Author: TheLagosianMagazine

‘SEYE AKANMU-BODE Monday 22 of July 2019 could be best described as the most devastating since the new rounds of Shi’ites protests began, seeking to compel the FG to obey court orders for the release of their leader Sheikh Ibrahim El- Zakzaky. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) leader had been detained since December 2015 after the Nigerian Army raided his residence in Zaria,seriously injured him and was arrested consequently. His wife and three sons were also arrested during a siege that killed hundreds of his followers. According to the Force Police Public Officer, Frank Mba, the Shi’ites protesters killed…

‘Seye Akanmu-Bode. Almost a year ago when 43 year old ex-international, Djamel Belmadi was appointed coach of the Desert Foxes, not many Algerians believed him when he said his target was to win the 2019 Afcon. Algeria had crashed out of Afcon 2017 group stage and had failed to qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup,so for most Algerians,it was more of an expectation of a better performance not necessarily the trophy. For Delmadi,it was mission possible. Algeria had had series of coaches but results remained same. The coach had to bring in new players, axing big names as Islam…

‘Seye Akanmu-Bode The latest letter from the ” Post Master General of the federation”, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is again causing disquiet especially in the North. Apart from the vitriolic attacks from aides of the President, Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai joined the fray as he termed OBJ’s letter as unpatriotic. He regaled us with the historical letter writing prowess of OBJ since the regime of IBB and the one that almost took his life when he was incarcerated by the late dictator ,Sani Abacha. Alhaji Yakassai accused OBJ of a personal and selfish agenda against all recipients of his…

‘Seye Akanmu-Bode The Super Eagles of Nigeria this evening in Cairo lost the semi final match to the Algerian team spearheaded by Man City player ,Riyadh Mahrez. Mahrez had given his side the first goal of the match as his cross was chested into the net by a shaky Troost- Ekong. Nigeria got a lifeline in the last quarter of the match as an Algerian defender , Mandi, handled the ball in the penalty zone. A VAR decision necessitated the referee awarding a penalty to Nigeria. Odion Ighalo,now on 4 goals and in contention for the golden boot ,coolly tucked…

In fulfilment of his election promise to accelerate his administration’s development agenda, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, transmitted a list of Commissioner-designates to the House of Assembly for ratification. The list contained twenty five names, who are to assume duty as Commissioners and Special Advisers upon ratification by the legislature. A statement by the Governor’s Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Sanwo-Olu carefully picked the nominees based on their cognate experience in their respective professions. The list, Akosile said, comprised names of technocrats and politicians, who understand the challenges of the state, noting that the painstaking…

‘Seye Akanmu-Bode. In 1993,it was “operation desert storm” as Algeria stood against Nigeria’s world cup dream. A George Finidi goal was all Nigeria needed as the Super Eagles battled their foe to a 1-1 draw to qualify for her maiden world cup appearance in USA 1994.Today in Cairo,the Fennecs again stand against the aspiration of Nigeria to be in the AFCON final. Algeria on paper are the best team so far in the tournament scoring a total of 10 goals with a defence breached just once in the quarter final against Ivory Coast, the Fennecs are therefore brimming with confidence…

‘Seye Akanmu-Bode. Statistics are not everything especially in football , and could be misleading. Madagascar beating Nigeria or Benin dumping out Morocco have shown just that.However,they still point the way to empirical analysis and offers football pundits the benchmark to make effortless analysis of matches pre or post. This was exactly what happened prior to the Nigeria vs South Africa quarter final match last night in Cairo,Egypt. For a country that had not lost to South Africa in any Afcon meeting, semi final appearances since 1980 except in 2008,the Super Eagles were the favourites to win the game and after…

‘Seye Akanmu-Bode previews the Semi Final clash between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana. If South Africa had not shocked the the host Egypt in the quarter final and if Nigeria had not lost to minnows Madagascar ( quarter final progress by the Indian Ocean team has shown it to be a good team after all), in the on going Afcon, perhaps the excitement and interest this match is generating wouldn’t have been this exhilarating. This is because statistically, Nigeria towers above South Africa both in head to head and in the Afcon records. 6 wins for Nigeria and…

‘Seye Akanmu-Bode Brazil have won the 2019 edition of the COPA AMERICA by defeating Peru in the final by three goals to one. The Seleçao ,hosting the tournament made sure they won it as they wont whenever they hosted it. Not even Argentina with the imperial Messi could stop them in the Semi final as La Albiceleste succumbed to a 2-0 defeat. A match that would go on to be blighted by the accusation of Messi suggesting a bias for the Brazilian team by the CONMEBOL. Brazil,looking to end their 12 year drought and focused on winning a 9th COPA…

‘Seye Akanmu-Bode Nigeria and South Africa have thrown wide open the Afcon 2019 as they eliminated the defending champions and the host respectively. Added to this is the fact both the winner and the runners up have been eliminated as Egypt took the silver behind Cameroon in 2017. For the Super Eagles,it was a thrilling encounter at the Alexandria stadium as a total of five goals were recorded in a match that lived up to its prematch hype.The Indomitable Lions came into the match full of confidence as the team had kept it tight at the back with a clean…