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Chelsea legend and Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, has confirmed his retirement from playing football. The 40-year-old scored 164 goals in 381 games during his time at Stamford Bridge. He also won four Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League with the Blues. Drogba spent the last 18 months of his career with US club, Phoenix Rising, which he was also a co-owner. The veteran striker took to his Instagram page to announce his retirement, stating that he has had an “amazing 20 years’’ in his professional career. He wrote: “1989 or where it all started!! When I think of the last 20 years of my professional career, looking at this picture can’t make me more proud of what I’ve achieved as a player but most importantly how this journey has shaped me as a man. “If anyone tells you your dreams are too big, just say thank you and work harder and smarter to turn them into reality. #alwaysbelieve “I wanna thank all the players, managers, teams and fans that I have me

Marcus Rashford is reportedly open to leaving Manchester United for Real Madrid. The LaLiga giants are keeping tabs on the player, who has 18 months remaining on his current deal at Old Trafford. Rashford has failed to nail down a regular spot for United this season and he has been played centrally, out wide and often from the bench. The UK Sun reports Real have now made contact with Rashford’s representatives, to make it clear they would are serious about taking him to the Santiago Bernabeu. It is believed that Rashford was watched by Real scouts, during England’s UEFA Nations League 2-1 victory over Croatia at Wembley on Sunday. Gareth Southgate has also warned teh striker, that he needs to be playing regularly at club level, to retain his place in the England side. Rashford has never had any intention of leaving his boyhood club, but he is concerned his progress is stalling under Jose Mourinho.

Maurizio Sarri wants Chelsea to sign Inter centre-back, Milan Skriniar, ahead of Manchester United. The Blues bolstered Sarri’s options in the summer, with the signings of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined in a club-record deal. But the 59-year-old is desperate to strengthen his options in the January transfer window. According to The Sun, Sarri is “not satisfied” with his options in central defence and is keen on Skriniar. However, Chelsea will face competition from Manchester United, as Jose Mourinho is also targeting the £70 million-rated Slovakia international, as a signing who can improve his side’s defence.

A teacher who admitted having a sexual relationship with one of her students has broken down while apologizing to his parents in court. Private school English teacher Sonia Mackay faced the South Australian District Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the persistent sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old boy. Reading a letter of apology, the 43-year-old said she was ‘deeply sorry’ for her actions and knows what she did was wrong. ‘I am deeply regretful of my actions,’ Mackay said. ‘Through my indecent actions I have brought great distress to (the victim) and his family.’ In a victim impact statement, the boy’s mother told the court Mackay had called her and asked for his phone number under the guise of helping him with his school work. She said she became worried when her son stopped coming home for days at a time. ‘I had no idea where he was sleeping, who he was with, was he safe or worse,’ she said. ‘When he attempted to come home she bought him expensive underwear

Popular reality TV star, Kim Kardashian has revealed that nude photos shared on her Instagram page upset her husband, American rapper, Kanye West. Kardashian disclosed this during an appearance on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ on Wednesday. When asked about her husband’s reaction to her recent picture in underwear while baking on Instagram, Kim admitted that the photo was solely taken “for the ‘gram” as she was not wearing that to bake. She also revealed that her husband of four years was not happy about the post. According to her, “I get in trouble with your husband sometimes over too many photos like that on Instagram. Kanye’s reaction to racy photos can be unpredictable, it’s like half and half. “He always wants me to be me and feel confident and we’re having fun, but it also bothers him. “I go through waves. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Ok I’ll be more conservative on my Instagram’ and sometimes I really need to get something out if I’m feeling good about myself or I’ve been wo

Jose Mourinho would have won the Premier League title “two or three times” if he was manager of Manchester City, according to Didier Drogba. Mourinho won the title three times over the course of two separate spells at Chelsea but has failed to replicate that success since joining Manchester United in 2016. The Portuguese recently admitted United are in a battle to reach the top four after losing 3-1 to rivals City, who won the title with a record points total under Pep Guardiola last season. However, Drogba believes Mourinho is still the right manager for United and insists his former boss is facing criticism because of the high standards he set earlier his career. “I think if you put him at Manchester City, he would have won the league twice, maybe two or three times,” said Drogba, who announced his retirement from football on Wednesday. “You get criticism because you set a standard of winning, winning and winning and now you’re not winning or having the same results. “

The daughter of the Nigerian billionaire and DJ,  Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola  popularly known by her stage name DJ  Cuppy  has come out to reveal who her favorite artiste is, she mentioned this in a post writing: “As a DJ, people always ask me for my favourite song- “Yellow Fever” by Fela Kuti ��”

Nigerian pop star Wizkid’s bouncer stabbed while making attempt to pay part of the debt the singer was reportedly owning Club DNA, Vanguard reports. The Chairman of the club Olufemi Olusanya, popularly known as Femi Posh and a bouncer David Afari were yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates Court over the assault on the bouncer identified as Roy. Olusanya 38 and Afari 29, are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful assault, and grievous bodily harm, preferred against them by the Police. It was gathered that Wizkid’s guard, Emmanuel, had on November 15 gone to DANA nightclub at 76, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, to settle the bill that his boss was owing when he was attacked by the defendants. It was also learned that Wizkid owed the nightclub the sum of N8million, and also a pool party bill of N7 million, which his security guard had gone to settle when Olusanya called Afari to beat him up and also used a broken glass to injure

It was a sad day yesterday, at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, as a final year student drowned while swimming. Kester Gabriel, a 500 level Material and Metallurgical Engineering student, who returned to school, on Sunday, after his Industrial Training, died inside the Otammiri river in Ihiagwa. His body has since been recovered.

A man who killed his 9 months old daughter on Tuesday, in Mbangur, Benue State, has been apprehended as he claimed he was directed by God to carry out the act. It was gathered that the suspect identified as John Depuun, snatched the baby from his wife, took her to a bush where he killed her. The suspect was later dragged to the police station after being arrested by his neighbours and other villagers. During interrogation, Depuun admitted to killing the baby, but said he did as instructed by God. According to him: “It is my sheep and I decided to sacrifice it to God as demanded of me. “I have not laid my hands on anyone’s child and as such, should not be condemned.” He also denied speculations that he is battling mental illness. However, his family alleged his change in attitude in recent days. They revealed that he had informed them of his decision to deepen his involvement in the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, a society in the Catholic church.

At a time when human contact and fellowship is said to lengthen the lifespan, there is a tribe in the tiny North Sentinel Island of Andaman and Nicobar in the Indian Ocean that is devoid of modern human contact. While the world has moved on to technology, these hunters and gatherers have never practised agriculture. Despite the 2011 census stating that there are 15 Sentinelese still on the island, there are suspicions that the tribe should be between 50 t0 400. There are, however, beliefs that they have inhabited the North Sentinel Island for over 60,000 years. Some believe that these people are descendants of the first humans from Africa and have termed them the most dangerous tribe in the world. Not much is known about this people because people who visit there barely make it out alive. Those who attempt to take photos, stay on the other side of the shore or from the air. If a person is seen taking pictures, a deadly and poisoned arrow is fired at the person. There are r

Dino Melaye, Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is planning to employ the use of fear and intimidation to silence the opposition parties during the 2019 election campaign. Melaye stated this in Abuja at the Atiku Family Nite Exclusive Movie Premiere organised by celebrities for Atiku Mandate on Tuesday. He,however urged opposition parties not to be intimidated but resist any attempt to remain silent in the face of injustice Melaye said: The reason we may not get it right in the forthcoming elections is fear. “In an unjust society, silence is a crime. What President Buhari administration is currently selling is fear. All of us must come out of our cocoons and resist fear. What APC wants to sell is fear in 2019? “We must show some capacity of boldness. Nobody will leave Nigeria for APC. Nigeria belongs to all of us.”

FORMER Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship candidate, Action Democratic Party, ADP, in Ogun State, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, said yesterday, he was happy dumping the Peoples Democratic, PDP. Bankole said both PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC, lack the capacity to provide job opportunities for the people, adding that they have nothing to offer the people of Ogun State, except disappointment. The ADP governorship candidate said this while addressing his supporters and party members during a tour of Ijebu-East local government area of the state. He said: “I was once a member of the PDP, but, when I discovered the party can not be relied on, I decided to find my way out of the party, and I am happy. It is very glaring to all Nigerians that the APC and PDP have no plans for the populace but rather distract them. “Instead of these embattled political parties to be planning for the betterment of Nigerians, they are busy with arguments at the detriment of Nigeri

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, not only worsened the level of corruption in Nigeria but also chased away investors by de-marketing Nigeria abroad. Jonathan added that rather than take Nigeria to the next level, the Buhari administration decided to engage in media trials which also worsened the corruption perception of Nigeria thereby leading to Nigeria’s slip in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. The former President said this in his recently published book titled, ‘My Transition Hours’. He said, “The sundry accusations by the new administration will appear to have baited the media. Media trials are entertaining but have little or no effect in fighting corruption and improving the economy. “Since I left office, rather than improve on our TI corruption perception record, the situation has worsened with the nation going 12 places backward, becoming number 148 according to the latest CPI ranking for 20

Atletico Madrid striker, Antione Griezmann has expressed his desire to win this season’s Ballon d’Or award. Recall that Griezmann was shortlisted for the 2018 Ballon d’Or last month. The 27-year-old, while admitting that there are other players who can win the Europe topflight individual prize, stated that he hopes to win the award. Griezmann stated this following France’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Tuesday in an international friendly encounter. “I want to win it [Ballon d’Or] too,” Goal quoted Griezmann as saying after France defeated Uruguay. When asked if he felt obsessed with the prize, Griezmann responded: “No that is a problem with France. “People there do not like when you seek something for yourself individually, but I’m proud to be there and hopefully I will win it. “Of course, there are other people who can win it and they deserve it too, so let’s see what happens.” Griezmann had called for the Ballon d’Or to be given to a member of the France 2018 World C

Chelsea have informed Torino to pay over 10 million euros for Nigerian wing-back, Ola Aina. Aina left Stamford Bridge to joined Torino on a season-long loan in the summer. The Serie A side want to sign the defender, who has been impressive in the Italian topflight league so far this term, on a permanent deal before the expiration of the agreement. Italian outlet, Tuttosport, is now reporting that Chelsea, on Wednesday, replied Torino that they already had several offers for Aina, adding that the Serie A outfit will have to pay over 10 million euros if they want to sign the player on permanent basis. Aina’s contract with the Blues will expire at the end of the 2020-2021 season. The Super Eagles star spent last season on loan at Hull City and narrowly missed out on a place in Nigeria’s team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan has insinuated that a vast conspiracy by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC was partly responsible for his loss in 2015. Jonathan, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP lost to President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC on March 31st 2015, marking the first time an opposition party wins an election in Nigeria. In his book, ‘My Transition Hours’ launched in Abuja on Tuesday, Jonathan wrote; “For some inexplicable reason, the INEC had been able to achieve near 100% distribution of Permanent Voter Cards in the North, including the North East, which was under siege with Boko Haram insurgency but failed to record a similar level of distribution in the South which was relatively more peaceful,”. “Social media was filled with all manner of stories, pictures and videos. I had settled in my mind that I was not going to be the sitting president pointing out these infractions and accusing the opp

Fela Durotoye, Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) presidential candidate, has unveiled his running mate for the 2019 general elections, Allure Vanguard reports. She is Hajia Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya. The motivational speaker-turned-politician tweeted: “I’m incredibly proud to unveil my running mate, & with your support & God’s Grace, the next Vice President of Nigeria, Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya…” According to the father of three, Khadijah, a lawyer by training, hails from Bida, in Niger state, but was born in Kaduna to Alhaji Audu Bida, popularly known as Alhaji Audu Kongila & Hajiya Aisha Sherriff Usman. “Her father was a mega Construction mogul in the early 50s & 60s, who built most of the roads in Northern Nigeria that linked to the Southern states of the country, a Philanthropist and devout Muslim. “She has an LLB Law degree from the University of Abuja & Masters in Law & Diplomacy from the University of Jos. Continuous learning, focus & determinat

A man took selfies before and after a bus accident which he was involved in and survived along with other passengers. The first selfie taken by the man was when the luxurious bus stopped for the passengers to ease themselves while the second selfie was taken right after the accident. The accident reportedly happened yesterday in Zambia. See the after accident selfie below:-

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been warned by the Football Association after he spoke about referee Anthony Taylor before the Manchester derby. Guardiola broke FA rules by discussing the suitability of the Cheshire official, who is from Wythenshawe. Although Guardiola backed Taylor and dismissed accusations of potential bias, managers are not permitted to talk about refereeing appointments. Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho was fined for a similar charge in 2016. In November of that year the United manager was fined £50,000 for talking about Taylor before a game against Liverpool. However, Mourinho had previously been warned following comments he made as Chelsea boss in December 2014 about referee Neil Swarbrick before a game at Stoke. Premier League leaders City won the Manchester derby 3-1 on 11 November.

A Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, admitted a 37-year-old woman, Aisha Mohammed, to bail in the sum of N50,000, after she was arraigned for making noise while a Chief Magistrate was sitting. The police charged Mohammed with one count of obstructing a public officer in the discharge of his public functions. Chief Magistrate Abubakar Adamu, who admitted the accused to bail, ordered that Mohammed must produce one surety in like sum. Adamu adjourned the case until Nov. 26, for hearing. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Abubakar Mohammed, had told the court that the offence was committed on Nov. 7, at the Chief magistrates court III, Sokoto. The prosecutor said that accused was said to have caused obstruction by making unnecessary noise while the presiding magistrate was conducting proceeding. The prosecutor said that even after the chief magistrate ordered her to stop making noise, she refused. He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 148 of t

Spanish press call for appointment of Santiago Solari as Real Madrid manager on permanent basis  Madrid (AFP) - The Spanish press have called for the permanent appointment of Santiago Solari as Real Madrid coach after an unbeaten run as interim boss of the 13-time Champions League winners. According to Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rules, Real's period of 14 days to either select Solari full-time or to find another coach to replace Julen Lopetegui comes to an end on Monday but Solari's appointment does not seem to be imminent. Since taking over on October 29 Solari has guided the European Cup holders to four victories in as many matches including Sunday's impressive 4-2 La Liga display at Celta Vigo. Lopetegui was dismissed after an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at arch-rivals Barcelona, his fourth loss in the last of his five La Liga games in charge. Newspapers were unanimous in support of the 42-year-old who has lifted Real up three places to sixth in the tabl

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by telephone, discussing the murder of a dissident journalist and the war in Yemen (AFP Photo/ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS) Washington (AFP) - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday the US will hold accountable all involved in the killing of a dissident Saudi journalist in a wide-ranging telephone call that also took in the conflict in Yemen. Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident, was murdered in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and the crown prince has been accused of orchestrating the killing, which has strained the decades-old alliance between Washington and Riyadh. "The Secretary emphasized that the United States will hold all of those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, and that Saudi Arabia must do the same," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. The top US diplomat has previously said Khash

Baliee Ackerman and Will Byler were both students at Sam Houston State University: Facebook/Bailee Ackerman A newlywed couple were killed an hour and a half after tying the knot after the helicopter they left the ceremony in crashed. Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman, both university students, had their “fairytale wedding” at a ranch in Texas. They departed from the venue, which is owned by a member of the groom’s family, by helicopter and the aircraft went down just over a mile away. It is not clear if they were flying to another location or taking a tour of the area. The crash was confirmed by authorities and the wreckage was located by Ulvade Country Sherrif’s Office, the San Antonio Express-News reported. The pilot also died in the incident. Many friends and family who attended the event paid tributes to the couple on social media. Jessica Stilley, the bride’s maid of honour said: “My sweet Bailee Raye, my heart is broken in a million little pieces as I sit here and

Medhi Benatia has been limited to just five starts this season and admits he might need to start looking elsewhere for games. Juventus defender Medhi Benatia has hinted that he could leave the Serie A champions in the January transfer window if he does not feature more regularly. The Moroccan made just his fifth start in all competitions for Juve this season in Saturday's 3-1 win over Cagliari. It looks unlikely that the former Bayern Munich man will get near to his 31 starts last term and he concedes that if things do not change he will have to assess his options in the new year. "If you need me in the Champions League, I will make myself ready," he told La Stampa. "But I can hardly play a game every so often. Last year I did well because I had more continuity. "Unfortunately now I don't have it and this is part of my job. I always work to make myself ready, but it is not a pleasant situation. "I am available to the team and as long a

A demonstrator holds a poster with a picture of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, Turkey October 25, 2018.  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The sons of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Sunday issued an appeal for the return of their father's body and said they wanted to return to Saudi Arabia to bury him. In an interview with CNN, Salah and Abdullah Khashoggi said that without their father's body, their family is unable to grieve and deal with the emotional burden of their father's death. "It's not a normal situation, it's not a normal death at all. All what we want right now is to bury him in Al-Baqi (cemetery) in Medina (Saudi Arabia) with the rest of his family," Salah Khashoggi said. "I talked about that with the Saudi authorities and I just hope that it happens soon." Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist critical of the Saudi government and its de facto ruler Crown Prince Moha

Granit Xhaka (left) celebrates Alexandre Lacazette's late equaliser against Liverpool on Saturday - Arsenal FC It was a measure of how much Arsenal have changed in just a few months under Unai Emery that the head coach’s reaction to a sliding tackle was almost as wild as when Alexandre Lacazette scored their late equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool. The suspicion is that it was not just the nature of the crunching challenge, on an accelerating Mohamed Salah, that so invigorated a fist-pumping Emery, but also the identity of the tackler. There was Granit Xhaka, hurtling out of nowhere to whip the ball away from Salah at the last possible moment. Well, it looked like Xhaka, and that was the name on the back of the shirt. But by almost every other measure this was a totally different player to the midfielder who so regularly disappointed in the biggest games under Arsène Wenger. Liberated by the phenomenal Lucas Torreira alongside him, Xhaka was as dynamic and destruct

This undated file photo released by the Tennessee Department of Corrections shows death row inmate Edmund Zagorski in Tennessee. If Tennessee electrocutes Zagorski, it will be in an electric chair built by a self-taught execution expert who is no longer welcome in the prison system. (Tennessee Department of Corrections via AP, File) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee inmate grimaced and waved goodbye before saying "let's rock," moments before he became the first man executed in the electric chair in that state since 2007, put to death Thursday for shooting two men and slitting their throats during a drug deal decades ago. Edmund Zagorski, 63, was pronounced dead at 7:26 p.m. Thursday at a Nashville maximum-security prison, officials said. Asked by the prison warden if he had any last words in the death chamber, Zagorski said, "Let's rock," shortly before the execution was carried out. A reporter who witnessed the scene said at a post-execution ne

Guendouzi: No fear and no reticence  One of the most exciting aspects of Matteo Guendouzi’s game is that he rarely plays how you would expect a 19-year-old to play. The Frenchman carries himself with a natural authority that belies his inexperience, and patrols the Arsenal midfield with the sort of prowling control that most players take years to learn. While so many teenage talents tend to flicker in and out of games, Guendouzi imposes himself on proceedings. So often, when he has the ball, he will hold his hands out in front of him, demanding options from the attackers and ushering runners into position. There is no fear and no reticence from the big-haired midfielder who has made such a big impact at the Emirates. It is remarkable to think, when you watch them both play, that Guendouzi is two years younger than Ainsley Maitland-Niles, for example. Guendouzi is also two years younger than Julio Pleguezuelo, the little-known defender who started against Blackpool, and o

Elon Musk has sought to distance himself from Saudi money following murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi   Elon Musk has said he “probably would not” take Saudi money in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. In an extensive interview, the Tesla chief executive admitted the murder of Mr Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate building in Istanbul “was really bad”, but was cautious to blame the kingdom-at-large for the incident. Mr Khashoggi was strangled and dismembered, Turkish prosecutors have said. Tesla has a $2bn investment from the Saudis, and was linked to a further injection of cash from the regime after Mr Musk sent out a tweet in August to suggest he had secured funding to take Tesla private. Mohammed bin Salman, crown prince and head of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, is reported to have approached Tesla “multiple times” about the potential to take Tesla private. MBS has since been accused of orchestrating the murder of Mr Khashoggi, a voca