Author: Peter Noah KC

CAPE Verde’s national stadium is to be renamed after Pele, the country’s prime minister has said. The 15,000-seater Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, located just outside the capital Praia, will become the Pele Stadium. The news comes after Fifa’s president Gianna Infantino proposed – while speaking at Pele’s memorial service in Brazil – that every country should name a stadium after the footballing legend who died on 29 December, aged 82. “As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as “Pele Stadium”, in an initiative that,…

THE relief being experienced by Nigerians at petrol retail outlets across the country  over availability of the products may be shortlived as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (PTD-NUPENG) has threathened strike over  what they described as illegal activities and  high-handedness of security agents, particulalrly the  Military Task Force operating in the Port Harcourt zone of the Union. National Chairman of the PTD-NUPENG, Comrade Lucky Osesua told News Point Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday that men of the Military Task Force operating in Port Harcourt burnt two trucks conveying HPFO, otherwise known as black…

PALPABLE fear has enveloped parts of Imo State following the attack on a former Governor of the State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, by gunmen in Ehime Mbano local government area of the State on Monday. This is even as unknown gunmen attacked and burned down the Afor Atta Police Divisional headquarters in Njaba local government area of the State on Tuesday. Ohakim was on Monday ambushed by yet-to-be identified gunmen at Oriagu, Ehime Mbano local government area of the State. Four of police escorts and a driver were gunned down during the shooting that ensued. The former governor expressed gratitude to…

A FORMER military governor of Osun state, Colonel Anthony Uzoma Obi (rtd), is dead. His death was announced in a statement by the family. It reads: We the Family of His Excellency, Rtd Colonel Anthony Uzoma Obi humbly announce the gentle passing of our Patriarch, and head of the family on Saturday, 1st of January 2022 by 6:03 PM. “Our father was a Lion, a warrior, a brave soldier who served the Nation Nigeria as a Two Time Military Administrator and Governor of Osun State, and Abia State Nigeria. “Anthony Uzoma Obi was a loving husband first, and a devoted…

FLEEING gunmen on Monday attacked a convoy of a former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, and killed four of his police orderlies in the process. Ohakim’s convoy was attacked at Oriagu in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state on Monday evening. Ohakim who escaped by the whiskers had his backup vehicle bombed, leading to the death of the four policemen in his convoy. Our correspondent gathered that Ohakim was with two of his children and was returning from a visit when the gunmen struck. A source close to the ex-governor disclosed that it took the bravery…

A MEDICAL Centre, Warri, in Delta (name withheld) state has allegedly seized a newborn for non-payment of a N383,500 hospital bill for over one month. It was gathered that the mother of the twins, Mrs Akpesiri Ojiko delivered the two babies on November 17, 2022, at the general hospital Warri. It was learnt that one of the babies was taken to a private Hospital on referral by the general hospital as a result of a lack of bed space. Narrating her ordeal, Mrs Ojiko appealed to the Delta State government and well-meaning individuals to assist in upsetting the medical bill…

PAUL Onuachu’s jersey was among those that broke the Pro League record for charity jersey sales. Onuachu, who has scored 70 goals in 99 matches for the Genks, is ranked third in the record-breaking shirt sales for solidarity campaign. The attacker’s shirt was among the jersey overall to initiate the wave of jersey sales in the fourteenth iteration of the campaign. The fourteenth edition smashed records with 155,000 euros raised, which is 3,000 more than the previous year. Three-time winner of the Belgian First Division, Simon Mignolet, made Club Brugge’s jersey stand out by selling the most shirts and raising…

THREE Super Eagles stars were in action as the League 1 returns, and they were all on the winning side. Simon saw 64 minutes of action in Nantes’ 1-0 victory against Auxerre in their first game of 2023 at the Stade de la Beaujoire. The Eagles winger got the nod to start for Nantes. The 27-year-old was expected to be Nantes’ main outlet, but he could not offer much. Simon registered 14 accurate passes, three successful dribbles, and three crosses. However, he was taken out for Marcus Coco in the 64th minute. Coco made his presence felt within ten minutes…

A FORMER National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, has described as lies allegations by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that he failed to execute or complete contracts awarded to him. Secondus said he had never been a contractor and never bid for or collected any contract from the state as alleged by the governor. The governor had during the commissioning of the Eneka-Igbo Etche Road project on Friday accused Secondus of failing to execute the contracts he got from the state government. He said in some instances, the contract sum was fully paid but the projects…

THE Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said he visited the family of late Igbo leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu, to share with them his hopes and dreams for Nigeria. Naija News reported that the former Governor of Anambra State paid a courtesy visit to the widow of the late Biafra warlord, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, at her residence in Enugu on Friday, December 30, 2022. Speaking with reporters, Obi said he visited the Ojukwu family to receive their blessing and support for the 2023 presidential race, adding that Bianca’s support means that of the late Igbo leader. He said it was…

SUPER Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers has revealed he has high regard for Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, maintaining the two are the best he has ever worked with. Cyriel Dessers and Erik ten Hag worked together for a few months in 2017 at FC Utrecht, a club Ten Hag served as the sporting director and head coach from the summer of 2015 to December 2017. Ten Hag left Utrecht to become the manager of Ajax and in May this year, he was appointed to take charge at Manchester United. Dessers also left Utrecht…

BARCELONA were held to a draw by local rivals Espanyol in a chaotic New Year’s Eve derby at the Nou Camp. Marcos Alonso gave Barca the lead after seven minutes, however they were pegged back by a Joselu penalty. Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba received a second yellow card in the final minutes, while Vinicius Souza was also dismissed for the visitors. The referee also sent off Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera, although that was overturned by VAR. Despite failing to win, Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga on goal difference ahead of Real Madrid, who beat Real Valladolid 2-0 on…

LA LIGA  “continues to do nothing” about “racists” attending games, says Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. The Brazil international appeared to be racially abused by fans during the 2-0 win at Real Valladolid on Friday. In September Atletico Madrid condemned “unacceptable” chants by supporters towards the 22-year-old. “Racists keep going to games and watching the greatest club in the world up close and La Liga continues to do nothing,” Vinicius said. “I will carry on with my head held high and celebrating my victories and those of Madrid. In the end the fault is mine.” A La Liga spokesperson said…

– Ronaldo Signs Two-year Contract With Al-Nasr According to reports coming out of Saudi Arabia, Al-Nasr have agreed a two-year deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, 37, stunned the footballing world earlier this year after opting to give Piers Morgan a revealing interview, where he appeared to slam Man United for their shortcomings over the years, as well as manager Erik Ten Hag with the Portugal international admitting that he ‘doesn’t respect’ the Dutchman. After mutually agreeing to terminate his contract, the five-time Ballon d’Or, who represented his country at this winter’s World Cup in Qatar, approached the January transfer…

…As West Ham Tackle Brentford, Liverpool Host Leicester City Today PREMIER League and English Football League clubs are set to wear black armbands and hold a minute’s applause to honour Brazil football legend Pele. The three-time World Cup winner passed away on Thursday at the age of 82. Tributes have poured in from across the world and Brazil has declared three days of national mourning. The Premier League’s next round begins with two matches on Friday and concludes on Sunday, with all 10 games paying tribute. The EFL said it would hold a minute’s applause before EFL fixtures on Friday…

ARSENAL Manager Mikel Arteta stepped up his preparations for their Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove with a training session at London Colney on Thursday, December 29. Spanish football tactician Arteta promoted three promising teenagers of Nigerian descent to first team training before the trip to the Seagulls. Attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, 15, and striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji ,19, were spotted in the training images from Thursday’s workout. Arsenal youth team guru Jeorge Bird has reported on his website that the 19-year-old Dutch-born Nigerian winger Joel Ideho was also involved in the session. With the exception of Ideho, the aforementioned players…

ITALIAN Serie A side, Sassuolo, have made a bid for Orlando Pirates’ and Super Eagles defender Olisa Ndah. The Super Eagles defender just moved to South Africa last year, but he could seal a big move to Sassuolo. According to reports from Isolezwe. Pirates have a deal in the works from the Serie A team, who are presently 15th in the Italian top division. Ndah has witnessed a meteoric rise in the last five years. The 24-year-old Nigeria international has gone from playing in the doldrums four years ago to being one of the most reputable defenders in South Africa.…

THREE persons have been killed following an explosion in the Okene area of Kogi State. News Point Nigeria gathered that the incident happened on Thursday morning at the Oyinoyi’s Palace in Okenne Local Government Area of the state. This is coming few hours to the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari to commission some projects in the North-Central state. As at the time of filing this report, police operatives of the Anti-Bomb Unit were at the scene of the incident. It is however not clear if the explosion was as a result of a bomb being detonated or a target attack…

THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress have listed conditions for the proposed review of the national minimum wage, saying the continuous rise in inflation and the devaluation of the naira must be checked before the salary increase announced by the Federal Government could be considered. The organised labour explained that the cost of virtually all consumables in Nigeria had been on the rise, stressing that if this should continue; any amount of money that would be added to the minimum wage might not meet the expectations of workers. The NLC and TUC spoke against the backdrop…

LEICESTER City manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that Wilfred Ndidi was dropped from the starting lineup owing to fitness issues and he was not in tiptop condition. The Nigeria national teamer has been a quality player for Leicester City since his move from Racing Genk but had problems with injury this calender year and was out of form at the start of the season, just like most of the Foxes players. Ndidi made cameos off the bench in the last three games played by the Foxes in the Premier League and was a non-playing substitute in the Carabao Cup clash with MK…