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  Ahead Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Nigerians residing in the east African Nations have said they would be in for trouble should the Eagles tame the Red Devils As the make or mar Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Congo inches nearer, Nigerians residing in Congo Brazzaville have told Goal they would be at the receiving end should the Super Eagles beat the Red Devils on Saturday. The fans who kept vigil till the Discovery Air that conveyed the Super Eagles landed 2.30 am (Nigeria time) mobbed the players and their officials singing “you can beat Congo 5-0 if they can beat you in Calabar”. Three of the excited fans who spoke with Goal and pleaded anonymity said should the Eagles beat Congo, they would be at the receiving end. "We are sure of Eagles victory since we know that our team always come to life in very difficult situation, but if the Eagles win tomorrow (Saturday), we will keep indoors after the match because the Congolese will d

Asa VS Nneka: Who is more celebrated internationally?      Nigerian music has definitely come a long way. Recent years have wit­nessed the astronomic rise and dominance of the African music space by Nigeria. This is evidenced by the continued domination of sev­eral award platforms including BET, MAMAs, MOBOS, and Channel O Music Video awards by Nigerian artistes. Today, Showdown parades two of Nigeria’s popular singers – Asa and Nneka. Both unarguably stand out on the international scene due to their unique sound. They have fea­tured on the biggest stages in the world, rubbing shoulders with the best and winning accolades in the process. But who among them is the most celebrated internationally? Mu­sic buffs bare their minds. Excerpts: ASA: Born in Paris, France, Bukola El­emide famously known as Asa, is the only daughter from a family of four kids. The songwriter, instrumental­ist and artiste started her career in Lagos, and trained under the

I took a big risk on Kenny G -Mike Aremu    Nigeria’s lead­ing saxophonist, Mike Aremu, has opened up on how he pro­posed to his wife of three years, Omolara. In an exclusive chat with TONY OGAGA ERHARIEFE, Aremu, who is set to thrill fans when his annual concert, Sax Appeal 4, takes centre stage in Abuja on November 23, said that he flew all the way from the United Kingdom to propose to his wife. It was June 23, 2009, her birthday. “Actually it was on her birthday. I was in the UK but travelled to Nigeria; she did not know I was coming. I got to her home at exactly 12 midnight  opened the door, right there before her parents and siblings, I wished her a happy birthday and proposed to her. I later gave her an engagement ring; she was ecstatic! We finally tied the knot two years later on June 23, 2011, just before Sax Appeal 3. We dated for like two years before we tied the knot.” and knocked on the door. When she Aremu was already a celebrity w

Nicki Minaj apologises for offensive Nazi imagery in video While Nicki Minaj was busy hosting the MTV EMA, she was also fielding heavy criticism for using what many believe to be Nazi-inspired im­agery in her ‘Onl lyric video. The video finds ani­mated versions of Nicki, Lil Wayne, Drake, and Chris Brown reigning in a heavily militarized setting, with black, red, white YMCMB flags that resemble the black, red and white swastika that became a symbol of Adolf Hitler’s oppres­sive Nazi Germany. On Tuesday morn­ing (November 11), Nicki finally addressed the backlash when she tweeted: “I didn’t come up w/the concept, but I’m very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone. I’d never condone Nazism in my art.” “The artist who made the lyric video for “Only” was influenced by a cartoon on Cartoon Network called “Meta­localypse” & Sin City,” she tweeted. “Both the producer, & person in charge of over seeing the lyric video (one of

  Ready to die for love At the age of 22, Wasiu Kadiru thought he had it all, especially when he won the love of a woman of his dream, Barakat, whom he de­scribed as the most beautiful gift of God in his life. Little did he know that the passion he had for her would destroy his life in the nearest future. Trouble started barely a year into their marriage, when he discovered that he was about to lose his wife, Barakat to his best friend, Tunji Bello with whom she had been entan­gled in a secret romance. Moved by rage caused by a possible loss of his wife to his friend, Wasiu allegedly slaughtered another man simply identified as Segun on the last Eid-el-kabir day (October 4) who he claimed conspired with Tunji to snatch his wife, Barakat. Saturday Sun learnt that after the reality dawned on him, Wasiu fled their base in Eredo community, Epe Local Gov­ernment Area of Lagos and went into hiding till he was re­cently fished out by operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, at t

3 perish in Nigerian Air Force helicopter crash Four days after a Nige­rian Air Force helicop­ter crashed in Damare, close to the camp of In­ternally Displaced Persons in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, another military helicopter crashed on Thursday night at Sangere, killing all crew members. Eyewitnesses said the helicopter crashed around 10pm. Sangere is also in Girei Local Government Area, and is a few kilometers from the site of the first crash. The recent crash caused pandemonium in Yola, the state capital ,and its environs as students on campus, off campus and residents of Sangere, where the crash occurred scampered for safety believing that Boko Haram had launched an offensive. Resident said that they panicked when they heard the explosions and the belch of fire and smoke that followed. Describing the events leading to the crash, Hey Ibrahim Ali, a resident of Hayin Kada Village near Yola, told our reporter, “We saw the helico

2015: Atiku, Tinubu, others in secret meeting with Obasanjo     Former Vice Presi­dent Atiku Abuba­kar and some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC yesterday continued their consultation with former President Oluse­gun Obasanjo. Abubakar and other lead­ers of the APC, includ­ing a former minister of education, Prof. Babalola Borishade who is also the Director General of the Atiku Campaign Organi­zation and Chief Oyewole Fasawe, an associate of the former president held a 35-minute closed-door meeting with Obasanjo in his hilltop mansion. Others at the meeting with Obasanjo were Prof. Maxwell Gidado, Direc­tor (Legal) of the ACO, Senator Mohammed Ohi­are (Kogi Central) and Dr. Adeolu Akande. Also, the former gov­ernor of Lagos and APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu was said to have earlier held a sepa­rate closed door meeting with Obasanjo along with former Governor of Ekiti Chief Segun Oni. Saturday Sun gathered that the separate meetings between Atiku and hi

Liberians rejoice but Ebola still a threat, says WHO The World Health Organization warned on Friday that the Ebola epidemic was far from beaten as Liberians celebrated the end of the country’s state of emergency. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf announced on Thursday she was lifting a raft of punitive restrictions on freedoms imposed three months ago because the spread was slowing in the capital, Monrovia. “This is an indication that the situation is even better than we thought,” said a rejoicing Mamadee Swaray, an entrepreneur in the capital Monrovia. “The state of emergency was decided because of the fast spreading speed of the virus. If it is lifted this means that cases are not only reducing but there is a better future for us.” Official figures show Ebola has claimed more than 5,100 lives across west Africa — 2,836 of them in hardest-hit Liberia — with the real death toll thought to be up to three times higher. The WHO said reports of new cases had dropped dra

Tambuwal picks APC presidential nomination form Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker the House of Representatives has picked the notice of intent and nomination forms to run for the office of president of Nigeria on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, ‎APC. Alhaji Tambuwal recently defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party , a move political watchers claimed was to run for the governorship seat in his home State,  Sokoto.

Controversial actress cum singer, Cossy Orjiakor, who seems to derive pleasure from flaunting her God-given gifts in the open, is at it again. This time, she is in the news as a result of her daring presence in the just concluded Halloween held in Lagos recently.CossyThe sexy actress, who went to the event bra less, told Matinee why she chose not to wear bra to the event. Hear her, “Actually, a friend of mine and her husband invited me to the event and I decided to go with one of my craziest costumes which I have not worn for a long time.The top has a very tiny hock in the chest and if I should wear bra, my bra will be exposed. So, I decided to show my boobs instead of my bra. I think people would prefer to see the boobs instead of bra. You, which one will you prefer to see?” she asked our reporter.“The funny thing is that, the very first time I stepped out bra less, I got pips freaking out. Everybody wanted to have pictures with me. Then I got bitten by the Egyptian vampire, these

  The Body of Benchers, whose responsibility is to admit and call successful students of the Nigerian Law School to the bar, has warned Nigerians to desist from begging for the students who failed their final Bar examination. The Nigerian Law School was said to have recorded mass failure in the 2013/2014 final Bar examination. About 50 per cent of the students reportedly failed the examination. The body, through its Chairman, Chief Onomigbo Okpoko (SAN), said in a statement obtained on Thursday that it had been inundated with requests of members of the public for waiver and review of the results. Okpoko explained that the responsibility of the Body of Benchers was limited to admitting and calling successful law school students to bar. He therefore asked the public to stop requesting for waiver or review of the result “as it has absolutely nothing to do with the conduct of Bar exams.” He said, “Nigerians must learn to play by the rules always and accept what the rules of

Some have launched a powerful drive for the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, to emerge as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Investigations on Thursday revealed that the members took it upon themselves to purchase the APC presidential nomination form for Tambuwal, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the nation’s main opposition party. Attempts by the APC to pick a presidential candidate by consensus had failed after talks between the stakeholders reportedly collapsed on Wednesday. The contest was initially between a former Head of State, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd); a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar; Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha. But, The  learnt that the “entry” of Tambuwal into the race had further compounded the situation in the APC. Investigations showed that the lawmakers had reasoned that Tambuwal was a “poor speaker,” who would not afford the N27m the APC fixed as the co

Boko Haram kills more pupils despite Safe Schools Initiative Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau and Brown With the merciless attacks on schools in the North East by Boko Haram, how worthy is the Safe Schools Initiative, FOLASHADE ADEBAYO asks Following the bombing at the Government Technical Science College, Potiskum, Yobe State, where more than 40 pupils lost their lives on the assembly ground on Monday, concerned Nigerians have called on the Federal Government to review its Safe Schools Initiative Programme. They argue that the latest attack, the second targeted at schools in Yobe State this year, ridiculed the SSI touted to protect pupils as well as teaching and non-teaching staff during school hours. In February, terrorists had invaded the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, also in the state, setting the school hall on fire, and killing no fewer than 59 pupils. The insurgents also abducted some of the pupils who tried to escape. As if that was not enough, t

Swansea stun Arsenal as Newcastle soar Arsenal missed the chance to go fourth in the English Premier League after Swansea came from behind to beat the Gunners 2-1 with two late goals at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.Victory saw south Wales club Swansea leapfrog Arsenal into fifth place as Arsene Wenger’s side suffered only their second league defeat of the season following their loss to leaders Chelsea.Arsenal were on course for victory when Alexis Sanchez scored his sixth goal in four games in all competitions when he swept in Danny Welbeck’s cross to set the seal on a flowing counter-attack in the 63rd minute.But Swansea equalised 15 minutes from time when, from fully 25 yards out, Gylfi Sigurdsson curled in a brilliant free-kick which kept going past the right hand of helpless Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and into the top corner.Barely three minutes later, Swansea were in front.Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis, who’d only just been sent on by manager Garry Monk, rose high above t

Rapper Big Paybacc Shot Dead In McDonald's The rapper, whose videos on YouTube have tens of thousands of hits, is gunned down while eating his lunch in California. Rapper Big Paybacc has been shot dead while eating his lunch in a McDonald's near Los Angeles. The star, whose 2011 track Gangsta Luv has been viewed more than 250,000 times on YouTube, was gunned down by an attacker who walked in and opened fire. Police said about 15 people were in the restaurant in Palmdale, a community about 35 miles (56km) north of Los Angeles, when the shooting happened. The killer was said to have fired at the rapper several times using a handgun and officers found the him with multiple wounds. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Deputy Guillermina Saldana said: "It appears to detectives that the victim was the intended target of the suspect and that this was not a random shooting."   The rapper's body is taken away from the scene. Pic:

  Helen Sloan/HBO Here’s some news that might actually make  Game of Thrones book fans happy for once. In September,  Thrones castmember  Kristian Nairn (who plays Hodor)  let it slip that he and co-star  Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran) would not be back for the show’s fifth season, which is bad news for anyone who really wants to hear “Hodor” over and over again. But now  Thrones showrunner David Benioff is explaining exactly why the characters won’t be back: Ideally that wouldn’t have gotten out and it’s unfortunate it did. The fact is, even though we’re making changes to the books and adapting as necessary, we’re trying to keep the various storylines the same as the books and trying to keep them roughly (chronologically) parallel. And last year we caught up to the end of Bran’s storyline (in the most recent book). So if we pushed him forward this season, then he’s way ahead of where the other characters are. So basically, for once, they’re trying to remain true to t

    Paramount Pictures   The first trailer for  Selma , a new film about Martin Luther King Jr. , and the civil rights movement has dropped, and we’re still trying to catch our breaths after watching it. The film specifically follows King during the marches between Selma and Montgomery, and you can feel the emotion and tension in every beat of this trailer. The film opens in limited release Christmas Day, so it just makes the cut for this year’s Oscars, and we think the Academy will definitely be paying attention. David Oyelowo ’s performance as King is the clear standout in the trailer, but make sure you don’t miss Oprah as civil rights activist Annie Lee Cooper . She’s just barely in the trailer, but the few moments that we see her are powerful. We can’t wait to see more. Watch the full trailer below.

Nicki Minaj, Drake And Lil Wayne’s ‘Only’ Lyric Video Is Here, Now You Can See The Sex See what they said.     Nicki Minaj’ s “Only” single was so raunchy, that we haven’t picked our jaws off the floor in the nine days since the track first dropped. Yes, hearing Nick, Drake and Lil Wayne rap about their sexual exploits was jarring, and now we can actually see what they’re saying. On Friday (November 7), Nicki dropped the lyric video for “Only” and if you thought hearing Ms. Minaj rap about ménage à trios with her Young Money label mates was crazy, wait until you see the lyrics flash across your computer screen.

  Share to Facebook Tweet to Twitter Selena Gomez Reveals What Justin Bieber Thinks Of Her New Song: Plus 7 Other Revelations From Her New Interview   More Comments   By now, you may (or may not) have pulled yourself out of the pool of tears you cried after listening to Selena Gomez ‘s new track “The Heart Wants What It Wants.” It’s raw, emotional, vulnerable and all about her on-again, off-again boyfriend Justin Bieber — and we aren’t just speculating about that. Selena said so herself. The pop star sat down with Ryan Seacrest on Thursday (November 6) and — just like in her song — held nothing back. Gomez talked all about her up-and-down relationship and even revealed what Justin thinks of the song. Plus, why she waited a year to release the song, which she’ll perform at the 2014 American Music Awards later this month. Here are seven revelations from Selena’s oh-so-revealing interview: 1. Tearful Confession Selena opens the “Heart” video with an emotional recordi

Women, who claim to have the capacity to make great difference in governance, have declared their intention to contest for governorship election next year, Fisayo Falodi writes Many women have declared their intention to contest for the 2015 governorship election in their respective states. They have, in a manner that could be described as an attempt to prove to the menfolk that they possess the robust capacity to manage both human and material resources, pushed their ambition in a way that suggest that they mean business. The women have, at various fora, promised to provide impactful governance for the people if elected governors. The women governorship aspirants have held consultations with relevant stakeholders as one of the major steps to realise their ambition. Going by the way they have been pushing their ambition, they seem to have rejected an old practice in which women were allotted deputy governorship position in the country. Among the few women elected deputy gove