Celtic have given themselves a three-point buffer over title rivals Rangers heading into the next round of fixtures.

Ross County at home is next up for Phillipe Clement's Rangers on next Wednesday, while Brendan Rodgers will prepare his Celtic side for the visit of fourth-placed Kilmarnock on 17 February.

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Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Celtic showed "the mentality of champions", said manager Brendan Rodgers, as they snatched a dramatic victory over Hibernian to restore their three-point lead at the Scottish Premiership summit.

On-loan Norwich striker Adam Idah, making his first start, completed his penalty double with a 92nd-minute winner at Easter Road.

Idah opened the scoring inside 10 minutes on his first start after Nectarios Triantis clashed heads with Alistair Johnston to concede his second spot-kick in as many games.

However, as has so often been the case this season, it appeared Celtic's profligacy would cost them as Dylan Levitt spectacularly hauled the home side level with a sensational strike from the edge of the box.

But Idah was again given the opportunity from the penalty spot - against the run of play - as Kyogo Furuhashi was judged to have been fouled by Joe Newell inside the box after VAR intervention.

Nick Montgomery's side threw everything they could at Celtic late on, but ultimately remain in seventh spot and their winless run extends to seven games.

Celtic manager Rodgers celebrated a first win at Easter Road at the fifth attempt as his side regained their gap over Rangers, who have a game in hand.

"Winning was never going make us champions tonight, but with 14 games to go, including tonight, it's very important you get the victories," he told BBC Scotland.

"We have to be more creative and that will be our demand going into the next game."

Get in the car. We're off to Scotland.

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Simon Stone
BBC Sport in Paris

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has used his speech to this morning's Congress in Paris to launch another fierce attack on the architects of the Super League project.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently gave an interview in which he said a number of non-English clubs have already agreed to take part in a rival competition that is now allowed following a European Courts of Justice ruling in December.

“Right now people are trying to trample on 70 years of history, claiming to be saviours of football, in reality they are trying to dig its grave," said Ceferin.

“They speak about free markets but don’t know anything about free speech.

“Never before has our continent been so fragmented and fractured. Unity is the only thing that can save us.

“Some people think everything can be bought and everything is for sale. That is not our (view).

"A few individuals are trying to divide us in search of every bit of profit for the privileged few.

"Clubs can enter new competitions if they want to. Even join league English fans call Zombie League. They want more capital, more power, more prestige. They can never have enough. They want more and don’t care if others have less and everything around them is destroyed.

“Football fans are not stupid. You can’t buy dreams and values and 70 years of history.”

BBC Sounds

Former Aston Villa player Dion Dublin speaking about Chelsea's 3-1 win over Villa on the Football Daily podcast: "The first ten minutes, I’m thinking here we go, Villa are just going to pick up where they left off, but Chelsea stood firm for the first 10 minutes and took charge of the game.

"I just think Villa were slow, they were out the blocks, they were really sluggish when passing the ball. The passing wasn’t great. The energy from the Chelsea players, listen I know Villa were bad but you’ve got to give plaudits to Chelsea when they are due because they have been terrible all season, Chelsea, tonight they were outstanding."

Listen to the full podcast episode on BBC Sounds

Chelsea

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Nick: Chelsea's best performance of the season by a country mile. We did to Villa what Liverpooland Wolves did to us - energy, intensity, positivity. From back to front everyone gave 100%. Two bad defeats didn't mean Chelsea were a 'crisis club', and neither does one great result turn the season around. Now we need some consistency.

Dilshan: Was dreading walking into Villa Park after the recent Chelsea performances but was in for a surprise. There was lots of fluid movement and we carried a threat almost every time going forward and were good on the eyes. Playing Jackson on the wing made a difference and so did Noni Madueke. This could be a turning point for Mauricio Pochettino and the club.

Robbo: I thought Chelsea were much quicker and very slick moving the ball about . There's definitely a team in there, they are young and will need time to gel. Funny though every time Chelsea beat a decent side its always about how bad the other team were. Give us a bit of credit if it's due.

Sebastien Haller's goal to put Ivory Coast ahead wasn't the most polished of strikes you'll ever see, but who cares. Just swing a boot at it and hope for the best.

Rob Stevens
BBC Sport Africa

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Sebastien Haller scored the winner as 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast beat DR Congo to set up a final meeting with Nigeria.

The only goal of a cagey contest in Abidjan came in the 65th minute when Haller's volley bounced down into the ground and up over Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

The Borussia Dortmund striker should have opened the scoring just before the break with an unmarked header, while he also missed a chance to double the lead when sending a lob narrowly wide.

DR Congo did not look like getting a late equaliser, although Meschack Elia sent a volley wide of the left-hand upright and Simon Banza then fired well over in injury time.

Ivory Coast had sacked Jean-Louis Gasset as boss before scraping through the group stage, and had needed late goals against both Senegal and Mali to progress to the last four.

But interim boss Emerse Fae now has a chance to guide the Elephants to a third continental title, adding to triumphs in 1992 and 2015, when they face three-time winners Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday (20:00 GMT).

VAR drama? In an important semi-final? Gulp.

Have a watch of all the best bits as the Super Eagles overcome South Africa again.

Ian Williams
BBC Sport Africa at Stade de la Paix

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Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winning penalty as Nigeria booked their place in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a 4-2 shootout win over South Africa.

The game in Bouake finished 1-1 following a remarkable end to normal time which involved the referee going to his video monitor to disallow a Victor Osimhen strike which would have put Nigeria 2-0 up - and instead awarding a penalty to South Africa.

Teboho Mokoena converted from the spot in the 90th minute to send the game into a goalless period of extra time where Bafana Bafana defender Grant Kekana was sent off late on.

But Mokoena was one of two South African players to see their spot-kicks saved by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as the Super Eagles triumphed to reach Sunday's final, where they will play Ivory Coast after the hosts beat DR Congo.

William Troost-Ekong had opened the scoring for the West Africans with a penalty midway through the second half, and will now be looking to captain Nigeria to their fourth continental title - and a first since 2013.

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Super Eagles versus Elephants.

Be there on Sunday at 20:00 GMT.

But how did Nigeria and Ivory Coast reach the final?

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Simon Stone
BBC Sport in Paris

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has given a passionate anti-racism message to UEFA Congress.

He wants a unified plan from the whole game by the time FIFA holds their Congress in Bangkok in May.

"Our world is divided and aggressive," Infantino said in his speech in Paris.

"We have witnessed a lot of racist incidents. This is not acceptable any more. We have to stop this.

"Racism is a crime and something terrible. We have to eradicate it.

"We have different competitions and rules and what we have done has not been enough.

"The referee can stop the game and even abandon the game, the disciplinary consequences have to be the forfeit, start criminal charges against them (fans responsible), ban them from stadiums worldwide.

"We have to educate. I suggest in addition to all this, we need to work together in next three months before FIFA Congress in Bangkok and come together with a resolution. Let’s stop it now."

Jesse Lingard and FC Seoul. An unlikely combination before the transfer window but the former Manchester United midfielder is looking forward to this new chapter.

"I've always wanted a different challenge and to create new memories in my career," Lingard said in a YouTube video.

"I believe South Korea is the perfect place for that."

He added FC Seoul's determination to sign him prior to the transfer becoming public knowledge on deadline day in England helped persuade him to make the move.

"FC Seoul showed me great passion, sending me a concrete offer on paper while other clubs were contacting me verbally," Lingard said at a news conference.

"They also came to Manchester to check my physical condition as well."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Image source, FC Seoul

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard has completed a move to South Korean side FC Seoul.

Lingard has been without a club since his contract expired at Nottingham Forest at the end of last season.

It is understood the 31-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the K-League club, with the option for a further year.

Lingard said he had received "many offers" but had decided he wanted a new football experience in South Korea.

Nottingham Forest

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Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown believes the FA Cup fourth-round replay win over Bristol City can be key in Nottingham Forest "gaining confidence" in their attempts to stay in the Premier League.

Forest needed penalties to eventually overcome their Championship opponents and set up a fifth-round tie at home to Manchester United.

"Home form for Forest has not been great so they'll be delighted to get through that," Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "They are missing a lot of players [so] they will certainly be better and it will be a different scenario when they get them back.

"Notably, the cup is about gaining confidence. We know where their priorities are - they have to stay away from the bottom of the Premier League. It's getting tighter and tighter.

"But, [when there is] a full house here at the City Ground, it's magic, it's brilliant. The FA Cup is a special tournament and these are the moments that give everyone an opportunity for dreaming.

"Forest at times were a little bit lethargic, a little bit slow but full credit [to them]. It was an exciting night and a great cup tie. To win like that is cruel but really exciting."

Listen to full reaction on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

The French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra has given a very passionate speech to open the UEFA Congress here in Paris.

One of the subjects she spoke about was the growing trend for multi-club ownership.

It doesn't sound like she is a fan.

"We also need to look at multi-ownership," she said.

"There is a risk of circumventing rules and a threat to fairness in competition.

"We need to be vigilant when it comes to recognising such threats, or a small number of investors could have control over European football."

Who else wants a turn in the manager news conference chair today?

Vincent Kompany, Chris Wilder, Roy Hodgson, Sean Dyche and Erik ten Hag have all put their hand up for this afternoon.

After 1pm for those words in the live page.