Author: Chronicle Editor

Brazil forward Roberto Firmino has agreed a new “long-term contract” with Liverpool. The 26-year-old joined the Reds from Hoffenheim in 2015 and has made 140 appearances, scoring 50 goals. “It was an easy decision,” he told the club’s website. “The club have taken me in in an incredible way.” Firmino has scored 27 times this season – the most prolific campaign of his career – as Liverpool have reached the Champions League semi-finals. ❌???????? Roberto Firmino agrees terms on new long-term #LFC deal: https://t.co/rvxJ30Ochp pic.twitter.com/sUsuABAkrx— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 29, 2018 He has been part of a three-man strikeforce, along…

Despite over 18 allegations against him, Jean-Claude Arnault denies he as sexually assaulted any of his victims plunging the Swedish Academy into a crisis. The man at the centre of a sexual abuse scandal at the Swedish Academy – the body that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature – has now been accused of groping the heir to the Swedish throne. But again French photographer Arnault denies groping Crown Princess Victoria at an Academy event in 2006. It follows a report in the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper that quoted three people who said they saw the incident. One witness said an…

Pan-African financial Institution, United Bank for Africa Plc, last Thursday, ended its annual Group Chairman’s Forum, a platform for group integration, re-strategising and knowledge sharing with the overall aim of putting the bank on firm standing to actualize its goals and targets for the financial year. The theme of the forum was focused on three main areas: ‘Efficient and effective communication across the group; Entrenchment of enduring corporate culture and corporate governance. The meeting which was chaired by the Chairman, UBA Group, Mr. Tony Elumelu, had in attendance all the group chair persons from across Africa, Group board executive and…

Barcelona have won La Liga in manager Ernesto Valverde’s first season in charge after a Lionel Messi-inspired victory over Deportivo La Coruna. Messi scored a hat-trick at the Riazor to give Barca an unassailable lead at the top of the table. Barcelona had led 2-0 with goals from Philippe Coutinho and Messi but Depor bravely fought to 2-2 with strikes from Lucas Perez and Emre Colak. Messi then struck twice in the final 10 minutes to seal the win. It is the 25th time Barcelona have won La Liga – eight behind the 33 won by rivals Real Madrid. VIDEO:…

Victor Oladipo was the star of the Eastern Conference first-round series as he played the game of his life despite Indiana Pacers losing Game 7 to LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. With over 20,000 fans at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena vehemently and vociferously aligned against them, they Pacers put on a brilliant show. Although Cavs won the game by 105 – 101 with LeBron posting breathtaking figures, it was Oladipo’s display that caught the eye. LeBron finished the game with 45 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assist and 4 steal to become the first player in NBA history to reach those numbers…

Avengers: Infinity War appears to be rewriting the history books with a $630m (£457m) global opening weekend take, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations. If confirmed, the superhero sequel would overtake The Fate of the Furious’s $542m global opening weekend haul, a record set in 2017. The film is also seen taking the all-time domestic opening record, making $250m in the US alone. Official figures will come out on Monday, but this would put Avengers ahead of Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ $248m take. READ: Pope Francis prays for Christian community in Nigeria, condemns Benue attack Infinity War, directed by…

Pope Francis has decried an attack on a Catholic church in Nigeria that killed 15 people, including two priests. Rev Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, were murdered in Mbalom community, Gwer West Local Government Council of Benue state in Nigeria. Also murdered by suspected herdsmen were about 15 members of the St Ignatius’ Catholic Church. In remarks Sunday to the public in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff prayed that Nigeria’s Christian community can find harmony and peace. READ: Senator Dino Melaye thanks Kogi voters for rising to his defence The massacre last week which occurred in central Nigeria, has…

Vincenzo Montella has been sacked by Sevilla after a “bad run of results” which includes a 5-0 loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final. The 43-year-old was sacked by AC Milan in November before being appointed by the La Liga side on 28 December. Montella guided Sevilla to their first ever semi final in the Champions League. The Spanish outfit lost 2-1 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. But defeat to Levante on Friday left Sevilla without a win since knocking Manchester United out in the Champions League last-16, a run of nine games. Ex-Sevilla boss Joaquin Caparros will…

Senator Dino Melaye has thanked the people of his constituency for “rising to his defence” by shunning the verification exercise held on April 28 to recall him from the Senate. Melaye, in a statement issued in Lokoja on Sunday, also thanked the political leaders, elders and traditional rulers in Kogi West for “rescuing him from his political enemies.” He also expressed gratitude to the media, observers, civil society groups, security agents and other stakeholders “for resisting to be used against the wishes of the people of his constituency”. The statement was signed by Mr Gideon Ayodele, Special Assistant on Media…

In Lake Chad, a new terrorist group Islamic State in West Africa, ISWA, appears to putting its foot down on the small West African nation. But ISWA which split from Nigeria’s Boko Haram in 2016 appears to have taken a different approach. The group is digging wells, giving out seeds and fertiliser and providing safe pasture for herders. “If you are a herder, driver or trader, they won’t touch you – just follow their rules and regulations governing the territory,” said a herder, who moves cattle in and out of ISWA territory and whose identity Reuters is withholding for his…