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Tag: Paris 2024

  • Paris 2024: How Super Falcons drew 0-0 with Indomitable Lionesses in Douala

    Paris 2024: How Super Falcons drew 0-0 with Indomitable Lionesses in Douala

    Heavyweights Nigeria and Cameroon fought to a 0-0 draw in their 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament third round, first leg encounter in Douala on Friday.

     

    The nine-time champions of Africa took the pitch with their usual dash and gloss and forced consecutive throw-ins. Yet, the game would become a ding-dong as time wore on, and in the 27th minute, midfielder Toni Payne wasted a good opportunity to put Nigeria ahead.

     

    Twelve minutes later, the Indomitable Lionesses caught sight of goal, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, one of the world’s safest pair of hands at the moment, had things covered.

     

    In the second half, the Lionesses stepped up their game as they were urged on by the home crowd at the Stade de la Reunification Douala. Yet, it was Nigeria that had the ball in the net five minutes into the second half, only for Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabbada to rule Jennifer Echegini off-side.

     

    In another match in the penultimate round of the African qualifying series, reigning continental champions South Africa trounced Tanzania’s senior girls 3-0 in Dar es Salaam, with goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe, captain Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia. The winner on aggregate of the Nigeria/Cameroon fixture will most likely have to duel with the African champions for a place in Paris.

     

    Both the Super Falcons and the Indomitable Lionesses clash in the second leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Monday evening.  

  • Paris 2024: Super Falcons trounce Ethiopia 4-0, progress to next round

    Paris 2024: Super Falcons trounce Ethiopia 4-0, progress to next round

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola stadium defeated the Lucy of Ethiopia  4-0 courtesy of goals from Asisat Oshoala ,Uchenna Kanu, Rasheedat Ajibade.

    The West African side dominated the 2024 Olympic Games second round, second leg contest but fought hard to break down the visitors in the first half.

    In the 45th minute of the encounter, Super Falcons winger, Uchenna opened scoring for the Nigerian ladies.

    Upon resumption of second half, Oshoala dribbled past her marker to set up Rasheedat Ajibade for Nigeria’s second five minutes after the break.

    Oshoala got her name on the scoresheet on 68 minutes after she was teed up by Kanu.

    Ajibade netted her second of the game four minutes later with Oshoala providing the assist again.

    To qualify for the olympics in 2024, the super Falcons would have to scale the last hurdle in a two legged encounter with either Cameroon or Uganda.

     

     

  • Paris 2024 Qualifiers: How Super Falcons drew 1-1 with Ethiopia

    Paris 2024 Qualifiers: How Super Falcons drew 1-1 with Ethiopia

    Nigeria and Ethiopia’s senior girls put up a hard-fought battle in Addis Ababa on Wednesday afternoon with the game ending 1-1 to set up an interesting return leg in Abuja on Tuesday next week.

     

    Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s scorching shot from the edge of the box, six minutes after the restart, restored parity at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, after the Ethiopian girls had surprisingly taken the lead in the 6th minute of play as Birkie Amare made hay from a corner kick.

     

    With Asisat Oshoala in the top-striking position, Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday operated from the wings, with Michelle Alozie switched to left back to allow Nicole Payne take charge at right back. Oluwatosin Demehin and Akudo Ogbonna took control at the centre of the defence, and with Christy Ucheibe and Halimatu Ayinde unavailable, Peace Efih joined Toni Payne and Ajibade to string things together in the middle.

     

    Both teams found it hard to create many opportunities in a tight first period, though Asisat Oshoala should have done better with an opportunity from Payne’s cross halfway into the period.

     

    After Ajibade restored parity, the Falcons took full control, and substitute Ifeoma Onumonu should have put Nigeria in the lead in the 64th minute, only to be denied as she cocked the trigger.

     

    Payne and Onumonu combined to create a gilt-edged opportunity in the 79th minute, but once more Oshoala failed to make hay.

     

    The Falcons thought they had won it when Onumonu towered above all to head into the net on the dot of time. However, Algerian referee Lamia Atman spotted foul play in the build-up.

     

    Both teams will clash again at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, with the winner on aggregate to proceed to the third round, where the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture awaits.

  • Paris 2024: Nnadozie, Ajibade, Oshoala, 16 others set for official training in Addis Ababa

    Paris 2024: Nnadozie, Ajibade, Oshoala, 16 others set for official training in Addis Ababa

    In-form, France-based goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Oluwatosin Demehin, midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade and forward Asisat Oshoala are among 19 players of the Super Falcons set for Tuesday afternoon’s official training session of their 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament second round, first leg clash with Ethiopia’s ‘Lucy’ in Addis Ababa.

     

    Also set for the session at the Abebe Bekila Stadium in the heart of Ethiopia’s capital are goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi and Monle Oyono, defenders Rofiat Imuran, Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne, Akudo Ogbonna, Jumoke Alani and Comfort Folorunsho, as well as midfielders Esther Onyenezide, Toni Payne and Peace Efih, and forwards Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday, Omorinsola Babajide and Opeyemi Ajakaye.

     

    Only US-based forward Ifeoma Onumonu was being expected in Addis Ababa on Tuesday night.

     

    Wednesday’s encounter at the Abebe Bekila Stadium will kick off at 3.30pm Ethiopia time (1.30pm Nigeria time).

     

    The return leg has been scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 31st October 2023, with the winner on aggregate to square up to the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture for a place in the final round of the qualification series.

     

    Next year’s Olympic Games will hold 26th July – 11th August in Paris and a few other places in France.    

     

  • Paris 2024: Nnadozie, Ohale, Oshoala, 19 others to face Ethiopia

    Paris 2024: Nnadozie, Ohale, Oshoala, 19 others to face Ethiopia

    Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale and forward Asisat Oshoala headline a list of 22 players invited to the Super Falcons’ camp for this month’s Paris 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament qualification fixture against the Senior Women National Team of Ethiopia.

     

    Ethiopia will host the first leg of the second-round fixture in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, 25th October with the second leg in Nigeria on Tuesday, 31st October. Ethiopia eliminated Chad in the first round of the series as nine-time African champions Nigeria drew a bye.

     

    The Super Falcons, who finished 8th at the 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand in the summer, also drew a bye to the third round of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualification series, after Sao Tome and Principe’s senior girls scratched the tie. The Falcons will be up against their counterparts from Cape Verde in the third round of that series at the end of November.

     

    Paris, France will host next year’s Women Olympic Football Tournament. The Super Falcons played at the Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

     

    ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

     

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

     

    Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico); 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: Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengard FC, Sweden); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (AS Saint Etienne, France)  

     

    Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday ((Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens)   

  • Paris 2024: Nigeria’s D’Tigers miss out of Olympics after loss to Mali

    Paris 2024: Nigeria’s D’Tigers miss out of Olympics after loss to Mali

    Nigeria’s  male senior basketball team, D’Tigers will not feature at next year’s Paris Olympics after losing to Mali, in their second and final Group A game at the 2024 FIBA men’s pre-qualifying Olympic event on Tuesday.

    Recall that D’Tigers  lost its first game of the series against Senegal before losing to Mali  77 – 68  at  the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos on Tuesday.

    The D’Tigers recorded back to back losses for the first time in many years.

    The result means Senegal and Mali have qualified for the semi-finals of the six-team competition.

    This is the first time since the 2008 Beijing Olympics that D’Tigers will fail to qualify for the games.

    Senegal will now battle Mali on Thursday for who will finish winner in Group A.

    The team that will emerge champions at the pre-qualifying Olympic tournament will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

  • U-23 AFCON: Host Morocco defeat Egypt 2-1 to emerge champions

    U-23 AFCON: Host Morocco defeat Egypt 2-1 to emerge champions

    Host Morocco on Saturday defeated defending Champions Egypt to win the 2023 U-23 AFCON for the first time in their history.

    The North African country became only the fourth nation to lift the trophy since the football tournament was launched in 2011.

    Recall that Morocco hosted the inaugural tournament and finished runners-up losing to Gabon 2-1 in Marrakech.

    Egypt drew the first blood courtesy of a Mahmoud Saber Abdelmohsen Hassan goal 10 minutes into the match giving his team the lead.

    The defending champions were soon reduced to 10 men when Hassan got the marching orders, few minutes after scoring the first goal of the encounter.

    Egypt did well to hold on to their advantage despite being a man down, but the home equalized in the 37th minute when Yanis Begraoui found the back of the net. The stalemate held until the end of regulation time, sending the match into extra time.

    Moroccan midfielder Oussama Targhalline found the breakthrough scoring the deciding goal from a free kick with the hosts hoisting the trophy.

    Three teams have qualified to represent Africa as the   quadrennial football showpiece also served as the Olympic qualifier.

    Morocco, Egypt and Mali will represent the continent at next year showpiece in Paris.

    Mali finished in 3rd position after defeating  Guinea 4-3 in a penalty shootout to clinch the bronze medal.

    However, fourth placed Guinea will go through play-offs with another country in Asia for a place for Africa’s last representative at the football competition of the Olympic games in 2024.

     

     

     

  • U-23 AFCON: Morocco, Guinea progress to semi-final, Ghana, Congo crash out

    U-23 AFCON: Morocco, Guinea progress to semi-final, Ghana, Congo crash out

    Host Morocco have scaled through to the next round of the U23 AFCON after defeating Congo 1-0 on Friday at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

    Morocco’s left-winger Younes Taha netted the first goal, giving his team a head start in the match.

    U-23 Atlas Lions Led Group A with a total of six points. In their U23 AFCON campaign opener, the Moroccan team secured a thrilling last-minute 2-1 victory against Guinea on Saturday, showcasing their resilience.

    They followed it up with a dominant display of their attacking prowess in the second match, overwhelming Ghana with a convincing 5-1 triumph on Tuesday.

    While the Atlas Lions found themselves trailing at halftime, they turned the tide in the second half by capitalizing on two penalty kicks, expertly converted by FC Barcelona player Abde Ezzalzouli.

    Ezzalzouli, who recently made waves with the senior national team in the World Cup as well, proved instrumental in the team’s success. Currently, the Atlas Lions are on an impressive five-game winning streak and have their sights set firmly on reaching the knockout phase.

    Ghana’s Black Meteors have crashed out of the 2023 U-23 AFCON in Morocco after a 1-1 draw in their final Group A game against Guinea on Friday night.

    The result means the Black Meteors will not be at next year’s Paris Olympic Games.

    The Black Meteors went into the game on the back of a 5-1 loss to hosts Morocco and needed a win to progress to the semi-finals.

    Morocco, on nine points, topped the group, Guinea claimed second place with four points and edged third-placed Black Meteors on better goal difference.

    The first three teams of the tournament will represent Africa at next year’s Olympic game holding in Paris, France.

     

  • Paris 2024 Qualifiers: NFF petitions CAF, alleges Guinea fielded an ineligible player against Nigeria

    Paris 2024 Qualifiers: NFF petitions CAF, alleges Guinea fielded an ineligible player against Nigeria

    Following Olympic Eagles exit of the Paris 2024 olympic  qualifiers, the Nigeria Football Federation has written a petition to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) alleging Guinea of fielding an over-age player in their 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles last month.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Guinea beat Nigeria to the U-23 AFCON ticket following a 2-0 aggregate win.

    However, Fode Camara, who featured against the Olympic Eagles has been entangled in age discrepancies.

    The NFF has  got concrete evidence the player is above the approved age and expects CAF to rule in Nigeria’s favour.

    Guinea will be disqualified from the competition while the Olympic Eagles will be handed their spot if the NFF can prove their case before CAF.

    The 2023 U-23 AFCON will be hosted by Morocco in November.

    It will also serve as the qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

    Four teams will qualify to represent Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

  • Paris 2024 Race: U23 Head Coach, Yusuf, calls up 16 overseas-based players

    Paris 2024 Race: U23 Head Coach, Yusuf, calls up 16 overseas-based players

    Head Coach Salisu Yusuf has invited 16 overseas-based players to the team’s camp in preparation for this month’s U23 AFCON final qualifying fixture against Guinea.

    The Olympic Eagles trade tackles with their Guinean counterparts in a first leg encounter scheduled for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja from 4pm on Wednesday, 22nd March, with the return set for the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan from 7pm Morocco time on Tuesday, 28th March. Guinea does not have any venue approved in the country for international matches.

    Yusuf’s list of invitees is headed by team captain Success Makanjuola, whose two converted spot kicks against Tanzania earned the 1996 Olympic gold-medallists passage to this final round. There are also midfielder Abiodun Ogunniyi and Bello Babatunde, as well as Belgium-based new headline-grabber Gift Emmanuel Orban.

    As happened against the Tanzanians in Dar es Salaam and Ibadan in October last year, Makanjuola is expected to lead the charge against the Guineans in Abuja on Wednesday, perhaps alongside Orban, with Babatunde and Ogunniyi (nicknamed Omo-Jesu) pulling the strings from the middle.

    The winner on aggregate will qualify for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco later this year, at which Africa’s flag bearers at next year’s Men’s Olympic Football Tournament will emerge.

    Guinea’s delegation for the encounter in Abuja is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday evening.

    ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

     

    Success Makanjuola (FK Liepaja, Latvia); Bello Babatunde (Future FC, Egypt); Isaiah Ejeh (Mjallby Alf, Sweden); Abiodun Ogunniyi (FK Auda, Latvia); Monsuru Opeyemi Abdullahi (FC Vizela, Portugal); Omole Akinyinka Olaoluwakitan (Athletic Newham, UK); Owen Tega Udoh (UD San Sebastian Reyes, Spain); Azeez Temitope Yusuf (Mjallby Alf, Sweden); Charles Uba (Lillestrom FC, Norway); Simon Omon (Clube Operation Desportivo, Portugal); Ihekuna Maximillian Ugochukwu (FC Sfintul Gheorghe Suruceni, Moldova); Chukwudi Goodluck Igbokwe (KAA Gent, Belgium); Abass Saidi (Zagalata FC, Azerbaijan); Ibrahim Buhari (IF Elfsborg, Sweden); Gift Emmanuel Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Samuel Amadi (Eramica Cleopatra, Egypt)