Author: Chronicle Editor

Substitute Divock Origi inspired Lierpool to victory against a very defensive Sunderland side as they won 2-0 at Anfield. Liverpool moved back to the top of the Premier League with the win but could face a run of games without Philippe Coutinho who was taken off on a stretcher. The Brazilian clutched his ankle after a challenge from Didier Ndong late in a first half where Liverpool failed to turn 80% possession into clear chances. Sunderland threatened briefly in each period, with Steven Pienaar and Duncan Watmore taking heavy touches when presented with openings. But as Jurgen Klopp’s side continued…

Substitute Fernando Llorente scored twice in stoppage time as Swansea recorded their first win since the opening day of the season in a remarkable encounter with Crystal Palace. The Liberty Stadium witnessed an astonishing seven goals scored after the break and four in 11 second-half minutes. Swansea were 3-1 ahead before Palace produced an extraordinary fightback to take a 4-3 lead. It seemed as if the visitors would end their five-match losing run in the league, but then up popped substitute Llorente with two late goals as the ground erupted on the full-time whistle. Regarding entertainment value, this match gets…

Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro was a “brutal dictator”, US President-elect Donald Trump has said, hours after the 90-year-old’s death was announced. Mr Trump, who takes office in January, said he hoped Cubans could move towards a freer future. Castro came to power in 1959 and ushered in a Communist revolution. He defied the US for decades, surviving many assassination plots. Supporters said he returned Cuba to the people. Critics called him a dictator. His brother Raul, who succeeded him as president, announced his death on state television on Friday night. “While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, it is my…

Voters accreditation is underway in Ondo as tension gripped residents on Saturday ahead of voting in the keenly contested governorship election. The tension was caused by the spate of violence that heralded the process, especially the violent clash in Owo on Thursday. All Progressives Congress (APC) lost a chieftain, Mr. Afolabi Olaposi, in the violence. Accreditation and voting process commenced in some parts of the state at 8 am , with a few voters at some polling units, fuelling fears of insecurity and voters’ apathy. Olaposi was killed by unknown gunmen on Thursday night in Owo. The party said in…

Fidel Castro, Cuba’s former president and leader of the Communist revolution, has died aged 90, his brother has said. “The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening (03:29 GMT Saturday),” President Raul Castro said. Fidel Castro ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost 50 years before Raul took over in 2008. His supporters said he had given Cuba back to the people. But he was also accused of suppressing opposition. Ashen and grave, President Castro told the nation in an unexpected late night broadcast on state television that Fidel Castro had died and…

Bagudu Hirse, former Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), who was abducted by gunmen in Kaduna on Sunday, Nov. 20, has regained his freedom, his brother, Mr John Hirse, has confirmed. “Bagudu was released in the early hours of Saturday,” John, retired permanent secretary in the federal civil service and currently District Head of Mangu, in Plateau, disclosed in Jos on Saturday. He said that the former minister was “hale and hearty”, and thanked Nigerians for the prayers and words of encouragement “during the tỳing period”. “May God reward everyone who stood by us during the tough period,” he said. John,…

England captain Wayne Rooney has been cleared by a Football Association inquiry after pictures of him with wedding guests while on international duty appeared in a national newspaper. It means the 31-year-old Manchester United forward will not face disciplinary action or be stripped of the captaincy. (Daily Mirror) Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will try to sign midfielder Willian, 28, from Chelsea in January. (Daily Star) Mourinho has warned French forward Anthony Martial, 20, his chances are running out. (Daily Mail) Barcelona are preparing to move for Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, 32. (Goal) Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is interested in…

RB Leipzig extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to six points with an easy win at Freiburg. Guinea midfielder Naby Keita had opened the scoring for Leipzig only for Florian Niederlechner to equalise for Freiburg. Germany Under-21 striker Timo Werner scored two goals in the space of 14 first-half minutes as the visitors established a 3-1 interval lead. Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer completed the scoring for away team, who have won four promotions in seven seasons. The newcomers extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to six points with an easy win at Freiburg.…

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of more than 10 years for former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o for alleged tax crimes committed when he played for the Catalan club. The BBC reports that in addition to a sentence of 10 years and six months, prosecutors are also demanding a fine of $15.1 million for the four counts of tax fraud for supposedly defrauding Spain’s tax authority of almost $4 million from 2006-09, according to court documents released Thursday. Prosecutors are seeking the same punishment for the player’s representative at the time, Jose Maria Mesalles Mata. The administrator of a…

One of the presidential planes handed over to the Nigeria Airforce by the Presidency, Augusta AW101, has crashed within the Airforce base in Makurdi, Benue State. The $21 million presidential jet was given to the Nigeria Air Force by the presidency two months ago. A military source at the base confirmed that the crash occurred on Wednesday and that there was no casualty. He said the flight engineer who was the only one on board, had landed the jet at the base and was to be parked in the hanger when it suddenly moved up and then crashed. He added…