ONE WORD

Femi Otedola and the NFF President Amanjour Pinnick during the visit to Christian Chukwu in London. Business magnate, Femi Otedola has visited ailing former Super Eagles Captain Christian Chukwu at the Wellington Hospital in London to see how he is doing. Otedola last month offered to foot the medical bills of Chukwu, who is suffering from prostate cancer which has affected his leg. The former Green Eagles captain is said to be in need of $50,000 for an operation. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) posted the photograph of the visit on twitter: It wrote: "@realFemiOtedola visits recuperating former @NGSuperEagles coach, Christian Chukwu at the Wellington Hospital, Circus Road, St John’s Woods London”

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked ministers to continue till May 28, 2019, and handover their schedules to the permanent secretaries of their respective ministries. He made the revelation at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council meeting with members of his cabinet in Abuja on Wednesday. The meeting which is the last before the May 29 inauguration was held behind a closed door and it was expected that the cabinet will be dissolved to end President Buhari’s first term in office.

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited President Muhammadu Buhari to the Africa-France Summit scheduled for June 2020 in Bordeaux, France. French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari at The Presidential State House in Abuja on July 3, 2018. Secretary General, Africa-France Summit, Stephanie Rivoal, said this when she visited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, on Tuesday in Abuja. She said that the summit with the theme “Sustainable Cities” was aimed at helping African countries resolve the rural-urban drift among other challenges bedevilling the continent. According to her, Nigeria is expected to showcase its projects that have been proven to work at the two day summit for all stakeholders involved in development of cities.  She said it was the wish of Macron for Nigeria’s president to attend the summit because of the importance of Nigeria in the continent. Rivoal also said that the summit, unlike every oth...

Another thrilling and exciting awaits audience today as magic carpet flies into the Sky cinemas in what promises to be an unforgettable experience. On board the Magic Carpet will be two of Disney’s beloved characters, Princess Jasmine and Aladdin. It is the premiere of this latest Disney movie, which is set to be released by Blue Pictures and Crimson at the prestigious Sky Cinemas, Sangotedo Lekki Epe Expressway. A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie, who brings his singular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious port city of Agrabah, “Aladdin” is written by John August and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.” The film stars Will Smith as the Genie; Mena Massoud as Aladdin; Naomi Scott as Jasmine; Marwan Kenzari as Jafar; Navid Negahb...

Asamoah Gyan has announced his retirement from international football after 16-year career with the Ghana national team. The Kayserispor forward, who made his debut in November 2003 against Somalia, has earned 106 caps for his country, scoring 51 goals. Gyan is the Black Stars’ most-capped player and top scorer of all time, but has decided to hang up his international boots upon consultation with his family and team. ASAMOAH GYAN ✔ @ASAMOAH_GYAN3 Thank you Ghana, am forever grateful @ AnimSammy @ BaffourGyan4 @cobbyafriyie 5,869 6:07 PM - May 20, 2019 2,070 people are talking about this “My mother once told me, "you cannot tout a decision you did not take as betrayal, because you have to expect it" I still do not understand that statement anyway,” Gyan wrote in a statement. “I cannot pretend to be happy. I would rather hurt myself emotionally and psychologically, over the years I served with an open heart and have g...

Real Madrid are set to renew the contract of defender Nacho Fernandez, with his fresh deal set to expire in June 2022. The versatile Spaniard's previous deal was agreed back in 2014 and destined to expire in June 2021. However, Madrid are keen to tie him down to a new deal this summer after engaging in talks throughout the season. According to reports in ​Marca, these negotiations have now been completed, with the news expected to be announced officially later on Wednesday, in the customary ceremonial style alongside club president Florentino Perez. Nacho has been at Madrid since he was 10, earning his first call up to the senior squad in 2011 under Jose Mourinho in a 6-3 victory over Valencia. He has since gone on to make 190 appearances in the famous white shirt, scoring nine times and providing seven assists, all while accruing a trophy cabinet which includes four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, one ​La Liga title and one Copa del Rey. This follows the revelati...

Manchester United manager Ole Gunner Solkjaer will give the green light for the club to submit an opening £25m bid to sign Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The England Under-21 international has been attracting interest from some of the Premier League's biggest clubs after his first full season in Roy Hodgson's senior squad at Selhurst Park. Wan-Bissaka has most notably been linked with a move to Manchester United throughout the season and Standard Sport understand that the club are now ready to make a £25m bid to lure the defender to Old Trafford. Their offer is expected to be outright rejected by the decision makers at Crystal Palace as the club looks to hold out of almost double what United will offer, with hopes in south London that Manchester City joins the race to start a bidding war. But it's what the Red Devils are anticipating as they are just eager to begin negotiations over a summer move for Wan-Bissaka, who is sitting at the top of manager S...

The presidency has issued a directive for the immediate clearance of Apapa Port Congestion and emergency clean-up of gridlock on Apapa road. This was disclosed in a statement signed on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, the office of the vice president, Laolu Akande. Presidency in the statement also ordered trucks and tankers to vacate the port access roads within 72 hours. “A Presidential directive has been issued for the immediate clearing up of the Apapa gridlock and the restoration of law and order to Apapa and its environs within two weeks. “The directive mandates the immediate removal of all trucks from the bridges and roads within Apapa and all adjoining streets leading into the Apapa axis,” the statement read in part. To facilitate this clearance, operators of trucks and tankers have also been directed to vacate the Port Access Roads within the next 72 hours. This directive is said to have followed an emergency meetin...

    Controversial Nigerian senator, Dino Melaye has released a new song attacking the governor of Kogi state.      Dino Melaye, the controversial Senator, has released a song against the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in preparation for the November governorship election in the state.   The senator's song has caused quite a stir on Instagram.   Melaye sang the song himself and it is titled”  ‘Kogi Koya… Kogi ko Bello.’   Watch the video here:  

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech denied reports he has already agreed to become Chelsea's sporting director. Cech is set to retire at the end of the season after a distinguished career at the top, with the 37-year-old spending most of it at Chelsea. The final match of his career – should he play – will be against his former club in the Europa League final on May 29. Media reports began circulating on Tuesday that Cech has sealed a deal with Chelsea to return as their new sporting director. However, Cech insists he will only make his mind up about his next move after officially retiring. Cech wrote on his official Twitter account: "Despite the news today [Tuesday], as I had already said to everybody before, I'll make decision about my future after the last game. "Now my sole focus is to win the Europa League with Arsenal."

Chelsea have declined to comment on the rumour that their former head coach Antonio Conte has been paid the full £9 million ($11m) compensation claim that he has been fighting for since being sacked last summer. Conte has sought to secure the full payment of the last remaining year of his salary, but Chelsea have fought his claim citing a breach of contract in his final year as the club's first team boss. The 49-year-old has spent almost 12 months away from the dugout. He was relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2018 as fellow countryman Maurizio Sarri, who has seen his future come into question in recent weeks, made his way to west London. Conte left Chelsea on the back of an FA Cup triumph, and with a Premier League title to his name, but was considered to be surplus to requirements. The Times of London claims that Conte has won the full amount that he has been fighting for after Goal last confirmed that a three-person Premier League tribunal was...

Manchester United are still hopeful that midfielder Juan Mata will be at the club next season, despite having so far failed to tie the Spaniard down to a new contract. Mata's current deal expires on June 30, and there is interest in him from clubs in England, Italy and Spain in picking the player up on a free transfer. Barcelona, over the last few weeks, have been talked up as being at the front of the line. Though according to a report by ​ESPN, ​Manchester United have offered ​Mata a new contract and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær is still optimistic that the 31-year-old will sign the deal - even while he's seen close friend Ander Herrera leave the club recently. Mata has been a first-team regular for most of his United career but has had reduced involvement in the most recent campaign, starting just 16 league games. He joined Manchester United for a then club-record fee of £37m from ​Chelsea in January 2014 when David Moyes was at the helm at Old Trafford. He departed...

Maurizio Sarri looks set for a second-straight offseason of “Will Chelsea or won’t they?” One year after needing the Blues to sort out the removal of Antonio Conte and compensation with Napoli, Sarri could now be moving back to Italy. But Chelsea won’t make any decisions on his future until after the Europa League Final in Baku next week, and reportedly would let him leave for Juventus if the Serie A side pays a $7 million fee. Sarri also criticized the Blues’ preseason trip to America, and Matt Law’s report says the manager is fine to stay in England but may want to return to Italy. Roma is also searching for a manager. Chelsea’s playing style under Sarri drew criticism from supporters but the Blues are in the Europa League Final, finished third in the Premier League, and came within penalty kicks of beating Manchester City to the League Cup title. Maybe the cigarette-chomping Sarri isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but his success on the table and tournaments with a transfer b...

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone Diego Simeone eased any fan fears he might leave Atletico Madrid as part of their expected exodus. Atletico look set for arguably their most important transfer window since Simeone returned to the club as coach in 2011, with numerous key players departing. Juanfran, Diego Godin and Filipe Luis are expected to leave on free transfers, Lucas Hernandez will join Bayern Munich, while Vitolo, Santiago Arias, Thomas Partey, Rodri and Saul Niguez have been strongly linked with moves. To make matters worse, star forward Antoine Griezmann also announced his intention to leave the club despite only signing a new contract last year. With several major European clubs set to change coaches, Simeone had been suggested as a potential target for some, though he insists he is not about to jump ship. Speaking after Tuesday's 2-1 friendly defeat to Beitar Jerusalem, Simeone said: "I like my job, I feel very identified and committed to the club. ...

Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa Diego Costa avoided bone damage after suffering an ankle injury in Atletico Madrid's 2-1 friendly defeat to Beitar Jerusalem, the club have confirmed. Spain striker Costa endured a difficult season after struggling for form and missing the final seven La Liga games through suspension after earning an eight-match ban for insulting a referee. The club also brought in Alvaro Morata to bolster teh forward position, with Alvaro Morata joining from Chelsea in the winter window. Atletico faced Israeli side Beitar on Tuesday in a friendly, allowing Costa to make his first appearance since April 6, but he lasted just 28 minutes before suffering what the club describe as a "high-grade sprain" to his left ankle. "Diego Costa suffered a high-grade sprain in his left ankle during the first part of the game against Beitar Jerusalem," the club announced. "The striker has undergone radiological tests at a hospital in Jerusale...

Petr Cech is staying in London. The longtime Chelsea goalkeeper is set to return to the club as sporting director following Arsenal’s Europa League Final against… well… Chelsea. Cech, 37, is calling time on his legendary playing career and will not simply be drumming into the sunset. He’ll return to a club with which he earned 15 trophies including two Champions Leagues. The three-time Best European Goalkeeper also won three trophies with Arsenal. It would be pretty surprising if Unai Emery selected him over Bernd Leno for the final in Azerbaijan, but Cech is certainly respected worldwide and will be the type of personality to bring some stability to Chelsea.

Summer transfer season is still technically weeks away from kicking off, and Europe's two biggest titles have still yet to be decided, but for players and clubs, the machinations and maneuvering has long been underway. Barcelona and Bayern Munich agreed on big-money transfers for summer arrivals in the winter, Antoine Griezmann couldn't wait until the last game of the season to announce he was headed elsewhere, Eden Hazard has been publicly flirting with a Chelsea exit for months and the rumor mill has been churning at its usual pace, chewing up some of the biggest names in the game. So if the players and clubs won't wait until the start of the transfer window, then why should we? With the European seasons winding down, here's a look at the top 10 transfer stories and sagas to watch in what is sure to be an entertaining and landscape-changing coming weeks and months. 1. Real Madrid's shopping spree Real Madrid had a subpar season on all fronts. It cycled ...

Do we really think Jose Mourinho is ready for a return? Multiple reports in Italy claims Juventus’ star forward Cristiano Ronaldo wants Mourinho to become their new manager after it was announced that Max Allegri is stepping down this summer after winning five-straight Serie A titles with the Turin club. Mourinho, 56, has been out of a job since Manchester United fired him in December, but his status as a serial trophy winner remains intact. Speaking recently on beIN Sport, where he has been popping up as a pundit on multiple occasions, “One of the players that I have a great relation with, he plays for a team and he told me, ‘You should come here next season’, and I told him, ‘They don’t love me.’ He told me, ‘You win three matches and they will start loving you.'” Hmm. Who could he be talking about? Mourinho didn’t endear himself to Juve’s fans during his time at their rivals Inter Milan where he won the treble, including the UEFA Champions League in 20...