The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Ajayi on target as West Brom beat Wolves 3-2

    Ajayi on target as West Brom beat Wolves 3-2

    West Bromwich Albion recorded their first win under Sam Allardyce as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in a see-saw Black Country derby in the Premier League on Saturday, with Matheus Pereira scoring twice from the penalty spot.

    The result gave West Brom a big boost in their bid to avoid relegation, as they moved to within three points of 17th place, albeit remaining stuck in 19th spot for now. Wolves stay in 14th place.

    After just seven minutes, Pereira stroked a penalty home to give West Brom an early advantage, Fabio Silva scored a huge goal to equalise for Wolves with just seven minutes to go in the half, and then Willy Boly slammed home from a corner to put Wolves in front in the 43rd minute.

    In the 52nd minute, Nigeria international Semi Ajayi restored parity when he looped a header in to the back of the net following an O’Shea throw-in – his second Premier League goal this season.

    “It’s massive. If there was one game to change our season, this is the game. It’s the one fans look forward to the most,” West Brom midfielder Romaine Sawyers said.

    “We had seven days with the gaffer. This was the first time really on the training ground, getting back to basics… He’s a bit tough on us, but it’s not a happy situation we’re in, so we need that tough love.”

    The visitors sealed the win when Robinson won another penalty after drawing a foul from defender Conor Coady and Pereira scored from the spot again.

  • Solskjaer: Liverpool clash reality check for Man Utd

    Solskjaer: Liverpool clash reality check for Man Utd

    Our Reporter

     

     

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Sunday’s Premier League match at champions Liverpool will be a test of his team’s title credentials.

    Leaders United have 36 points from 17 games, three more than second-placed Liverpool before the blockbuster clash at Anfield and Solskjaer backed his team to extend their advantage with a victory on the back of their superb form.

    Solskjaer’s side are unbeaten in 11 league games and have dropped only four points in that spell.

    “It’s a test and reality check for where we are really at because Liverpool at Anfield is one of the great challenges. We have won many tight games, scored a few goals in injury time.”

    Liverpool have not lost at home in the league since April 2017 and Solskjaer is aware of the challenge United face, having beaten the Merseyside club only once in their last 10 meetings.

    “We have not really set the world alight too many times. To win away at Anfield you really need to be at your best level. I would rather be on top and have the points than chasing,” Solskjaer said.

    “But we are the challengers, we are the hunters chasing the champions. It’s over the course of a long season and they’re the ones that everyone would like to beat.”

  • Copa del Rey: Sadiq at the double as Almeria sink Alaves

    Copa del Rey: Sadiq at the double as Almeria sink Alaves

    Umar Sadiq scored two goals as Almeria cruised into the next round of the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.

    The 23-year-old fired the Segunda Division outfit ahead in the eighth minute, after benefitting from Jose Corpas’ assist.

    Some moments before half-time, Sadiq made it 3-0 for the hosts a few seconds after Ager Aketxe doubled their lead.

    The former Roma youngster has now scored five goals in his last two matches for Jose Gomes’ side after he grabbed a hat-trick against Ponferradina a fortnight ago.

    Rodrigo Battaglia’s own goal and Juan Villar’s spot-kick later in the second half completed the rout for the Rojiblancos, who have now won their last three matches.

    Sadiq was in action for 74 minutes, and he has been playing a crucial role in Almeria’s push for La Liga promotion with 11 goals in all competitions since he moved to Spain from Partizan Belgrade in October.

    The Nigeria youth star is Almeria’s leading scorer in the Segunda Division with nine goals in 18 league appearances so far this campaign.

  • Fernandes: Individual awards good but I want trophies with Man Utd

    Fernandes: Individual awards good but I want trophies with Man Utd

    Our Reporter

     

    Bruno Fernandes says he is desperate to win trophies at Manchester United, after scooping his latest individual award.

    The Portuguese star was named Premier League Player of the Month for December, his fourth such award since arriving from Sporting Lisbon only a year ago.

    Fernandes’ impact has transformed United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and they head to Anfield tomorrow to take on Liverpool tomorrow as Premier League leaders.

    The meeting with the defending champions will be a genuine test of United’s title credentials.

    “As I’ve always said, for me the most important thing is winning trophies – team trophies – because we’re a football team and it’s not just Bruno,” Fernandes said.

    “I want to win trophies with the team. Of course I’m very happy to win this award (for December’s Player of the Month).

    “These kind of awards make you happy and confident and to work even more, and to get more and more from yourself.

  • Rotherham ruins Rooney’s full-time debut at Derby

    Rotherham ruins Rooney’s full-time debut at Derby

    Jamie Lindsay’s late winner spoiled Wayne Rooney’s first match as Derby’s permanent boss as Rotherham ended a run of seven away defeats.

    Lindsay pounced from close range as the home defence failed to clear after Daniel Barlaser’s free-kick hit the post.

    The Millers had a goal disallowed in the first half when Richard Wood was ruled marginally offside after finishing neatly when played through.

    Derby carried the greater goal threat with Jamal Blackman saving well from Lee Buchanan and twice denying Graeme Shinnie.

    The pre-match talk was all about Derby after Rooney’s appointment as permanent manager and retirement from an 18-year playing career, plus their ongoing takeover saga, but it was United who stole the headlines and leapfrogged their hosts into 22nd place.

  • Foundation offsets medical bill for patients

    Foundation offsets medical bill for patients

     Ernest Nwokolo,  Abeokuta

     

    INTELLECTUAL Foundation, has defrayed over N40,000:00  hospital bill of patients, including Biobaku Omolara, Osho Titilayo and Quadri  Saidat, at the Olabisi  Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital,  Sagamu, Ogun state, to lessen the burden of obtaining health service on their families.

    The non – government organisation also paid the fine levied on two inmates of the Nigeria Correctional Service,  Sagamu, who until release, had marked time at the centre for their inability to pay the fine imposed on them by the court.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Intellectual Foundation, Mr Femi Saliu, while paying the medical bill and fine for the beneficiaries, said the foundation was touched by their plights hence the need to intervene to enable them reunite with their families and rejig their productive life again moreso when the year is still quite new.

    Saliu who marked his birthday recently, also fetes widows, widowers and the  less privileged with food items comprising of mini bags of rice, groundnut oil and cash to help cope in the new year.

    He noted that the state government led by Dapo Abiodun is trying its best to support the people but said individuals and group also need to lend supportive hands to complement government’s efforts.

  • Ikpeazu presents four bedroom bungalows to Army, police

    Ikpeazu presents four bedroom bungalows to Army, police

    Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

     

    ABIA State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has presented two new four bedroom bungalows, each with boy’s quarters to the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force as official residence of the Heads of the Army and Police formations in the ObingwaLocal Government Area of the state.

    Performing the handover ceremony at Umuobiakwa, Obingwa LGA, Governor Ikpeazu stated that his administration places top premium on the provision of security as a key enabler for development in our state.

    Read Also: Why I won’t defect from PDP, by Ikpeazu

    According to the governor, the huge investments made by his administration in supporting security agencies in the state are deliberate steps aimed at raising the morale of the officers and optimising their operational efficiency.

    The two houses, according to the governor, shall serve as official residences of the Commander of the Army Squad at Ohanze and the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Eastern Ngwa Police Division at Umuobiakwa.

    The governor noted in particular that the Eastern Ngwa Police Divisional headquarters has been at Umuobiakwa for close to three and a half decades with no official residence for the DPO who most times comes to work from outside the area.

     

  • Cleric charges Christians on godly life as The Nation Correspondent buries mom

    Cleric charges Christians on godly life as The Nation Correspondent buries mom

     Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

     

    THE cleric in-charge of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Isieke Ibeku, Very Reverend John U. Obiah has charged Christians to live a life that will earn them eternal life after death.

    Very Reverend Obiah who was speaking at the burial of Ma Lovinna .A. Nkume held at Umuajiji-Isieke in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state said it was important that Christians should try to live a life that they can be able to properly give account of when they face judgment.

    Ma Nkume who died December 2020 is the mother of Kastina State Correspondent of The Nation, Mr. Augustine Okezie.

    Speaking further, Nkume who was assisted by Reverend Anthony Akwarandu, taking his sermon from the Gospel of John 11:1-27 warned that we shall all give account of our lives here on earth.

    Read Also: Reimagining the nation

    The St. Mary’s priest who described the 92-year-old matriarch as a devout Christian, caring and full of charity which endeared her to many.

    He said ‘’God is reminding us to live a godly life here on earth, and remain prepared for the judgment day.’’

    Speaking about their mother, Mr. Patrick Onumaegbu described the death of their mother as a shock and huge loss to their family.

    According to them, their mother who lived a godly life would be missed and pray that God will give them and those affected by the loss the fortitude to bear her absence.

    The usual dust to dust rites were performed by her children at the well-attended burial.

    Madam Lovinna is survived by Mr. Patrick Onumaegbu, Augustine Okezie, Innocent Rufus and Fidelia Nwankwu, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

  • NOA releases fresh guidelines for eye-screening to curb quackery in Delta

    NOA releases fresh guidelines for eye-screening to curb quackery in Delta

    Elo Edremoda, Warri

     

    TO curb quackery and indiscriminate eye screening exercises in its profession, the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) has directed individuals or groups who seek to conduct eye screening outreaches to obtain authorisation from it (NOA) or the Delta State Ministry of Health.

    The state chapter of NOA, in a statement signed by the chairman of ethics/disciplinary committee, Dr. Isaac Ejebe, assured that the new development is not “a plot to witch-hunt anyone.”

    The statement which was made available to newsmen in Warri, listed nine guidelines, including a current practising licence for the optometrists conducting the eye screening.

    In the statement which reads in part, the group said, “indiscriminate eye screening exercises/outreach without due authorisation in the form of a covering letter from the Association and/or the Ministry of Health are prohibited forthwith in Delta state.

    “Patients must be examined under condition very close to clinical environment including: Visual Acuity, VA, testing distance of 6 meters, appropriate illumination for various investigations etc.”

  • Uba to APC: let’s unite for Anambra 2021

    Uba to APC: let’s unite for Anambra 2021

    Nwanosike Onu, Awka

     

    SENATOR Andy Uba has begged members of the All Progressives Congress APC in Anambra State to unite for the party to win the November governorship election in the state.

    Uba, who represented Anambra South Senatorial zone for two terms, is gunning for the governorship ticket of APC for the election.

    He visited the APC party secretariat in Awka, the state capital, on Saturday, where he told the executive members that he was not a new member of the party, but rather, an old member.

    Uba said the only way for APC to chase away opposition from the Government House during the election was for everyone to close ranks.

    The former governor, who made his intentions known to the party during the meeting, said the APC must present someone who would be capable of winning the election for the party and not a neophyte.

    Uba said, “I didn’t join APC recently, I had been a member of the party for a long time. I have internal and external contacts to move the party forward. God’s time is the best and he knew why I was removed as governor in 2007 and I bear no grudges against anyone over it.

    “Let us sit and plan how to win this election. Let us not fight each other. If I see any one better than me, I will support the person. APC needs to present a strong candidate to win PDP and APGA. Those parties have more trouble than us, “he said.

    Read Also: Incubator Reality: Startups to contest for N1b

    The Caretaker Chairman of the party in the State, Chief Basil Ejidike, insisted that the APC must conduct a credible, free and fair primaries.

    The State Secretary, Hon Chukwuma Agufugo, equally, spoke in the same direction, adding that APC had all it takes to win the November governorship election in the state.