Connect with us

News

Newcastle dent Man City’s title bid with controversial 2-1 victory

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

Newcastle dented Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge as Harvey Barnes’ brace sealed a controversial 2-1 victory on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side trailed to Barnes’ second-half opener at St James’ Park before Ruben Dias equalised for the visitors.

Moments after Dias levelled, Barnes bagged Newcastle’s contentious second goal, which was allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside against Bruno Guimaraes.

Guardiola was also aggrieved over a first-half penalty claim by Phil Foden.

Advertisement

City’s fourth league defeat this season left them in third place, four points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Tottenham on Sunday.

Guardiola said it was too early to talk about the title race this week, but the City boss will be hugely frustrated to miss the chance to put pressure on Arsenal.

City went into the international break with a 3-0 victory over troubled champions Liverpool that made it seven wins from eight games in all competitions.

But they squandered that momentum in an error-strewn display on Tyneside as Erling Haaland was held without a goal for only the third time in 21 matches for City and Norway this season.

Advertisement

Haaland was hoping to score his 100th league goal in his 109th appearance since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

But he wasted several chances and Newcastle took advantage to beat City for just the second time in their last 36 league meetings.

Eddie Howe’s first win over City in 19 top-flight attempts eased the pain of Newcastle’s successive league defeats at West Ham and Brentford before the international break.

City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma nearly gifted Newcastle the lead inside 30 seconds with a woeful pass that was intercepted by Barnes, but the winger wasted the chance as he shot straight at the Italian from 10 yards.

Advertisement

– Profligate City –

Haaland was guilty of an equally bad miss moments later, scuffing his attempt to chip over Nick Pope after the Newcastle keeper reacted to Jeremy Doku’s pass by rashly racing out of his area.

Newcastle were denied the opener by Donnarumma, who superbly kept out Nick Woltemade’s header from Tino Livramento’s cross.

Foden blazed wide from a good position inside the area before appealing in vain for a penalty after Fabian Schar left him writhing in pain with a crunching tackle in the same incident.

Advertisement

Foden and City’s coaching staff were furious with the decision, their frustration mounting when Jacob Murphy avoided conceding a spot-kick after blocking Doku’s shot with his arm.

Donnarumma won another duel with Woltemade as he repelled the German’s strike after he burst through on goal.

In a half of poor finishing, Barnes was guilty of the worst moment when he contrived to shoot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.

Even Haaland was off the mark, flicking Nico O’Reilly’s cross straight at Pope from five yards.

Advertisement

Remarkably, the unmarked Foden produced a worse miss, dragging wide from Rayan Cherki’s pass just before half-time.

City finally cracked as Barnes made amends for his earlier misses with a fine finish in the 64th minute, lashing a low drive past Donnarumma from the edge of the area after Guimaraes’ run and pass prised open the defence.

Guardiola’s men trailed for just four minutes.

Bernardo Silva’s shot was blocked towards Dias and the Portugal defender’s powerful strike from 12 yards deflected in off Schar.

Advertisement

But Dias’s first league goal since he scored at Newcastle four years ago sparked an immediate response from Howe’s side.

When Woltemade guided his header across goal, Guimaraes nodded against the bar and the rebound fell to Barnes to volley home.

The long VAR check for offside against Guimaraes seemed to favour City but it eventually went in Newcastle’s favour as the Magpies faithful hailed a memorable victory.

AFP

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

News

Watch moment FCT minister Wike campaigns for Tinubu, Aduda

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

…Vote Tinubu for President
Vote Aduda for Senate

Federal Capital Territory FCT minister Nyesom Wike has started campaigning for President Bola TInubu and Phillip Aduda in Abuja.

Watch the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, telling the people of Tungan Shanu village during the inspection of the ongoing construction of the road linking Tungan Madaki with Zuba Road today to vote President TInubu and Aduda for Senate.

Continue Reading

News

Court Directs INEC to Recognise NDC’s Two-Finger Logo

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) will soon be inaugurated as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The party disclosed this in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director Esq., on September 21, 2026.

According to the statement, the NDC is currently consulting with relevant stakeholders to develop and inaugurate what it described as a robust Presidential Campaign Council.

The party said its Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and Vice-Presidential Candidate, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had held several meetings with the National Leader and leadership of the party as part of the process.

Advertisement

The NDC said Obi and Kwankwaso had been given the opportunity to nominate key officials of the campaign council in consultation with the party.

Those positions include the Director-General of the Campaign, Deputy Director-General (North), Campaign Spokesman, Deputy Spokesman, Head of New Media, Finance Director, Deputy Finance Director and other positions.

The party said the arrangement was designed to promote inclusiveness and cohesion within the campaign structure.

It added that a full organogram of the campaign structure had been developed since August and made available to Obi and Kwankwaso for their input, while nominations had also been received from other stakeholders across the country.

Advertisement

The NDC said it would announce and inaugurate the PCC after receiving the inputs of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

It also disclosed that a campaign timetable had been proposed since August, with arrangements for campaign funding and fundraising still being concluded.

According to the party, funds raised for the presidential campaign would be paid into the presidential campaign account and managed by officers nominated by the presidential candidate and his running mate alongside the party’s National Treasurer.

The party said the PCC inauguration, initially scheduled for the first week of September, was postponed because of the travel schedule of the presidential candidate.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the NDC has directed its state and Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen to commence the compilation and harmonisation of party agents ahead of the 2027 elections.

The directive, according to the party, is in line with the Electoral Act, 2026, and requires state and LGA chairmen to meet with candidates and relevant stakeholders to produce comprehensive lists of agents.

The agents will be divided into two categories: those for National Assembly elections and those for governorship and State Assembly elections.

The party said the lists would be scrutinised and ratified by its leadership, including the presidential candidate and his running mate, before training commences.

Advertisement

The exercise is expected to be completed and the final lists submitted within two weeks of the directive.

The committee responsible for the appointment of party agents is chaired by the NDC Deputy National Chairman (South), Comrade Babatunde Alli. Vin Martin Ilo serves as secretary, while Dr Yunusa Tanko, Nafiu Dankura and the National Vice Chairmen of the six geopolitical zones are members.

The party also appealed to its candidates at all levels to discourage supporters and support groups from engaging in internal battles, urging them instead to concentrate on winning the elections.

“There are no battles to fight within the NDC,” the party stated, identifying the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as its common opponent.

Advertisement

The NDC said it remained committed to supporting its candidates and urged them to focus on winning elections, stressing that its candidates were contesting under the party and not as independent candidates.

The party expressed its desire for all its candidates to win their respective elections and called on members and supporters to remain focused on the 2027 electoral contest.

Continue Reading

News

Wike Hails First Lady Oluremi Tinubu At 66, Says “She’s a pillar of support for Nigerians”

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

 

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has described the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a major pillar of support for President Bola Tinubu in particular and Nigerians, especially the vulnerable ones in general.

The FCT Minister, in a goodwill message to the First Lady on her 66th birthday, commended her for the transformation of the Abuja City Gate, saying “the roles the First Lady played in transforming the Abuja City Gate into how it is today, is a manifestation of her commitment to the success of her husband’s administration.”

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the Minister also hailed the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative, noting that it has brought succor to several vulnerable Nigerians in the last three years.

Advertisement

Wike said; “At 66, the simple way of life of the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, CON, has remained an inspiration to women in the country, and it is my prayer that God will continue to uphold her.

“Most importantly, this new age is a confirmation of God’s love for her, and I pray that the good Lord will continue to grant her good health.

“I celebrate and rejoice with our ever caring and development oriented First Lady on the attainment of this significant age in her life and wish her many more years of service to our country, Nigeria.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News