Abbott Elementary, AFCON, Marilyn Mosby

Sébastien Haller fired host nation Ivory Coast into an Africa Cup of Nations final against old foe Nigeria with a 1-0 win over Congo on Wednesday.

Haller scored when his volley from Max Gradel’s cross bounced before going in under the crossbar in the 65th minute, setting off wild celebrations in the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

Haller was making his first start of the tournament after recovering fully from an ankle injury, further good news for Ivorians who were already convinced God is helping the Elephants to their third Africa Cup title.

Progress seemed unlikely after a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea left the team on the verge of a group-stage exit. But Ivory Coast has bounced back since firing its coach by overcoming one setback after another.

A former top prosecutor for the city of Baltimore was convicted Tuesday on one count of mortgage fraud, concluding a lengthy criminal trial in which Marilyn Mosby testified she unwittingly made false statements on loan applications to buy two Florida vacation homes.

The jury announced a split verdict Tuesday evening after deliberating most of the day, finding Mosby not guilty on a second mortgage fraud charge, The Baltimore Sun reported.

She was previously convicted on two counts of perjury in a separate criminal trial that took place in November. She hasn’t been sentenced in either case.

The federal criminal charges stemmed from allegations that Mosby claimed a pandemic-related hardship to make early withdrawals from her retirement account, then used that money for down payments on the Florida properties. Prosecutors alleged she repeatedly lied on the mortgage applications.

“Abbott Elementary,” the Emmy-award-winning sitcom created by Quinta Brunson, has returned for its third season, and the series remains just as witty and fun as it’s always been. However, the mega-sized opener titled “Career Day Part 1 & 2” suggests the comedy is ready to tackle one of the most significant issues facing the public education system in America – teacher burnout.

In previous seasons, audiences have witnessed the Abbott teachers bend and twist themselves in knots to get adequate resources while dealing with a self-centered and inept (though hilarious) principal, Ava Coleman (Janelle James). Veteran educators Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), now decades in to the profession, have mastered the art of delivering with less. Meanwhile, Janine Teagues (Brunson) and Jacob Hill’s (Chris Perfetti) naïveté and love of educating have enabled them to imagine a future for Abbott students that likely won’t come to fruition. Rounding out the pack is newcomer Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams). Although he cares about his work, he’s jaded enough to lean toward self-preservation.

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