Author: Chronicle Editor

Hosts Russia made a fine start to their World Cup campaign as they thrashed Saudi Arabia in the tournament’s opening game. Yuri Gazinskiy scored the first goal of the tournament after only 12 minutes when he headed in from Aleksandr Golovin’s cross. Substitute Denis Cheryshev added a second just before half-time as he collected Roman Zobnin’s pass, cut inside two Saudi Arabia defenders and finished well. Another substitute, Artem Dzyuba, grabbed Russia’s third within two minutes of coming on by heading in from Golovin’s delivery. Cheryshev scored a spectacular fourth with the outside of his boot, before Golovin curled in…

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested two suspected killers of Charity Aiyedogbon who got missing since May 2016. The suspects are Chukwujekwu Ezeugo, 27, principal suspect, from Enugu state and Emmanuel Adogah, 28 from Edo. The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Sadiq Bello made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the arrest by operatives of the command on Thursday in Abuja. Bello said that the principal suspect, Ezeugo was arrested in Benin while the second principal suspect, Adogah was arrested in Abuja on June 11 by operatives of the command. The commissioner said…

British singer Robbie Williams and Brazil legend Ronaldo got the 2018 World Cup in Russia under way with the opening ceremony in Moscow. Williams performed a series of his hits, joined by Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, prior to the opening game between the hosts and Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo dummied the opening kick, allowing a child to pass the ball to mascot Zabivaka. Russian president Vladimir Putin then gave a speech at the Luzhniki Stadium. “We are sincerely happy to host the World Cup in our country,” he said. READ: Avoid sex with foreign men during #WorldCup – Russian MP “Football…

A prominent Russian MP has been heavily criticised after urging women not to have sex with foreign men during the World Cup. Communist Party MP Tamara Pletnyova told a Moscow Radio station that she was “not a nationalist” but believed Russian women should avoid sex with people “of a different race” because “their children suffer”. She was responding to a question about the “kids of the Olympics” – referencing the claim that there was a spike in births of mixed-race children in Russia after the 1980 Summer Olympics. Ms Pletnyova said that these children were “abandoned” by their foreign fathers.…

Champions Manchester City will travel to Arsenal on the weekend of 11-12 August for their opening match of the 2018-19 Premier League season. Tottenham visit Newcastle first, then play Fulham at Wembley while their new £850m stadium is completed. Manchester United host Leicester City, Liverpool entertain West Ham, and Championship winners Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Everton to Molineux. Promoted Fulham host Crystal Palace, while Cardiff visit Bournemouth. The three other fixtures on the opening weekend see Chelsea travel to Huddersfield, Southampton host Burnley, and Watford take on Brighton at Vicarage Road. The opening weekend in full Arsenal v Manchester City Bournemouth…

Tottenham have offered Aston Villa £15m for their English midfielder Jack Grealish, but Chelsea, Fulham and Leicester are also interested in the 22-year-old. (Sky Sports) Napoli are willing to drop the price for Maurizio Sarri to £4.5m to encourage Chelsea to appoint their former coach. (Mirror) Burnley want to sign both English defender Craig Dawson, 28, and striker Jay Rodriguez, 28, from West Brom, for a combined £28m. (Mail) Arsenal are in advanced talks with Bayer Leverkusen to sign German goalkeeper Bernd Leno, 26. (Sky Sports) The Gunners are close to spending their £50m summer transfer budget on Leno, Sampdoria’s…

The UK, US and France are expected to return to Nigeria $500m million loot which late dictator General Sani Abacha looted to other countries. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, said this on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. This is in addition to the $322 million Abacha loot which Nigeria recovered from Switzerland. “Nigeria has engaged other countries, including the UK, US, France and others, in further negotiations relating to repatriation. “I am happy to report that we are almost concluding the processes relating to the repatriation of additional…

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial wants to leave the club this summer according to his agent who said the “time has come” to move on. Philippe Lamboley claims United want to extend Martial’s deal and do not want the Frenchman to leave. But he said: “We have not reached an agreement for several months.” Martial, 22, scored 11 goals in 45 appearances last season, but saw his opportunities limited by the arrival of Alexis Sanchez in January. Lamboley said Martial, who joined United for £36m in September 2015, was “disappointed because he has shown his love for the club and…

By Kolawole Olaniyan President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 after emphasising his track record of tackling corruption, and his pledge to stop public officials from looting the country’s treasury, after he rightly declared: “if we don’t kill corruption, this corruption will kill us.” Mr. Buhari has backed his commitment by putting in place some important measures such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Whistle-Blowing Policy and the establishment of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, to combat the systemic theft of public resources and by extension, its pernicious effects on human rights and development. The TSA, in particular,…

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has appointed Fernando Hierro as Spain head coach for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Hierro was appointed after Julen Lopetegui was sacked two days to Spain World Cup opener against Portugal “Fernando Hierro to assume Spain Head Coach role for the Russia World Cup and will appear before the media alongside RFEF President, Luis Rubiales,” a statement on RFEF said. “After which, he will direct the first training session and on Friday he’ll debut in Sochi in Spain’s first clash against Portugal.” READ: Morocco bid ambassador Daniel Amokachi laments Africa’s 2026 World Cup votes…