IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Arsenal defender Granit Xhaka criticised his team-mates after their performance in Monday's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle, saying: "If you're nervous stay at home." The midfielder felt his side's display showed they could not handle the pressure of chasing a top-four spot.

Victory would have moved them above Tottenham into the Champions League places with one game remaining. "If someone isn't ready for this game, stay at home," he said. "It doesn't matter your age. If you're nervous, stay on the bench or stay at home. You need people to come here and play. It's one of the most important games for us. We're feeling very disappointed for the people who came over here."

However, speaking on Sky Sports, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville criticised Xhaka's comments. "He's having a right dig at players in the dressing room," Neville said.

"I hope he wasn't having a go at these young players. He has been a disgrace at times, getting sent off etcetera. He has left it up in the air there."

There has been an explosion on Aba Road in the Sabon Gari area of Kano, leaving several people injured with some feared killed.

Details of the blast and its cause are still sketchy but visuals from the scene show that it affected some buildings and left several injured including school children.

The visuals also confirm that the blast might have claimed several lives with at least one corpse seen on the floor. A crowd had gathered right after the blast with some people trying to help the injured and others lamenting the damage.

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has been nominated alongside 13 other Trade Promotion Organisations (TPOs) for the 2022 World Trade Organisation (WTPO) Awards for Excellence in Trade Promotion. This is contained in a statement signed by NEPC Head, Corporate Communications Ndubueze Okeke. He says, NEPC, representing Nigeria is poised to clinch the "Best Use of a Partnership" category having been shortlisted along with Apex Brazil, Jamaica Promotion Corporation, Qatar Development Bank-Tesder and Saudi Export Development Authority.

The WTPO Award which is scheduled to hold tomorrow (17th May, 2022) in Accra, Ghana is open to all national TPOs. It recognises Excellence in providing Trade support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to become competitive in international trade. It could be recall that, in 2018, Nigeria, through NEPC won the award for the "Best initiative to Ensure that Trade is Inclusive and Sustainable". The NEPC won that category with its Zero to Export initiative which builds capacity of would-be exporters and SMEs on Export Procedures and Documentation as well as provide practical training on product sourcing and market access. This initiative trained 560 SMEs.

According to the International Trade Centre Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton "At a time when small firms have been hit by supply chain disruptions, climate change crises and other socio-economic challenges, it important to show inspiring models that connect small firms to Trade opportunities that are Inclusive and sustainable". The Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Dr. Ezra Yakusak will represent Nigeria at the Award Ceremony in which Austria, Canada, Malaysia, Tanzania is competing in the "Best use of Information Technology".

Sri Lanka, Republic of Korea, Netherlands and Zimbabwe will vie for the "Best Initiative to Ensure that Trade is Inclusive and Sustainable category".

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, have filed a suit at the Supreme Court, seeking an interpretation of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2022.

In the suit filed on April 29, the President and AGF, who are the plaintiffs, listed the National Assembly as the sole defendant. They are seeking an order of the apex court to strike out the section of the Electoral Act, saying it is inconsistent with the nation’s Constitution. According to the court document, the plaintiffs contend that Section 84 (12) of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2022 is inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 42, 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), as well as Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and People and Peoples Rights.

President Buhari and Malami also contended that the Constitution already provides qualification and disqualification for the offices of the President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor, Senate and House of Representatives, House of Assembly, Ministers, Commissioners, and Special Advisers. 

They urged the court to make: “A declaration that the joint and combined reading of Sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended); the provision of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which also ignores Section 84(3) of the same Act, is an additional qualifying and/or disqualifying factors for the National Assembly, House of Assembly, Gubernatorial and Presidential elections as enshrined in the said constitution, hence unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void.”

Incidents at Premier League matches on Sunday show "hate is alive and well within football", says anti-racism charity Kick it Out. Everton are assisting police after two Brentford players said their families were racially abused at Goodison Park.

Striker Ivan Toney and full-back Rico Henry made the allegations after the Bees' 3-2 victory. It came hours after two Burnley fans were arrested for "discriminatory gestures" during Tottenham's 1-0 win. The Metropolitan Police said the men were ejected from the Clarets' section of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.

"We have been made aware of a spate of new alleged anti-Semitic and racist comments and gestures linked to several clubs over the weekend," said Kick It Out's head of player engagement Troy Townsend. "While investigations are ongoing, we cannot comment on the specifics of cases. However, the events of the weekend once again highlight the fact that hate is still alive and well within football.

"Everton, Burnley and Tottenham all acted swiftly and we commend their energy in addressing these incidents. We hope appropriate and decisive action is taken against all those involved."

The Nigeria Football Federation has agreed terms with former Porto and Sporting Lisbon boss Jose Peseiro to take charge of the national team. The 62-year-old, who resigned from the Venezuela job last August because of unpaid wages, was previously named as Nigeria coach in December and was set to take over the Super Eagles after the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Portuguese then rejected the West African nation in February after their exit from the tournament, citing disagreements over contractual clauses and financial matters. But Peseiro, who has been headhunted by NFF president Amaju Pinnick, will now finalise a deal before Nigeria play two friendlies in the United States later this month. "It's important to reiterate that a deal has been agreed with Mr Peseiro and he will sign his contract before our friendly against Mexico on 28 May," NFF's director of communications, Ademola Olajire, told BBC Sport Africa.

"The Super Eagles is heading into a new phase and the arrival of a new coach is very important for this process." The NFF, which has not given details about Peseiro's contract, confirmed former Nigeria international Finidi George will be first assistant to Peseiro. Salisu Yusuf will be second assistant, as well as head coach of Nigeria's Chan (for locally-based players) and under-23 teams. Peseiro is expected to take charge against World Cup-bound Mexico on 28 May in Texas, with a match against Ecuador following on 2 June in New Jersey.

Nigeria will then play their first two qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, hosting Sierra Leone behind closed doors in Abuja on 9 June in their opening group A game and then facing Mauritius four days later.