Headlines
Moyes Confident He Will Make West Ham Beg Him to Stay
David Moyes said he would perform so well in his second spell as West Ham manager that the owners would have no option but to renew his contract when it comes to an end.
The 56-year-old Scotsman, whose reputation took a battering during a deeply unsuccessful spell as Manchester United boss in 2013-14, signed an 18-month contract with the Premier League strugglers on Sunday.
Moyes was let go by co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan after the 2017-18 season despite leading the club to survival and a 13th-place finish.
He was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini, whose tenure came to an end on Saturday following the 2-1 home defeat by high-flying Leicester City which left the Hammers fourth from the bottom just a point above Aston Villa.
Moyes, who established his reputation with Everton before the demoralising spell at United, said he was not bitter about being let go in 2018.
“No, because things were done correctly — I wasn’t taken on and I was told that,” he said on Monday at a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s home game with fellow strugglers Bournemouth.
“I was disappointed, I’ve said that, but I’ve got another chance to go again.
“I think it says a lot about the owners, they thought the job I did was good enough to give me another opportunity.
“This time I’m going to make it so there’s no choice but to renew.
“There’s a clause in there and I’m going to make it impossible to ignore that, that’s my plan.”
– No hesitation –
Moyes, who also had unsuccessful spells at Spanish side Real Sociedad and Sunderland, said he had not hesitated when he received a phone call from the owners.
“It was very simple when they called me,” he said.
“They asked me do I want to come back and I said ‘I can’t wait’.
“We didn’t talk about the past, we were just talking about the team now, what we have to do and the position we’re in.”
Moyes return has not been universally welcomed by West Ham fans but he said he was the right fit for the job.
“What anybody’s getting is a very experienced Premier League manager, I think there’s arguably only two or three more experienced around, and I win,” he said.
“There’s a lot of new modern things in football but recently I think you’ve seen signs of things going back a bit.
“We do want to keep possession but perhaps possession is not now seen, even maybe by yourselves (in the media), as the key to winning games.
“The fans want to see more attacking football, action and excitement.
“The biggest thing I want to see from my team is for the supporters to be excited — I would love that to be the case.”
(AFP)
Former governor of Anambra State, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has officially defected to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi announced the decision on Tuesday at an event held at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi said.
The National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, was among the attendees.
United States Representative Riley Moors has said further military strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria could follow recent operations ordered by President Donald Trump, describing the actions as aimed at improving security and protecting Christian communities facing violence.
Moore made the remarks during a televised interview in which he addressed U.S. military strikes carried out on Christmas Day against militant targets in North-west Nigeria.
The strikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” Moore said.
He said the Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State affiliates had provided hope to Christians in Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks during past festive periods.
According to U.S. authorities, the strikes targeted camps used by Islamic State-linked groups operating in parts of north-west Nigeria.
Nigerian officials confirmed that the operation was carried out with intelligence support from Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between both countries.
The United States Africa Command said the operation was intended to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups responsible for attacks on civilians and security forces.
Nigerian authorities have described the targeted groups as a threat to national security, noting their involvement in killings, kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
Moore said the strikes marked a shift from previous years in which attacks were carried out against civilians during the Christmas period. He said the U.S. administration was focused on preventing further violence by targeting militant groups before they could launch attacks.
U.S. officials have said the military action was carried out with the consent of the Nigerian government and formed part of broader security cooperation between the two countries. Nigeria has received intelligence, training and logistical support from international partners as it seeks to contain militant activity.
Moore had previously called for stronger international attention to attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and has urged continued U.S. engagement in addressing extremist violence. He said further action would depend on developments on the ground and continued coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian officials have maintained that counter-terrorism operations are directed at armed groups threatening civilians, regardless of religion, and have reiterated their commitment to restoring security across affected regions.
World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua on Monday survived a ghastly road accident in Makun, Ogun State.
Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries, while two persons were said to have died on the spot.
