Manchester United draws closer to top four spot with win over norwich

Manchester United's bid for Champions League football remains alive after a 1-0 win at Carrow Road which saw Norwich slip closer to Premier League relegation.

Juan Mata punished Sebastien Bassong's error as United moved within one point of neighbours Manchester City, who play Arsenal on Sunday.

Norwich had 18 minutes to do what they had not managed to in their three previous games -- score -- but once more they failed to do so.

The Canaries' fate could be decided as soon as Wednesday, when they host Watford.

Suddenly everything is looking more positive for Louis van Gaal.

The United manager, whose position has been under scrutiny for much of the season, could yet finish the season in the top four and by lifting the FA Cup.

Norwich won 2-1 at Old Trafford on December 19 and were aiming to inflict United's first home-and-away loss to a newly-promoted side in the Premier League era.

The hosts began with intent, a strong early spell coming between injury blows for the visitors.

Anthony Martial was ruled out during the warm up and, after 16 minutes, Matteo Darmian departed on a stretcher with an apparent ankle injury.

The Canaries played at high intensity and with purpose.

Robbie Brady ran by Carrick, with Mata trailing in his wake, but stumbled.

Bassong had a shot blocked and then Nathan Redmond crossed for Cameron Jerome in the fourth minute.

That should have been 1-0, but the striker's header was straight at David de Gea.

Jerome's most recent goal had been at Old Trafford and the subsequent 16-game scoreless streak has seen his confidence dwindle.

Any momentum Norwich had was lost after Darmian fouled Ivo Pinto, resulting in a pause for treatment.

United were happy to let the Canaries have the ball and play on the break. From one Mata corner, Chris Smalling headed over.

Jerome encapsulated Norwich's lack of quality, repeatedly relinquishing possession.

Bar the busy Wes Hoolahan, the hosts barely knew what to do.

Jerome made one surge down the right, skipped by Marcos Rojo only to limply fall following the effort of the run.

The striker showed more intent in splitting up Rojo and Russell Martin after the Norwich skipper reacted to a swinging arm which made little or no connection as the pair grappled following a corner.

A Hoolahan cross was met by Dieumerci Mbokani, on for Brady, but the striker's header merely looped into the air and was claimed by De Gea.

Norwich fared little better in the second half and the sense of inevitability was growing among home supporters who had seen it all before.

An Antonio Valencia ball down the right channel evaded Bassong, who committed to meeting it, and allowed Wayne Rooney in.

Rooney, up front in place of Martial, could not find space to shoot but had the presence of mind to roll the ball to Mata to tuck in beyond John Ruddy.

Norwich's win over Newcastle on April 2 - a result which boosted their survival hopes - was the last time the Canaries had scored.

Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Arsenal had kept cleansheets in the meantime and Norwich were unable to trouble United's bid for one.

It was United who finished looking most likely to score.

Substitute Morgan Schneiderlin scuffed a shot wide across goal after a fine Rooney pass, Memphis Depay curled a free-kick just wide and Herrera blasted over.

Sunderland out of relegation zone with comeback win over Chelsea

Jermain Defoe's 18th goal of the season blasted Sunderland out of the Premier League relegation zone as 10-man Chelsea twice squandered the lead on Wearside.

Defoe struck 20 minutes from time - his first at the Stadium of Light since January 2 - to settle a five-goal thriller after first Wahbi Khazri and then Fabio Borini had cancelled out efforts from Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic with Blues skipper John Terry receiving his marching orders at the death for a second bookable offence.

The victory, which was just a third in 15 games for the Black Cats, saw them climb above derby rivals Newcastle, who could only draw at relegated Aston Villa, and means a home win over Everton on Wednesday evening will keep them up.

Norwich's home defeat by Manchester United in the early kick-off handed relegation rivals Sunderland and the Magpies the perfect incentive ahead of kick-off with Sam Allardyce's men knowing Wednesday's game in hand could prove key if they were to emerge from their clash with the Blues with something to show for their efforts.

They started brightly, but fell behind with 14 minutes gone, if in slightly unfortunate circumstances when Matic's return pass to Costa was unwittingly deflected into the striker's path by DeAndre Yedlin and the Spain international finished superbly from a tight angle.

Keeper Thibaut Courtois parried DeAndre Yedlin's 26th-minute header, but Costa might have doubled his tally two minutes later when he just failed to reach Branislav Ivanovic's driven cross in front of goal with the visitors enjoying a wealth of possession.

However, the Black Cats were up for the fight and dragged themselves back into it in spectacular fashion four minutes before the break when Khazri latched on to Gary Cahill's clearing header and smashed an unstoppable volley past Courtois with the help of a slight deflection.

But Chelsea hit back deep into injury time when Matic ran on to full-back Cesar Azpilicueta's header before sliding a shot underneath the advancing Vito Mannone.

The game could have been all but over had four minutes into the second half had Mannone not managed to block Costa's shot with his chest after Eden Hazard had played him in, but the home side continued to give as good as they got.

Allardyce was forced into a 55th-minute change when central defender Lamine Kone limped off to be replaced by John O'Shea, but it was Mannone who came to the rescue once again seven minutes later after Cesc Fabregas had picked out Costa in acres of space inside the penalty area.

Sunderland were enjoying arguably their best spell of the game and they made it count with 67 minutes gone when Patrick van Aanholt squared for Borini, who blasted a low shot past the unsighted despite Courtois getting a hand to it.

There was better to come for Allardyce's men three minutes later when John Obi Mikel failed to cut out Yedlin's cross and Defoe control before smashing the ball past the helpless Courtois, and it proved decisive as Chelsea's late flurry ultimately came to nothing and Terry, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Defoe, felled Khazri in stoppage time and was sent off.

Given Terry does not have a contract for next season, he could now have played his final game for Chelsea.

Tiwa Savage to feature in season 6 of series

Nigerian Singer, Tiwa Savage, will star alongside Funke Akindele in the upcoming sixth season of the hilarious TV series "Jenifa's Diary."

Nigerian pop singer,Tiwa Savage is set to feature in jenifa's diary,Tiwa will star alongside with funke Akindele,yemi blaq,Falz among others.Since Jenifa's diary made its first appearance on screen the series have featured guest stars like Banky W, Falz, Waje, Toke Makinwa among others Tiwa was trending last week and into this week due to her marital issue s with her husband TeeBillz

However, yesterday it was reported that the singer is back to work and her husband who attempted suicide is set to go for rehab,for Tiwa to feature in the next season of jenifa's diary is a clear indication that she is really back to work

Funke Akindele took to her histagram page to share photo of the pop singer on set.She share the photo with the caption :strong woman, women supporting women, superstar, ilovemytiwa.

Jenifa's diary is a comedy television series that despict the hilarious and adventure of Suliat aka Jenifa

A secondary school dropout turned hairdresser who lives in a local town called aiyetoro, Jenifa is loud, over-bearing, very opinionated and an intresting character. to watch Jenifa's diary airs weekly on AIT and NTA

Star singer lands feature in Teen Vogue magazine

He is not just in the forefront of music in Africa, he is also gaining a lot of presence on the scene, with a fresh deal with Sony Music.

Super star singer, Davido seems to be on a roll, as he features in the May issue of American Teen Vogue. The artiste seems to have a lot of international recognition lately.

He is not just in the forefront of music in Africa, he is also gaining a lot of presence on the scene, with a fresh deal with Sony Music. Now, he is being  described as the singer who is bringing upbeat Afropop tunes to the forefront of the popular music scene.

In the editorial, the singer explains that he wants to make the entire African continent proud; “I am breaking boundaries with my sound”

Do you think Davido deserved to be in the magazine? Let us know below.

Manchester City suffer as Fernando own goal hands semi-final to Real Madrid

After a goalless draw in the first leg, Real took the lead when Gareth Bale's cross deflected off City's Fernando.

Fernandinho clipped the post in a rare City chance, but Real dominated as Bale hit the bar and Joe Hart saved from Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real saw out the win to meet Atletico Madrid in the final later this month.

The English side knew they potentially only needed one away goal to progress, but appeared reluctant to go for broke in the final stages - despite being encouraged to attack by the vocal 4,500 away supportersThe home side's only other moment of concern came in the closing minutes when Sergio Aguero's speculative effort flew on to the roof of the goal.

Now they will meet Atletico at Milan's San Siro on 28 May, in a repeat of the 2014 final which Real won 4-1 after extra-time.

City started the second leg knowing there would be no potentially awkward meeting with incoming manager Pep Guardiola in the final, his Bayern Munich side having fallen in their last-four tie against Atletico on Tuesday.

Now Pellegrini, like his Spanish successor at Bayern, will end his three-year reign without a dream goodbye in the San Siro.

Nevertheless, the Chilean will always be remembered for taking the Blues into the Champions League knockout stage for the first time.

Pellegrini finally succeeded where predecessor Roberto Mancini failed, but City's demanding owners will be expecting Guardiola to take their club into the latter stages as a minimum requirement.

Judging by their performance over the two legs against Real, the former Barcelona coach may decide his inherited squad needs an injection of world-class talent to regularly compete with Europe's elite.

For large periods, City lacked pace and energy against the Spanish title hopefuls - and, crucially, offered little attacking threat.

Key centre-back Vincent Kompany's early departure through injury left them lacking defensive organisation, while Yaya Toure's return failed to add any intensity to a midfield lacking bite in the Bernabeu.

Man of the match - Toni Kroos

Germany midfielder Toni Kroos was the man who made Real Madrid tick. Kroos had more touches, made more passes and won back possession more times than any other home player

City's hopes hit by Kompany injury

Before the game, City had conceded 0.6 goals per 90 minutes with Kompany this season, compared to 1.2 without their captain

City suffered a cruel blow inside the opening 10 minutes when skipper Kompany trudged off, a familiar sight this season.

The Belgium centre-half's miserable luck with injuries continues, and the English visitors looked far less assured at the back without their leader.

His departure disrupted an encouraging start by the visitors - and they were punished shortly afterwards.

The away defence, still regrouping, stood off a Madrid attack down the right, allowing Bale to run behind them on to right-back Carvajal's pass and thump the ball in off Fernando's outstretched foot.

Hart rightly described the winner as "lucky", but in truth City could have conceded more over the two legs.

At the Bernabeu, the home players - particularly Bale and the returning Ronaldo - often ghosted between centre-halves Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi too easily.

England keeper Hart, who saved City from losing the first leg, again came to the rescue to give City hope until the final whistle.

Antoine Griezmann: Atletico Madrid deserved to reach final over Bayern

Atletico Madrid goal scorer Antoine Griezmann said the "better team had gone through" after his side's dramatic progress on away goals past Bayern Munich to the 2016 Champions League final.

Atletico went to Munich with a 1-0 lead from last week's first leg, but Bayern soon evened things up when Xabi Alonso's free kick was deflected past visiting goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

A lightning counter-attack brought a vital away goal from Griezmann for Atletico, and even though Robert Lewandowski headed the teams level on aggregate late on, Diego Simeone's side held on to progress to the final against either Real Madrid or Manchester City in Milan on May 28.

Speaking to Spanish TV channel Antena 3 after the final whistle, the France international admitted that Bayern had the better of the second leg, but said that his team's away goal had been crucial.

"The best team goes through," Griezmann said. "They might have been better [tonight]. But we were better in the first leg. And we scored here tonight. The team who played best went through."

In a dramatic game which also saw each side miss a penalty as Jan Oblak and Manuel Neuer saved from Thomas Muller and Fernando Torres respectively, Atletico defended for long spells and Bayern had 33 efforts of goal compared to just seven from the visitors.

"It was a difficult game against a tough opponent," Griezmann said. "We had to defend and try and score a goal. And we did that."

Atletico now return to domestic action, where with just two games remaining they are joint-top on points with Barcelona, if behind the Catalans on head-to-head record.

"We must keep our feet on the ground, focus on La Liga now," Griezmann said. "We will have time then to think about the Champions League final."

Torres also spoke on Spanish TV after the game and admitted he and his team had "suffered" to get the result they wanted.

"It was a game to suffer a lot, we were up against a great team who dominated for much of the game," Torres said. "But we battled as always, and in the end it was worth it. In the first half, we did not manage to press them well up front, as we wanted, to stop them bringing the ball out.

"They could push us back and had a lot of chances in the first half. But that changed at break, we had to push more, and in one of those moves, Griezmann scored. Then they pushed us back again."

Torres said it had been a pity he had not been able to secure a calmer end to the game by converting the penalty he had won himself.

"It would have been the end of the game -- there would have been no more time for them if it had gone in," he said. "But we were able to hang on."

With many in Spain now hoping for an all-La Liga final, the boyhood Atletico fan said he did not have a preference for Madrid or City in the decider.

"We have had a very tough path through, against the best teams in Europe," he said. "Now we have one more game, the most important, and have the chance to do something no group of players at this club. We can make history, it is in our hands now. This team is ready to take on whomever 

Media personality turns marriage counsellor following Tiwa Savage's marital woes

Charley Boy, whose real name is Charles Oputa, recently revealed he expected the couple to have kept their marriage problems private instead of airing it out in the public.

Following Tiwa Savage's messy marital drama, eccentric media personality, Charly Boy has revealed he's now a relationship counsellor.

Charley Boy, whose real name is Charles Oputa, recently revealed he expected the couple to have kept their marriage problems private instead of airing it out in the public.

He has offered to counsel couples who are having challenges in their marriages.

Sharing a photo with his wife of 38 years, Diana, along with his personal contact number, adding that the calls will be strictly confidential.

He wrote, "Talk to me I swear, I am very saddened how the marriage institution is going down the drain these days. Young people are no longer responsible or disciplined enough to stick it out in any given relationship and I fear that in the next five years, marriage as we know it, may become old fashion. Na Wa!!

A while back, I was talking to one of my sons who at 38 still can't rap his head around the permanence of marriage and this gave me cause for concern when he asked me, "why must marriage be forever or for better for worse, and couldn’t it be for maybe a few years as mutually agreed."

I may be old/new school, but I still believe in Family and Marriage.

I believe that every human being is created to have a desire to be married and some have a desire to be single. But most of us want to be married. So, you CANT have a healthy marriage with unhealthy habits. Mbanu!!!

Whether or not a young couple stay together often depends on why they got married in the first place. Take it from me, It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.

Being married to the same person for almost 38 years has thought me that marriage is no moimoi, neither is it beans and rice. Both parties must work at it daily and must give all of himself /herself everyday, forever. For me and my wife we are committed to managing each other because the devil we know is better than the Angel to come. Marriage like I keep saying is how we maturely deal with our incompatibility rather than our compatibility.

Actor donates 500,000 frs CFA to promote film in Cameroon

When it comes to encouraging better film production in Africa, Ramsey Noah will do all he possibly can to help!

Ramsey Noah is no stingy man when it comes to encouraging film making in other parts of Africa.

The ace Nollywood star reportedly dropped 500,000frs CFA (175,000 Naira) as donation to promote film production in Cameroon at the closing ceremony of the Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF) on April 29.

"Making good films is very important to every film maker," Noah said at the event. "One of the major challenges we face is finance and real skill at acting, script writing, directing... so any help from anyone who believes in the vision is most needed."

However, the actor spent six straight days at the event holding talks with young film makers and actors, encouraging the art and promoting Nollywood.

Leicester City celebrate after Tottenham's draw with Chelsea hands them the Premier League title

Leicester City have been crowned champions of England.

The Foxes completed the incredible 5,000/1 sporting miracle after Tottenham squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Harry Kane and Son Heung-min looked to have kept Tottenham's thrilling title charge going as they took a 2-0 lead before the break.

But goals from Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard got Leicester's party in full swing, completing a fairytale story for the club who have gone from relegation possibilities to the top of English football - and the talk of the sporting world.

Christian Fuchs shared a video on Twitter of Leicester's players celebrating their monumental feat as they went wild at a house party hosted by striker Jamie Vardy

Fuchs and Vardy lead the celebrations as Leicester are crowned champions

Dozens of fans gathered outside Vardy's home to cheer on their heroes, accompanied by drivers who beeped their horns in celebration after the final whistle.

One neighbour said: "No one will mind if they make a lot of noise tonight. The lads have been tremendous.

"It's a fairy tale ending no one, probably least of all Leicester fans, even expected. It's going to be a walloping party across Leicester tonight."

Two burly security guards stood outside Vardy's sprawling gated mansion.

As the full-time whistle blew, hundreds of Foxes fans cheered in celebration, chanting "We're all going on a European Tour"

 

 

Cristiano Ronaldo in full Real Madrid training session ahead of Man City tie

Cristiano Ronaldo completed Monday's training session with Real Madrid as he stepped up his bid to be fit for Wednesday's Champions League semifinal second leg against Manchester City.

Ronaldo sat out last week's goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium with a thigh injury, which also kept him out of Saturday's 1-0 Primera Division win at Real Sociedad.

However, the Portugal captain was back in training on Sunday, participating with his teammates for the first half before working individually for the remainder, and he was able to take a full part in Monday's session.

While the news about Ronaldo looks promising for Madrid, it is less clear whether Karim Benzema will be able to feature against City.

The France international was replaced at half-time in the first leg against Citywith a hamstring problem and was limited to running apart from the rest of the group on Monday.

Madrid midfielder Casemiro, meanwhile, worked inside after picking up a knock against Sociedad.