Iheanacho can be in the same class as Messi –Chukwu

He felt a million things at the same time, including love for his teammates, family and country.

Kelechi  Iheanacho   was on a high after  helping Nigeria  beat defending champions Mexico 3-0 at the   Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,  to win    the 2013 FIFA Under-17  World Cup on  November 8.  He capped off an amazing run   in the three-week tournament with a goal in the final to take his tally to  six goals and seven assists to emerg

French hostage escapes from Ansaru’s den

THE police on Sunday in Kaduna handed over a 63-year-old French man, Francis Collomp, who escaped from terrorists’ den to officials of the French embassy. in Kaduna.

Collomp’s abductors were suspected to be members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Bilads-Sudan.

He was seized in Rimi town of Katsina State 11 months ago.

The foreigner, an engineer with a French renewable energy firm, Vergnet company of France, was on a routine official assignment when he was kidnapped.

Artiste, Father U-turn, dies at 36

Several musicians, including Daddy Showkey and Alariwo of Afrika, have expressed shock at the death of dancehall musician, Olufemi Mayomi, popularly called Father U-Turn.

Although some reports suggested that the artiste died of kidney-related complications,  a statement by the Publisher of Nigerian Entertainment News Today, Ayeni Adekunle, indicated that Father U-Turn died after a brief illness.

The Kaba-Bunu, Kogi- State-born artiste, who made waves in the 1990s, was 36.

Father U-Turn shot into limelight after releasing a song titled ‘Yetunde,’ in which he featured popular fuji act, Pasuma Wonder.

Confusion as hospital denies killer convoy’s visit

There was confusion on Saturday as the private hospital that a convoy, suspected to be that of a government official visited last Wednesday along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, denied that the convoy stopped at the place to see a patient.

But residents of the community, where the hospital is located, insisted that a government convoy stopped at the hospital shortly before the accident it allegedly caused.

It was learnt that some members of the community went to Hamkad Hospital on Thursday to demand the identity of the convoy that had visited the day before. They, however, did not succeed.

The administrative manager of the hospital,  who identified himself as Mr. Fajobi, told  bignews24hours that he was not aware that any convoy stopped at the hospital or  that it later caused an accident a few metres away.

Eagles can win World Cup – Enyeama

Vincent Enyeama

Nigeria stand-in captain  Vincent Enyeama believes the African champions can win next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Super Eagles became the first African side to qualify for the 2014 World Cup after beating Ethiopia 2-0 on Saturday for a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Enyeama believes Nigeria can become the first African team to not only reach the semi-finals but also win the final.

“(Are we going) to make an impression at the World Cup? No, we can actually win it,” the goalkeeper told BBC Sport.

Angry residents disarm, arrest armed robber

Fed up with incessant robbery attacks on the community, residents of Oworonsoki Local Council Development Area of Lagos State on Friday defied death as they challenged four armed robbers suspected to have been terrorising the area.

They eventually ended up disarming the robbers and rounding them up. But three of the robbers managed to escape. One was, however, not that lucky.

The suspect, who was identified as Eyinna, was said to have been beaten up by the mob before the arrival of the police at the scene.

Why Eagles played poorly –Keshi

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has responded to views by many spectators that the World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Ethiopia was not as entertaining as expected. The Nigeria manager, who spoke after the game the Eagles won by 2-0 in Calabar on Saturday,  said that the pressure of not making any costly mistake took its toll on the players.

He said, “Yes the game may not have been as smooth and as entertaining as the spectators wanted to be. That I agree with you. But there was a whole lot of pressure on the players not to slip in this last game after having a good run all through. At this stage we thought that bad style or a  lack of finesse should not count. What we wanted was to get the result and be in Brazil. And that was exactly what we got.

Spain take a trip down memory lane

Football | Bafana Bafana

Back in Johannesburg for the first time since their maiden World Cup triumph in the city, senior members of the Spain squad spoke on Sunday of their memories of 2010 and their desire to reward the South Africans for their hospitality and support.

Spain take on South Africa in a friendly on Tuesday at the same Soccer City stadium where they beat Netherlands 1-0 after extra time in the final three years ago.
Spanish federation (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar also took the chance on Sunday to parade the World Cup trophy in nearby Potchefstroom where the squad were based.

Italy to experiment against Nigeria

Football | Italy

 Cesare Prandelli has opted to select an experimental Italian team for his side's clash with Nigeria.
The Azzurris face Stephen Keshi's men in an international friendly at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on November 18 and the 56-year-old Italian will look to use a host of relatively untried players for the game.

Prandelli had named a 28-man strong squad ahead of matches with Germany and Nigeria, and after the 1-1 draw with Germany on Friday, he said he plans to use Monday’s game as a chance to rotate his squad.
"This team can certainly improve and we’ve got to focus on having the right fitness levels in Brazil," he said.
"We now have two days to recover and the plan is to put out an entirely new team in the next game (against Nigeria)."

Cameroon book Brazil spot in style

Football | Cameroon

Cameroon qualified for the 2014 Fifa World Cup with a convincing 4-1 win over Tunisia at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Pierre Webo, Benjamin Moukandjo and a brace from Jean Makoun ensured that the Indomitable Lions book their place in their seventh World Cup finals. Ahmed Akaichi found the back of the net for the Eagles of Carthage.

Cameroon coach Volker Finke made three changes to the side that held Tunisia to a goalless draw in the first leg.
Bennoit Assou-Ekotto, Stephane Mbia and Benjamin Moukandjo were included in the starting XI in place of Nyom, Nounkeu and Joel Matip. Samuel Eto’o started in attack alongside fellow veteran Pierre Webo.
Ruud Krol, on the other hand, made two changes to the side that failed to score in Rades last month. Karim Haggui and Fakhreddine Ben Youssef replaced Sami Allagui and Alaeddine Yahia.

The hosts got off to the best possible start with Webo finding the back of the net in the fourth minute. The Fenerbahce marksman disposed Wissem Be Haggui inside the area before finding the back of the net via the post, to score his 17th international goal.