Plans are afoot to camp Nigeria’s Super Falcons in Spain preparatory to the 2024 women’s Olympic football tournament in France.
The Nigeria Football Federation reportedly wanted the team to camp in Spain in order to acclimatize the players with the weather in France.
Coach Randy Waldrum’s side are scheduled to camp in the European country from 5 to 16 July.
The nine-time African champions are also expected to play one high profile friendly match while in Spain.
In the Olympic tournament, the Super Falcons will face World champions Spain, Japan and Brazil in Group C.
The West Africans will open their campaign against Brazil at Stade de Bordeaux on July 25 before taking on Spain three days later in Nantes and later Japan on July 31 at the same venue.
The 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 25 to August 10.
Tag: women’s
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Nigeria accomplished a glorious return to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years, following an impressive all-round scoreless performance in Pretoria on Tuesday night that stifled South Africa and rendered their home advantage a nullity.
The reigning African champions Banyana Banyana, who had boasted that Nigeria’s one-goal win in Abuja in the 1st leg would be swiftly cancelled within the first quarter-hour, sped off the blocks at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium but found a resilient Super Falcons unwilling to give an inch.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was called upon to save from a deep-flying corner as early as the third minute, but in a back-and-forth theme that characterized the entire game, Nigeria was on the front foot immediately after, with Chinwendu Ihezuo seeing her headed ball caught by Kaylin Swart after a cross by captain Rasheedat Ajibade.
Ihezuo failed to connect with a header on Osinachi Ohale’s dipping free-kick in the 27th minute, but then Nigeria breathed better when Thembi Kgatlana made a hash of an opportunity as the Banyana broke forward.
In the second half, Linda Motlhalo, Jermaine Seoposenwe and Nomvula Kgoale proved a handful for The Pride of Africa, as they seized the midfield and got a couple of good passes to their danger-lady, Kgatlana.
But at all times, Ohale, Chidinma Okeke, Christy Ucheibe and goalkeeper Nnadozie were alert and unruffled.
Nnadozie, who plays for Paris FC in France, further enhanced her reputation and market value with great saves in the 70th and 86th minutes.
In-between, Ihezuo’s flicked header to an Ajibade in-swinger went narrowly wide.
The one-goal win on aggregate means the Falcons will participate in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for the first time since 2008, and will join Brazil, Spain and Japan in a potentially-explosive Group C in July.
“We did it! We did it! We are finally going to play in the Olympics,” Ajibade said excitedly at the final whistle.Credit: NFF Media
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Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s well-taken 42nd minute penalty separated nine-time African champions Nigeria and reigning continental champions South Africa in their Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifying match at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Friday night.
Chinwendu Ihezuo was upended in the area just minutes earlier as the Super Falcons broke forward once more, and the Spain-based Ajibade made no mistake in heaving the ball past Kaylin Swart.
Returnee forward Ihezuo was a real pain in the neck for the Banyana, as her pace unsettled South Africa’s rearguard several times, but Nigeria failed to make hay from dead-ball situations before and after Ajibade’s strike.
In the second half, the Banyana took over the midfield with Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane and Nomvula Kgoale showing pace and invention, but Osinachi Ohale and Christy Ucheibe in the Nigeria central defence closed them down now and again.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was called upon to make a world-class save midway into the second half, when Jermain Seoposenwe fired a belter from 20 yards after a good pass from the precocious Thembi Kgatlana.
Substitutes Esther Okoronkwo and Rinsola Babajide added some spark to the Super Falcons’ fore line, but they could not get past the outstanding Kaylin Swart.
Attention has immediately shifted to Tuesday’s return leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, where there is still so much to play for with the Falcons only a goal up in the fixture.
The Banyana will fly back to Johannesburg on Saturday morning while the Super Falcons will fly out of Lagos on Sunday night.Credit: NFF Media
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The 2024 Nigeria Women’s Football League NWFL will resume on Wednesday 20 March 2024 after a three-week break.
The unusual break according to reports was embarked on in order for the NWFL to sanitise the championship.
The matchday 10 fixtures from two groups A and B will take centre stage across all the league venues.
In Group A, Confluence Queens will take on Adamawa Queens at the Iyamho Stadium, Auchi while Abia Angels face Royal Queens at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba,
Heartland Queens will welcome Nasarawa Amazons to the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri as Naija Ratels battle Dannaz Ladies in Abuja.
Group B fixtures will see Ekiti Queens welcome Bayelsa Queens to the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium while Sunshine Queens lock horns with Robo Queens at the Akure Township Stadium.
Elsewhere Edo Queens confront Rivers Angels while Remo Stars Ladies will take on Delta Queens with both matches respectively scheduled for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.
Nasarawa Amazons and Rivers Angels currently occupy the top spots in the two groups.
Three teams will qualify from each group for the playoffs where the winner of the league will be decided. -
Nigeria women’s team has won a bronze medal in the beach volleyball event at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana.
The Nigerian ladies beat their Rwandan opponents 2-0 (22-20, 21-12) in the third place match played at the Labome Beach resort on Thursday 14 March 2024.
The duo of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa captivated the watching crowd 5as they outplayed Rwanda in the presence of top volleyball dignitaries.
An elated Esther Mbah said winning a bronze medal at the African Games was a dream come true.
“I am very excited to win a bronze medal despite playing against some highly rated players in the beach volleyball event,” Mbah enthused.
“Our coach told us we could beat the Rwandan team because they were not better than us. We executed everywhere our coaches told us and the result is the bronze match.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone in Nigeria who have been praying for us since the beach volleyball started most especially the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod. Engineer Nimrod is our father, he has always believed in us even when we did not.
“I have never dreamt of traveling outside the country but volleyball has taken me to countries I watch on television. My life has been transformed since I became a volleyball player and I am encouraging other ladies to take sports seriously”. -
In a historic feat, the Nigerian Women’s Cricket team beat their Ugandan counterparts by 3 wickets to pick the Bronze medal at the ongoing All Africa Games in Accra.
Zimbabwe won gold at the event after they beat South Africa in a Super Over.
The two teams tied with 112 runs apiece in 20 overs on the Achimota Seniour Secondary School A Field in Accra.
Nigeria was the least ranked of the eight teams that the International Cricket Council-(ICC) Africa put forward to take part in the maiden outing of Cricket at the continental sports fiesta.
Hence, beating highly ranked Uganda in the third-place match complimented the team’s earlier accomplishment of dismissing Namibia with 55 runs during the group game.
Captain of the Nigerian Team, Blessing Etim, said this event crowned her cricket and the leadership of the team which she will live to cherish the moment.
“I am very happy about this win and credit should go to the President of the Federation (Uyi Akpata), for his encouragement. I think this moment wouldn’t have happened if not for his encouragement and motivation. This is for him. And I want to thank God for this too,” she said.
After winning the toss, Nigeria Women opted to bowl first, showcasing exceptional bowling prowess that saw them restrict Uganda to a modest total of 76 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs.
The Nigerian innings commenced with an early stumble, losing three wickets within the first three overs.
However, a resilient partnership between Salome Sunday and Abigail Igbobie steadied the ship, guiding the team to 58 runs for 5 wickets in 16.2 overs.
Despite facing tense moments, Lucky Piety’s composure, coupled with her crucial partnership with Salome Sunday, propelled Nigeria to a thrilling victory.
In a heart-stopping climax, Nigeria required 7 runs from 6 deliveries to seal a historic win with 3 wickets to spare.
Lucky Piety dispersed the 1st 2 balls for back-to-back boundaries, sending the Nigeria dug-out into euphoria and the Uganda bench to utter shock and disbelief.
Sunday’s stellar performance earned her the well-deserved Player of the Match award, encapsulating her pivotal role in Nigeria’s bronze medal triumph.
Nigeria’s men’s team watched from the bench with coach Steve Tikolo.
Their campaign will flag off with an encounter with Tanzania on Sunday 17 March 2024. -
30 teams (16 Men’s and 14 Women’s national sides) will light up the University of Ghana courts as battle begins for podium places in the African Games 3×3 Basketball Tournaments from 18-22 March 2024.
The 3X3 women’s event will only have 14 teams on parade following the withdrawals of Liberia, Gabon.
Both sides were replaced by reigning queens Nigeria and Ethiopia despite being out of the top 16 ranking on the continent.
Only last week, Kenya and Botswana further depleted the field by withdrawing from the event.
However, despite the 14-team field, the battle for gold is certain to be fierce given that 2019 gold medalists Nigeria are not as hot as they were the last time out.
Both Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo who won respectively silver and bronze back in 2019 are in the mix of the top 16 teams on the continent and will be hard to crack as they redouble their efforts to better their lots of 2019.
Teams from Egypt, Tunisia, Benin, Uganda, Morocco, Algeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Burundi, Tanzania and Togo will be looking to challenge for a podium finish.
In the men’s category reigning African Games champions Madagascar will attempt to retain the gold medal by wading off challenges from 15 other nations including hosts Ghana.
The Madagascans will have strong contenders in Egypt who finished in second place at the 2019 Africa Games, while hoping that fast-rising Benin and Togo don’t pull the surprise button in the process.
Tunisia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Kenya, Uganda, Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Rwanda, Tanzania and Botswana are the other teams that cannot be taken for granted.
Bronze medalists at the 2019 edition Nigeria are not in this equation haven fallen out of the top 16 ranking on the continent.
At the 2022 FIBA 3X3 Africa Cup, Madagascar reigned supreme, defeating Egypt in the final 20-17 while Rwanda defeated Tunisia 21-17 for bronze.
DR Congo, Morocco, Botswana and Kenya followed in that order.
The 16 teams already knew the ability of each other and would use the Africa Games as another opportunity to craft their ways to the prized gold medal. -
Nigeria’s senior women national cricket team the Yellow Greens have departed the country for the 13th African Games in Ghana.
To tune up for the multi sports continental championship the Greens participated in the just ended Nigeria Cricket Federation NCF T20i Invitational tournament in Lagos.
The Greens ended the four nation tournament in 2nd place behind Tanzania but the Nigerian coaching crew will use lessons learnt from the Lagos event to prepare the squad for the Games.
The travelling Greens’ squad is led by captain Blessing Etim who shone brilliantly for the Nigerian team during the invitational at the afawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos. -
Nigeria and Tanzania are joint leaders at the on-going Nigeria Cricket Federation NCF Women’s T20i Invitational Tournament at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos.
Both nations are tied on 6 points apiece after notching up three wins from four matches in the competition.
Tanzania is though leading the table on a superior Net Run Rate (2.337) after losing only their first of four games so far to Rwanda by 33-run, and has gone undefeated since then.
Nigeria’s Female Yellow Greens, on the same points tally but with less NRR (0.625), are now condemned to win her next two matches to retain the trophy.
Rwanda has amassed four points so far and is looking to overrun any of the two leading teams that may falter in their next two encounters this weekend.
Chairman of the Organising Committee for the evet Chuma Anosike said Nigerians should troop out to support the national team as the tournament enters climaxes.
“This event has become one of the biggest female events in the country, and we are proud of what we have built so far. We are equally glad to see that the Nigeria team is having a good run so far,” an elated Anosike stated.
“The momentum this event has given all the teams will help their preparation for the All-Africa Games in Ghana and we are glad all the teams are having good opposition and giving them the needed challenge. This wouldn’t have been possible if not for the support of the friends and sponsors of the game of Cricket across the country.”
Friday 1st March has been declared rest day for all the teams, while matches resume on Saturday 2nd March with last round of games played on Sunday 3rd March 2024 at the TBS Cricket Oval.
Rwanda and Sierra Leone will open tomorrow’s proceedings at 10:15am, before Nigeria takes on Tanzania later at 2:15pm.
General Manager of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Emeka Igwilo said this weekend’s games were expected to attract dignitaries across the sporting world including some friends and sponsors of the game.
“We have had a number of interests asking to be part of the weekend games and that is encouraging including sponsors and top dignitaries in the sporting world,” he said.
“The Female Yellow-Greens is one of the testaments to a well-curated sports development programme and this event is an avenue to showcase the gains from such project.”
The 5th NCF Women’s t20i Invitational Tournament will come to an end on Sunday 3 March with the highest ranking team over stipulated six matches emerging champions.
Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Tanzania are participating in the event. -
Nigeria reached the final round of the African qualifying series for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after Esther Okoronkwo’s 15th minute goal at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja separated the Super Falcons and and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in a turgid 180-minute battle over two legs.
After 105 minutes of scoreless action (90 minutes in Douala and 15 minutes in Abuja), the Henan FC of China forward took matters into her own hands.
Latching onto the ball from a long thrust out of the defence, Okoronkwo outpaced her markers and got close to the byline before finding captain Rasheedat Ajibade, whose chip was parried by the brilliant goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, only onto the path of the onrushing Okonronkwo who finished with aplomb.
Jennifer Echegini, whose disallowed goal in Douala on Friday was still subject of controversy among pundits, had blazed over the sticks in the 13th minute, before Okoronkwo’s excellent effort.
In the 32nd minute, Cameroon came very close from a corner kick when Menene Meyong got her head to the ball, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie stopped its progress to the far corner.
Ajibade and Okoronkwo had efforts blocked by Bihina, and Cameroon’s Mana Lamine blazed over the bar with two minutes left in the first period.
In the second period, Bihina kept out all efforts by Ajibade, Echegini and substitutes Akudo Ogbonna and Asisat Oshoala.
On the hour mark, Cameroon thought they had equalized when Marie Ngah Manga got her head to a cross by the energetic substitute Marie Enganemben, but Nnadozie stretched full length to parry the ball out of danger.
The Lionesses finished with 10 women as the volatile Enganemben pushed Nnadozie during a bizarre rush by Cameroonian players to touch the Nigerian goalie’s net.
Victory sets up a mouth-watering final round fixture between nine-time champions of Africa, Nigeria and reigning African champions South Africa, which will be disputed in April.
Credit: NFF