Nigeria Women’s football team gradually hits form before FIFA World Cup
By Ed Emeanua
The Super Falcons continued their winning ways going three wins from three games with a 3-0 roasting of the formidable Football Ferns of New Zealand at the Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey.
Yet, it was the New Zealand Women’s team that started the game on a frenzied pitch by pilling pressure on the defensive end of the Nigerian Women’s football side edging out 6 back to back corner kicks before the 30 minute mark of the international challenge game.
Slowly, Randy Waldrum’s Women began to find their rhythm, gradually pinning back the opponent in the end of the field. Then, skipper Onome Ebi looped his header off Michelle Alozie’s corner kick over Victoria Esson in goal for New Zealand to open the scoring in the 35th minute.
Super Falcons continued their domination in the second half Onyi Echegini registering the second goal for the Nigerians at the 48th minute mark of the tie.
New Zealand was awoken by Nigeria’s second goal of the game and cranked up their offensive tactics hoping to turn the tide on the Nigerians.
However, Nigeria’s defensive formation of Alozie, Rofiat Imuran, Blessing Demehin, and Echegini masterfully repelled the Jacqui Hand and Hannah Wilkinson martialed attacking line, which included Malia Steinmetz, Betsy Hassett, Grace Jale, and Gabbie Renie.
Veteran Nigeria forward Desire Oparanozie swung the tie to Nigeria’s favor by scoring the third goal for the Africans in injury time.
The Africans have gradually turned around a spate of poor runs under manager Waldrum and appear to be hitting their peak few less than 100 days to go before the start of the Women’s World Cup 2023.
Player’s agent meets with Chelsea over potential move from Barcelona
Image Credit: Sport Bible/Alamy
By Ed Emeanua
Liverpool and Manchester United have been handed Gavi transfer blows following reports of talks between the player’s representative and Premier League rivals, Chelsea FC.
Agent of one of the best young midfielders in the world has met over a move for the Barcelona starlet, swirling reports claim.
Gavi breezed into limelight aged 16, August 2021, enthralling world football with his skills, and with teammate and central midfielder Pedri, considered vital to Barcelona’s future under Xavi following a handful of eminence exits.
According to Sport Bible, some pundits even saw the duo as the perfect fit for Xavi and Andres Iniesta boots for both club and country.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City reports say adored Gavi from close watch, although opportunities to lure him away from the Catalan giants seemed rather far away.
However, keen sides are now emboldened by Barcelona’s dispute with La Liga over Gavi’s contract, which is a reverberation of the circumstances that culminated in Lionel Messi’s phenomenal exit in 2021.
According to Diario AS, Chelsea’s sporting director Christopher Vivell met with Gavi’s agent Ivan de la Pena few weeks back in Madrid in preliminary talks over the Blues intention to sign the Barcelona star and Spain international in the summer.
Sport Bible reports that the meeting was fruitful, and an offshoot is planned for the coming weeks as Chelsea look to escalate discussions.
Gavi agreed a new deal with Barcelona last September, that would keep him tied up with the club until 2026. The contract made Gavi a star player and set his let-out stipulation at €1billion (£880million), a statistic Barcelona theoretically apply to show a player is high-priority.
Yet, the stipulation will have no force should Gavi’s contract fail to be validated by La Liga, which maintains Barca is forbidden to list the teenage sensation by the league’s accounting laws, which restrict buying comparatively to earning.
Should La Liga nullify Gavi’s senior contract, the teenager will go back to his youth-team agreement and will be free in the summer.
Barca would be forced into massive high-profile sales prior to Gavi becoming a free agent at the end of the season.
According to AS, Chelsea are eager to offer the player a huge deal that would possibly mock Barcelona’s deal and add an exceptional sign-on fee. Also, if former Spain manager Luis Enrique takes up the reins in west London as has been rumored, Gavi would be teaming up with one of his significant aficionados.
Nigeria Golden Eaglets coach Nduka Ugbade passing out crucial instructions to his young starlets during a game
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Nigeria’s U-17 boys, now under the tutelage of FIFA Cadet World Cup-winning captain Nduka Ugbade, are gearing up for a final training camp in Germany ahead of the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations scheduled for Algeria between 29 April – 19 May.
Last summer, the Golden Eaglets swept aside all opposition to win the WAFU B U-17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana, which made them eligible for the continental finals.
In February, the Eaglets had an extended training camp in Abuja, where the technical crew seized the opportunity to evaluate more players, and then went on break. Since resuming camp in Abuja a fortnight ago, following the country’s general elections, the team has played nine friendly matches, winning eight and drawing one.
The five-time world champions have also scored 50 goals and conceded 11 goals. The latest friendly games were against Galadima FC on Easter Sunday, whom they defeated 3-1, and against V.P. Sports whom they pounded 10-2 on Tuesday.
Ugbade, who captained Nigeria’s U-16 team to FIFA World Cup victory in China in 1985, and was a key player for the U-20 team that finished as runners-up at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia four years later, insists that the technical crew is not resting on their oars as they get set to pick the team that will go on the final training camp and onwards to Algeria.
“We continue to work hard as we look forward to the championship in Algeria. Our objective has not changed: we go hard for the World Cup ticket and then we aim for the trophy. First target is a ticket to the World Cup finals, and then we take things from there,” Ugbade said.
“I have confidence in the squad we have been able to build, even as we are still utilizing every minute, every hour to tinker with what we have and see how it can get better.
“We have a tough act to follow in that Nigeria has won the World Cup five times in this category, and nothing we do will be seen as special. However, we know that if we can win the Africa Cup, it will be a stepping stone to joining the great squads that have won the World Cup for Nigeria.”
The much decorated Ugbade, was also part of the Super Eagles’ squad that qualified Nigeria for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 1993, and won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994.
Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023: Tickets back on sale with
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Tournament chant unveiled
The Fifa Women’s World Cup will hit New Zealand and Australian shores in just 100 days – with ticket sales going back online after a pre-planned pause, Bonnie Jansen reports for the NZherald.co.NZ.
From 2pm on Tuesday, Kiwi fans can secure the remaining single match passes that start at $20 for adults and $10 for children.
Tournament head of marketing Kim Anderson said there’s been an “unprecedented demand for tickets”, so the advice is to buy early and not wait until the tournament has started to secure a spot at the world’s biggest women’s sporting event in July and August.
Anderson is anticipating record-breaking crowds as women’s sport – particularly football – goes through a “cultural movement” and is “exploding all around the world.
“Australia and New Zealand are such a bucket list destination,” Anderson added. “We’ve seen so much excitement for people to come to this region from a whole bunch of different nationalities across the world.”
Where to get tickets
Official mascot Tazuni during the 100 Days to Go event for the Fifa Women’s World Cup at Eden Park. Photo / Photosport
Fans must create a Fifa ticketing account before single tickets will become available to purchase on a “first-come, first-served basis.
“Earlier purchases have a higher chance of success than purchases processed later in the sale phase,” Fifa said on its website.
Fifa ticketing will not allow tickets to be purchased for multiple matches on the same day.
Several hospitality ticket options can also be booked, with single in-seat dining options available from $1040 through to private suites upwards of $66,000.
Anderson said many matches are on track to sell out, including the opening fixture at Eden Park between New Zealand and Norway on July 20 and the blockbuster clash between the USA (2019 champions) and the Netherlands (2019 runners up) in Wellington.
Sport New Zealand CEO Raelene Castle is encouraging Kiwis to get behind the event.
“At an international sports level this is going to be something that New Zealand has never seen before,” Castle said.
“New Zealand doesn’t actually understand how big this tournament is going to be; how many international tourists we’re going to have that are going to be dressed up in their country colours, supporting their team.”
Sport New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle. Photo / Photosport
Before ticket sales came to a halt earlier this year, close to 650,000 had been sold, which Anderson said is “much more” than what France had at the same time when it hosted in 2019.
Anderson said tourists made up about 30,000 of the tickets sold, with 20,000 of those being Americans heading to New Zealand to support the defending champions.
“Being the world champs across the last couple of World Cups, they’re definitely excited and they’re great travelers,” Anderson said, adding that there has also been “great demand from Europe”.
Anderson said a bulk of the international tickets came from Qatar, which was “unexpected”.
“I guess they’ve really caught the football fever after the men’s World Cup.”
Tournament chant unveiled
Fans during the 100 Days to Go event for the Fifa Women’s World Cup at Eden Park. Photo / Photosport
As Fifa marks the 100-day milestone alongside the re-launch of tickets sales, the tournament’s unique “Unity Beat” chant was also revealed at Eden Park on Tuesday.
The “powerful chant” was sung by hundreds of fans at New Zealand’s national stadium and Sydney Football Stadium to mark the milestone.
Fifa said the chant is “an inclusive and consistent part of the fan experience at the first-ever 32-nation Fifa Women’s World Cup”.
It was created with help and inspiration from Australian and Kiwi fans, which “captures the energy of the upcoming tournament and women’s football”.
Former Football Fern Maia Jackman said the chant is “hugely exciting”.
“The ‘Unity Beat’ and kind of imagining what it’s going to sound like around this entire stadium – that’s exciting.”
The World Cup kicks off on July 20, with the Football Ferns taking on Norway at Eden Park.
Junior Athletes gearing to go at a recent championship
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN), has shifted the training camp for the final leg of preparations for the Africa U-18 and U-20 championships to Asaba, the capital of Delta state with the arrival date also shifted.
The Championships will hold from April 29 to May 3, 2023 in Ndola, Zambia.
Samuel Onikeku, the Technical Director of the federation said in a statement the shifting of the venue from the High Performance Centre in Abuja to Asaba is to enable the athletes train with the best of equipment which were used at the 21st National Sports Festival held just last December in the state.
‘The AFN is desirous of giving the athletes the best of preparations, hence, the decision to move them to Asaba where they will have the opportunity of training with the latest equipment without distraction,’’ says Onikeku.
‘The invited athletes are now to arrive Asaba from Wednesday April 12, 2023 to begin preparations for the Championship which has helped to produce some of the household names in Nigerian track and field today.’’
Over 55 athletes have been invited to camp as the AFN begins the process of unearthing the next big stars who will go on to make history at international Championships and Games.
Nigeria finished third (13 gold, six silver and 13 bronze medals) behind South Africa and Kenya in the last edition of the championships held at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Enoch Adegoke won the 100m gold at the championships and made history as the first Nigerian in 25 years to run in the 100m final at the delayed Tokyo Olympics barely two years later.
Favour Ofili set new championship best in the 200m and 400m enroute completing the U-18 double at the championships.
Ofili is now the Nigerian record holder in the 200m indoors (22.11) and outdoor (21.96).
To salvage improved Everton contract from the brink of collapse
Jay-Jay Okocha after helping Bolton avoid Premier League relegation
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has decided to fight for his Everton FC future by saving his club’s improved one hundred thousand pounds a week contract agreement by helping the Toffees avoid imminent.
To this end, the Super Eagles midfielder has charged his Everton Fc teammates to buckle up and be more resolute in the onerous but achievable task of saving the side from relegation at the end of the 2022/ 2023 Premier league season.
Sports Joust reliably gathered that Iwobi’s inspiration to motivate his colleagues to buckle up is coming on the heels of the Everton’s decision to place his yet to be signed mouth watering contract offer on hold pending the outcome of Everton’s swim or sink relegation battle.
Iwobi confided in CBS Sports on Saturday after Everton’s 0-2 loss to Manchester United that he believes his club would be able to survive their relegation battle if teammates would approach their remaining matches with a winning mentality.
The Toffees have so far garnered twenty-nine points from thirty matches and are currently occupy the 17th spot on the league table, just two points above the relegation zone with 8 matches to play.
“Football is a team work. I believe we can still salvage our season but everybody must be actively involved in the process. It is not over yet” he told CBS Sports.
Iwobi, who is not ready to miss out of the bumper package, has pledged to do his best to ensure that Everton escaped relegation to enable him sign the new contract that was put on hold by the management due to the club’s sagging form and poor position on the league table.
The Nigeria international appears to be copying a textbook play from his legendary uncle, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha, who, with his remarkable captivating skills successfully motivated his Bolton Wanderers FC teammates in his Premiership heydays to stave off imminent relegation in the 2002/2003 season.
At the beginning of November 2022, the Reebok men sat rock-bottom of the Premier League table with just the hope for a Messianic figure to deliver them from the dreaded drop.
With his fledgling Premiership season already severely blighted by injury in the first matches of the season, Okocha struggled to play the preceding five Premiership games as a sub. He then started only his second game of the season on Saturday, November 2, 2022 and proved to be the vital positive in an otherwise cataclysmic day.
The Bolton News wrote at the time: ‘The Fifty-nine times capped Nigerian star could be finding his feet at just the right time.
‘After scoring Wanderers’ goal in the 3-1 defeat, crashing another inspirational 30-yard effort against the crossbar and linking up play with his silky smooth skills, Okocha said he was happy to be with Wanderers despite the league position and that he was determined to help get them out of this mess.
“I’ve no regrets about coming to Bolton at all. It has been a difficult time for me because of the injury and for the last few games I have been working to get my fitness back,” he said.
“It was great to score a great goal but it means nothing because we lost the game.
“I would have preferred three points to scoring a goal. We all know we are in a difficult position and it will be very difficult for us to get out of it.
“That is what we have to do now and I am determined to help the team.
“I have been working very hard since the first game of the season to get fit. It has been a difficult time for me and I am happy to be back.
“We have a good squad and we just need to get our game together but I am confident we can save ourselves.”
‘Manager Sam Allardyce believes he has a rare talent on his hands in the 29-year-old, enthusing: “We have been waiting for him to come back and people have been on my back saying when is he going to play.
“I had to play him when he was ready. Because of the injuries at the start of the season and the move of his family to a new country it has taken time.
“But looking at him in training told me that he was ready and he was magnificent at Birmingham and we need that kind of performance from him on a consistent basis.”
‘Okocha’s team-mates are also hopeful he can bring an extra dimension to their game with Per Frandsen leading the accolades.’
“I thought Jay Jay did really well, as did Bernard Mendy, and now is the time for them to settle into the side and make an impact.
“It was the first full 90 minutes I have played with Jay Jay and I really enjoyed it. He has so much skill and is quick too.”
Twenty-one years on, Iwobi his nephew must find inner determination and outwardly profusive skills like his legendary uncle once did to save another Premier League outfit from relegation.
Can Iwobi’s feet be able to fill up the king-sized prints left behind in the indelible mark of time by Okocha’s shoes?
For final preparations for the Africa U-18 and U-20 championships in Zambia
Tima Godbless
By Rasheed Adewuyi
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has called 55 athletes to camp for final preparations for the Africa U-18 and U-20 championships scheduled for April, in Ndola, Zambia.
The Athletes were picked after the AFN U-18 and U-20 trials held at the Ahmadu Bello stadium in Kaduna in March.
Top of the list is 18-years-old Ronke Ashabi who set a new Nigeria 3000m U-20 record at the trials.
Also invited are Nigeria 100m U-20 record holder, Tima Godbless, Sule Rejoice Adijatu, Okpah Elo Blessing, Aladeloye Adetutu Funmilayo, Immaculate Daniel, Rosemary Etim and Grace Sule.
Others are Joseph Joy Ayomide, Kudoro Taiwo, Mustapha Ruqqayah Kemi, Akintoye Blessing Joy, Usenbor Osaretin Joy, Bright Ada Princess and Oshiokpu Grace.
For the U-20 men, Musa Kola Nurain, Ajayi Konyinsola Ismail, Adebisi Musbau, Unorji Kingsley, Toviho Enitan Olabode, Ajayi Kehinde, Ajayi Oluwabamidele, Badejo Emmanuel, Joshua Caleb, Okonye Precious, Charles Godfred Edward, Orekevwie Oghenetega, Iheakolam Joel and Habibu Salisu made the cut.
Faith Okwose will lead the charge for medals in the sprint for the U-18 girls. The 17-year-old won two silver medals in the 100 and 200m events behind Godbless at the National Sports Festival last December in Asaba, Delta state.
The U-18 boys will have Israel Okon Sunday, Daje Lucky, John Caleb, Samuel Ogazi, Olanrewaju Olawole Erioluwa, Francis James Musa, Pam Paul James, Fiaku Goodluck, Aninze Ifeanyi, Isaac Chukwuwike Miracle, Sadiq Zakariyya, Dickson Christain, Badmus Gafar Atanda and Blessing Emmanuel.
Samuel Onikeku, the Technical Director of the AFN says the camp will open on Tuesday April 11, 2023 at the High Performance Centre in Abuja.
Nigeria finished third (13 gold, six silver and 13 bronze medals) behind South Africa and Kenya in the last edition of the championships held at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
‘It was very painful that Nigeria missed out of the Mundial’ Villareal FC attacker laments
Samuel Chukwueze failed to bail out Nigeria against Black Stars during 2022 world cup qualifiers showdown in Ghana
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Villarreal FC forward Samuel Chukwueze has said that he did not watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar because of the Super Eagles elimination by the Black Stars of Ghana.
Chukwueze told Futbol Picante, a Sports program on Fox sports that it was very painful that Nigeria missed out of the Mundial adding that it is the dream of every player to represent their country at the world cup.
Nigeria played out a goalies draw against Ghana in the first leg of the playoff at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi and went on to settle for a 1-1 draw at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, thereby conceding the world cup qualification opportunity to Ghana on the away goal rule.
” It was so painful that I didn’t even watch any of the matches until the Atlas Lions of Morocco qualified for the Semi final. I tried to console myself by watching the first African nation to reach that state of the competition but the outcome made me sad because I want them to play in the final ” Chukwueze told Futbol Picante.
Morocco defeated Spain 3-0 via penalties in the round of 16 , tamed Portugal 1-0 in the quarter final, lost to 2018 Champions, France (2-0) in the semi final and also lost the third place match 2-1 to Croatia.
“It is also very painful that Morocco lost the day I decided to watch the world cup. The results didn’t go down well with me because I wanted the Africans to qualify for the final and win the trophy for the first time in the history of the competition,” he added.
Sports Joust reliably gathered that Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman wept bitterly inside the Super Eagles dressing room after the Nigeria versus Ghana match in Abuja.
The outcome of the match did not go down well with fans and pundits in Nigeria forcing Irate fans to damage some equipment at the MKO Abiola Stadium.
FIFA has placed an indefinite ban on the Abuja stadium following the crowd violence that trailed the Nigeria/Ghana match.
Nigeria plans to go all out against New Zealand to make a point
By Rasheed Adewuyi
The Super Falcons will seek victory over World Cup co-hosts the Football Ferns in Turkey on Tuesday to prove that their recent wins over Costa Rica and Haiti were no flukes, says team captain Onome Ebi.
Goals from Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala steered the nine-time African champions past Haiti in Antalya on Thursday, for a second consecutive win on the road. This came after the 1-0 defeat of Costa Rica at the Revelation Cup Tournament in Mexico, with the goal also coming off Okoronkwo’s boots.
“We have to maintain the form that we have attained over the past two matches,” Ebi told thenff.com moments after the team’s last training session at the Emir Sports Complex on Sunday. “It is important for us to keep up the momentum, to keep winning and know that we can always overwhelm our opponents. The spirit is back and we are determined to sustain it.”
Tuesday’s clash against New Zealand will take place at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, as from 4pm Turkish time (2pm Nigeria time).
Ebi, who has played in five FIFA World Cup finals (USA 2003, China 2007, Germany 2011, Canada 2015 and France 2019) will be making her sixth appearance at football’s top tournament for women when Nigeria takes on co-hosts Australia, Canada and Republic of Ireland in Melbourne and Brisbane this summer.
“We suffered a poor patch for some months but we are happy to start winning again. The hard job is to sustain the winning streak and we’re ready to do that hard work.”
Image Credit: Sport Bible/Alamy
Junior Athletes gearing to go at a recent championship
Tima Godbless
Samuel Chukwueze failed to bail out Nigeria against Black Stars during 2022 world cup qualifiers showdown in Ghana
