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AFCON: Super Eagles thrash Lesotho 3-0

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Super Eagles of Nigeria thrashed Lesotho 3-0 in their last Group L match in the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State on Tuesday.

Victor Osimhen scored the first goal in the 22nd minute into the match while Oghenekaro Etebo doubled the Nigerian team lead in the 51st minute.

Paul Onuachu who came in for Osimhen in the 74th minute scored nine minutes after.

With Tuesday’s victory, Nigeria finished the AFCON qualifiers with 14 points and maintained an unbeaten record – four wins and two draws.

Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr rested first-choice goalie Maduka Okoye and started Tyronne Ebuehi at right-back instead of Olaoluwa Aina, Oghenekaro Etebo started in place of Joseph Ayodele-Aribo.

Also, Alex Iwobi picked shirt ahead of Henry Onyekuru after the Everton defender tested negative to COVID-19, days after he was said to have been positive in Benin Republic.

Yet, the flow of the squad was not in any way affected as they started in top gear, with Turkey-based Etebo drilling narrowly wide of the far post in the 8th minute following a good pass from the nimble-footed Samuel Chukwueze.

Five minutes later, Osimhen had the ball in the net after a typical sweet exchange with Kelechi Iheanacho, but it was ruled off-side.

Even as Tumelo Khutlang tried Francis Uzoho from afar and the slippery Teboho Sello danced past Ebuehi and squared into the box, the Eagles looked firm on the ground, and in the 22nd minute, Osimhen, benefitting from a well-placed lob from Kelechi Iheanacho, outfoxed goalkeeper Moerane Sekhoane for Nigeria’s first goal.

Chukwueze, Iheanacho, and Osimhen threatened as the game wore on, but at the other end, Uzoho had to be alert as Thabo Lesaoana picked the far angle from a free kick 22 yards out.

Five minutes into the second half, Etebo made it two for Nigeria following a counter-attack orchestrated by Wilfred Ndidi and ended with Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen routing the Lesotho rearguard for the energetic midfielder to place the ball beyond Sekhoane.

In the 70th minute, Ndidi spearheaded another fast break and conscripted Osimhen and Iheanacho into his plan, but the Crocodiles cleared their lines even after Sekhoane had been beaten.

Substitute Paul Onuachu, the scorer of the only goal against Benin Republic in Porto Novo on Saturday, lashed in the third goal in the 83rd minute as the Eagles swept forward once more, taking Sekhoane completely unaware.

The Eagles finished the campaign with a runaway 14 points, winning home-and-away against Benin Republic and Lesotho and only dropping points against Sierra Leone.

 

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Alake Urges Africa to End Raw Mineral Exports

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Alake

Africa mineral value addition push gains momentum as Minister Dele Alake urges nations to stop exporting raw minerals and strengthen regional cooperation (more…)

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Oyebanji Urges APC to Promote Tinubu’s Achievements

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APC Tinubu achievements publicity push gains momentum as Governor Oyebanji urges party leaders to highlight federal policies and reforms at grassroots level (more…)

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Governor Dauda Lawal Approves 120-Day Rapid Intervention Plan to Revamp Zamfara State’s Educational Sector

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Governor Dauda Lawal has approved a 120-day Rapid Intervention Action Plan aimed at addressing systemic failures in Zamfara State’s education sector.

The Governor presided over the State Executive Council meeting on Monday at the Government House in Gusau, where key decisions were taken.

During deliberations at the 65th Council meeting, issues related to education, health, works, and other sectors were discussed and approved.

The Council endorsed a 120-day rapid intervention plan built on prior diagnostic activities conducted by the Ministry of Education and the Education Quality Assurance Agency (EQAA). The plan, presented by the overseeing Commissioner for Education, Abdulmalik Abubakar Gajam, includes payroll audits, school mapping exercises, and infrastructure assessments. It proposes targeted, time-bound interventions across governance, infrastructure, digital transformation, teacher development, and student welfare.

The Council also approved the formation of a joint committee to immediately assess all illegal or unapproved structures built around schools in the state, with a view to relocating them and securing school environments. The committee will be led by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST).

Additionally, the Council approved a single, unified Education Sector Bill (covering Early Childhood Care Development Education to Tertiary level), to be developed in consultation with stakeholders including agencies, institutions, civil society, traditional rulers, and development partners. A draft bill will be presented to the State House of Assembly for enactment within the emergency timeframe.

The Governor further approved the transfer of non-teaching staff—such as messengers, labourers, gardeners, cooks, guards, drivers, health workers, and artisans—from the Ministry’s payroll to appropriate MDAs (CPG, MoH, Establishment) or private firms.

Among other important issues, the Council approved the composition of the Zamfara State Steering Committee on the State of Emergency on Education and authorised the Committee to constitute a Technical Working Group (TWG) and co-opt stakeholders including the NUT, UNICEF, UBEC, traditional and religious leaders, private school proprietors, and CSOs.

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