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Tag: Adeyinka Akintunde

  • I prefer trophies to money – Iwobi

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Super Eagles midfield pearl Alex Iwobi has revealed that he prefers winning trophies to stocking cash in any bank.

    He also opted for winning the FIFA World Cup with Nigeria than winning the UEFA Champions League with Premier League side Arsenal FC.

    Iwobi, revealing that he can play any position on the field, said that the Super Eagles are hungry and fired up for victory against Cameroon on Saturday evening.

    Below are excerpts of the interview:

    Lagos or London?

    I am more comfortable in London

    Davido or Wizkid?

    Both are great artistes, but for me, I prefer Wizkid

    Casual or Corporate?

    Casual

    World Cup trophy or Champions League?

    World Cup trophy

    Trophy or Money?

    Trophy

    Ronaldo or Messi?

    Difficult, but for me, Messi

    Chelsea or Arsenal?

    Arsenal

    African Continental or Chinese?

    African Continental

    What do you think about the Nations Cup so far?

    I believe that we have done well so far, it is not easy to qualify and play in the competition. People say we were favourites in the group, but we knew that it was not going to be easy, as Burundi and Madagascar showed their worth in their first AFCON. No game was easy but we were able to qualify, and that is the main thing.

    Do you think there is still a chance of victory against Cameroon?

    Of course, even though we had a defeat in the last game, but it will give us a bit of humility and hunger to go to the next game against Cameroon.

    What seems to be your best position on the pitch?

    My best position is hard to say. Sometimes I do very well playing wide, sometimes I do well in the midfield, it is hard to say my best, but I know that wherever I am told to play, I give my best.

     

  • COZA: Run away from evil, Adeboye advises youths

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on youths to stay away from all forms of evil and lusts.

    He noted that there is no way a man can run away from the evil he has committed, no matter how long he has done it.

    He said this at the Redemption Camp during the July 2019 Holy Ghost Service of the church.

    In the programme tagged “Swimming in Glory, Part 7 – Born to be great”, the cleric noted that when a woman accuses a man of an offence, nobody would be interested in the defense the man wants to offer.

    He mentioned no names, but he spoke against the background of recent allegation against Biodun Fatoyinbo, senior pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA).

    A celebrity photographer, Busola Dakolo had gone public with an allegation that Fatoyinbo raped her at her parents’ residence in Ilorin when she was only 16. The allegation had drawn flanks from diverse quarters, forcing Fatoyinbo to “step down” from his position.

    Adeboye said: “You must abstain from every appearance of evil. The elders say “what you are not going to eat, don’t smell.

    Read Also: Adeboye to single ladies: don’t marry jobless men

    “It is written, There is nothing hidden that will not come to the open. Sooner or later, your sins will find you out.

    “If you have given your life to Jesus, and you continue in sin under the guise of grace, your sin will find you out.

    “When a woman accuses you of something, nobody is going to listen to you; they will listen to the woman. When they ask for witness, she will say ‘do they call people to such a thing?’

    “The same bible that says, resist the devil and he will flee is the same bible that said when you find yourself facing youthful lust, you should flee.

    Reacting to those that call him old-fashioned, the general overseer said: “I agree that I am old-fashioned. That is what they called me when I said that I will never have a private secretary who is a woman.

    “I was ordained in 1975 and I am still surviving. It is better to be old-fashioned and live than to be modern and die.”

    The general overseer had previously advised that everyone should always pray that God will have mercy on Nigeria so the shedding of innocent blood will end, noting that God stopped the Ebola virus in the country because at that time, “the cup of Nigeria was not yet full.”

    He announced that the church would be holding its annual convention from 5th to 11th August, 2019 with the theme, “And God said”

     

  • Seven interesting facts about new Chelsea coach Frank Lampard

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Had he listened to his teacher, Frank Lampard would never have become a Chelsea legend.

    On Thursday, Lampard was appointed new coach of Chelsea.

    The 41-year-old takes over immediately from Mauricio Sarri, who led the Blues to a fourth place finish in the English Premier League and won the Europa for the London-based team.

    Lampard, who spent 13 years of his football career in Stamford Bridge, said on arrival “”I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea as head coach.

    “Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared. However, my sole focus is on the job in hand and preparing for the season ahead.

    “I am here to work hard, bring further success to the club and I cannot wait to get started.”

    There are interesting facts to know about Frank Lampard who re-unites with his old club:

    • Frank Lampard was born on 20th June 1978, in Romford, London. He played his first match for England on 10th October 1999 in a 2–1 friendly win over Belgium.
    • He was told that he would not make it if he became a footballer. One of his teachers told him that if he dedicated himself to football he would fail in life. But little Frankie was no dettered. When h debuted with Chelsea, he sent his teacher a ticket to the game.
    • Frank Lampard is the all-time leading goal scorer for Chelsea with 211 goals in all competitions. He is one of the seven players and the only midfielder to have scored 150 or more goals in the Premier League.
    • The former England international won 13 trophies wearing the Blues shirt including – three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League, and one Europa League.

    READ ALSO: Frank Lampard Calls His Wife n Dog ‘My Two Bitches’

    • He was voted twice as England’s Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. He was also three-time Player of the Year for the Blue Lions Club, winning the award in the year 2004, 2005 and 2009.
    • Frank Lampard remains the most successful penalty taker, scoring nine goals for the national side.
    • He captained Chelsea 83 times, including in the 2012 Champions League final when John Terry was suspended.

     

  • AFCON 2019: Nigeria lock horns with Cameroon in Round of 16

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will lock horns with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Alexandria on Saturday evening in the Round of Sixteen of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, following the goalless draw the Lions recorded against Benin Republic today.

    The Black Stars of Ghana, on their part avoided Nigeria, when they beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in Suez. Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey got their names on the score sheet in the 46th and 72nd minute respectively.

    Read Also: Breaking: AFCON 2019: Algeria beat Senegal to qualify for Round of Sixteen

    This will be the fifth time the Super Eagles will face Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations. They lost three times in 1984, 1988 and 2000, and beat the Lions once in 2004.

    Benin Republic went through as one of the four best third-placed teams and will come up against Morocco on Friday evening

    Cameroon came closest to scoring against Benin but both Ambroise Oyongo and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting saw their efforts saved by goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe  as he dived full length to his right to make two stunning fingertip saves in the opening period.

    The squirrels had their best chance fall to Stephane Sessegnon, but the former Sunderland and West Brom midfielder struck a free-kick narrowly wide.

  • Breaking: Madagascar tops Group B, beat Nigeria 2-0

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play the Round of Sixteen of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations as runner-up of Group B, after falling 2-0 to Madagascar on Sunday.

     

  • I don’t eat Eba – Mikel Obi

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Super Eagles’ Captain John Mikel Obi has expressed his preference for Chinese food over Nigerian popular food, Eba.

    In a monitored interview, Mikel said “To be honest, I don’t eat eba as much. I think for the last five or six years, I eat more Chinese food than eba.”

    Speaking on who he prefers between Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo and FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, Mikel Obi, who plays for English side Middlesbrough, said: “It is Messi all day. For me, he is from a different planet. I am grateful to have played with him and against him so many times, right from our days at the U-20 level.”

    Mikel, when asked, also revealed that he “prefers to win the FIFA World Cup trophy to the UEFA Champions League crown.”

    Read Also: I was never away from the Eagles — Mikel

    He also said Chelsea is closer to his heart than Arsenal when asked which he prefers of the two.

    Asked his preferred musician between Davido and Yemi Alade, he said “Yemi Alade”

    The Super Eagles’ captain was with Chelsea between 2006 and 2017.

    Asked what his choice would be between money and winning a trophy, the Nigerian midfielder simply said “trophy”.

    Mikel Obi will be making his fifth Africa Cup of Nations appearance in Egypt, when the Super Eagles file out against Burundi, in Alexandria on Saturday.

  • Nigeria’s political landscape still volatile, unstable – UNILAG VC

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe (FAS) on Thursday lamented the volatile and unstable landscape of the country, going by the recent general elections.

    He made this observation during the 2019 colloquium of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), which took place at the Management House, Victoria Island Lagos.

    For Ogundipe, who served as the returning officer of Osun State for the 2019 presidential election, elections ought to represent the will of the people, devoid of violence.

    The Vice Chancellor, speaking on the theme “Democracy and Electoral Process: the Nigerian Experience” said this is so because of the intolerance Nigerians exhibit during the exercise.

    According to him, “Despite the gains in electoral process and democratic experience, Nigerian political landscape is still volatile and unstable. This is because of the violence, intolerance and killing still witnessed during our elections.

    “It is even more worrying with the incidences of ballot-box snatching, voters intimidation, insecurity as well as manipulation on the basis of religion and ethnicity. These have led to a significant number of tribunal cases after the rejection of election results by the opposition at state or federal.”

    Read Also: Extreme poverty in Nigeria worrisome, says Osinbajo

    Defining democracy as a system that recognizes representation and individual rights, Professor Ogundipe affirmed the elimination of electoral manipulations and violence, for it to grow.

    “The conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria is instrumental to the growth and sustainability of Nigeria, which will lead to rule of law, freedom of the press, accountability and transparency – where agencies like EFCC & ICPC could be more impactful. Citizens would be able to hold government responsible for the campaign promises made.” he said

    The Vice Chancellor recommended some ways to strengthen the democratic and electoral process in Nigeria to include strengthening the electoral framework, technology adaptation for transparency and effectiveness, increased engagement with stakeholders and professional training of electoral and security officers in the country, ahead of each electoral exercise.

    Earlier on, the President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Professor Olukunle Iyanda had wondered why there was always tension before, during and after the exercise in the country, and whether it was needed.

    “As we all know, election period in Nigeria, before, during, and after the elections, is characterized by tension, corrupt activities, and violence. These are caused by inter- and intra- party rivalry and activities. Must this necessary be so? Can elections be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, without disrupting the peace of the ordinary citizen whose interest may not go beyond discharging his civil responsibility of voting for a candidate of his choice? Can elections be conducted in such a way that both the winner and the loser would accept results as an expression of the will of the people? These are the challenges facing our country in the conduct of elections.

    Professor Ogundipe was inducted into the hall of fame of the Nigerian Institute of Management at the end of the colloquium.

     

  • Don’t put pressure on S/Eagles, Rohr begs Nigerians

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

     

    Super Eagles Chief Coach, Gernot Rohr has appealed to Nigerians not to put pressure on his young team ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Egypt from June 21 to July 19

    Asked which of the group B games will be the toughest for Nigeria in the 2019 AFCON, Rohr said: “Burundi, because it is the first match. The first match is always the most difficult match of a competition. Everybody is fresh, the new comers have nothing to lose, and we must be focused tin this game.”

     

    Excerpts of the interview below:

     

    Which country do you think will be a stumbling block for Nigeria?

    You know that we are not the first in the ranking of African football, we have teams like Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Cameroon, and there can also be a surprise team in the competition.

    We will see what happens match-by-match. We are not the favourite for me. My first favourite to win this AFCON is Egypt, and then Senegal, and then Morocco or Tunisia, but we are among the top five teams for this competition in my prediction.

    How will you describe the friendly with Zimbabwe?

    It was eight days and we had a good training session. We arrived on Sunday, most of the players were here already. We had special situations like the Ramadan, so some players arrived later. We were complete on Thursday.

    We are in a very good spirit. We had twenty-five players and everybody was doing well, and in good conditions, in the hotels, dressing room and in the stadium. We had a memorial for Stephen Keshi, who was a great man while he lived. Everybody was there. We were received in Asaba, we had a special condition, rainfall in Asaba, during the game against Zimbabwe, but even in the condition, I saw a very good game. We were only missing the goals which we have to work on. Our foundation is good, but we have to work on the offensive.

    How difficult was it to select the final 23 players for the AFCON

    It is always a very difficult decision to take, and everybody deserved to be in the 25-man squad. The problem is that we have so many good strikers and we have to put away a striker and a midfielder, to accommodate the return of Captain Mikel Obi. We had to put out Semi Ajayi and my striker (Kelechi Iheanacho), who was losing confidence, but worked very hard during the week. Everybody in my staff, the five of us agreed on these two names. It is not a good decision to take, but we had to do it, and the players were professional in accepting this decision.

    They know that they are still in stand-by. If an injury occurs to any of the player, one of them will be called back. I do not pray for this to happen, but it did happen during the World Cup, when we lost Moses Simon in the last camping, and he had to be replaced.

    Let us hope that preparations go well, in Egypt. Certainly in other conditions, it will not be rainy there, it will be hot and I hope we have a good pitch there.

    What has been the secret of Eagles impressive record after the World Cup?

    I think that this team has a mixture of youthfulness and experience, and also, the atmosphere in the team is very good. We are working hard; we have good defenders and strikers. We don’t know who will be our number one goalkeeper, we will decide after the last weeks of preparations, but we trust our goalkeepers.

    So I think our strength is in our solidarity. There is always someone to stand for the other, on and off the pitch. We have new players coming in to bring new mentality to the boys. It is a good refreshing atmosphere and it can help us in Egypt.

    I think that the experience of Obi Mikel is also good. Everybody wanted him to come back. He has been well received by the group, like he has always been with us. It is important to make this first week the re-integration of Obi Mikel, as he is on the right way to being fit. So for the moment, we are in very good conditions. I hope no problem arises.

    Are you having a good feeling of Nigeria winning the AFCON?

    It is a very good prediction. Even when I went to the AFCON with Gabon, we started with a 0-0 draw and won other games in the group. We won against Niger Morocco and Tunisia. I hope to repeat the same.

    For our friendly matches, the result is not the most important, but we are unbeaten for the past one year and we want to stay unbeaten. We want to go into our first match against Burundi with a good mind and a good confidence, and continue in the competition, match-by match. But for the moment, our focus is the first match.

    Which game do you think will be the toughest in the group?

    Burundi, because it is the first match. The first match is always the most difficult match of a competition. Everybody is fresh, the new comers have nothing to lose, and we must be focused tin this game.

    Burundi has a very good team. They are unbeaten in the qualifiers. They have good players plying their trade in Europe and South Africa. It will not be easy, but we are Nigeria, we were one of the five teams that represented Africa at the World Cup, so we have experience. From my final 23-man list, 15 were at the World Cup last year, so this experience can help us.

    What is your message to Nigerians who have high expectations for the AFCON?

    They are right. I also expect a lot from this tournament. But it is not good to put pressure on a young team. Let work, fight and do their best. I can only promise that every training session and match will be on the highest level

    And sometimes, we need the help of the “God of football”, and sometimes, the referee decisions too, like we saw in Russia, can affect a team. This is a charm in football that we have to accept.

    What I can say to Nigerians now is that, I have been here for three years, and I say that we love this country, we want to do our best and win AFCON for Nigerians, but we have to stay hungry. All the twenty-four teams will be prepared, so to win it, you have to win seven matches.

    It will not be easy, but we can only promise to fight lions to go and win the Africa Cup of Nations.

  • Ten songs every Nigerian knows

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Nigeria is blessed with songs and talents. Every Nigerian loves to sing and listen to music in one way or the other.

    Nigerians are reserved in the kind of music they listen to. It has to be one that has a good rhythm, catchy and easy to remember.

    The Nation goes memory lane to dig out songs that every Nigerian knows as much as the national anthem.

    ·       Onyeka Onwenu  – ‘Iyogogo’ (1992)

    Iyogogo is an English/Ibo song by Onyeka Onwenu, who is a singer, songwriter, actress, journalist and politician.  The song met with the popular approval and appreciation, thereafter becoming a measuring standard for songs in the same genre. The four- minute and thirty-one second song tells the story of a woman and her lover at a point in their relationship where he must decide if he would stay with her or not.

    Onwenu, 64, remains the only musician to have crossed pop with juju music and highlife, seamlessly combining English and local languages to deliver songs of great social value.

    ·       Mike Okri – ‘Hear your mama, hear your papa’

    Anyone born between the late 1980s and early 1990s can never deny hearing this epic music by Mike Okri, drumming obedience and respect for parents and elders into the ears of every kid.  Every child who had music enthusiasts as parents will never forget this song.

    ·       Majek Fashek –‘Send down the rain’ (1991)

    Stories have it that Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly called Majek Fashek, called for rain in Lagos in 1991 with this song and it rained continually for months and the city was flooded. That song won the Edo-born music star six US-based PMAN Music Awards.

    ·       Fela Anikulapo-Kuti – ‘Water no get Enemy’ (1975)

    Fela Anikulapo Kuti is best remembered for his politically charged lyrics as he was seen as the voice of the poor in a society ruled by dictators. His songs served as hope for people and he has since been nicknamed a “fearless prophet’’. He went as far as mentioning names, which got him into trouble countless times.

    He however did a song in 1975, titled “Water no get enemy” where he discussed the importance of water to a man. He died from complications related to HIV/AIDS in 1997.

    ·       Prince Nico Mbarga – ‘Sweet Mother’ (1976)

    Prince Nico Mbarga recorded sweet mother in 1976, and it sold over 13 million copies upon its release. It is now considered globally as the African greatest song of all time.

    The song suffered some persecutions, as it was turned down by EMI in 1974, citing the song’s “childish appeal.” “Sweet Mother” suffered further rejections from Decca Records and Philips Records before it was eventually released in December, 1976 by Rogers All Stars, a Nigerian recording company based in Onitsha. It has grown to be a song known by every average Nigerian.

    ·       Christe Igbokwe Essien – ‘Seun Rere’ (1981)

    ‘Seun rere’ was released in 1981 by the late Christy Essien-Igbokwe. Translated to mean “be good/do good”, it was featured on the album Ever Liked My Person? under International Records, Skylark Records.

    It is still being sung in 2019, 38 years after its release. Before her death in 2011, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, a fluent speaker of English, Igbo, Ibibio and Yoruba, was the first ever female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).

    Daddy Showkey – ‘Dyna’ (1999)

    John Odafe Asiemo better known as Daddy Showkey was a popular musician in the mid-90s. He grew up in Ajegunle, a “ghetto” located in Lagos. He was known with so many songs, such as Ghetto Soldier, Welcome, Dyna, “Fire Fire”, “the chicken” and others but he scored a major hit with Dyna for so many reasons.

    It was catchy, danceable, and most of all it told a story of ‘Dyna’ A story that everyone could really get with. He is remembered for leading a peaceful protest march to the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) office in Ajegunle to draw attention to the lack of electricity supply for nine months. The move paid off and electricity was restored. As a result of his hood’s love for him, he was conferred with the title of “Aare Onifaji of Ajegunle” which means the king of enjoyment.

    Read Also: TBT – Ten awesome Nigerian hits from way back

    Seyi Sodimu – ‘Love Me Jeje’ (1997)

    Before the likes of Asa, Simi, Adekunle Gold and others came to limelight, there was a Seyi Sodimu who released a single in 1997 titled “Love Me jeje” and it went on to be one of Nigeria’s love classic of the 90’s, gathering generous airplay while rising up the charts.

    Seyi is currently based in Washington DC, USA and still very much in the music making business. He runs Good Life Entertainment.

    2Face Idibia – ‘African Queen’ (2004)

    The line “you are my African Queen, the girl of my dreams ….”, rings in the head of every Nigerian, since it was released by Innocent Idibia in 2004 shortly after disbanding from “Plaintation Boiz” . The song is assumed to be more popular than the artiste (popularly called 2Face) himself, as the market seems not to get enough of it. The song alone has won the Jos-born Nigerian star several awards

    Olu Maintain – ‘Yahooze’ (2008)

    “Yahooze” is a Nigerian song by Olu Maintain. It was produced by Puffy Tee with its music video shot in Nigeria It was reporter that Olu Maintain performed Yahoozee at the Royal Albert Hall, London and brought on stage, the former Secretary of State of the United States,Colin Powell,  “Yahooze” won Hottest Single of the Year at the 2008 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and the 2008  song of the year. It is argued that the song promotes “yahoo yahoo” amongst Nigerian youths, as it portrays wealth, materialism and lust.

  • Man. Utd/Chelsea open new EPL season

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

     

    Manchester United will host Chelsea on the first match day of the 2019/2020 English Premier League.

    The Red Devils, who finished sixth in the concluded season, missed out of a place in the UEFA Champions League.

    They will hope their dismissal performance will not continue in the coming season, as they face scary rivals in Wolves (who beat them twice last season), Crystal Palace, Southampton and Leicester City in the next four fixtures after hosting the Blues.

    Chelsea, on their part, will entertain Leicester next before playing against Norwich and Sheffield United.

    Defending Champions, Manchester City will start the defence of their title at West Ham. They will next go through their first acid test in the next game when they host Tottenham Hotspurs, who eliminated them in the last UEFA Champions League season.

    Read Also: English Premier League clubs vote to allow VAR replays on big screens

    But it will be Liverpool that will raise the curtain of the season on the 9th of August, when they host promoted Norwich on the evening of Friday 9 August.

    The current winners of the UEFA Champions will hope to win the title this time, have come so clos, fighting till the last day of last season. They face Southampton, Arsenal and Burnley in their next three matches.

    They will however have a tough end to the season as they travel to Arsenal (May 2), play at home to Chelsea (May 9) and then conclude the season at Newcastle on May 17.

    Manchester City and Liverpool, the two teams who fought for the title last season, have been paired to meet at Anfield on November 9, 2019, before the return at the Etihad on April 4, 2020.