MUSIC: Africa superstar introduce artist on his label.

D'banj introduces artists under his record label, which includes himself, younger brother K-Switch, brothers MossKriss and Ralph Kriss and of course their first lady, Tonto Dikeh. See more pics after the cut..

 

2014 World Cup begins

Despite widespread protests and violence the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup begins in Brazil on Thursday with the hosts taking on Croatia in the opening match in Sao Paulo.

It is the second time Brazil will be hosting the competition, the previous being in 1950, when they endured a heartbreaking defeat to Uruguay in the final.

After winning last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup, the hosts, who have won the World Cup five times, are the major favourites to reclaim the trophy won by Spain four years ago in South Africa. However, perennial contenders Germany, Italy and Argentina will be waiting to spoil the party for the Brazilians.

Brazil are hoping to become the first nation to win the World Cup on home soil since France did it in 1998.

World Cup history

In 1930, FIFA held the first World Cup tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay with the hosts emerging winners of the inaugural tournament.

After another two events in 1934 (Italy) and 1938 (France), there was a 12-year break due to the World War, before recommencing in 1950 in Brazil. Since then, the World Cup has been held every four with Brazil, the most successful team, the only country to have competed in every finals series.

African representatives

African champions Nigeria, who are in Group F alongside two-time champions Argentina, Iran and debutants Bosnia, lead four other countries namely Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Algeria as the continent’s representatives at this edition of the Mundial.

Nigeria will open their tournament campaign against Iran on Monday.

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has kept faith with the majority of the players that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, bringing in the experienced striker Osaze Odemwingie and Joseph Yobo, who returns as team captain.

Youngsters Uche Nwofor and Ramon Azeez have also been brought in as Keshi aims to blend experience and youth in the squad while best player at January’s African Nations Championship, Ejike Uzoenyi, was a late replacement for injured Monaco left-back, Elderson Echiejie.

Cameroon are making a record seventh appearance while captain Samuel Eto’o will be making his fifth appearance at the finals.

Group A

Brazil, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the last two tournaments, have won 15 of their last 16 matches, but a below par outing against Serbia in their last preparatory game before the World Cup, has raised questions about the ability of Felipe Scolari’s squad to deliver when the chips are down.

Barcelona 22-year-old forward Neymar has the huge burden of leading the squad to a sixth triumph on home soil. He would be complemented by other youthful players Oscar, Willian, while captain Thiago Silva will lead from behind.

Croatia, led by Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric, will hope to pull off a monumental upset today but coach Niko Kovac’s side won’t be at full strength against the hosts.

Forward Mario Mandzukic, who was red-carded in the team’s final qualifier, will miss the crucial opener while the experienced Niko Kranjcar was dropped from the squad because of a late hamstring injury.

The other teams in the group Cameroon and Mexico will take to the field in Friday’s only game but while the hosts are huge favourites, it would be difficult to pick who joins them in the next round of the competition.

Group B

Defending champions Spain will play Holland in a replay of the 2010 final. Both sides are favoured to advance ahead of Chile and Australia.

Group C

Colombia and Greece will open hostilities in Group C on Saturday before Ivory Coast and Japan take to the field next day. This is probably the last chance for the underperforming golden generation of Ivory Coast footballers like Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue, the Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya, and others to create a positive impact on the international scene

Group D

This is a very tough group with all the four teams standing a chance of moving ahead to the Round of 16. The group promises to be explosive as three-time champions Italy, two-time champions Uruguay, 1966 champions England and Costa Rica all jostle for a knockout ticket.

Group E

France are overwhelming favourites here but Switzerland and Ecuador are two teams that can test the might of Les Bleus. Honduras are the outsiders.

Group F

Once again the Super Eagles are drawn against Argentina. Both teams have met thrice in the competition (1994, 2002 and 2010) and the South Americans triumphed on all occasions. Nigeria begin their campaign on Monday against Iran while Bosnia Herzegovina engage the Argentines in the other group game.

Group G

Tagged the Group of Death, analysts pick Germany and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal as the two teams who will advance to the next stage of the competition while Ghana and USA, despite their fighting spirits, will battle for the scraps.

Group H

Belgium are the hottest team going into the World Cup. The group, which also parades South Korea, Russia and Algeria, looks relatively soft, with Russia as the main competition for the Belgians but South Korea could be the banana skin in this group though.

United States of America Vs Nigerian Politician

The United States of America has faulted threat comments by top Nigerian politicians, including the leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, ahead of the forthcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

While the governorship election in Ekiti State is expected to hold on June 21, that of Osun is scheduled to hold on August 9.

It would be recalled that Tinubu had during his investiture as Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, threatened that riggers in the elections would be roasted.

The ex-governor of Lagos State had said, “No government that wants people’s votes will be doing what they are doing. They are already planning to rig the elections but be ready to protect your votes; nobody serves you freedom a la carte. It is going to be rig and roast.

“We are prepared not to go to court but to drive you out. We will not take it anymore. If you mess up in Ekiti and Osun states, you will see our reactions. For every action, there must be a reaction.”

But, the US in a statement entitled, ‘Countering the crisis of credibility’, by its Consul General, Jeff Hawkins, wondered why politicians keep making elections incredible in Nigeria.

Hawkins, who said the US had been watching the Nigeria political scene closely for about two years, warned Nigerian politicians against violence and disobedience to law.

The diplomat said, “The sponsorship of violence and intimidation, and the rhetorical threat thereof, are utterly unacceptable in a democratic society, and need to be expunged once and for all from the Nigerian polity and discourse. The US has been deeply troubled by some of the rhetoric that has been thrown around in recent weeks and months as these elections have drawn closer. It is perfectly acceptable, and even praiseworthy, to seek to defend your vote and that of your fellow citizens who share your support for a particular candidate.

“It is not, however, productive or reasonable to threaten violence, even when you perceive others have been guilty of misconduct. We were deeply troubled by the threat of “rig and roast” issued multiple times by a major political figure in recent weeks. Who benefits from that type of violent rhetoric, we wondered? And why would any ordinary Nigerian accept such provocative language, especially considering the history of post-election violence in Nigeria, and the truly horrific carnage that this country has been suffering at the hands of Boko Haram?

“If a candidate believes an election is threatened, then that candidate should be doing everything possible to see that the rules of the game are enforced properly – by having party agents in the numerous locations where they are permitted, for example, to bear witness to what happens – or doesn’t happen. That is part of the painstaking work of participating in, and building, a democracy. Drawing on or threatening violence is an attempt to short-circuit that process for the benefit of a few, but to the detriment of many.”

The US Consul General lamented that no election had been generally accepted to be credible in the country except that of 1993, which the late Moshood Abiola won but was later rejected.

While urging Nigerians to emulate the US politicians, Hawkins added, “It is undoubtedly important and interesting to see who the winners and losers in Ekiti and Osun will be, and how the outcomes will affect the national political picture in advance of next February’s elections.

“Nigerians have fought long and hard to earn the democratic rights they now possess, and Nigerians want – and deserve – peaceful, credible elections in Ekiti on June 21, in Osun on August 9, and across this great country in February 2015. That’s why these elections are a critical juncture. Every Nigerian – from the party leaders and candidates to average citizens – should do everything in his/her power to help meet those expectations, and thereby counter this crisis of credibility.