Morocco 2024: Madugu Invites Ajibade, Oshoala, 19 Other Falcons For Cape Verde

Coach Justin Madugu has called 21 players to the Super Falcons’ camp ahead of next week’s 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying round, first leg clash with the Senior Women National Team of Cape Verde. The nine-time African champions will host the Cape Verdians at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November, before both teams trade tackles in a return leg in Praia on Tuesday, 5th December. To be eligible for this final round, the Super Falcons accomplished a commanding 5-1 aggregate win over their counterparts from Ethiopia, with the first leg in Addis Ababa ending 1-1 before a 4-0 lashing of the ‘Lucy’ in Abuja. All invited players have been advised to report to the team’s camp in Abuja between 25th and 27th November. The Falcons have never failed to reach the Women Africa Cup of Nations since the competition was launched as the African Women Championship in Nigeria in 1998, and have swept nine out of 12 titles that have been contested so far. ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS: Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Christiana Obia (Edo Queens) Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico); Glory Edet (FCF TP Mazembe, DR Congo); Rihanat Kasali (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Akudo Ogbonna (Remo Stars Ladies); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)  Midfielders: Christy Ucheibe (SC Benfica, Portugal); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA)  Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain).

Basketball: Rivers Hoopers Hold Off Late Batons Surge To Claim 74-62 Victory

Four-time champions of the Nigeria Premier League, Rivers Hoopers saw off a late surge to defeat Police Batons 74-62 in their first game of the 2023 NBBF Premier League in Asaba on Tuesday. Mustapha Oyebanji led other Hoopers with 22 points including six 3-pointers, Johnson Anaiye contributed 12 points while Victor Anthony Koko and Victor Mohammed added 10 points apiece for Hoopers. Chris Wilson shot back to back buckets and a buzzer beater as the Port Harcourt based team held a 12-point lead at halftime 38-26. Hoopers struggled on the offense in the third quarter and could only manage 8 points and were outscored 8-16. Police Batons cut down the deficit to one with eight minutes left to play (48-47) in the game. Oyebanji buried a clutch three-pointer to make it a 10 point game 61-51 with just 3 minutes remaining and Hoopers ensured they ran away with the win. Hoopers guard Johnson Anaiye said they could have executed the game better but was happy they ran away with the victory. ”The game was great even though it was scrappy at the beginning but in the end it was great. We were rushing the game and it was a game we should have taken our time to execute every offense one after the other, but we rushed it and wanted to end it quickly.  I feel that is what affected us in the game.” The KingsMen play Lagos Legends in their second game on Wednesday, but Anaiye is confident they will emerge victorious. ”The first game of a tournament is always scrappy but I believe we will pick up in the next game and put in our best and follow all we have been taught. At the end of the day we will be victorious,” said Anaiye.