Author: Opalim Lifted

A brilliant second-half strike by Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher secured a 2-2 Premier League draw with Aston Villa on Saturday as the Blues staged a thrilling comeback from two goals down to threaten Villa’s Champions League hopes. Aston Villa are fourth on 67 points, seven ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who play title-chasing Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday as one of their three games in hand over Villa. Chelsea are ninth on 48 points. Thrashed 5-0 by Arsenal in midweek, Chelsea got off to the worst possible start when Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn’s shot was scuffed into…

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said if he speaks “there will be fire” after he argued with manager Jurgen Klopp on the touchline during the 2-2 Premier League draw at West Ham. Salah seemed to clash with Klopp as he prepared to come on as a 79th-minute substitute. Klopp said he would not disclose what the argument was about, but former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch said on TNT Sports that “it doesn’t look good for the club”. “Salah is a player who has started the majority of games for Liverpool and he will be fuming to be on the bench,” Crouch…

Sheffield United’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed as Newcastle recovered from a sluggish start to thrash Chris Wilder’s side at St James’ Park. Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the visitors a deserved early lead, nodding home Gustavo Hamer’s inswinging cross from close range. The Blades carved out several opportunities to double their advantage as Newcastle struggled to gain a grip on proceedings, but the home side were level when Alexander Isak drilled home from Jacob Murphy’s pass in the 26th minute. Ben Brereton Diaz had a goal-bound shot blocked by Dan Burn and Mason Holgate headed against the woodwork on…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and star forward Mohamed Salah were involved in a touchline confrontation during the team’s 2-2 draw with West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday. Salah was a substitute for the game and was preparing to come on in the 79th minute when Klopp went over to speak to the Egypt winger. The Egypt winger answered back with his arms outstretched then started to point at Klopp, who was nodding while looking out onto the field. Darwin Nunez, who was also about to enter as a sub, got in between Salah and Klopp and pushed away…

Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes seem all but over as Michail Antonio scored to rescue a point for West Ham at London Stadium. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring just before the break when he rose highest to meet Mohammed Kudus’ cross into the area as Liverpool showed little evidence that their Merseyside derby loss in midweek had done much in the way of spurring them on. But the visitors were much improved in the second half and Andy Robertson equalised when he scored from Luis Diaz’s low pass into the penalty area. They were then rewarded for their pressure when…

The Nigerian movie industry has again been thrown into mourning after the news of the death of another veteran Yoruba actor, Ganiyu Oyeyemi, popularly known as Ogunjimi, surfaced on social media on Friday. Ogunjimi’s death was announced by a Yoruba actor, Kunle Afod, in a post on his Instagram page. Mourning the actor, Afod wrote, “We tried our best, but God loves you more. “May his soul rest in peace. Baba Ogunjinmi, RIP, Sun re oooo.” At the time of writing this report, the cause of death has not yet been ascertained. The actor’s death came weeks after another Nollywood…

Arne Slot is set to become Liverpool’s next manager after a compensation deal worth up to £9.4million was agreed with Feyenoord. The Dutchman is poised to succeed Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January he would leave Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season. The Reds will now take steps to agree a contract with the 45-year-old before he is officially appointed. Liverpool have agreed to pay Feyenoord £7.7m (9m euros) plus a possible £1.7m (2m euros) in add-ons. Slot led Feyenoord to the 2022-23 Eredivisie title, while this season they have won the Dutch Cup and are set to…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed new heads for the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority (NDRBDA). In a statement on Friday, Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor as the Director General of NESREA and Prince Ebitimi Amgbare as the Managing Director of NDRBDA. Barikor, an academic and politician, was a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2015. In addition, Prince Amgbare is a retired naval officer and former commissioner in Bayelsa State. Tinubu urged Barikor…

President Bola Tinubu on Friday appointed renowned banker and businessman, Mr. Jim Ovia, as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Tinubu stated that NELFUND will provide students with sustainable higher education. The statement made available by the president’s spokesperson, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, to Chronicle NG reads: “The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths. Oby Ezekwesili, Jim Ovia attacked for attending WEF in South Africa “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the implementing institution of this innovation,…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Embassy in Nigeria on Friday donated 50 tonnes of dates to the federal government. The donation was presented by the Saudi ambassador to Nigeria, Faisal Alghamdi. Murtala Jimoh, the deputy director of the Middle East and Gulf Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), received it on behalf of the Nigerian government. Mr. Alghamdi said the humanitarian donation reflected the decades-long brotherly bond between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. “Today’s handover of dates is part of the annual humanitarian and relief assistance presented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque to a number of friendly countries,…