Former Scotland captain John Barclay believes Gregor Townsend should be at risk of losing his job as Scotland head coach, especially if his side fail to end the Six Nations in one of the top three spots.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Six Nations – Italy 18-15 Scotland
The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three children by suspected kidnappers.
The incident occurred on Saturday, at Nkwegu, opposite the Nkwegu Military Cantonment gate, in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Police authorities said the parents of the abducted children reported the incident to them.
The spokesman of the Ebonyi Police Command, Joshua Ukandu, said the three children included: one boy (aged 2), and two girls (aged 4 and 2 years).
READ ALSO: Police Rescue Kidnap Victim In Ebonyi, Arrest Three Suspects
“Yes, we are aware of the incident. It happened in the early hours of February 7, which was Saturday,” Ukandu told Channels Television.
As of Sunday, the police said that no ransom demand has been made and no arrests have been recorded yet.
“There has been no demand for ransom, and no arrests have been made yet,” he said.
“Our officers are investigating and working towards rescuing the abducted children.”
READ ALSO: Many Feared Killed, Abducted In Attack On Ebonyi Community
The Command has assured the public that they are actively investigating the matter and have launched a rescue operation to bring the children home safely.
Former Minister of Sports and Youth, Solomon Dalung, has faulted the Senate over the controversy trailing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The Electoral Act amendment bill passed the third reading at the Senate. But critics like Dalung have blamed the lawmakers for not voting for the real-time electronic transmission of election results.
“Well, there is no [integrity]—you don’t give what you do not [have]. The Senate has no reputation, and so it cannot give Nigerians a credible or fair election with integrity,” Dalung said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“So the behavior of the people and the reaction to what the Senate President considered is based on the integrity of the Senate.”
The controversy trailing the bill is coming about one year before Nigerians head to the polls to elect their leaders.
READ ALSO: Iyabo Obasanjo Confirms Membership In APC
Dalung is a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of the leading opposition parties in Nigeria seeking to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Many critics and observers claim the ADC does not have the wherewithal to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s APC in next year’s election.
However, Dalung said his party has all it takes to challenge and defeat Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, referencing the calibre of persons within the ADC ranks.
“So I think we have so many people to challenge Tinubu,” the lawyer, who served as minister under the immediate past leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, said on the show. “I can determine to contest the election, and I will challenge him.”
He described Tinubu as “a dwarf in Nigerian political history, and should not be compared with great leaders because great political leaders make legacies. They serve the people. They work for the people.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot says the club have had poor luck with referees this season, believing that Marc Guehi should have been sent off for a challenge on Mohamed Salah in their loss to Manchester City.
MATCH REPORT: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City
Rugby Special pundit Chris Ashton believes England have made a “great start” to the Six Nations, but warns they should not look at their 48-7 win over Wales as anything other than “a building block” for the rest of the tournament.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Six Nations – England 48-7 Wales
Erling Haaland’s penalty in second-half stoppage time kept Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge alive with a chaotic 2-1 win away at Liverpool.
Haaland’s spot kick sealed a comeback victory for Pep Guardiola’s team in an explosive football game at Anfield on Sunday and brought the gap on first-place Arsenal back to six points.
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City’s title prospects looked in dire shape when Dominik Szoboszlai crashed a stunning long-range free kick in off the post in the 74th minute.
And even when Bernardo Silva equalised 10 minutes later, second-place City was still looking at ending the match eight points adrift of the leader.
But Haaland sent the away fans wild by firing into the bottom corner from the spot in the 93rd after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson brought down Matheus Nunes in the box.
Then City substitute Rayan Cherki scored from the halfway line – only for VAR to overrule it and send off Szoboszlai for a foul on Haaland in the process of the ball crossing the line.
These two clubs have combined to win the last eight titles in English football’s Premier League. But both showed the flaws that have opened the door for Arsenal to potentially end their long wait to be crowned champions once again.
Haaland has scored just once from open play in his last 13 games, and an uncharacteristic lack of confidence from the Norwegian showed with the best chance of the first half inside the opening two minutes.
Silva’s clever pass split the Liverpool defence, but Haaland’s shot lacked conviction under pressure from Milos Kerkez, and Alisson Becker was able to save low to his left.
Haaland hooked another effort straight at Alisson among 10 first-half City attempts without a breakthrough.
Second-half slumps have been a consistent feature of City’s season, and the visitors again faded in the second period until a late flurry saved their title challenge.
Hugo Ekitike should have opened the scoring when he completely miscued his header just before the hour mark after a lightning-fast Liverpool break.
Marc Guehi was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card when he dragged down Mo Salah just outside the box.
But it was City who were left fuming at the award of the free kick that led to the opener when Ryan Gravenberch went down under minimal contact.
Szoboszlai scored the only goal with an outrageous free kick when Arsenal visited Anfield in August and produced another stunning strike that clipped the inside of the post before finding the net.
However, the Hungarian went from hero to villain when City levelled six minutes from time.
Szoboszlai played Silva onside as he slid in to volley home Haaland’s header for City’s first second-half goal in the Premier League this year.
Alisson then wiped out Matheus Nunes to concede a penalty and Haaland kept his cool from the spot to put City in front.
Pep Guardiola’s men still needed a stunning save from Gianluigi Donnarumma to tip behind Alexis Mac Allister’s deflected shot.
With Alisson remaining forward from the resulting corner, the Liverpool goal was open when Cherki took aim from the halfway line to roll the ball into an empty net.
However, Haaland and Szoboszlai’s grappling as the ball trickled towards the goal saw the strike ruled out, with a free kick awarded to City instead, and the Liverpool player given his marching orders.
Silva, who was named player of the match, told Sky Sports that it was a vital win for City.
“I feel the whole team knew before the game if we lost it then the title race was probably over. We felt like we needed to win,” he said.
“The hope is there, and we are going to fight until the end. We need to keep doing our job that we haven’t lately.”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he was disappointed not to come away with a result and claimed that several key decisions had gone against his side.
“You cannot compare this game with three or four months ago. We have improved so much – but we need to improve the results,” he told Sky.
“So many times this year we haven’t got what I think we deserve, and this is another time.”
Earlier on Sunday, Crystal Palace ended a 12-game winless run in all competitions by beating rival Brighton 1-0.
Ismaila Sarr scored the only goal of the match at the Amex Stadium to move Palace nine points clear of the relegation zone and leapfrog Brighton into 13th place.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere and what a way to start my Palace career, a win in a derby,” said Palace’s record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen, who joined from Wolves on deadline day. “It was really important to win, as there has been a run without wins before I joined.
“This is the most intense game I have ever played, so I’m tired now, but it is worth it.”