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Tag: WAFCON

  • Sports minister hails Super Falcons WAFCON qualification

    Sports minister hails Super Falcons WAFCON qualification

    The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh has hailed the Super Falcons on their successful qualification for the 2024 African Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) slated for Morocco.

    The minister said the team displayed an impressive level of determination and teamwork, securing vital victories during the qualifiers to solidify their place in the prestigious WAFCON.

    He lauded the Super Falcons for their remarkable effort in showcasing the nation’s prowess on the continental stage.

    “The qualification of our Super Falcons for the African Women’s Cup of Nations is a testament to the dedication and talent of our exceptional players.

    “Their outstanding performance reflects Nigeria’s rich sporting heritage and unwavering commitment to excellence,” he said.

    Enoh emphasized the significance of women’s football in Nigeria, highlighting the pivotal role played by the Super Falcons in inspiring young athletes and fostering a culture of inclusivity and sporting prowess across the nation.

    “Through their hard work and commitment, the Super Falcons have not only secured a place in this prestigious tournament but have also inspired a new generation of aspiring female footballers.

    “Their success resonates beyond the field, serving as a beacon of hope and empowerment for young women in our country,” he added.

    The minister reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to supporting the team and other national teams.

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria, nine-time champions on Tuesday defeated their host 2-1 for a 7-1 aggregate win in the final round of the qualification series.

  • Football enthusiasts hail Super Falcons’ 5-0 win over Cape Verde

    Football enthusiasts hail Super Falcons’ 5-0 win over Cape Verde

    Football enthusiasts in Enugu on Thursday hailed Super Falcons for defeating Cape Verde 5-0 in the first leg of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

    Uchenna Kanu and Esther Okoronkwo scored two goals each and Gift Monday completed the rout at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

    Some football enthusiasts who spoke after the match said the team was well selected and was full of energy and zeal.

    Okey Nnamani, Coal City Babes FC coach, said results like the 5-0 against Cape Verde was what football lovers had been expecting from the national teams.

    “A result like this is what we have been expecting for a long time.

    “Home grown players deserve more chances looking at the performance of the home based players in the match.

    “We need hungry players like the home based players who always want to give thier all in order to secure greener pastures outside the country,” said Nnamani.

    He added that the hard work of the female coaches at the grassroots had started yielding result, especially looking back at the performance of the Female National team at he last female world cup.

    Director Dynamos FC of Enugu, Godwin Onwukwe, said the performance of the players sent a clear massage that the country’s female team was coming back to its golden days.

    “Our team performed wonderfully and the beauty of it all was the score line in which three home based players gave the visitors food for thought with goals.

    “There is a wide gap between the development of the female football in the country compared to male football, and that showed in the result of today’s match.

    “Super Falcons showed the transformation in grassroots female football in Nigeria and that brings to light the great work by our female football handlers in the country,” Onwukwe said.

    A player, Chidera Pius, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team, saying that the score line was respectful considering the pedigree of Nigerian team.

    “What interests me most was the clean sheet in a match where home based players were given opportunity to play,” he said.

    Pius urged Super Falcons and the coaches not to relax as the job was half done, with the second leg still to come in Cape Verde.

    Nigeria walked over São Tomé e Príncipe in the first round, while Cape Verde claimed an impressive 6-3 aggregate win over Liberia to set up the clash with the Falcons.

  • Super Falcons defender, Glory Ogbonna joins Turkish Club

    Super Falcons defender, Glory Ogbonna joins Turkish Club

    Glory Ogbonna, an ace defender of the Super Falcons has signed a one year contract with the Turkish women league champions, ALG Spor Kulubu.

    Ogbonna disclosed this in a telephone interview on Thursday in Calabar, saying that the contract signed on Wednesday, would see her play the women version of the champions league with the club this season.

    The former Edo Queens player said that the desire to play in the champions league was what motivated her to sign for the Turkish champions.

    Ogbonna said she turned down offer to renew her contract with her last club, Santa Teresa in Spain and other offers before her decision to put pen on paper for the Turkish side.

    “I have always been desirous to play in the champions league as such, I couldn’t resist the offer from ALG after rejecting several others across Europe.

    “I want to make history with this club and I am happy to be here. I am feeling at home already with the warm reception I got when I came in.

    “Santa Teresa was good for me but I needed a fresh start so, I had to reject their offer,“he said.

    The defender featured for the Super Falcons in the just concluded Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

    ALG Spor Kulűbű based in Gaziantep, South Eastern Turkey, was founded in 1998 with Batur stadium as their home ground.

  • Super Falcons slip by 7 spots in latest FIFA ranking

    Super Falcons slip by 7 spots in latest FIFA ranking

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria have dropped by seven spots in the July FIFA Ranking, to be placed 46th, after ending 4th at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

    In the ranking table published on the website of the world football governing body on Friday, Nigeria garnered 1535.09 points in the month under review and lost 69.33 points, which is the biggest decline in terms of points.

    Recall that the former African champions surprisingly went down 1-0 to the She-polopolo of Zambia in the match for the third place match of 2022 WAFCON.

    At the continental level, the drop in spot however did not displace the Falcons as the 1st placed team in Africa with the current WAFCON winner, South Africa placed 2nd.

    Cameroon, Ghana and Ivory Coast are the 3rd, 4th and 5th placed teams, respectively.

    South Africa (54th, plus 4) moved up four places on the back of their title triumph at the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

    Semi-finalists at that tournament, Zambia (80th, plus 23) are this edition’s most-improved side after surging 23 places.

    At the global scene, July 2022 was a busy month for women’s football, with five major tournaments taking place across the globe.

    In addition to the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, continental championships were held in Africa, South America, North America and Oceania, all serving as qualifying events for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.

    Since 17 June 2022, when the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking was last published, no fewer than 221 matches have been played, generating considerable movement in the standings.

    And while USA (1st), recent winners of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, remain the team to catch, the Stars and Stripes have a new pursuer in the shape of Germany (2nd, plus 3).

    The EURO 2022 runners-up move ahead of Sweden (3rd, minus 1), whose own European title ambitions came to an end in the semi-finals.

    Freshly crowned continental champions, England (4th, plus 4) moved up four places ahead of France (5th, minus 2).

    Drops for the Netherlands (6th, minus 2), Canada (7th, minus 1), and Spain (8th, minus 1) are the other significant changes in this edition’s Top 10.

    Another notable improver in this edition is Jamaica, who achieved their highest-ever placing (42nd, plus 9), following their third-place at the Concacaf Championship.

    Also enjoying all-time highs are Iceland (14th, plus 3), the Republic of Ireland (26th, plus 1), Portugal (27th, plus 3) and Zambia.

    Four new teams have joined the Ranking since June 2022 namely Cambodia (120th), Turkmenistan (137th) Timor-Leste (152nd) and Guinea-Bissau (169th), giving the August 2022 edition a record-breaking 185 FIFA member associations.

  • What Ashleigh Plumptre said after playing first major competition for Nigeria

    What Ashleigh Plumptre said after playing first major competition for Nigeria

    After participating in the 2022 Women African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with Nigeria’s senior women team, the Super Falcons, former England youth international, Ashleigh Plumptre has said she was proud to play in the competition.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Plumptre started for Nigeria for the first time on Friday, February 18, against the Côte d’Ivoire women’s national team at the MKO Stadium in Abuja after switching her interest to represent Nigeria.

    Born in Leicester, England on May 8, 1998, to English parents, Plumptre traces her Nigerian roots to her grandfather, a Yoruba man. She had played for England’s U-15, U-17, U-19, and U-23 teams but publicly declared her interest in playing for Nigeria in 2021.

    The 2022 WAFCON is the first major competition Plumptre will play for Nigeria, an experience she has said there were lessons learnt.

    “Proud to have batted alongside a resilient and determined group of women for 5 weeks at my first senior major tournament. Thank you for the lessons learnt, experiences had and the opportunity to represent way more than just myself. Morocco, thank you,” she tweeted after the 2022 WAFCON.

  • NFF congratulates Ajibade, Mimi Calvin-Onwuka on WAFCON feats

    NFF congratulates Ajibade, Mimi Calvin-Onwuka on WAFCON feats

    The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated Super Falcons’ forward Rasheedat Ajibade for emerging as joint top-scorer of the just-ended 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, where the Super Falcons earned a ticket to the FIFA World Cup finals even as the team failed to realize its ambition of a 10th triumph.

    NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said: “We rejoice with Rahseedat Ajibade for her emergence as joint top-scorer of the tournament and we implore her to continue to show even more prolificity and commitment in the jerseys of club and country. Her three goals surely helped the Super Falcons to win a World Cup ticket. Our team would certainly have been in the Final if not for the incident that led to her expulsion in the semi final match against the host nation.

    “She probably would have won the award outright if she finished the game and played one more match.”

    Ajibade was ejected after 70 minutes of the semi final against Morocco at the Complexe Prince Moulay Abdellah, with Nigeria already one woman down, and the Falcons played the next 50 minutes (of regulation and extra time) with only nine players, losing in the ensuing penalty shoot-out.

    In the third-place match against Zambia on Friday, a fierce shot by Evarine Suzeni Katongo in the 28th minute struck the upright and bounced on the back of hardworking goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for the only goal of the match, with the Falcons failing to convert any of a slew of chances they created.

    Sanusi also congratulated Mimisen Calvin-Onwuka, who played the role of Assistant Referee 1 in the Final match between Morocco and South Africa on Saturday, saying her stellar performance alongside referee Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda did not go unnoticed by the global football community. He urged her to continue to develop herself with available top-level courses and programmes in order to continue her rise to global reckoning.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets have continued their preparations for next month’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals scheduled for Costa Rica. The girls, who have been training in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja will depart for a one-week training tour in Barranquilla, Colombia, from where the delegation will fly into San Jose for the finals slated for 10th – 28th August.

  • 2022 WAFCON: South Africa win their first-ever WAFCON title

    2022 WAFCON: South Africa win their first-ever WAFCON title

    South Africa’s Banyana Banyana on Saturday defeated hosts Atlas Lionesses of Morocco 2-1 in the final match of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat.

    The win helped them to their first title success in the tournament’s history, after Hildah Magaia scored twice within eight minutes in the second half after the hour mark.

    This ended a run of five finals without success for Banyana Banyana, who completed this tournament with a 100 per cent record.

    This was after they secured qualification to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.

    Magaia tapped in an excellent cutback from Jermaine Seoposenwe, who ran onto a long ball out of defence.

    It helped her to create the opening goal as she held off the defence to provide an expert pass in the 63rd minute.

    It took the sting out of a frenzied atmosphere created by a sell-out crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium.

    This was the venue where only weeks earlier South Africa’s men had lost to Morocco in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

    Magaia then doubled the lead in the 71st minute with another close finish, this time from a cross out wide from Karabo Dhlamini which Morocco’s defence failed to cut out.

    But a lapse in concentration saw South Africa lose possession.

    It offered Morocco hope of a comeback as Rosella Ayane pulled one back in the 80th minute after being set up by Fatima Tagnaout.

    This meant an anxious last 10 minutes for Desiree Ellis’ team —- plus another nine minutes of referee’s time added on —- before they could get their hands on the trophy.

    The game started with a high tempo, fueled by the large crowd who greeted every Moroccan touch with a cheer and Banyana move with a chorus of whistles.

    After 11 minutes, there was a muted shout for a penalty kick, but while Tagnaout’s challenge on Magaia in her own penalty area was risky, it proved expertly timed.

    Both sides pressed high to allow little space for chances and, as a result, the first 30 minutes went by without any goalscoring opportunity.

    South Africa had a chance with a long-range free-kick in the 32nd minute which  Nomvula Kgoale hit onto the roof of the net.

    Three minutes later Seoposenwe played through an inch-perfect pass for Magaia, but her left-footed effort was blocked by a brave save by home goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi.

    Magaia had another chance with a free-kick five minutes before the break.

    But she was unable to properly bend the ball and was well off target with what looked like a good opportunity.

    Morocco had their first real effort a minute later for tall English-born striker Ayane, who tried to rag the ball from behind her and was unable to find the target.

    The second half was a close affair until Magaia opened scoring, suddenly offering the occasion a rip-roaring finale.

  • WAFCON: Zambia, Nigeria to miss key players in third-place encounter

    WAFCON: Zambia, Nigeria to miss key players in third-place encounter

    Zambia’s Copper queens will be without the services of top defender Lushomo Mweemba in today’s crunchy third-place encounter with the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the WAFCON tournament currently ongoing in Rabat, Morocco.

    Mweemba will miss the game through suspension.

    The 21-year-old, who is noted for her long-range free kicks, has been one of the key performers for Bruce Nwape’s s side in Morocco.

    However, goalkeeper Hazel Nail is back in training and is expected to be in goal against the Super Falcons.

    However, goalkeeper Hazel Nail is back in training and is expected to be in goal against the Super Falcons.

    Zambia, who are making their second appearance at the WAFCON are hoping to finish among the top three.

    Meanwhile, facts gave emerged that the Super Falcons will also miss the services and expertise of captain and defender Onome Ebi due to injury.

    Two other key players;  Halimat Ayinde and Rasheedat Ajibade who got red carded in the semi-final clash with Morocco will also not feature in the game.

    The Nigeria versus Zambia encounter is billed to take place at the Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca at 9 pm Nigerian time.

  • WAFCON: Super Falcons ignore training, protest unpaid wages

    WAFCON: Super Falcons ignore training, protest unpaid wages

    Facts have emerged that the Super Falcons of Nigeria refused to train on Thursday as they embarked on a protest over unpaid allowances and match bonuses before and during 2022 WAFCON.

    Randy Waldrum’s side is also yet to receive their bonuses at the ongoing 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco.

    The team put the loss to Morocco behind them as they were seen swimming and having fun at their hotel in Casablanca, Morocco the venue of their third place match against the Zambia senior female national team.

    The encounter will take place at Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca.

    Recall that the Super Falcons have staged a protest of this magnitude in times past.

    The players protested over unpaid bonuses after their exit from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

    They refused to leave their hotel demanding that their unpaid bonuses from 2016 be settled.

    The Super Falcon’s hope of winning the 10th WAFCON was dashed when they lost to Morocco by 5-4 on Penalties to book a place with the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the third place.

    However, Nigeria has already qualified for the Women FIFA WorldCup billed to hold in Australia in 2023.

  • South Africa vs Zambia: Ethiopian Referee deletes social media account, blames VAR for poor call

    South Africa vs Zambia: Ethiopian Referee deletes social media account, blames VAR for poor call

    Ethiopian referee Lydia Tafessa Abebe who was in charge of  first WAFCON semifinal match between Zambia and South Africa has deactivated all her social media accounts.

    The Ethiopian has been showered with unpalatable messages by Zambians who feel her decision to award South Africa a penalty in the last minute was unfair and bias.

    However , Ethiopian journalist Hassan Mahi has told African football greats that the referee has deactivated her social media  accounts and agreed that the decision is questionable but blamed the video assistant referees for calling her to review the incident as they made her feel compelled to give South Africa a penalty.

    Recall that South Africa progressed to the Final of the 2022 WAFCON after beating Zambia 1-0 through a questionable penalty.