©2022 DopeReporters. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by multiplatforms
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman on winning the 2024 CAF Men’s African Footballer of the Year.
President Tinubu also hails Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for clinching the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award and the Super Falcons for being named the Women’s National Team of the Year.
The awards were announced Monday night at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.
The President joins millions of Nigerians in celebrating these athletes, describing them as worthy ambassadors for showcasing their talent and bringing honour to the country on the continental and world stage.
The President believes that this recognition by Africa’s highest football authority will inspire other upcoming athletes to remain steadfast in pursuing their dreams.
He affirms that their determination, discipline and confidence underscore the administration’s resolve to build a better Nigeria where everyone thrives and succeeds.
‘‘These athletes embody the essential Nigerian Spirit. They signpost the best in us as a nation. Let no one ever write us off. I am incredibly proud of them.
‘‘Thank you for making Nigeria proud and keeping our flag flying.
‘‘Thank you for winning medals for Nigeria both at home and abroad. You will win more in the future,’’ the President said
The Super Falcons of Nigeria continued to hold the top spot in the most recent women’s global ranking.
On its official website, FIFA published the most recent women’s ranking on Thursday.
Notwithstanding their two victories during the reviewed time, the West Africans maintained their standing.
The Green Ladies of Algeria were trounced by the nine-time African champions 2-0 and 4-1, respectively, in a two-leg friendly.
However, they were defeated 2-1 by the French team Les Bleues in another friendly match.
Additionally, Justine Madugu’s team continued to lead Africa.
South African champions Banyana Banyana come in second, with Morocco, Zambia, and Ghana rounding out the continent’s top five.
Spain, the world champions, dropped to second place, while the United States of America maintained its top status.
England fell to fourth place, while Germany rose to third.
On March 15, 2024, the next FIFA Women’s ranking will be made public.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons maintained the 36th position in the latest women’s ranking released by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on Friday.
The nine-time African champions played three friendly matches within the period under review.
The Super Falcons defeated Algeria twice (2-0) and (4-1), respectively.
Justine Madugu’s team, however, lost 2-1 to Les Bleues of France last month.
Nigeria also maintained the top position in Africa, with the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in second position.
Morocco, Zambia, and Ghana are the other countries in the top five.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will pit Nigeria’s Super Falcons against either the Benin Republic or Sierra Leone.
The first round of the competition between Sierra Leone and the Benin Republic is scheduled for February 2025.
In the competition’s second round, the winner will take on Nigeria in October 2025.
The overall winner will guarantee a place at Morocco’s hosting of WAFCON 2026.
Brazil will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027, and the competition will also act as a qualifying round for that event.
The top four Moroccan teams will represent Africa at the 2026 World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Falcons are the most successful team in WAFCON history, having taken home nine medals.
France’s Les Bleues were 2-1 winners over the Super Falcons of Nigeria in a turgid international friendly game played under frosty and misty weather in Angers on Saturday night.
The nine-time African champions started with some promise at the Stade Raymond Kopa, determined to take the game to the hosts. But at the other end, Marie-Antoinette Katoto had the ball in the net in the 7th minute, only to be correctly ruled offside.
Eugenie Claudine Le Sommer, playing her 197th match for Les Bleues, scored her 94th international goal in the 29th minute to put the host nation ahead.
Eight minutes later, it was 2-0 after Tunisia-born Amel Majri got the ball past goalkeeper and stand-in captain Chiamaka Nnadozie.
The high point of the game, however, was Nigeria scoring her first-ever goal against the Les Bleues.
From a corner kick to the hosts in added time of the first half, a long clearance from the back found Spain-based Gift Monday, who quickly found gangling Montpellier FC of France forward Ifeoma Onumonu for the latter to make history.
Without captain and big inspiration Rasheedat Ajibade and defender Oluwatosin Demehin far away from the match venue as a result of injuries, it was always going to be an uphill task for the Falcons to earn a first win over their hosts.
Yet, they gave it a fight in an interesting second period.
Nnadozie was alert to save from Dephine Cascarino just after the restart, and as the game wore on, Majri saw her 20-yard free-kick soar far higher than Nnadozie’s goal-post.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Nigeria broke forward, and from a corner kick, defender Sikiratu Isah came pretty close with a volley that had goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin stretching full strength to tip the ball behind the goalpost.
Five minutes later, Christy Ucheibe failed to get her direction right when sweeping the ball from a cross from the right, and watched as it floated over the bar.
In the 86th minute, Nnadozie saved another point-blank effort, and the rebound was scrambled back to the goalkeeper by the hard-working Sikiratu Isah.
Though defeated, the Super Falcons were far from being disgraced, and the game could, perhaps, have been somewhat different had Ajibade and Demehin been involved.
France midfielder Sandie Toletti has acknowledged the challenge her team face against Nigeria’s Super Falcons ahead of their international friendly.
The highly anticipated clash will take place at the Stade Raymond Kopa, Angers, on Saturday night.
Speaking to L’Équipe, Toletti pointed at the physicality and quality of the Nigerian side, highlighting their experience playing for top clubs in Europe and the United States.
“I worked with players in Spain. It will be a fight; they are very physical,” said the 29-year-old.
“They play in the biggest European clubs or in the United States. It will be hard.”
The match serves as a key preparation for Laurent Bonadie’s Les Bleues, who are gearing up for the UEFA Nations League in February and the European Championship next summer.
Toletti, who competes in the Spanish Liga F, is familiar with several Nigerian players from her time in the league.
The Super Falcons, who impressed at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, will aim to test their strength against a top European side.
Players and officials of nine-time African champions Nigeria have started arriving in the city of Angers, France from Wednesday morning, ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated international friendly game between the Super Falcons and the Les Bleues.
It is the second time both teams will engage in a friendly encounter – the first being a forgettable experience for the Falcons as they lost by eight goals in freezing weather inside Le Mans’ Stade Marie-Marvingt on 6th April 2018.
Only goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who plays her club football in France, and Mexico- based defender Osinachi Ohale, remain from that squad that was undone by, among other things, a hat-trick from Valérie Gauvin and an own goal by defender Faith Ikidi-Michael.
The defeat equalled the Falcons’ biggest-ever defeats – by Norway at the 1995 FIFA World Cup finals in Sweden and by Germany in a friendly in Leverkusen’s Bay Arena on 25th November 2010.
However, clashes at the FIFA World Cup finals have been much closer, with the Falcons losing by the odd goal against the Les Bleues in Germany in 2011, and by the same margin at the Roazhon Park when both sides clashed at the 2019 finals hosted by France.
The consummation of Saturday’s encounter is further confirmation of the Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led administration’s commitment to fully blood a new Super Falcons’ squad, by implementing a process of exposure and experience-garnering for the new squad, following an under-par outing at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France this summer.
The big game with the Les Bleues comes up only five weeks after the first of two friendly matches with Algeria’s Green Ladies in Nigeria (2-0 and 4-1 wins), and eight days after the Super Falcons learnt they would be playing Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana in the group phase at the 13th Women AFCON in Morocco next summer.
Saturday’s match will commence at 9.30pm France time, same time as in Nigeria.
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders:
Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Rofiat Imuran (London City Lioness, England); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey)
Midfielders:
Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Josephine Mathias (Nasarawa Amazons); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons)
Forwards:
Blessing Nkor (Pyramids FC, Egypt); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens)
Ashleigh Plumptre is thrilled to have been added to the Super Falcons’ roster for their friendly matchup with the French Les Bleues.
The 20 players included in the team announced by interim head coach Justine Madugu on Sunday include the defence for Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.
After missing the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris due to a protracted injury layoff, Plumptre is returning to the team.
The former Leicester City Ladies player celebrated her invitation on social media.
” Feels great to have made the super falcons list for the upcoming international games.
Good opportunity to fight for the badge again ” Plumptre wrote.
The 25-year-old has represented Nigeria in 17 league games.
On Saturday, the Super Falcons will play France at the Stade Raymond Kopa in Angers.
Ashleigh Plumptre can’t hide her excitement after she was included in the Super Falcons’ squad for the international friendly against France.
Plumptre, 25, was sidelined for a long spell after sustaining an ACL injury earlier in the year.
The centre-back was left out of the Super Falcons’ squad to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris after failing to recuperate on time from the injury.
The former Leicester City Ladies star was however named in a 20-player roaster by interim head coach, Justine Madugu for the clash with Les Bleues on Sunday.
An elated Plumptre took to the social media to celebrate her return to the team.
“Feels great to have made the super falcons list for the upcoming international games. Good opportunity to fight for the badge again,” Plumptre wrote on the social media.
She has made 17 league appearances for Nigeria.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has announced a new kick-off time for the international friendly between Super Falcons and Algeria.
The game will now commence at 2pm, as against the earlier-advertised 4pm.
The encounter is slated for the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos on Tuesday.
According to the NFF, the Algerian delegation has opted to commence their return journey on Tuesday night.
“This has necessitated us moving the match forward to finish the encounter early for them to prepare for their movement to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos for their return trip aboard Qatar Airways,” NFF’s Head of International Competitions, Dayo Enebi Achor, said.
The Super Falcons defeated the Green Ladies 2-0 in their first friendly last Saturday.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored both goals for the three-time African champions.
Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance in the friendly against Algeria.
Madugu’s side defeated the Green Ladies 2-0 at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, on Saturday.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored both goals for the nine-time African champions.
The gaffer said he was particularly impressed with the performance of the local based players.
“We are on a rebuilding process and I must say that a good number of the home-based professionals impressed me. Ajibade, as always, led from the front and gave us great balance going forward.
“Now, we are looking forward to the encounter on Tuesday to build on what we have been able to do here.”
The two countries will clash in another friendly at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, on Tuesday.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons defeated the Green Ladies of Algeria 2-0 in a friendly at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, on Saturday.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored both goals for the nine-time African champions.
Ajibade scored the curtain raiser with a sublime finish on 24 minutes.
The forward doubled Nigeria’s advantage in first half stoppage time.
The 24-year-old has now netted six times in 20 appearances for the Super Falcons.
Justine Madugu’s side failed to add to their lead in the second half despite creating numerous chances.
Nigeria and Algeria will clash in the second friendly at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, next week Tuesday.
Super Falcons interim coach, Justine Madugu says it is important for the team to put up a good showing against Algeria as they look to bounce back from their below par outing at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The West Africans lost all three group games at the Olympics in Paris.
The nine-time African champions will begin a new era under Madugu with the double-header friendlies against Algeria.
The gaffer charged his players to put up “a masterclass performance against the Algerians”.
“We have been having useful sessions since we resumed on Monday. I am impressed with the discipline and sense of dedication of the players, and I am looking forward to a masterclass performance by the Super Falcons in both games,” Madugu told thenff.com.
“We respect the Algerians just as we respect every team we play, but the truth is that we need to bounce back strongly from the below-par outing at the Olympics and restore our team’s confidence and positive spirit.”
The Super Falcons will take on the Green Ladies on October 26 and October 29.
The two matches will be played in Ikenne and Lagos.
Head coach Justine Madugu said he was thrilled that all 25 of the invited players were already at camp on Tuesday.
The team had a workout after heavy rain disrupted the team first training session on Tuesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
The Super Falcons are set to play against Algeria in a double header Friendly.
“I am very happy that all the invited players are here.
“We will be able to have four days of full training sessions and be in great shape for the first game.
” We thank the Nigeria Football Federation for arranging these two games for the Super Falcons.”
The Mobolaji Johnson Arena will host the match between the Algerian girls and the nine-time African champions on Saturday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 29.
The start time for both games is 4 p.m. On Thursday morning, a 35-woman Algerian delegation is expected to land in Nigeria on a Qatar Airways flight.
The Benin Republic match officials are also expected to land in Lagos on the same day.
The two games will be overseen by the Beninoise quartet of Laurande Offin, Sonia Emilie Louis, Nafissatou Yekini Shitou, and Aurore Christine Ligan.
Ligan will referee the first game, with Offin acting as the fourth official, while Offin will be at the centre for the second game, with Ligan acting as the fourth official.
Each game will have a match commissioner appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Newer Posts