Nigerian Whispers : 2013-12-15

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Bayerns rivals Dortmund suffer shock defeat.

Bayern's rivals slump to shock defeats (via AFP)

Bayern Munich's main rivals failed to dent the European champions' seven-point lead in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund both suffering shock defeats on Saturday. On the final German league weekend of 2013 before the winter…

Liverpool go top, City rally, United roll on in Premier League (via AFP)

Liverpool took over at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday, while Manchester City climbed to second place and Manchester United continued their recent revival. With previous leaders Arsenal and Chelsea facing off at the Emirates Stadium…

Court Jails Two For Currency Counterfeiting (via The InfoStrides)

Two alleged fraudsters being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly being in possession of fake United States Dollar bills have been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice E. S. Chukwu…

Nigeria to use USA for World Cup training camp - Keshi.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi wants the African champions to use the United States as their pre-World Cup training base.

Football officials had previously floated the idea of training in Argentina, Colombia or the United States.

But Keshi said he has decided on two American cities, Miami or Houston, because they are likely to have similar weather as Sao Paulo, the Brazilian city where the Super Eagles will be based for the tournament.

Nigeria are scheduled to begin their World Cup training on May 25.

"I have proposed that we camp in the United States because by the time we would be opening our camping the US would have the same weather asBrazil," Keshi said.

"There are several US cities that would be hot like Brazil and would have the same temperature (as) Sao Paolo."

He specifically identified Miami and Houston, which has a large Nigerian community.

Japan will most likely be one of Nigeria’s pre-tournament friendly opponents after they expressed a desire to test their readiness against the Eagles.

"While in Brazil for the draw, I was told Japan were interested in playing us, but I would also like to play countries like Peru," Keshi said.

"Considering the countries we have in our group, I would love the Eagles to play countries from the region that have the same playing style," he added.

"But it would also depend on the availability of such countries because some of them may have concluded their friendly arrangement already."

Nigeria will face Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in the first round of next year’s World Cup.

Nigeria military hunts Islamists after daring barrack attacks.

Nigeria military hunts Islamists after daring barracks attack (via AFP)

Nigeria's military has surrounded a village in the northeast to flush out Islamist rebels who fled there after reportedly snatching soldiers' wives and children during a daring attack on an army barracks nearby, witnesses told AFP Saturday. Suspected…

Bryant has broken bone in knee - Lakers (via AFP)

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has a broken bone in his left knee and is expected to miss six weeks, the NBA team said Thursday. "You hate it for Kobe," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said in remarks posted on the team's Twitter feed. "He's worked…

Beyonce surprises fans goes Christmas shopping in Walmart. (READ)

Shoppers at Walmart were excited to see Beyonce's new album on the shelves, but imagine their shock when the diva herself showed up.

The 32-year-old singer made a special appearance at a branch of the mega-chain store in Tewksbury, Massachusetts on Friday night, where she sparked a mass of screaming fans.

The Crazy In Love singer was there to celebrate the success of her fifth and record-breaking studio album, which is aptly-titled, Beyonce.

Strutting into the store in a turquoise matching top and skirt, and a sexy leather biker jacket, the I'm A Survivor songstress certainly stood out from the crowd in the small town, which is 25 miles from Boston.

The rare outing was shared on her Facebook page with the caption, 'A little shopping today at Walmart. #BEYONCÉ is available now in store.'

Beyonce even grabbed a shopping trolley and wheeled it around the store browsing for Christmas presents, but of course stopped at a rack bursting with her own CDs - and even bought a copy.

Also packed into her personal cart were presents for daughter Blue Ivy, including some bright pink Barbie dolls.

Surrounded by shoppers who were just expecting to knock some things off their Christmas list - not bump into a celebrity - Beyonce had a crowd following in her footsteps as she walked down the aisles.

With her own 23-month-old daughter safe at home, the former Destiny's Child member picked up a little blonde girl with her hair in bunches wearing a pink coat and swung her around.

'You are beautiful,' she told the delighted toddler, whose proud parent shared a picture on Instagram, according to Us Weekly.

The Grammy winner took the tannoy at one stage to talk to the packed shop over the loudspeaker, wishing them a happy holidays and no doubt encouraging them to buy her album.

Before jetting off again, she left them all with a little extra Christmas cheer by giving everyone a $50 Walmart gift card, the store manager told Us. A total of 750 cards ($37,500 worth of gift cards purchased by the millionaire musician) were enclosed within envelopes that read, 'Happy Holidays from Beyonce.'

Jay Z's super star wife had been living it up in New York City on Thursday with a Brooklyn concert at the Barclays Center and an album release party later that night at Dave & Buster's arcade.

Guests played arcade games, enjoyed drinks from own Beyonce cups, and were also able to snack on Beyonce themed cupcakes.

Among those at the event were stylist Ty Hunter, designer Alexander Wang songwriter J. Cole and rapper Drake, who features on the track 'Mine' from the new album.

Drake addressed the crowd during the celebrations, saying: 'I just came out tonight to let you know congratulations to each and every one of you that worked on this s***, for real. And of course to the queen, the utmost congratulations.'

culled from : Dailymail.co.uk

Ibadan Airport. What a joke!!! (Readers send Linda Ikeji really hilarious pics of Ibadan airport)

Pictures of Ibadan airport arrival and departure lounge.I cant believe this is how Ibadan airport looks like. This is really downgrading, should it even be open with its current state?. God help us in this country Nigeria. Look at the pictures below :

credit : lindaikeji.blogspot.com

Funny post : Obasanjo and Iyabo's letters on sale (Pic)

Wonders shall never end, damn the hustle out there is real. People would do anything to make money. At least they are not committing a crime so its much better. God bless there hustle.

Pic credit : lindaikeji.blogspot.com

Going to Africa, hope I don't get aids. I'm white" PR exec Tweets

Justine Sacco, the communications director for InterActiveCorp, better known as IAC based in New York, tweeted what you see above from an airport in London on her way to board a flight to an African country. How a cringe-worthy statement like this is 'Just kidding' is beyond me.

Unfortunately for Ms Sacco she couldn't take the tweet down for hours because she was on a long flight to Africa...by the time she landed several hours later, not only was there an outcry on Twitter, her job was also on the line. The company she works for quickly responded by releasing a statement

“This is an outrageous, offensive comment that does not reflect the views and values of IAC. Unfortunately, the employee in question is unreachable on an international flight, but this is a very serious matter and we are taking appropriate action.” the company said in a statement.

The tweet was deleted late last night (American time) very early this morning (African time). Not only that, Ms Sacco's entire Twitter account has been deleted. There are also reports that she has been fired by IAC. This is a very ignorant thing to do, i hope she pays dearly for it, for this disrespect to a whole continent.

Friday, December 20, 2013

N.Korea threatens to strike South Korea mercilessly (READ)

North Korea sent a fax to South Korea on Thursday, threatening to "strike mercilessly without notice" after protests against the secretive regime this week in Seoul.

The message warned that North Korea would strike if "the provocation against our highest dignity is to be repeated in the downtown of Seoul."Earlier this week, on the second anniversary of the death of former North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, conservative protesters rallied in Seoul, burning effigies of the country's leaders as well as its flag. Such protests are common during North Korean festivals and anniversaries.

The South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said it sent a response.

"The reply was sent through wired message and in the fax message, we warned that if North Korea is to carry out provocation, we will firmly retaliate," said Kim Min-seok, the spokesman for South Korea's Ministry of National Defense.

He added that there have been no significant military movements in North Korea.

Pyongyang routinely threatens to retaliate after what it considers "provocations" including protests or balloon launches to the north by South Korean groups.

Relations between the Koreas have seesawed this year, verging on hostile earlier this year amid a nuclear test in February.

This month, the execution of Jang Song Thaek, an advisor and uncle of North Korea's current leader, Kim Jong Un unsettled its neighbors, prompting speculation about instability in the country's leadership.

The pictures from the protest below:

culled from : cnn south korea

Did you know? (Nigerian Facts)

In central Nigeria, West Africa’s oldest civilisation flourished between 1000 BC and 300 BC. Discovered in 1928, the ancient culture was called the Nok Civilisation, named after the village in which the early artefacts were discovered. Two modern scholars, declare that “[a]fter calibration, the period of Nok art spans from 1000 BC until 300 BC”. The site itself is much older going back as early as 4580 or 4290 BC.
The Nigerian city of Ile-Ife was paved in 1000 AD on the orders of a female ruler with decorations that originated in Ancient America. Naturally, no-one wants to explain how this took place approximately 500 years before the time of Christopher Columbus!
One of the great achievements of the Yoruba was their urban culture. “By the year A.D. 1300,” says a modern scholar, “the Yoruba people built numerous walled cities surrounded by farms”. The cities were Owu, Oyo, Ijebu, Ijesa, Ketu, Popo, Egba, Sabe, Dassa, Egbado, Igbomina, the sixteen Ekiti principalities, Owo and Ondo.
Yoruba metal art of the mediaeval period was of world class. One scholar wrote that Yoruba art “would stand comparison with anything which Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece and Rome, or Renaissance Europe had to offer.”
The mediaeval Nigerian city of Benin was built to “a scale comparable with the Great Wall of China”. There was a vast system of defensive walling totalling 10,000 miles in all. Even before the full extent of the city walling had become apparent the Guinness Book of Records carried an entry in the 1974 edition that described the city as: “The largest earthworks in the world carried out prior to the mechanical era.”
Benin art of the Middle Ages was of the highest quality. An official of the Berlin Museum für Völkerkunde once stated that: “These works from Benin are equal to the very finest examples of European casting technique. Benvenuto Cellini could not have cast them better, nor could anyone else before or after him . . . Technically, these bronzes represent the very highest possible achievement.”
In the mid-nineteenth century, William Clarke, an English visitor to Nigeria, remarked that: “As good an article of cloth can be woven by the Yoruba weavers as by any people . . . in durability, their cloths far excel the prints and home-spuns of Manchester.”
The recently discovered 9th century Nigerian city of Eredo was found to be surrounded by a wall that was 100 miles long and seventy feet high in places. The internal area was a staggering 400 square miles.
In Nigeria, the royal palace in the city of Kano dates back to the fifteenth century. Begun by Muhammad Rumfa (ruled 1463-99) it has gradually evolved over generations into a very imposing complex. A colonial report of the city from 1902, described it as “a network of buildings covering an area of 33 acres and surrounded by a wall 20 to 30 feet high outside and 15 feet inside . . . in itself no mean citadel”.
The Nigerian city of Surame flourished in the sixteenth century. Even in ruin it was an impressive sight, built on a horizontal vertical grid. A modern scholar describes it thus: “The walls of Surame are about 10 miles in circumference and include many large bastions or walled suburbs running out at right angles to the main wall. The large compound at Kanta is still visible in the centre, with ruins of many buildings, one of which is said to have been two-storied. The striking feature of the walls and whole ruins is the extensive use of stone and tsokuwa (laterite gravel) or very hard red building mud, evidently brought from a distance. There is a big mound of this near the north gate about 8 feet in height. The walls show regular courses of masonry to a height of 20 feet and more in several places. The best preserved portion is that known as sirati (the bridge) a little north of the eastern gate . . . The main city walls here appear to have provided a very strongly guarded entrance about 30 feet wide.”
The Nigerian city of Kano in 1851 produced an estimated 10 million pairs of sandals and 5 million hides each year for export.

Many more facts to come later on. Keep reading Nigerianwhispers.blogspot.com as we feed with more historical facts about Nigeria.

Liverpool and Suarez sign new long term deal.

Luis Suarez has signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with Liverpool.

The striker, 26, joined the Reds in January 2011 and has scored 17 goals in 11 Premier League starts this season.

Suarez, whose original deal was set to expire in 2016, will earn around £160,000 until the end of this season and then £200,000 per week over the final four years of the contract.I am delighted to have agreed a new deal with Liverpool and have my future secured for the long term," he said.

"I believe I can achieve the ambitions of winning trophies and playing at the very highest level with Liverpool. My aim is to help get us there as quickly as possible."

Suarez's relationship with leading figures at Anfield has improved significantly since he attempted to force a move to Arsenal in the summer.

The Gunners made two bids for the Uruguay international, including a club-record offer of £40m plus £1 in an attempt to trigger a release clause in his contract.

Both were rejected, with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers accusing Arsenal of"playing games".

Suarez was considering submitting a formal transfer request and also the possibility of court action if the dispute was not resolved as he believed the second bid triggered a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave the Anfield club.

Suarez was initially made to train alone during pre-season, but returned to the first-team fold on 16 August after talks with Rodgers.

"This is fantastic news for everyone associated with the club; the team, the owners and most importantly the supporters,"Rodgers said on Liverpool's official website.

"Luis is a world-class talent and securing his services is crucial for what we are trying to achieve here.

"What's most important and most exciting is that, at just 26 years old, his best years are still ahead of him and we now know we'll be seeing him reach that potential in a Liverpool shirt."

Suarez's time at Liverpool has often been controversial and he has previously been handed handed two long-term bans.

He was banned for eight games in December 2011 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra and received a 10-match ban in April this year for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.

culled from: www.bbc.com

Mikel wins Goal Nigeria Player of the Year.

It's been an eventful year for Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, he scooped major football awards this year, won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, scored his first English Premier League goal for Chelsea after eight years and then capped it with 2014 World Cup qualification. The Nigerian international has for the second time in the year won the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year Award; courtesy of readers of goal website.

He won the title ahead of Vincent Enyeama, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses and Godfrey Oboabona. The Chelsea man polled 49 per cent of votes cast to win the title for the second time after being voted winner in 2012. He finished ahead of compatriots Enyeama (28.6%), Emenike (13.2%), Moses (6.4%) and Oboabona (2.8%).

"It's an honour to win this award again and I'm very happy to know that my people, my Nigerian fans, support me and love what I'm doing." He said

On his biggest award this year, "I think if I had to pick one, I'd say winning the Africa Cup of Nations - that was really big for me and for the country because we've waited for almost 20 years to win it again"

He continued, "Going into that tournament, I don't think many people really gave us a chance of winning it but we had the belief that we've got a very good team and a very good manager.

The way the team has changed in the past couple of years, especially with the younger players, we were hungry for success. I think winning the Africa Cup of Nations was the big one for me."

Big congratulations to him from us at Nigerianwhispers.blogspot.com

Funny Post : Morgan Freeman mistaken for Nelson Mandela on Instagram. (Pic)

Apparently someone thinks this is Nelson Mandela smh. Must be because of the movie Invictus in which Nelson Madela was played by Morgan Freeman. R.i.p Nelson Mandela. #Legend.

Morgan Freeman mistaken for Mandela on Local billboard in India.

An Indian owner of a billboard dedicated to Nelson Mandela was red-faced on Thursday after the discovery that a photo of actor Morgan Freeman was used instead of one of the anti-apartheid hero.

The billboard was erected on the side of a road in the southern city of Coimbatore as part of memorials across India and the world to Mandela, who died on December 5.

But Freeman's face loomed large in the billboard over small images of rights icons Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi.Morgan Freeman Accidentally Put On Local Billboard For Nelson Mandela

"We should be proud that we were part of an era when they lived," read the Tamil-language condolence message on the board.

Cloth merchant Chandrashekhar, who paid for the board in a private capacity as a mark of respect to the former South African leader, said it was a mistake by the designer.

"We will replace it with the correct picture of Mandela," the merchant, who uses one name, said by telephone from the state capital Chennai, adding that he did not know how the gaffe occurred.

Morgan Freeman played Mandela in the 2009 film "Invictus". A photo of the billboard was being Tweeted on Thursday.

India declared five days of national mourning for Mandela, who was hailed as a "true Gandhian" and a "great friend" by the country's leaders.

The billboard below

R.i.p Nelson Mandela.

Couple get married nude in front of a street crowd. (Photos)

A couple were arrested on their wedding day as they tie the knot after stripping naked in the street to campaign against San Francisco's ban on public nudity.

The bride Gypsy Taub, 44, and groom Jamyz Smith, 20 were arrested within a few minutes after they exchanged vows.

According to Taub: 'This is a protest against the nudity ban as much as it is a wedding. I know that the people of San Francisco are behind me.'

The service was reportedly conducted by nudity activist George Davis, an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church.

After a short reading from his 'holy book,' entitled 'Erotic Art,' Davis said: 'I pronounce you man and wife,' adding: 'Kiss and conjugate.'

'People celebrate in whatever way they feel comfortable,' one of the well-wishers of the couple said, adding: 'It's a wonderful thing that they are doing. Nobody is being hurt. Nobody is being damaged.'

Some of the wedding party held banners targeting the man they felt is responsible for the introducing the ban, the unfortunately named Scott Wiener, some of which read: 'Mind your own Wiener,' 'Scott Wiener should be aware of his own shortcomings.'

Taub was later issued a citation and released provided that she put the gown back on.

Maradona Writes Off Super Eagles

ARGENTINE soccer legend, Diego Armando Maradona has written off Nigeria and other group opponents and tipped Albiceleste to defeat the Super Eagles in their Group F match on June 25 in Porto allegre and go on to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Argentina, Nigeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran have been drawn in Group F, with the Lionel Messi-captained side hugely tipped to secure the top spot in what observers see as a relatively easy group, when compared with others.

In their three previous confrontations with Argentina at the World Cup, the Eagles ended on the losing side and despite a resurgence in the attacking play of the African champions, Maradona, insisted that the current South American giants have enough firepower to see off all their prospective opponents in Brazil.

ALL FOR EAGLETS — Diego Armando Maradona looks on during the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 Semi Final match between Sweden and Nigeria at Al Rashid Stadium yesterday.

Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports in Argentina, Maradona said “I do not see any team in group F beating us. We are too strong for them. We are going to win our third World Cup. It is going to happen again in Brazil. Argentina will be champions of the world, but they are going to have to fight against the ‘morochos’ [Brazil]. They are very tough.. The success of 1986 will be repeated and it will be in Brazil.”

Taking a look at the other top teams that can give Argentina a good run for their money, Maradona said “Germany and Holland are in good shape, Italy not so much and Spain are getting bored of their own tactics. They go forward and forward, but cannot convert.”

Meanwhile, in order to get the team in top shape for the World Cup, football officials in Argentina confirmed last night that Argentina will play a friendly match against Slovenia on June 1, which is expected to be the team’s last match before their first Group match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Boko Haram : St. Theresa Catholic Church Christmas Bomber Kabiru Sokoto Gets Life Imprisonment

A federal high court in Abuja, Justice Ademola Adeniyi has found Kabiru Sokoto guilty of the crime of terrorism and murder. Sokoto was the mastermind of the deadly Christmas day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic church that killed at least 44 people in 2011.

Sokoto was a member of the Shura council of Islamist sect Boko Haram according to his persoanl testimony during the trial.

culled from sahara reporters

Check out Burna Boys new microphone.

He calls it his Magic wand. Really cool mic

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Samsung Galaxy World XI team is assembled. (Victor Moses among the selected players).

Aliens have arrived and they've challenged us to a game of football. Don't panic... it's purely a hypothetical scenario, spectacularly depicted in this new all-star advert.

The world best players - along with Victor Moses and Bolton's Lee Chung-Yong - have been summoned to defend Earth as part of the Samsung Galaxy XI.

Skipper Lionel: Messi is handed the captain's armband for the Greatest 11 side

All smiles: Rooney is elated at being told the news of his involvement during a boxing session

Picked: Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo walks away from his game of volleyball against five girls after being called up

Lionel Messi is Captain Planet, stopped on his morning run in Barcelona by an entourage of blacked-out vehicles with the team's manager, Franz Beckenbauer handing him the armband.

And his strike partner? Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid man may well eclipse the Argentine superstar as the No 1 footballer in the world next year

From above: The aliens challenged the world to a game of football, and Franz Beckenbauer put together his best XI

Building the squad: While getting a tattoo, Monaco striker Falcao is approached by two men

Come with me: Mario Gotze and Bolton midfielder Lee Chung-Yong were clay pigeon shooting with footballs when they were told the news

THE LINE-UP

Lionel Messi (captain) - Barcelona
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid
Wayne Rooney - Manchester United
Mario Gotze - Bayern Munich
Oscar - Chelsea
Radamel Falcao - Monaco
Victor Moses - Liverpool
Landon Donavan - LA Galaxy
Wu Lei - Shanghai East Asia
Aleksandr Kerzhakov - Zenit
Stephan El Shaarawy - AC Milan
Lee Chung-Yong - Bolton Wanderers
iker Casillas - Real Madrid

Manager: Franz Beckenbauer

The former Manchester United star is the favourite to be named winner of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for the first time in his career, that would deny Messi a fifth consecutive crown.

Ronaldo cuts short a game of foot-volleyball in the video to accept his invitation.

And he is reunited in the team with Wayne Rooney.

The England striker is shown sparring in the ring, landing some heavy blows on his opponent.

But his rival is handed some respite from a barrage of punches when the United ace is interrupted by a call from Germany legend Beckenbauer.

The 28-year-old celebrates his inclusion as the only English player in the line-up wildly.

The chosen ones: The final XI are paraded on a City wall

Reported: Martin Tyler gets in on the act by breaking the news of Messi's selection

Tested: Zenit's Aleksandr Kerzhakov and LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan are put through their paces

'It's a great honour to be selected for the team alongside some of the world’s greatest football players,' said Rooney.

'Hopefully I'll be able to bring my qualities and English spirit to the team and 2014 is going to be a huge year for me with club, country and now the GALAXY 11, so keep watching.'

Rooney's not the only Premier League star in the line-up, however. Chelsea playmaker Oscar is playing darts in a pub before he is picked. And Liverpool loanee Victor Moses muscles in too (presumably because he is standing with the Brazilian).

Although to be completely fair to Nigeria international Moses, he is an African Nations Cup champion and an ambassador for technology giants Samsung, who sponsor his parent club Chelsea.

Out front: Iker Casillas is noticed by the scouts as he practices his reactions outside his house

Lucky one: Chelsea midfielder Oscar is given the call-up while playing darts with Victor Moses

Celebrate: Oscar's team-mate Moses is currently on loan at Liverpool for the season

Monaco forward Falcao completes the fearsome attack while there's room too for former Everton man Landon Donavan and Bayern Munich's Mario Gotze.

China midfielder Wu Lei and Bolton winger Chung-Yong are also selected, along with Russia forward Aleksandr Kerzhakov and AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy - who is another attacker.

On paper, it seems that Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas will have his work cut out against the intergalactic opposition.

Perhaps they'll play Rooney at centre-half...

He's who I want: Beckenbauer gives Rooney's pal a call while he's sparring in the gym

Snip: AC Milan man Stephan El Shaarawy gets the nod while getting a haircut

Nigerian Whispers