Several police officers have suffered injuries as citizen protests during Saturday's Confederations Cup match between Brazil and Italy escalated to violence. Locals have staged demonstrations against the Brazilian government's funding of the eight-way World Cup dress rehearsal, in addition to the tournament actual in 2014 and the subsequent Olympics in 2016. The security threat to the host nation's final group game against the Azzurri had been aggravated to a point that officials were forced to deploy military enforcement in and around Mineirao. Proceedings kicked off in an atmosphere of relative peace nevertheless, as the home supporters initially celebrated their team's goals in the 4-2 demolition of Cesare Prandelli's men to top Group A. However, reports on local radio of the onrushing of a demonstration numbering 100,000 strong headed for the stadium from Belo Horizonte - the surrounding locale - incited a frenzy. Around 3,000 protesters directly engaged the police outside the complex. Authorities surrounding the stadium were bombarded by a myriad of objects ranging from rocks to crude bombs. Five policemen are estimated to have sustained injuries resulting from the assaults, adding to the dozens of civilian casualties and pair of deaths that have been inflicted so far. Brazil president Dilma Rousseff had appealed for the protesters to disengage in a television broadcast on Friday, citing funding for the World Cup was not drawn from tax income. Fifa, the competition's organisers, has decided against postponing the remaining fixtures, despite reports claiming a participating nation has requested for such.

Schalke interested in Fulham defender Riether

The 30-year-old defender has only recently made his loan spell at Craven Cottage permanent, but Shalke general manager Horst Heldt has revealed the Bundesliga side are interested in recruiting the former Koln man.

Funny video: Battle of the bootylicious: Omotola vs Toolz

I'm listening to Olamide-ft-DBanj-First-Of-All-remix[naij... @Hulkshare:

I'm listening to Olamide-ft-DBanj-First-Of-All-remix[naij... @Hulkshare:

Messi: World Cup absence makes me sad

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has expressed his anguish at being without a World Cup winners' medal in his trophy cabinet. The Argentina forward, who turns 26 on Monday, has won four Ballons d'Or in a row but he stressed that what he really craves is the greatest prize in international football to add to his silverware collection. "Between a fifth Ballon d'Or and a World Cup with Argentina, I'd want the latter, without a doubt," he told Corriere della Sera. "I'm missing a World Cup; it makes me sad." Despite widely being considered as the best footballer on the planet right now, Messi's record-breaking antics fall on deaf ears at home with his wife Antonella, and the Blaugrana star admitted that he does not watch much of the sport he excels at. He added: "I never watch football on television. Antonella gets bored with it. I come home and tell her I scored two or three goals, and she doesn't even hear me!" Messi is currently recovering from a hamstring injury that saw him only appear intermittently in the final two months of Barcelona's Liga-winning 2012-13 campaign.

What would you do for a free Samsung Galaxy Note 8?

A few Sundays ago, a mysterious Galaxy Note 8 was spotted in a Samsung Mobile Shop at the Ikeja City Mall, challenging visitors at the Mall to rise up to day & seize it for themselves! Curiosity they say Kills the Cat, but not by Samsung Mobile Nigeria's standards... They reward those brave enough to see an imaginative opportunity & take it. Watch the video above...

Ghanaian footballer Michael Essien secretly weds his publicist

There have been speculations for months now that Ghanaian footballer and Chelsea star Michael Essien is married to his publicist, Akosua Puni, a report they both never denied or confirmed. The report was regarded as mere speculation until last week Friday when Akosua introduced herself as Mrs Akosua Puni Essien at a cocktail charity event - Game Of Hope - organized by Michael Essien. Akosua was in charge of the event and everyone who worked with her referred to her as Mrs Essien. The Ghanaian showbiz personality and socialite is also the head of the Michael Essien Foundation. Michael and Akosua had a child together shortly after his relationship with Nadia Buari ended a few years back, though the football star has never acknowledged being married and does not wear a ring. He has three kids from two different women.

New Video: Adetoun - Cindarella

Adetoun is the 2nd runner up of MTN Project Fame Season 5. The versatile performer and graduate of Mass Communication fom Olabisi Onabanjo University, just released the video of her hot new single - Cindarella. Adetoun has a sublime touch to most genres of music but expresses a bias towards soul, jazz, R&B and her new found style Waka. Enjoy..

Obi Mikel Amazing Goal vs Uruguay ( Nigeria 1-1 Uruguay )