relations, Group Public Affairs Department, NNPC, Mr. Omar Farouk, said in a statement that the corporation was saddled with onerous responsibilities that other oil companies were freed from.

He said, “For instance, as the supplier of last resort, NNPC has the responsibility of ensuring that there is adequate supply of petroleum products, whether the market is favourable or not.

New broadband licensing conditions jolt bidders

 

The release of strict bidding conditions for the 2.3GHz spectrum licence being offered by the Nigerian Communications Commission for the delivery of broadband wireless services is causing concerns in the industry, STANLEY OPARA writes

The release of bidding conditions for would-be investors in the 2.3GHz spectrum bid round by the Nigerian Communications Commission is creating tension among the players that are nursing the ambition to acquire the licence.

This development, our correspondent learnt from industry sources, had resulted in the interested companies going back to the drawing board to re-strategise so that they would not get disqualified by the regulator midway into the bid round.

In fact, some bidders risk being slammed with financial penalties by the NCC given their current level of preparedness for the licensing round, our correspondent learnt.

The commission said it reserved the right to impose financial penalties on the applicants/bidders if they infringed on the laid down rules.

“Financial penalties will be deducted from the Intention-to-Bid deposits provided by applicants/bidders and the commission’s decision in these matters will be final,” a clause in the rules stated.

The regulator also said it was forbidden for a bidder to have a relationship with a rival during the licensing period.

It explained, “For the purposes of this licensing process, this period starts with the issue of the Information Memorandum and stops at the granting of the licences. A relationship is defined as where a bidder owns directly or indirectly an ownership stake of 10 per cent or more in another bidder.

We’ll consolidate on 2013 achievements – LAWMA

The Lagos State Waste Management Authority has said it will consolidate on the achievements it recorded in 2013 this year by ensuring that the state is rid of garbage and providing opportunities for the government and the citizens to earn money from wastes.

The agency stated this in a document made available to our correspondent on Sunday in which it also highlighted its achievements for the out gone year.

LAWMA said it seized 7,845 carts in the course of the past year so as to ensure that only registered private sector participants handled waste evacuation and to prevent household wastes from finding their way into drainage channels and other unauthorised dumpsites.

The agency also said it evacuated 64 abandoned vehicles and carried out 257 commercial and domestic enforcements, all aimed at ridding the state of dirt.

According to the statement, LAWMA also succeeded in capping the Olusosun landfill site to reduce the moisture content of the waste and the pungent smell from the site, adding that a bailing machine for packing materials was also installed at the site last year.

Record-breaking low temperatures hit the US

 

A winter storm has already blanketed areas of Canada and the north-eastern US with up to 2ft (60 cm) of snow.

It has been blamed for 16 deaths in recent days and the cancellation of more than 3,700 flights this weekend.

Schools in Chicago are among those closing as officials tell people to stay indoors on Monday.

Meanwhile, a plane from Toronto slid into snow as it turned onto a taxiway after landing at New York’s JFK airport on Sunday.

No-one was hurt in the incident but all flights at the airport were suspended for two hours because of icy runways.

The plunging temperatures result from the polar vortex, an anti-clockwise pool of cold, dense air.

Forecasters say temperatures in the north and central US could feel as low as -60F (-51C) with the effect of wind chill.

Authorities have warned residents to remain indoors, both for their own safety and to keep roads clear for snow removal.

In Canada, thousands of people on the island of Newfoundland remain without power due to a transformer fire linked to heavy snow.

“The coldest weather in years will be making its presence known from the Upper Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic region for the beginning of the work week,” the US National Weather Service said in a statement.

The states of Ohio, South Dakota and Illinois are among those set to be hit. Tennessee and Kentucky are forecast to see several inches of snow.

The weather service said “an incredibly strong surge of bitterly cold Arctic air” was sweeping across the country until Tuesday.

It is set to continue to the north-east, where residents are still digging out from the week’s deadly snowstorm.

It could bring some of the coldest temperatures in two decades.

“The last really big Arctic outbreak was 1994,” Reuters news agency quoted Bob Oravec, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, as saying.

“Outbreaks like this don’t occur every day.”

In Canada, the temperature dropped as low as -20F (-29C) in Toronto and -36F (-38C) in Quebec City with wind chill on Thursday – the lowest seen in at least two decades there.

Mikel scores as Chelsea captain

 

Mikel Obi again played into the hearts of Chelsea and African fans on Sunday when his goal spurred the Stamford Bridge team to victory in the English FA Cup against Derby County.

The Nigerian indeed made the Sunday game a very remarkable encounter as he scored wearing the Chelsea captain’s band while making his 300th appearance for the London club. It was Mikel’s fourth goal for Chelsea, with three of those coming in the FA Cup. Michael Essien had started the match as the captain but handed Mikel the band when he was substituted by Hazard in the 55th minute.

The goal started with Eden Hazard who won a free-kick on the left and it was left to Willian to fire a free-kick into the goalmouth. The delivery was good from the Brazilian and Mikel thumped a header past goalkeeper Lee Grant from five yards out at the 66th minute to send the Chelsea fans into a frenzy.

Another Brazilian, Oscar, wrapped things up for Jose Mourinho’s troop barely five minutes later when his strike was too powerful for Grant to handle. Chelsea will now face Stoke at Stamford Bridge, as the fourth round draw was concluded minutes before kick-off.

Emenike predicts tough competition in Eagles

 

Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike is not certain of having an automatic role in the national team after admitting there are more competitions for the striking positions than anywhere else.

The Fenerbahce forward was outstanding in South Africa last year, winning the Top Scorer award as Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations after 19 years’ wait. He was also instrumental in Nigeria’s campaign for the 2014 World Cup scoring vital goals against Ethiopia during the qualifiers.

But with the African Nations Championship holding this month in South Africa, Emenike believes the tournament will churn up more strikers for Nigeria before their final preparation for the World Cup in Brazil.

“There are always fights for roles in the Super Eagles, especially the striking roles. In fact, there are more strikers in the team than midfielders and defenders; the only hope of keeping my role is to work harder and perform better,” the former Spartak Moscow player said.

Nigeria, Israel sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement

The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, representing President Goodluck Jonathan, signed the agreement on behalf of the country.

The agreement is expected to pave way for direct flights between both countries on the principle of reciprocity by the designated airlines of both countries.

Before now, Nigerians travelling to Israel, including Christian pilgrims, stopped over in neighbouring countries before being finally transported to their destination.

Onwuliri said after the signing of the agreement that the accord would deepen bilateral ties between both countries and boost their economies.

“The agreement will augur well for movement of persons, our pilgrims, businessmen, academics, the civil society and students.

“Many of our people also come here to benefit from the technology of Israel,” she said.

The minister also said that the agreement would make enormous impact on trade and investment, agriculture, construction, tourism, security and capacity building.

Indian judge says pre-marital sex is immoral

Judge Virender Bhat made the remarks after ruling that sex between two adults on the promise of marriage did not amount to rape.

Pre-marital sex remains a cultural taboo in India.

Last year, a court in Delhi said live-in relationships were immoral and an “infamous product of Western culture”.

Judge Bhat presides over a fast-track court set up in the Indian capital to dispose of cases relating to sexual offences against women.

He made his latest remarks while clearing a man employed with a multinational company of charges of rape.

The 29-year-old had been arrested after a woman working in a different company lodged a complaint of rape against him in 2011.

The woman alleged that the man had sex with her after promising marriage.

“In my opinion, every act of sexual intercourse between two adults on the assurance of promise of marriage does not become rape, if the assurance or promise is not fulfilled later on by the boy,” Judge Bhat was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

Boko Haram will soon be defeated –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday  described the Boko Haram insurgency in some Northern states as a temporary challenge.

Jonathan, who  vowed that his  administration  would  work hard to ensure that nobody or group held  Nigeria to ransom, assured again that Boko Haram would soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.

He spoke at the first Sunday service of the year he attended at the Church of Christ in Nations, Garki, Abuja.

 The President  said, “Boko Haram insurgency  is a temporary challenge.  Boko Haram will surely go. We will do all our best to ensure it becomes a thing of the past very soon.  A  number of countries have faced similar challenges and they have been able to overcome them. We will surely overcome Boko Haram.

“Life in the North must change. Development must go to all parts of this country and nobody or group can hold this country to ransom.

“We will collectively liberate this country from the hands of any evil person that is trying to set us backward. We will do our best and build a country that our children and our grandchildren will be proud of.”

He also promised to work hard to improve the standard of living of Nigerians during his tenure.

Jonathan, who said he was wary of making a long speech for the fear of being misquoted, however, told the congregation  that  promises made by his administration would not be achieved overnight.

He likened nation building to the planting of crops or the process of building a house which, according to him,   takes  a  period  of time to materialise.

APC begins membership registration this month

The All Progressives Congress has set up  committees to handle the registration of its members in each state of the federation.

Members of the committee will be drawn from the national secretariat, defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change and the All Nigeria Peoples Party in each state as well as governors where APC has one.

The ACN, the CPC and ANPP merged to form the APC.

It was learnt in Abuja, on Sunday, that barring any last minute change, the APC National Secretariat would name two members, the chairmen of the defunct ACN, ANPP and CPC as well as the state governor (where APC has a governor), would also be part of the committee.

It was also gathered that the caretaker committees would be inaugurated within two weeks before the commencement of the registration exercise.

A reliable party source confided in our correspondent that the two party officials appointed by the national body would be sent to states other than their states of origin.

Football legend, Eusebio, dies at 71

Portuguese football legend Eusebio has died at the age of 71.

The forward scored an incredible 473 goals in 440 matches for Benfica, the Portuguese giants with whom he spent most of his career and won the European Cup in 1962.

He also scored 41 goals in 64 appearances for the Portugal national team, helping them to third place in the 1966 World Cup in England – a tournament in which he was top goalscorer with nine goals.

He memorably scored four goals in the 5-3 quarter-final win over North Korea at Goodison Park.

A spokesman for Benfica said: “We have just received confirmation of the death of Eusebio. It’s a very sad day for all of us.”

The club were unable to confirm details of Eusebio’s death but reports in Portugal say he died of a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He had been in poor health for some time and was hospitalised during Euro 2012 after suffering a heart scare in Poland.

Real Madrid confirmed they will hold a minute’s silence at the Bernabeu ahead of Monday’s league clash with Celta Vigo and that their players will wear black armbands in respect to Eusebio, with coach Carlo Ancelotti paying his respects in his pre-match press conference.

“It’s very sad news,” he said. “We want to send our best wishes to his family and his friends.”

Benfica fans will now be offered the chance to pay their final respects to the player at the Estadio da Luz later on Sunday.

“Eusebio’s body will be brought to the stadium later today and all fans will be able to say goodbye,” the spokesman said.

President open to reconciliation with Obasanjo –Presidency

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak,  made this known on Sunday just as  The PUNCH  gathered that the  feud between   Jonathan and Obasanjo was   adding to the worries of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The sour relationship between the duo became public knowledge in December 2013 when Obasanjo wrote a letter titled “Before it is too late” to Jonathan.

 In  the letter, he accused the President of condoning corruption, training snipers, putting some persons on a watch list and engaging in other acts capable of destroying the country.

Jonathan replied Obasanjo openly, saying  his  letter  was    designed to incite Nigerians   against him.

There were however  speculations that some former leaders had approached the President and Obasanjo to reconcile them.

Although Gulak, in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja,  said he was not aware of such  moves,   he added that  there was nothing wrong with  it.

He  stated  that  in spite of the   exchange of letters between the two leaders, Jonathan still held  Obasanjo in high esteem.

No divers at Chelsea - Mourinho

Football | FA Cup

 

Chelsea are not a team of divers, according to manager Jose Mourinho, whose side had a player booked for the offence for the second week running on Sunday.
Midfielder Ramires was cautioned by referee Andre Marriner for simulation in the FA Cup third round 2-0 victory over Derby County.
Fellow Brazilian Oscar received the same punishment from referee Martin Atkinson in the Premier League match against Southampton on New Year's Day.
Both decisions came after Mourinho accused Liverpool's Luis Suarez of diving in the Londoners' 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on December 26.

Juventus move eight points clear

Football | Italy

 

AS Roma's Serie A title challenge imploded against Serie A leaders Juventus on Sunday as they had two players sent off in less than a minute in an emphatic 3-0 defeat which ended their unbeaten run this season.
Roma stalwart Daniele De Rossi was dismissed for a reckless lunging tackle and Leandro Castan followed for punching the ball off the goalline from the resulting free kick in a demoralising defeat, the first since Frenchman Rudi Garcia took over as coach.
Juventus, champions for the last two seasons, stamped their authority on Serie A again as they moved eight points clear of second-placed Roma, threatening to run away with another title with more than half the season still to play.
Roma brought the best defensive record with only seven goals conceded before the match but were undone by uncharacteristically shoddy play at the back which allowed Arturo Vidal and Leonardo Bonucci to put Juventus 2-0 ahead.

World Cup fears for injured Rossi

Football | Italy

 

The World Cup hopes of Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi could be compromised after the Fiorentina player suffered an injury to his troublesome right knee in a 1-0 win over Livorno on Sunday.
Rossi only returned to action earlier this season following a lengthy injury lay-off but has hit 14 goals to become Serie A's top scorer and is firmly in the World Cup plans of Italy coach Cesare Prandelli.
However, the Viola striker could be a doubt for June's showpiece event in Brazil after limping off in the 71st minute at the Artemio Franchi stadium following a foul by Liandro Rinaudo.

Ideye ready for new celebration

Football | Super Eagles

 

Dynamo Kyiv attacker, Brown Ideye says he’s perfected a new act which he’ll unveil the next time he scores a goal in a competitive game.
The 25-year-old hinted supersport.com in December 2013 that he could potentially leave the Ukrainian club in January.
If he does not leave during the January transfer window however, he will likely line-up for the 26-time Ukrainian champions against Romanian club, Steaua Bucuresti in a friendly game on January 27.
Oleg Blokhin’s side won’t play competitively until February 20 when they face Valencia in a first leg, round of 32 fixture in the Uefa Europa League at the Olimpiyskyi.

Mikel strikes gold in Blues win

Football | Nigeria

J

 

Nigerian midfielder, John Obi Mikel scored for Chelsea as the Blues beat Derby County 2-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Mikel rose majestically to power home a header off a free kick by Willian from the left in the 66th minute in a tight contest at the iPro Stadium.
It was a great landmark for the Nigerian midfielder who was making his 300th appearance for Chelsea in all competitions.
Mikel, who has been severely criticised for not scoring often enough, has now netted his second goal of the season for Chelsea.