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Yesterday, a record was broken, when the first ever successful kidney transplant in the South Eastern part of Nigeria took place at Federal Medical Center Umuahia.

Here’s what an excited Facebook user whose brother-in-law was part of the doctors wrote;

Quote

 While we were talking about Jerusalem and Commissioner for Happiness,the first ever kidney transplantation in Southeast Nigeria was going on at FMC UMUAHIA Abia State.

Alas, the urine has flown, after 3 years of complete cessation. THIS IS HISTORY. I am really excited and proud my brother-in-law was part of it. Dr Chime Ichi kwala ochi taa?www.lincocomedy.com

 According to multiple reports making rounds online, a beautiful Nigerian model, identified as Chioma Issabella has died after a brief illness.

Family and friends of the pretty model, who died on Thursday November 7th, have taken to Facebook to pay her heartfelt tributes.

The deceased’s friend, Ebolo Flourish also took to social media to share photos of chioma and to pen a tribute to chioma – she disclosed that chioma eventually died after fighting for her life from a sickness.

She wrote:


 “Woke up this morning with the worst news ever… I can’t stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks…Isabella Chioma after fighting for her life for a long time, she lost the battle. Susan is dead…my Bae is dead… After all my prayers.
God knows best tho
RIP Susan
You’ll forever be in our hearts”www.lincocomedy.com

Lambert Eluke who is always behind the scene, but a major stakeholder in the Nigerian movie industry, believes that there are lots of beautiful faces in Nollywood that can melt hearts.

However, he is not ready or willing to take any of them home as a wife, for fear of premature death.

“No! Never! I’ll never marry an actress. I don’t want to die young, please. They don’t stay one place. After one year of marriage, they dump you and move to another person. I can’t marry an actress, i need to live long oh,” the Enugu State born movie producer squeals to Inside Nollywood.

However, he admitted that he has soft-spots for three delectable divas.

“If I’m to just make a wish, I would settle for any of these three actresses, Chizzy Alichi, Rachel Okonkwo or Ruth Eze, I crush on them, for their meekness and good hearts,’’ he added.

Mr. Eluke, whose latest productions, Enemies Must Bow and Teachers In Love are fast selling in major movie markets, recounted some challenges he faces in the industry.

“I have been in the industry for eight years. Some actors can be annoying, they leave your set to another location, abandoning your own productions. Aside that, some actors still charge so high. For my latest movies, I paid Kanayo O Kanayo, N1Million, Zubby Micheal, N500,000, Rachel Okonkwo, N400,000, Yul Edochie, N800,000, and the likes, then I still have to pay for their hotel accommodations. It’s not easy at all.”

www.lincocomedy.com

 Paul Okoye a.k.a Rudeboy is out with a new single titled Fire Fire. Fire Fire comes following Peter’s release titled Cool it Down.

 Rude Boy decided to go for the clubs with his new single unlike Peter, whose single is quite slow tempo.

 It is now mandatory for all officers and soldiers in the Nigerian Army to understand the 3 major languages in the country – Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, Premium Times reports

The Army announced the policy change on Wednesday morning, asking that all its personnel be proficient in the 3 languages by December 2018.
The army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, made the announcement adding that it will be an added advantage of applicants if they already are proficient in the languages.
The new policy will ensure better communication with the populace, Usman said, and will enhance information gathering.

 Nigerian crossdresser, Bobrisky who just got his gateman Jacob and iPhone 6, revealed that he’s the only friend he has because he is very loyal.
 Bobrisky who also revealed that he wants a new friend whose bill he won’t mind paying, wrote;

Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim says Ghanaians will deal with her boyfriend if he messes up.

Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim has warned her boyfriend Iceberg Slim concerning their relationship.

The mother-of-one who was once married to Kwadwo Sarfo, says Ghanaians will deal with musician Iceberg Slim, born Olusegun Olowokere, if he decides to end their relationship.

“Ghanaians are listening, the whole country is behind me. If you mess up…if you mess up Iceberg Slim…I see the comments from my Ghanaian fans like ‘if you try it, if you mess Juliet up, we will deal with you,” the actress warned.

 
Nollywood Actress, Funke Abisogun AlHassan is dead.
She passed on a few days after child birth.
Her husband, Toafiq Alhassan announced that she gave birth a few days ago.
But the film industry was thrown into mourning yesterday after her death was announced by her brother in-law, Tunde Ola Yusuf.
Yusuf wrote on Instagram, “ADIEU FUNKE.
Just days ago, people celebrated with you for the delivery of Ur baby, now the Sun set at noon and U are no more.
“May God look after the new born child and give Ur husband, the family, friends of the family and the industry at large the fortitude to bear the loss.
“Good night Funke Abisogun@funkealhassanabisogun, wife of my brother Taofeek Al Hassan Abisogun.”

Peter of Psquare has reacted to a viral video of him performing to 9ice gongo aso and other songs on a show.
In a viral video online, Peter was seen performing at one of his many shows in the USA to other songs from different artistes.

Some Nigerians slammed him for using other artists songs, therefore, advising him to go back to his brother.
In reaction, Peter revealed that the video was re-edited, stating that he only told a story of how some Nigerian artistes inspire him on the show.
He reiterated that the alleged Psquare split was true, asking fans that slandered him to get used to seeing him perform alone and stop hating.
“Hi guys. I saw a video post of one of my shows in the state and people are already jumping into conclusions that I performed other artiste songs.

“My dear whoever posted that video just re-edited it and din’t tell y’all I was telling a story of how I got inspired and motivated by some of our Nigerian artistes and the rest of the world.
“Besides we have over a more than 100 songs which I performed and entitled to.
“We even do this even when I was still in a group in most of our foreign concerts, you can verify that on youtube. So its nothing new!
“I know it’s because some people are sad and mad that psquare is no more. that s why they want to insult and say whatever

“But I understand take heart guys change is constant and I have moved on
“30 children cannot be together for 30 years. So please get used to it,” he wrote on instagram @peterpsquare

Peter Okoye of the Psquare fame has downplayed the possibility of the brothers staying together till retirement.
Speaking with Vibe Magazine, Peter said “30 children cannot continue to play together for 30 years. Being apart is the best solution at the moment.”

The singer, who has since gone solo disclosed that their family feud has lingered for four years.
He said he has no problems with his other brothers and their wives and doesn’t know what exactly is wrong.
“Some individuals decided to separate 2 individuals by saying this person is better than this person but my motto is, if you steal from Peter to pay Paul, you’re paying P-Square. “Oh I hate this Peter.”
“Well if you see 2 of us on stage, with Peter on one side and Paul on the other side, you will watch the show like this. (He covers one side of his face with his phone). The reason why I started responding to social media is because there was something that came out one time.

“I was advised “Peter do not say anything” but it’s affecting me today. When my brother put out that he sings and writes all the songs. I never responded but right now, there are 50% of our fans and some groups that believe Peter doesn’t sing. All because I wanted peace. But now if you say anything about me, I will respond.
“I don’t respond harshly if you’ve noticed. I’m not like last year. I decided to calm down because my family is more important here. I cannot trade my family. If you do not like it, don’t be my fan. If you do not like the fact that I am standing for my family, then you should not be my fan and I am serious about it.
“My brother is my twin, fine, but you keep telling me blood is thicker than water. Obviously you think “Paul is my blood and my family is the water? You guys better be out of your minds. Being apart is the best solution at the moment. It’s not pride. It’s not ego. It’s respect. We’ve lost it.”
“Last year, nobody knew what was happening. ‘When are you guys releasing a song?’ They did not know we were fighting but we’d still go on stage and perform. All I wanted was to keep the family together but what the fans wanted was to have Psquare.

“We gave you guys Psquare even though the family had been fighting for about four years – even as of last year that we claimed we were back. I cannot even face the shame of making the fans feel that we are okay. We are not okay. It’s not healthy. I don’t have any problem with their own family.
“The wives, everybody. I am cool with them. I don’t know what’s wrong. I don’t know why it looks as if the hatred is on my family. I’ve tried to ask them what the problem is but nobody is telling me anything.”

1. Watch and see what this guys do after work

Tottenham welcomed Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to Wembley for a game that was set to have a big impact upon the race for the top four spots in the Premier League. Both teams headed into this game off the back of positive results in the Champions League and Liverpool were keen to find the back of the net after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Manchester United last weekend. Spurs returned from Spain having recorded an impressive draw in the Bernabeu and looked to neutralise Liverpool’s attackers as effectively as they did Real Madrid’s.

Calamitous defending costs Liverpool early on

Mauricio Pochettino was looking for the first win over Liverpool of his managerial career and Harry Kane provided the perfect start to the game for Tottenham. A simple over the top ball caused chaos amongst the Liverpool defenders and Dejan Lovren allowed the England striker to gather the ball, flick it out of the reach of the onrushing Mignolet and slot it home into the empty net.
The disastrous start did little for the visiting defenders’ confidence, especially with the knowledge that they would be up against one of the league’s best strikers for 90 minutes, and Spurs looked for Kane every time they had the ball.
It didn’t take long for the home side to open Liverpool up again and Lovren failed to deal with another simple ball that set Kane away down the right hand side. The striker looked up and played a simple cross to Heung-min Son who guided the ball past Mignolet to double Tottenham’s lead.
The South Korean international almost added a third just minutes later when a great ball from Christian Eriksen put him in, but Son’s shot rattled the crossbar and Liverpool escaped early humiliation. Every time the home side were in possession however it felt as if another goal could come, such was the calamitous nature of the Reds’ defending.

Dele Alli cancels out speedy Salah’s lifeline

With Liverpool forced to chase the game it was Tottenham who were able to play on the counter and the North London club looked as if they would soak up the pressure from the visitors with relative ease. However Kane was dispossessed on the half way line and a brilliant through ball by Jordan Henderson found Mohamed Salah on the run. The Egyptian winger’s lightning pace carried him past the Spurs defenders and he nestled the ball into the far corner past Hugo Lloris to put his side firmly back in the game.
The goal gave the visitors confidence and as the game settled it was Liverpool who started to dominate the possession. However their quest for an equaliser made them vulnerable defensively and both Son and Kane had chances on the counter to restore Tottenham’s two-goal cushion.
The brightest spark for Jurgen Klopp’s side was undoubtedly Salah and the winger was the outlet for all of Liverpool’s attacks down the right flank. However for all the trickery and speed of their talented Egyptian it was Tottenham who scored on the stroke of half time. An Eriksen free kick was headed clear by Joel Matip but the ball fell to Dele Alli who volleyed in Spurs’ third goal of the game with the last kick of the first half.

Kane strikes again as Liverpool’s defence crumbles

Liverpool came out for the second half needing to attack in order to get back into the game but it was the home side who maintained the better possession in the opening minutes of the second period. The tempo was much calmer as Tottenham seemed content to knock the ball about and sit back whenever the visitors were in possession. Pochettino’s side reverted to the disciplined defensive unit that had been so effective against Real Madrid in midweek and Liverpool struggled to find a way through.
The defensive effort paid off for Spurs and they once again capitalised on some disastrous defending by Klopp’s side at the other end of the pitch. Another Eriksen free kick wasn’t properly dealt with and Mignolet’s awkward attempted punch gifted the ball to Jan Vertonghen. The defender’s shot was blocked brilliantly by Roberto Firmino but Kane was the quickest to react and the world-class striker smashed home his second goal of the game to put Tottenham out of sight.

Tottenham see out a comprehensive victory

The heads of the Liverpool players seemed to drop after Spurs’ fourth goal went in, but their talented attacking players still showed flashes of their brilliance. Philippe Coutinho looked destined to curl in a fabulous shot to give his side some hope but Lloris pulled off a stunning diving save to deny the Brazilian and maintain the home side’s comfortable lead. The French keeper made another good save a few minutes later, this time preventing Salah from grabbing his second goal of the game.
In the final ten minutes Tottenham seemed content to concede possession to Liverpool and defend their three-goal lead. With the visitors tiring and Spurs buoyed by their good performance the tempo dropped completely and the home side cruised to what was a hugely impressive victory. Harry Kane departed two minutes from time with what looked to be a slight hamstring tweak, but neither player nor manager looked too concerned. As long as the sensational striker stays fit this Tottenham side can beat any team in world football.

Final Thoughts

It was a classy performance from Mauricio Pochettino’s side who seem to have emphatically dispelled any hint of a Wembley curse. The win puts them level on points with second place Manchester United and this Tottenham side looks like one capable of achieving great things. Harry Kane took another big step towards being considered the world’s best striker, and on current form there is an increasingly short list of names that could challenge the Englishman for that title.
For Liverpool this was perhaps the most worrying result of the season. Not only did it throw into doubt the ability of Jurgen Klopp’s side to challenge their potential title rivals, but it also brutally highlighted the inadequacies within the squad, particularly in defence. Liverpool have conceded the most away goals in the Premier League this season and for a side with such high ambitions that is an incredibly worrying stat. Unless the defensive mistakes are ironed out, or addressed in the January transfer window, any sort of ambition regarding a top four finish could slip through Klopp’s fingers.

Match Report

Tottenham: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Trippier, Aurier; Alli, Winks, Eriksen (Dier, 82’), Son (Sissoko, 69’); Kane (Llorente, 88’)
Liverpool: Mignolet; Gomez, Matip, Lovren (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 31’), Moreno; Milner, Henderson, Can (Grujic, 84’); Coutinho, Firmino (Sturridge, 77’), Salah
Goals: Kane (1-0, 4’), Son (2-0, 12’), Salah (2-1, 24’), Alli (3-1, 45+3’), Kane (4-1, 56’)
Referee: Andre Marriner
Yellow Cards: Can (47’)
Red Cards: None

Player Ratings

Tottenham: Lloris 9; Alderweireld 8, Sanchez 8, Vertonghen 8, Trippier 8, Aurier 7; Alli 8, Winks 8, Eriksen 8 (Dier n/a), Son 8 (Sissoko 6); Kane 9 (Llorente n/a) 
Liverpool: Mignolet 5; Gomez 6, Matip 5, Lovren 4 (Oxlade_Chamberlain 6), Moreno 6; Milner 5, Henderson 6, Can 5 (Grujic n/a); Coutinho 6, Firmino 6 (Sturridge 6), Salah 7

Pressure Builds

Players’ Unrest

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar felt his red card against Marseille was harsh, saying he had numerous marks on his body to show from the Le Classique.
The Brazil forward was sent off in the 87th minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw after clashing with Lucas Ocampos and picking up a second yellow card.
Neymar was fouled five times – the most of any player – during the encounter, which PSG took a point from thanks to Edinson Cavani’s free-kick.
The 25-year-old, who earlier delayed taking a corner as objects thrown from the stands rained down around him, was unhappy with his sending off, criticising referee Ruddy Buquet.
“I think it was exaggerated, yes. And unfair. I spent the whole game getting enough. I have many marks on my body,” Neymar told Esporte Interativo.
“It was a move I tried to continue after suffering a foul. I was annoyed at the blow from behind.”
Neymar added: “The referee did what he wanted, which was to send me off and appear more than the players.”
PSG are four points clear atop Ligue 1 after the draw, with Neymar set to miss Friday’s clash against Nice.

 

Borussia Dortmund were happy for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave the club during the most recent transfer window, the Gabon striker has confirmed
Aubameyang finished last season as the top scorer in the Bundesliga and was heavily linked with moves to AC Milan or the Chinese Super League, having also regularly spoken of a desire to join Real Madrid.
Speaking in July, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc alluded to an unspecified period of time during which a transfer involving the 28-year-old could be sanctioned.

But Aubameyang remained in place for the current campaign under new boss Peter Bosz and has 13 goals in all competitions for the league leaders.
"There was a time in the window when I could have changed. We [Aubameyang and the Dortmund board] agreed on this together in all openness but nothing happened," he told Sport Bild .

"I have always felt very comfortable in Dortmund, in the team and at BVB, and that is true today, too. BVB is my family!"
Our #Bundesliga 2016/17 top goalscorer has also been nominated for the 2017 #BallonDor (list of 30)
Dortmund are five points clear of champions Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga after seven matches and host fourth-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Oumar Niasse has said that he is finally settling in at Everton despite experiencing a difficult start to life at the club.
The Senegal international joined the Toffees from Lokomotiv Moscow for £13.5 million in January 2016, arriving as a high profile signing.
But after the departure of Roberto Martinez, new manager Ronald Koeman deemed him surplus to requirements, even banishing the forward to the U23s after an impressive loan spell at Hull City.

The striker, now back in the good books of the Dutch tactician, has revealed how he is finally settling in after a torrid start to life in Merseyside.
“It’s not difficult when you arrive at Everton, it’s much more difficult when I left to go to Russia and Turkey,” Niasse told Liverpool Echo.
“At Everton when you arrive you can feel before you’ve even been on this kind of project, you arrive and there are always people to help you settle and asking you about everything you need.
"I remember when I arrived Aaron Lennon was always every day asking ‘If there’s anything you need, call me'.

“In the future, anything could happen to you and you always think this club can help you.
“I think the most important thing is to be ready and I have been every time.
“The first three or four months here were difficult but after that, I’ve kept my mind and I’ve tried to settle and I think I’m settling very, very well now.”

Sir Alex Ferguson agreed to become Tottenham manager two years before taking over at Manchester United, according to former Spurs chairman Irving Scholar.
The property tycoon and lifelong Tottenham fan, who took control of the north London club in 1982, has revealed that he shook hands with Ferguson, then Aberdeen boss, about taking the reins at White Hart Lane.
Spurs 9/5 to score 4+ goals v Cherries

With Spurs claiming the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup twice in the previous three seasons, Scholar went against supporters and ousted Keith Burkinshaw in view of Ferguson replacing him.
He was left in a difficult position when the Scotsman decided against a move to the capital, though, reportedly on the basis of his demands of a five-year deal not being met.
“The truth was that I had been talking to and negotiating with Alex Ferguson about a deal," he says in the book  ‘White Hart Lane — The Spurs Glory Years’. "He and I had had very long and detailed discussions.
“I told him that I was a very old-fashioned type of chap and that the most important thing was that once you agree something, once you shake someone’s hand, it’s in concrete.
“Once you do that, then you do not — under any circumstances whatsoever — you do not go back on it. It’s over.
“I told him that, when I first met him. So we had this big thing about the handshake.”
Ferguson went onto claim 38 trophies throughout his 26 years at Old Trafford, including 13 Premier League titles, and established himself as one of the greatest managers in the history of the game.
If Scholar had got his way, however, he'd have been his manager at Tottenham.
“We went on and on and on, discussions, negotiations, down to the minutiae of the contract," he added.
“Everything was agreed. So I said ‘Can we meet?’.
“He agreed and I said I’d like him to meet someone else on the board, Paul Bobroff. We arranged to meet in Paris on a Sunday morning, just by the airport.
“I said, ‘Are you sure you’re ready?’. He said, ‘I’m sure’. So we had this seminal moment of the handshake. As you know, unfortunately, he didn’t keep to it. He never told me why. I had my own theories but it doesn’t matter anymore.
“It was a disappointment. He stayed at Aberdeen for another two years."

Barcelona are ready to make another move for Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho, club CEO Oscar Grau has confirmed, though his arrival will come at a cost.
The Camp Nou side were desperate to land the 25-year-old Brazil international in the summer window, with Coutinho himself attempting to force a deal through by telling the Reds he wanted to leave.
Coutinho 23/10 to score Saturday.

A transfer failed to materialise, however, with Liverpool instantly dismissing all offers from Barca before the end of the transfer deadline.
Barca director Albert Soler later revealed that Liverpool had requested €200 million for the diminutive playmaker, just short of what Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain for weeks earlier.
Rumours then emerged that the Premier League club would let him leave Anfield in the January window if Coutinho agreed to play out the rest of the calendar year for the club.

And the Liga leaders have not given up their chase for the attacker after confirming their intentions to make another move. They have, though, conceded there will have to be players sold to fund the deal.
"We are ready to buy Coutinho in the winter market, or any player the technical staff request," Grau said in a press conference. "But it is important to adjust ourselves, so if there are to be arrivals, there must be exits as well.
"We must forget about the price paid for Neymar last summer. After taxes we received about €188m in income and a direct financial impact on the club's treasury of €144m."
During the same Grau conference, the Barca boss revealed a record budget for the 2017-2018 campaign of €897m, as well as €708m in income for last season.
Coutinho has gone onto make three appearances under Jurgen Klopp this season and scored twice.
Liverpool have won only three of their opening seven fixtures and sit seventh in the Premier League title, seven points behind early joint-leaders Manchester City and Manchester United, who they host at Anfield on Saturday.

If attempting to derail an unbeaten, free-scoring Manchester United side who are extremely stingy in defence wasn’t a difficult enough task, Liverpool head into Saturday’s Premier League fixture sans Sadio Mane.
Their reigning Player of the Season - named in the 30-man Ballon d’Or list of nominees on Monday - returned from Senegal
 duty with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for up to six weeks.



With three goals in his four top-flight appearances this term, Jurgen Klopp will not just miss the 25-year-old’s decisiveness in the final third, but his speedy transitions, tirelessness and ability to occupy several markers at once.
So how can the Reds boss counter the loss of a certified game-changer as he prepares to combat Jose Mourinho’s side?
Klopp does have more options to alter things than he did last season when Mane was unavailable through his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations, and later through meniscus damage in his left knee.

Liverpool still possess pace and explosiveness in Mohamed Salah, and £35 million deadline-day signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will have the opportunity to step up and prove he should be a regular starter.
Fellow new acquisition Dominic Solanke has maximised his cameo appearances, and while it would be a surprise if he were to start on Saturday, it would not be unimaginable to see him in a top-flight starting XI soon.
Klopp will hope none of his other returning internationals give him further injury concerns and if everyone else is fully fit, here are a few of the ways he could set Liverpool up against United.
As ever, the competition for the full-back slots - especially on the right - is close.

The dream is still alive. Lionel Messi's senior career with Argentina has been fraught with some spectacular near misses, much sadness and plenty of frustration ever since the Barcelona forward made his international debut in 2005. But after another sublime showing on Tuesday night, it could yet enjoy a fitting finale.
Messi led Argentina to an under-20 World Cup win in 2005 and a gold medal with an under-23 team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. With the senior side, however, he has played in seven major tournaments and lost four finals. The major prizes have remained elusive.
Senior players like Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria have long said that they would consider it a failure if this great generation of Argentina players cannot win a major trophy, yet on Tuesday night that same group was in danger of suffering an even more humiliating outcome - missing out on the World Cup altogether.After the disappointing draw at home to Peru on Friday, Argentina found themselves in sixth place in the CONMEBOL standings with one round of matches remaining and only a win at altitude in Ecuador would guarantee a place in Russia - or at least a play-off against New Zealand.
The omens were not good. Argentina had scored just two goals in qualifying in 2017: a Messi penalty against Chile and an own-goal versus Venezuela. Of all 10 teams in the qualifying group, only Bolivia had netter fewer than the Albiceleste.
The pressure was on coach Jorge Sampaoli, brought in amid much fanfare to lead Argentina to the World Cup at the end of a complicated campaign that had started under Gerardo Martino and stuttered during Edgardo Bauza's short spell in charge. But more than anyone else, the spotlight shone on one man: Messi.
That is nothing new. Ever since his international debut, the Barcelona forward has had to deal with a huge and often unreasonable level of expectation in his Argentina career - especially over the past five tournaments.
At the 2006 World Cup, Messi was still young and appeared mainly as a substitute, not making it off the bench at all in Argentina's quarter-final defeat to Germany on penalties. A year later, he scored a wonderful chip against Mexico in the semi-finals of the Copa America in Venezuela, but missed out on the trophy in a 3-0 loss to Brazil
The gold medal in China came the following summer and that brought satisfaction in his homeland, yet it was an under-23 team that was supposed to go on to achieve greater things. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, however, a 4-0 loss to Germany in the last eight brought hopes a victory to an abrupt end for Diego Maradona's side. And Messi, despite notching several assists, ended the tournament without a goal to his name.
The Copa America in Argentina a year later was another opportunity for the Albiceleste and also Messi, but again the Barca forward - so successful at club level by now with three Champions League wins to his name and also two Ballons d'Or - failed to score as the host nation beat only Costa Rica, drawing with both Bolivia and Colombia in the group and losing out to Uruguay in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.
Coach Sergio Batista stepped down after that and Alejandro Sabella took over. Finally, there was some continuity and Argentina arrived at the World Cup in Brazil as genuine contenders. Ultimately, however, the competition ended in more heartbreak for Messi et al as they lost the final to Germany in extra-time. Messi received the award for the tournament's best player, but is was scant consolation.
Defeat to Chile on penalties in the final of the 2015 Copa America in Santiago brought yet more pain and a repeat of that disappointment - including a Messi miss in the shootout - in the Copa America Centenario in the United States was too much to take for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
in the final.
"It's a difficult moment to analyse," a distraught Messi said afterwards as he announced his international retirement. "The first thing that comes into my head is that it's over. For me the national team is over. It has been four finals. It was what I most wanted. It didn't work out. I think that's it. It's what I feel now, what I think. There is great sadness. I missed the penalty, that's it."
It wasn't, though. Messi returned just two months later as Bauza took over, only to be sacked eight months on, and in Sampaoli, he looked to finally have a top-level coach he needed to match his ambitions at international level.
In the end, it was too close for comfort as Sampaoli's side flirted with disaster and were behind within 40 seconds in Ecuador on Tuesday night, but three super strikes by Messi (two teed up by a much-improved Di Maria) ensured the Albiceleste a place in Russia next summer and even though there is much work to be done, Argentina will be a contender again.If we all go hand in hand, everything will be easier," Messi said on Tuesday night. "It was unfair what happened in the World Cup and the (last) two Copa Americas. We ended up suffering to enter this World Cup and hopefully we will get it once and for all. The team will change, there will be another and it will grow."
With Barcelona, he has won it all and is considered the finest footballer in the history of the Catalan club. With Argentina, he has 61 goals and a record 21 in World Cup qualifiers, along with an Olympic gold, but still no major title to his name despite so many near misses.
In Russia next summer, a date with destiny awaits and Messi's long-suffering story with his national team may yet have the happy ending it so richly deserv

Both Manchester United and Man City are keeping an eye on New York City FC star Jack Harrison,
 While the 20-year-old was once part of the youth squads at United, City will have first dibs on his services because of the club's relationship with his MLS outfit.

AC MIlan are planning a move for Barcelona right back Aleix Vidal this winter, claims CalcioMercato .
Andrea Conti's injury has upped the need for reinforcements, and the 28-year-old, who is not a regular with Barca, is seen as the perfect fit.

Jupp Heynckes will come out of retirement to coach Bayern Munich until the end of the season, Bild reports.
The 72-year-old, who won the treble with the German champions before Pep Guardiola's arrival in 2013, will replace caretaker boss Willy Sagnol, who has been standing in for the recently sacked Carlo Ancelotti.

Cristiano Ronaldo wants Real Madrid to sign William Carvalho from Sporting CP, according to Don Balon .
Carvalho - who, like Ronaldo, emerged through Sporting's famed youth academy - was strongly linked with West Ham throughout the summer.
But Ronaldo has now reportedly urged Real president Florentino Perez to snap up his highly rated Portugal team-mate instead.

 Goal takes a look at the biggest transfer stories from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and beyond

NEYMAR PUTS ALEXIS ON HIS PSG WISHLIST

 

PSG are ready to make a move for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, a player that star man Neymar included on his transfer wishlist when he signed for the club, Le Parisien  reports.
The Ligue 1 club will sell Edinson Cavani to make way for the Chilean, while winger Julian Draxler is another who could be used as a makeweight to push through the deal.

I can go nude on any price given to me, and am not ashame to said. Is part of my as a model,so my fan out there dont misunderstand me.When asked what her boy thinks of her job,she said my bf is cool with it.Is my proffession and he respect it

"Star Trek: Discovery" might be beaming into the new frontier of streaming, but this latest spinoff is upholding a long tradition of using the 51-year-old franchise as the fuel to launch new services

 

Admittedly, the latest edition of "Star Trek," featuring a cast that includes "The Walking Dead's" Sonequa Martin-Green, Michelle Yeoh and Jason Isaacs, arrives in a media world almost as complicated as the one Roddenberry envisioned. That begins with the rights to "Star Trek," which were split between Paramount, which distributes the movies; and CBS, which handles the TV component, when Viacom implemented a corporate divorce of the two in 2006.

For a series famously canceled after three seasons in its original voyage, "Star Trek" has gone on to generate billions of dollars in revenue from five prior live-action series and 13 movies. Perhaps more significantly, it possesses an inordinately passionate fan base, the kind of ardor that's required, in theory, to get people to ante up for a fledgling service.
Trekkers, however, are also known for their skepticism, which has been fueled by the delays and the departure of producer Bryan Fuller ("Hannibal," "American Gods"), after reported clashes over the show's creative direction.
CBS clearly knows what it's doing, or at least hoping to do: convert a significant percentage of those "Star Trek" fans who sample the program into subscribers paying $5.99 a month. On a call with investors last month, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves called the series "the perfect vehicle to take All Access to the next level and beyond."
Like most streaming shows, success will be relative. But given its long history, "Star Trek: Discovery" comes armed with the sort of awareness designed to help the show live long enough for CBS to prosper.
"Star Trek: Discovery" premieres Sept. 24 at 8:30 p.m. on CBS. (DVR alert: The start could be delayed by football.)

 Singer Charles Bradley, who was known as the "Screaming Eagle of Soul" because of his raspy voice and stirring performances, has died.

Award winning Nigerian music star Davido Adeleke popularly known as Davido has denied ever saying his father will buy the entire Igbo land. Abia City blog on Monday, August 7, took to its Twitter handle to send a direct message to Davido about his recent claims on Igbos which went viral few days back and the music star was quick to respond that it was a lie. According to Davido’s earlier post on Twitter, it reads: “My father will just buy off the whole Igbo land. And their stupid Biafra will stop, stupid Igbos.” But the singer has come out to deny this post.

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