*NBA Chairman Disgraced😒 out of NEC Meeting in Abuja*

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has suspended the Chairman of its Ikorodu branch, Mr. Bayo Akinlade, over alleged insubordination.

The suspension was executed on Thursday at the ongoing NBA-NEC meeting in Abuja.

Akinlade’s suspension was sequel to a report by the NBA Vice President II, Dr. Foluke Dada, who accused Akinlade of refusing to halt the Ikorodu bye-election for the Ikorodu vice chairmanship position.

Afterwards, she moved a motion for his suspension on the basis of alleged insubordination which was overwhelmingly adopted by members.

Against that backdrop, the NBA- NEC temporarily relieved the embattled branch chairman of his position both in the IKorodu branch and the national leadership of the association.

Consequently, Akinlade will face disciplinary committee for disobeying a directive issued by the top hierarchy of the association with regards to the supplementary election of his branch’s vice chairman.

The NBA-NEC went further to void the purported election with a directive that the new vice Chairman elect should not and must not conduct herself as the vice Chairman of Ikorodu branch.

*Motta Slams😡 PSG for Poor Long-Term Planning*

Thiago Motta has slammed Paris Saint-Germain for their failure to line up replacements for him and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a timely manner.

Motta played 166 times for the French giants before retiring at the end of the 2018 season, and says the club were alerted to his plans in plenty of time to secure a replacement.

But with no alternative brought in last summer and the plight of Adrien Rabiot having left the club short on central midfield options, Motta has hit out at their lack of planning.

"It was something you had to think about and plan on beforehand,” he told RMC. “The club knew I was going to retire, it had to be organized, whether it was regarding my departure or any another player, but that comes from the organization and the ability to project ahead in the future of the club.”

The 36-year-old says the same issue also popped up in Unai Emery’s first season in charge at PSG during the 2016-17 season.

*Solskjaer Wants Carrick & Phelan to Stay🙏*

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no intention of changing his backroom staff after being appointed Manchester United manager on a permanent basis.

Solskjaer retained the services of first-team coaches Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna following the Portuguese's dismissal and brought back Alex Ferguson's long-time assistant Mike Phelan.

The club has not announced if Carrick, McKenna and Phelan will form part of Solskjaer's permanent team, but the Norwegian is in no doubt that he wants them to continue alongside him.

"Mike is a key part of the set-up and they are talking to each other," he told a media conference.

"Of course, I've voiced my opinion and the set-up we have now, I really hope that's going to continue. The staff we have work so well together, which is key to getting results.

"I'm not looking to make any changes there and they've not knocked on my door and said they don't want to continue, so hopefully we'll have the same set."

*Slavia Prague Hit With Stadium Closure🚫 for Chelsea Clash😳*

UEFA has hit Slavia Prague with a partial stadium closure for their Europa League quarter-final clash against Chelsea next month.

The punishment comes after a series of incidents in their round-of-32 tie against Genk on February 14, including setting off fireworks, throwing objects, crowd disturbances and blocked stairways.

UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has ordered the closure of a number of sections in the Sinobo Stadium for the first leg against Maurizio Sarri's side on April 11, while fining the club €32,000.

Genk were fined €20,000 after their supporters also set off fireworks and threw objects.

Chelsea have been punished following a pitch invasion in their Europa League tie with Malmo on February 21. The Blues have been handed a €5,000 fine, while their Swedish opponents have been fined €12,500 as a result of their fans setting off fireworks.

*Pique🔈: Messi One of the Biggest Trolls I Know😂*

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said superstar team-mate Lionel Messi is one of the "biggest trolls" he knows.

Argentina and Barca's all-time leading goalscorer to go with his five Ballons d'Or and other honours, Messi is perceived to be a shy character.

However, Pique – who is often outspoken – made a revelation about the Barcelona captain.

"Messi has very ironic humour, he's one of the biggest trolls [I know]," Pique said on Movistar+ show 'La Resistencia'.

The defender has stepped away from duty with the Spanish national side and has claimed that his time away from La Roja has helped his performances at the club level .

Messi has enjoyed another fine season for La Liga champions Barca as they prepare to return to action following the international break.

*AFCON🏆: Tragedy Overshadows ZIM Qualification😟

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The death of a supporter overshadowed Zimbabwe's qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Zimbabwe's FA said a fan was killed in a stampede outside the national stadium in Harare before their final Group G match against Congo-Brazzaville.

Despite the tragedy, the qualifier went ahead with Zimbabwe winning 2-0 to seal their place at Egypt 2019.

The Democratic Republic of Congo also qualified from the group with a 1-0 win over Liberia in Kinshasa.

Zimbabwe finished top of Group G with DR Congo second, two points adrift.

Liberia and Congo-Brazzaville - who were both in contention at the start of the day - were eliminated.