Wednesday, June 8, 2011

George Weah, Eto'o, Adebayor to honour Nwankwo Kanu


Cameroonian ace, Samuel Eto'o Fils is among several retired and active international superstars who will make up the 'Friends of Kanu' in Saturday's glamour Nwankwo Kanu Testimonial Football Match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.


The match is between 'Friends of Kanu' and 'Super Eagles All-Stars'.


Officials involved in the organization of the showpiece game to honour the most celebrated Nigerian footballer of all time confirmed yesterday that most of the ex and current leading lights of international football coming have already secured their entry visas into Nigeria.


Saturday's match is expected to pull a huge crowd to the 25,000-capacity Teslim Balogun Stadium, which itself is named after one of the heroes of Nigerian football.


Another of the biggest names to be welcomed to the artificial turf of the Teslim Balogun Stadium is George Oppong Weah, the only African to have won the World, European and African Footballer of the Year awards, achieved in the same year - 1995.


Weah, who was one of two candidates for the Liberian presidential election few years ago, will re-unite with former Cameroonian captain Rigobert Song, who played in four World Cup finals between 1994 and 2010.


A much-younger Song, Alex, who plays for English Premiership side Arsenal, will also be around, alongside team-mate and Ivorian international defender Emmanuel Eboue, Ghanaian World Cup defender John Paintsil, Bafana Bafana forward Tiko Modise and Uruguayan star Roberto Solano.


Togo Captain Emmanuel Adebayor, former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe, Chelsea and Ghanaian midfield powerhouse Michael Essien and former Dutch marksman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink are also expected.


Daily Champion


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Goodluck Jonathan meets Barack Obama today


President Goodluck Jonathan will hold bilateral talks today with United States President Barrack Obama at the White House, Washington D.C. after participating in the UN HIV/AIDS meeting yesterday.


Jonathan, who arrived New York Monday night with First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, restated Nigeria's support for the global fight against HIV/AIDS as the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution calling for urgent and co-ordinated international efforts to curb the impact of the scourge in conflict and post-conflict situations.


Contributing to the open debate on the impact of the deadly disease on international peace and security by members of the UN Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York, Jonathan stressed that the "time is ripe for a final solution" to the 30-year-old pandemic.


Jonathan said that "as the largest contributor to peacekeeping in Africa and the fourth largest in the world, Nigeria has a major stake, not only in ensuring that our armed forces are protected against HIV/AIDS but also given adequate treatment."


The President also expressed Nigeria's concern over the consequences of gender-based violence related to HIV/AIDS, especially in conflict situations.


Nigeria, Gabon and South Africa are the three African non-permanent representatives in the Security Council participating in the special debate before Wednesday's enlarged high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS at the General Assembly with 14 foreign leaders expected to attend.


Daily Trust


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Monday, June 6, 2011

32 Teenagers on trial for planning to sell babies

Dozens of pregnant teenagers in Abia State could face charges after being accused of planning to sell their babies into a growing child trafficking trade in the state and most parts of the South-east, the state police has said.


The pregnant teenagers - 32 girls aged between 15 and 18 years - were arrested during the raid of an illegal clinic in Aba in Abia State last week.


The girls were taken at the Cross Foundation, locally known as Heda Clinic. The clinic's director was also arrested. The police accused him of buying the babies from the young mothers and selling them for a generous profit to childless couples.


He denied the charge, and said he was a volunteer doctor who delivers the unwanted babies and then places them in orphanages.


"One of the girls told us that mothers sell their babies for $160 to $190," Abia State police chief Bala Hassan told The Associated Press.


They can then be resold for up to $6,400, depending on their gender. Traditionally, boys are preferred, as they can inherit land according to the local Igbo culture, said Arinze Orakwe, spokesman of the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons.


"This girl already feels that she has brought a burden onto her family and onto herself, and she wants to get it over with," added Orakwe.


Child trafficking carries a penalty of 14 years to life imprisonment.


This Day


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Man cuts off own genitals with razor

A middle-aged man (names withheld) in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, had on Friday severed his manhood with a razor blade in broad day light.


The incident, which occurred at the popular Oyingbo Road, the commercial centre of the town, drew the attention of hundreds of residents.


An eyewitness revealed that the man was walking along Folagbade Road but suddenly stopped at Oyingbo Road junction and brought out a razor blade. The account said the man used the razor blade to cut off his male organ.


"I saw the man coming from Folagbade Road in a well-behaved manner but suddenly stopped at Oyingbo junction.


"He pulled off his trousers and brought out a razor blade to cut off his manhood.


"Those of us who were at the scene of the incident could not believe it because it was totally strange to us," an eyewitness said.


It was learnt that the man, in a pool of his own blood, was rushed to the state hospital by sympathizers.


When contacted, the chief medical director of the hospital, Dr Wellington Ogunsanya, confirmed the incident.


He said that a high level of depression and frustration might have led the man to commit such an act.


Ogunsanya, however, said that doctors were in the process of performing a reconstructive operation on the man.


Leadership


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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Video - Nigeria vs Argentina goals




Nigeria warmed up for Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in style when thumping Argentina 4-1 in Abuja.


The visitors paid heavily for fielding an experimental side, with Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero all absent.


Instead, a B side attempting to force their way into coach Sergio Batista 's Copa America squad were soundly beaten.


Ikechukwu Uche (2), Obinna Nsofor and Emmanuel Emenike netted for the hosts before Argentina's late consolation.


Coach Samson Siasia's will now travel to Ethiopia for Sunday's Group B qualifier in buoyant mood.


The absence of so many big names had inititally provoked anger among some Nigerian fans but this may now be overlooked given the manner of victory.


Uche grabbed his first early on as his shot deflected over the Argentina goalkeeper.


Nsofor doubled the lead with a penalty just before the half-hour, before Uche headed home at the far post to give the Super Eagles a 3-0 half-time lead.


To the delight of those who watched inside the Abuja National Stadium, Siasia's men then took a four-goal lead.


Turkey-based Emmanuel Emenike sent the 30,000 fans wild as he converted against the shell-shocked Argentinians.


Deep into injury time, Mauro Boselli grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors, who performed well below par.


Argentina will host the Copa America, South American continental championships, from 01-24 July.


Nigeria: 1-Vincent Enyeama (16-Dele Aiyegnuba, 46); 2-Joseph Yobo, 3-Taiwo Taye, 5-Efe Ambrose, 6-Chibuzor Okonkwo (13-Yusuf Ayila, 67); 10-John Mikel Obi, 4-Joel Obi (17-Ogwude Fegor, 72), 12-Kalu Uche (7-Ahmed Musa, 46), 15-Ike Uche; 18-Victor Obinna (8-Peter Utaka, 80), 9-Victor Anichebe (11-Emanuel Emunike, 44)


Argentina: 1-Adrian Gabbarini; 2-Ezequiel Garay (13-Mateo Musacchio, 65), 3-Emiliano Insua 4-Pablo Zabaleta, 6-Federico Fazio; 5-Mario Bolatti, 8-Fernando Belluschi (15-Nicolas Bertolo, 62), 14-Alberto Costa (20-Alejandro Cabral, 58), 10-Nicolas Gaitan; 9-Mauro Boselli, 18-Diego Perotti (11-Franco Jara, 70).


Referee: Ibrahim Chaibou (Niger)


BBC


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