NFF Broke, Can't Pay Eagles Against SA

Big wigs of the Nigeria Football Federation were busy trying to raise money to wire to South Africa before the Super Eagles decisive game against host Bafana, Bafana on Sunday.

The money is meant to offset the Eagles bonus for the CHAN Sunday group game, pay allowances and boost the morale of the boys to go all out and beat their host South Africa to qualify for the next round.

Complete Sports findings revealed that the NFF went to South Africa with the bonuses for only the first game that the Eagles unfortunately lost 1-2 to Mali and had to use the money to pay for the 4-2 win over Mozambique on Wednesday.

We learnt the budget for Nigeria's participation in the CHAN has yet to be released because President Goodluck Jonathan has yet to approve the release of fund to the NFF through the National Sports Commission.

Impeccable sources at the Glass House disclosed that all efforts were geared towards raising at least the match bonus for Sunday's game before the release of funds for the tournament.

"We are praying that Mr. President signs the release of funds today so that we can motivate the boys ahead of the game against the host. Things are really tight for the NFF over there and it will be good if we send money to them fast,"our source said.  

We gathered that the Eagles match bonus for a win in CHAN is set at 2,500 USD and for a draw they get 1,250 Usd.  
 

Arsenal Chieftain: We're Not In Chelsea, City's Class

Topping the Premier League, chasing a first title in a decade seems even more gratifying when Arsenal sees itself as taking on an entire nation.

The Gunners are a point ahead of Manchester City, which has benefited from more than £1billion of investment from Abu Dhabi in a little over five years.

"You can't compete against that," Arsenal chief commercial officer Tom Fox said Wednesday. "We're a football club in London and we are a global brand, but we would never try to compete against the financial resources of a country.

"I just don't think that's a very realistic thing for us to do ... trying to chase those types of owners. Obviously it's just not possible."

City was bought in 2008 by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, through an investment vehicle. The team went on to win the league in 2012.

For Arsenal, doggedly adhering to a policy of long-term financial sustainability has meant a frustrating lack of silverware since the 2005 FA Cup.

Now Arsenal seems to have the best chance in years to end a trophy drought that has been a millstone round the neck of manager Arsene Wenger.

The London club is also in the last 16 of the Champions League, where holder Bayern Munich awaits next month, and the FA Cup, with lowly Coventry up next in the fourth round.

"Winning and doing it on our terms, in a self-sustaining way, I think (would be) incredibly powerful," Fox said after addressing a Leaders Sport Network breakfast in London.

"We believe that we will be successful running the football club the way we're running it — despite a whole host of other issues, whether it's the economy at large, whether it's the make-up of the ownership," added Fox, a former NBA director.

Arsenal isn't exactly owned by a pauper, with American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke's fortune estimated by Forbes magazine to be $5.3 billion.

Ronaldo: Now I Want A Third Ballon D'Or

FIFA.com: First of all, congratulations. You looked very emotional on receiving the FIFA Ballon d’Or. What was going through your head when you heard your name read out, and what did it mean to be given the award by Pele and Michel Platini?

Cristiano Ronaldo: I felt immensely proud and happy when I realised I’d won. Winning an award like that requires a lot of dedication and hard work, and is the accumulation of many hours’ toil. I really wanted to win the Ballon d’Or for a second time, so receiving it from two legends like Pele and Platini is a privilege. Now I hope I can do it all again next year and claim my third.

Aside from this award, 2013 featured some remarkable moments in your career. Does one in particular stand out?

I don’t know if I can single one out above all the rest. Actually yes… qualification for the World Cup. I’d say that was what I remember most and was the most emotional thing.

Having recently hit the 400-goal mark as a professional, which would you say was the most significant and why?

Every goal I score is special for me. That said, some obviously carry more weight than others, coming as they do in a final tournament or a final itself. However, all of them are important – at least for me, as they form part of my culture and are part of me. I love scoring goals and for them to be significant in our winning things.

What are your earliest World Cup memories?

It’s hard to say because it was so many years ago. I remember the odd game, yes, though in fact my strongest memories are of matches involving Brazil.

You’ve starred for Manchester United and now Real Madrid: does club football get any bigger or more demanding?

In my opinion, we’re talking about the two greatest clubs in the world. And of course, that’s a source of huge pride for me. When I was at United I won major titles as well as my first Ballon d’Or. And now I’m at Real Madrid, who are the world’s biggest club and one with which I have a very strong bond. I’ve been here for four years and I’ve just signed up for a another five because I think they’re the ideal club for me, the best club, and that’s why I’m so happy to be playing for them.

Madrid are being made to wait for their longed-for tenth European Cup/Champions League crown. Does the obsession with La Décima pile on the  pressure?         
                                                           
 It does generate some pressure, yes, but it also creates excitement too. Real Madrid are in the hunt for winning the Champions League every year, which is an extremely important competition and one all the teams involved in want to win. Let’s see if luck goes our way this year and we can claim La Décima, which is what we all want.

It’s a given that you’re held in high regard by your fellow professionals, but which players do you particularly admire?

I’m not going to single out just one, but right now there are great players in every team: the ones with me [at Madrid], the lads at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and in other teams like Manchester United and City. It's wonderful to see a new generation of great footballers too, which is really good for those of us competing with them. And it’s also good for the game. I wouldn’t like to pick just one, because there are lots of players I enjoy watching and playing against.

In our final question, we’d like you to finish off the following sentence for us: “In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo will be…”

(Thinks before answering) …will be the same man he was in 2013.
Source completesportsnigeria.com

Oby Ezekwesili asks Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala some pertinent questions on Twitter

 Former Vice President of World Bank's Africa division & former Nigerian minister Oby Ezekwesili is seeking to know what happened to the $10billion missing from the NNPC account. She tweeted at the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala a few minutes ago

Meet John Fashanu's hot model daughter, Amal Fashanu

Meet Amal Fashanu, former footballer John Fashanu's 23 year old daughter. She's a UK-based model, and TV personality. Amal is the product of John Fashanu's relationship with Spanish model Marisol Acuna. See more photos of stunning Amal after the cut...

Man receives 20 lashes for being gay in Bauchi - BBC report

According to a report by the BBC, a 20 year old man in Bauchi received 20 lashes seven years after he stopped being gay. For real? My head hurts from reading all these. Find the report below...

A Nigerian man has received 20 lashes after an Islamic court in the northern city of Bauchi convicted him of homosexual offences.

Under Islamic law, courts can punish homosexual acts by stoning to death.

But the judge said he took into account that the Muslim man, Mubarak Ibrahim, 20, carried out the acts seven years ago, and had stopped the practice.

President Jonathan confirms Tukur’s resignation as PDP Chairman

President Jonathan has confirmed the resignation of the chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The President announced this today Thursday Jan. 16th during the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) which took place inside the Presidential Villa. 

“He is not guilty of any offence and I am going to give him an assignment that is even tougher than the PDP Chairmanship,” The President told members of NEC.

The President reportedly announced that Tukur’s successor will be chosen from the North East and the new chairman will most likely be announced next Monday.

Man, 21, burns self to death in Taraba after disagreement with father

A 21-year-old man, Mansur Tanko, on Friday, burnt himself to death in Jalingo, after a disagreement with his father, Tanko Mijinyawa, over marriage.

The Taraba Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji, confirmed the incident and said the Jalingo Division of the police had commenced investigation into the matter.

Tanko, according to a witness, Jibrin Bala, set himself ablaze because his family refused to approve his wedding with a girl, Blessing. The witness told sympathisers that Tanko introduced Blessing to his father as his proposed wife, but the father kicked against the union, describing it as a bad choice.

Bill Gates, Obama, the Pope are the World's Most Admired People

The world's richest man and Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is the most admired person in the world, followed by US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis and Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar, the London Times reports, citing a poll.

Gates scored highly in each of the 12 countries where YouGov conducted polling and was the most popular in China. Putin’s popularity among Russians helped him secure third place on the list, the newspaper reported.

YouGov surveyed 14,000 people in the U.K., France, Germany, Russia, the U.S., Australia, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, China, Egypt, Nigeria and Brazil in the poll conducted for the Times, according to the newspaper.

Kaffy DanceQueen and husband welcome baby girl

Kaffy and her husband Joseph Ameh welcomed a daughter today. The excited father shared the good news and posted photos of their new bundle of joy on his instagram page. The baby has been named Eliana. Kaffy and Joseph also have a 2 year old son, Sean. See big brother with the new baby after the cut...congrats to them...

Awwww....Singer Waje is heartbroken

Singer Waje is currently going through heartbreak. She and her boyfriend of almost a year broke up recently. Waje took to twitter to express her sadness over the end of the relationship. I hear she will probably make it into a song. Be strong, babe! 

Behind the scene pics from D'Prince new video ft Don Jazzy & Davido

See some behind the scene photos from D'Prince's Gentleman video featuring Davido and Don Jazzy. Dropping soon! See more pics after the cut...

Dear LIB readers: Should I send nude pics to my husband?

We dated for three years before getting married last year. While we were dating he would always ask me to send him nude photos especially when he's out of town. The nudest I've sent to him, after months of persuasion, was a picture of my breast but I cropped my face out because I was not so comfortable sending them. Phones can be stolen. But now that we are married he keeps insisting that he's my husband and there's nothing wrong in me sending nude photos. I have my reservations about these things but I also want to make my hubby happy. Should I send him nude photos of myself? Is it OK for married couples to do this? I need your advice please.

2face finally joins wife Annie Idibia in the US

2face has finally joined his wife Annie Idibia in Los Angeles about a week after she gave birth to their second child, a daughter. He brought with him flowers and a teddy bear which the new mum posted on instagram and gushed about how excited and happy she was to finally have him by her side