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The United Arab Emirates has reinstated its ban on Nigerian flights barely   48 hours after announcing resumption of flights to Nigeria.  Though UAE authorities had initially fixed Wednesday, June 23, 2021, for resumption of flights to Nigeria, Emirates which is UAE flag carrier has again announced indefinite suspension of flights to Nigeria. A statement shared on the airline's website read;   “In line with government directives, passenger flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) are suspended with effect from 21 June 2021 until further notice.  “Customers travelling to and from Lagos and Abuja will not be accepted for travel. Customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not permitted to board from any other point to the UAE. “We regret the inconvenience caused, and affected customers should contact their booking agent or Emirates call centre for rebooking. Emirates remains committed to Nigeria, and we l...

Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia’s life ban from football has been reduced to five years by Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).  CAS had alleged that a match-fixer tried to involve Siasia as a coach of a club under his (fixer’s) strict directives in 2010. It was alleged that he was promised employment benefits if he fielded some players under the control of the match-fixer. According to CAS, negotiations between the match-fixer and Siasia about the terms of employment were carried out by email for two months, but negotiation collapsed after the unnamed club failed to accept the former Flying Eagles gaffer’s requests.  53-year-old Siasia who was handed a life ban for accepting to “receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches", had however denied the allegation and also appealed the sanction. CAS which announced on Monday June 21 that it has reduced the life ban to 5 years, added that it overturned a fine of $5000 i...

Manchester United are reportedly considering making Paul Pogba the highest paid player in the Premier League with a mouth watering £400,000 per week new deal as they look to tie the Frenchman down. Pogba has entered the final year of his current deal at Old Trafford, and he is on a current salary of £300,000-a-week, but United are keen to prevent him going into the new season with his future still uncertain. According to The Sun, the club are now ready to offer him £400,000-a-week contract over the next five years to convince him to stay in Manchester. If United can't agree on a deal with Pogba, the club will sell him off to prevent him going on a free next summer.Once Pogba returns from the Euros later this summer the contract offer will be presented to him.The 28-year-old commented last week that his focus was on his country in Euro 2020 and not his contract situation.'I have one year left on my contract, everyone knows that,' Pogba said in a press conference. ...

New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard has become the first ever transgender athlete picked to compete at an Olympics. In a controversial decision, officials have selected her for the women's weightlifting team for Tokyo 2020, after qualifying requirements were recently modified. She will compete in the women's 87-kg weightlifting category. Hubbard had previously competed in men's events before coming out as transgender in 2013 and critics say she has an unfair advantage over other women. "I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders," Hubbard said in a statement issued by the New Zealand Olympic Committee on Monday, June 21. The 43-year-old became eligible to compete at the Olympics when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2015 changed its rules allowing transgender athletes to compete as a woman if their testosterone levels are below a certain threshold. Testosterone is a hormone that...

  Scotland’s Billy Gilmour has tested positive for Covid-19 and will now miss the game with Croatia on Tuesday June 22, it has been confirmed. The Chelsea midfielder Gilmour, who was outstanding in his first international start in the draw with England on Friday night, must now isolate for 10 days. It means he is out of the final game of Group D against Croatia at Hampden Park, a match Scotland needs a positive result in to qualify for the knockout phase. “The Scottish FA can confirm that a member of the Scotland National Team playing squad, Billy Gilmour, has tested positive for Covid-19,” a statement from the Scottish Football Association on Monday read. “Having liaised with Public Health England since the positive test was recorded, Billy will now self-isolate for 10 days and therefore miss tomorrow’s Uefa Euro 2020 Group D match against Croatia at Hampden.”

A group of Nigerians who described themselves as #RevolutionNow protesters held a demonstration along the highway leading to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the federal capital territory (FCT) Abuja this morning June 21.     The publisher of SaharaReporters,  Omoyele Sowore, who is one of the conveners of RevolutionNow, shared photos and videos of the protesters on his Facebook page today. The protesters were filmed chanting “Buhari must go” as they set on fire on the highway, obstructing the free flow of traffic.    In the post accompanying the video, Sowore wrote: “#BuhariMustGo protest[ers] on the highway to the airport in Abuja this morning! No Rest for the wicked! #RevolutionNow.”  

As the world celebrates fathers today, it seems the occasion has driven another wedge between Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, and her estranged husband, Lanre Gentry. Ever since the ace actress separated from her estranged husband in 2017, she has always praised herself on Father’s Day for playing both the role of a father and mother. This year’s Father’s Day was no different as she took to her verified Instagram account to pat herself on the back with the words, “Happy Father’s Day to me and all the responsible fathers out there! 2 kids (1 international student) … changing naira to dollars with this dollar rate! Abeg it’s not easy! But God has been gracious! “Please no one should come tell me how I shouldn’t take the shine off fathers oh! (fatherhood is beyond impregnating a woman, if you are a man and do not perform your responsibilities towards your kids, biko you ain’t fit to be called a father and that’s on periodt!!!) “So, since I am playing dual role in my childr...

A police inspector attached to a lotto company in Enugu went berserk yesterday as he attacked a compound, shot five persons dead and injured gravely another four. The Police Command in Enugu State confirmed the gun violence in Golf Estate, GRA in the metropolis. It said the attack took place at about 9:30a.m, sending shockwaves down the usually quiet Enugu metropolis. A shocked Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi raced to the ESUT hospital to check on the victims. Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, said the gun-toting cop, not yet identified has been arrested. In a statement issued by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, Aliyu said investigation has begun. “The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, has ordered the deputy commissioner of police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department to carry out thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident. “The incident involve...

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, is the biggest absentee from Gernot Rohr’s squad for next month’s international friendly with Mexico in the US. Heartland goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, has however been recalled to the team. Ezenwa’s last call-up for Nigeria was in October 2019, as they drew 1-1 with Brazil. The Super Eagles’ friendly against the Tricolor will take place on July 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. However, Nigeria will be parading only Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) stars. Even though Musa now plays for Kano Pillars, he has not been invited. Others invited for the clash against Mexico are Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble, Rivers United’s Ifeanyi Anaemena, Enugu Rangers’ Ibrahim Olawoyin and Kwara United’s Stephen Jude.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen beat Mercedes driver and tournament favorite, Lewis Hamilton to win the French GP championship on Sunday, June 20, Verstappen used his fresh tyres after his second stop to charge up behind Hamilton in the closing stages and pounced on his prey on Lap 52 of 53, sweeping past Hamilton who was struggling. Verstappen who started at the pole, lost his lead after a mistake into the first chicane, while Hamilton lost his lead after a Red Bull undercut but the end result, not one that many expected saw Verstappen establish a 12-point title lead over the seven-time world champion.   This is the first time Red Bull is winning three races in a row since 2013. "We had to work hard for it, but very rewarding," said Verstappen.   Below is the full French GP race result 1st. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 2nd .Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 3rd. Sergio Perez, Red Bull 4th.Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 5th.Lando Norris, McLaren 6th.Daniel Ricciardo, McLare...

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has invited 25 home-based players for next month’s international friendly against Mexico in the United States. The 25-man list has the likes Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble and forward Anayo Iwuala. Heartland keeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa was also recalled for the friendly. Also invited are Rivers United defender Ifeanyi Anaemena, Enyimba midfielder Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Ibrahim Olawoyin (Enugu Rangers) and Stephen Jude (Kwara United). The match will hold inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, will take place on July 4. Invited players are expected to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye, Abuja on Tuesday, June 22, with their travel documents.  SEE FULL SQUAD LIST BELOW.    GOALKEEPERS Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland); John Noble (Enyimba)   Defenders Olisa Ndah (Akwa United); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors); Tope Olusesi (Rangers ); Ifeanyi Anaemena (Rivers United); Christopher Nwaeze (Kwara United); Enyinnaya Kazie (River...