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Manchester United manager, Ralf Rangnick, has confirmed that Phil Jones will not be in his side’s squad to face Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Clubs in the Champions League are permitted to name 23-man matchday squads in UEFA competitions. But Jones, who is without an appearance in almost two years, was not included in Man United’s Champions League squad. Speaking ahead of the Young Boys clash, Rangnick was quoted by MEN as saying: “The problem is we can only play players who are in the Champions League list. For example, Phil Jones, whom I would love to give game-time to on Wednesday after his long-term injury, unfortunately, he is not on the list [squad], so we have to put our focus on players who will be allowed to play.” He added, “It is possible, I don’t know if we play a completely new ten players because I don’t know if we have enough players on the list, but it’s definitely possible we could play with some new players. “It’s perfectly possible we brin...

Chelsea are preparing a new bid to sign Romelu Lukaku. Proposal expected around €120/130m after opening bid turned down by Inter [€100m + Marcos Alonso involved in the deal]. 🔵 #CFC Chelsea are also offering Lukaku a long term contract for €12m net per season as salary.

Players must drive to games in their own cars and dressing rooms will not be used Clubs have been given the go-ahead to take part in friendly matches ahead of the planned resumption of the Premier League. But venues must be no more than 90 minutes away and players must travel in their own cars to and from fixtures while wearing the kit they will play in. PGMOL referees and assistants are yet to be tested for COVID-19 so, for now, club coaching staff will referee matches. It's hoped that the country's top referees will be available to officiate in the week before the planned return to match action on June 17. If held at a stadium, players will enter via the players' entrance and walk straight onto the pitch, before warming up. Dressing rooms will not be used. Premier League clubs were cleared to resume contract training last week, paving the way for competitive action to resume later this month.

Nigeria may have recorded a major breakthrough to tackling the Covid 19 pandemic as Scientists in the Faculty of Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, on Friday disclosed to newsmen that they have developed a herbal mixture: “that has the potential to be active against COVID-19.” According to a press release signed by the Dean, Faculty of Science Federal University Oye Ekiti, Professor Olayide Lawal, the lead researcher of the Anti-Covid 19 herbal drug team is Dr. Lawrence Okoror of the department of Microbiology who is a consultant to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Prof. Lawal said: ” The mixture had been tested against several viruses before the outbreak of COVID-19 and had shown to be effective against some Adenoviruses, Rhino viruses, influenza and other respiratory viruses as well as effective against tumors. This product of rigorous research output has been submitted to Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development. “Federal University Oye Ekiti has demo...

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has explained why all Nigerian governors agreed to stop inter-state movement. He said the major reason was to curtail interstate spread of Coronavirus. Abiodun noted that the lockdown will make it easier for states to do more contact tracing. The governor gave the explanation in a post on his Instagram page on Thursday. Abiodun said the nationwide lockdown decision tallies with the earlier position of his administration. Recalling that governors held a virtual meeting, Abiodun disclosed that they, “all shared measures adopted in our individual states to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. “We jointly decided to close our interstate borders across the country for two initial weeks in a bid to curb the interstate spread of the virus and enhance our ability to better handle contact tracing. “This, however, tallies with the earlier decision and stance of the Ogun State government to keep all our interstate and international borders shut, ex...

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has approved the extension of business hours for markets in Abuja. Bello in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, said the market would operate from 8 am to 3 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He explained that the directive which takes effect from Saturday, April 25, was against the earlier approved time of 10 am. to 2 pm. He also directed that the existing markets through the establishment of neighborhood selling points in the various districts within the Federal Capital City, be decongested by Abuja Markets Management L.t.d. Bello, therefore, urged FCT residents to support the lockdown by patronizing markets in their neighborhoods. The minister ordered the law enforcement agencies to clamp down on residents who hide under the window of market days to flout government directives. Bello also urged Abuja Markets Management L.t.d to liaise with the FCT Area Councils to ensure full implementation of all COVID-19 pandemic protocols with regards...

Kwara State Government has confirmed that it has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 in the State. The State Government on its Twitter page said the total number of COVID-19 cases is now 11. Recall that the NCDC, on Thursday confirmed 108 new cases in Nigeria, bringing the total number in the country to 981. It said it recorded 78 cases in Lagos, 14 in FCT, 5 in Ogun, 4 in Gombe, 3 in Borno, 2 in Akwa Ibom, 1 in Kwara and 1 in Plateau State. Kwara government tweeted, ”As at 23 April 2020. Two new COVID-19 cases confirmed ”Total test done – 278, total confirmed cases – 11, no of active cases – 9 ”Discharged – 2, no of negative test – 187, no of pending test – 80, death -0.”

The United Kingdom has conducted the first human trial in Europe for Coronavirus vaccine. The trial is being conducted at a health facility in Oxford. The United Kingdom has conducted the first human trial in Europe for Coronavirus vaccine. The trial is being conducted at a health facility in Oxford. Two volunteers already injected are the first set of more than 800 people recruited for the study. While half of the volunteers will receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the other half will receive a control vaccine which protects against meningitis. However, the volunteers will not know which vaccine they are getting; only doctors will. “I’m a scientist, so I wanted to try to support the scientific process wherever I can”, Elisa Granato, one of the first volunteers told BBC. The vaccine was developed in under three months by a team at Oxford University. Team leader, Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, said: “I have a high degree of confidence in this vacci...

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Tuesday updated the number of States with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. NCDC in a tweet confirmed that there are now 25 states with COVID-19 across the country. Giving a breakdown of the State with cases, it wrote: “As at 11:25 pm 21th April, the breakdown of cases by State is: Lagos- 430 FCT- 118 Kano- 73 Osun- 20 Oyo- 16 Edo- 15 Ogun- 20 Kwara- 9 Katsina- 16 Bauchi- 8 Kaduna- 9 Akwa Ibom- 9 Delta- 4 Ekiti- 4 Ondo- 3 Enugu- 2 Rivers-3 Niger- 2 Benue- 1 Anambra- 1 Borno- 1 Jigawa- 2 Abia-2 Sokoto-1 Gombe-5 According to NCDC, five cases previously reported in Lagos State have been transferred to Ogun State; therefore Lagos has reported 430 cases, while Ogun has reported 20 confirmed cases.

No fewer than 150 travelers have been arrested in Enugu State for defying the government’s lockdown order. DAILY POST reports that the State Government had late March imposed border restrictions as part of measures to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. Our correspondent, who was at Opi, one of the communities near the Enugu-Benue-Kogi borders, reports that over 30 vehicles were impounded by the military. The affected commuters, mostly from the Northern part of the country, who said they have been held since yesterday, claimed that hunger drove them away from their States. One of them, who identified himself as Peter from Benue State, told journalists, “I’m aware of the order but hunger is killing me. That is why I have to come out.” No fewer than 150 travelers have been arrested in Enugu State for defying the government’s lockdown order. DAILY POST reports that the State Government had late March imposed border restrictions as part of measures to curtail the spread ...

The Government of Ogun State has said four new COVID-19 cases have been discovered in the state. The State Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, said the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced the new cases as of 11:25 pm on Wednesday. This brings the total to 24 confirmed cases in the state. DAILY POST learnt that three of the four confirmed cases emerged from Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, while one was recorded in Ikenne. Coker said close contacts of all the four cases have already been identified. She said they were being observed in one of the state’s isolation centres, while tracing is ongoing to identify and quarantine all possible contacts. “So far, the LGAs where cases have been confirmed and contacts identified remain 9. The LGAs include: Ipokia, Sagamu, Ewekoro, Ikenne, Yewa South, Ado-Odo/Ota, Obafemi Owode, Odogbolu, and Imeko Afon.”

Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State says there is still one Coronavirus patient left at the state isolation centre. Oyetola, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, on Thursday in Osogbo, said the COVID-19 patient had been receiving treatment but still positive, NAN reports. Eighteen COVID-19 patients had been treated and discharged in the state. The governor, however, said that his administration was determined to forestall community transmission of the virus and rid the state of the virus. He also said the government had spent a lot on the procurement of modern equipment in the health facilities across the state. The governor appealed to residents of the state to report any COVID-19 symptoms to concerned authorities, saying that the government was determined to eliminate the virus in the state. “What we are trying to do as a government is to be proactive enough because perhaps this is the time for community transmission. “We have isolation centres in ...

President Muhammadu Buhari has been appointed the coordinator of the COVID-19 response in West Africa. This was made known by Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Spokesman. Adesina said the appointment was made during a video conference on Thursday. He tweeted, “the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, leaders at an extraordinary summit held by video conference have appointed President Muhammadu Buhari as the Champion to coordinate the COVID-19 response in the sub-region. “All the other Presidents will be available to support President Buhari.” Meanwhile, according to the John Hopkins University, COVID-19 death toll has passed 175,000 globally. The reports said there are more than 2.5 million confirmed cases globally.

A youth organisation, the Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, on Thursday warned that any “further extension of the COVID-19 lockdown could lead to the kidnap of government officials in coastal areas. BNYL also warned that the lockdown extension may result in resistance against security agencies at state borders because of boredom among the people. “People are already tired of staying idle and are no longer afraid of Coronavirus.” The group said The group’s Deputy National Leader, Ebuta Takon Akor gave the warning while reacting to the decision of the Nigeria Governors Forum to extend lockdown for another 14 days. Recall that the forum had said the 14 days interstate lockdown will help tackle the spread of COVID-19. However, Akor in a statement signed and sent to DAILY POST said governors do not govern animals and would not be allowed to cage the citizens. “Since the lockdown of the country, there have been reports of an increase and spread of the virus. “It was of no use to kee...

The Kano State Police Command has arrested 30 youths for violating the lockdown order imposed to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the state. Abdullahi Haruna, the Commands’ spokesman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the youths were allegedly involved in a football match. A video that went viral on social media platforms on Monday, had shown hundreds of enthusiastic soccer fans watching a football match in an undisclosed location in Kano metropolis, in defiance to the social distancing and lockdown orders. According to him, the suspects were arrested on April 20, at about 5 p.m. after they played a football match in Dala Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. “The suspects were arrested for defying the lockdown order and playing a football match at Dala LGA in Kano metropolis. “Already, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Habu Sani, has ordered that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence Department (SCID) for investigation, and the suspects will...

The Bundesliga is ready to return on May 9 if the German government gives it the green light, league officials have confirmed. The league has been suspended since mid-March due to the outbreak of coronavirus, which has infected more than 148,000 and killed over 5,000 people in Germany. Its resumption remains dependent on government and all federal states' approval, and Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert warned providing an exact date "would be presumptuous and is not in our hands". "If we should start on May 9, we are ready. If it is later we will be ready again," Seifert said We can only offer the framework conditions." Finishing the 2019/20 season remains the priority in German football. Failing to do so would mean "the Bundesliga would be a collateral damage to the coronavirus crisis", said Seifert. "I, as a representative of the professional clubs, cannot have that as my goal," he said. The Bundesliga is collaborating...

UEFA tell the Premier League: Finish the season... or use PLAY-OFFS: New plans could see race for the Champions League and relegation decided by one-off ties if seasons can't be completed Premier League teams could face a play-off if the season is not able to conclude UEFA held a meeting on Thursday to discuss how to resolve the 2019-20 season Champions League and relegation positions remain up for grabs across Europe The desire is for leagues to restart as soon as possible but, a failure to do that, play-off games may well be introduced in a bid to determine key table positions The Premier League faces the prospect of deciding Champions League positions and relegation spots in one-off ties - if the season has not successfully resumed by June. UEFA, following a meeting on Thursday, developed guidelines for clubs across the continent as the governing body look to formulate a plan to get the 2019-20 seasons finished. All of Europe's top five leagues are currently suspended du...

UEFA confirm that, despite being played next year, the Euros will still be called EURO 2020. UEFA statement: "UEFA urges National Associations and Leagues to explore all possible options to play all top domestic competitions giving access to UEFA club competitions to their natural conclusion. CONFIRMED: UEFA says qualification for next season’s Champions League & Europa League is on ‘sporting merit’ this season. Each top league/association will determine how that is interpreted. UEFA says, where possible, it would prefer “a different format” to finish a domestic season, rather than simply cancelling it. "However, UEFA stresses that the health of players, spectators and all those involved in football as well as the public at large must remain the primary concern at this time."

Two senior policemen have been killed at a factory in Adamawa State. The officers, a DSP and an ASP, were killed in yet to be ascertained circumstances at Rico Gado Nutrition, a company belonging to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The company is located at Gese Derdirabe Farms, about 36 kilometres off Yola, along the Yola-Numan road. DSP Suleiman Yahaya, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State, who confirmed the incident Tuesday night, could not explain how the officers met their end. He merely said, “Corpses of two senior police officers were brought to the police headquarters this evening. What caused their death is not yet known for now.” Unofficial sources said, however, that the police officers were killed by unknown gunmen who opened fire on them as they were seeking out a possible office location around the Rico Gado establishment for policemen posted there. Rico Gado Nutrition is Atiku Abubakar’s second biggest factory in Adamawa State after the Adama Beve...

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, on Wednesday, confirmed that cases of Coronavirus in the State has risen from 12 to 20. He said the State now has eight new cases. DAILY POST reported on Sunday that the state confirmed it has 12 cases of COVID-19, six of whom, it said, have been discharged. On