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Tag: Fifa

  • Super Eagles move up 14 spots on latest FIFA ranking

    Super Eagles move up 14 spots on latest FIFA ranking

    Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up, Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up by 14 spots to be placed 28th in the world in the February FIFA ranking.

    In the ranking table published on the website of the world football governing body on Thursday, the team garnered 1,522 points as against the 1,474 points garnered in December 2023.

    The upward movement further shoot up the Super Eagles as the third-placed team on the continent,  behind Morocco and Senegal who have 1663 (12th) and 1620 (17th) points.

    However, the newly-crowned African champions Cote d’Ivoire, reaped the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil by being in 39th place having moved up by 10 spots.

    AFCON second runners-up, South Africa climbed 8 spots to 58th, with Egypt (36th), Cameroon (51st) & Ghana (67th) dropping down after their early AFCON 2023 exits.

    The Angolan side who were ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), are the biggest climbers in the latest installment of the global ranking.

    In the points stakes, two-time Asian Cup winners Qatar (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown.

    Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out in the final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.

    Qatar’s rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings.

    Senegal (17th, up 3), which suffered shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire in the AFCON Round of 16, break new ground.

    Tajikistan (99th, up 7) mark their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.

    Other impressive performers are Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cabo Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).

  • How Lionel Messi won his third FIFA The Best men’s award

    How Lionel Messi won his third FIFA The Best men’s award

    MLS Inter Miami star Lionel Messi claimed his third FIFA The Best men’s award in London, United Kingdom (UK) on Monday night.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Messi brushed off challenges from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian Mbappé to win the award.

    His eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nigerian star striker Victor Osimhen were left out.

    TNG reports FIFA The Best award is decided by national team coaches and captains, as well as expert journalists and supporters across the globe.

    Messi and Haaland locked together on 48 points but the winner was decided by the number of first-choice nominations received in votes from national team captains.

    The decider ensured that the Argentine is crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2023, retaining the title he won in 2022.

    France striker Kylian Mbappé finished third with 35 points.

  • Best FIFA award: See full list of winners

    Best FIFA award: See full list of winners

    The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) held its The Best award on Monday night in London, United Kingdom (UK).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Lionel Messi claimed his third FIFA The Best men’s award at the award night.

    Messi won the FIFA The Best men’s award ahead of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian Mbappé.

    His eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nigerian star striker Victor Osimhen were left out.

    Messi’s former manager at Barcelona and City’s head coach, Pep Guardiola won FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year.

    Barcelona and Spain midfielder, Aitana Bonmatí took home The Best women’s award to add to her Ballon d’Or Féminin title.

    THE BEST FIFA AWARD FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

    Puskás Award: Guilherme Madruga (Botafogo-SP)

    FIFA Fair Play Award: Brazil senior men’s players

    FIFA Fan Award: Hugo Miguel Iñiguez

    Men’s Coach of the Year: Pep Guardiola

    Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Éderson (Man City)

    Men’s World XI:

    Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

    Defence: John Stones (Man City), Kyle Walker (Man City), Rúben Dias (Man City)

    Midfield: Bernardo Silva (Man City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)

    Forwards: Erling Haaland (Man City), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

    Women’s Coach of the Year: Sarina Wiegman

    Goalkeeper of the Year: Mary Earps (Man United)

    Women’s World XI:

    Goalkeeper: Earps (Man United)

    Defence: Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Alex Greenwood (Man City)

    Midfield: Keira Walsh (Man City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Lauren James (Chelsea), Ella Toone (Man United), Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)

    Attack: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

  • BREAKING: Ronaldo left out as FIFA names world’s best 11 footballers

    BREAKING: Ronaldo left out as FIFA names world’s best 11 footballers

    Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out in the world best 11 footballers for 2023 announced by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on Monday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports FIFA in London, United Kingdom (UK), announced the world best 11 for 2023 to include Ronaldo’s eternal rival, Lionel Messi.

    Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia has seemingly moved him out of the limelight, while Messi still shines in MLS for Inter Miami.

    The 2023 FIFA men’s category of the world best 11 has treble-winners Manchester City dominating the line-up.

    John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland were all named in the team.

    Real Madrid are firmly represented with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, midfielder Jude Bellingham and winger Vinicius Jr.

    TNG reports the FIFA world best 11 line up was completed by PSG’s Kylian Mbappe.

    However, the biggest takeaway from the FIFA world best 11 is the oddity of the formation, with a 3-3-4 taking shape.

    City players make up the entire defence, with Walker, Stones and Dias all representing the backline.

    Silva and De Bruyne, alongside Bellingham form the midfield make up.

    The attack features City’s Haaland and Madrid’s Vinicius, alongside Mbappe and Messi.

  • FIFA U-20 Women: Nigeria beat Burundi 1-0

    FIFA U-20 Women: Nigeria beat Burundi 1-0

    Nigeria’s Under 20 Women’s football team, the Falconets on Sunday defeated Burundi 1-0 in the first leg of their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round fixture played in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

    Nigeria will now face Burundi in the second leg encounter at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Jan. 20, for the final leg of the qualifying series.

    The winner of the two-legged encounter would qualify as one of Africa’s four representatives at this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals scheduled to hold in Colombia, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 22.

    In the match played, Janet Akekoromowei scored from the penalty spot in added time in the first half to secure victory for the 2022 World Cup quarter-finalists.

    The Burundians ended the encounter with only 10 women following a red card shown to defender Ariella Umuarerwa for a rough tackle.

    The goal by Akekoromowei who plays for Asisat Oshoala Academy in Lagos gave Nigeria the maximum three points away from home.

    The Nigerian girls created more scoring chances but could convert them to increase the tally, as the Burundians stood their grounds not to allow in more goals.

    Nigeria has qualified for all but one edition since the competition started as FIFA U-19 Women’s Championship back in 2002 in Canada, where Nigeria crashed out in the preliminary stage.

    NAN

  • Colombia 2024: FIFA moves Nigeria, Burundi qualifying match to Dar es Salaam

    Colombia 2024: FIFA moves Nigeria, Burundi qualifying match to Dar es Salaam

    World football-governing body, FIFA has moved the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round, first leg match between Nigeria and Burundi from Bujumbura to Dar es Salaam in nearby Tanzania, as the world body has deemed the pitch in Bujumbura unfit to host the game.

     

    It has also been clarified that following the expansion of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup to a 24-team tournament (from the 16-team event that it was at the last edition in Costa Rica last year), and the granting of two more slots to Africa, the fixture between Nigeria and Burundi will be the final qualifying round, with the winner over two picks picking up a ticket to Colombia.

     

    Burundi will now host the Falconets at the Azam Stadium Complex in Dar es Salaam – the same venue where the Falconets played a 1-1 draw with their Tanzanian counterparts in the last round, before edging the Tanzanians 2-1 in Abuja to reach this stage.

     

    The Confederation of African Football has also named South African official, Nonjabulo Nonhle Ndlela as referee for the match that has been scheduled for Sunday, 14th January 2024, with her compatriots Maneo Evodia Tau and Nandipha Menze as first and second assistant referees respectively. Nteboheleng Theresia Setoko from Lesotho will be the fourth official.

     

    Angelique Tuyishime from Rwanda will be in the role of commissioner, with Fransiska Katjaimo from Namibia as referee assessor.

     

    For the return leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 20th January 2024, Tunisian official Asma Chouchane will be the referee, with her compatriots Houda Afine, Nesrine Ouertatani and Emna Ajbouni as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively. Christine Ziga from Ghana and Fadouma Dia from Senegal will serve as commissioner and referee assessor respectively.

     

    Meanwhile, all 25 players invited by Head Coach Chris Musa Danjuma for the fixture have been notified to arrive in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Wednesday, 27th December 2023 as training sessions for the first leg match commence on the following day.       

  • Club World Cup: Manchester City thrash Fluminense 4-0 to win historic trophy

    Club World Cup: Manchester City thrash Fluminense 4-0 to win historic trophy

    Premier League and European champions, Manchester City won this year’s Club world Cup after walloping Fluminense 4-0 to win the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

    City participated in the tournament for the first time in their history after clinching last season’s UEFA champions League.

    Julain Alvarez’s goal inside 40 seconds of the encounter and an own goal helped City to be in the lead early on in the encounter.

    Phil Foden made it 3-0, sliding in at the far post to turn in Alvarez’s cross after Stones’s interception high up the pitch.

    The Argentine, Alvarez then registered his second and fourth goal for city  late in the match on a glorious night for the English Champions and then  condemned the Brazilian side to second position.

    This victory means Pep Guardiola’s team has now won five trophies this calendar year, after lifting the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.

  • FIFA Rankings: Super Eagles end 2023 as 42nd best team in the world, sixth in Africa

    FIFA Rankings: Super Eagles end 2023 as 42nd best team in the world, sixth in Africa

    Nigeria have been ranked 42nd in the latest Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) released on Thursday.

    The Super Eagles also ranked 42ns in the last edition of the FIFA rankings.

    The latest ranking was published on FIFA’s website.

    Aside finishing 42nd position on the World Rankings for the year 2023, the Super Eagles have maintained their position as the sixth best in Africa.

    Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia Algeria and Egypt are the top five teams on the continent.

    The Super Eagles will be hoping to improve their position on the ranking with a good performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire next month.

  • FIFA places 11 Nigerian referees, 11 assistant referees on 2024 international lists

    FIFA places 11 Nigerian referees, 11 assistant referees on 2024 international lists

    World football-governing body, FIFA has approved a total of 30 Nigerian referees to be placed on the international lists for the year 2024, among them 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four beach soccer referees and four futsal referees.

     

    In a message conveyed to the Nigeria Football Federation, the 11 referees approved for international duty from Nigeria for next year are: Basheer Salisu, Ogabor Odey Joseph, Olufunmilayo Abigael Alaba, Nurudeen Abubakar, Abdulsalam Kasimu Abiola, Elaigwe Hannah Enekole, Akintoye Yemisi Eunice, Egba Patrick John, Madu Ndidi Patience, Mustapha Grema Mohammed and Abdullahi Abubakar.

     

    The 11 persons approved as assistant referees are: Pwadutakam Samuel, Igudia Efosa Celestine, Abibatu Iyadunni, Muhammad Yakubu, Mfon Friday Akpan, Digbori Tejiri, Usman Abdulmajeed Olaide, Igho Hope Ogenekewe, Terah Kabenda Beauty, Ahmad Mustapha Tijjani and Agbons Faith.

     

    Ukah Ndubuisi Odigomma, Musa Dung Davou, Umuago Paul Akpome and Bello Zuru Alhassan were put on the futsal soccer list, while Ogunmuyiwa Jelili, Fawole Olawale Adeolu, Olajide Olayinka and Rabiu Ahmad were listed for beach soccer.    

  • Super Eagles now world’s 42nd team in FIFA ranking

    Super Eagles now world’s 42nd team in FIFA ranking

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped by two spots in the latest FIFA ranking to place 42nd in the world.

    In the ranking table on the website of the world football governing body, on Thursday, the Eagles dropped 16.04 points to rank 1474.44 points as against 1490.48 in October.

    However, the drop did not affect the team’s placement on the continent as it still remained the 6th team on the continent behind Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt respectively.

    The drop in ranking came after the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw in their two 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches against Lesotho on Nov. 16 and Zimbabwe on Nov. 19.

    Although Argentina (1st) still lead the way ahead of France (2nd), England (3rd, up 1) are now in the trio of teams at the front of the pack, followed by Belgium (4th, up 1), who have also climbed one place.

    Although Brazil (5th, down 2) have lost ground following back-to-back defeats by Colombia and Argentina, they have clung on to their place in the top 5.

    The Netherlands (6th, up 1) and Portugal (7th, down 1) have traded places in the top 10, which is once again completed by Spain (8th), Italy (9th) and Croatia (10th).

    Uruguay (11th, up 4) have made solid progress, but they have to be content with a place just outside the top 10.

    The Comoros Islands (119th, up 9), meanwhile, enjoyed an even better month with wins against the Central African Republic and Ghana, and have two reasons to celebrate as they are now in 119th place, their highest-ever position.

    Kosovo (101st, up 4) may not have climbed as many positions as the Comorans, but the Kosovans are also now higher in the ranking than ever before.

    Guinea-Bissau (103rd, up 7), Azerbaijan (114th, up 6), Libya (120th, up 6), Malaysia (130th, up 7) and Rwanda (133rd, up 7) are the other big movers in the November ranking.

    The ranking also had the re-entry of Samoa (187th), American Samoa (188th) and Tonga (196th), who were all playing international football again following months of inactivity.

    The ranking took into consideration FIFA World Cup qualifiers that took place in African countries as well as in Asia and South America.

    The other confederations’ schedules considered included UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying matches, Concacaf Nations League 2023-24 encounters and the Pacific Games 2023.

    These matches all had a significant effect on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, including on the make-up of the podium.