Buhari congratulates D'Tigers

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the National men's basketball team, D'Tigers, on their victory over Angola in Sunday's final of the FIBA Africa Basketball Championship in Tunisia.
In a statement on Monday, presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the President has assured that his administartion will give the team and Nigeria's other representatives at the next year's olympic Games, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the fullest possible support to ensure that they are well prepare to excel against the champions of other countries and regions.
He said: "President Buhari joins other sports-loving Nigerians in applauding D'Tigers  exhilarating 74-65 victory over their Angola opponents which also secured Nigeria's qualification for the men's basketball event at next year's olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro,"
" The president commends the players for displaying exemplary strength, courage, determination and patriotism as well as great skills and creativity to dethrone Angola, the perennial African basketball champions.

Anthony Martial set to complete Manchester United transfer after Monaco starlet is given permission to leave France camp during international duty ahead of £36m move

Monaco striker Anthony Martial has been given permission by the French Football Federation to leave international duty to complete his transfer to Manchester United.

Talks over a £36million deal for the 19-year-old have begun after Javier Hernandez left United for German club Bayer Leverkusen in a £12m move.

A statement read: 'Anthony Martial presented himself on Monday at 11am at the gathering of the French national team at Clairefontaine. He requested the permission of Didier Deschamps to travel to England to sign a contract with Manchester United.  

'Given the exceptional circumstances, the coach has agreed to the request of the player. Anthony Martial left Clairefontaine on Monday at 12pm. He will return on Tuesday morning.' 

Luis Campos, Monaco's special advisor who is responsible for transfers, previously admitted enquiries had been made for Martial but maintained he was not for sale.

The teenager, who has been compared in style to Thierry Henry, played for Monaco against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night. He was the subject of a failed £19m offer from Tottenham Hotspur earlier this summer and has been watched by Chelsea also.

United suffered their first Barclays Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday, as Swansea City came from a goal behind to beat them 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium.

The performance drew a scathing assessment of the United squad from Gary Neville, who said Louis van Gaal needs to sign a new goalkeeper, defender and striker before the transfer deadline.

Van Gaal made the dubious claim that United 'dominated 85 minutes' of the match, which they led through Juan Mata before Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis claimed the win for Swansea. 

Sergio Romero was again selected ahead of David de Gea in goal but, while his error helped Gomis score the winner, Neville extended the blame by slamming the team's lack of attacking intent

ZERO CAPS FOR FRANCE, SO WHY IS MARTIAL WORTH £36MILLION?

Anthony Martial, 19, is Monaco’s No 9 and leads the line for the Ligue 1 club. 

He made 48 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 12 goals and setting up five — one an assist for Dimitar Berbatov in their 3-1 win at Arsenal in February.

Making his professional debut for Lyon in 2012 just a day after his 17th birthday, the teenager is uncapped but has been named in the latest France squad to face Portugal and Serbia on September 4 and 7.

The Sky Sports pundit said: 'They have not got enough cutting edge. They have not got players who can beat players in the final third, they don't create enough. For me they get lulled into thinking they are playing football really well.

'They dominate possession but they don't dominate matches. You dominate a match by scoring goals and playing at a high tempo. Win the game and then control possession.' 

Neville added: ‘They need to sort the goalkeeper situation out. That’s a big problem. United need to sign a new striker, keep De Gea and now that Jonny Evans has gone, ideally a centre back too, in the next few days.’ 

Having allowed Robin van Persie to join Fenerbahce and sent Radamel Falcao back to Monaco at the end of his loan deal, many expected United to bring in a new forward. 

Martial, who hit 11 goals for Leonardo Jardim's side last season, is considered one of the most talented young forwards in Europe. He impressed in Monaco's Champions League defeat by Valencia but would not be cup-tied if his move to United goes ahead.

England-Premier League Results

Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Stoke 0-1 West Brom
 Man City 2-0 Watford
 Liverpool 0-3 West Ham

 Chelsea 1-2 Crystal Palace

 Bournemouth 1-1 Leicester

 Aston Villa 2-2 Sunderland
 Tottenham 0-0 Everton

 Southampton 3-0 Norwich

 Swansea 2-1 Man United

Result of the APC Governorship Primary Election.

The result of the All Progressives Congress Governorship primaries as announced by the Returning Officer, Governor El-Rufai of kaduna State.

Ocholi-90

Obadofin-15

Zakari Jiya-0

Olumoroti-56

Meyanga-2

Idrissima-5

Baba Ali-28

Yakubu Mohd-0

Abatemi-400

Atawodi-183

Sule Eje Abutu-2

Clarence Olafemi-7

Alex Kadir-1

Onukaba-1

Elephant-11

Sani Shaibu-1

Sanusi Abubakar-309

Ugbane-8

Prince Abubakar Audu-1109

Yahaya Bello-703

The election was won by Prince Abubakar Audu.

Son Heung-Min completes £21.9m move to Tottenham and given No 7 shirt

Son Heung-Min has signed for Tottenham for £21.9million from Bayer Leverkusen and was immediately handed the No 7 shirt.

Though the South Korean can operate as a wide player, he has been bought to support Harry Kane as Tottenham's main striker, penning a five-year contract. The deal is subject to a work permit and international clearance.

West Brom's defiant stance on Saido Berahino has forced Tottenham to accelerate their bid for Son, who scored 21 goals in 58 Bundesliga starts for Leverkusen. 

It now remains to be seen whether Spurs test the Baggies' resolve further for Berahino, while Son has enjoyed Champions League experience with Leverkusen over the last two seasons. 

He's found the net 11 times in 44 appearances for South Korea, including one during last summer's World Cup in Brazil. 

'I'm a player who really loves football. I learned the game under my father who was a football coach in my school,' Son said. 

'I’m looking forward to going there & performing for the Spurs fans as soon as possible.

'The support I get from the fans motivates me more and more.

'I’ve trained with both feet so I can use them freely. Bold and daring – this is how I like to try to play.' 

As well as goalscoring, it is his creative nous which has drawn plaudits in Germany.  

'He does not only score beautiful goals, but also makes them,' said Franz Beckenbauer. 'He's a super player. I really like the way he plays - fast and dynamic.'

Spurs have been keen to revamp their strikeforce over the summer, with Roberto Soldado allowed to leave Villarreal and Lyon's Clinton Njie signing for £10m. 

Emmanuel Adebayor looks as if his days at White Hart Lane are coming to an end, but Mauricio Pochettino went into the season with just one recognised striker in Kane.  

Buhari approves 65 licences for private refineries

President Muhammadu Buhari has granted licences to 65 Nigerian companies to construct modular refineries.
The companies were selected from about 285 applications that were screened for the purpose.
Modular refineries are mini-refineries with capacities raging from 1,000 to 10,000 barrels per day, bpd, which can be assembled and separated easily for enhanced performance and efficiency.
The decision to award Licence to Establish, LTE, which was taken within 10 days of his assuming office in June, may not be unconnected with his desire to see the increase in domestic refining capacity to meet local demand, thereby reducing huge import bills for subsidy.

Lionel Messi crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe as Barcelona star tops vote ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez

Lionel Messi added another individual trophy to his collection on Thursday as he was voted UEFA's Best Player in Europe for last season.

The Barcelona star beat Luis Suarez, his teammate at the Champions League winner, and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in a Europe-wide poll of journalists.

Messi, the four-time FIFA world player of the year, got the UEFA honor after a season-long duel with Ronaldo for the Champions League scoring record. Both resume this season on 77 goals. 

Messi scored 58 goals and provided 31 assists as Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Champions League. 

Suarez, who scored the decisive second goal in the 3-1 final win over Juventus, reached the shortlist despite starting his season in late-October. The Uruguay forward served a FIFA ban for biting at the 2014 World Cup.

Messi is the first two-time winner after winning the inaugural award in 2010-11. Ronaldo won it last season.

Germany striker Celia Sasic won the Best Women's Player in Europe award, which is a fitting way to end her career after the 27-year-old announced her retirement last month. 

Sasic topped the vote ahead of German team-mate Dzsenifer Marozsan and France's Amandine Henry. 

BEST PLAYER IN EUROPE 

WINNER: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Luis Suarez (Barcelona) 

BEST WOMEN PLAYER IN EUROPE 

WINNER: Celia Sasic (Retired)

Dzsenifer Marozsan (1. FFC Frankfurt)

Amandine Henry (Lyon)