The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have unveiled the top three nominees for the 2016 Glo-CAF African Footballer of the year Awards.
The three players who made the shortlist for African Player of the Year include current title holder, Borussia Dortmund winger, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Liverpool midfielder, Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City of England and Algeria.
The three finalists of the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) category are; Rainford Kabala of Zambia and T.P Mazembe F.C and Mamelodi Sundowns F.C of South Africa duo of Dennis Onyango from Uganda and Zimbabwean, Khama Billiat.
The outright winners will be decided by votes from the Head Coaches or the Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF and the announcement will be made at a ceremony scheduled to take place at the International Convention Centre, Abuja on 5th January, 2017.
Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny cancel Arsenal's Christmas party
Arsenal will not be having their annual Christmas party this year.
The decision to cancel the ceremony was at the suggestion of Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny. And it was reportedly done to avoid a backlash from irate fans. After falling nine-point back of Chelsea, the two decided that no one at the club deserves to have any fun in their lives, thus they canceled the players’ annual Christmas party.
Shanghai SIPG complete the signing of Oscar from Chelsea.
Chelsea have agreed terms with Shanghai SIPG for the sale of Oscar for a fee of between £52m-£60m.
The Blues wrote on their website.
“Chelsea Football Club and Shanghai SIPG have agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Oscar. The 25-year-old will join the Chinese Super League team at the beginning of the January transfer window. He has been a Chelsea player for four-and-a-half years, helping us lift the Premier League, League Cup and Europa League as well as scooping two Chelsea Goal of the Season awards after stunning strikes against Juventus in 2012, on his full debut, and QPR in 2014. Skillful and tenacious, Oscar has been highly regarded by fans, players and staff during his time as a Blue, scoring 38 times from 203 Chelsea appearances.
“A summer 2012 arrival from Internacional in his native Brazil, Oscar made his debut as a sub away at Wigan before announcing himself with a dipping, bending effort against Antonio Conte’s Juventus at Stamford Bridge. He now heads to Shanghai to link up with former Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas. “We thank Oscar for his wonderful service and wish him the very best of luck for the future.”
Oscar‘s transfer fee will be the seventh biggest of all time, behind Paul Pogba, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain, Luiz Suarez and James Rodriguez
Full list of winners at The Headies 2016
The 2016 edition of The Headies; Nigeria’s biggest and most prestigious Music Awards was held yesterday 22nd December, 2016.
Kiss Daniel who failed to win the Next Rated award in 2015 emerged the biggest winner of the night, clinching three awards, Ill Bliss and Darey won two awards each. Wizkid was named artiste of the year while Olamide won for ‘best rap single’ and ‘best streethop’.
Full list of winners:
- Best video
Clarence Peters (Soldier)
2. Best R& B/Pop album
Kiss Daniel (New Era)
3. Best R&B
Darey Art-Alade
4. Recording of the Year
Darey Art-Alade (Pray For Me)
5. Hip Hop World revelation
Kiss Daniel
6. Lyricist on the Roll
Ill Bliss
7. Best Rap Single
Olamide (Eyan Mayweather)
8. Best Rap Album
Ill Bliss
9. Best Streethop
Olamide
10. Special Recognition Award
Flavour
11. Album of the Year
Kiss Daniel
12. Artiste of the Year
Wizkid
13. Next Rated
Mr Eazi
14. Reggae/Dancehall
Patoranking Best Alternative song – Bez
15. Best Vocal Performance (female)
Simi
16. Producer of the Year
Young John
17. Hall of Fame
Laolu Akins
18. Best Vocal Performance (Male)
Shaydee
19. Best Collaboration
Falz featuring Simi – Soldier
20. Best Pop Single
Reggea Blues – Harrysong ft Olamide, Orezi, Iyanya, KCee.
Photos from Olamide's novelty 'OLIC Football Challenge'
Ahead of the biggest and most anticipated music concert this December, OLIC 3, rap star, Olamide hosted fans to an all stars football match which held at the Lekki Fun Turf on Tuesday, the 20th of December, 2016.
Largely to intimate the fans on the celebrities billed to perform at the concert, the Olamide Football Challenge saw four celebrity teams consisting of OLIC lead organizers; Right Entertainment, Achievas Entertainment, YBNL Nation and top Lagos football team, LEKKI All Stars, battle for supremacy on the pitch.
The novelty match kicked off at 9:00pm with an impressive delivery of the national anthem by YBNL princess, Temmie. Seyi Law, who was the host for the night announced the first team to play; YBNL Nation and Right Entertainment. The 40 minutes game ended with YBNL Nation emerging as winners with 2 goals to nil.
The second half of the game between Achievas and Lekki All Stars Kicked off almost immediately and ended with Achievas winning also with 2 goals to nil.
The excitement from the audience intensified during the final game between YBNL and Achievas . After the 40 minutes game, Achievas Entertainment which was led by singer Solid Star emerged the ultimate winners of OLIC Footballl Challenge with 3 goals to 1.
Some of the celebrity players for the night include ID Cabasa, AY Makun, Oristefemi, Solid Star, Akpororo who scored one of the winning goals for Achievas, Mc Shakara,, Pheelz, Young Jonn who scored 2 goals among others. Coaches for the night were Funny Bone, Olamide’s manager; Alex Okeke, AY Makun and Ossy Achievas.
Didier Drogba shows his humanitarian efforts again
Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba is known for his real life humanitarian efforts.
The 38 year-old recently posted pictures of him giving to less privileged kids.
“Had an amazing time yesterday with #didierdrogbafoundation giving away some Christmas presents to this kids from Abrabo’s school outside Abidjan. An emotional stop at this orphanage from Adiaké, outside Abidjan to give some love and some present to this orphans with different but heartbreaking stories. We sometimes forget how lucky we are to have our parents alive and how these kids are alone.” He wrote on Instagram.
Funke Akindele, AY, others for Olamide's OLIC Football challenge
Days after unveiling the track list of his 6th studio album, The Glory and most recently the release of the first video off the album, The Glory Intro, YBNL rapper, Olamide has announced an all star football challenge.
Today, the 20th of December, the rapper will host his fans to an evening of fun and excitement at the Lekki Fun Turf. OLIC Football Challenge as it has been tagged will see celebrities set to perform at the concert first battle for supremacy on the pitch.
Four teams which represent the lead organizers of the concert; YBNL Nation, Right Entertainment, Achievas Entertainment and popular Lagos football club, Lekki All Stars would compete five a side at 40 minutes for each game. Team captains will select 5 celebrities each to make up their team while the fans decide which of the players stays or leaves the pitch at the end of each game.
Team players for each of the teams include Olamide who would lead the YBNL team of celebrities, Solid Star for Achievas entertainment, Funny Bone for Right Entertainment and comedian AY for Lekki All Stars. Celebrity referees on the other hand include Eniola Badmus and Funke Akindele.
Full List Of Winners At The Future Awards Africa 2016
The 2016 edition of The Future Awards Africa was held on Sunday, December 18th in Lagos, Nigeria.
See the winners below:
The Future Awards and EbonyLife Prize for Acting – Somkele Iyamah Idhalama, 28
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Fashion Adebayo Oke-Lawal, 26
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Beauty Theodora ‘Doranne’ Anne Mogo, 27
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Music Yemi Alade, 27
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Professional Service Dr. Salihu Dasuki Nakande, 29
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Business Ifeanyi Orajaka, 28
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Sports Kehinde Paul, 28
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Education Godwin Benson, 27
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Technology Olaniran Abiola, 27
The Future Awards and EbonyLife Prize for New Media Tosin Ajibade, 29
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Media Enterprise Bidemi Zakariyau, 27
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Public Service Asuquo Ekpenyong, 31
The Future Awards and EbonyLife Prize for Journalism Chika Sandra Oduah, 30
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts & Culture Aderenle Sonariwo, 29
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Creative Professional Evans Akanno, 27
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Advocacy Bukola Bolarinwa, 28
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Agriculture Julius Adewopo, 31
The Futures Awards and EbonyLife Prize for Screen Producer Adeola Oshikojo, 30
The Future Awards and EbonyLife Prize for On Air Personality (Visual) Bolanle Olukanni, 27
The Future Awards and EbonyLife Prize for On Air Personality (Audio) Ayo Thomson, 28
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year Mark Okoye, 30
My passion has been a driving force – Leading blogger, Laila Ijeoma Obiagwu
Laila Ijeoma Obiagwu is the owner of Laila’s blog and enjoys a large followership online. She tells Ademola Olonilua of PUNCH newspapers how her blog was created.
When was Laila’s blog created?
I actually started blogging in 2012. Lailasblog.com was birthed January 2013
What drew your attention to blogging?
I have always been a science student in school and I never knew anything about blogging in my life. When I finished school, I just wanted an outlet where I could share experiences with people and because of that, I started a Facebook page called, ‘True love for my man.’ That was the first social media account I used to gather people together and we spoke about love and heartbreak. The Facebook page grew because a lot of my friends joined.
I still wanted more, so I told a friend that I had the desire to run a television show and she told me to visit a radio station instead. I listened to her advice, visited a radio station and they gave me air time to do a show about money because I also work in a bank.
I had to cancel the show because it was not easy running the show alongside being a mother, a wife and a banker. All this while, I was still holding on to the passion of growing a community of like minds.
One day, I stumbled on one of my colleagues’ blog at work and I asked him questions about how it works. He showed me how to run a blog and from there, I began to visit other blogs. I was so intrigued and I told my colleague that day in the office that I wanted to start my own blog. He helped me create the blog, I began blogging and ever since then, I have had so much fun. I did not start it because I needed money, I was gainfully employed. When I started and began to read people’s comments, I knew this is what I had been looking for all this while.
How were you able to combine being a blogger, a wife, mother and a banker?
It is crazy and quite difficult to explain it. I spend every free second I have on my blog. I started waking up as early as 3am to blog and the beautiful thing about blogging is that you can schedule your posts, so even when you are not online, the post would still be uploaded on the blog. That helped me a lot.
During my break hours, I would rush home, find out what is happening around the world and begin to blog then I rush back to the office after that. Then once it is 4pm, I quickly round off my work and by 6pm, I am back home sitting in front of my computer, blogging till about 12am when I go to bed. That is how I have been living my life because I am still working for the bank.
It has to do with passion. When you want to succeed, as bad as you want to breathe, then you would be successful. You would not even see obstacles. My passion has been a driving force.
Also, I have a supportive home and a husband who is very caring. I have a husband who helps out a lot at home and even on the blog and I am very grateful. In fact, my kids even know that their mother is a blogger. My family understand that I have two jobs and they all come together to help me. They help out with whatever they can and this reduces the burden.
What has been your most controversial post so far?
When Toke Makinwa got married, I broke the story but I don’t think that was controversial. Once in a while, I have had issues with some celebrities and some other people. Also during the Olamide versus Don Jazzy feud, I broke the story that it was Dangote that brought them back together and Olamide prostrated to Don Jazzy. The story actually went viral.
But have you posted any story that got you into trouble?
I think one that almost got me into trouble involved the wife of the son of a very top Nigerian pastor. This top and highly revered pastor’s daughter-in-law posted her bikini picture on her Instagram page and when I saw it, I uploaded it on my blog.
Of course, I knew it would generate some controversies but I uploaded it though later took it down after I had a change of heart. But unfortunately, other blogs had already picked it. Later I got a letter from the lady that I published her picture without her permission. It was on public domain.
Have you ever gotten letter from lawyers or threat messages based on what you post on your blog?
Yes I have and I am trying to remember them. The latest one was with Toni Payne. I don’t know if it should be on print because these are issues I have resolved. During the Toni Payne saga, she threatened me and told me that she could circulate a false story about my husband.
When I became very serious with my blog, I had to get a writer to assist me. Right now, I have two writers that assist me. They help me post some stories when I am preoccupied with some other things.
That very day, one of my writers stumbled on a post on Instagram, someone used a parody account and the name of the account was Thoni Payne. The person blasted Wizkid and my writer thought it was Toni Payne. So when my writer was uploading it on my blog, she credited the statement to Toni Payne.
However, immediately she did it and realized her mistake, the post was removed. All that time, I was at work and was not aware of all that was happening.
It was when I got back home and I was going through my emails that I saw a message from Toni where she was abusing me. She had already sent a mail to my in-laws and my husband. She was able to get them by tracing through my social media accounts. She told my in-laws that I was tarnishing people’s image on my blog and they should warn me to take down the story. I did not know she had sent a mail before that one.
Then I replied her asking what the problem was in a very nice manner. It was at that point I scrolled down my mail and saw the first e-mail she sent me where she wrote that I posted false news about her and I must apologize or she would instruct her lawyers to write me, then she attached the link of the story with the e-mail.
I went to my blog and realized the post had been deleted, so I called my writer and she informed me of what happened. Toni Payne was insisting that I apologize and I told her that I didn’t need to be told that she deserved one.
I own the blog and accepted full responsibility for what happened. Then I put up a retraction. Toni even sent me a picture of my husband to make me understand that she did her job well. When she did that, I had to ask if she was threatening me. She said that she was not going to do anything like that but she added that one day I would get a dose of my medicine.
I was very shocked when she said that. She said I had been writing so many evil stories about her and that I was after her downfall. Which I am not.
How do you handle negative criticism?
I am somebody that apologizes when I am wrong; we all make mistakes once in a while. Even CNN and Daily Mail which I love a lot make mistakes. I post the news and I never blackmail. If I am wrong, I would always apologize but if you accuse me wrongly, I leave it to God because the person is not worth my stress.
At what point did you start making money from your blog?
I was consistent in my work and in 2014, a particular company did an advert with me for a full year and it was worth it.
For someone not based in Lagos, how do you get fresh news?
One good thing about blogging is that you don’t have to be in Lagos but you have to be there to attend business meetings. You can blog from anywhere and you can get fresh news anywhere as long as you have the right sources, friends and connections. Sometimes strangers send me stories because they like my blog. They say things like they want me to be the first to break the story. That is how I get most of my stories.
When you created your blog, did you know you would become popular?
No, I did not. I started my blog as a prank. I did not start my blog because I wanted to make money. In 2007, I was earning as much as N200,000, I was single and I was a big girl. It was not about money at all. I started blogging as a prank; I even used a fake picture on my blog’s profile. It was along the line that I realized that I enjoy it. I love blogging. I did not realize that the blog would take me to where I am today.
Do you wish you were as popular in reality as you are on the internet?
May God not let bad thing happen. When you get popular, you are exposed to a lot of things. Even the people that are with you can sell you out. Most of the stories that we post were given to us by inside sources. It is people around celebrities that give the stories to bloggers. I don’t think I am ready for such popularity. I like things the way they are.
You were recently nominated for an award in Dubai, what was it about?
It is the Pan African Humanitarian Award in partnership with the Economic Community for West African States and World Leaders Forum, Dubai, and I was nominated in the category of the most promising blogger of the year. I was very excited when I got the mail because it is the first international nomination that I would have. I also feel very honored and humbled.
Leicester City, Andy Murray, win at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards
Leicester City’s stellar performance last season which saw them win the 2016 Premier League title, have earned them the 2016 Team of the Year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. The club’s coach, Claudio Ranieri was also named Coach of the Year.
Tennis heavyweight, Andy Murray also became the first person to win BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year three times.