BREAKING NEWS: CAF Names Super Eagles’ Opponents For 2015 AFCON

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has unveiled the Super Eagles’ opponents for the qualifiers of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, holding in Morocco.

According to the draws announced at CAF’s headquarters in Cairo a while ago, Nigeria is drawn in Group A alongside the hosts of the last edition of the competions, South Africa, Sudan and the Winner of Match 37/38.
Those that would compete in Group B are Mali, Algeria, Ethiopia and Winner of Match 43/44. While Burkina Faso, Angola, Gabon and Winner of Match 33/34 would trade tackles in Group C.
For Group D, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, DR Congo and Winner Match 41/42 would slug it out.
Group E would witness west African battles among  Ghana, Togo, Guinea and Winner of Match 35/36.
Zambia, Cape Verde, Niger and Winner of Match 45/46 would fight for places in Group F.

* AFCON Draw ceremony
Group G, which many analysts have dubbed the group of death, would see Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal and Winner of Match 39/40 fight for the tickets available in the group.
Egypt’s most successful coach Hassan Shehata pulls the draw for the tournament that will be held from 17 January to 8 February in 2015 in Morocco.
The opening Ceremony will be in Marrakech.
CAF has announced that the qualifiers will be played in home and away fixtures.
Nine of the 28 teams will qualify for the Nations Cup: The group winners and runner-ups, along with the best third-placed side. The host team, Morocco, will automatically qualify.
Egypt are the record winners of the Nations Cup with seven titles under their belt, which they won in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
However, the 10 Second round draws are:
Match 5 & 6 Liberia vs Lesotho
Match 7 & 8 Kenya vs Comoros
Match 9 & 10 Madagascar vs Uganda
Match 11 & 12 Mauritania vs Equatorial Guinea
Match 13 & 14Namibia vs Congo
Match 15 & 16 Libya vs Rwanda
Match 17 & 18 Burundi vs Botswana
Match 19 & 20 Central African Republic vs Guinea Bissau
Match 21 & 22 Swaziland vs Sierra Leone
Match 23 & 24 Gambia vs Seychelles
Match 25 & 26 Sao Tome e Principe vs Benin
Match 27 & 28 Malawi vs Chad
Match 29 & 30 Tanzania vs Zimbabwe
Match 31 & 31 Mozambique vs South Sudan
First leg to be held 16,17 or 18 May 2014 while the the second leg 30,31 May or 1 June 2014.

EFCC, NDE Partner To Fight Corruption

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has entered into a partnership with the National Directorate for Employment (NDE) as part of efforts to increase public enlightenment and education in the anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.
The Executive Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, while speaking during a sensitisation programme for the NDE in Abuja recently, said the EFCC is working to also prevent commission of economic crimes.
The strategy, which has informed similar campaigns with Nigeria Customs Service, National Airspace Management Agency, Nigeria Liquefied Gas, and other agencies, is a cheaper option to fighting the crime itself, he said.
Lamorde, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Nwujarien, added that the strategy encourages workers to see themselves as part of the anti-corruption fight.
“The cankerworm of corruption feeds fat on poverty, ignorance, unemployment and fear of the unknown. These are subordinate monsters that the NDE is uniquely placed and empowered to deal with. That is why EFCC considers you a key partner in the war against corruption,” he said.
The Director General of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, in his address emphasised that the major obstacle to the development of any nation is corruption.
Mohammed, who was represented by the Director of Rural Employment Promotion, Mr. Kunle Obayan, lamented that at some point in history, Nigeria was branded by the international community and some civil societies as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. He called on Nigerians to be major players in the transformation of the country.

4 Killed In Ibadan–Oyo Road Crash

Four persons yesterday died in an auto crash which occurred on Ibadan-Oyo Expressway.

10 other people were injured in the accident which occurred when one of the rear tyres of an 18-seater bus with number plate XC 104 YYY burst, at top speed.
The driver of the bus was said to have sustained a very deep cut in his head and was gasping for breath  when officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) arrived at 12.02 p.m.
An eyewitness told Vanguard that the accident occurred at Motunde Village area, along Ibadan/Oyo Expressway.
Sympathisers reportedly stormed the scene immediately it happened about 11.40 a.m, to lend helping hands to the victims

Boko Haram: Healthcare Services Not Shut Down In Borno – Commissioner

The Borno Government has denied allegation by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) that  healthcare services have collapsed in the North-East, due to the activities of insurgents.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Salma Kolo, told newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri, that the allegation was untrue.
Kolo said that no health facility had been closed down in the state due, to the Boko Haram insurgency.
“I wish to state categorically that no healthcare facility had been closed down in the state, in spite of the insurgency.
“All the four general hospitals at the state capital are working effectively, so also are the public health facilities in the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.’’
The commissioner, however, admitted that although, some health facilities were threatened in the past, they were never closed.
“It is true that some facilities were threatened in the past, especially those involved in the child immunisation programme.
“We have been able to forge ahead without closing them; our efforts have paid off as we have succeeded in preventing the spread of wild polio virus in the state.
“Let me say without fear of contradiction, that Borno State has not witnessed any new case of wild polio since the beginning of the year.’’
She said that the government decided to introduce new methods of distributing immunisation materials after receiving threats of attacks from suspected insurgents.
The commissioner said:  “we decided to decentralise the distribution of materials among areas to make it easier for immunisation workers to get supplies without hitches’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a report by NEMA on Thursday, said that insurgency had brought the health system to a “total collapse’’ in most Local Government Areas of Borno.

Chelsea Mesmerizes Liverpool’s Title Hopes With Anfield Win

Chelsea ensured a third-place Premier League finish with a stunning 2-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

Two incisive goals on the stroke of half-time and the dead of 90 minutes opened the title race for Manchester City, who are away at Crystal Palace in the late afternoon kick-off and with four more matches left.
Selegalese striker Demba Ba scored Chelsea’s opener after captain ‘fantastic?’ Steven Gerrard’s mistake and Willian finished off a scintillating win on the road for the Blues, who now have Norwich City (h) and Cardiff City (a) in the title run-ins.

Demba Ba Opens Scoring for Chelsea From a Steven Gerrard Assist.

Liverpool are better still league leaders after 36 games and with 80 points but squandered a glorious opportunity to surge ahead of Man City, who are mathematically their only contender in the league title race. They now have Crystal Palace (a) and Newcastle (h) to retain their lead.
Chelsea have now completed a home and away win against both prospective league champions and would finish none less than third place, presently second eight points ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal, with two more matches left.
For the eighth time this season, Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged side for the crucial game, while his Portuguese counterpart, who has been accused of playing mind games this season, gave 20-year-old Czech defender Tomas Kalas his league debut while the Mohammad Slah and Nemanja Matic, both ineligible for Wednesday’s Champions League last-4 return leg at home to Atletico Madrid, started at Anfield.
Many pundits have said Liverpool are tiring out in the race for a first title in 24 years, however, the ‘Kops’got off to a fast start.
The ‘Blues’ were continuously accused of dampening Liverpool’s early momentum by employing a not-so-favoured but effective time wasting tactic, but Ashley Cole’s was the first to get Simon Mignolet into the thick of action with an effort from 25 yards.
Defender Mamadou Sakho blazed an early Liverpool chance over, from Luis Suarez’s assist.

Raheem Sterling and Mohammad Salah Tussles for the Ball at Anfield. (Getty Image)

Chelsea, defending deep and in numbers, allowed their hosts enjoy possession, with Raheem Sterling dazzling to the applause of the home crowd, operated on the right wing after half-an-hour; both sides in search of the breakthrough.
Gerrard unfortunately gave in to a rare Chelsea prodding and gifted Ba the ball after a corner kick. The Senegalese striker raced through on goal to slot coolly under Mignolet the opening goal. Game on Chelsea, 1-0 up at half-time.
Joe Allen came close to leveling scores 15 minutes after the restart but his tremendous volley from the edge of the area was pushed wide by 41-year-old Mark Schwarzer, standing in goal for the injured Petr Cech.
Liverpool continued pressing forward but were denied clear-cut opportunities by their visitors.
A barrage of chances came short of an equaliser as Suarez rattled a half-volley at the impressive Schwarzer in closing minutes of the encounter.
Willian dealt the Anfield faithful’s hope of recovery a final punch, scoring Chelsea’s second from substitute Fernando Torres’ slipped pass on the nick of full-time

Tiwa Savage, Tee Billz And Guests Continue To Party (PHOTOS)

Newly weds Tiwa Savage and Tunji Balogun, popularly known as Tee Billz, and friends continue to party in Dubai.

After the luxurious white wedding held yesterday and attended by numerous celebrity guests, the hosts and their guest enjoyed a boat cruise today.
See more photos below:

First built in Nigeria Nissan Patrol rolls off production line

Nissan has become the first major manufacturer to build a car in Nigeria in response to the Federal Government’s new  Automotive Policy.
According to a statement from Stallion Motors, Nissan representatives in Nigeria, the inaugural vehicle, a black Nissan Patrol, rolled off the production line at the Lagos assembly plant, marking a key milestone in the company’s continued wave of expansion into the high-growth markets.
In addition to the Patrol, Nissan also plans to produce the Almera and NP300, starting in early May and followed by mass production in August. With these three models, Nissan aims to be a significant player in the Nigerian automotive sector.
Nissan is targeting significant growth in Africa as the company builds momentum towards achieving its Power 88 goals, a commitment to reach 8% profitability by the end of fiscal year 2016.
Elsewhere in the world as part of the high-growth markets strategy, plants have been opened in Mexico and Brazil with projects underway in Indonesia, Thailand and China. Last year Nissan announced it will be the first manufacturer to build cars in Myanmar, after the opening up of the economy in the south-east Asian country.
The first “built in Nigeria for Nigerians” Nissan Patrol follows the signing last year of a Memorandum of Understanding for vehicle assembly in Lagos between the Renault-Nissan Alliance and West African conglomerate Stallion Group.
Since then, preparing for production in Nigeria to global production standards has been achieved at a rapid pace, setting a new benchmark in responsiveness and organisational agility.

Boko Haram changes location of abducted girls.

just as the Nigerian military begins a massive combing of the dreaded Sambisa Forest in a bid to rescue over 191 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, abducted 13 days ago, it has been disclosed that the Boko Haram gunmen have also changed tactics in a bid to avoid detection.

It was learnt that the heavy deployment of troops around the forest has also made the insurgents continuously change location with the abducted girls.
A resident of Bale village in the neighborhood of Sambisa Forest, confirmed that there was increased deployment of troops in the area some days ago and heavy gunshots were heard coming from inside the forest.
Confirming the development on phone yesterday to LEADERSHIP Sunday, Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade said, “Yes, you got your gist right; we are closing in on the insurgents. We are doing everything within our powers to rescue the abducted girls and return them to their parents safely. As you know, what makes the operation very delicate is the safety of the girls; we want them rescued safely. I can confirm to you that we are not leaving anything to chance to rescue the innocent schoolgirls. I just returned from the area (Chibok) this afternoon”.
A farmer in the village of Izge also narrated how he saw the abducted girls being moved around by the insurgents in trucks in the forest. He also said that it was the second time he had witnessed the girls were being moved in different locations.
Meanwhile, one of the girls, who managed to escape from the insurgents recently, said their escape was made possible when they were allowed to go to a nearby river to fetch water after the insurgents had set up camp for the night.
She said when they were instructed to go fetch water from the river for cooking, they decided to escape into the bush, not knowing the direction they were headed.
She added that not all the girls that escaped made it safely back to town as some of them were recaptured, while some were still wandering in the bush.

Paul Okoye Says A Prayer For Psquare

Paul Okoye of Psquare has finally spoken out on the reports that the duo are on a verge of breaking up.

Paul & Peter Okoye with their wives and kids
It was reported four days ago that top Nigerian singers, Psquare made up of twin brothers: Peter and Paul Okoye are parting ways after so many years of being together, singing together and literally doing everything together due to irreconcilable differences.
Although some felt it was some kind of publicity stunt, others doubted the authencity of the report, it however came as a shock to many after their elder brother/manager, Jude Okoye tweeted saying: “After 10 years it’s over. Am done.”
Paul Okoye took to his facebook page to say a prayer for his family at this trying time.
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Nigerian Muslim Clerics Recruit For Boko Haram, Governors Take Bribe — Cameroon, Report

The government of Cameroon has alleged that Nigerian Muslim clerics living in the border towns of Cameroon and Nigeria are recruiting Boko Haram members in their mosques.

It added that to make matters worse, government officials in the North East states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa collaborate with the terrorists and take bribes from them, thereby, hindering the fight against the terrorists. Governors of these states also capitalise on their civilian fears to berate the army and the federal government.
The allegations by the Cameroonian government and more, were published in a report, yesterday, by US-based online military news agency, StrategyPage. The magazine explains that the army wants governors in the affected states removed because “many officials in those states are cooperating with Boko Haram (to avoid attack) and are taking bribes from the Islamic terrorists.
“Some of these officials are covering themselves in case Boko Haram should gain power and the governors are often just responding to civilian fears of army misconduct,” it noted.
“Cameroon is also concerned about pro-Boko Haram clerics from Nigeria quietly preaching and recruiting for Boko Haram in Cameroon mosques.
“Islamic conservative clergy are not unusual on either side of the border, but those who do not denounce Boko Haram are suspected of quietly recruiting young men to join the “jihad” (struggle) and fight (and often die) in Nigeria. These preachers have to recruit quietly because otherwise police in Cameroon will arrest and deport them, sometimes after a vigorous interrogation. Evidence of this recruiting is showing up when some of the recruits return from Nigeria with tales of disillusionment and adversity while with Boko Haram,” the report said.
The magazine said that the Cameroonian government is “being criticized because recent claims of large (over 5,000 weapons) arms seizures near the Nigerian border could not be verified by reporters. Civilians living in villages near where the government said the seizures took place said they saw nothing. The government responded that the smugglers operated in remote areas and avoided civilians as well as security forces. There are also concerns that even if weapons were seized they would, as often happens, be sold back to black market arms dealers so that government officials could keep the cash.”
The report said further: “Residents of those three states have justifiable complaints about the army, in particular the casual attitude of the military towards the safety of civilians and their property.
“The army is also unreliable when it comes to sharing information on casualties. Thus Boko Haram related deaths so far this year are believed to be (based on local reports) at least 1,500, which is 50 per cent more than what the army reports. Boko Haram related deaths from 2010 to 2013 were about 3,600, so the violence is not declining.
“The government has been saying, for several years, that Boko Haram would be crushed within a year and never happens. More insightful observers point out that the problem is mainly one of corruption and poverty, as well as the appeal of Islamic radicalism as a magical cure. All of Nigeria suffers from corruption.
“Poverty is more prevalent in the Muslim north, in part because of climate. That’s because the semi-desert Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert is found in the north. Another problem is the more conservative nature of Islamic populations and the lower education levels,”

Teenage Gay Cult Called ‘Yansh’ Discovered In Warri

A cult of teenage homos*xuals patronised by gay men exists in Warri, Delta State Government yesterday revealed.

Making the disclosure in his Easter message to Deltans at the First Baptist Church, Warri, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said teenagers from ages 15 to 18 belong to the sect named Yansh, and live in rented apartments close to Enerhen Junction, Warri, where men come to sleep with them.
“These are our sons and men come to sleep with them. It is through the Edu Marshals Programme that we discovered them. We used to know about female harlots, now we have male harlots. Unfortunately they are young boys. There is much government can do, but there is more we can do as parents,” he said.
Uduaghan therefore challenged parents to be alive to the realities of today’s society as crimes committed daily were committed by children belonging to parents who are members of the immediate society.