Author: Chronicle Editor

Lionel Messi scored a sublime last-minute free-kick to salvage a point for Barcelona and deny Villarreal a famous win on Sunday. Nicola Sansone fired the hosts ahead, a low angled finish after ex-Chelsea loan signing Alexandre Pato’s threaded pass. Messi hit a post and Barca were denied a penalty when Bruno handled a shot by the Argentina forward, before Messi’s brilliant set-piece goal. Barca stay third in the table and trail leaders Real Madrid by five points. Villarreal, who remain fifth in La Liga, had full-back Jaume Costa sent off close to full-time after a second yellow card. Damaging start…

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress needs to end infighting and focus on winning back public support, President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday as he tries to unite an increasingly divided party. Some senior ANC members called for Zuma to resign in November, pointing to the damage several corruption scandals had on the party’s image following its worst ever local election performance in August. Zuma has also been accused of arrogance and failing to acknowledge waning support for the ANC after he made comments about the party being supported by God and ruling until “Jesus comes back”. At the ANC’s…

The new President of Ghana, Mr. Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has apologised for plagiarizing portions of the inaugural speech. The new president delivered the speech on Saturday at his investiture ceremony at the Black Stars Square in Accra. The unfortunate news about the plagiarised portions of the speech went viral on social media shortly after Nana Addo had finished delivering his address. He was accused of plagiarizing US former President George Walker Bush’s 2001 as well as portion of former President Bill Clinton’s inaugural speeches. Some radio stations in a bid to check the authenticity of the allegation played both…

A former Governor of Niger State, Abdulkadir Kure died on Sunday at a German hospital where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment. Mr. Kure would have been 70 years old by February 26 this year. A friend of the family, resident in Abuja, affirmed that the two term Niger Governor is dead. “It is true, he died in Germany, the family has already began making moves to return his body back to Nigeria for funeral rites,” he said. Mr. Kure was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under whose platform he served as governor of Niger…

Less than two weeks to the day President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia was scheduled to hand over to President-elect Adama Barrrow, West African leaders will meet in Abuja for a meeting to ensure peaceful transition. Mr. Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat, has vowed to remain in office and has ignored calls by West African ECOWAS leaders, the UN, EU and the U.S. to quit. The Gambian leader, who has been in office for 22 years, accused ECOWAS of declaring war on his government by stating that all options including military action was on the table to ensure his ouster. However,…

The United States has warned its citizens against visiting the tourist destination of Gambia while urging those already in Gambia to leave. It told those there to consider leaving the country, citing the risk of unrest as President Yahya Jammeh digs in despite losing the election of 1 December. “The US Department of State warns US citizens against travel to The Gambia because of the potential for civil unrest and violence in the near future,” the statement said. It said the supreme court hearing on Jan. 10 of Jammeh’s challenge to the result that elected his rival Adama Barrow was…

The youngest Liverpool starting line-up in the club’s history were held to a frustrating draw by resolute League Two side Plymouth Argyle in their FA Cup third-round tie at Anfield. The hosts, whose side had an average age of 21 years and 296 days, had 80.3% possession in the first half but struggled to break down their gritty opponents, with Sheyi Ojo failing to take their best chance when he missed a header from close range. Divock Origi also had a goal disallowed for a foul on Gary Miller before Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp brought on first-team regulars Daniel Sturridge,…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commenced moves to reduce fuel import by boosting the capacity utilization of the refineries to 60 per cent by the end of 2017. This was disclosed by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, during a courtesy call on him by the Board and Management of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust Newspapers, led by its Chairman, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf. Briefing the Daily Trust delegation, Dr Baru explained that NNPC was keen on ending product importation in a few years and that a concrete plan was on ground to achieve…

With frozen cranes, deserted construction sites and empty buildings, Lagos is suffering a hangover from a construction binge as Nigeria wrestles to overcome a damaging recession. Look no further than Eko Atlantic, billed as the largest real estate project in Africa, where frenetic construction has slowed to a snail’s pace. Dubbed the “Dubai of Africa”, the so-called city within a city is being built over 10 square kilometres (four square miles) on tonnes of sand dredged from the Atlantic Ocean off the coast. Just one year ago, it was a symbol of the promise of Lagos, when Nigeria was still…

Chelsea have recalled defender Nathan Ake early from his season-long loan at Bournemouth with immediate effect. Dutchman Ake, 21, joined the Cherries on loan last June, and has scored three times in 12 games for them this season. On Saturday, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said losing Ake would be “a huge blow”. Howe added: “He’s done so well. It is easier said than done to say we are going to go and recruit a player of a similar stature to Nathan.” “With Simon Francis’ suspension and Marc Pugh’s injury and now Nathan going back, our defensive resources are certainly stretched.”…