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MOSCOW (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino thanked Russia on Thursday for hosting the "best World Cup ever" as President Vladimir Putin presented him with a state award for his role in making last year's tournament possible. In a Kremlin ceremony broadcast on television, Putin thanked "all those who helped making this dream come to life," including the head of soccer's global governing body. Infantino, with the Order of Friendship medal pinned to his lapel, replied: "You welcomed the world as friends, and the world has created bonds of friendship with Russia that will last forever." Russia's successful 2010 bid to host the 2018 tournament, which FIFA oversaw under Infantino's discredited predecessor Sepp Blatter, was marred by allegations of corruption in the bidding process which also saw the 2022 event awarded to Qatar. In 2014, FIFA cleared Russian authorities of wrongdoing, though western critics continued in the run-u...

FIFA has confirmed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will remain a 32-team tournament, abandoning plans to expand the event to 48 teams. The world football governing body made certain to cite that Qatar’s implausibility to host such an expanded tournament as the sole reason for the decision, essentially confirming that the 2026 World Cup – joint hosted throughout North America – will remain expanded as confirmed back in January of 2017. “FIFA and Qatar have jointly explored all possibilities to increase the number of participant teams from 32 to 48 teams by involving neighboring countries at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” FIFA said in a statement. “Following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process with the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders, it was concluded that under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now.” Qatar has been criticized for its lack of infrastructure and relative inability to host a tournament of the World Cup’s magnitude,...

ABUJA – THE Police Council on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Mohammed Adamu as the substantive Inspector General of Police, IGP. Adamu was appointed last year on the acting capacity at the expiration of the tenure of the former IGP Ibrahim Idris.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has, on Wednesday, threatened to disrupt academic activities through strike, accusing the Federal Government of not keeping to her own side of the bargain concerning the 2019 Memorandum of Action. ASUU National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi made the statement in Abuja. According to him, the N25 billion which the Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said it had approved for the union was meant to be a part-payment of the Earned Academic Allowances and should have been released in February. He also said that “The current leadership of the government team clearly lacks the academic disposition and humility needed to undertake”the task of negotiation with the body for a better learning environment. According to him, “Since information on the amounts mentioned in the media went round, the ASUU has been inundated with enquiries on the union’s perspective to the story. “Funding for the revitalisation of p...

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo was included in Portugal's squad for next month's Nations League semi-final against Switzerland, head coach Fernando Santos announced on Thursday. Ronaldo, 34, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner missed the group stages preferring to try and adapt to life in Juventus since moving from Real Madrid. The Euro 2016 champions welcome the Swiss on June 5 in Porto and the Netherlands play England in Guimaraes a day later before a third place play-off and a final on June 9. He lifted the Serie A title with his Italian club this season but failed to clinch a third straight Champions League after losing to Ajax in the quarter-finals. Head coach Fernando Santos has chosen not to call up veterans Adrien Silva, Nani and Ricardo Quaresma and Sevilla forward Andre Silva misses out with a knee injury. Highly-tipped Benfica uncapped youngster Joao Felix is also included alongside three other club teammates who won the Portugese league champions this season. ...

Daniel James has withdrawn from Wales' training camp in Portugal following the death of his father. Swansea City offered condolences to their 21-year-old winger in a statement on Twitter. "Everyone at Swansea City has been saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Daniel James' father," it read. "Everyone at the football club send their condolences and our thoughts are with Daniel and his family at this sad time." James, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Swansea this season – scoring four goals and laying on seven assists in 33 Championship appearances. Ryan Giggs' Wales squad are in training ahead of Euro 2020 qualifiers in Croatia and Hungary next month.

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has emerged Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei disclosed this in a statement signed on Wednesday He stated that the former Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, announced Dickson’s emergence after a meeting at the Gombe State Governors Lodge, Abuja, on Wednesday night. The meeting was attended by all the PDP governors. Also in attendance was the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and PDP Chairman, Uche Secondus. Dankwambo told journalists that the governors elected under the platform expressed concern over the state of insecurity in the country. According to him, the governors were worried by the adverse effects of the growing insecurity on food production in the country. He added that the governors decried the situation where farmers are scared of go...

Angry fans have blasted Wizkid after a video surfaced showing him reportedly disrespecting legendary musician, 2Baba. he scene that caused the stir Nigerians have expressed really divergent opinions following the manner musician Wizkid greeted music legend, 2Baba at Patoranking’s album listening party held about two nights ago. A video of the greeting which has now circulated on social media show the moment the “Come Closer” singer greeting 2Baba absentmindedly in a manner that provoked fans who accused him of lacking respect. 2Baba was the one literally asking for the handshake as Wizkid totally blanked out on him. Watch video below and read responses below: When we say Wizkid is arrogant, his fans will call us haters. How can you greet 2 baba like that To even see that he looked away after shaking pato, then 2 baba had to stretch his hand to shake him. SMH 450 5:13 PM - May 22, 2019 360 people are talking about this ...

The Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed his twenty point agenda which promises a better administration, laudable programs that would develop the state above common standard. Below are the REAL campaign promises of the Lagos state Governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION 1. Resolve identified gridlock points within 9 months and strengthen state road and traffic agencies 2. Implement the planned integrated multimodal transport system to ensure all modes of transportation 3. Complete Phase 1 of the Blue Rail line (from Mile 2 to Marina) by 2021 and complete the Red line, in partnership with the Federal Government, by 2022 4. Expand Lagos’ major water transport routes from six to 10 by 2021. 5. Develop Quality Bus Corridors on 10 major existing bus routes and extend the BRT network to include new areas and increase bus fleet from 800 to 2000. HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT 6. Inc...

​Newcastle United, Southampton and Brighton are the latest Premier League clubs linked with Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson, who has spent the 2018/19 season on loan with Derby County and will play in Monday's Championship playoff final at Wembley. Wilson scored a sublime free-kick at Old Trafford in October that helped knock Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup and netted 15 times in 40 Championship appearances. He also played a decisive role in the playoff semi-final against Leed Wolves were one Premier League club credited with an interest in the 22-year-old earlier this week in a report that suggested Liverpool would ask for £25m. Now, Sky Sports have reported that Newcastle, Southampton and Brighton 'lead a host of clubs' that are 'keen' on signing Wilson. Crystal Palace have also been tipped to join the 'long list' should Champions League-seeking Wilfried Zaha leave the Eagles this summer. Sky note that German clubs like Augsburg, Hertha...

File: NEMA receives Nigerian returnees from Libya The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 195 stranded Nigerians from Libya. Alhaji Idris Muhammed, Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, NEMA, who confirmed the development to newsmen on Thursday in Ikeja, said this was the largest batch of voluntary returnees since the exercise began in April 2017. Muhammed said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja at 8.20p.m. on Wednesday aboard a chartered Al Buraq Air aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG SEB. He disclosed that they were the 69th batch of returnees brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme. According to him, after profiling, the breakdown of the new returnees shows that they comprise of 71 female adults, 25 female children and 17 female infants. “They also include 60 ...

Awka—Anambra State Police Command has ordered arrest of drivers of commercial vehicles with tinted glasses. A statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer,  Haruna Mohamed, alerted residents and visitors to the state of the increasing crime wave involving operators using tinted shuttle buses. It explained that criminals use tinted glasses and curtained commercial shuttle buses and keke in Awka, Onitsha, Ekwulobia, Oko and other densely-populated areas to rob passengers. The Command ordered that any commercial vehicle driver, especially shuttle buses or keke, found operating with tinted glasses or curtains be apprehended forthwith.

The suit filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Mr. Ambrose Aworu, seeking to stop President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration has been dismissed by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal. Justice Joseph Ikyechi who delivered the lead judgment by the tribunal said the application was struck out for lack of merit. The suit filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Mr. Ambrose Aworu, seeking to stop President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration has been dismissed by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal. Justice Joseph Ikyechi who delivered the lead judgment by the tribunal said the application was struck out for lack of merit. President Muhammadu Buhari, his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who are respondents in the suit, had faulted the application and urged the tribunal to dismiss it for lacking merit, Channels TV reports. Hope Democra...

The Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide (YCYW) on Thursday hailed the election of Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). The Founder and President of the group, Aremo Oladotun Hassan, said a statement in Lagos that by the election, Fayemi had embarked on a  a mission to serve Nigerian masses and enhance good governance. Hassan said that the group was delighted at Fayemi’s election, adding that he deserved it. He said that  YCYW felicitated with Ekiti people, all Yoruba people and Nigerians at the election. Hassan said: “We owe this landmark stride to his excellency’s untainted track record of excellence, team spirit and uncommon probity. “We have a strong belief in his excellency toward widening the horizon of untapped opportunities of this highly placed office of NGF. “We have a belief that Fayemi will aim at bringing good governance, equitable distribution of resources, and ensuring optimal performance of all governor...

In what will come across as a worrying development, angry fans of Naira Marley have threatened to do harm to Ruggedman.  Naira Marley Controversies trailing the incarceration of Nigerian street music rapper, Azeez Fashola, a.k.a Naira Marley, following a Federal High Court’s order to remand him in prison pending the consideration of his bail application on May 30, 2019, are beginning to get messy as a fan has threatened to assassinate Ruggedman and former Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, if the rapper is eventually sentenced to prison. According to the fan who believes Ruggedman and Dolapo are the brains behind Marley’s arrest by the EFCC, no matter how long it takes, he would hunt them down even if he is eventually apprehended. Meanwhile, Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola has shared her thoughts on the matter which is gradually becoming a household conversation. “I don’t know Naira Marley, I don’t have any form of relationship with him, and ...

Chelsea forward Willian admits he would be "very sad" if Eden Hazard were to leave the club this summer. Real Madrid are thought to be keen on sealing a deal for Hazard, who only has one year remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge. The Belgium international, who this month confirmed he had decided his future and informed the club, could therefore make his final appearance for Chelsea in Wednesday's Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku. And Blues boss Maurizio Sarri said this week he will respect Hazard's decision if he wants to leave. Asked if it would be good to send Hazard out with a trophy, a smiling Willian told Sky Sports : "It's difficult to say [anything] about this situation because we do not know what is going to happen. "What I can say is if he goes, I am going to be very sad." Willian has found his opportunities limited at times this season with Hazard, Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi all competing for starting sp...

​Inter have put their summer plans into action now that Antonio Conte has been 'confirmed' their new head coach, with the club tabling a €30m plus Ivan Perisic bid for Romelu Lukaku Luciano Spalletti had been widely tipped to be relieved of his duties in the coming days in place of the former Chelsea boss, who has put Romelu Lukaku high on his list of priorities as soon as he takes the reins. ​​Sky Italy reporter ​Fabrizio Romano claims the deal for Conte was agreed 'three weeks ago', this despite ​Inter still being in the running to claim a ​Champions League place in the league. They currently sit fourth with one round of fixtures still to play. Now the deal is agreed, the Italian has acted quickly in his efforts to land ​United's Lukaku, offering cash plus former target for the club Ivan Perisic in a bid to land the Belgian forward, according to journalist ​Tancredi Palmeri. Lukaku is a player Conte has long-admired, having tried to sign him from Everto...

​Manchester City's versatile midfielder Fabian Delph has been slapped with a £15m price tag ahead of his expected summer move away from the club. The 29-year-old has spent the last four years in the north-west following a £10m move from Aston Villa, and Delph has gone on to make 89 appearances for Manchester City during that time. Delph initially dropped out of the England squad after joining Manchester City but after three years he has been able to fight his way back into the national team, most recently featuring during their UEFA Nations League win over Croatia. But Delph is expected to leave the club at the end of the season after deciding he wants to get more game time to remain in Gareth Southgate's plans moving forward, and Manchester City will demand a £15m transfer fee for his signature this summer. One club source told The Sun: "Pep [Guardiola] has no issues with him whatsoever but there is a need to free up squad space for fresh blood. "He would...

Julias Malema The EFF has welcomed Cyril Ramaphosa’s re-election as the president of the country, but warned the president not be inflMalema told Ramaphosa that he won’t finish his term if he doesn’t heed his warning. “The position you occupy needs someone who’s going to be honest with you… those who failed were told many times that they were right even when they were wrong…You must never listen to those who say your are right against the courts,” he said. Malema said those before Ramaphosa failed because they were wrongly advised. “Stellenbosch is a problem, we know your proximity…We have not elected Oppenheimer… We told your predecessor we have not elected the Guptas, we elected him and he didn’t listen. Listen to the collective wisdom of the people who elected you… Once you listen to white monopoloy capital, you must know that you are likely not to finish you term,” Malema said. Ramaphosa will be inaugurated on Saturday, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Malema...

The President of the Court of Appeal and Chairman of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT), Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, withdrew yesterday from the petiton filed by Atiku Abubakar and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Atiku and the PDP are challenging the outcome of the February 23 election won by President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They alleged, in a motion, that Justice Bulkachuwa was likely to be biased because her husband and son are members of the APC. In a ruling, the five-man PEPT rejected Atiku’s and his party’s motion for being unmeritorious. But, Justice Bulkachuwa elected to exclude herself from the tribunal on personal grounds. In the lead ruling, Justice Olabisi Ige was of the view that the relationship between Justice Bulkachuwa and her husband, Adamu Bulkachuwa, who is a senator-elect, and her son Aliyu Abubakar, a governorship aspirant (both as members of the APC) was not sufficient to conclude that she would...

According to a number of reports across Europe, including The Guardian and The Mirror, Antonio Conte has agreed to terms to become the next manager at Inter Milan and will take over this summer, with Luciano Spalletti departing. Conte has signed a four-year deal at Inter that will earn him around $11 million per season, with the Italian excited to return home and face the challenge of finishing the task at Inter. The Italian giants have slumped in recent years, but this year showed promise that the project may finally be coming to an end. Spalletti appears to have turned the team into a Champions League contender again, but there are reports that he is struggling to maintain the support of the locker room and the front office. Inter’s qualification to next year’s Champions League is no guarantee either, with the club sitting just a point ahead of rivals AC Milan for the final Serie A spot heading into the final week of the season. They have just three wins in their final nine ma...

While Lionel Messi is the strong favourite to claim the next Ballon d'Or after another stunning season with Barcelona, Tim Cahill has instead backed his rival Cristiano Ronaldo for the award. Both players are currently locked on a record five Ballon d'Or titles and it is the Argentine that appears on track to pick up his sixth later this year. Messi scored 36 goals in La Liga this season as Barcelona claimed another league title and he chipped in with a further 12 strikes in the Champions League. Though Ronaldo's numbers at Juventus have paled in comparison with the 34-year-old bagging 15 fewer league goals in Serie A, Cahill believes the fact he has been able to transition to another league so successfully deserves recognition in the form of the Ballon d'Or.  "The reason why I say Ronaldo, I know people won't agree, is because of what he's done in Juventus," Cahill told Alkass Sport. "He left Real Madrid, went there and had such a ma...

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic said he would "love" to play alongside Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann at Camp Nou. Griezmann has announced his plan to leave Atletico after five years, with LaLiga champions Barca emerging as the favourites to sign the French World Cup-winning forward. The 28-year-old turned down a move to Barca last year but Rakitic would relish the opportunity to team up with Griezmann. "He is a top-level player, [among] the best in the world, and of course I would love to have Griezmann on my team," Rakitic told Mundo Deportivo. "He is a great professional who has won almost everything and that surely can add to any team." Rakitic's future is also uncertain amid links with Serie A side Inter and Premier League giants Manchester United. The 31-year-old has won four LaLiga titles – including back-to-back – and the Champions League since arriving from fellow Spanish side Sevilla in 2014. But, with Ajax midfield...

Ag EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu and Director Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said the Commission is not after muscians. Magu spoke on May 22, 2019 during an interactive session with artistes, comedians and On-Air-Personalities (OAP), which held at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja. Making reference to the recent prosecution of popular musician, Afeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, for charges bordering on internet fraud, Magu stressed with great concern that the EFCC was not “chasing” musicians. He said: “Let me use this opportunity to emphasize that we have no issues with any member of this very important sector of the country. “I have said it in the past and I will also like to restate, that the EFCC does not go after any innocent person. Our mandate is to rid Nigeria of any form of economic and financial crimes, and internet fraud is not excluded.” He further stressed that “there is ...