Author: Chronicle Editor

Liverpool midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has tested positive for coronavirus, the Swiss Football Association says. Shaqiri, 28, is on international duty with Switzerland and is now self-isolating. He is the third Liverpool player to contract Covid-19 within a week, after Thiago Alcantara and Sadio Mane. Shaqiri has played once for the Reds this season, in the Carabao Cup at Lincoln on 24 September, and has not made a Premier League matchday squad. Mane isolating after testing positive for coronavirus A Swiss FA statement said “clarifications are under way with the local health authorities about how to proceed”. In Switzerland, people must…

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday present the 2021 budget estimate at a joint session of both chambers of the National Assembly. The announcement was made following receipt of a letter from the President which was read during plenary by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday. The letter reads: “May I crave the kind indulgence of the distinguished senate to grant me the slot of 11:00hrs on Thursday, 8th October, 2020, to formally present the 2021 Appropriation bill to the joint session of the National Assembly. Buhari to present 2021 budget next week “While I look forward to addressing…

Nigerians have taken to social media to commend Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for initiating a meeting with the Inspector General of Police, M. A. Adamu and for also ordering the ban of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS). FSARS operatives and those of other tactical units have been harassing and extorting Nigerians across the country causing a social media movement against the units. To get the attention of the Nigerian government, many citizens including celebrities attacked the government for their inaction on FSARS unprofessionalism. Reacting to the ban on Twitter, Lucky Ailemen said, “Prof Osinbajo this is a good one, this…

Senior figures at Manchester United have made contact with Mauricio Pochettino’s team in case they sack manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. (Star) Manchester City rejected an offer from Barcelona of £15.4m plus add-ons for Spanish defender Eric Garcia, 19, on transfer deadline day. (Sky Sports) Liverpool received no formal offers for Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri, 28, during the summer transfer window and expect him to stay until January as they will not consider a loan move. (Goal) Manchester City and England defender John Stones, 26, turned down the option of a loan move to Tottenham because he did not want to uproot his family. (Star) Porto are interested in taking West Ham and Brazil midfielder Felipe…

European Union governments will support the Nigerian and South Korean candidates to lead the World Trade Organization as the race enters its final month. EU member-country envoys agreed on Monday in Brussels to endorse Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former finance minister, and Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s trade chief, in their bids to become WTO director-general, according to an official familiar with the matter, according to a Bloomberg report. Hungary swung behind the planned recommendation after being the only EU country to withhold support at a lower-level meeting last Friday of officials representing the 27-nation bloc, the person said on the condition…

Aides of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and former Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose have engaged in war of words, confirming reported feud between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains. Reacting to yesterday’s proceedings of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC’s) case against Fayose, Makinde’s aide Dare Adeleke said on social media that no matter what the former governor does on the case, he will be sent to jail. Fayose was arraigned on an 11-count charge by the EFCC on October 22, 2018 alongside a company, Spotless Investment Limited. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in…

US President Donald Trump has made a dramatic return to the White House to continue his treatment for coronavirus after a three-night hospital stay. The president removed his mask on the balcony of the White House, where several staff and aides have tested positive for the virus in recent days. “Feeling really good!” he tweeted earlier. “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life.” The US has had 7.4 million cases of Covid-19 and 210,000 deaths. Questions remain over the seriousness of the President’s illness after a weekend of conflicting statements. What happened during Trump’s return? Telling…

Lagos state, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria has reported no new cases for the first time since the outbreak of the virus. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Lagos have reported 19651 cases of the 59,465 recorded in Nigeria since the index case in February. On Monday, Rivers state announced 65 cases while the Federal Capital Territory recorded 12 cases. Other states that reported new cases are Ogun-9, Katsina-8, Anambra-7, Bauchi-5, Oyo-5, Nasarawa-3, Kaduna-2, Kwara-1, Taraba-1, Imo-1 and Delta-1. Nigeria announces 120 new coronavirus cases Nigeria has gradually reopened its economy following a massive…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 120 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Monday. The 120 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 59,465. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 183 patients from isolation centers across the country with one new death reported. Rivers state recorded the most cases for the day with 65 positive cases announced by the NCDC. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria reported no new confirmed cases leaving the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone…

Arsenal are close to completing the signing of Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid after paying his £45.3m release clause. The 27-year-old Ghana midfielder made 35 league appearances and scored three goals for Diego Simeone’s side as they finished third in La Liga last season. He played 188 times for Atletico after joining the club in 2011. Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira, 24, has moved in the opposite direction and joined the La Liga side on loan. Welcome to the Partey! ???? ???? @Thomaspartey22#NoThomasNoPartey pic.twitter.com/009Er2kZBK — Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 5, 2020 Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira joins Atletico Madrid After completing the deal, Technical director…