Stoke City have completed the signing of Nigerian international striker, Josh Maja on loan from Bordeaux.
The 23-year-old started his career with Sunderland, scoring 16 goals in 41 league matches before joining Bordeaux in January 2019, netting 12 goals in 52 games.
Maja spent last season with Fulham in the Premier League where he scored 3 goals in 15 games.
As seen on the club’s website, O’Neill said: “Josh will bring a different dimension to our attacking options and I’m really pleased that we’ve held off competition from a number of other clubs to secure him.”
Nigerian international, Simeon Tochukwu “Simy” Nwankwo has joined Serie B outfit, Parma Calcio 1913 on loan from U.S. Salernitana with an option to buy.
The 29-year old striker agreed on a move to Salernitana following Crotone’s relegation from Serie A last season.
Simy is ranked as Crotone’s all-time top scorer with 66 goals in 159 appearances across Serie A, Serie B and Coppa Italia.
With Parma currently placed 12th in Serie B table with 24 points from 20 matches – eight points behind the play-offs zone, Simy may likely make his league debut appearance on Saturday away to Benevento, as his side continue their push to return to the Italian top-flight.
Nigeria’s Table Tennis Star, Aruna Quadri is the highest-ranked African Table Tennis player in the latest ranking released by the International Table Tennis Federation ( ITTF).
Quadri tops the ranking in Africa with 3141 points to place 11th in the world while perennial rival, Egypt’s Omar Assar has 2030 points to moved 5 places up to 25th in the world.
Aruna on his new position: “This is indeed a big challenge for me, and I hope this new year will bring good tidings as I will have to redouble my efforts to remain on top in the ranking and hopefully make it to the top 10. I also hope this will motivate more Africans to aim high as nothing is impossible in the sport.”
Other top five ranked African players are Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh 1250 points, Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw 1156 points while Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo completes the top five with 914 points.
FC Copenhagen have completed the signing of Nigerian international winger, Akinkunmi Amoo for a record transfer fee of €4.5m (the largest sale so far in the club’s history) on Monday, January 31, 2022.
The 19-year old forward joined Danish Superligaen side on a four-year deal from Hammarby IF.
Amoo moved to Hammarby in 2020 after his starring role for the Golden Eaglets at the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil where they were knocked out in the Round of 16.
After a one-and-a-half-year spell in Sweden, the Nigerian wonderkid was named the Best Youngster of 2021 Allsvenskan season, after scoring 13 goals and 5 assists in 36 games for Hammarby IF in 2021.
In a message on the official website of Copenhagen, Amoo stated that he was delighted to join the Danish side for his development.
“I have had a fantastic time in Hammarby, and I have great respect for the club and the fans there. They gave me the chance and believed in me and I will never forget that,” Amoo said.
Following Monday’s move, Amoo is the second Nigerian in FC Copenhagen after they completed the signing of compatriot Paul Mukairu from Antalyaspor last Thursday.
Uchenna Kanu, scored three goals in the 5-1 triumph of the women’s Tigres UANL, over the women’s Atlas at the Universitario to become the first foreigner to score a hattrick in the Mexican Liga MX Femenil.
The 24-year old Super Falcons forward has written her name in the Mexican history book on Matchday 4 of the Clausura 2022 of the Women’s MX League.
The Nigerian international scored a brace in the space of one minute after opening the scoring in the 34th minute and hits the double a minute later. Her third will come 15 minutes into the second half as Kanu stamped her name in the history books with the hattrick goal.
Joana Robles’ own goal at 58th minute and María Elizondo goal at 90th minute completed the rout, while María Pérez scored Atlas’ consolation.
The Nigerian forward has now scored four goals in three games to become the only foreigner with the most goals in the league and she’s just one goal behind Alicia Cervantes of Guadalajara, and Charlyn Corral of Pachuca – five goals each – on the topscorer chart.
After an assist in the the Super Cup won last week in Madrid, Asisat Oshoala bagged as hat-trick in FC Barcelona 4-0 win against Real Betis at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in their Primera Iberdrola match week 19 encounter.
The Nigerian striker opened the scoring from close range after receiving a cross from Hansen in the 18th minute. She doubled the lead on the 36th minute when the ball was headed backwards and reached Lieke Martens, who had plenty of space to place it for Oshoala.
Just before the half-time whistle, the Super Falcons finds herself once again on the scoresheet after she recovered a ball in the front of the opposing area and hits a full forced shot that beat Thalmann.
Substitute, Fridolina Rolfö who came off the bench in the 61st minute to replace Hansen, needed just five minutes on the pitch to finished off a great cross from Martens to make it 4-0.
Oshoala saw 70th minute before being replaced by Jenni Hermoso. The Nigerian is now the joint top scorer with 15 goals to her name.
At the other end, Ghanaian international Grace Asantewaa saw the last 30 minutes of action after coming off the bench to replace Stefanie de Além da Eira while her side was already trailing by Oshoala’s hat-trick.
The Barça women’s top the league with 18 victories in 18 games with one game less and have scored 102 goals while conceding just 4.
Harambee Starlets of Kenya have reportedly pulled out of the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifiers against Uganda which means Crested Cranes of Uganda have qualified for the tournament set for Morocco.
The Crested Cranes were to face the Harambe Starlets in the last qualifying stage next month, with the first leg scheduled for February 17 and the return fixture scheduled for Nairobi on February 23.
On their official site, Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) reveals that they have received communication that Kenya had written to CAF withdrawing from the tournament.
“We regret to inform you that we have just receive Kenya FA a correspondence informing us of their withdrawal from Africa Women’s Cup of Nations – Morocco 2022. Consequently, matches 45 and 46 are cancelled as well as the missions of all designated officials. Uganda is automatically qualified to the next round of the competition.”
Harambee Starlets had already reported to their training camp on Wednesday at the Moi International Centre, Kasarani.
The official handle of the Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee had denied claims that Kenya have withdrawn from the AWCON qualifiers.
In a press release by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), a series of sanctions have been levelled against AFCON debutants Comoros.
Due to injuries and Covid infections, the Comoros were unable to field a goalkeeper in their Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 encounter against Cameroon, with the team forced to use outfield player in goal with makeshift number.
Left back turned goalkeeper Chaker Alhadhur
Alhadhur usually wears the number 16 shirt for his country, but opted to make the No.3 out of tape and place it over the 16 still printed on his jersey.
The makeshift keeper was forced to play with just nine outfield teammates in front of him for the majority of the game following Jimmy Abdou’s 7th minute red-card.
Comoros were charged after they allegedly displayed irresponsible behavior on several occasions including serious breach of COVID-19 protocols and forcing access to the dressing rooms.
The match officials report mentioned the insults uttered against CAF officials, and the disrespectful behavior of the goalkeeping coach Jean-Daniel Noel Patrice Padovani.
Comoros was also charged for causing a two minute delay to kick-off after their player wore a shirt with a number that is not his when leaving the locker room.
The CAF Disciplinary Board has decided:
• To impose a fine of 10,000 USD on Comoros Football Federation for non-compliance with the COVID-19 Protocol required by CAF;
• To impose a fine of 5,000 USD on Comoros Football Federation for failure to respect the jersey numbers already registered on the CMS system by the player;
• To impose a fine of 2,000 USD on Comoros Football Federation for the delay of the match caused by their players;
• To suspend goalkeeping coach Jean-Daniel Noel Patrice Padovani for his next three matches with the national team, for his disrespectful behaviour.
Worth noting that one of the CAF Vice Presidents, Kazinat Ibrahim is Comorian.
Head coach of the Nigeria senior women’s national team, Randy Waldrum has invited a total of 35 players to the camp of the Super Falcons ahead of next month’s final qualifying fixture for the 12th Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON), against Côte d’Ivoire.
The Super Falcons and the Lady Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire will square up at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, 18th February with the return leg at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan on Wednesday, 23rd February for a slot at AWCON 2022 hosted by Morocco in July.
It would be the first time in decades the team would be playing in the newly renovated Moshood Abiola National Stadium, after years of abandonment.
The nine-time African Champions will do all it takes to avoid a repeat of their 2020 Olympic games qualifier tie against their Ivorian counterparts, as they were eliminated via the away goal rule after playing 0-0 in Abidjan and 1-1 at home in Lagos.
To reach this penultimate round, Super Falcons defeated Ghana Black Queens 2-1 on aggregate while Ivory Coast demolished their Niger counterparts 20-0 on aggregate.
All invited players are expected to arrive Abuja on Tuesday, 1st February.
The Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership matchday six fixtures witnessed four (4) home wins, one (1) away win and a draw with matches played across six centers in the country on Wednesday.
Rivers Angels and Naija Ratels suffered first defeat of the season in their respective match in Nembe & Abuja. Bayelsa Queens finally overtake Rivers Angels as Group B leader while Edo Queens maintained Group A top spot.
Matchday 6 results
Naija Ratels vs Nasarawa Amazons:
Naija Ratels’ unbeaten streak come to an end as they suffered their first league defeat at the Old Parade Ground football field, Area 10, Abuja, on Wednesday.
A 27th minute first-half strike from Tarnum Dooshima was enough for the visitors to secure their second away win of the season.
Edo Queens Vs Osun Babes:
At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the Obaseki Girls’ demolished Omoluabi Queens 3-0, thanks to Adaobi Okah’s brace and Yemisi Samuel strike.
Adaobi Okah connected well to meet with Lucky Odiri’s cross and headed into the net in the 34th minute before Yemisi Samuel rose above every other player in the box as she heads in from Adaobi Okah’s cross in the 67th minute. Two minutes later, Adaobi earned her second to sealed the win for the hosts.
Sunshine Queens Vs Abia Angels:
In Akure, Abia Angels held Sunshine Queens to a 1-1 draw. Nmesoma Ibeh connected a Asha Omolola’s pass before rounding up the goalkeeper to slot into the net in the 11th minute before Abdulwaheed Miriam tapped the ball into the net for the equalizer in the 76th minute.
Adamawa Queens Vs Pelican Stars:
Pelican Stars are still without a goal & a point as they are now bottom of Group A, after losing 1-0 at the Abubakar Pantanmi Stadium, Gombe.
Adamawa Queens earned their second win of the season, thanks to Ijeoma Obi’s 57th minute goal from the spot kick.
Bayelsa Queens Vs Rivers Angels:
In the blockbuster fixture of the day, Itimi Mercy’s 25th minute strike was enough to end Rivers Angels’ unbeaten run as the hosts moved top of Group B with one point ahead of Rivers.
Delta Queens Vs Royal Queens:
In the Delta derby, Delta Queens thrashed Royal Queens 5-1 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
Peace Abbey opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Taiwo Afolabi doubled it in the 22th minute and Rebecca Ajegbemile extended the lead to 3-0 before halftime.
Tosin Ogundeko reduced the visitors deficit on resuming the second half but Comfort Folorunsho’s 52nd minute penalty and Chinansa Agoh’s 87th minute strike secured a maximum win for the hosts.
MOLATsportgist 