Morocco 2024: Madugu Upbeat Falcons Will Soar As Cape Verde Storm Abuja
Coach Justin Madugu has expressed deep faith in his Super Falcons’ squad to excel when they clash with their Cape Verdean counterparts in a 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final round, first leg qualifier at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Thursday evening. “We are without a few regular players for various reasons but we are not here to dwell on that. The Super Falcons’ team remains the Super Falcons anytime, anyday and anywhere. We have players in camp who will do justice to the badge and get us the qualification ticket to the AFCON. “Surely, we would have wanted a couple more days for the team to train together, but the fixture is the fixture and the window is the window, and we just have to make do with what we have and get the best out of the arrangement. Everyone in camp will play their part for the Super Falcons to qualify for Morocco 2024.” A total of 20 of the 21 invited players were at the team’s camp on Tuesday morning, with only University of Pittsburgh of America’s Deborah Abiodun still expected. Nine-time champions Nigeria reached this final stage of the qualification series following the withdrawal of Sao Tome’s senior girls from a second-round fixture in September. The delegation of Cape Verde’s senior girls flew into Nigeria’s capital, Abuja on Monday morning, and the visiting team will have its official training at the mainbowl of the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Wednesday evening from 4pm. Thursday’s encounter will begin at 4pm, with Madugu most likely to hand leadership of the rearguard to Mexico-based veteran Osinachi Ohale, who was among the first players in camp, and with Captain Rasheedat Ajibade to lead a midfield and attack that could include Peace Efih, Toni Payne, Esther Onyenezide, Omorinsola Babajide, Esther Okoronkwo, Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, in the shortlist for the CAF African Player of the Year awards holding in Morocco this weekend, will be in goal. The 13th edition of Africa’s flagship women football championship will be staged in Morocco in July next year. For the encounter in Abuja on Thursday, the Confederation of African Football has picked Ghanaian official Ama Boateng-Nkansah as referee, with her compatriots Doris Darko, Alice Chakule and Barikisu Salifu as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Oumou Sy from Guinea will be commissioner while Madeleine Somda from Burkina Faso will be the referee assessor. For the return leg in Praia on Tuesday, 5th December, Liberian Sylvina Welma Garnett will be the referee with her compatriot Hannah Moses as assistant referee 1. Sierra Leoneans Precious Amara and Humu Marah will be assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively, while Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will serve as commissioner and Fadouma Dia from Senegal will be in the role of referee assessor.
AFCON Qualifier: Osimhen Nets Hat-trick As Eagles Maul Sao Tome 6-0
Ballon d’Or nominee, Victor Osimhen netted a hat-trick that took his tally to 10 in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, and also ensured Nigeria finished as group winners in the race to Cote d’Ivoire. Having drubbed their opponents 10-0 in both teams’ first encounter in the Moroccan city of Agadir in June 2022, the Eagles, who had already qualified for the finals no matter the scoreline, were in no danger on the lush turf of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. They expectedly started on the front foot, in front of a capacity crowd of 30,000 spectators, but Semi Ajayi’s firm header off a corner kick by Kelechi Iheanacho in the second minute was punched away by goalkeeper Ronaldo Silva. Silva was by far the busiest of the two goalies on the night, and had to be alert and active four minutes later as England-based forward Taiwo Awoniyi turned and struck a fierce one inside the box. He would however, have no answer when Osimhen, with seven goals in five previous qualifying matches, rose above the defence to head in from close range off a corner kick by Ademola Lookman. Awoniyi’s header missed narrowly three minutes later, but the visiting goal-tender again had to pick the ball from his net in the 27th minute when Lookman received a pass from on-field captain Wilfred Ndidi and sashayed past two defenders before tucking it past the goalie for Nigeria’s second of the evening. Seven minutes into the second half, Awoniyi had the crowd on his feet when he chested a flick by Iheanacho and blasted past Silva from close range. Everything was on a roll and Osimhen scored his ninth goal of the qualifying campaign in the 70th minute, when he won and converted a penalty kick with Silva sent the wrong way. With 10 minutes left, the goal king did his Ballon d’Or nomination no harm with a third goal after a flowing move that had substitute Samuel Chukwueze and Awoniyi contributing. There was still time for Chukwueze to score a sixth, with five minutes left, after he was picked out by fellow substitute Victor Boniface on the left side of the visitors’ defence. Osimhen deservedly won MTN’s Most Valuable Player of the Match award and pocketed the sum of N1 million naira, while Lookman was selected the Man of the Match and picked up a cheque for N1 million from Nigerian Breweries PLC. Next up for the Super Eagles is a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho’s Crocodiles also in Uyo on 17 November.
MLS: Messi inspires Inter Miami to Leagues Cup triumph
In a thrilling culmination of the League’s Cup, Inter Miami emerged victorious by triumphing over Nashville SC in a captivating final. The match, which concluded with a 1-1 draw, was eventually settled through a marathon penalty shootout that ended 10-9 in favour of Inter Miami. Adding to the intensity of the occasion was the continuation of Lionel Messi’s impressive winning streak since his arrival at the MLS side. The Argentine maestro’s impact was felt once again as he propelled his team to a seventh consecutive victory. Messi’s influence manifested early in the game, as he masterfully opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. His sensational strike, a fierce shot from a considerable distance, eluded multiple defenders and found its home in the top left corner of the net. This marked his 10th goal in the inaugural tournament. Nashville’s Fafa Picault countered for the home team in the 57th minute, equalizing the score and setting the stage for an exhilarating second half during which both teams came agonizingly close to seizing the lead in a rollercoaster-like fashion. In the climactic shootout, it was Nashville’s goalkeeper, Elliot Panicco, who missed the decisive penalty, paving the way for Inter Miami’s triumph. This victory held special significance as it secured Inter Miami, an MLS franchise established in 2020, their very first trophy. The jubilant scenes that followed were truly captivating, as Messi’s elated teammates hoisted him into the air in celebration. Meanwhile, Miami’s co-owner, David Beckham, could be seen exultantly raising his fists in a display of triumph. Reflecting on the momentous victory, Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender expressed his immense pride: “Contributing to our inaugural win in a final is an immense honor. This team’s dedication and hard work, day in and day out, culminated in this incredible outcome. The resilience and belief displayed are truly remarkable.” Callender’s standout performance earned him the title of man-of-the-match, having saved two crucial penalties during the shootout and confidently converted his own penalty. The transformation within Inter Miami’s gameplay has been palpable since Messi’s arrival, despite the team having a challenging season in the MLS. The infusion of Messi’s talents sparked an offensive surge, resulting in the squad netting an impressive 22 goals over their last seven matches. For Messi, this triumph marked his 44th trophy—an unparalleled achievement. The seven-time Ballon d’Or recipient was rightfully bestowed with the title of player of the tournament, which brings together teams from both MLS and Liga MX. Miami’s head coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, reflected on the closely contested game: “It was a closely matched encounter where either team could have clinched victory. The tie seemed just, and the eventual penalty shootout required composure, exceptional goalkeeping, and ultimately led to our victory.”
FWWC: Spain mauls Switzerland 5-1 to berth quarterfinals
An Aitana Bonmati-inspired Spain took Switzerland to the cleaners 5-1 on Saturday to secure a spot in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. This was the second time Spain hit five goals at Australia and New Zealand 2023, having defeated Zambia 5-0 in the group stage. The team’s midfield maestro and Player of the Match, Bonmati scored twice, with Alba Redondo, Laia Codina, and Jennifer Hermoso also on target in a dominant display. Spain hit the front early on when Bonmati superbly cut the ball back onto her left foot before slotting home with a clever finish. Switzerland soon equalised, though in a bizarre fashion. Spain defender Codina misplaced a pass back to goalkeeper Cata Coll, with the ball rolling into the net to the amazement of the Eden Park crowd. Jorge Vilda’s side responded defiantly to that shock blow and were back ahead. This was when Redondo – starting her first game of the tournament – expertly placed an opportunistic header beyond Swiss stopper, Gaelle Thalmann. Spain was relentless at this point and forged 3-1 ahead through the brilliant Bonmati. If her first goal was good, then this one was exceptional. With one stunning turn inside the penalty box, she dribbled three Swiss defenders and their goalkeeper, then calmly finished to double her team’s advantage. Spain put the result beyond doubt just before half-time when Codina atoned for her own goal by prodding in from close range following a goal-mouth scramble. The second half was a more competitive affair, with Switzerland substitute Meriame Terchoun’s snapshot forcing a smart save from Coll. Spain were to have the last word though, with Hermoso completing the scoring with a clinical strike. Spain will face the winner of Sunday’s tie between the Netherlands and South Africa in the quarter-final. Jorge Vilda, Spain’s coach told newsmen after the match that his team approached the game well and were very offensive which was key to their victory. “What I liked the most about the team was our competitiveness – how we went into the duels and how we won the duels. “We showed what we can do, even without being at our best level. We made history [by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time]. “We proved we are a team of 23 players and we are very happy,” he said. Ramona Bachmann, Switzerland forward expressed disappointment over the team’s defeat, admitting however that they lost to a better side. “Today it was just difficult. You could see that Spain was a class better. “In the first 20-25 minutes we had a few good attacks, but we weren’t clever playing them through to the end. “We wanted to be dangerous on the counter-attack, which worked out a few times in the first half, but not so much in the second,” she said.
AfroBasket: D’Tigress bounce off Mozambique, advance to semi-finals
Nigeria’s D’Tigress on Wednesday in Kigali, Rwanda extended their winning streak in Africa to 22 straight wins by over-running Mozambique 59-52 to advance to the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket semi-finals. The hard-earned win means the Nigerian senior women’s national basketball team will now meet hosts Rwanda in Thursday’s semifinal. Mozambique led at the break, after 18-16 and 15-13 wins in the first and second quarters, but Nigeria overcame their lethargy to eventually turn the tables around. They outscored Mozambique 18-10 in the third quarter to set the tone for claiming the win, before a close 12-9 win in the fourth and final quarter. With Nigeria trailing by four points at half-time, they had to rally and find a way to get back into the game. When the opportunity occurred, Elizabeth Balogun seized the moment to help Nigeria tie the contest at 40-40. Amy Okonkwo then gave the reigning champions a short but solid advantage, before Ifunaya Okoro scored from behind the arc to give Nigeria the lead definitely. Mozambique tried to fight back, but they met a resilient and combative Nigeria. Okonkwo chipped in 17 points, Balogun contributed 12 points, and Sarah Ogoke finished just one point shy from a double-digit. Nearly every Nigerian ended the game with at least two points to their credit. However, what saved Nigeria was the depth of their bench, which produced 22 of the 59 points Nigeria needed to see off Mozambique. Nigeria also made the difference on free throws ratio, having 14 for 18 free throws which gave them the edge over Mozambique who had 16 from 24 attempts. The D’Tigresses also out-rebounded Mozambique 51-43, by being more active on the defensive side with 38 boards. But ironically, the game’s best rebounder was Mozambique’s Tamara Seda. With this win, Nigeria have also sent a message to hosts Rwanda that they will be tough nuts to crack, ready and focused on getting a fourth title in a row. Speaking after the game, Nigeria guard Sarah Ogoke said while their opponents were good her team was better and deserved their win. “Mozambique are a great team, and credit to them for putting up such a game. But we stayed together and we made it through,” she said. Looking ahead to their semi-final fixture, Obote said: “We’re going to be playing against the stadium, against the fans, against the entire country. “So it’s going to be very difficult. We will try to get us to Saturday’s final and to the 2024 Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT). “We definitely have what it takes to make it four titles in a row and we have a way of making things happen. And we’ll find a way.”
Nigeria wins maiden African Admiral Porbeni Canoe Race
Team Nigeria emerged the overall winner of the maiden African Admiral Porbeni Canoe Race championships in Abuja. The championships which also served as an Olympics pre-qualifier event took place at the Jabi Boat Club, Abuja recently. No fewer than 100 athletes from five African countries including, Ghana, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo, and host Nigeria took part in the four-day event. Team Nigeria amassed a total of 34 medals, including 21 gold, 11 silver, and two bronze to emerge as the overall winners of the event. Sao Tome and Principe with a total of 20 medals, including three gold, 11 silver, and six bronzes finished in the second position. While, Senegal with a total of 16 medals, including one gold, three silver, and 12 bronzes settled for the third position. Ghana with three bronzes and Togo with two bronze medals finished in the fourth and fifth positions respectively. The various race events competed for include; 500m KL3 women, 200m KL3 men, 1,000m K1 men, 1,000m K1 women, 1,000 C1 men, 1,000 C1 women, 5,000m K2 men and 200m K1 women. Others were; 500m C2 men, 200m C1 women, 500m KL2 men, 200m KL2 men, 200m C1 men, 200m K1 men, 500m C1 women and 500m K1 women. Nigeria’s Ayomide Bello finished as the overall best female athlete, winning three gold medals in all the three events she competed for including the 1,000m C1 women (5mins.06secs.50ms), 200m C1 women (55secs.57ms) and 500m C1 women(2mins.55secs..88ms) Bello was ranked 13th in the 2019 World Championships in Hungary and also won four gold medals from four events as rower at the Admiral Porbeni Boat Race in 2021. Also Nigeria’s youngest athlete Yinlayefa Godhelp won gold in two events which she competed for, including the 1000m K1 women (5mins. 16secs.54ms.) and 500m K1 women (3mins.01secs.50ms.) respectively. Godhelp only discovered within the last 12 months has proven herself as a young sensation from the National Sports Festival, winning 500m C1 race. She went on to represent Nigeria at the second Africa Beach Games in Tunisia 2023 where she finished an impressive fourth position in what was her first ever international event. Other gold medalists were Temitope Olasupo in 200m(15secs.21ms) and 500m KL2 men ( 2mins.45secs.62ms) Pere Paghamotei in 200m C1 men (48secs.49ms), Blessing Amusan in 200m K1 women ( 1min.56secs.), Ayoola Amusan/Endurance Godhelp in 500m K2 men (2mins.06secs.21ms) and Joseph/Michael Moses in 500m C2 men (2mins.23secs.27ms) Team Nigeria smiled home with a 3,000 dollars prize money, while Sao Tome and Principe pocketed 2,000 dollars with Senegal settling for 1,000 dollars. Moses Michael, Team Nigeria’s Captain expressed joy at the team’s victory, adding that it wasn’t an easy feat even though everyone had high expectations for the team. “Everyone expected us to win and the team spirit was very high. “Our sport is not like football where you see pitches everywhere where you can train. Even if you see water, you won’t easily have access to the boat. “So, it is very difficult to train and stay fit and if somebody is out of the sport for a month or two, there is no way you can get your fitness right within a week. But, we thank God that we did our best and the victory for us is a very good one,” he said. On preparation of the team for the Olympics qualifiers in November and Paris 2024, Michael stressed on the need to open training camp early for the athletes, adding that the Olympics was already around the corner. “We have already discussed as a team about what we want and are ready to present our request to the federation president. “We are already planning to travel to Germany for another pre-qualifying event next month, so as to enable us amass enough points before the Olympic qualifiers in November. “We also want to appeal to the Federal Government to assist us because November is around the corner and Olympics training is expected to commence immediately. “Some athletes in other countries start preparing for the Olympics a year ahead of the event. So, it is very important we resume camp immediately,” he said. Dignitaries at the event were Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff and Thomas Konietzko, the President, International Canoe Federation (ICF) and and Festus Porbeni, President of the Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Federation. Others are Joao Afonso, the 1st Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and Habu Gumel, the president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
FIBA Afrobasket: Nigeria’s D’Tigress maul Egypt, berth quarter-final
The Nigerian senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, demonstrated their prowess once again in the ongoing 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament, securing a convincing victory against Egypt and booking their spot in the quarterfinals. On a Sunday showdown at the BK Arena, D’Tigress unleashed their determination to clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive continental title. They proved their mettle by outplaying Egypt with a resounding 83-65 triumph, ensuring their early qualification to the last eight stage of the tournament. The match witnessed D’Tigress taking control from the outset, gaining an 18-10 lead in the first quarter and extending it further in the second quarter, finishing with a commanding 24-13 advantage. However, the third quarter saw Egypt make a valiant effort to narrow the gap, securing a 19-14 win in that period. As the tension escalated in the fourth quarter, the North Africans fought desperately to regain ground. Yet, D’Tigress exhibited unwavering determination, maintaining their composure and sealing the game with a strong finish. The final quarter ended with a score of 27-23 in favor of D’Tigress, sealing their comprehensive victory at 83-65. The standout performance came from Amy Okonkwo, who led the scoring with an impressive 29 points and 13 rebounds, steering D’Tigress to their well-deserved triumph and securing their spot in the quarterfinals. Murjanatu Musa also shone brightly with her valuable 18-point contribution, while Nicole Enabosi added 10 points to her name, registering double figures. This win marks Nigeria’s third consecutive victory over Egypt, following their previous triumphs in 2015 and 2017. The Nigerian team’s dominant performance has undoubtedly solidified their reputation as a formidable force in women’s basketball in Africa. With Nigeria safely advancing to the quarterfinals, Egypt and DR Congo will now face a challenging qualifying round to determine if they can join Nigeria in the next stage or head back home.