French President Hollande to visit Nigeria next week

French President Francois Hollande will visit Nigeria on May 14 to attend a regional summit focused on fighting the jihadist group Boko Haram. 

He will arrive Nigeria after making a stop at the Central African Republic on May 13 to pledge France’s support for peace efforts in the restive country, his office said Friday.

Hollande will “pledge his support for the peace and the stabilisation of the country,” in the Central African Republic, a presidential spokesman said.

French peacekeepers have been accused of sexually abusing children in the country and hence this is seen as a very sensitive visit. 

There are currently three investigations under way into the accusations against the French troops.

Inter-communal violence between Muslim and Christian militias has killed thousands of people in the Central African Republic since 2013. France deployed a peacekeeping force to its former colony in 2013 to curb the unrest.

The regional summit in Nigeria will also be attended by the United States, Britain and the three countries neighbouring Nigeria which have also been the target of attacks from the jihadists — Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 people since 2009, according to World Bank figures.

Buratai: Army will honour soldiers who died in battle

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has said that officers and men of the Nigerian Army who died while taking part in the ongoing war on terror or in any theatre of operation are not and will never be forgotten.

The Army chief gave this reassurance during a courtesy visit from the Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd) who led the management of the centre to see Buratai in his office at the weekend.

Gen Buratai stated that the troops of the Nigerian Army are gallant patriots who have the interest of the corporate existence and integrity of the Nigerian state at heart. He said the soldiers were committed to do anything and everything possible, including laying down their lives, in order to the defend the country.

Buratai said: “The Army will henceforth ensure that gallant soldiers who die in action are given a publicized befitting burial with full military honours.

“In fact, even if it means conducting it in arrears, we will ensure that our fallen heroes are given befitting national burials.

“Aside from that, we have also ensured that immediate family members of our fallen officers and soldiers receive prompt payment of all their entitlements and other welfare supports.”

The General also charged Nigerians to do whatever they could to ensure the safety and progress of the nation. 

Super Eagles to play Mali and Luxembourg

The Nigerian Football Federation has announced that Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face the Eagles of Mali and the National Team of Luxembourg in two international friendly matches in Europe in the next FIFA window.

 Mali are currently ranked 63rd in the world and the game is scheduled to hold at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on Friday, 27th May 2016.

 Mali finished as runner-up at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1972, and took bronze medals at the finals in 2012 and 2013.

 The Eagles of Mali are already through to next year's continental showpiece in Gabon after picking up 10 points from their first four matches of the qualification series, in a Group C that also has Equatorial Guinea, Benin Republic and South Sudan. The Nigerian national team will however not participate after losing their Group's sole ticket to Egypt. 

Super Eagles would then play the National Team of Luxembourg in Luxembourg on Wednesday, 1stJune 2016, at a venue to be finalized in the coming days. 

AFCON 2017: NFF has no case at CAS -Onigbinde

Former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, has rubbished the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to drag the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), over the new rules in the AFCON 2017 qualifiers.

The NFF through its spokesman Ademola Olajire said they were going to contest the sudden change of rules by CAF after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for next year’s tournament. Chad's decision to pull out of the qualifiers coupled with Nigeria's defeat at Alexandria meant Egypt took the only available slot. 

Onigbinde, who was speaking to Complete Sports, said the NFF knew about the rules.

"I know the rules have been on for some time, so if we want CAF to change it because of us, let us try and see what the outcome will be. But I know there was a circular to that effect. 

“You see what is ridiculous to me is that in spite of all our potential, we now seek ways to cutting corners and bends to achieve, I see it as being ridiculous and shameful.

“This is not the first time, it has happened on occasions, after we had failed ourselves, we now look for scapegoats and escape routes.

“It is ridiculous because I believe seriously in the ability of Nigeria to perform much better than we are performing if we do it right."

AFCON: Egypt clips Eagles' wings as Nigeria crashes out

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have failed to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations after their 1-0 defeat at Alexandria. 

Mohamed Salah's goal in Kaduna and Chad's decision to withdraw from the qualifying round meant that anything other than a win was unlikely to be enough for Nigeria in the crucial game. 

The first half ended 0-0 but in truth the Pharoahs of Egypt always looks like the most likely to score. 

Chances for the Nigerians were limited and were unable to convert their possession into attempts on goal.

The second half saw the Pharaohs maintaining the momentum and finally got their goal in the 65th minute.

Ramadan Sobhy shot towards the Nigerian goal and the ball rolled under goalkeeper Akpeyi’s arm. 

The Egyptians saw out the match to seal their qualification for the AFCON.

The Eagles will now miss out on the continental showpiece for the second consecutive time. 

Egypt now has an unassailable 5-point lead over Nigeria with both sides having just one game left in the qualifying stage. 

AFCON: Defeat at Egypt will spell the end of Nigeria's hope after Chad withdraws

Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for the 2017 African Cup of Nations has been dealt a severe blow following the decision of Chad to withdraw from the qualifiers. 

The Chad Football Association (FTFA) withdrew due to financial constraints. 

Chad, who are currently sitting bottom of Group G without a point, were set to play Tanzania in a reverse fixture in Dar es Salaam on Monday after a 1-0 defeat at home on Wednesday.

But the FTFA president, Moctar Mahamoud, informed their opponents that they have decided to pull out due to "global economic conditions".

"As part of our participation in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers for Gabon 2017 and specifically the return match against Tanzania, we bring to your attention that our national team has failed to make it to the return leg game in Dar el Salaam scheduled for March 28, " Mahamoud wrote in his letter. 

"Indeed, our country has been badly affected by the global economic conditions. Because of this our participation in various competitions has taken a severe dent due to financial constraints.

"We wish you all the best and we apologise for this situation which is basically unavoidable and out of our control."

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) also confirmed Chad's withdrawal and subsequently handed a fine and suspension from the 2019 Nations Cup qualifying round.

"The Chad Football Federation withdraws from the Nations Cup qualifiers where they participated in group G alongside Nigeria, Egypt and Tanzania," CAF announced on Twitter. 

"If a team withdraws from the qualifying phase organised in groups, all its results shall be annulled (points, scored and conceded goals).

"Hence, the matches of Chad of the first three days of Group G matches are cancelled and their results will not be taken into consideration.

"Accordingly, following the decision of Caf Executive Committee dated January 15th 2015: "Any group reduced to three teams following a team withdrawal will only qualify the first team of that group."

"The Chadian Football Association is suspended for the upcoming edition of the Nations Cup and must pay the monetary fine of US $20,000."

This latest twist has thrown Group G into a three-team race for the sole ticket to Gabon.

Egypt, who had beaten Chad 5-1 away from home, are now on four points instead of seven. 

Second-placed Nigeria have lost three points as well, after their 2-0 victory over Chad was declared as void.

It leaves the Super Eagles on two points. Tanzania have a solitary point.

Due to the fact that there are only three teams left, the second placed team will not be considered for the best second place slot after the qualifiers are completed. It therefore means that if Nigeria loses away to Egypt, they will be fail to qualify for Gabon 2017. 

The seven-time champions Egypt and Nigeria face off in a highly crucial reverse fixture in Alexandria on March 29.

AFCON: Egypt coach expecting tough game against Nigeria

Egypt assistant coach Osama Nabih has warned that the second leg tie between the Super Eagles and the Pharoahs will not be a walk in the park. 

He said this was because of the quality of the Nigerian players and went to stress that the game in Alexandria on Tuesday would be a difficult game. 

“The return match will be very difficult, so we have to concentrate well and we shouldn’t exaggerate in our celebration after the draw in Nigeria.

“We achieved what we wanted against Nigeria, but we have passed just 10 percent of the road to the African finals,” Nabih told Al-Hayat TV Channel after the match.

Egypt are now in pole position to qualify for the African showpiece ahead of the home clash with the Super Eagles in the second straight game between the sides at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium.

Egypt have not qualified for the Nations Cup since winning the last of their record seven trophies in 2010 and currently have seven points from three games, two ahead of Nigeria and three clear of third-placed Tanzania. Chad lie at the bottom with no points. Chad have also withdrawn from the qualifying round citing inability to afford the cost of going through the qualifying round. 

The winners of the group will automatically reach next year’s Nations Cup finals in Gabon.

Siasia: We can win in Egypt

Interim Head coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia has expressed confidence in his team's ability to win the game against Egypt on Tuesday. 

He said this during a post-match briefing at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, following his team’s 1-1 draw with the Pharaohs. The return leg match of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifying Group G fixture holds in Alexandria on Tuesday. 

Etebo Oghenekaro's 60th minute opener was cancelled by Mohamed Salah who beat the offside trap to equalise for the Pharaohs in the 90th minute. Siasia said the team’s technical crew would correct the lapses noticed in the match in Kaduna before the reverse fixture in Alexandria on Tuesday. He said the Eagles played well but the technical crew needed to make some corrections before their next match in Egypt. 

Siasia said: “We will try to see what went wrong and do a proper check before playing our next match so that we can win in Egypt. 

“The players did well but I don’t know what went wrong in the last three minutes when the Egyptians equalised. That is football for you. 

“A game can end up in a draw or loss even when you play well. However, we should have been marking in the last three minutes, but it turned out the other way. With the outcome of the match, we will try our best to win in Egypt, because in football everything is possible," he continued.  

“We cannot move backwards but forward. We are going to pull ourselves together and see how we are going to win the match," he continued. 

He praised his players for their effort and pointed out that his players were tactically better than the Egyptians in the game for the greater part of the game. 

Two suicide bombers intercepted by the Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army have intercepted another two female suicide bombers before they could detonate their explosive devices. 

The troops intercepted 2 female suicide bombers almost 100 metres south of Umurari village, outskirts of Maiduguri.

However, one of the suicide bombers detonated her explosive device after she sighted the troops, killing herself instantly. The second bomber was gunned down as she attempted to escape. 

The unexploded Improvised Explosive Device was safely detonated by the combined team of Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army’s Explosive Ordinance Device team. 

There was also no casualty aside the two suicide bombers. 

AFCON: Egypt grabs late equalizer as Nigeria's qualification hopes hang in the balance

Nigeria's hopes of winning their AFCON qualifiers' group was dealt a huge blow after they could only play out a 1-1 draw at home in Kaduna. 

The first half was uneventful as chances were hard to come by. Nigeria improved in the second half and deservedly took the lead through Oghenekaro Etebo who bundled home from close range after a shot had cannoned off the upright. 

The Egyptian were however not going to be undone as Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah scored a crucial equalizer in the 90th minute after the Nigerian defence failed in their attempt to keep the offside trap.

There was time for more drama after the referee stopped the game for full time after Mohammed Salah was running straight to the Nigerian post after evading the last defender. 

The Eagles will now have to beat Egypt on Tuesday in Alexandria if they are to qualify directly for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Gabon.

Egypt lead the group with 7 points, with Nigeria trailing at 5 points. Tanzania are third n the group with four points. Chad are yet to register a point in the group. 

AC Milan loans out Oduamadi

Italian Giants AC Milan has announced that Nigerian international Nnamdi Oduamadi has joined Swedish side HJK Helsinki on loan until the end of the year.

The Rossoneri youth product has failed to bring into the Milan first team and has made only one senior appearance for the club. This move is his eighth loan in five years. 

The 25-year-old winger has scored four goals in 13 caps for Nigeria. 

A statement on the club's website stated: "Milan announce that Nnamdi Oduamadi has been loaned to HJK Helsinki until 31 December 2016."

RMAFC: US$25bn of Nigeria's oil revenue missing

The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation failed to hand over nearly $25bn (£17.5bn) it owed to the government in the five years from January 2011 to the end of 2015. 

The statutory revenue monitoring organisation is coming a week after the Nigerian auditor general said US$16bn went missing in 2014 alone.

That figure was disputed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The Nigerian oil company, NNPC is obliged by law to hand over its revenue to the government. The revenue from the petroleum industry makes up a significant  proportion of the government's income.

The decline in oil prices coupled by longstanding corruption in the industry has led to a growing budget deficit. 

Boko Haram: Nigerian Army kills 19 terrorists

The Nigeria army has said its troops have killed 19 Boko Haram insurgents, including a kingpin, Ameer of Dalore at a camp in Borno state.

This was disclosed by Sani Usman, Army spokesman, in a statement on Monday. He added that the troops also rescued 67 captives from the sect.

“Elements of 22 Brigade Garrison carried out clearing operation at Dalore camp on Sunday in which they killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists among whom was Ameer of Dalore. The troops also captured 2 AK-47 Rifles, 1 Small Machine Gun and 1 Hand Grenade and recovered 4 pickup vehicles”.

"The troops also rescued 67 hostages from the terrorists. The freed hostages are undergoing screening at Internally Displaced Persons in Dikwa”.

There were no casualties on thr side of the Army. 

“Unfortunately, during the operation the troops Mine Resistant Anti-Personnel (MRAP) vehicle ran into an Improvised Explosive Device and had a damaged tyre," Usman added. 

AFCON: We will beat Egypt - Moses

Super Eagles and West Ham United of England winger, Victor Moses has told Nigerians that the Super Eagles will secure a crucial win when they confront the Pharaohs of Egypt in the 2017 AFCON qualifying match at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on Friday, March 25.

Moses was speaking during a visit to Globacom in Lagos on Monday. The Glo ambassador said the Super Eagles players will play as a united team with the determination to win and make Nigeria proud.

“The Egyptians are leading the group presently, but we will work hard to pick the three points in Kaduna and go for a win or draw in the return leg in Cairo.  This will make it easy for us to qualify from the group,” Moses added.

He added that the team had quality players and will work with the new coaching staff to ensure victory in the forthcoming qualifier in Kaduna and the game in Egypt. 

“The current Super Eagles comprises of both experienced and upcoming players [and] I am optimistic that we will blend and play to win under the guidance of our coaches; so there is no cause for alarm.”

Cuper: Egypt can beat Nigeria in Kaduna

Egyptian national team coach, Hector Cuper, has said his team is capable of winning in Kaduna when they take on Nigeria in the next group game of their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Super Eagles will host the Pharoahs this weekend, before travelling to Alexandria for the return leg. 

Egypt currently lead Group G with six points, while Nigeria are in second place with four points and Cuper is eyeing maximum points when they take on the Eagles at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna as they bid to secure qualification to Africa's premier football tournament. 

“The Ghana debacle will not be repeated, and we can beat the Nigerian national team,” the former Inter Milan manager said during his interaction with the media on Sunday in Cairo.

“So, I promise we will give everything in this match, but I cannot promise a win outright.”

Lai Mohammed: Boko Haram degraded and defeated

The minister for information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has dismissed any chance of a resurgence of the Boko Haram sect despite the group's recent attacks on soft targets. 

He insisted that the terrorist group have been degraded and defeated. 

He was speaking during a press conference at the Nigerian capital Abuja on Tuesday and went on to condemn the recent attacks by Boko Haram and commiserated with the families of those who were killed.

‘‘The terrorists remain massively degraded and largely defeated. The recent string of attacks is not an indication that Boko Haram is bouncing back.

‘’During the immediate period after an insurgency has been degraded, the fact that terrorists are dispersed into the community is often followed by an upsurge of terror attacks in the form of suicide bombing and sabotage of critical facilities."

CHAN 2016: Guinea defeat Nigeria as the Eagles are eliminated

Nigeria’s good start at the ongoing African Nation Championship became inconsequential as they were eliminated by Guinea in the final group game in Rwanda.

Sunday Oliseh’s decision to drop his top scorer Chisom Chikatara backfired as the Syli Nationale eliminated his side after a 1-0 victory after Sankhon put the Guinean ahead on the stroke of halftime. Chikatara has scored four out of the five Nigerian goals before the game.

The defeat sees Guinea progress in second place behind Tunisia while Nigeria makes an early and disappointing exit. Tunisia defeated Niger Republic 5-0 to clinch top spot.

Tunisia will stop Eagles - Hatem Missaoui

Head coach of Tunisia, Hatem Missaoui, has said his team are ready to stop Nigeria in their second group game in the ongoing African Nations Championship on Friday.

The Carthage Eagles could only play out a draw in their first match against Guinea on Monday, while the Super Eagles comprehensively beat Niger Republic 4-1 in their opener.

“We are not looking forward to defending against a player in the Nigeria team; we have our tactics to stop the Super Eagles from scoring goals,” Missaoui said

He added that his team was looking to qualify and added that his side also boasted a lethal striker in Ahmed Akaichi.

“What we are targeting is qualification to the next round of the competition and not just a victory against the Super Eagles.

“Nigeria have a good striker in Chisom Chikatara but we also have our own top scorer, Ahmed Akaichi, who scored the two goals against Guinea. He can get goals against the Super Eagles too.”

He said: “The Nigeria side is a very good team, we know how big they are and we are very ready to play them. We hope Friday match goes well for us.

“We are not just targeting the win against Nigeria, but qualification to the next stage, if we get the victory that will be fantastic for us.”

The match will kick off at 1pm Nigerian time. 

APC will not apologise over anti-corruption war - Oyegun

APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the party owes no one any apologies over criticism that President Muhammadu Buhari has been selective in the fight against corruption.

He made this disclosure after a meeting with the ruling party’s national Working Committee members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He stated that the party’s position was that the rot in the system must be cleansed irrespective of whose ox is gored.

He said, “The APC is not in any apologetic. We promised change and there is a rot in the system. This must be cleansed and whoever and whatever ox is being gored, wherever the tree is going to fall, so let it be.

“We must get used to the fact that in the process of cleansing the nation, there is going to be a lot of bullet to bite.

“The APC has not been in office at national level in the last 10 to 16 years. So, the issue of whether somebody is PDP or not PDP does not arise. We have a nation to cleanse. The President has committed himself to that and we should support it whatever way it comes. We are not being apologetic about that at all.

“It has nothing to do with witch-hunting. It just happened that the dramatist personnel of the period all happened to be on one side of the political divide. We have absolutely no intention to pressurise any group or any nation towards a one-party state. It is not in our interest so to do because we need a vibrant opposition.

“We need an opposition that will contribute constructively to national discourse that will make us sit up and deliver to the people what we promised. But the task is enormous and if anybody is ready to help to discharge these responsibilities, he is welcome.”

Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria kills 40

The Health Minister of Nigeria, Isaac Adewole, has confirmed that 40 people have died in Nigeria in a suspected outbreak of Lassa fever in 10 states across the country.

Adewole told a news conference in the capital Abuja that, "The total number (of suspected cases) reported is 86 and 40 deaths, with a mortality rate of 43.2 percent."

The minister said that so far, laboratory tests have confirmed that 22 of the 86 suspected cases were Lassa fever and results were expected on the remainder. Seven of the affected states are in the north -- Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Plateau and Gombe -- while the remaining three are in the south -- Rivers, Edo and Oyo.

Adewole said recorded cases of Lassa fever in Nigeria peaked in 2012 at 1,723 with 112 fatalities but rates have declined since then. In the latest outbreak, the minister said "most of the cases that we recorded are not through person-to-person contact but the number of deaths was unusual."

He also expressed fears about the disease notification, especially in Niger state, where "unusual" deaths in August were not reported for up to four months. The government of Lagos state, Nigeria's most populous city of more than 20 million people, on Thursday alerted residents on the need to observe proper hygiene to curb the spread of the disease. Lagos state is about 80 kilometres from Oyo state, where suspected cases have been reported.

According to the WHO, Lassa fever is an acute haemorrhagic illness which belongs to the arenavirus family of viruses, which also includes the Ebola-like Marburg virus.  People with Lassa fever do not display symptoms in 80 percent of cases but it can cause serious symptoms and death in the remainder.

The virus, which is endemic in rodents in West Africa, is transmitted to humans by contact with food or household items contaminated with the animals' faeces and urine. Person-to-person contact is also possible through bodily fluids, particularly in hospitals when adequate infection control measures are not taken.

It is estimated that the number of Lassa fever infections in west Africa every year is between 100,000 to 300,000, with about 5,000 deaths, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.