London City Lionesses 0-4 Arsenal: Cloe Lacasse double sets up Aston Villa semi-final for Gunners

Cloe Lacasse has now scored four goals for Arsenal since joining from Benfica last summer

Cloe Lacasse scored twice as holders Arsenal moved into the semi-finals of the Women's League Cup with victory over London City Lionesses.

Lacasse redirected Stina Blackstenius' header to put them ahead, before Kim Little scored an injury-time penalty as the Gunners took control at half-time.

Lacasse then swept home her second after a miscued Beth Mead shot, before substitute Alessia Russo headed in.

Arsenal will face Aston Villa in the last four on Wednesday, 6 March.

Manchester City host Chelsea the following day in the other last-four tie, with the final at Molineux on 31 March.

Arsenal's meeting with the Lionesses was originally due to take place on 7 February, but a waterlogged pitch meant the game was postponed just four hours before kick-off.

Later that evening, London City also parted company with head coach Carolina Morace and her assistant Nicola Williams, leaving goalkeeper coach Darren Smith in charge.

The Gunners, who were looking to bounce back from their FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City on Sunday, were frustrated by a stubborn home defence for large periods of the first half, with Caitlin Foord twice going close.

Lacasse's 39th-minute opener was slightly fortuitous in the way it landed straight on the Canadian forward's head and deflected off a defender on the way in, but it was what the visitors deserved.

Little's penalty was as clinical as usual and came after Blackstenius was fouled by goalkeeper Grace Moloney, following a poor misplaced pass from former Arsenal defender Emma Mukandi.

Jonas Eidevall's side were patient at the start of the second period but sealed the success when Lacasse superbly curled home a loose ball and substitute Russo powered a header under Moloney moments after coming on.

With the visitors currently third - and six points behind leaders Chelsea - in the Women's Super League, they know this competition may represent their best chance of silverware this season.

Read More

We can no longer continue to subsidise electricity – Nigerian govt

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has declared that the country can no longer continue to subsidise electricity.

According to the minister, Nigeria must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model, adding that the country is currently indebted to the tune of 1.3 trillion naira to generating companies (GenCos) and 1.3 billion dollars owed gas companies.

Adelabu said this when he addressed a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, disclosing that only 450 billion naira was budgeted for subsidy this year.

He said that the ministry needs over two trillion naira to effect subsidy.

The minister said that states will now be allowed to generate power independently.

Read More

Afcon 2023: finale awaits between hosts Ivory Coast and Nigeria

Venue: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan Date:Sunday, 11 February Kick-off: 20:00 GMT Coverage: Watch live on BBC Three, iPlayer and BBC Sport website, listen to radio commentary on BBC World Service in Africa and follow text commentary online

After a record number of goals, unrelenting shocks and an apparent capacity for unceasing drama, the Africa Cup of Nations will finish on Sunday when either hosts Ivory Coast or fellow former champions Nigeria will be crowned kings of Africa.

The Super Eagles are aiming for a fourth continental crown in Abidjan while the Ivorians are looking to add to their triumphs in 1992 and 2015.

The teams will meet for the second time at this year's finals, 24 days after the Ivorians suffered a first-ever home defeat by Nigeria when they won 1-0 in the group stage.

The Elephants are the first host nation to reach the final since Egypt in 2006, with five of the last six hosts to have contested the final having gone on to lift the trophy - the only exception being the Super Eagles themselves in 2000.

Unbeaten unlike their opponents, the Nigerians are the highest-ranked of the finalists - rated sixth in Africa (and 42nd in the world), as opposed to Ivory Coast's African ranking of eighth (and 49th overall).

Seeking a first title since 2013, Nigeria cruised through the group stages with seven points before, amid a run of four straight clean sheets, defeating Cameroon, Angola and South Africa in the knockout stages.

After the Nigeria loss, Ivory Coast then suffered a record home - and Nations Cup - defeat by Equatorial Guinea (0-4), only squeezing through as a best third-placed side before coming to life with dramatic knock-out wins over Senegal and Mali before beating DR Congo in the last four.

After one of the best Nations Cups in living memory, the hope is that Sunday's final (20:00 GMT) in Abidjan's 60,000-seater stadium will providing a fitting climax.

"The organisation has been brilliant, the pitches great, we've seen some unbelievable matches and now Ivory Coast is in the final with Nigeria - what a game," former Elephant Kolo Toure enthused to the BBC.

'Collective effort' to boost Nigeria

Victor Osimhen (right) has only scored once from 24 attempts on goal at the 2023 Nations Cup finals, but Ademola Lookman has netted three times

Even though they are playing in Abidjan, Nigeria are the nominal home side - and in spite of the intense backing provided by the Ivorian fans, whose support has been regularly praised by the national squad, the Nigeria camp say they would not have it any other way.

"The atmosphere will be fantastic and my players and staff all prefer to play in a full stadium, despite the level of noise," Nigeria coach Jose Pereiro said on Saturday.

"Ivory Coast were favourites ahead of this tournament, but we want to win this Nations Cup. My only plan is to beat Ivory Coast and win this trophy for the people of Nigeria."

Appointed in 2022, the former Sporting Lisbon and Porto coach has been widely criticised by Nigerian fans throughout much of his tenure but now stands on the verge of adding to titles won in 1980, 1994 and 2013.

During all three of those triumphs, the Super Eagles played Ivory Coast - against whom they have won three times and lost twice during their seven previous meetings at the finals.

With a back line superbly marshalled by former Watford centre-back William Troost-Ekong and long-term West Brom defender Semi Ajayi, Nigeria have conceded just two goals in six games - while scoring seven at the other end.

Surprisingly, only one of those has come from Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year who has converted just one of his 24 chances, albeit while having had two goals ruled out by VAR and another disallowed for handball.

Nonetheless, Osimhen has earned plaudits for his tireless running and pressing, and played the semi-final despite stomach problems, where he earned the penalty from which Nigeria converted their only goal.

"He doesn't play like a star, but fights for the team," said the Portuguese Peseiro, 63.

"He knows he's an important player and because of that, he suffers for the team - getting kicked around - but he helps us as much as the team helps him. It's a collective effort and we fight together."

With Osimhen failing to add to his goal in Nigeria's opener, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is Nigeria's top scorer with three goals, while Troost-Ekong, having netted two high-pressure penalties, is the only other Nigerian to have scored (an own goal aside).

'I'm not the special one'

Emerse Fae was a youth international for France, and helped the nation of his birth overcome Nigeria in the Under-17 World Championship final back in 2001

Fittingly for a competition which has been played in excellent spirit through, Peseiro took time on Saturday to "congratulate Emerse Fae" for the interim Ivory Coast coach's impressive handling of his side after taking over a seemingly-sinking ship.

After coach Jean-Louis Gasset vacated his role shortly after the Elephants' group campaign, with some saying the Frenchman chose to resign rather than being fired, former Ivorian international Fae stepped in just hours before the team staggered into the knockout stages.

There has been little limp about the side ever since, with the Ivorians showing incredible mental fortitude when finding late equalisers en route to eliminating defending champions Senegal and Mali in two epic ties, prior to a far more routine victory against DR Congo on Wednesday.

Having previously coached Nice's youth teams and the reserve team of French Ligue 1 club Clermont Foot, Fae - who had been Gasset's assistant since the latter's appointment in May 2022 - rejected talk of him being a "special one" on Saturday.

"I said from the start that I was fortunate to know the squad for two years," he said. "We just tried to focus on building the right chemistry - I haven't invented anything but done all the basics, like making all the players feel important and building cohesion.

"We deserve to be in the final and the most important thing was to regain confidence, rebuild the team and it was good to tidy things in defence. We've been taking things one step at a time."

Forced to quit playing at the age of 28 because of vein inflammation issues in his legs, Fae was part of the Ivorian side that finished runners-up in 2006, a campaign in which he played every minute.

He will now try to ensure the two-time champions score their first goal in a Nations Cup final, with their four previous appearances in the continent's showpiece football finale all going to penalties after ending goalless.

With the Ivorians' six goals all having been scored by different players, Fae will hope that the revitalised Sebastien Haller - who scored the semi-final winner in the striker's first start at the finals - can continue to impress following his month-long lay-off with an ankle injury.

"Since December, I've been working hard with the physios to be here," said the 29-year-old, who returned to football just over a year ago after battling back from testicular cancer. "I feel the pressure as a striker, it's a big responsibility but that's how football works.

"Playing in front of our people gives us the motivation to perform, and I hope this good pressure will help the team. The last two years have been tough and challenging for me. When you see everything that has happened, it's great to be here and on Sunday I'll enjoy it."

Having had to cope without four suspended players in the semi-finals, Fae will have the rarity of being able to select from a near full-strength squad on Sunday - when he says he is prepared for whatever eventuality this most unpredictable of Nations Cup may have left to offer.

"The main lesson we've drawn at this competition is that you have to expected the unexpected," said a man who could win the continent's most prestigious tournament in only his fourth game in charge.

Read More

Why social media must be regulated – Femi Gbajabiamila

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila says social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated.

Femi Gbajabiamila, while representing President Bola Tinubu at the launch of a book written by Babatunde Fashola, former minister of works, on Thursday in Lagos, stressed the importance of accurate information in policy formulation and national development.

He warned against the danger of using social media in the dissemination of wrong information which has almost torn the country apart, stressing the need to regularize the framework of news dissemination on social media to avoid mis-information in the country.

Gbajabiamila emphasized the importance of data in policy formulation for the growth of the country, stating that no developing country can succeed without adequate and well-informed data.

He said his administration has an obligation to engage in evidence-based discussions and data-reliant decision-making, hence the need for accurate data that will be used for better policy formulation and execution.

“The social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated.

“As many people do not understand that once the send button is hit, there is a potential to reach millions of people around the world which is capable of causing a great danger not just in the society but even unintended consequences to the individuals that are receiving information which may include security of life.

“As citizens become more interested in governance, it is the government’s obligation to ensure that engagement with citizens springs with shared agreement on what the truth is, what is real and what is not,” he said.

Read More

Pix as Shettima celebrates with Super Eagles in Cotê d’Ivoire

Shettima urged Super Eagles to sustain the momentum to lift the coveted AFCON trophy.

Shettima, who made the call in his verified Facebook account, said millions of Nigerians are indeed behind the team.

” I congratulate and salute the heroics of our men’s senior football team – the Super Eagles for a well deserved victory against South Africa in this evening’s semi final match at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. 

Shettima and Super Eagles players

”I was accompanied by Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Minister of Youth, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, and other senior officials of Government to meet with the players, and their coaches in the dressing room after the encounter.

”I urge the team to sustain the momentum to lift the coveted trophy. Millions of Nigerians are indeed behind this team,” he said.

Shettima and Super Eagles players

Eagles qualified for the final after defeating South Africa’s Bafana Bafana 4-2 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes of play in the 2023 AFCON semi-finals in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire.

Read More

NEW: Biden Claims He Spoke to Yet Another Dead World Leader – This Is Scary Stuff

At this point, Democrats need to take the problem of Joe Biden seriously. 

But so far, they have largely refused to do so. 

The only Democrat who does seem to be taking Biden’s issues seriously is his challenger Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN). As we reported, Phillips raised the issue of Biden’s competence with concerning videos showing Biden talking about speaking to French President François Mitterand at the G7 in 2021. Except that Mitterand had died in 1996. Phillips also showed another video of Biden’s brain breaking as he tried to address a report about Hamas making movement toward a deal and he appeared to forget the name of Hamas, calling them the “opposition,” a bizarre thing to call terrorists. He had to be helped by a reporter with the name. Phillips is calling out for them to do something but instead, the Democrats are largely attacking him. 

Dean Phillips Posts Brutal Message About Biden’s Incoherence

YIKES: Joe Biden’s Talking to Dead People Again – and It’s Not Pretty

Biden’s Brain Breaks Badly Right in the Middle of Responses on Border and Hamas

That was on top of all his prior incidents of confusion, including trying to speak to the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) in the audience at an event after he had issued a proclamation acknowledging her death. Then, last month, at another event, he claimed that he had just taken a picture with a member of Congress who wasn’t even there. That’s not to mention the continual fantasy about Amtrak conductor Angelo Negri that Biden tells.

However, it’s getting more than a bit scary now. There’s another “dead person” story. Monday, he said he had met with Mitterand. Now, on Wednesday, telling that same 2021 G7 story, he claimed that he had spoken with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Except Helmut Kohl died in 2017. And Biden not only said it once, he said it at two separate fundraisers. 

Here’s what the pool report said: 

Another slip at Biden’s fundraisers tonight- via pool

“… at the 2nd and 3rd events today POTUS seemed to say that Helmut Kohl (who died in 2017) was there with him at his first foreign trip as President talking about Jan 6th…Angela Merkel was the German chancellor in 2021.”

— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) February 8, 2024

pic.twitter.com/QcoZYDwVeK

— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) February 8, 2024

In addition to the Helmut Kohl, the remarks are so rambling and seem to be missing words. This was at the Mandarin Oriental. They anticipated 200 attendees, but only 50 showed up, including Robert DeNiro, to hear this wild comment. 

“First got elected president I went to a G7 meeting with 7 heads of state in Europe and I sat down and said Americas back. And president of France looked at me and said – for how long?

And I never thought of it this way. And then Helmut kohl of Germany looked at me and said what would you say Mr President if you picked up the London times tomorrow morning and learned there’s 1000 broken down the doors of the British parliament. Killed some (?) on the way in. to deny the next prime minister to take office. And you think, what would we think?”

Then, it was the same thing at the next event. Apparently, no staff member figured out they needed to correct or stop this from the prior event. 

“It’s interesting to hear the first meeting I attended as president of the united states, it was in Great Britian. I showed up…and I sat down and said “America’s back” and macron looked at me and said for how long? How long? Not a joke. 

And with that. (inaudible) Helmut kohl said, Joe what would you think if you picked up the phone and picked up the paper tomorrow and learned in the London times on the front page that 1000 people stormed the parliament, broke down the doors of the House of Commons and killed 2 bobbies in the process and trying to stop the election of a prime minister. I thought about that. And I mean this sincerely, think about it. What would you think if another country, not nearly as powerful as us…”

As I previously reported, he couldn’t keep his “one existential threat” straight either. 

Biden takes no questions after leaving New York City, where he recalled — twice, at two separate fundraisers — a 2021 event with a German chancellor who had been dead for years.

He also fails to salute the Marines. pic.twitter.com/qfTGEfROm

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 8, 2024

People on X thought that enough was enough, it was approaching abuse, and that this is incredibly dangerous for this country.

My grandfather did the same as his dementia progressed. He legit thought he was now living 20 years in the past. https://t.co/G0DtZkumFn

— Rufus T. Firefly (sworn enemy of Rakell) (@hoggomcswineass) February 8, 2024

We’re a couple months away from Biden ordering a strike on Osama bin Laden https://t.co/DaLYH1lmHo

— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) February 8, 2024

Is it finally time for the 25th Amendment to make an appearance? https://t.co/1nJxPGLbwy

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) February 8, 2024

At this point, he’s putting us in jeopardy and signaling to world leaders — live ones (including our enemies) — that we are a country without a competent leader at the helm. 

Read More

INEC presents certificates to winners of Saturday’s rerun, by-elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Wednesday issued Certificates of Return to winners of Saturday’s rerun and by-election.

The presentation was done at the INEC headquarters, Abuja.

Those who got the certificates included Prof. Anthony Okorie, Senator-elect for Ebonyi South, Mr Pam Dachungyang, Senator-elect for Plateau North and Musa Mustapha, Senator-elect for Yobe East.

Others were Ifeanyi Ozokwe, Rep-elect for Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo, Clara Nnabuife, Rep-elect for Orumba North/Orumba South, Ehindero Babatunde, Rep-elect for Akoko North East/Akoko North West and Daniel Ago, Rep-elect for Jos North/Basa.

Speaking shortly after collecting his certificate, Okorie dedicated his victory to the people of Ebonyi South, urging them to have confidence in him to be their good representative in the Senate.

Senator-elect, Uzokwe appreciated INEC for free, fair and credible election.

“If we have stronger institutions than stronger people, Nigeria will be better,” he said.

Ozokwe also commended President Bola Tinubu for not interfering in the rerun and by-election.

He also commended security personnel for their professional conduct during the election.

Also Nnabuife appreciated the people of Orumba North/Orumba South, especially women who stood by her and trusted her with their mandate, pledging not to let them down.

Read More