TheNewsGuru

Tag: Spain

  • VACATION TRAGEDY! RCCG pastor, son, daughter drown inside pool in Spain

    A 52-year-old pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG, Gabriel Diya, his 16-year-old son, Praise Emmanuel Diya and 9-year-old daughter, Comfort Diya, drowned inside the swimming pool in the Costa del Sol resort in Southern Spain on Tuesday December 24th.

    Gabriel Diya who was until his death the Minister in charge of the Open Heavens of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Charlton, South-East London, was on a family vacation with his wife and their children. Unfortunately, his daughter Comfort got into difficulty while playing in one of the 21 swimming pools in the resort.

    Himself and his son jumped in to try to save her but also struggled in the water. Despite poolside attempts to resuscitate them, all three died at the scene. His wife, Olubunmi, who was with them prayed fervently as CPR was performed on her husband and children. Sadly, they were all confirmed dead by the doctors.

    Post-mortem examinations carried out on Christmas Day confirmed death by drowning. After the incident, police carried out an investigation and could find nothing wrong with the pool’s filtration and pump system. The pool has since been reopened to the public.

    The UK’s central office of RCCG has since described the unfortunate incident as a “tragic accident”. In a post shared on Facebook, the church said

    “With heavy hearts, we extend our condolences to the family, parish, friends and associates of Area Pastor Gabriel Diya who sadly passed away, along with two of his children – Comfort Diya (9 years old) and Praise Emmanuel Diya (16 years old) – in a tragic incident while on a family holiday in Spain on 24th December 2019.

    Pastor Gabriel Diya, who was also the Parish Pastor of Open Heavens, Charlton in London was aged 52. He is survived by his wife Assistant Pastor Olubunmi Diya and their daughter.

    At this very difficult time, our prayers are for Pastor Gabriel Diya’s family, the parishes that were under his supervision, friends, associates, members of RCCG and the general public”.

  • NIDCOM condemns attack on Amaechi in Spain

    Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has condemned, in its entirety, the attack on Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi in Madrid.

    NIDCOM condemned the attack in a statement by the Chairman/CEO, NIDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa on Friday.

    According to NIDCOM, Amaechi was attending an official event in Madrid.

    “NIDCOM appeals to Nigerians in diaspora to be of good behavior wherever they are because such incidents tarnish the image of the country in their host countries.

    “Also such attitude has multiplier negative effects on Nigerians living in that country, who are law-abiding,” the commission said.

    NIDCOM applauded the prompt intervention of the Nigerian Mission in Spain and the Spanish police who ensured that the attacks did not escalate.

  • IPOB claims responsibility for attack on Amaechi in Spain

    …vows to attack more ‘corrupt’ politicians in diaspora

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says its members were responsible for the attack on Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Confirming the incident via his Twitter handle, Amaechi had said he was attacked by “misguided Nigerians” while attending an event on climate change in Madrid, Spain on Friday. The minister also confirmed that he was rescued unhurt by the Spanish police.

    However, IPOB said the attack was the order of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    According to IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, the group has no personal issue against Amaechi, adding that the attack was carried out as part of a plot targetted at particular politicians.

    He said it was the same order that led to the attack on former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, in Nuremberg, Germany, in August.

    The spokesman also said similar fate awaits “all corrupt politicians who brought hardship to the people.”

    “It is not a personal problem against him. It is a standing order against all of them and we are looking for all of them,” he told TheCable.

    “It is based on the standing order given by our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to IPOB, Spain, to beat the minister of transport, Chibuike Amaechi.

    “IPOB is warming all those corrupt politicians who brought hardship to the people that we are waiting for them anywhere we meet. We will continue,” he added.

    “We are telling the whole world why they must be dealt with because they are not sincere to the people to the suffering citizens.”

  • Angry Nigerians attack Buhari’s minister in Spain

    Angry Nigerians attack Buhari’s minister in Spain

    Barely six months after former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was attacked in Germany, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaech has received same dose of attack by Nigerians in Spain.

    The Minister on Friday said, that he was attacked by some Nigerians in Madrid, Spain.

    Amaechi disclosed this in a post on his Twitter page.

    The former Governor of Rivers State, however, added that he was not hurt as the attackers were fought off by the Spanish police

    He wrote, “Some minutes ago, I was attacked by a few misguided Nigerians while on national assignment at a climate change event in Madrid, Spain.

    “They were quickly repelled by the Spanish police before they could do any harm. I am fine. I was not hurt. Thanks for your support and prayers.”

    See post:

  • JUST IN: How I survived attacks by ‘misguided’ Nigerians in Spain – Amaechi

    Some Nigerians on Friday attacked the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, at the climate change summit holding in Madrid, Spain.

    The minister who stated this in a tweet via his handle @ChibuikeAmaechi however said the Spanish Polish repelled the attackers before they could do harm.

    “Some minutes ago, I was attacked by a few misguided Nigerians while on national assignment at a climate change event in Madrid, Spain. They were quickly repelled by the Spanish police before they could do any harm. I am fine. I was not hurt. Thanks for your support & prayers,” he tweeted.

    It is not immediately clear if the attackers are members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement that have moved to attack any person with Igbo roots and occupying high profile positions in the government.

    More details later…

  • Spain draw 1-1 with Sweden to qualify for Euro 2020

    Spain draw 1-1 with Sweden to qualify for Euro 2020

    A stoppage-time strike by substitute Rodrigo cancelled out Marcus Berg’s opener for Sweden and gave Spain the draw they needed to qualify for Euro 2020 in a Group F game that finished 1-1 on Tuesday.

    Spain dominated the opening 20 minutes and looked set to easily book their berth in next year’s finals but Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen pulled off a string of superb saves as his side grew into the game.

    Striker Berg put Sweden in front early in the second half after his initial header was saved, as was Emil Forsberg’s shot, but Berg nodded home from close range at the second attempt to give his side the lead.

    Spain goalkeeper David De Gea left the fray injured on the hour mark and, despite plenty of possession, the Spaniards had to wait until stoppage time to get an equalizer.

    Rodrigo finally found a way past Olsen, firing home to send his group-leading side to the finals.

  • Euro 2020: Sergio Ramos breaks Spain record

    Euro 2020: Sergio Ramos breaks Spain record

    Sergio Ramos became Europe’s most capped male outfield player as Spain edged closer to Euro 2020 qualification with a 1-1 draw in Norway.

    Ramos’ 168th cap also makes him Spain’s record appearance maker, surpassing goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

    Saul Niguez’s dipping second-half effort was cancelled out by Josh King’s injury-time penalty to ruin Spain’s 100% record in Group F.

    A draw in Sweden on Tuesday will secure Spain’s qualification.

    “All that is personal is a little secondary,” said Ramos after the game.

    “I would have happily traded this 168th cap for a victory. It was not the case. But this record is a great reward after so many years and it’s a great source of huge pride.

    “I am emotional every time I put on this shirt. That will not change and I hope to continue doing so for many years.”

    Spain looked to be heading for a seventh straight win in qualification until Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga brought down Omar Elabdellaoui.

    Bournemouth’s King rolled home the spot-kick in the 94th minute to leave Norway in fourth place in Group F.

    Real Madrid’s Ramos, 33, made his Spain debut in 2005 and is one of the last survivors of a golden era that won a World Cup and two European Championships.

    Ramos, who overtook Latvia’s Vitalijs Astafjevs at the summit of Europe’s outfield caps list, is now eight caps from matching Gianluigi Buffon’s overall European record of 176 international appearances.

    The defender has some way to go if he wants to break the world record, however, with former Egypt midfielder Ahmed Hassan playing 184 times for his country between 1995 and 2012.

  • Euro 2020 Qualifiers: Spain beat Faroe Islands 4-0 for sixth straight win

    Euro 2020 Qualifiers: Spain beat Faroe Islands 4-0 for sixth straight win

    Spain homed in on Euro 2020 by easing past the Faroe Islands 4-0 on Sunday for a sixth straight qualifying win.

    The match featured two goals each from Rodrigo and Paco Alcacer and moved Spain further clear at the top of Group F.

    Sergio Ramos equalled Iker Casillas’ record of 167 appearances for Spain on an emotional night at Sporting Gijon’s El Molinon stadium, which paid tribute to the late Spain and Sporting forward Quini before kick off.

    A minute’s silence was also held in memory of former Spain coach Luis Enrique’s daughter Xana, who passed away last month.

    There followed a straightforward win that took Spain on to a maximum 18 points after six games and leaves them seven ahead of second-placed Sweden, who drew 1-1 at home to Norway.

    Romania beat Malta 1-0 with a goal from George Puscas to leapfrog Norway into third place on 10 points.

    Valencia striker Rodrigo tapped into an empty net to put Spain in front in the 13th minute despite being in an offside position when he received a pass from Mikel Oyarzabal.

    But with video technology not in use in the qualifying phases, the goal stood.

    Rodrigo doubled Spain’s lead in the 50th minute on coach Robert Moreno’s home debut by cutting in from the right wing and firing a left-footed shot towards goal which took a heavy deflection off a visiting defender on its way into the net.

    Alcacer then entrenched his reputation as a highly productive substitute by further stretching Spain’s advantage with simple strikes in the 89th minute and deep in stoppage-time.

    Midfielder Thiago Alcantara said the team had not played as well as they would have liked due to the visitors’ negative tactics.

    “It was very tough at first, you expect a team like them to close you down and sit back and that’s what happened and we struggled to break them down,” he said.

    “They had three players marking one of ours although once we got the first goal it was slightly easier. We still weren’t completely comfortable but we’re happy with the result.”

    With the top two sides in each group guaranteed a place at Euro 2020, Spain need only to win two of their remaining four games to qualify for the tournament, but Thiago said his side were determined to win every match.

    “We are focused on getting all the points, it doesn’t matter to us when we qualify, we want every point, from the first to the last,” he added.

  • Euro qualifiers: Isco, Koke, Saul out of Spain squad

    Euro qualifiers: Isco, Koke, Saul out of Spain squad

    Spain coach Luis Enrique has dropped Real Madrid midfielder Isco and Atletico Madrid’s pair of Koke and Saul from his squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Norway and Malta.

    The former FC Barcelona manager has however handed a return to Sevilla veteran Jesus Navas.

    The 33-year-old Navas has reinvented himself in the last two campaigns as a right back since returning to Sevilla from Manchester City in 2017.

    This has led to his earning a first call-up to the squad since the 2014 World Cup.

    Getafe striker Jaime Mata, who has helped the Madrid side make a push for UEFA Champions League qualification, has been included in the Spain squad for the first time.

    Also included are Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz, Sevilla defender Sergi Gomez and Real Betis midfielder Sergio Canales.

    Athletic Bilbao forward Iker Muniain could make his competitive debut for his country, as could Valencia captain Dani Parejo, who has made one friendly appearance for Spain.

    Spain open their Euro 2020 qualification campaign at home to Norway in Valencia on March 23, and then visit Malta on March 26.

    The full squad list is:

    Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, David de Gea, Pau Lopez

    Defenders: Jose Luis Gaya, Jordi Alba, Juan Bernat, Mario Hermoso, Inigo Martinez, Sergio Ramos, Sergi Gomez, Sergi Roberto, Jesus Navas

    Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Rodri, Dani Ceballos, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Parejo, Sergio Canales

    Forwards: Marco Asensio, Rodrigo Moreno, Alvaro Morata, Iker Muniain, Jaime Mata.

  • Liverpool defender Lovren banned over social media outburst

    Croatia defender Dejan Lovren has been banned for one international match over comments he made on social media about opponents Spain following his side’s 3-2 Nations League win in November.

    Lovren posted a video on Instagram where he appeared to brag about elbowing Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and made insulting comments about the Spain team following the game on March 15.

    He also told reporters after the match that Spain were “rude on the pitch” and bad losers.

    UEFA said that Lovren had fallen foul of a clause in its disciplinary rules which penalises anyone “whose conduct is insulting or otherwise violates the basic rules of decent conduct.”

    He was suspended from Croatia’s next UEFA competition match, which is the Euro 2020 qualifiers at home to Azerbaijan in March.

    In spite of the win, Croatia finished bottom of Group A4 after losing their final game to England and were relegated to League B of UEFA’s new competition.

    Meanwhile, Bayern Munich forward Thomas Mueller and Ajax Amsterdam defender Maximilian Woeber will miss both legs of their teams’ respective Champions League round of 16 ties.

    The duo were banned for two European games following red cards last month.

    Mueller will sit out the tie against Liverpool and Woeber misses his side’s clash with Real Madrid.

    Mueller was given a straight red card for a high-kick on Nicolas Tagliafico during Bayern’s 3-3 draw against Ajax and was banned for two European club matches.

    Woeber was dismissed in a separate incident of the same match.