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Category: Sports

  • Chris Danjuma Returns As Falconets’ Head Coach

    *Abdullahi, Ekpo to assist him

    Chris Danjuma Returns As Falconets’ Head Coach

    Christopher Musa Danjuma has returned to his job as Head Coach of the U20 Women National Team, Falconets, following a screening and interview process by the NFF Technical Committee. The committee submitted its recommendation and the same has been approved by the NFF Executive Committee.

    The process began with a one-week public notice which requested for applications from suitably qualified persons, after which short-listed candidates were contacted and interviewed by a panel of the Technical Committee.

    Danjuma, who has taken temporary charge of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, on a couple of occasions, led the Falconets to the quarter-finals of last year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Costa Rica.

    The experienced gaffer will be assisted by former U20 and U17 girls’ assistant coach Mansur Abdullahi, and former Super Falcons’ midfielder Effioanwan Ekpo.

    Ekpo, who represented Nigeria for 10 years between 2000 and 2010, featured at the 2003 and 2007 FIFA World Cup finals in USA and China respectively, at the 2004 and 2008 Women Olympic Football Tournaments in Athens and Beijing respectively, and was a Women Africa Cup of Nations gold medallist on three occasions. She also featured at the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers.

    Yahaya Audu, who has been goalkeeper trainer of the team, also returns to his position.

    The Falconets will commence their 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign with a second round, first leg encounter against their counterparts from Mauritius in Saint Pierre on Sunday, 8th October, with the return leg scheduled for the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 14th October 2023.

    Colombia will stage the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals. 

  • Mocking Video: Osimhen’s Agent Threatens Legal Action Against Napoli

    Napoli striker Victor Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calendar, has said he “reserves the right to take legal action” against the club.

    Calenda’s threat came after a video mocking the player was posted and then deleted from the Serie A side’s official TikTok on Tuesday.

    He released a statement on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the video caused “very serious damage to the player”.

    “What happened today on Napoli’s official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable.

    “A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted,” said Calenda.

    “We reserve the right to take legal action and any other useful initiative to protect Victor.”

    Napoli did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

    Osimhen missed a late penalty kick in a goalless draw against Bologna in Serie A on Sunday.

    He was substituted as the game drew to a close and appeared to protest the decision, shouting at coach Rudi Garcia before leaving the pitch.

    Later on, the French manager, however, played down the situation.

    Italian Champions Napoli are seventh in the standings and play Udinese at home on Wednesday.

  • Africa Championship: Nigeria’s U-18 Women’s Handball Team Clinches Bronze

    *Secures 2024 World Championship Spot

    In an impressive display of determination and skill, Nigeria’s under-18 Women’s Handball Team secured the bronze medal at the Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Monastir, Tunisia.

    After a challenging semi-final loss to Egypt, the Nigerian team bounced back with a resounding 28-24 victory over Angola in the third-place match.

    The Nigerian team showcased their prowess from the very beginning, establishing a five-point lead in the first half with a score of 12-7.

    Their winning momentum continued into the second half, as they maintained their dominance over the Angolan counterparts, ultimately securing the bronze medal with a final score of 28-24.

    Speaking after the match, Shittu Agboola, the coach of the Nigerian team, praised his players’ performance, stating, “We wanted to play in the final instead of settling for third place; unfortunately, we lost the semi-final against Egypt yesterday. The most important achievement for us is securing a spot in the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship.”

    In the championship’s final match, Egypt, the defending champions, retained their title with a convincing 29-16 victory over Guinea, cementing their status as the 2023 Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship winners.

    The 19th Africa Women’s Championship commenced on September 16 and showcased remarkable talent and sportsmanship among the participating teams.

     
  • Champions League: Arsenal Return With A Bang, Madrid Win; Man United Lose

    Champions League: Arsenal Return With A Bang, Madrid Win; Man United Lose

    Arsenal made a triumphant return to the Champions League, securing a resounding 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium in their first campaign in six years.

    The Gunners displayed an electrifying first-half performance, storming to a 3-0 lead on a rainy night in north London.

    Bukayo Saka opened the scoring after eight minutes, capitalizing on a rebound when PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez could only parry Martin Odegaard’s shot into the path of the England winger. Saka played a crucial role again, setting up Leandro Trossard’s goal to double Arsenal’s lead 12 minutes later after Gabriel Jesus broke clear.

    Jesus continued his impressive performance, adding Arsenal’s third seven minutes before half-time with a powerful rising shot that left Benitez with no chance.

    In the second half, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made several changes with an eye on Sunday’s derby against in-form Tottenham, but his team maintained complete control. Odegaard sealed the victory with a powerful 20-yard strike, making it 4-0 with 20 minutes remaining.

    In another Champions League match, Manchester United faced a tough challenge against Bayern Munich, with Harry Kane playing a pivotal role in his new team’s 4-3 victory. Kane contributed an assist and scored from the penalty spot, bringing his goal tally this season to five in all competitions.

    United’s Rasmus Hojland scored his first goal for the club early in the second half, giving them a glimmer of hope at 2-1.

    However, an error by goalkeeper Andre Onana allowed Leroy Sane’s shot to slip under him in the 28th minute, giving Bayern a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Serge Gnabry scored a precise low shot to make it 2-0.

    United made an effort to mount a comeback, but injuries and a lack of options from the bench hampered their ability to compete. Casemiro managed to score a second goal for United, providing a glimmer of hope, but Mathys Tel’s late strike for Bayern sealed the 4-2 victory.

    In another Champions League match of the night, Jude Bellingham secured a late 1-0 victory for Real Madrid with an injury-time tap-in against Union Berlin at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    This marked Bellingham’s sixth goal in six matches since joining Real Madrid this summer. Federico Valverde’s 94th-minute shot deflected into Bellingham’s path, allowing him to tap into an empty net.

    Union Berlin, making their Champions League debut, were unable to respond in the final minute, as Real Madrid claimed the late win.

  • Quadri Aruna Secures Back-to-Back Victory At 2023 ITTF African Championships

    In a stunning display of talent and determination, Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna successfully defended his title in the men’s singles category at the 2023 ITTF African Championships.

    Aruna, the top-seeded player in the tournament, delivered an exceptional performance, overpowering Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh with a resounding 4-0 victory in the final match, which took place on a memorable Sunday.

    This triumph allowed Aruna to retain the championship title he had clinched in Algeria the previous year, marking a remarkable achievement in his career. However, this victory also carried a bittersweet undertone, as Aruna had previously missed out on the opportunity to secure a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games due to an injury sustained at the same venue in Tunis.

    Reflecting on his victory, Aruna expressed his happiness and the significance of winning in Tunis. He said, “I am happy with the title because I have a good and bad memory of Tunis, having got injured here during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification.

    Winning another title here is good to erase the bad memory. This win will remain with me for a long time. I am happy and I look forward to the next challenge.”

    In the women’s singles category, the spotlight shone on Egyptian teenage sensation Hana Goda, who managed to dethrone her compatriot, Dina Meshref, to claim the coveted title.

    Goda, a two-time Africa Cup champion, displayed her exceptional skills and determination by securing a remarkable 4-1 victory over the defending champion, Meshref, in a thrilling final match.

    The 15-year-old Goda, filled with excitement and gratitude, described her victory as “special.”

    She acknowledged the tremendous support from the Tunisian fans and expressed her deep appreciation for the memorable win, which she would cherish for a long time to come.

    The 2023 ITTF African Championships showcased outstanding table tennis talent and memorable moments, solidifying the legacies of champions like Quadri Aruna and introducing rising stars like Hana Goda to the international stage.

  • Amusan Wins 3rd Consecutive Diamond League Title

    Amusan Wins 3rd Consecutive Diamond League Title

    Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has emerged winner of the Diamond League trophy for an astonishing third consecutive time.

    On Sunday night at Oregon in the US, Amusan with a time of 12.33 seconds emerged winner of the fiercely-contested 100 metres hurdles event.

    The win has come after a disappointing outing in Budapest, Hungary during the World Athletics Championships.

    Amusan, with Sunday’s remarkable performance, has now made history as the second woman in Diamond League history after Dawn Nelson-Harper to win a hat-trick of 100m hurdles titles.

    Interestingly, Sunday’s win has come for Amusan in Oregon where she won the world title last year and also set a world record in the process.

    For Sunday’s race, the hard-charging Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico finished second in 12.38 while American Keni Harrison was third in 12.44.

    Danielle Williams of Jamaica who dethroned Amusan in Budapest finished fourth in 12.47

    The athletics season has been a torrid one for Amusan but she emphatically proved on Sunday she is arguably the best sprint hurdler in the world.

    The sweet victory in Oregon brings a triumphant close to what has been a difficult summer for Amusan.

    Amusan was left shattered in the build-up to the World Championships in Budapest after she was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for whereabouts failures.

    The 26-year-old was cleared by a disciplinary tribunal on the eve of the meet’s kick-off.

    It was not surprising then when Amusan uncharacteristically finished sixth in the 100m hurdles final in Budapest.

    With many not initially sure whether the AIU would file an appeal against Amusan at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), the focus already shifted.

    It was shifted to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

    However, with a better frame of mind to prepare, Amusan came out smoking to win her third Diamond League trophy on Sunday.

    The world record-holder first made history in 2021 when she ran a 12.42 African record to become the first Nigerian to win a Diamond League title.

    For those who said it was a fluke, Amusan went on to successfully defend her title the following year, running a new 12.29 Weltklasse meeting record in Zurich, Switzerland.

    And on Sunday Amusan made it a hat-trick of wins with a season-best time of 12.33 secs at Eugene in Oregon.

  • EPL Saturday Roundup: Brighton Stun United 1-3; Liverpool, City, Spurs Win

    In a dramatic match at Old Trafford, Manchester United suffered a 3-1 defeat against high flyers Brighton Hove Albion as the home crowd expressed their displeasure with manager Erik ten Hag.

    Despite Ten Hag’s prior strong support from United fans, the atmosphere soured due to his recent dispute with winger Jadon Sancho and a controversial substitution decision.

    The turning point came when Ten Hag decided to replace new signing Rasmus Hojlund with Anthony Martial, 19 minutes into the second half.

    This decision did not sit well with the fans, who voiced their dissent with resounding boos. The Danish player however received applause as he left the pitch, highlighting the divide in the stadium.

    Unfortunately, the substitution did little to change United’s fortunes on the field. They were already trailing, thanks to a first-half goal from former United favourite Danny Welbeck.

    Brighton continued to dominate in the second half, with Pascal Gross and substitute Joao Pedro adding goals, exploiting significant defensive gaps around the United penalty area to put scores at 3-0.

    While Hannibal Mejbri scored his first goal for United, offering a glimmer of hope, the visitors came closest to scoring again in a frenetic finish.

    Goalkeeper Andre Onana made four remarkable saves, denying Ansu Fati a debut goal in injury time.

    This defeat marked Manchester United’s first home loss in 13 months, with Brighton securing their fourth successive Premier League victory over United.

    The final whistle brought more boos, though not as vehement as when Hojlund was substituted.

    Ten Hag’s side has now conceded 10 goals in their last four games, raising concerns about their defensive performance. This defeat also marked the first time since 1979 that United had conceded more than one goal in four consecutive league matches.

    In other Premier League action on Saturday, Liverpool secured a late 3-1 victory against Wolves, and Tottenham came from behind to defeat Premier League returnees Sheffield United 2-1.

    Champions Manchester City also rallied from a goal down to beat West Ham 3-1 to maintain their winning streak in the Premier League.

  • Morocco 2024: Nnadozie, Oshoala, Ajibade, 21 Others To Face Sao Tome & Principe

    Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade and forward Asisat Oshoala are among 24 players invited to the Super Falcons’ camp for next week’s 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations first round, first leg qualifying match against Sao Tome and Principe.

    Also on the roster are captain Onome Ebi, defenders Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie and Rofiat Imuran, midfielders Rasheedat Ajibade and Toni Payne, and forwards Ifeoma Onumonu, Vivian Ikechukwu and Gift Monday.

    Nine-time African champions Nigeria will host the Sao Tome and Principe girls at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Friday, 22nd September, with the return leg scheduled for Tuesday, 26th September.

    The winner of this fixture will be eligible to confront the winner of another first round fixture between Cape Verde and Liberia, at the second-round stage slated for the period 27th November – 5th December.

    Morocco, which hosted last year’s edition of the continental showpiece, will again host next year’s spectacle.

    ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

    Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)

    Defenders: Onome Ebi (Naija Ratels); Akudo Ogbonna (Remo Stars Ladies); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)  

    Midfielders: Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (AS Saint Etienne, France)  

    Forwards: Flourish Sebastine (Bayelsa Queens); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Vivian Ikechukwu (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Chiamaka Okuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens)  

  • AFCON: Minister Decries Exclusion Of Nigerian Referees

    AFCON: Minister Decries Exclusion Of Nigerian Referees

    The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, has expressed displeasure over the non-inclusion of Nigerian referees amongst match officials listed for the 2023 AFCON slated for Cote D’Ivoire in January.

    Enoh stated this on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to the list of match officials released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of the tournament scheduled for January, 2024.

    He said given Nigeria’s football pedigree and population the country should not be in such a predicament that is now becoming a trend.

    The minister promised to hold engagements with relevant stakeholders such as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), among others, with a view to reversing the trend.

    “At the last AFCON (2021), Nigeria only had one assistant referee listed amongst the match officials. Two years prior, we didn’t have any centre referee too.

    “Going in to the next AFCON (2023), we still won’t have any Nigerian official and I am going to interrogate this matter.

    “We will have engagements with the NFF, the Referees’ Association, the League Board, because we need to get to the bottom of this,” he said.

    Enoh noted that without prejudice to the outcome, the development calls for a reflection of the institutional setting within which sports is being administered in the country.

    He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that sports across all facets thrives in the country, for Nigeria to stand tall in the comity of nations.

    CAF on Tuesday unveiled 85 referees, comprising of centre referees, assistant referees, VARs, technical instructors, for the 2023 AFCON, without any Nigerian official included.

    Egypt and Algeria, both in North Africa, have three names listed in the centre referees list, followed by Morocco, Mauritania, and Mauritius, each with two. Other nations on the list include Gabon, Ghana, Benin, Congo, Somalia and others.

    The assistant referees list includes two representatives from each of Morocco, Kenya, Cote D’Ivoire, Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa, as well as lesser-known nations like Comoros, Djibouti, Burkina Faso, and Sao Tome and Principe.

    There are four VAR referees chosen from Mauritius, South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt. The following nations were chosen for the technical instructors and physical trainers: Zimbabwe, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Morocco, and Djibouti.

    The 2023 AFCON finals, which are scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, will feature 24 nations vying for the championship, including Nigeria’s Super Eagles. 

  • FIFA 2023 Puskás Awards: Osimhen, Haaland, De Bruyne Headline Nominees

    FIFA 2023 Puskás Awards: Osimhen, Haaland, De Bruyne Headline Nominees

    FIFA 2023 Puskás Awards: Osimhen, Haaland, De Bruyne Headline Nominees

    In the much-anticipated lead-up to the 2023 FIFA Best Men’s Footballer awards, several football stars, including Victor Osimhen from Nigeria, Kevin De Bruyne from Belgium, and Erling Haaland from Norway, have emerged as notable nominees.

    Less than a month following the thrilling conclusion of the ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup, the nominees for the eighth edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards have been unveiled. A panel of football experts meticulously reviewed extensive lists compiled by FIFA, taking into account each candidate’s achievements during the award eligibility period. Now, the voting process is open across various categories, with the international jury comprising national team captains, coaches, journalists, and fans from around the globe.

    The exceptional performances at the record-breaking FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand are prominently featured among The Best FIFA Women’s Player nominees. The list includes Aitana Bonmatí, the Adidas Golden Ball winner, who leads a quartet of Spanish talents. Additionally, there are four players from the tournament runners-up, England, and a trio of Matildas, who came close to reaching the final on their home soil.

    Notably, half of the candidates for The Best FIFA Men’s Player were part of Manchester City’s treble-winning squad during the 2022-23 season. Coach Pep Guardiola is also nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, standing alongside four of his coaching peers. Meanwhile, the 2021 and 2022 winners of The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman, respectively, are among the five nominees in their category.

    In the realm of goalkeeping, nominations for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper are dominated by custodians who excelled in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in July and August. This list includes Adidas Golden Glove winner Mary Earps and gold medalist Catalina Coll. On the men’s side, the five nominees hail from three different continents.

    The highly anticipated FIFA Puskás Award is expected to generate numerous votes, as it recognizes the player who has scored the most aesthetically significant goal, regardless of championship, gender, or nationality. The goal must be scored without the result of luck or a mistake and in support of fair play. The nominees for this award will be announced on September 21.

    Furthermore, the FIFA Fan Award nominees represent a diverse blend of fandom and special achievements. Fran Hurndall’s remarkable feat of dribbling a football over 1000 kilometers for 32 days to raise money for charity is one highlight. Another heartwarming story features a fan of Club Atlético Colón de Santa Fe, captured on camera showcasing unwavering club loyalty as he cradled his baby son in the stands. Additionally, Miguel Ángel, a young fan of Colombian club Millonarios, had his final wish fulfilled when he met his heroes before passing away.

    The winners of The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper will be selected by an international jury composed of current coaches and captains of all women’s national teams, specialist journalists, and registered fans from around the world on FIFA.com. Similarly, The Best FIFA Men’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, and The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper will also be determined by an international jury following the same criteria.

    Here are the nominees for The Best FIFA Women’s Player and The Best FIFA Men’s Player:

    The Best FIFA Women’s Player Nominees:

    • Aitana Bonmatí (Spain / FC Barcelona)
    • Linda Caicedo (Colombia / Real Madrid CF)
    • Rachel Daly (England / Aston Villa Ladies FC)
    • Kadidiatou Diani (France / Olympique Lyonnais / Paris Saint-Germain prior to Aug 2023)
    • Caitlin Foord (Australia / Arsenal WFC)
    • Mary Fowler (Australia / Manchester City WFC)
    • Alex Greenwood (England / Manchester City WFC)
    • Jennifer Hermoso (Spain / CF Pachuca Femenil)
    • Lindsey Horan (USA / Olympique Lyonnais)
    • Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden / Arsenal WFC / Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) prior to June 2023)
    • Lauren James (England / Chelsea FC)
    • Sam Kerr (Australia / Chelsea FC)
    • Mapi León (Spain / FC Barcelona)
    • Hinata Miyazawa (Japan / Mynavi Sendai)
    • Salma Paralluelo (Spain / FC Barcelona)
    • Keira Walsh (England / FC Barcelona).

    The Best FIFA Men’s Player Nominees:

    • Julián Álvarez (Argentina / Manchester City FC)
    • Marcelo Brozović (Croatia / FC Internazionale Milano / Al Nassr FC)
    • Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC)
    • İlkay Gündoğan (Germany / Manchester City FC / FC Barcelona)
    • Erling Haaland (Norway / Manchester City FC)
    • Rodrigo (Rodri) Hernández Cascante (Spain / Manchester City FC)
    • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia / SSC Napoli)
    • Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain)
    • Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain / Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami)
    • Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / SSC Napoli)
    • Declan Rice (England / West Ham United FC / Arsenal FC)
    • Bernardo Silva (Portugal / Manchester City FC).