UEFA Champions League Final Report: Juventus 1 Barcelona 3

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Barcelona completed a trophy treble in Luis Enrique's debut season in charge as they beat Juventus 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League final in Berlin.

Luis Suarez produced his most crucial contribution of his short career at Camp Nou when he restored Barca's lead 22 minutes from time to effectively settle the game, after Alvaro Morata had cancelled out Ivan Rakitic's early opener.

A fifth European title looked set to be a more routine ask when Rakitic – the man to perform so capably in replacing the soon-to-depart Xavi this term – opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a trademark Barca goal, which saw nine of their 10 outfield players touch the ball.

However, while Barca enjoyed the better of the first half from there – threatening a Juve back line shorn of Giorgio Chiellini through injury – former Real Madrid man Morata struck early in the second period.

Having scored twice in the two-legged semi-final against his former club, Morata was afforded a simple finish after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had saved an initial effort from Carlos Tevez.

Suarez was the only Barca man not involved in Rakitic's opener, but the Uruguayan provided the key touch in his side's crucial second, as he replicated Morata's finish when Lionel Messi's effort was spilled by Gianluigi Buffon.

Neymar had a header disallowed, via an accidental handball, as Barca sought to put the game out of sight late on.

But it proved inconsequential in the end, as the Brazilian added a third with the last touch of the match to ensure that Luis Enrique's side repeated the treble-winning achievement of Pep Guardiola's Barca in his debut season of 2008-09.

The victory also provided Xavi with a successful send-off to his career with the Catalan giants before he joins Qatari club Al Saad.

European success continues to elude Juve, meanwhile, with the Serie A side coming up short in their attempt to win the continent's most prized trophy for the first time since 1996 and their own treble bid.

Barca could barely have hoped for a better start, as Rakitic opened the scoring in style in the fourth minute when he was the beneficiary of a spell of neat passing play that bore all the Spanish giants' familiar hallmarks.

Following Messi's raking pass out to Jordi Alba, Neymar slipped the ball in to Andres Iniesta. He in turn found the Croatian – Rakitic finishing past Buffon from inside the six-yard box to spark wild celebrations on the Barca bench.

The goal came somewhat out of the blue, with Juve having begun on the front foot. And, having fallen behind, the Italians then saw Arturo Vidal display an uncharacteristic lack of composure, as the Chilean blazed over before Neymar was wayward at the other end.

The Liga champions began to apply further pressure, and Buffon kept out Dani Alves' effort with a superb strong, left-handed save, before Vidal " perhaps flustered by his part in losing the run of Iniesta for the opener " was overzealous in his tackling and narrowly escaped a second early yellow card for crashing into Neymar.

Juve had half-hearted penalty appeals turned away following claims of a foul by Alba on Paul Pogba midway through the half but Barca were largely controlled in possession, apparently content to take the pace out of the game.

The threat of Messi, Neymar and Suarez continued to prove a real menace on the break and the latter twice went close to extending the lead with long-range strikes prior to half-time.

Buffon was handed a let-off when he inexplicably gave the ball away to Neymar deep in his own half but he displayed his vast experience to keep Suarez out again early in the second half after a rapid Barca breakaway.

Despite replicating their early momentum, Barca were hauled level when Morata pounced on Ter Stegen's save after 55 minutes to get Juve back into the game.

Claudio Marchisio's deft backheel helped Tevez into a shooting position and, when the Barca goalkeeper kept that effort at bay, Morata followed up to tap the ball into an empty net – prompting wild celebrations from the goalscorer that had unsurprisingly been absent against Real.

With Juve buoyed, Tevez and Pogba both went close, but their momentum was abruptly halted by Suarez's close-range finish – at a time when the Italian champions were enjoying their most threatening spell.

A trademark dribble from Messi was followed up by a strike that Buffon could not hold, allowing Suarez to tap home his most important Barca goal.

Neymar looked to have wrapped up victory with a header soon after, but the official on the byline spotted his header had deflected off a hand.

Barca legend Xavi was then introduced for his swansong at the expense of long-time midfield companion Iniesta.

It could also prove to be Andrea Pirlo's final Juve game, with the midfield maestro unable to conjure up any late moments of magic before Barca sealed victory when Neymar scored with the final touch of the match following a quick break.

It completed a season many in Catalunya would not have believed possible when Luis Enrique's took over from Gerardo Martino in May 2014, and then saw his position questioned following rocky results and a public disagreement with Messi at the turn of the year.

The Barca boss – consistently non-committal on his future in charge – must now decide whether to bow out at the top or attempt to replicate former team-mate Guardiola's legacy.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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APC: Rancour in party over Gbajabiamila’s House of Reps Speakership endorsement

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Read Time:2 Minute, 24 Second

Following the endorsement Femi Gbajabiamila by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party's consensus candidate for the office of Speaker in the House of Reps., his main challenger, Yakubu Dogara has faulted the election process, describing it as "illegal."

The party's National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, had on Saturday, June 5, announced Gbajabiamila, who was the Minority Leader in the Seventh House, represents Surulere Federal Constituency 1 of Lagos State, as the party's candidate for the Speakership run.

Mohammed Monguno, from Borno state, also emerged as the party's sole candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker.

Speaking after the election, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, urged Gbajabimila to run an all-inclusive House by reaching out to his colleagues who were aggrieved with the process.

There was rancour among the elected lawmakers, with the supporters of Hon. Yakubu Dogara claiming total ignorance of the voting process.

Speaking to journalists on behalf of the Dogara camp after the walk-out, Hon. Jubril Abdulmumin said they were not prepared for a primary election, and it should therefore be cancelled.

He termed the election process "illegal’’, adding that Dogara's was still in the race for the position of Speaker as there were 360 lawmakers-elect from all parties.

Abdulmumin and 160 lawmakers alone could chose the Speaker.

He also said the entire process was an ''ambush’’, manipulative and indicative of the fact that the party leadership came with a predetermined position which was skewed to favour Gbajabiamila.

The legislator said the party had acted contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution.

"It did not prescribe that a primary election be conducted for the Speakership, contrary to the provisions of the House Standing Orders."

He said it was at the point where the APC National Vice-Chairman North, Senator Lawal Shuaibu insisted the process must go on that Dogara's supporters made their feelings known.

"At this point, we had no option than to stage a walk out of the hall and address newsmen,’’ Abdulmumin said.

Reacting to the development, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the party had to make a move.

"We cannot begin the Eighth Assembly with two candidates, hence the party adopted the election process for the lawmakers.

''It is for the National Assembly members-elect to pick their choice candidate, and whoever emerges automatically becomes the party's candidate.''

He however warned that disciplinary action awaited any legislator who goes against the party's decision.

Mohammed also disclosed that the APC legislators were made to sign an undertaking to abide by the outcome of the primary election to select the party's consensus candidate.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Bukola Saraki: Why Senator shunned APC Senate mock primary election

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Senator Bukola Saraki, who boycotted the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) mock primary organised to elect a Senate President, has given reasons to his action.

Saraki is in the race to becoming the eighth Assembly Senate President.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Saraki said the party adopted a voting pattern that is “undemocratic and against universal electoral norms and practice.”

Similarly, in a statement signed by senator-elect Dino Melaye and senator-elect Ahmed Rufai Sani, on behalf of ‘senators-elect of Like Minds’ reads:

 “We the senators-Elect of Like Minds today 6TH of June 2015, on the invitation of our party, attended an interactive meeting with selected 5 members from each group, the Unity Forum and the Like Minds Group.

“Regrettably, the Unity Forum insisted on open ballot voting which we discovered is different from the electoral process used to conduct the earlier election with the House of Representatives members elect. To us, this open ballot voting is primitive; undemocratic and against universal electoral norms and practice.

“In the light of the above, we the Senators elect of Like Minds hereby insist on our position of Open Secret voting process which we believe is in consonance with the provisions of the electoral act, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the universal electoral values.

“As responsible citizens of Federal Republic of Nigeria, and leaders in our own right, we have resolved and hereby state that we shall not be part of a process that promotes undemocratic electoral process that may resort to rancorous and uncivil situations which inhibits the rights of individuals to vote for the candidate of their choice, as this process will further divide us than unite members of our party.

“In conclusion we the Senators-Elect of Like Minds wish to state categorically that we will participate only in the constitutional election scheduled for Tuesday, the 9th of June 2015 in line with the rules of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We by this press release invite the media to a joint press conference by the 65 Senators-Elect of Like Minds drawn from across party lines on Monday morning, the 8th of June 2015"

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Singer graduates 21 days after welcoming baby out of wedlock

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BET award winning pop singer, Davido would be joining hundreds of graduands completing their academic task of earning a BSc from the Babcock University in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Interestingly, this is coming exactly 21 days after the Gobe singer joined league of baby daddies when he welcomed his first child – a baby girl- from one of his girlfriends outside wedlock.

The 22-year old performing artiste, who just acquired a multimillion Naira property in the United States of America, has completed his academic studies at the Babcock University barely 20 days after his elder brother, Adewale Adeleke graduated from the Columbia University in the United States of America on Monday May 18, 2015.

Also worthy to note is the preparation to the release of the singer's sophomore album scheduled for July 2015.

In his words, 'Shakiti bobo ofe di graduate bobo oma gba degree bobo. Can't wait Glory be to the Almighty God.'

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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