Vice Chairmen of Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State have elected a new executive committee to lead the Lagos State Association of Vice Chairmen for the next four years. According to a statement issued on Friday, the association said the election, which took place during the association’s inaugural meeting held on Thursday, marked a key step in the formalisation and strengthening of the body’s structure. The association said the inauguration of its executives also signalled a renewed commitment to collaboration, grassroots development, and effective local governance across Lagos. “The association aims to foster peer engagement and strengthen the collective voice of vice chairmen in addressing local challenges and delivering on the expectations of Lagos residents,” the statement read. The statement noted that Oluwatoyin Akerele, Vice Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, emerged as Chairman, while Muizz Dosunmu of Surulere Local Government was elected as Vice Chairman. Other key positions filled include Kabir Kareem (Ijede LCDA) as General Secretary, Murisiq Badru (Eti-Osa LG) as Assistant Secretary, and AbdulGaniyu Obasa (Agege LG) as Public Relations Officer. The position of Legal Officer went to Mathew Olaleye (Coker-Aguda LCDA), while Adebisi Francis (Alimosho LG) was elected as Welfare Officer. The executive committee also includes zonal representatives for the state’s three senatorial districts: Shakir Sadiq (West, Isolo LCDA), Oluremi Alogba (East, Lekki LCDA), and Ganiu Ismail (Central, Apapa LG). Wasiu Dehinsilu of Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA was named Chairman of the association’s Board of Trustees. Other officials elected include Islamiyyat Aregbe (Oshodi-Isolo LG) as Financial Secretary, Oluwole Sosanya (Kosofe LG) as Treasurer, and Ex-Officio members Nutayi Funmi (Badagry West LCDA), Adesegun Aluko (Ikorodu West LCDA), Moshood Momoh (Lagos Mainland LG), and Ashara Maureen (Amuwo-Odofin LG).

Chelsea are still on course to win a quadruple for the first time in the club's history. To achieve that feat, they must also do something else they have never done before, which is to get past Barcelona in the Women's Champions League knockout stage. Having already won silverware this season in the League Cup, Sonia Bompastor's side have reached the FA Cup final and sit three points clear at the top of the Women's Super League with four games to play. But to win the European trophy that has so far eluded them, their immediate task is to beat three-time winners and current holders Barcelona over two legs in the semi-finals. Sunday's first leg takes place in Catalonia at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium (kick-off 17:00 BST), before the return leg is played at Stamford Bridge on 27 April (14:00 BST). Chelsea have lost to Barcelona at this stage of the competition in the past two seasons, but what are their chances this time? Three defeats in 38 games across all competitions is hardly cause for concern, but for Barcelona it is uncharacteristic. Pere Romeu's side are seven points clear at the top of Spain's Liga F but have been beaten twice in the division this season, losing to strugglers Levante and suffering a first-ever Women's Clasico defeat by Real Madrid. They also lost their opening Champions League group game at Manchester City. Barcelona have lost more games, scored fewer goals and conceded more at this stage of the season than in any of their previous three campaigns. "It's ridiculous to say they are not as dominant because they are seven points clear and in the semi-final of the Champions League," Spanish football journalist Alex Ibaceta told BBC Sport. "This is probably their weakest season. The style of play has changed, it's not as fluid as it was in the last few seasons, but they are still dominant and still Barcelona. "This game is a blank sheet. The highs and the lows of the season, mentally they are very able to erase those moments and just focus on Chelsea." The good news for Chelsea is that, statistically, Aitana Bonmati is having her least effective season in recent years. The bad news? Alexia Putellas is back to her best. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas missed 10 months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in July 2022 but is playing a starring role again this season. "It was tentative at times for Putellas when she came back from her ACL," Liga F and Women's Champions League commentator Chris Sharples said. "She was playing in the lower grade games and coming on as the impact player in the bigger games. "This year she looks like she is that animal again in terms of when she was at the peak of her powers and winning the Ballon d'Or." Putellas is Barcelona's second-highest scorer this season behind Ewa Pajor, with 18 goals in 31 games in all competitions. Having a recognised number nine in Pajor, who joined Barcelona in the summer from Wolfsburg, has alleviated the attacking pressure on Bonmati. "Before it was a false nine role which created space in the box for Aitana to score, and now it is Ewa Pajor taking the reins and staying central," Ibaceta said. "Alexia definitely has a role in Aitana being deeper and less important in the midfield, but the goals are coming from different directions. Aitana is Aitana at the end of the day, but she is not in the spotlight as much as she was in previous seasons." We can expect plenty of action down Barcelona's left side and Chelsea's right, which is where both sides create the majority of their chances. Ibaceta anticipates Chelsea will have plenty of space on that side - setting up the prospect of a fascinating tactical battle as the likes of Lucy Bronze and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd face off with Putellas and Salma Paralluelo. Both Bronze and Keira Walsh have left Barcelona for Chelsea since last year's semi-final so will be facing their former team-mates. "Essentially what Barcelona do is put a winger on the left side for decoration," Ibaceta said. "Esmee Brugts comes into the middle to create a midfield four and that entire left side of the pitch is left for one person. "It is the biggest strength of Barcelona, they are able to leave an entire wing for the full-back, but that does leave the backline quite vulnerable. Against Chelsea it is not going to be the easiest thing to do. "Mapi Leon and Irene Paredes are good but they are slow and a bit older now. They are very open to making mistakes, especially with strong players and in a physical battle, they do struggle with that." Barcelona typically press much higher than Chelsea but have shown in their defeats this season that they are vulnerable to conceding on the counter attack, where Chelsea's forwards, particularly Mayra Ramirez, thrive. "How many goals have we seen where Mayra is cutting through?" Sharples asked. "Barcelona play such a high line, which they are used to doing in Spain because nobody is getting at them. "But if you can get at them with speed and power, down the flanks especially, they can be exploited." Chelsea will hope that having serial Champions League winner Bompastor on their side can finally help them overcome their nemeses. The Frenchwoman lifted the trophy as a player and manager with Lyon and is the only coach to have defeated Barcelona over a tie in the competition in the past four years. "At this stage of the season, this is when the big teams arrive," Sharples said. "Barcelona want to dominate like Lyon have previously. "They want history themselves. These are the games where you then turn up and show why you want to be history makers. Chelsea have a great chance of beating them, but it's still Barcelona and you just don't know what is going to happen. "I think whoever wins this semi-final will go all the way and win it." Follow our BBC Women’s Football TikTok account

Ollie Watkins has a message for his Aston Villa manager Unai Emery - he wants to be starting the biggest games. The striker said he'd been "fuming" to only be a substitute for both of Villa's Champions League quarter-final ties against Paris St-Germain. But against Newcastle on Saturday he channelled his anger perfectly as he scored inside the opening minute and set up another to propel his side to a brilliant 4-1 win. His goal meant he became Villa's joint-top Premier League goalscorer - alongside Gabriel Agbonlahor - on 74. But, despite his record-equalling feats, Watkins has started just two of the club's past six games, a fact he is not best pleased with. Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford started Tuesday's Champions League second-leg tie, with Watkins coming on in the second half as Villa were knocked out. "I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games. I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn't playing - I let him [Unai Emery] know that," Watkins told Sky Sports. "He's the manager, you have to respect his decision, [but] I am not one of these players happy to sit on the bench. "It is something I have not experienced before, to miss out on the biggest stage. I wanted to be out on the pitch for much longer. I have played a big part to get to where we are today and I want to play in those games." When asked about Watkins' comments Emery replied: "It's fantastic to be angry and fantastic for him to play like he did [against Newcastle]." Watkins believes Emery will now have "a headache" over his next starting XI. "I'm banging on the door asking why I'm not playing," he added, while also pointing out Villa's strength in depth. "Since I have been at Villa, a lot of fans would say it is the best squad we have had. "The signings we made in January, players like Rashford and [Marco] Asensio coming in, the quality means players like myself have to drop to the bench and there's going to be lots of rotation." With Emery preferring Rashford in the starting XI in four of Villa's past six games, speculation that Watkins may move away from Villa has risen this week. Villa rejected a £40m bid for Watkins from Arsenal in January. Earlier this season Watkins himself was keeping Jhon Duran out of the team, and the Colombian left Villa in the winter transfer window for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in a deal that could be worth up to £71m. Villa are yet to make any indication as to whether they will try to sign Rashford on a permanent deal in the summer. The 27-year-old's loan deal runs until the end of the season and includes an option to buy for £40m. Villa's next match is away to Manchester City on Tuesday, before Emery's side take on Crystal Palace in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday. The 29-year-old needed just 33 seconds to open the scoring against Newcastle, receiving the ball in the box and finding the net with a fierce shot which deflected off defender Fabian Schar. Watkins was the best player on the pitch and twice hit the woodwork in the first period. At 1-0 he clattered an effort against the underside of the crossbar, and at 1-1 had a thumping header hit the post. The England international set up Villa's second with a driving dart forward before slipping in Ian Maatsen with a perfectly weighted pass. And he otherwise impressed with tireless runs, fine hold-up play and continual pressing. Watkins was substituted in the 82nd minute, by which point Villa were already 4-1 up and Villa Park was chanting his name. Ex-Aston Villa defender Dion Dublin, told BBC Match of the Day: "I am delighted, why wouldn't be fuming? You can imagine his frustration. Be honest and tell people what you think." Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp said Watkins' performance was "dynamite" and believes the striker "has turned a massive negative into a positive". "He has played with anger. I have been here, you are fuming and want to knock the manager's door down. He channelled that in the right way," Redknapp added. Watkins' goal means he is the first Villa player to score 15 or more times in three consecutive Premier League seasons. Since the start of last season he has both scored and assisted in eight Premier League games, with only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah doing so on more occasions.

Some members of the National executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, have stated that the party’s future largely depends on the upcoming National Elective Convention scheduled for November 15. The NEC members, Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor and Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, They described the convention as a defining moment that could either make or break the PDP. PDP recently overcame a prolonged internal crisis that had lasted for months. During crisis period, several prominent party figures defected to the All Progressives Congress and the newly formed coalition, the African Democratic Congress. To reposition the party and bring in fresh leadership, the PDP resolved on July 24 at its 101st NEC meeting to hold a National Elective Convention aimed at electing 19 new members of the National Working Committee. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, Osadolor said he expected a credible convention that would position the party for success in the 2027 elections. He stated, “My expectations are not different from those of well-meaning Nigerians and loyal party faithful. I expect that we get the elective convention right through a credible process. “This will allow new leaders to emerge to reposition the party and ensure that there will be no issues in the future — that is, without controversy and drama. “I also believe that if the party gets it right, there will be hope for the party in 2027. So, the convention is very crucial to the future of the PDP.” Similarly, Osuoha expressed optimism that the convention would be conducted in a free and fair manner that would strengthen the party’s unity. He added, “The convention should be free, fair, and credible so that it will be acceptable to all members of the party.” Every member must be allowed to exercise their franchise. “The last NEC constituted a zoning committee which will come up with a clear position on which zone will produce which NWC position. So, the next NEC will consider this. “The November 15 and 16 convention is very fundamental to the future of PDP. If we are able to conduct a rancour-free convention to elect party leaders and the 2027 Presidential candidate, Nigerians will start taking the party seriously. “If the convention is free, fair, and credible, Nigerians will repose confidence in PDP as the only party that can rescue them from the failed administration of the All Progressives Congress. “The convention is very fundamental and key; that is why every member of the party is working round the clock to ensure that all loose ends are tied.”