Tag: General Sports

Reigning CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala has joined US National Women’s League team, Bay FC, as announced on Thursday, Febuary 1, 2024.

Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala, has officially departed from Spanish club FC Barcelona Femini to join the US National Women’s League team, Bay FC.

Barcelona confirmed Oshoala’s move in a statement released on Thursday, expressing gratitude for her contributions during her time with the club.

The statement read, “An agreement has been reached between FC Barcelona and Bay FC from the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States of America for the transfer of Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala, whose contract was set to end on 30 June 2024. The Club appreciates Asisat’s commitment and professionalism over the five-year period she wore the Barca jersey.”

Oshoala joined FC Barcelona Femini in 2019, making a significant impact during her tenure and winning a total of 14 trophies with the Blaugrana.

The Nigerian striker’s departure marks the end of a five-year period with FC Barcelona, and her accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the club.

The move to Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League presents a new chapter in Oshoala’s career, offering her the opportunity to showcase her skills and make an impact in the highly competitive American league.

As she embarks on this new journey, fans eagerly anticipate her contributions to Bay FC and her continued success on the global stage of women’s football.

READ ALSO: Boost for Super Eagles as Stanley Nwabali trains, ahead of AFCON quarter-final

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Premier League table toppers Liverpool thrashed Chelsea 4-1 at Anfield yesterday in a memorable night for youngster Conor Bradley and a typically frustrating one for Darwin Nunez.

The Reds extend their lead at the top of the table thanks to goals from Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Luis Diaz.

Christopher Nkunku netted in the second half for the visitors at Anfield but it proved to be nothing but a consolation for the Blues. It was yet again a disappointing display from Chelsea on the road.

An outstanding goal, in only his second Premier League appearance, and two assists were followed by a rousing standing ovation as he was eventually substituted having humiliated an abject Chelsea.

Liverpool’s victory last night means that they are now five points clear of both Arsenal and Manchester City, who beat Burnley last night.

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Bendel Insurance midfielder, Tamara Ezekiel has joined Al Naft Sports Club of Iraq

The ex-Kano Pillars and Kwara United player becomes the second key player to have left Insurance this season after Imade exited earlier in the season.

The 23-year-old midfielder, joined Bendel Insurance last summer, having previously plied his trade with reputable Nigerian clubs such as Shooting Stars, Kano Pillars, and Kwara United, and quickly made an impact with over 17 appearances during the current campaign.

His performances garnered attention, leading to the opportunity to play abroad.

Ezekiel is poised to embark on a new chapter in his football journey with Al Naft Sports Club in Iraq.

The deal has been successfully negotiated and finalized, with the player set to undergo medical examinations in Iraq in the coming days.

Tamara played a pivotal role in Bendel Insurance’s qualification for the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

While the transfer fee remains undisclosed, it’s clear that Al Naft SC saw immense potential in Tamara, who only joined Bendel Insurance at the start of the 2023–24 season.

His six-month stint with Bendel Insurance served as a stepping stone, and his standout performances so far caught the attention of Al Naft SC.

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Nigerian forward Moses Simon has conveyed the Super Eagles’ commitment to giving their best in the upcoming quarter-final match against the Palancas Negras of Angola at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.

Simon emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and putting in their best efforts to secure a place in the semi-finals.

The Super Eagles enter the quarter-final tie as favorites following impressive victories against strong opponents like Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite their commendable performances, Simon stressed the need for the team to approach the game with the same level of determination and concentration.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by previous encounters with tough teams like Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea, Simon emphasized the importance of being at their best and staying focused on the ultimate goal.

“It is going to be a difficult game, like the ones against Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, and even Equatorial Guinea.

“We must be at our best and focus on the prize,” Simon was quoted by thenff.com.”

The quarter-final match between Nigeria and Angola is scheduled to kick off at 6 pm Nigeria time, and fans eagerly anticipate an exciting and competitive clash as both teams vie for a spot in the semi-finals.

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The 2023 Ikukuoma Mbasie Owerri Zonal U-20 Football tournament is currently on-goung in the Eastern Heartland, with the games producing interesting outcomes.

Two games were decided on Tuesday with a winner emerging in one while the other game ended in a score-draw.

In the first game of the day, Orji Chimaobi was unlucky to score an own-goal in the sixth minute to give Irette Ward 10 ( Owerri West) maximum points against Mbieri Community (Mbaitoli) on Tuesday, January 30th, 2024.

Mbieri Community did pull all plugs in search of an equalizer but it was not to be as Irette Ward 10 held firm to win 1-0.

The encounter was a Group B Matchday one fixture and was played at the Ezeagbogu Central School Field Ezinihitte, Mbaise.

In the second game of the day, Ndukwu Francis scored a brilliant individual goal to help Ihitte Ward secure a point after they held Ogwa Community to a 1-1 draw, in a Group C Matchday 1 fixture.

Okolie Victor gave Ogwa Community an early lead inside seven minutes, when he powered home with a bullet strike from outside the opposition box.

That lead did not last for too long as Ndukwu Francis levelled scores for Ihitte Ward, in the 15th minute in a game that finished with both sides sharing the points following a 1-1 result.

Today’s Fixtures (Group D)

Okpofe /Ezeagbogu (Ezinihitte) Vs Umuoree Eziudo (Ezinihitte)

Ihiagwa Ward 6 Vs Ibeku Ward (Ezinihite)

The tournament is sponsored by High Chief Dr. Summers VC Nworie (Ikukuoma 1 Of Mbasie)

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles have received a significant boost ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 quarterfinal clash against Angola, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali returning to training.

The 27-year-old shot-stopper had been a doubt for the upcoming encounter after sustaining an injury during the round of 16 match against Cameroon.

Nwabali, who has become an integral part of the Super Eagles’, displaying calmness and confidence throughout the AFCON 2023 campaign, contributing to three clean sheets in four matches. The injury scare occurred when he was stretchered off during the match against the Indomitable Lions.

Following thorough examination by Nigerian doctors and a scan in Ivory Coast, it has been revealed that Nwabali’s injury is not as serious as initially feared. A recent video shared on Naija Football showed the goalkeeper back in training, actively working towards regaining full fitness for the upcoming clash against Angola.

In the post accompanying the video, it was mentioned, “Stanley Nwabali is back in training and working hard to get fit for Friday’s clash against Angola.” The return of Nwabali is expected to boost the confidence of the Super Eagles and their manager, Jose Peseiro. Having conceded just one goal in four matches, Nwabali’s leadership qualities and on-field presence are crucial assets for the Nigerian team.

As the Super Eagles aim to secure a spot in the semifinals, the availability of Nwabali is seen as a timely and welcomed development. Football enthusiasts and Nigerians, who have been anxiously awaiting news about the goalkeeper’s fitness, can now look forward to his potential participation in the upcoming AFCON clash against Angola.

READ ALSO: 2023 AFCON: The tallest goalkeeper takes a bow

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Senegal star Krepin Diatta has accused CAF officials of corruption following his team’s elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the round of 16 against Ivory Coast.

Krepin Diatta expressed frustration and anger, particularly criticizing VAR decisions during the match.

He highlighted a pivotal moment when Senegal was denied a penalty in regular time, as Odilon Kossounou’s challenge on Ismaila Sarr went unnoticed by the referee and VAR team.

The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Ivory Coast securing a 5-4 victory in the penalty shootout.

Diatta’s outburst reflects the controversy surrounding VAR decisions in the tournament and his belief that the officiating negatively impacted Senegal’s chances.

Odilon Kossounou seemed to have fouled Ismaila Sarr inside the box but the referee decided against pointing to the spot, with the VAR team not calling him over to review the incident via the pitch-side monitor, which left Diatta raging.

According to GOAL, while passing through the mixed zone, Diatta told reporters: “You’ve killed us, you’re corrupt! Keep your African Cup! You go and consult VAR to give them a penalty, but a guy (Sarr) runs 40 metres, overlaps, breaks into the box and you can’t go and look at the VAR. I’m sorry, but it’s ridiculous. I’m really sorry, but they’ve killed our competition there.”

However, that was not the only contentious moment in keenly contested game, Senegal star, Sadio Mane was shown a yellow card for a shin tackle on Ibrahim Sangare in the first half of the match, a challenge that should have seen the Al Nassr man sent off.

The defeat led to Senegal, the defending champions, exiting the competition, while Ivory Coast, led by interim coach Emerse Fae, advanced to the quarter-finals. Ivory Coast will face the winners of the match between Mali and Burkina Faso in the AFCON quarter-finals on February 3 at Stade de la Paix in Bouake.

READ ALSO: 2023 AFCON: The tallest goalkeeper takes a bow

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Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi made a remarkable return from a six-week injury layoff, scoring a goal for Nottingham Forest in their 2-1 loss to Arsenal at City Ground.

Awoniyi had been sidelined due to a groin injury sustained while on international duty with Nigeria. His return to the pitch was marked by a goal, showcasing his impact and goal-scoring prowess.

Arsenal secured their second Premier League win of the new year with a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest. Mikel Arteta’s side, coming off a convincing 5-0 win against Crystal Palace, faced a resilient Forest team fighting to avoid relegation. Forest employed a compact defensive strategy, frustrating Arsenal’s attempts to break through in the first half.

Gabriel Jesus eventually broke the deadlock in the second half, providing a crucial lead for Arsenal. Despite Forest’s defensive efforts, Arsenal extended their lead with Bukayo Saka finding the net after an assist from Jesus.

In the dying moments of normal time, Awoniyi made a significant impact by pulling one back for Nottingham Forest, injecting drama into the closing stages of the match. While Forest fell short in their quest for a comeback, Awoniyi’s return and goal provided a silver lining in an otherwise challenging game.

The goal-scoring contribution from Awoniyi highlights his importance to Nottingham Forest, and fans will be hopeful that his return adds a valuable dimension to the team’s attacking prowess.

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Nigeria’s new number one, Stanley Nwabali may still be available for selection for the quarter-final duel with Palancas Negras of Angola if he passes a late fitness test set for Wednesday.

According to team medics, the 27-year-old copped a mild ligament injury during the Round of 16 battle with the Indomitable Lions on Saturday, and the doctors have been working on him to see if he will come good in a late fitness test 48 hours before the cracker with the southern Africans.

“Fingers crossed. If all goes well, he might be available for selection.”

Nwabali was stretched off the pitch during Nigeria’s AFCON knockout stage clash with Cameroon at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan.

This was after the Chippa United goalkeeper and Cameroon’s Georges-Kevin N’Koudou collided in the box in the 72nd minute.

Nwabali continued after initial treatment for about eight minutes before the technical team substituted him for Francis Uzoho in the 80th minute.

The Injured Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali could not train with the rest of the Nigeria national team on Monday as the team kicked off their preparations for Friday’s AFCON 2023 quarterfinal clash against Angola.

Though Nwabali didn’t take part in the collective sessions, he was seen taking light walks across the pitch, he looked positive as he made playful remarks to journalists present at Monday’s training session.

The Chippa United goal-tender has won the hearts of Nigerians with his self-assured posture between the sticks and his penchant for launching onslaughts with long kicks that have been unsettling the opposition at this tournament.

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Nigeria U-17 Women’s national team, the Flamingos, is set to embark on their journey to secure a spot in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2024 with an opening encounter against Central African Republic.

This second-round, first-leg fixture will take place in the lively Cameroonian city of Douala, where Central African Republic has often embraced as their home ground due to the absence of an approved international stadium in their capital, Bangui.

The clash is scheduled to take place at the Stade de la Reunification de Douala on Sunday, 4th February, 2024, with kickoff set for 3 pm local time in Cameroon.

The Flamingos, having won the bronze medal in the last FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India through a dramatic penalty shootout triumph over Germany, bring a rich history to this competition. They have participated in every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, except the 2018 tournament in Uruguay.

The 2024 World Cup is anticipated to be a unique spectacle as the Dominican Republic prepares to host its first-ever FIFA tournament. Tunisian official Emna Ajbouni has been entrusted with refereeing the first-leg showdown, with compatriots Khouloud Amri, Ameni Hammemi, and Asma Chouchane serving as assistant referees and the fourth official, respectively. Eugenie Mbainaye from Chad will act as the commissioner for the match.

The return leg in Nigeria, scheduled for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Saturday, 10th February 2024, will be officiated by Moroccan official Zakia El Grini. Ihsane Ennouajeli Nouajli, Karima Khadiri, and Sabah Sadir will be the assistant referees and fourth official, while Naa Odofoley Nortey from Ghana will serve as the commissioner for this leg.

READ ALSO: Bankole Olowookere re-appointed Nigeria U-17 Coach

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