Author: David Great

A Saudi Arabian businessman is leading bidding to watch the latest chapter in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s celebrated rivalry in global soccer with a 10 million riyals ($2.66 million) offer for a ticket to a showpiece game. The Saudi government’s entertainment arm said on Twitter that Mushref Al-Ghamdi, general manager of real estate group AqarOne, was the leader so far in an auction ending on Jan. 17. The “Beyond Imagination” ticket is for a match featuring a combined team from Saudi clubs Al Nassr – who recently signed Ronaldo – and Al Hilal versus Messi’s Paris St Germain. The…

Twenty Six bidders on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, emerged winners of different properties on the third day of the ongoing sale of forfeited real estate comprising apartments and plots of land by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja. At the session, a total of 39 properties in Lot 5, located in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory, were offered for sale through a competitive bidding process. The exercise which commenced at 10 am continued until 8.30pm. At the end of the exercise, EFCC said a total of 26 bids were successful, while 13 properties not taken…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained that the arrest of Doyin Okupe, a former director general of Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council was a mix up. The anti-graft agency cleared the air after officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, arrested him on Thursday morning acting on a watch-list request issued by the EFCC. The EFCC in a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said following Okupe’s sentencing last month, he was supposed to have been taken off the list. “The Department of State Services, DSS, today, January 12, informed the Commission of the interception of…

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst on loan for the rest of the season. The 30-year-old Burnley forward spent the first half of the season at Besiktas but is now heading to Manchester United for a medical before the move can be completed. A deal has been reached for his loan at the Turkish club to be terminated. Weghorst scored eight goals and registered four assists in 16 league games for Besiktas. His latest goal came in a 2-1 win against Kasimpasa on 7 January and, following that match, he appeared to wave goodbye…

The world’s richest man, Bernard Arnault, has appointed his daughter to head up fashion house Dior. Mr Arnault promoted Delphine Arnault, 47, as part of a reshuffle at LVMH, Europe’s most valuable company. It owns a portfolio of high-end brands including Fendi and Louis Vuitton and is worth about £336bn. The outgoing head of Dior, Pietro Beccari, will move to replace long-time Louis Vuitton chief executive Michael Burke. Both Ms Arnault and Mr Beccari “are well respected”, so these are “logical promotions within the group,” said Credit Suisse analyst Natasha Brilliant. All five of Mr Arnault’s children hold management positions…

Chelsea’s former Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 33, wants to return to Barcelona. (AS – in Spanish) Manchester United and Chelsea are considering moves for Southampton’s 25-year-old England defender Kyle Walker-Peters. (Talksport) West Ham have spoken to Amiens about signing 22-year-old Senegal defender Formose Mendy. (The Athletic – subscription) Leeds are making progress in a deal for Hoffenheim’s France Under-21 striker Georginio Rutter, 20. (The Athletic – subscription) Tottenham have decided not to trigger an option in the contract of Brazilian forward Lucas Moura, 30, to extend his stay beyond this season. (Telegraph) Aston Villa have had a bid rejected for Marseille’s 23-year-old France midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who played under Villa manager Unai Emery at Arsenal. (Mail) Wolves are stepping up talks over…

Southampton manager Nathan Jones recorded the biggest win of his short reign as they reached the EFL Cup semi-finals with a richly deserved win over favourites Manchester City. Jones has struggled for approval from Saints fans since his arrival from Luton Town but his rating surely soared with the manner in which the Premier League strugglers maintained their good cup form. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola rested key players such as Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne with this weekend’s derby with Manchester United at Old Trafford in mind, but nothing must detract from a vibrant Southampton display. The game…

Dean Henderson was the penalty shootout hero as Nottingham Forest overcame Wolves at the City Ground to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1992. Henderson turned away Ruben Neves’ spot-kick after Jose Sa had denied Sam Surridge, then turned away Joe Hodge’s effort following Forest converting all four of the remaining penalties. Forest had led in normal time when former Wolves pair Morgan Gibbs-White and Willy Boly combined, with Gibbs-White hanging an excellent first-half corner into the six-yard box and Boly stabbing home from close range. Wolves scored a superb equaliser when Matheus Cunha’s low cross…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says the commission is not contemplating postponing 2023 the general elections. Yakubu stated this at the presentation of an electronic copy of the 93,469,008 voter register to leaders of political parties on Wednesday in Abuja. He said that more than ever before the commission was more prepared for the 2023 general elections and had now successfully implemented 11 out of the 14 activities on schedule for the elections. “Already, substantial quantities of sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been deployed to various locations across the country. “The last batch of the…

Four times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said on Wednesday that she is expecting her first child, days after withdrawing from the Australian Open. The 25-year-old said this week that she was pulling out of the year’s first Grand Slam after not competing on the WTA Tour since the Pan Pacific Open in September. “Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023,” the former world number one, who represents Japan, said in a Twitter post, accompanied with a photo of a sonogram image. Can’t wait to get back on the court but…