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Futbol
~2.4 mins read
Yoane Wissa scored late in the second half as Brentford and Arsenal played out a drab draw that leaves the second-placed Gunners 10 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Mikel Arteta made five changes from the side that so impressively beat Real Madrid 3-0 midweek in the Champions League, and this game at Emirates Stadium lacked quality from the off. It took until the 20th minute for the first effort on target when Kristoffer Ajer had a shot saved by David Raya after Bryan Mbeumo played him into the area. Arsenal thought they had taken the lead minutes later when Kieran Tierney headed in Ethan Nwaneri's cross, but a video assistant referee (VAR) check showed the left-back was offside. Leandro Trossard produced the Gunners' first effort on target just before half-time when his low drive was pushed away by Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Thomas Partey scored the opening goal in the 61st minute after excellent work from Declan Rice, the England midfielder carrying the ball from deep in his own half and setting up Partey who shot powerfully past Flekken. Brentford equalised 13 minutes later when Nathan Collins headed the ball back across the Arsenal penalty area for Wissa to cleverly hook it into the net on the turn from six yards out. Liverpool can move 13 points clear when they host West Ham on Sunday (14:00 BST), but Arsenal's focus now turns to their Champions League second leg in Madrid on Wednesday. With such a big game in Madrid looming, Arteta made changes to his side as he looked to rest players. The Gunners struggled to create chances without captain Martin Odegaard and key threat Bukayo Saka in the starting line-up, and only produced three shots on target. Arteta was able to bring off Rice and Partey, whilst making sure several of his key players did not play the full match. Saka was lively after coming on and almost secured all three points for Arsenal when his stoppage-time effort flashed past the post. The Arsenal manager will never publicly give up on the title until it is mathematically over, but this was a key indication that Arteta realises their only realistic trophy hope is the Champions League. Thomas Frank's side secured their Premier League status for a fourth successive season with their draw against Chelsea last week, and reaching that milestone may have played a part in this disappointing game. Brentford pose a threat for any side in the league, but this match lacked jeopardy with both teams struggling to find a spark in attacking areas. Coming into the game the Bees had won five of their previous six games on the road and the match opened up for a short time after Wissa's clever finish. The striker's goal means Brentford have scored in every away game they have played in 2025. There are six games to go, and with Brentford two points off the top half of the table they have the chance to secure their second top-10 finish in the Premier League. Kick off is at 17:30 BST Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
All thanks to BBC Sport
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Futbol
~1.4 mins read
Barcelona are four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid Leganes sit 19th, two points off safety La Liga leaders Barcelona extended their unbeaten run to 24 games but were far from their best in a narrow victory at relegation-threatened Leganes. They needed an own goal by Jorge Saenz to get over the line - the home defender forced into the error from Raphinha's tantalising cross, with Robert Lewandowski lurking ominously behind him for a tap-in. Leganes, who are two points from safety but won the return fixture between the sides in December, had the better chances in the first half - Adria Altimira forcing a good save from Wojciech Szczesny, and Dani Raba twice going close. Hansi Flick's visitors seemed to gain some control after going ahead, Fermin Lopez inexplicably shooting wide after some fine skill in a tight penalty area, but they had to ride their luck with Raba having a goal chalked off for offside and substitute Diego Garcia sliding wide when well-placed to score. The win extends Barcelona's lead at the top to seven points, before arch-rivals Real Madrid's trip to struggling Alaves on Sunday (15:15 BST). Barca made only two changes from the side that beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, but it was still a disjointed display despite it being an eighth away win in a row in all competitions. They were dealt a blow in the first half with influential left-back Alejandro Balde forced off with an injury, and could easily have conceded at least once on another day. Poland striker Lewandowski came close to his 100th Barcelona goal, glancing wide from another delicious Raphinha delivery, while Leganes centre-back Saenz almost suffered the ignominy of a second own goal - deflecting a cross just past the post. Manager Flick's side next head to Germany for their Champions League last-eight second-leg tie on Tuesday.
All thanks to BBC Sport

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Nigeria Needs Just $10 Billion Annually For 20 Years To Achieve Stable Electricity Minister Of Power, Adelabu
~2.1 mins read
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says the country requires at least $10 billion yearly over the next 20 years to achieve a stable and reliable electricity supply.
Adelabu made this known on Tuesday during the commissioning of a 2.5MW solar hybrid power plant at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. He attributed decades of poor maintenance, underinvestment, and a decaying transmission infrastructure as key reasons for the persistent power crisis.
“To achieve stable electricity in Nigeria, we need no less than $10 billion every year for the next 10 to 20 years,” Adelabu stated, adding that past failures must be addressed to make current investments effective.
His comments came as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) launched the third phase of its Rural Electrification Fund (REF), aimed at expanding off-grid electricity access in underserved communities.
Adelabu noted that the Tinubu administration is committed to resolving longstanding issues in the power sector.
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Futbol
Robinson's 'biggest Achievement' Leaves Hearts 'frustrated'
~4.5 mins read
Two sides went into the final game before the Scottish Premiership split with a chance to secure a top-six finish for a third season in a row. And, after a topsy turvy day when both had a foot in the top half, it was St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson who was celebrating "my biggest achievement" as Heart of Midlothian counterpart Neil Critchley was left "very frustrated". A win over the Edinburgh side would have taken Motherwell above both had St Mirren also lost, but at no stage of the afternoon did Michael Wimmers' side threaten to upset the odds. So how did St Mirren do it - and what does it mean for the two losers? Three wins in their past eight Premiership games is hardly world-beating form, but it was still enough for St Mirren to overhaul Hearts and Motherwell. Both protagonists at Fir Park headed into their game on the back of two defeats and Hearts finished it having failed to win any of their latest three league games, while Motherwell are now without a victory in four. Despite so much at stake, Well failed to muster an attempt on target against a Hearts side who themselves have failed to score in their past three games. That is a run of 303 minutes without a goal - the longest Hearts have waited to find the net since a run of four games in 2018. Such has been their profligacy that captain Lawrence Shankland, not so long ago called up by Scotland and touted for a transfer to Rangers, has been dropped to the bench for the last two games before being called on like the cavalry in a desparate second half at Fir Park. Despite their own stalemate, Hearts were heading for the top six until St Mirren levelled Ross County's early opener after 50 minutes - and again when Jason White equalised for the visitors just after the hour mark. However, substitute Roland Idowu's 86th-minute goal sparked wild celebrations in Paisley before the final whistle at Fir Park was greeted with dismay by both sets of supporters. For Robinson, the top six was not only achieved against the odds in terms of playing budgets but also after a season during which he lost three key players amid off-field court cases. "To do it three years in a row is an incredible achievement for this football club," the Northern Irishman said. "This is my biggest achievement. People will say, 'you got to cup finals and got to Europe'. The problems we faced they don't teach you on the pro licence. "Nothing has gone our way this season, nothing has fallen for us - we've had to fight and scrap for everything." Robinson revealed that he had asked that nobody would tell him, or his bench, the score from Fir Park. "When we scored the third goal, I did ask the question and it was panic stations," he admitted. "If you are going to do it, it's a great way to do it. If someone had told me beforehand that's how we'd get in the top six, then great - but it was heart-attack stuff at stages. "The boys stayed composed and kept believing." Former St Mirren midfielder Stephen McGinn says it shows why Robinson is "so highly regarded" by the club. "They have given him a long-term contract, they know he's building something," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. McGinn pointed out that many had scoffed when then chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick had suggested St Mirren ought to be regularly qualifying for European football. "He appointed a manager he believed could deliver that - and he has," he said. "It's been such a rollercoaster of season, but the manager's been the one constant thoroughout it. He's stayed really calm and he's got his reward. "Starts off with the first games back in Europe in 30-odd years. They have rode their luck a bit with results going in their favour over the last couple of weeks, but back-to-back wins over Rangers and finishing in the top six three seasons in a row on a limited budget - unbelievable from Stephen Robinson." While Critchley has lifted Hearts off the bottom of the table since being appointed head coach in October, he was forced to acknowledge the anger from the away end on what he conceded was "a hugely disappointing day". "We're all frustrated, massively frustrated," he said. "It's not just on today. You've got to look at other performances and other games that we could have maybe got something from." Hearts miss out despite looking on course for the top six after defeating St Mirren 3-1 at the end of February. "I don't think there's a lot gone wrong," Critchley said. "We've shown a lot of progress and this game can't define us as a group or our season." Former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart has "got some sympathy" for the Englishman. "I do think he has improved things, but there are fundamental flaws in that squad," he said. Stewart, not for the first time, highlighted the lack of pace and the need for a striker to help during Shankland's downturn in form, problems not solved during Critchley's first transfer window in January. "Why the club never signed another striker is beyond me," he said. "I think that's the source of a lot of the problems here. "It's become a runaway train and Lawrence Shankland hasn't been able to steer it back on track." Critchley pointed out that he has a Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen to look forward to, but Hearts are now only six points clear of Dundee in the relegation play-off spot having played a game more. "The bottom six is going to be an absolute bloodbath," Stewart predicted. "The chances of Hearts being relegated are very slim, but the despondency that will be surrounding Tynecastle will be huge." As for Motherwell, the BBC pundits were unaninimous that, whether or not they avoid relegation, Wimmer's summer task will be to drastically reduce a bloated squad of 36 players. The German, who was appointed in February after Stuart Kettlewell's resignation, was philosophical about missing out on the top six. "To be honest, I have no reason to be disappointed, because we could not influence the St Mirren result," he said. "In the end, I can say it was in many periods a good performance from us. "I saw disappointed players in the dressing room, which I can understand because they have been here for 33 games and, for me, it's only seven games."
All thanks to BBC Sport
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