The Super Eagles of Nigeria are out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

They lost 1-0 to Tunisia in their Sunday encounter in the Round of 16.

Barely two minutes after he was brought into the game, Alex Iwobi was sent off for a bad tackle.

This is after Tunisia shocked the Super Eagles of Nigeria by scoring two minutes into the second half.

A shot from Youssef Msakni gave the Carthage Eagles their first goal in the game.

The goal came after Msakni’s shot from outside the 18-yard box was poorly parried into the net by Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye.

Super Eagles had faced a tough challenge in the first half of their encounter against Tunisia at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

A cagey opening controlled by Nigeria became tough in the 21 minutes as the Tunisian attackers put pressure on Nigeria’s defenders.

Skilful attackers Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho failed to sparkle as they barely got a chance on the pitch this evening in the tough game.

Simon played a major role when the Super Eagles won their group matches against Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau.

Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) is shown a yellow card in the 20th minute.

Struck by many absences, including 12 players testing positive for COVID-19, Tunisia proved tougher for the Super Eagles than expected.

While Tunisia have two goals on target, Nigeria had none in the first half.

The Super Eagles were the only side to get the maximum points in the group stage.

Nigeria started the campaign with a 1-0 win over record champions Egypt, followed by a 3-1 victory over Sudan, and concluded the group with a 2-0 win against Guinea Bissau.

Champions in 1980, 1994, and 2013, the group stage maximum tally and entertaining performances are expected to give the Super Eagles the needed morale boost in their hunt for a fourth AFCON title.

Nigeria and Tunisia are meeting for the sixth time at the Africa Cup of Nations, with four of the previous five matches being played in knock-out games. Nigeria are unbeaten in all five (W3 D2, excluding shoot-outs).

Tunisia’s only successful AFCON meeting with Nigeria came in 2004, when they progressed via penalties in the semi-finals after the match finished level, going on to win the competition that year.

 Medical experts say the inability of men to have a satisfying sex life as they age is often due to low testosterone, damage to the blood vessels and nerves in the male organs.

The experts noted that these challenges usually lead to a lack of sex drive and erectile dysfunction.

According to them, diabetes, hypertension, obesity can also negatively affect males’ sexual performance.

Speaking with HealthWise, a Consultant Urologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Oluwaseun  Akinola said erectile dysfunction is common among men from age 50 but is hardly discussed because of stigmatisation.

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to attain or maintain penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse.

Explaining, he said, “There are three things that could affect a male’s sexual performance and they have equal importance. Number one is the hormone. The hormone of the male is testosterone that is responsible for the desire to have sex and maintain an erection.

“Secondly, we have the blood vessels in the male genital organ, with arteries and veins and you have the nerves which carry the signals and all these things need to be working perfectly for a man to have a good erection. But, if anything affects them, it can affect the sexual performance of a man.

“Whenever you have a combination of diabetes, high blood sugar, they can affect the function of the nerves in the genital organ and it could lead to erectile problems. If you have problems with the blood vessels, it can lead to problems with sexual performance.”

The Urologist also noted that obesity can affect sexual performance by damaging the blood vessels, and decrease testosterone.

“Obesity is related to poor management of sugar in the body, something we refer to as metabolic syndrome and can lead to diabetes which can affect the nerves.

“The important thing is for a man to see what can improve the functions of the hormones, nerves, veins and help reduce obesity. Things that will make you healthier are generally good for sexual health. So, weight loss, exercise, eating the right food can help. Exercise reduces obesity which can affect hormones as well.

“What happens in men that are fat is that testosterone produced by the body can be converted by the fat cells into estrogen and it can affect erectile function, even the desire to have sex.

“When a man presents with this problem, you have to find out what is causing the problem. Sometimes, you can reverse it and if addressed early enough,” he said.

Speaking further, Dr. Akinola said age is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction among men; “as the age increases, erectile dysfunction increases and several studies have confirmed this.”

 Former President Olusegun Obasanjo told leaders of opposition Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday that he won’t return to the party.

Obasanjo, 84, made this known when a PDP delegation led by the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, four former governors, and members of the party’s National Working Committee visited him at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In the team include the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Peter Obi; former Governors, Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Donald Duke (Cross River).

The Deputy National Chairman of PDP (South), Taofeek Arapaja, and other party officials were part of the entourage.

Addressing the PDP delegation, Obasanjo said, “I’m no longer in partisan politics and there is nothing that can bring back. Anybody who wants my advice, I will always be there in the best interest of Nigeria.

“Whatever I do in my own life…because I became president on the platform of PDP, PDP will continue to be part of my life. Since the day I tore my PDP card, that was the day I ceased to be a member of PDP. That day I vowed not to be a member of any political party.

“I will continue to be a statesman.”

Obasanjo told Ayu that he has the problems of PDP and Nigeria on his shoulders, and prayed God to give him the wisdom to carry it.

Responding, Ayu told Obasanjo that “if you leave PDP, the blood of PDP will never leave you.”

He said the party would always require his fatherly advice towards governance in Nigeria.

Obasanjo was first Head of State from 1976 to 1979. After his prison ordeal, Obasanjo was later elected Nigeria’s President from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of the PDP.

He, however, publicly tore his PDP membership card in February 2015 after a feud with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

 Businessman and socialite, Obi Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, kept to his promise as he has offered a letter of scholarship to Jeremiah Ekumah.

Earlier last week, Ekuma, a young hawker, was caught on camera in the Ajah area of Lagos, giving money to persons who were being transported to prison in a Nigerian Correctional Service van.

Obi Cubana, who chairs the Cubana Group, last Saturday, in an interview with media personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, made known his intention to sponsor the young boy’s tertiary education in any institution of his choice.

Keeping to his promise, Obi Cubana on Saturday (today) shared pictures of the young lad who received his letter of scholarship from the Cubana Group.

Obi Cubana, on his Instagram page, also revealed that one Mr & Mrs Afuah, based in Canada, has placed Ekuma on a N100,000 monthly salary till he finished his education.

The post read, “And God has remembered Jerry!! @jerryluck_ God used Rocky @rockyemmyphotography to make that video! And God used @daddyfreeze to connect me and Jerry!

“He has collected his letter of scholarship from Cubana Group! Thank God for His uncommon Grace! Mr & Mrs Afuah @iam_hymans who are based in Canada, we ran into ourselves last night at Cubana Lagos, and he introduced himself and said he wanted to reach out to Jerry.

“We all met this afternoon here in lagos. He has promised Jerry (and started paying immediately) a salary of 100k monthly from today till he is done with school!

“God has really remembered Jerry! Do Good, be nice, be generous! God will definitely remember you someday.”

Ahead of the round of 16 Africa Cup of Nations clash with the Super Eagles, several Tunisian players and the head coach, Mondher Kebaier, have tested positive for COVID-19.

Kebaier was absent during the pre-match press conference on Saturday at the media centre of the Roumdje Adjia Stadium, Garoua.

Tunisia’s assistant coach, Jalal Al-Qadri, addressed journalists during the press conference.

He said the captain of the Carthage Eagles, Wahbi Khazri, and eleven others have contracted COVID-19 and will not be available for the game.

The other eleven players are Aissa Laidouni, Dylan Bronn, Ghaylène Chaalali, Ellyes Skhiri, Anis Ben Slimane, Mohamed Romdhane, Ali Maâloul, Ben Hmida, Aymen Dahmen Yoann Touzgha and Issam Jebali.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha is suspended from the game.

Tunisia qualified for the round of 16 after finishing as one of the four best losers in the group stage.

They won their first game 4-0 against Mauritania and lost their remaining two matches.

The Carthage Eagles last met the Nigerian side during the third-place game at the 2019 AFCON in Cairo, Egypt.

Both sides are expected to lock horns in Garoua on Sunday.

African contenders to represent the continent in the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022 knew the fate of their upcoming opponents when the draw for the Third and Final Round of the African Qualifiers was held on Saturday.

The draw held in Douala, Cameroon was conducted by CAF Competitions Director Samson Adamu, assisted by CAF legends El Hadji Diouf and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Following are the encounters, set for next March.

Egypt v Senegal

Cameroon v Algeria

Ghana v Nigeria

DR Congo v Morocco

Mali v Tunisia

Two-leg ties to be played between March 21-29.

Five aggregate winners qualify for World Cup in Qatar.

 Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus, has clarified that there is no bad blood between herself and colleague, Funke Akindele-Bello.

Badmus took to her Instagram page on Friday to express her displeasure with fans “insinuating” that the duo were not on good terms.

“Guys, I’m sick and tired of y’all insinuating @funkejenifaakindele and I are fighting for no singular reason. In case y’all don’t know, this woman right here is my ride till the end. I love her from the bottom of my heart and what we share is beyond friendship,” she wrote in the caption.

The actress also revealed that while they do not make joint posts about their friendship on social media, they keep in touch “almost every other day” and were working together on a “bigger picture”

She continued, “We talk every day, we see each other almost every other day. The fact that we don’t post our moments lately doesn’t mean we are fighting!!! We are only saving it for a bigger picture and we need to keep y’all in suspense.

“Lafunky is my blood and flesh, y’all should please stop insinuating! We are good and forever good. Maybe not necessary, but just need to put this out here for clarity! That’s my home girl here!.”

Badmus and Akindele both gave a stellar performance in the Nollywood classic, Jenifa, released in 2008. The duo have since then appeared together in other projects such as Omo Ghetto as well as Jenifa’s sequel, Return of Jenifa.

 While key Bitcoin (BTC) metrics don’t paint a pretty picture, the bears could be running on fumes. Contrary to analysts warning that Bitcoin could dip to $38,000 “before an eventual breakout,” CoinShares and Arcane Research suggest that the tide could be turning.

 Former Milan and Manchester City striker Robinho has reportedly lost his final appeal against a rape conviction and faces up to nine years in prison.

The Brazilian has been going through various levels of the complex Italian legal system since the incident in Milan in 2013.

According to the Corriere dello Sport, the Corte di Cassazione in Rome – the final level of appeal in the Italian magistrature – confirmed the guilty verdict and punishment.

Robinho and his friend Ricardo Falco are found guilty and face up to nine years in prison for the gang-rape of a 23-year-old.

Robinho had insisted it was all ‘consensual,’ but telephone wiretaps and messages presented as evidence saw this defence rejected repeatedly.

The initial court case was in 2017, confirmed on appeal in Milan.

Turning 38 later this month, Robinho has been a free agent since Santos signed him in October 2020 and then released him again just six days later due to the controversy over the rape conviction.

 The Lagos State Government has said that danfo, taxi, and other commercial vehicles in the state will begin to pay N800 levy daily from February 1, 2022.

This is after the state government and transportation stakeholders in the State on Tuesday signed an agreement and officially unveiled the ‘Consolidated Informal Transport Sector Levy’ to harmonise dues collected by the government from commercial motorists at parks and garages across the State.

This was made known in a statement by the state government titled, ‘LASG unveils levy for informal transport sector to harmonise dues from commercial motorists …New consolidated levy collection starts February 1’.

The agreement between the state, local government, and various unions in the transport sector, as well as some government agencies in Lagos State, was signed during a ceremony held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, according to the statement.

Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, was quoted as explaining that the levy pegged at a flat rate of N800 covers money for not just the local government levy alone, but also that of clearing waste from motor parks paid to the Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Waste Management Authority and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency.

He said the benefits of the levy included harmonising the collection process by putting a structure in place, reducing multiple taxes, dues, and levies to all agents of state and local governments, providing reliable data, eradicating harassment of bus drivers, and bringing collaborative engagements within stakeholders, among others.

The commissioner said the Consolidated Informal Transport Sector Levy approach was an alignment with stakeholders and total restructuring of the transport system that would further boost revenue coming into government coffers.

Olowo, who disclosed that personal income taxes of the drivers will also be deducted from the N800 levy, said the Consolidated Informal Transport Sector Levy which will take effect on February 1, 2022, would be paid to moderate the fees that motorists in the sector pay daily, adding that tax cards would also be issued to them.

“The N800 is a single structured collection of the monies payable to all government agencies and parties who are directly or indirectly associated with the transport sector. What the government has done is to organise the collection and reduce the multiplicity of levies and all sorts of taxes, dues, and monies due to the government from the transport unions. Bus drivers will get tax cards, and the issue of arbitrary payments will be eradicated once they pay from the point of their loading each day,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Mr. Toyin Fayinka, described the development as the first approach towards a total restructuring of the transport sector.

He said all stakeholders were duly consulted before the final signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, which is aimed at bringing sanity into motor parks in line with best practices globally.

N800 govt’s levy doesn’t affect NURTW ticket – MC Oluomo

The Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as ‘MC Oluomo’ explained that the Union, in collaboration with the Road Transport Workers Union, had approached the government to consolidate the fees to make it easier for the government.

He said they were in agreement with policies that would ensure the development of Lagos State.

The NURTW boss however clarified that the N800 Consolidated Informal Transport Sector Levy does not deprive the Union of collecting its normal statutory levy but gave the commitment that the union dues will now be collected at only one point in a structured manner going forward.

“The harmonised levy will not affect the national union ticket. What it is aimed at consolidating are all the levies collected by the government and it was the unions that approached the government to help us harmonise the payment of all the levies it has been collecting to prevent duplication of levies,” he said.

 Four-time champions Ghana were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations after crashing 3-2 to minnows Comoros in Group C on Tuesday in Garoua.

The Black Stars had captain Andre Ayew sent off after 25 minutes and, after wiping out a two-goal deficit, lost when Comoros’ Ahmed Mogni scored his second goal five minutes from time.

Details later…

…orders DSS to allow him change cloth, do exercise

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned further proceedings in the case against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, till Wednesday.

The adjournment followed Kanu’s complaint that the Federal Government failed to promptly serve him the fresh 15 amended charges it brought before the court.

Kanu, through his team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, further accused FG of denying him the necessary facility to defend the charge against him.

Ozekhome told the court that the amended charges were served on them barely 24 hours to the scheduled hearing.

“My Lord, the proposed amended charges were served on us yesterday (Monday) evening. As I speak to you my lord, the defendant, who was just brought in, has not even seen the charges which he is being told to enter his plea.

“With due respect, that is not justice. It is ambushing. I know that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, allows FG to amend, but this is the sixth amendment they are making, and each time they do it, they serve us a day to the hearing, just to frustrate the trial,” Ozekhome added.

Details later…

Operatives of the Department of State Services and members of the Nigeria Police Force have once again engaged in show of force by harassing and pursuing journalists who assembled at the Federal High Court to cover the court proceedings of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Reporters reports that members of the security operatives have always harassed and pursued journalists preventing them from covering the proceedings of Nnamdi Kanu during past proceedings.

Senior Advocates of Nigeria like Mike Ozekhome, the Nigerian Bar Association, and Socio-cultural groups such as the Ohaneze and Afenifere had also berated the operative for preventing journalists from exercising their civic rights.

Details later…