Author: Chronicle Editor

Argentina are set to qualify for next year’s World Cup after a 1-0 win over Uruguay. Angel Di Maria’s strike secured victory, leaving La Albiceleste second in South American qualifying after 12 games. They face leaders Brazil, who qualified by beating Colombia, on Tuesday. Uruguay sit in sixth – level on points with Chile who occupy the final automatic qualification spot – having lost three successive games. Victory for Argentina will be enough provided Uruguay, Colombia or Chile fail to win. Messi wins first major trophy with Argentina as Brazil lose Copa America final The hosts squandered chances throughout, having…

Dean Smith is set to become the new Norwich City head coach. The final details are being sorted for the ex-Aston Villa boss to replace Daniel Farke, who was sacked by the Canaries last Saturday. Craig Shakespeare, who worked with Smith at Villa, is expected to be his assistant, and an announcement should be made on Sunday or Monday. Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard had withdrawn from the running for the vacancy. Norwich’s next Premier League game is at home to Southampton on 20 November. The Canaries are bottom of the Premier League after gaining just five points from 11…

His Royal Majesty, Obong of Eket, Obong Etim Abia on Friday praised Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the best Vice President, Nigeria has ever produced. He added that both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) want him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. At the Obong’s 85th birthday at his residence, Atan Palace in Eket, the Obong of Eket said many Nigerians have faith in Prof. Osinbajo and trust him. “The representative of the Vice President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, I’m happy that you are here and hope you will go back…

The leadership of APC Mandate Defenders has slammed BudgIT and other civil society organizations in Nigeria for allowing themselves to be used by politicians to achieving political vendetta. In a statement released to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Ifeanyi Emeka, the group said BudgIT and many other civil society organizations have dangerously deviated from their core objectives; to becoming attack dogs and hack groups for desperate politicians who cannot face the reality of governance as well as the new Nigeria championed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The group wondered why BudgIT…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said that in acccordance with a presidential order in 2020, Nigeria was able to effectively tackle the COVID-19 pandemic by deploying a responsive and an effective public health framework, at a time when more developed and wealthier countries were struggling to deal with the fallouts of the global pandemic. According to Osinbajo, this is a good example of strategic leadership in a crisis. The VP stated this on Friday evening at the public presentation of the book, Winning Leadership, by (Rtd.) Major-General Pat Akem-Vingir. Prof. Osinbajo added that, with the daunting challenges of the 21st century,…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a Certificate of Return to the winner of the just-concluded guber election in Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo.  The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate recieved the certificate on Friday in Awka. His running mate, Onyeka Ibezim, also got his Certificate of Return as Deputy Governor-elect. The former governor of Central Bank won the elction with a landslide victory, bagging 19 out of 21 local government areas of the state. Soludo polled 112,229 votes, twice higher than his closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Valentine Ozigbo who had 53,807 votes. “That…

The Ondo State Government on Friday announced that the ban on forestry activities in the state has been lifted. The Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, noted that the ban which was effected on November 15 has now been lifted. He said, “This is to announce to the general public, especially stakeholders in the forestry sector that the ban placed on activities in the State Forest Reserves has been lifted with effect from Monday, November 15, 2021. “It will be recalled that the State Executive Council, as part of its conclusions at its meeting on the 31st of August,…

The Insight by Lateef Adewole Igbo Kwenu… kwenu! Igbo kwesuenu o. Let me start by congratulating the new political “bride” or should I say “groom” in town, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, “the village boy”, on his emergence as the winner of the just concluded Anambra state governorship election, which started on the 6th of November, 2021. He had a date with destiny. Also, to his party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), not “APUGA” o (lol). Also to the party members who fought so hard to secure that victory, despite the initial rancor that threatened to derail that train with…

At least three people were killed and 15 wounded Friday by a blast at a mosque in Afghanistan’s restive Nangarhar province, a hospital official revealed. The blast happened in Spin Ghar district of the eastern province, a hotbed of Islamic State group activity since the Taliban seized power in the country in August. “I can confirm a blast during Friday prayers inside a mosque in Spin Ghar district. There are casualties and fatalities,” a Taliban official said. “So far three killed, 15 wounded,” a doctor at the local hospital said. Taliban bans foreign currency in Afghanistan The Afghan branch of…

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle to re-sign 38-year-old defender Dani Alves – five years after he left the Nou Camp for Juventus. Alves, who has won nine top-flight titles with Barca, Juve and Paris St-Germain, will arrive on a free transfer for the rest of the 2021-22 season. The Brazil international spent eight years at Barcelona between 2008 and 2016 winning La Liga six times. Alves won three Champions League titles and the Copa del Rey four times there. Barcelona described Alves as “the greatest right-back in Barca history” in a statement announcing the news on their official…