Sport

Spain Pip England to Win Women’s World Cup

By Web News 488 0

Captain Olga Carmona scored the winner in the first half as Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time, beating England 1-0 in the final.

La Roja, robbed of some of their best talent by a mutiny against coach Jorge Vilda only a few months ago and thrashed 4-0 by Japan in the group stage, outplayed England to deservedly claim their first major title in only their third World Cup in in front of 75,784 fans at Stadium Australia on Sunday.

Aitana Bonmati and Teresa Abelleira ran the game from the Spanish midfield and the margin of victory would have been greater had England goalkeeper Mary Earps not saved a second-half penalty.

England’s second defeat in 39 matches since Sarina Wiegman took over as coach denied them the chance to add a maiden world title to the European Championship crown they won last year.

The first Women’s World Cup final not to feature either the United States or Germany started at quite a pace with England just about enjoying the upper hand in the battle of two first-time finalists.

Forward Lauren Hemp continued where she left off in the semifinal against Australia and screwed the ball towards goal in the fifth minute before clipping a shot off the bar 12 minutes later.

Spain responded immediately, with Carmona overlapping down the left flank and driving the ball across the goal but teenager Salma Paralluelo was unable to make contact and Alba Redondo’s shot from the far post was well saved by Earps.

La Roja took the lead just before the half-hour mark after England were dispossessed in midfield and Abelleira curled a sublime crossfield pass to Mariona Caldentey, who slid the ball forward to Carmona.

The left back drove into the area and let fly with an angled shot which flew past the fingertips of Earps and into the far corner of the net.

The goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of England and Spain had the better of the rest of the half with Paralluelo pinging a shot off the post just before the break.

England have shown their adaptability throughout the tournament and Wiegman switched from three to four at the back after the break, while bringing Lauren James on for Alessia Russo up front.

Spain’s game, by contrast, has been unchanging and they continued to drive forward with Caldentey bringing a fine save out of Earps with a shot from the edge of the box in the 50th minute.

Bonmati hit the bar with a long-range effort just after the hour mark and the Spanish appealed vociferously for a handball against Keira Walsh during their next visit to the England box.

James had a shot tipped over the bar by Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll in the 75th minute but Spain were not content to sit on their lead and Earps had to be at her best to deny Ona Batlle as the clock hit the 90th-minute mark.

England threw all 11 players forward for a corner deep into stoppage time but Coll, playing only her fourth international, came out confidently to gather the ball.

Officials indicated 13 minutes of injury time at the end, but if anything, it was Spain who looked the more likely to score as England’s dreams of a first World Cup melted away.

“It was a really tough game, we knew it would be tricky, England have a great team, but I think it was our game,” Carmona told Spanish national broadcasters La 1.

“We had the feeling we were going to do it.”

A visibly disappointed England captain Millie Bright shared her views post-match.

“It’s hard. They are a fantastic team. We weren’t at our best in the first half. In the second half we put the fight in. We just couldn’t finish it today. This is the hard part of football,” she said.

“Emotions are high, huge amount of disappointment. We failed. In a couple of weeks when it settles in we will be really proud. We had a lot of critics at the start of the tournament. We bounced back. To be able to stand here today is special.”

Aljazeera/Simeon Ugbodovon

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Sport

Super Falcons in Make or Mar Turf War with England Monday

By Web News 438 0

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Super Falcons of Nigeria will today (Monday) face European Champions England in the round of 16 stage of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

The game will kick off at the Suncorp Stadium, Milton, Australia at half past eight in the morning.

The second match of the day will see Co-host Australia battle Denmark at the Stadium Australia at half past eleven in the morning.

Meanwhile, defending Champions United States of America yesterday crashed out of the tournament, losing 5-4 on penalties to Sweden.

Also, African Champions Bayana Bayana of South Africa got eliminated yesterday after they were beaten 2-0 by Netherlands.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Foreign

Sunak Advocates Mathematical Learning of Pupils to Age 18

By Web News 733 0

The prime minister is looking at plans to ensure all pupils in England study maths in some form until the age of 18.

Rishi Sunak will announce the aim in his first speech of 2023 later, which he will use to set out his priorities for the year.

It comes amid a winter of multiple strikes, huge pressures in the NHS and a cost of living crisis.

Mr Sunak is expected to say the UK must “reimagine our approach to numeracy”.

“In a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, our children’s jobs will require more analytical skills than ever before,” he will say.

“And letting our children out into the world without those skills, is letting our children down”.

During his speech, Mr Sunak is also expected to expand on his vision for the UK, and revisit comments made in December about giving people “peace of mind”.

The Daily Mail reports that Mr Sunak will take “personal charge of tackling the NHS crisis”.

The prime minister is likely to use Wednesday’s speech to acknowledge pressures facing the UK’s health system, the paper adds.

On Tuesday, a No 10 spokesman said the government was “confident” it was “providing the NHS with the funding it needs”.

Just half of 16 to 19-year-olds study maths, according to Mr Sunak – but this figure includes pupils doing science courses and those who are already doing compulsory GCSE resits in college.

It is not clear what the plans will mean for students who wish to study humanities or creative arts qualifications, including BTecs.

No new qualifications are immediately planned and there are no plans to make A-levels compulsory.

The government is instead exploring expanding existing qualifications as well as “more innovative options,” a 10 Downing Street spokesperson said.

The prime minister is expected to begin working on the plan in this parliament and finish it after the next general election.

The Autumn Statement unveiled an extra £2.3bn in core school funding for five to 16-year-olds over the next two years – reversing the real terms cuts of the last decade.

But no extra funding was given to further education colleges, which educate many of the most disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-olds, nor to sixth form colleges.

This is compounded by a predicted rise in the 16 to 18-year-old population in the next eight years.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies the number of 16 to 18-year-olds is projected to rise by a total of 18% between 2021 and 2030, equivalent to 200,000 extra students.

BBC/Taiwo Akinola

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Foreign

“Ambulance strike causing deep worry” – NHS Bosses

By Web News 337 0

Health experts say patient safety cannot be guaranteed during strikes by ambulance workers in England and Wales.

But, NHS England says emergency care will continue to be provided, as people are being asked to use services “wisely” and only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency – with 111 online as the first port of call.

According to the report, ambulance response times are already twice as long as two years ago and there is a huge strain on A&Es.

In England, eight out of the 10 major ambulance services have declared critical incidents – a sign of the intense pressure they are already under.

Ministers have urged the public to take extra care and suggested they avoid contact sports and unnecessary car journeys.

Unions say life-threatening callouts will continue to be responded to over the next 24 hours but some urgent calls, for example for late-stage labour or a fall in the home, might not be answered.

No industrial action is taking place in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and there will be no strikes in the east of England or the Isle of Wight.

But elsewhere, there is likely to be major disruption as paramedics, call handlers, emergency care assistants and technicians go on strike.

About 750 armed forces staff are being drafted in to cover the walkouts, however, their role will be limited. They will not be sent on call-outs involving critical care, nor will they provide any clinical care.

Patients who are seriously ill or injured, or whose lives are in danger, are being advised by the NHS to call 999.

For all other healthcare needs, the NHS is advising people to contact NHS 111 online or via the NHS 111 helpline or to contact their local GP or pharmacy.

BBC/Taiwo Akinola

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Foreign

England Ambulances Face Numerous Hours Delay

By Web News 464 0

The East of England Ambulance Service is taking up to 20 hours to reach some non-critical patients.

Report says, the NHS service has also not been responding to some lower category calls due to pressures,as the service has been at “Surge White” for the past month, the highest alert level.

Trust chief executive Tom Abell said: “We are currently experiencing some of the most significant and sustained pressures in recent years.”

According to newsmen, the identity and job titles of the sources have been verified.

An East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesman confirmed that, it had a protocol called Emergency Operations Centre Standard Operating Procedure, ESOP, 48 where a temporary suspension of sending ambulances to category 3 and category 4 calls is brought in, but these decisions were made on a clinical basis.

One staff member described a service struggling with a high volume of calls and high staff sickness levels which had led to gaps in rotas.

The official sickness absence rate across the entire trust is currently almost 4%, but the source said it had reached 12% in some areas.

They said colleagues were “too exhausted” to take up an offer of £25 per hour in overtime payments to cover selected shifts.

An internal document offering the payment also included an undertaking to not go off sick for a fixed period.

Taiwo Akinola/BBC 

Sport

Saka: Tough Choice between England, Nigeria

By Web News 876 0

Bukayo Saka’s breakthrough season with Arsenal has caught the attention of Nigeria as well as England boss Gareth Southgate.

The 18-year-old has represented England the country of his birth at U16, U17, U18, and U19 levels, and is pushing for a first senior cap.

However, he is of Nigerian heritage, and this week it was reported that the Super Eagles are making overtures in order to secure his international future.

It’s a choice that Saka knows is a difficult one, but says until such time as he has to make it, he’ll remain humble.

“It’s a tough choice,” he told Sky Sports.

“I’m happy to have represented England at youth level but I’m also proud of my Nigerian heritage from my parents.

“We haven’t been picked by any team so it’s about staying humble and when the time comes we’ll make the decision.”

Alex Iwobi had a similar choice to make after he made his Arsenal breakthrough, having played for England at youth level, he chose Nigeria and has made 38 international appearances, scored 6 goals, and played at a World Cup.

Meanwhile, Saka had praise for boss Mikel Arteta for the faith shown in him, as he committed his long-term future to Arsenal with a new contract.

“Being young and at a big club if you are in the team over an experienced professional the manager is basically telling you without speaking that I believe in you,” he said.

arseblog

Yoruba

Aare Buhari sọ àsọyan pàtàkì lórí isẹ ìdàgbàsókè

By Web News 957 0

Aare Muhammadu Buhari tí sọọ di mímọ fún olootu ìjọba ilẹ̀ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì Boris Johnson àwọn iṣẹ́ ìdàgbàsókè tó ń wáyé nílèyi, pàtàkì jùlọ labala ètò ọrọ ajé àti àgbékalè ètò náà.

Àwọn aṣáájú méjèèjì lo ṣepàdé pò níbi apejopo ilẹ̀ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì pẹ̀lú ilẹ̀ Africa fodun 2020 èyí tó wáyé nilu London.

Ààrẹ Buhari ṣàlàyé fún Ogbeni Johnson wípé igbinyanju ifesemule ise àgbè, lọ́nà àti lè máa pèsè ànító àti aniseku iresi àtàwọn oúnjẹ onilowo min.

Nígbà tó ń sọ̀rọ̀ nípa Ogun gbígbé tí àwọn agbesunmomi Ààrẹ ilẹ̀ yí ṣàlàyé pé eko tí ń ṣojú mímu nípa pé àwọn aráàlú tí ń fedo lórí oronro lórí ọ̀rọ̀ ààbò.

Nínú ọ̀rọ̀ tiẹ̀, olootu ìjọba ilẹ̀ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì Boris Johnson gbosuba fún ààre Buhari wípé bo se jẹ olórí tó pegede tó sì tún gbosuba fún isejoba rẹ nípa bó ṣe lọ isẹ àgbè fún ìpèsè ise. 

Olootu ìjọba ilẹ̀ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì wá jeje ifowosowopo pẹ̀lú ilẹ̀ Nàìjíríà àtàwọn ilẹ̀ Africa tó kú lọ́nà àríwá ojútùú sí ìṣòro agbègbè Lake Chad àti igbelaruge ètò ààbò lápapò. 

Kemi Ogunkola/Rotimi Famakin