Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Sluggish Messi fails to deliver as PSG draw at Brugge

Lionel Messi’s main task at Paris St-Germain will be to help deliver an elusive Champions League, but for all the fanfare surrounding the Argentina star’s first start it proved a frustrating evening as the club began their European campaign with a draw at Club Bruges.

Messi struck the crossbar but struggled to make a serious impact on his full debut and it was instead Ander Herrera who netted the opener after great work down the left from Kylian Mbappe.

Hans Vanaken scored a deserved equaliser before the break to get the 29,000-seater Jan Breydel Stadium rocking.

Messi was carded for a second-half foul and Mbappe replaced after 51 minutes as PSG found it difficult to break down the energetic hosts, who may feel they could have won the game themselves.

Deal of the day
PSG struggled to deal with the home side’s aggressive pressing throughout and needed goalkeeper Keylor Navas to tip Charles de Ketelaere’s well-struck effort over the crossbar to keep them level.

Messi breaks Pele’s record as highest goal-scorer in South America
Messi began to find more space as the Belgian side tired late on but the 34-year-old was unable to unpick the Bruges defence, leaving boss Mauricio Pochettino to ponder how to get the best out of his all-star front three.

“We need time to work for them to build an understanding,” said Pochettino. “That’s been clear and we’ve said that in recent days. We still have to create a team.”

This was Messi’s 150th appearance in the competition and, for a player so synonymous with Barcelona, it felt surreal seeing him line-up for the first time in Europe in the white away strip of PSG.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner arrives in Paris to complete a lavishly-assembled forward line including Neymar and Mbappe that will be expected to bring much-desired European success to the French capital.

Things started smoothly as Mbappe teed up Herrera for his first Champions League goal – though it was his fourth of the season in all competitions for PSG – before the blockbuster cast was split up when the French forward had to be replaced early in the second half.

PSG fans have so far had to watch their new number 30 from afar, with Messi’s only previous appearance since signing for the club coming as a substitute away at Reims in Ligue 1.

Coincidentally, 30 was the number donned by Messi when he was handed his Champions League debut for Barcelona by Frank Rijkaard as a shaggy-haired 17-year-old in December 2004, a game that saw the already-qualified visitors lose 2-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk.

Seventeen glittering years later – and though the legs may not be as fresh – the diminutive 34-year-old boasts the same crispness of thought and magnetic touch that led Ronaldinho – once a PSG star himself – to declare Messi his heir at the Camp Nou.

The ‘Little Flea’ has since collected four European titles, 10 La Ligas and most recently a Copa America to go with his individual accolades, but that did not make life any easier for Messi and PSG in their opening Group A match against Bruges.

Messi first burst into life on the edge of the Bruges area after 22 minutes, jinking into space and sliding a pass through to Mbappe, who saw his effort palmed away, and soon after the Argentine came within inches of his first PSG goal after curling an effort against the crossbar.

But those moments of customary magic came either side of a deserved leveller for the hosts, with captain Vanaken arriving late to steer in Eduard Sobol’s cross.

No player has netted more Champions League goals for one club than Messi’s 120 for Barcelona and with 20 minutes remaining he went close to opening his account for Paris St-Germain when he tested goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with a left-footed strike.

Messi picked up a booking for a mistimed tackle, and he and Neymar, who last won the Champions League together in 2015, were well dealt with by the Belgian champions’ backline, with Scotland defender Jack Hendry putting in a particularly impressive performance.

The final whistle was met by roars from the home crowd, who continued to celebrate as Oasis tracks were belted out over the stadium tannoy on a memorable night for the club.

Strike: FG, Doctors’ Negotiation Ends In Deadlock

of reaching a truce that might culminate in ending the month long strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) ended on an inconclusive note on Wednesday, as stakeholders shifted the deliberations to next week.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, and officials of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) locked horns on Tuesday night till early hours of Wednesday, trying to reach an agreement on the proposed review of new hazard allowance for doctors working in government owned hospitals but they failed to arrive at a common ground, forcing them to reschedule for next week.

The marathon meeting also involved the Presidential Committee on Salaries with the leadership of NMA and its affiliates.

All these come just as the ultimatum given by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to embark on indefinite strike expires on September 17.

Ngige recalled that they started this discussion with all the health workers since March but along the line, NMA disagreed on fundamental principles of negotiation with JOHESU.

He explained that the president of NMA requested that the discussion should be compartmentalised, which is allowed in Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

According to the minister, when people who are not doing the same work are negotiating an interest, if they decide to be separated, it can be done ab initio or midway, but that will put a lot of load on the negotiator.

He, however, appealed to the NMA and JOHESU to sheathe their swords to enable the conclusion of discussion on the matter before the end of September.

Ngige said, “If we do so, it is to your own advantage because it has to be captured in the 2022 budget. Government will also look at its purse and if there is money, the president will sign and it will be a win-win situation for all of us.

“Last week, we discussed with JOHESU. We had a fruitful discussion. It is in that spirit that I am asking you that this should be fruitful, so that we can rest the issue of paying N5000 hazard allowance. In 2020, it was not you who informed government. It was by our own volition that we invited both sides to the meeting where we handed over special COVID allowances to medical and dental workers and other allied health workers and we did it seamlessly. I don’t know whether it was because of the fear of COVID that you worked together.

“Today, the divide is there. Having read the altercation between you and JOHESU, which is in the media, we can’t believe that both of you are managing one patient. We are appealing to you, let us unite and see how we can navigate this thing. This is COVID-19 period. Stop this dichotomy between you and JOHESU. Both of you are managing one patient. It is team work. Nobody can do it alone.”

On the prolonged strike of NARD, Ngige called out striking resident doctors, saying they are insensitive to the plight of Nigerians by embarking on strike at the middle of a pandemic.

He maintained that the Federal Government has been religiously implementing its own part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the NMA, but rather than do their own part, the doctors have chosen to make the government the weeping dog.

While pointing out that he had remained neutral as the conciliator, the minister made it clear that he would no longer allow the idea of unions whipping the government every time they come for negotiation, even when the government was trying its utmost best and the other side liable of not doing their own part.

He explained that timeframes were fixed for actions to be taken, with those who are to take the actions spelt out.

On the issue of MEDSABAN and MDCAN raised by NMA, Ngige said they set up a committee, which had held its inaugural meeting, adding that even before their inaugural meeting, the government had placed all of them back on CONMESS.

“I used my powers as conciliator to say that there is a court judgment and that the government must obey. Court judgments are not what you pick and choose. No matter how bad a court judgment, affected persons must obey, whether you are government or private sector. A court has ordered that these people should be placed back on CONMESS, pending when it concludes this suit.

“Again, we have a Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages. We put every wage on hold. There is a circular to that. So, we would have had a look at it before the amputation of people’s income in an emergency situation of COVID-19. Government is sensitive. I am sensitive to all these things.”

He insisted that the doctors were the people who are not sensitive because they embarked on strike during a pandemic whereas all the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the laws of the country say that in emergencies, strike is not allowed, not to talk of people on essential services.

“In emergency situations where the lives of a small population or whole and their safety would be affected, people do not go on strike. It is there in our laws. I will give it to you people to read. Doctors are supposed to be educated people, unless you want us to agree with what lawyers are saying that they are the learned people and every other people do not know anything. Doctors are educated people. If you are educated people, learning is part of education. So, we must balance things.”

Making remarks, the Secretary General of NMA, Dr. Philip Ekpe, called for prompt attention to resolve the anarchy in the health sector, urging the Federal Ministry of Health to explore the window opened by the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari to see that all the negotiations were not in vain.

Others from the government side at the meeting were the Minister of State, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mahmuda Mamman, and his Labour counterpart, Peter Tarfa; the Chairman of National Salaries and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, and representatives of the Accountant General of the Federal and Director General of Budget Office.

Resilient Liverpool come from behind To Trash Old Rival AC Milan 3-2 At Anfield

Report as Liverpool claim opening-night win in Group B; Tomori own goal puts Liverpool ahead before Mo Salah misses pen, but Rebic and Diaz give Milan shock lead at half-time; Salah and Henderson on target in second half to secure win for Liverpool
Jordan Henderson’s superb finish gave Liverpool a 3-2 victory from behind over AC Milan in a thrilling opening-night clash in Champions League Group B.

Liverpool burst out of the traps and were 1-0 up early on through Fikayo Tomori’s own goal from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross (9), before Mo Salah saw his penalty saved by Mike Maignan (14), his first miss in 17 for Liverpool.

But Milan produced two goals out of thin air as Ante Rebic’s tidy finish (42) and then former Man City man Brahim Diaz’s tap home (44) from two similarly blistering breaks stunned Anfield going into half-time.

Salah made up for his penalty miss with a leveller just after the break (48), poking home Divock Origi’s clever chip over the defence, and Jordan Henderson completed Liverpool’s own comeback with an exquisite half-volley from 20 yards (69) from a cleared corner.

The result, paired with Atletico’s 0-0 draw against Porto, puts Liverpool on the front foot in a tricky Group B, with Porto next up away from home on September 28. Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in all competitions this season, and unbeaten in 14 overall.

It was Anfield’s first European night with supporters in attendance since the start of the pandemic, while seven-time winners AC Milan were back in Champions League action for the first time in seven years.

But it was a rude awakening initially for the Italians as Liverpool camped in Milan’s defensive third from the first minute; Andrew Robertson and Diogo Jota missed early half-chances, and they took the lead through brilliant combination play between Alexander-Arnold and Salah.

Having played a one-two with Salah around an unsuspecting Rafael Leao, Alexander-Arnold skipped his way into the box on the right, looked to centre, and saw the ball deflect off Tomori and over goalkeeper Maignan for an own goal.

It should have been 2-0 moments later as Liverpool were awarded a penalty for a handball from Ismael Bennacer as he blocked Robertson’s cross, but Salah’s blasted penalty was saved by Maignan down the middle, before the Milan stopper reacted well to tip away Jota’s headed rebound at close range.

Liverpool made four changes to the side that beat Liverpool as Virgil van Dijk was benched alongside Thiago and Sadio Mane, while Harvey Elliott was out injured.

Joe Gomez came in for his first start since November, Divock Origi got his first start since January, while Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita came into midfield.

AC Milan made three changes to the side that beat Lazio on Sunday as Simon Kjaer, Ismael Bennacer and Alexis Saelemakers came in for Alessio Romagnoli, Sandro Tonali and Alessandro Florenzi. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was out injured, while Olivier Giroud was on the bench.

Milan then settled slightly as Liverpool moved to a lower gear, but the chances continued to flow as Joel Matip headed a good opportunity at Maignan, and Salah’s snap-shot from the edge of the box was tipped away brilliantly by the busy goalkeeper.

But such is the nature of Champions League football, one moment of quality turned the game on its head. Milan equalised from nowhere as Leao’s pass split Matip and Joe Gomez to find Rebic, who wrapped his foot around the ball to finish low past Alisson.

And just 110 seconds later it was 2-1 as Rebic was released again by Leao on the left of the box. This time he squared for Theo Hernandez, whose shot was blocked on the line by Robertson, only for Diaz to tap home again with the Liverpool defender failing to get back to his feet in time.

Liverpool’s fans and players went into half-time wondering how their dominance was not reflected in the scoreline.

But they were let off the hook seconds after the restart as Simon Kjaer converted at the back post from a Jordan Henderson error at a corner, only for the offside flag to correctly go up, and it was soon 2-2.

Mo Salah scores Liverpool’s second goal
Receiving the ball on the edge of the box from Salah, Origi scooped the ball over the Milan back line for the Egyptian, who composed himself before pushing the ball past Maignan, staying just onside.

AC Milan retreated again, and Liverpool huffed and puffed before getting their third midway through the second half through an unlikely source.

From a half-cleared corner, Henderson’s first-time half-volley from the edge of the box was struck superbly, flying into the bottom left corner for only his second Liverpool goal since the end of the 2019/20 season.

The one-goal lead was still fragile as sub Olivier Giroud headed off target, while Alisson just cleared ahead of Milan’s front line from a corner, but Liverpool held on.

This wasn’t quite Istanbul in 2005, but the victory and comeback was a show of character from a Liverpool side reverting to type following an topsy-turvy 2020/21 season, and a classic European night will contribute heavily to the feeling of normality at Anfield.

fresh $4bn, €710m loans: Omokri Labels Buhari Enemy of Nigeria’s Progress

Reno Omokri, a socio-political activist, has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari over plans to obtain fresh foreign loans.

Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, accused the president of being an enemy of Nigeria’s progress.

In a series of tweets, Omokri accused Buhari of using the foreign loans on alleged useless things like building a Naval base in a desert in Kano State.

He wrote: “A new $4 billion loan. What is Buhari even using all these loans for? Useless things like Naval Base in Kano’s desert and sewing Igbo trousers that never reach the ankle. What has this nation called Nigeria done to deserve this enemy of progress?

“Naira is now ₦550 to $1, and Buhari still wants to borrow an additional $4 billion after increasing foreign debt from $10 billion in 2015 to $34 billion today? Does he have no shame? What type of bambiala mentality is this? Is it until Naira gets to ₦1000 to $1?”

Buhari had on Tuesday asked the Senate to approve $4 billion and €710 million external loans.

The president’s request was contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and read at plenary yesterday.

Buhari said the proposed loan would be financed through sovereign loans from the World Bank, French Development Agency, EXIM Bank and IFAD.

Buhari noted that the loan, if approved, would enable the Federal Government fund critical infrastructural projects in different sectors across the country.

‘Those Smuggling Gold Out Of Nigeria Deserves Death Penalty’ – Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Dr Uche Ogah, has said that private jets are being used to smuggle gold into the country.

Mr Ogah made the remarks at a two-day public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy.

The public hearing was set up as an enquiry into the country’s $9 billion annual loss in mining and gold smuggling.

The minister also recommended harsher punishment for the perpetrators.

“Gold smuggling in Nigeria is often done using private jets, the very reason private jets ownership and operations need to be streamlined in the country.

“For these crimes to be fought decisively, potent punitive measures like capital punishment need to be legally provided for,” he said.

He added that smuggling of gold and mining was tantamount to robbing the country of billions of dollars every year.

One Of Our Worshipper Trying To Steal Church Money Ran Mad Immediately – Bishop Oyedepo Reveals

Bishop David Oyedepo has revealed how a worshipper who participated in one of the church’s programmes, Shiloh ran mad while trying to steal from the church.

Oyedepo, President and founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide while Speaking at the ongoing International Youth Alive Convention 2021 in Canaanland Ota in Ogun State, the African richest pastor said the incident was sequel to his warning against such attitudes, saying that the church is “a dreadful place”.

Oyedepo said “In one of the Shilohs, I warned people and somebody was found trying to pick something that was not his and he ran mad immediately,” he said.

it is a risk to steal in the “house of God”, Oyedepo said. He warned youths participating in the programme to deviate from such character.

He said, “I waited so as to sound this note of warning. ‘How dreadful is this place. This is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven.

“Be warned against picking anything that is not yours. Be warned, be warned. It’s a risk. Should anyone have an ulterior mission for being in camp. Be warned, it’s a dreadful place.

“How dreadful is this place. This is none other but the house of God and the gate of heaven.

“I waited to give you this message before blessing you to go for the night. See it and look away. And don’t try it yourself”.

BREAKING: UNIBEN shut down over Student Protest

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Lilian Salami has announced the immediate closure of the University, following the protest that rocked the institution on Tuesday.

It was earlier reported that students of the institution blocked the ever-busy Benin-Lagos Expressway and the Ekheuan Road over a N20,000 late registration fee imposed by the school authority.

They described the decision as unpleasant particularly amidst the “unfavourable economic situation’’ in the country. In a statement issued by the Registrar of the institution, Mr Ademola Bobola, Salami ordered all students to vacate their hostels and the University premises not later than noon on Wednesday.

“The Vice-Chancellor has reviewed the agitation by a section of the students’ body on Tuesday.

“After due consultation and in the overall interest of the general students’ body, the Vice Chancellor has, on behalf of Senate, approved the closure of the University with immediate effect.

“This is based on security reports to avoid the students’ action being hijacked by hoodlums; and thereby prevent any form of breakdown of law and order within and outside the campuses of the University,’’ She said.

What Solskjaer Said After Man Utd Shocking Defeat To Young Boys

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has reacted to his side 2-1 defeat to Young Boys on Tuesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 13th minutes opener to mark his third goal since he returned to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils were not doing bad even as Young Boys’ Moumi Ngameleu netted a 66th minutes goal to bring the game to a draw.

The game, however, turned sour for the Premier League side after Aaron Wan-Bissaka received a straight red card for a high challenge on Young Boys’ Christopher Martins.

As the match approached 90 minutes, Jesse Lingard put a backpass to find David de Gea but the ball was found by Theoson Siebatcheu who wasted no time to tuck past the United goalkeeper.

Reacting to the bad start, Solskjaer warned the Red Devils squad that they must learn from their mistakes if they are to avoid another early exit from European competition.

The Norwegian coach asked his team to remember how they lost concentration last season and suffered a loss against Basaksehir.

Solskjaer said: “A lack of concentration, you make a mistake and you get done. We did that last year, conceding two sloppy counter-attacks against Basaksehir and lost that game in the last seconds today.

“So we know we’ve given ourselves a more difficult task. We did last year when everyone thought we were through after two games.”

“You need 10 or 12 points: win your home games and one away from home. We’ve lost the opportunity to get three points, but we’ve got two home games next and got to focus on those two,” Solskjaer said after the game.

Hushpuppi: Fresh Update on Abba Kyari’s Investigation, Extradition Emerges

Nigeria’s minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dinyadi has given a fresh update on the Police’s investigation and possible extradition of embattled detective, DCP Abba Kyari.

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’, Dingyadi revealed that Kyari’s case has been submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami for advice.

He also added that the police will also consult the ministry of foreign affairs.

“The issue of Abba Kyari has become in public domain, and I think by now, everybody has heard that the police, in their very wisdom and very usual way of becoming very transparent and being fair to all, have set up a committee to investigate all these allegations,” he said.

“And we have also reported that the committee has submitted the report to the IGP, and we have submitted this report and recommendations to the AGF for legal opinion. Thereafter, we will take it to Mr President for final consideration. So, you can see that this matter is a local matter here; it also has some international connotations. So, we have to do some due diligence to ensure that we do the right thing.”

“There has to be some consultation with the ministry of foreign affairs and ministry of justice, before final decision is taken. What is important is that Nigerians should know that the police management is up and doing, and they have done what they are supposed to do. I hope people will wait and see what action is going to be taken on this matter.”

He also clarified the role of the Police Service Commission (PSC) on the probe of Kyari.

“The investigation is supposed to be done by the police, because he is their staff. We have informed the Police Service Commission, and they have directed that the officer be suspended from duty, pending the outcome of the investigation,” he added.

“By the time we finish this thing, we’ll refer what is needed to be referred to the Police Service Commission for final action. So, I think it is the police who have the responsibility to investigate.”

Despite Suspension, Ex-EFCC Chair Magu Still On FG Payroll

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, has said that former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, CP Ibrahim Magu, is still on the Federal Government’s payroll as a police officer despite his suspension by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

The minister spoke on Tuesday when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ current affairs programme monitored by The PUNCH.

Magu, who served as acting chairman of the EFCC from 2015 to 2020, was rejected twice by the Senate.

He was later suspended along with several others in July 2020 for allegedly mismanaging funds of the commission, an allegation which he vehemently denied.

The former EFCC boss was probed for over three months by a judicial panel of inquiry led by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

The panel made several recommendations but the report has not been made public to date.

The President later in February 2021 named Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new EFCC chairman to replace Magu.

In July 2021, the Police Service Commission approved the promotion of 24 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police but a statement by the Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said that “the Commission declined the promotion of CP Magu pending clearance from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General of Police.”

Giving an update on Magu’s case on the programme on Tuesday, the minister said, “The matter is investigated and the man is still in the service, he is still in the Force Headquarters, I don’t want to expatiate at this material time as to what is happening to the report of the committee. What I know is that the report has been submitted to Mr President and as far as I know, no communication has yet to be submitted to the ministry or the police force on this matter.

“So, we are waiting for the final outcome and the public will be informed as and when the need arises.”

“Of course, he is still a police officer even though he is under suspension. He used to be the chairman of the EFCC but he is no longer one.

“But that does not mean he is not on the payroll of the Federal Government; he is still a civil servant, he is still a police officer until a final decision is taken on the matter, I don’t think I should say anything more than I have said on this matter now,” Dingyadi added.