News

Pernille Harder earns Chelsea Women Champions League win over Juventus

Emma Hayes said Pernille Harder had taken Chelsea to “an even higher level” after the Danish forward earned the Blues all three points in a narrow victory over Juventus in Turin.

Harder scored her 27th goal in 30 UWCL games to give last season’s runners-up a valuable win after Barbara Bonansea had cancelled out Erin Cuthbert’s opener.

“She had an outstanding performance,” said Hayes of Harder, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2020. “She came to this football club, England is a difficult country to come to, it’s already an amazing team, and she’s taken us to an even higher level because her standards day in and day out are what every young person should look up to. She takes responsibility, she’s accountable, she’s there when it really matters, she’s there for this team and I’m so delighted she’s part of this squad.”

Living up to its group of death moniker, Group A currently has Wolfsburg top, after their 5-0 defeat of Swiss side Servette FCCF, Chelsea second, level with the Germans on four points, Juventus third on three points and Servette bottom and pointless. Chelsea, though, have back-to-back games against Servette while Wolfsburg and Juventus will trade body blows.

“We’re in a strong position, four points. It’s not about away goals anymore, it’s about points on the board and our intention and our objectives are clear and we’re one step close to that,” said Hayes.

It took half an hour before the Blues took the lead at the noisy Juventus stadium, where 17,000 tickets had been distributed of the 20,000 available prior to kick-off. Cuthbert made a blistering and dogged run before cutting inside and firing low into the bottom corner.

Eight minutes after Cuthbert’s opener Juventus punished the profligacy that had gifted Wolfsburg three goals in the preceding round. A sharp cross from the left to the far post was met by Bonansea and the Italian did well to hold off Guro Reiten and weaved in front of her marker to smash the ball home. It was too easy – once again Chelsea’s back three was found wanting.

Juventus currently sit top of Serie A with six wins from six and although Chelsea had played the Italian champions only once, in a pre-season friendly in 2018, the team has come a long way since then and the manager in the dugout was far more familiar.

After leaving Arsenal at the end of last season, Joe Montemurro joined Juventus in the summer. In 12 meetings between Hayes and Montemurro while he was in north London, the Blues won nine times and Arsenal once.

In the second half Montemurro was denied the chance to take the lead over his old foe when Cristiana Girelli fell in the box after a nudge in the back from Chelsea captain Magda Eriksson, but with no VAR until the knockout stages the appeals of the Italian side were waved away.

Instead Hayes’s team restored their lead after an hour. Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby linked up and attempted to weave into the box but were crowded out by black and white shirts and the stray ball fell kindly for the ever-alert Harder, who powered in.

“I feel good, I feel like I’m in a flow,” said Harder. “I had a good pre-season, worked hard and feel like I have adapted into the team. So I just keep building and keep developing, me and the team, and I love that.”

Almost instantly Juventus went in search of a reply but Hurtig’s effort rippled the side netting. Chelsea went close to extending their lead but a drilled Kerr shot was tipped acrobatically on to the post by former Arsenal goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin before being cleared.

Eight substitutions in 23 minutes killed the momentum of both teams. In a scrappy end to the game Chelsea clung on to take all three points that has kept them well in the mix.

News

Bandits kill Imam, abduct 10 worshippers during Isha prayer in Katsina

Bandits on Wednesday night stormed a mosque in Tudun Malamai community, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing the Imam who was leading the Isha prayer and abducting at least ten worshippers.

The incident, which unfolded during the night prayers, left two other individuals injured.

Details of the attack were made public on Thursday in a post by a prominent Katsina-based security analyst, Bakatsine on X.

“Yesterday night, bandits attacked worshippers during the Isha prayer in Tudun Malamai community, Faskari LGA of Katsina State. They killed the imam leading the prayer, injured two people and abducted at least 10 worshippers during the attack,” the post read.

The Katsina State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident as of the time of filing this report.

News

Lagos Govt bans pregnant women from 2025 Hajj

The Lagos State Government has officially barred pregnant women from participating in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, citing health and safety concerns.

The announcement was made on Wednesday in Badagry by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, who stressed that the rigorous nature of the pilgrimage poses significant risks to the health of expectant mothers.

Layode noted that the state’s decision aligns with the directive issued by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), which has instructed State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards not to register pregnant women for the pilgrimage.

Supporting the directive, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information, and Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar Yagawal, reiterated the policy while addressing preparations for the pilgrimage, including the establishment of medical clinics in Makkah and Madinah and the distribution of Yellow Cards to various states.

Layode added that the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs is also acting on the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has emphasized the need to ensure that only medically fit individuals are cleared for the pilgrimage.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, during the First Family of Lagos State and Ministry of Home Affairs Eid-el-Fitr celebration, at the Lagos House, Marina, said: “By May, those travelling to Makkah will begin to travel. Please ensure you are in good health. If you are ill, refrain from travelling for the 2025 Hajj; stay back and pray here in Nigeria.”

According to the Commissioner for Home Affairs, “It is very dangerous, very delicate for expectant women to go for hajj exercise.

“The processes are rigorous. From Medina to Makkah, the Tawaf, the Safa and Marwah, these are not things an expectant woman should undergo. It’s not about fashion or naming a child after a prophet because they were born in Saudi Arabia.”

The commissioner revealed that in previous years, some women had attempted to hide their pregnancies in order to partake in the pilgrimage, with instances of individuals allegedly submitting their husbands’ urine for medical screening.

To prevent such deceptive practices, the state government has introduced advanced medical screening measures, including the deployment of mobile diagnostic vans equipped to detect pregnancies and tuberculosis at designated screening centres.

News

FRSC: SGF approves appointment of three Deputy Corps Marshals

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has approved the appointment of three Assistant Corps Marshal (ACMs) to the rank of Deputy Corps Marshal (DCMs), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

This is contained in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide on Wednesday in Abuja.

The SGF said that the newly appointed senior officers were to fill up existing vacancies in the South South, North East, and North West geopolitical zones.

Akume said that the appointment marked a significant milestone in the Corps’ efforts to enhance its leadership and operational capabilities.

He named the Officers to fill up existing vacancies as DCM Aliyu Datsama (North West), DCM Pauline Olaye (South South) and DCM Attahiru Hassan (North East).

According to Akume, the appointment of the seasoned professionals would bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the FRSC’s leadership team.

“They are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the Corps’ strategic direction and driving its mission to reduce road crashes and promote safe driving practices.

“The appointment is part of President Bola Tinubu’s drive towards rewarding excellence, diligence and hard work which is in line with the administrative philosophy of the present leadership of the Hope Agenda regime,”he said.

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, equally congratulated the newly elevated Officers for their excellent performances during the exercise.

Mohammed said that every promotion comes with greater responsibilities.

He charged them to put in their best in the course of their duties as the new rank calls for more focus, more dedication, commitment and passion.

He also admonished those who were not fortunate in this appointment year to keep faith alive and be loyal to the system.

The FRSC boss promised to improve the general welfare of the personnel of the corps while beckoning all personnel to be of good cheer and put in great efforts towards the realisation of the corporate mandate of the corps.

DCM Aliyu Datsama is presently the ACM in charge of Special Duties and External Relations. He has held several positions including Sector and Zonal Commanding Officer positions in different states and Zones.

On the other hand, DCM Pauline Olaye who is currently the Head, Project Implementation Office at the National Headquarters of the Corps is by virtue of her new appointment, the most senior female officer in the Corps.

She has held several positions of authority including the position of Assistant Corps Marshal, Special Duties and External Relations Department, as well as Zonal Commanding Officer Zone RS1HQ Kaduna.

In the same vein, DCM Attahiru Hassan is presently the ACM in charge of the Technical Service Department. He has held several positions amongst which include the positions of Corps Provost as well as Sector Commander.