The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Injured Newcastle’s Pope out for ‘around four months’

    Injured Newcastle’s Pope out for ‘around four months’

    Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope will be sidelined for “around four months” with a shoulder injury, manager Eddie Howe said  as his list of absentees continued to grow.

    England’s Pope, who needed surgery on his same left shoulder in 2018 while a Burnley player, suffered a dislocation when diving during last weekend’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United.

    He joins Newcastle’s lengthy injury list which has left Howe making very few substitutions in recent matches, with several youth-team players on the bench.

     “There’s no doubt he needs an operation so he will be out for a period of time, we think around four months,” Howe told a press conference ahead of  today’s league game at Everton.

     “It’s the same shoulder (as 2018 injury) but a different part of the shoulder. There was no reason for that happening.”

    Media reports have linked Newcastle with both out-of-favour Arsenal ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale and former Man United number one David de Gea, who is a free agent.

    But Howe was keen to play down speculation of signing a short-term replacement in January.

     “I’ve seen a lot of the media headlines and press speculation regarding goalkeepers and other players,” said Howe.

     “We’ve not made any enquiries or decisions regarding our recruitment leading into January and I have said many times that is because if we were to recruit now we would probably be recruiting in every position on the pitch because we have injuries everywhere throughout the squad.

     “Hopefully that picture looks different by the time January comes.”

    Slovakian Martin Dubravka replaced Pope as a late substitute against Manchester United and will likely start at Goodison Park.

    He was sent on loan to Old Trafford last season but played two Premier League matches for Newcastle after being recalled from Man United in January.

     “We really believe in Martin. I have always had that high opinion of him,” added Howe.

    “Martin is a high-class goalkeeper, he is a brilliant shot-stopper himself.

     “He is very good with his feet and his distribution, so there’s no hesitation in bringing Martin into the team and I hope he does really well.”

    Newcastle have won their last two league matches, either side of a 1-1 Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain, despite their injury woes.

    But Howe wants his side to improve away from home, after just one win on their travels in six Premier League games this season.

     “I’m looking forward to the game. We’re going to Tottenham next, we’ll need to work on our away form.”

    Newcastle sit sixth in the table, just three points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa.

  • Gritty Gateway United secure valuable point against Osun United

    Gritty Gateway United secure valuable point against Osun United

    Damilare Babatunde’s last-minute header secured a crucial point for Gateway United against Osun United at Osogbo Township Stadium in Osun State.

    In a rescheduled  Nigeria National League (NNL) game, Coach Samson Omiponle made three changes, with Joshua Oladeji, Samuel Ovenseri, and Gbenga Benedict joining the line-up.

    The hosts initiated the first attempt within a minute, but the defense marshalled by Adekunle Adeniyi and Okafor Ugochukwu promptly cleared the danger. Subsequently, Gateway United took control, and Gbenga Benedict’s long-range effort narrowly missed the target.

    The remainder of the half was tightly contested, leading to a stalemate at halftime.

    Coach Omiponle bolstered  his attack by  introducing  four substitutions 15 minutes into the other half, bringing in Lanre  Ferinyaro, Taofeek Babatunde, Sunkanmi Odusina, and  Damilare Babatunde.

    However, it was Osun United that took the lead in the 76th  minute when Paul Agbor slotted in a loose ball from a free kick.

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    Undeterred, Omiponle’s side intensified their efforts  which  eventually paid off as Damilare Babatunde nodded in a flick-on from Taofeek Babatunde in the dying minutes of the game.

    The provider Babatunde Taofeek nearly turned scorer, coming close to giving Gateway United the lead by capitalizing on a miskick from Paul Agbor and navigated the box, but his low effort was blocked. In the final moments, Gateway United secured a valuable point, marking their first on the road in two away games.

    Up next for Gateway United is its first home game of the season Against Giant Brillars on Saturday , 9th  December.

    Meanwhile, coach Omiponle  has lauded his side’s spirited performance, promising  more positive results.

    ” I’m quite excited with the result. We planned for a win but got a draw. It’s the start for more positive results. Promptly, I have shifted our focus to our first home game on Saturday. We want to win and win well. We want the fans to know that their darling team will leave no stone unturned,” he  said.

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  • Canada’s Sinclair bids farewell in final international outing

    Christine Sinclair bid an emotional farewell to international soccer with one final match that brought an end to a superlative career in which she catapulted the Canadian national women’s team from obscurity to Olympic champions.

    The result of the friendly, a 1-0 win over Australia played in Sinclair’s home province of British Columbia, did not matter as the night was all about celebrating Canada’s most successful soccer player of all time.

    “Thank you for inspiring all of us,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on social media. “Your impact on the game, and on sports in Canada, is something we’ll be celebrating for quite some time.”

    The world’s all-time leading scorer in internationals has often shied away from the spotlight and holds team accomplishments above her many personal achievements.

    But on this tribute-filled night in Vancouver the 40-year-old striker could not avoid taking centre stage.

    A dozen members of Canada’s bronze medal team from the 2012 Olympics, where Sinclair won the Golden Boot, formed an honour guard to welcome her onto the pitch before the scoreboard played a tribute video that left her wiping away tears.

    “We are all going to miss you wearing the red and white but as Canadians we thank you for what you’ve done. You are truly a national treasure,” twice Olympic gold medallist speed skater Catriona Le May Doan said during the pre-game festivities.

    Unlike in recent games where she came off the bench, Sinclair got the start in front of the roughly 48,000 spectators inside a stadium which was renamed in her honour for the night.

    Sinclair, who announced her retirement in October, had a hand in the only goal of the game, flicking Jessie Fleming’s corner to Kadeisha Buchanan whose shot hit the bar before Quinn buried the rebound in the 40th  minute.

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    Shortly after the break Fleming got a ball in behind for Sinclair but Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah came off her line to smother it.

    Sinclair was substituted in the 58th  minute and shared hugs with her team mates on the field before walking off to a standing ovation while saluting the adoring crowd by waving and clapping her hands above her head.

    It marked the end of one of the most storied careers of any Canadian athlete.

    “Honestly, just joy,” Sinclair said when asked what will come to mind when she looks back on this night.

    “I’ve done everything I can on this national team. I am 100% satisfied and content, and to go out with a win in front of my friends, in front of my family, honestly it’s been the perfect night.”

    Sinclair was 16 when she made her senior international debut. Her international career includes a record 190 goals in 331 games for Canada, an Olympic gold medal in 2021 and six World Cup appearances.

    She broke U.S. forward Abby Wambach’s all-time international scoring record of 184 goals in a 2020 Olympic qualifying game against Saint Kitts and Nevis. Canada went on to capture their first Olympic title in Tokyo.

    She received the Best FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in 2021, has two Olympic bronze medals from 2012 and 2016, and is also a 14-time Canadian women’s player of the year.

    The typically reserved Sinclair grew into a vocal leader in the Canada team’s recent fight for equal pay and treatment.

    Despite retiring from the international stage, Sinclair still plans to play for Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League next season.

  • MLS side Charlotte FC  shortlists Lampard

    MLS side Charlotte FC  shortlists Lampard

    Former Chelsea and Everton boss Frank Lampard is reportedly among the final candidates for the new head coach job at MLS side Charlotte FC.

    Lampard has been out of work since his spell as Chelsea’s caretaker manager following the sacking of Graham Potter from April until the end of last season.

    It marked the second spell for the legendary Blues midfielder in the Stamford Bridge dugout after his first stint as Chelsea head coach from 2019 to 2021.

    Lampard also previously managed Everton from 2022 to 2023 – leading them to Premier League safety after a relegation fight – but he was sacked the following season after a poor run of results.

    He started his managerial career at Derby County in 2018, guiding them to the Championship play-off final, where they lost out to Aston Villa.

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    Lampard is now being lined up for a return to management with the 45-yead-old among the finalists for Charlotte FC’s head coach job, according to The Athletic.

    It is thought that former Brentford, Aston Villa, Norwich City and Leicester City boss Dean Smith is also among the final candidates for the role.

    Lampard will hope that his experience of playing in Major League Soccer with New York City FC will give him the edge over Smith in the race for the job.

    Charlotte FC is not the only club Lampard has been linked to in recent months, with the Englishman rumoured to have applied for jobs at Bristol City and Rangers.

    It is thought that Lampard was also on the shortlist of French club Lyon back in September.

  • Eight African players who thrived in EPL

    Eight African players who thrived in EPL

    The Premier League is seen as a Greenland where many African players want to show their skills and hope to have a successful spell. Here are some notable African players who succeeded in the Premier League and in Africa.

    1. Mohammed Salah

    Topping the chat would have to be no one else than the Egyptian prince himself, recording 137 goals in 218 league games for Liverpool, having three Golden Boots to his name, in 2018 he became the only Liverpool player to win the Puskas award.

    2017/18 season saw a different turn as Salah became the first player in Premier League history to score 32 goals in a 38-game campaign.

    Salah was the fastest player to reach 100-goals in the history of Liverpool joining Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen on the exclusive list

    2. Didier Drogba

    Known for his aerial prowess and blistering shot, Dodoer Drogba is one of the most feared forwards in the world for several years.

    The Ivorian striker had 164 goals to his name in Chelsea shirt. Unquestionably one of the greatest African footballers of all time.

    3. Yaya Toure

    Starting his elite football career in Barcelona in 2007 where he won La Liga twice and the 2008-09 Champions League, Yaya Toure known for his surging midfield runs made him a big-money target for Manchester City, playing over 230 Premier League games for City, he paid back every penny they spent, with interest.

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    Stopping Toure wasn’t an easy task because of his ability to run with the ball and confidence to keep the ball and at his peak he rattled in no fewer than 20 league goals from the middle of the field.

    4. Kolo Toure

    A Premier League champion at both Manchester City and Arsenal where he was a key member of the Invincibles team. The older of the Touré brothers was one of the best and most technically-gifted central defenders of the 2000s, and his Premier League career spanned 14 years at the very top level.

    5. Sadio Mane

    Before leaving Liverpool Mane won six major trophies, the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and UEFA Super Cup with the Reds.

    6. Riyard Mahrez

    The Algerian striker has a blistering spell at Leicester City’s and won the 2016 title, trickery and lethality around the area have been crucial in Manchester City winning just about everything since joining them.

    7. Micheal Essien

    Part of the Chelsea team that won two league titles and four FA Cups, Essien can be called a complete box-to-box midfielder, energetic, physically immense and technically outstanding.

    Between the 2006/07 season and the 2008/09 season, he scored three goals total, and won Chelsea’s goal of the season twice.

    8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

    Aubameyang performance at Arsenal is enough to put him on the list. The Gabonese striker rattled 68 goals in over the course of 128 games the Gunners. His movements, quality in finding space and fine finishing made him one of the most dangerous forwards in the division for several years in a row. His best performances came in the 2018/19 season, when his 22-goal haul put him in a three-way African tie for the Golden Boot with two of the players still to come.

  • Ex-union leader Kokori dies on 80th birthday

    Ex-union leader Kokori dies on 80th birthday

    Fiery elder statesman and former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, has died after a month’s battle with a kidney-related ailment.

    He died coincidentally on his 80th birthday in the early hours of Thursday.

    His death, which was confirmed by doctors around 6:40 am, was announced by one of his personal assistants, Ovumedia Tobore, through an SMS.

    Tobore said Chief Kokori’s health relapsed on Monday and he was placed on life support.

    The octogenarian cried out from his hospital bed on November 9 that he had been neglected and abandoned to die despite his contributions to the growth of democracy in the country.

    Kokori, in a distress call, with a pain-filled voice around 12:40 am, lamented that life was ebbing out of him where he was receiving treatment for his kidney-related ailment.

    Kokori, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, particularly decried abandonment by NUPENG and the nation at a Warri hospital.

    He had also stated that he would not mind being flown  abroad for better medical care.

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    Chief Kokori’s November outcry attracted top government functionaries including Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who paid an unexpected visit to him on Friday, November 11. Oborevwori picked up the bills as well as those of two other patients at the hospital.

    Officials of NUPENG, a delegation from former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege and several others also visited the former Labour leader.

    Follow-up reports on his response to the treatment had given hope that the octogenarian was recuperating and would return home soonest.

    Sadly, he had a relapse and later succumbed to the ailment on Thursday.

    Chief Kokori who authored the book, ‘Frank Kokori: The Struggle for June 12,’ hailed from Ovu community in Ethiope East council area of Delta State.

  • OPEC’s oil output dips on low shipment from Nigeria, Iraq

    OPEC’s oil output dips on low shipment from Nigeria, Iraq

    Oil cartel, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC’s) crude oil production dipped in November for the first monthly decline since July as Nigeria and Iraq saw lower shipments, it was gathered yesterday.

    OPEC produced 27.81 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude last month, a drop of 90,000 bpd compared to October, the Reuters survey of OPEC sources, consultants, and vessel-tracking companies showed.

    In the three months before November, OPEC’s oil output was either flat or rising as growing supply from African members and Iran largely offset lower output elsewhere.

    In November, Iran, which is exempted from the OPEC+ cuts, further increased its output to a five-year high, according to the Reuters survey.

    Oil production from the 10 OPEC producers part of the OPEC+ pact declined by 130,000 bpd in November from October, with Saudi Arabia and the other Middle Eastern producers keeping strong compliance with their announced cuts and extra voluntary reductions, per the survey.

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    Early next year, OPEC’s oil production is expected to further decline after the OPEC+ alliance agreed extra cuts for the first quarter of 2024.

    Overall, the announcements after last week’s meeting were underwhelming and failed to convince the market that OPEC+ hasn’t had disagreements over cuts and quotas leading to the meeting, as became evident from the lack of a group-wide cut.

    The OPEC+ group is ready to take additional measures and deepen the oil production cuts in the first quarter of 2024 to avoid volatility and speculation on the market, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said earlier this week.

    Novak’s comments on Tuesday follow remarks from Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, who told Bloomberg on Monday that the OPEC+ production cuts could extend beyond March 2024 if the market requires it. The minister also criticized commentators for failing to understand the output deal.

  • IFC okays $1b cash for renewable energy projects

    IFC okays $1b cash for renewable energy projects

    The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has signed a partnership agreement with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and pledged $1 billion to accelerate the transition to clean energy in emerging markets.

    With this partnership, IFC joined the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform (ETAF), a climate finance mechanism managed by IRENA that advances the global energy transition in IRENA member countries. IFC will bring its expertise to ETAF, increasing the flow of private capital towards ETAF projects, while IRENA will leverage its membership to attract project proposals through the platform.

    “We are excited to collaborate with IRENA and other development partners as we bring IFC’s expertise in project financing, blended finance, and energy transition to ETAF. As a leading financier of low-cost renewable energy with a strong track record in supporting the energy transition globally, we are confident that today’s $1 billion pledge will play a critical role in improving access to sustainable and affordable energy across emerging markets,” IFC’s Vice President of Industries, Mohamed Gouled, said.

    Over the past decade, IFC invested and mobilized more than $32 billion in the energy sector, helping to accelerate the clean energy transition and increasing access to electricity for millions of people around the globe through on- and off-grid solutions.

     IFC has financed more than 8GW of hydropower, 8GW of solar, and 6GW of wind projects to date. IFC also finances battery and other energy storage solutions, as well as transmission and distribution infrastructure, to support network resilience and further renewable energy integration.

    “As governments rally behind a renewables-based energy transition to address climate change and foster socio-economic development, we must ensure that the developing world is not left behind. “With IFC’s strategic alliance and their substantial $1 billion pledge to the ETAF platform, IRENA is now better equipped than ever to drive climate action and contribute to narrowing the energy access gap between its member countries,” IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said.

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    A recent IFC-IEA report, Scaling Up Private Finance for Clean Energy in Emerging and Developing Economies, stressed that public investments alone are insufficient to deliver universal energy access and tackle climate change. To fulfill the climate objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement and meet the increasing energy demands of emerging and developing economies, investments in clean energy in these countries must surpass the $770 billion channeled in 2022 to reach nearly $2.8 trillion by the early 2030s. The report further notes that increased public funding, together with policies and technical assistance, can be used effectively in partnership with private sector capital to reduce project risks and unlock the potential for clean energy in these countries.

    ETAF will source projects on an ongoing basis and act as facilitator, coordinator, and knowledge hub, providing technical support, mobilizing resources, and fostering collaboration. It will support feasible projects and mitigate investment risks through innovative financing solutions, matchmaking of project partners, technical assistance, and project facilitation. ETAF has a current pipeline of projects in Latin America, small island developing states (SIDS), Africa, and Asia.

    In a tandem signing, IFC’s sister agency, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), signed its own partnership agreement with IRENA. Under this agreement, MIGA will contribute its guarantee and insurance instruments to help de-risk energy transition projects in emerging markets.

  • Alake: lithium exploration tops investors’ interest

    Alake: lithium exploration tops investors’ interest

    The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake yesterday told the Senate committees on Appropriations and Solid Minerals that compared to other mineral deposits, Investors are more interested in exploring Nigeria’s Lithium.

    He said International investors have shown enthusiasm to invest in the sector, with Lithium topping the list of minerals whose value chain has attracted the most attention.

    Alake also said Solid minerals is the next petroleum of Nigeria, adding that  for Nigeria to critically, efficiently, and proficiently harness this resources and convert it to revenue and increase our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we must lay certain ground rules.

    Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, who made this known in a press statement yesterday in Abuja, said the Senate committees on Appropriations and Solid Minerals affirmed the imperative of increasing budgetary allocations to the solid minerals development ministry to enable the mining sector lead the way in diversifying the nation’s economy.

    Alake said a solid foundation has been laid for the development of solid minerals in the country, saying solid minerals will assume the next petroleum of Nigeria, “but for us to critically, efficiently, and proficiently harness this resources and convert it to revenue and increase our GDP, we must lay certain ground rules. 

    “We must put in place some enduring  infrastructure.  To tackle illegal mining and other sharp practices, we must put in place a pre-emptive strategy that will reduce the proclivity to commit such vices.  That’s what my team and I decided to do when I came in through a 7-point agenda which I announced to the world and is contained in the document I passed to you,” Alake said.

    He added, “Speaking further, the Minister asserted that the first step he undertook was to generate attention for the mining sector within the country and in the international community, which he noted has yielded tremendous fruits as international investors have shown enthusiasm to invest in the sector, with Lithium topping the list of minerals, which value chain has attracted the most attention.

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    He said having shifted global interest to Nigeria’s solid minerals, the next most crucial step would be the generation of the necessary geoscientific data, saying it is essential to guide investors in making informed decisions or projections on available mineral resources. 

    “For instance, previous work in the geo-data section has shown that we have about 44 minerals that are in demand, globally. However, we do not have data that will tell us the quantum of what we have across the country. What the investors or operators are doing now are partly speculative, and no big player will come into our sector, based on speculation. All of these are contingent on the geo-scientific data we can generate, and these things don’t come cheap. We don’t have equipment locally, we don’t have certain technical personnel. This means that we rely on international assistance. This means distinguished senators that we need your assistance in terms of budgetary allocations, “the minister added.

    The Chairman of Senate Committee on Solid minerals, Sen. Ekong Samson, praised Alake for his presentation, assuring him of the support of the committee in ensuring solid minerals achieve its potential to become the next petroleum of the country. 

  • Govt considering regulations to make petroleum products available

    Govt considering regulations to make petroleum products available

    The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulation (NUPRC) yesterday embarked on a stakeholders’ consultation to facilitate the availability of diverse petroleum products to consumers.

    This was revealed in the presentation tagged: “An overview of the draft regulations by Authority Secretary & Legal Adviser, Dr. Joseph Tolorunse,” at the Stakeholders’ Consultation for Authority Phase V Regulations, held in Abuja.

    The presenter said the objective of providing diverse petroleum products is to reduce transportation costs and promoting market -driven pricing.

    It was one of the objectives in the Third-Party Access and Open Access Regulations, 2023.

    His words: “The regulations are set to (c) facilitate the availability of diverse petroleum products to consumers by reducing transportation costs and promoting market -driven pricing.”

    The Authority Secretary also noted that one of the objectives is to foster competitive environment in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector by ensuring equitable and non-discriminatory access to facilities, infrasructure, and service for third parties.

    He also noted that another objective is to optimise the utilization of existing petroleum infrastructure, minimise duplication of investments, and facilitate the efficient movement of petroleum products within the supply chain.

    Presenting the Disposal of Confiscated Materials & Equipment Regulations 2023, he said the regulations provide common, simplified, and documented proceses procedures for the disposal of confiscated materials and equipment in the Nigerian midstream and downstream petroelum industry.

    The regulations, said Tolorunse, are targeted at encouraging transparency and accountability in the use of financial resources generated from disposal of the properties.

    The regulations apply to activities relating to or connected with the disposal of confiscated materials and equipment in the Nigerian midstream and downstream industry.

    On the Separation of Licensed Activities and Surrender of License or Permit Regulations, Tolorunse, said the regulations set forth the procedure for the separation of licensed activities and process for the surender of license and permit in the Nigerian midstream and downstream petroleum industry.

    Besides, he said the regulation applies to license and permit holders undertaking midstream and downstream operations in Nigeria.

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    In his opening remarks, the NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Farouk Ahmed recalled following the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the Authority has already gazetted 16 regulations.

    The Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage & Retailing Infrastructure, Mr. Ogugo Ukoha, who represented him, said there are four regulations for which consultations have been held for that are yet to be gazetted.

    He added that “here we are today to also deliberate on seven draft regulations.”

    He said the stakeholders’ consultation will hold for three days.

    He explained that statues like the Petroleum Industry Act are primary legislations while the regulations which the authority enacts breathe life into the act.

    Ahmed said the PIA requires the NMDPRA to regulate the midstream and downstream sector and in fulfillment of that the authority does its part of regulations.

    He added that the “in the first instance we have drafted and gazetted 16 regulations followed by another set of four regulations that are awaiting gazetting and today, we kicking off another set of seven regulations for consideration.

    “The PIA has provided and required us to also sit down and consult with stakeholders each time we want to draft or gazette regulations because as the feedback loop the responses we get from them further enriches that so we carry everybody along and the final outcome is the regulation.”