NPFL Round-up: Rivers United and Wikki Tourist win away from home as MFM and Shooting Stars poor start continues

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 7 saw six fixtures honoured on Wednesday with two more fixtures to be completed on Thursday to wrap up week seven.

Dakkada vs Wikki Tourist:

Abubakar Aliu’s 65th minute strike gave Wikki Tourist their first win away from Bauchi and a compensation for their home defeat to Remo Stars last weekend.

The victory means Wikki Tourists have recorded an away win in the NPFL for the first time since November 2019, and i was also their 1st ever clean sheet against Dakkada FC in the NPFL.

Plateau United vs Nasarawa United:

In Jos, Plateau United continued their home scoring record with a 3-2 victory against Nasarawa United.

Haggai Katoh opened the day for the hosts just 7th minute into the game before Uche Ihuarulem responded with a goal for the visitors in 38th minute.

Jesse Akila restored the lead through a headed goal five minutes after the interval and Mohammed Zilkifilu made it 3-1 seven minutes later, before Tochukwu Michael reduced the deficit from the spot kick as Silas Nwankwo was fouled in the box by the goalkeeper.

According to opta, Nasarawa United are the only team that have won at least a penalty away from home in the NPFL this season. They have won 3 penalties and converted 2.

Niger Tornadoes vs Shooting Stars:

Struggling newly promoted Shooting Stars continued their poor run with a 2-0 loss to Niger Tornadoes.

The Oluyole Warriors in 19th position, are winless in their last three NPFL fixtures, losing two and drawing one while Tornadoes had lost three and drawn two of their last five games.

Goals in each half from Martins Usule and Munir Idris ensured that Tornadoes scored 2+ goals in an NPFL match for the first time since April 2019 – a span of 14 games.

MFM vs Rivers United:

With the league leaders, Remo Stars game against Abia Warriors holding Thursday, Rivers United have gone top of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), after defeating MFM 3-1 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Former MFM player, Chijioke Akuneto opened the scoring for the visitors in the 35th minute. The season’s leading goalscorer, Kayode Ishaq doubled the lead from a rebound – with his sixth goal of the season – in the added time of first half, before Uche Onwuansonya increased the tally in the 82min.

The Olukoya Boys pulled one back through Tosin Olubobola.

Sunshine Stars vs Gombe United:

Promise Orji’s early strike and Bello Babatunde’s well taken freekick in the 46th minute earned Sunshine Stars maximum points at home against Gombe United.

Katsina United vs Lobi Stars:

The game between Katsina United and Lobi Stars at the Mohammed Dikko Stadium ended goal less.

Coming up on Thursday in the completion of the NPFL matchday 7 fixtures are:

Unbeaten Remo Stars will take on Abia Warriors in Ikenne and have the chance to go back to the top if they win, while Kwara United will host Kano Pillars.

Two other fixtures involving Enyimba and Akwa United and Heartland versus Rangers were rescheduled to later dates.

NWFL Premiership Round-up: Unbeaten Naija Ratels holds Confluence Queens at home as Nasarawa Amazons wins big

The Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership matchday five fixtures completed with matches played across six centers in the country on Wednesday.

The matchday saw a total of seven (7) goals scored, six (6) scored by home teams with just one away win and three goalless draws. Royal Queens recorded its first win of the season while Nasarawa Amazons demolished Adamawa Queens and Edo Queens commanded victory away from home.

Confluence Queens Vs Naija Ratels – Ilorin Township Stadium, Ilorin:

Confluence Queens were held to a barren draw by Naija Ratels at their newly adopted home ground, the Ilorin Township Stadium.

Mercy Omokwo was presented her NWFL player of the month award for December by Naija Ratels Chairman Bar. Poul Edeh before their kicks off.

Confluence Queens came into this game looking for redemption after their 1-0 defeat away to Adamawa Queens FC last week but high flying Ratels came prepared to maintain their unbeaten run.

Pelican Stars vs Edo Queens – U.J Usuene Stadium, Calabar:

Edo Queens extend the gap at the top of Group A as they continue their unbeaten away record after beating Pelican Stars 1-0 at the the U.J Usuene Stadium. Thanks to Abideen Suliat 66th minute goal.

Travelling by air to honour away matches might be a significant influence on the Betsy Obaseki’s having a good away record this season amassing seven points from the possible nine, with maximum points in Gombe against Adamawa Queens, a point in Lokoja against Confluence Queens and all points against Pelican Stars in Calabar.

Nasarawa Amazons Vs Adamawa Queens – Lafia City Stadium, Lafia:

An unsurprising riot for Nasarawa Amazons who rained goals on Adamawa Queens at the Lafia City Stadium.

Amazons recorded the biggest win of day scoring four (4) goals past Adamawa, with all goals coming in first half.

Loveth Edeh opened the scoring just three minutes into the game, Tarnum Dooshima doubled the lead in the 22nd minute before completing the rout in the added time of first half. Seeds Titilayo had scored the third goal earlier in the 31st minute.

With this win, Amazons now moved to second on the log with a point above Naija Ratels and Confluence Queens and just two points behind Edo Queens.

FC Robo Queens Vs Delta Queens – Legacy Football Pitch, National Stadium Surulere:

FC Robo Queens aim to bounce back from the narrow defeat suffered against Sunshine Queens in Akure last week, as they welcomed a Delta Queens side accompanied by her Sport Commissioner.

Despite looking the better side on the pitch, ‘The Lagos Landladies’ were unable to convert any of their chances.

The visitors also threatened on some occasions and really looked impressive in the presence of their State Sport Commissioner but the Robo defense were quite up to task.

With complains from both teams about officiating of the day, the game ended in a barren draw.

Abia Angels Vs Bayelsa Queens– Umuahia Township Stadium, Umuahia:

Abia Angels with determination to bounce back from their 4-0 defeat away to Rivers Angels, welcomed another strong opponent at home.

The Umuahia based side have just one point before this game and stood their ground against a tough Bayelsa Queens side –who aimed to overtake Rivers Angels at the top of Group B – in a game that ended goalless.

Royal Queens Vs Sunshine Queens – Warri Township Stadium, Warri:

With just one point from its last three games, a determined Royal Queens welcomed Sunshine Queens of Akure who are with more confidence after beating FC Robo last week to record its first win.

The god of soccer says it’s Royal Queens turn to taste its first win of the season beating Sunshine Queens 2-0 at the Warri Township Stadium.

The hosts waited forty (40) minutes before finally broke the deadlock and climbed their toughest mountain in space of two minutes, when Ayomide Arowokeye scored the opener in the 40th minute and two minutes later, Oluwatosin Ogundeko added one more goal before the visitors could settled into the reality that they are trailing by a goal.

WATCH: Uchenna Kanu opens goal scoring account for Tigres UANL

Nigerian international Uchenna Kanu has opened goal scoring account with her new team Tigres UANL in her team’s 1-1 draw against Guadalajara on Monday in the matchday two of the Mexican Women’s Soccer League.

Tigres dominated Chivas in the first half and Kanu could have been on the scoresheet earlier in the 29th minute but her shot inside the area was deflected to a corner kick by the defense.

The 24-year-old Nigerian striker opened the deadlock when she headed a corner kick into the back of the net, making it 1-0 in the 51st minute.

Unmarked Joseline Montoya headed home the equalising goal in the 63rd minute as the game ended 1-1.

Kanu joined Tigres from Linkopings and has made her debut in a 1-3 away win over Necaxa on January 11, where she came close to scoring on her debut.

The Nigerian has played 180 minutes for the Tigres as they occupies third position on the table with four points from two games and will next face Juarez away on January 25.

NWFL Matchday 5 Preview: Confluence Queens to play first match at newly adopted home ground as Naija Ratels aim to overtake Edo Queens at the top

NWFL Premiership returns this midweek for matchday five fixtures, with matches expected across six centers in the country.

Edo Queens with their less stressed travel plan will be in Calabar to face bottom side Pelican Stars. Confluence Queens welcome Naija Ratels to their adopted home ground, the Ilorin Township Stadium, while Bayelsa Queens will be aiming to go top of Group B, when they visit Abia Angels in Umuahia.

Pelican Stars Vs Edo Queens – U.J Usuene Stadium, Calabar:

It’s a battle between the top team and the bottom one. Pelican Stars have suffered three defeats in the hands of Confluence Queens, Nasarawa Amazons and Osun Babes respectively and will face another league giant, Edo Queens who arrived Calabar on Monday through air.

Edo Queens are Group A leaders and have a good away record this season, getting maximum points in Gombe against Adamawa Queens and a point in Lokoja against Confluence Queens. With this, they will be confident that they can get maximum points at the U.J Usuene Stadium on Wednesday.

Pelican Stars, surely will give a good fight in front of their fans and the ‘Betsy Obaseki Ladies’ might have it difficult if they are complacent.

Confluence Queens FC Vs Naija Ratels FC – Ilorin Township Stadium, Ilorin:

The two top scorers in the league will face each other on Wednesday at the Ilorin Township Stadium. Mercy Omokwo and Olamide Adugbe have scored four goals each this season leading the topscorer chart.

Confluence Queens will be playing at their adopted home ground, the Ilorin Township Stadium following the bad form in which their stadium is currently in.

The ‘New Direction’ Ladies have scored six goals and conceded two, while Naija Ratels have scored nine goals and conceded four in the process.

Naija Ratels will fancy their chances of giving Confluence Queens something to think about. Bankole Olowookeere is likely to make one or two changes, with Motunrayo Ezekiel and Bunmi Oladeji, presently unavailable due to national team assignment with U20.

Nasarawa Amazons Vs Adamawa Queens – Lafia City Stadium, Lafia:

Two northern sides meet at the Lafia City Stadium. Nasarawa Amazons are presently fourth in Group A, despite having two big wins in their first two games. They lost away to Edo Queens last week and seems to be a stronger team than their opponent on Wednesday.

Danjuma Christopher wouldn’t want to remember how the team started so poorly last season and have done everything possible to strengthen his team this season and no doubt they have been a very good side.

Adamawa Queens got their first win last week against Confluence Queens, in a game they fought so hard to earn the victory.

FC Robo Queens Vs Delta Queens – Legacy Football Pitch, National Stadium Surulere:

FC Robo Queens suffered a narrow defeat against Sunshine Queens in Akure last week and will face Delta Queens on Wednesday in Lagos. Delta Queens surprisingly played a 1-1 draw with Bayelsa Queens at the Nembe Township Stadium on Matchday Two and would be aiming at doing the same to the ‘Lagos Landladies’ in front of their home fans.

The ‘Lagos Landladies’ are always a very difficult team to beat at home. They are reasonably a very strong team and have exciting young players. They are more determined than ever with the involvement of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the well-being.

Abia Angels Vs Bayelsa Queens– Umuahia Township Stadium, Umuahia:

While Bayelsa Queens won Royal Queens by 3-0 last week, Abia Angels fell 4-0 to Rivers Angels in Port Harcourt. The game in Umuahia is a very important one for Abia Angels who have only one point from three games and are second bottom just behind Royal Queens who drew against them at home on matchday two.

Bayelsa Queens like a predator, would be hoping to feast on their prey, but it won’t be so easy. Abia Angels, though, a modest team, can get things done at home, play well and earn good results against big sides. It is expected to be a difficult game for both sides.

Royal Queens Vs Sunshine Queens – Warri Township Stadium, Warri:

Royal Queens with just one point from their last three games will hope to record its first win against a Sunshine Queens who recorded their first win of the season last week against F.C Robo Queens in Akure.

Royal Queens lost 3-0 in the hands of Bayesla Queens last week, after they had earlier lost 4-0 at home to Rivers Angels. Their only point was gotten in Umuahia against Abia Angels.

Standings ahead of matchday 5

2021 FIFA The Best Award Winners: Some big names missing as FIFA revealed FIFPRO World XI

The Best FIFA Football Awards held on Monday night in Zurich, Switzerland, where the FIFA FIFPRO World XIs is voted for by professional footballers across the world was officially revealed, with some baffling selections in both the men’s and women’s sides.

The men’s XI featured Lewandowski and Messi, as well as Norway sensation Erling Haaland and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne. Liverpool star, Salah missed out despite coming third as Player of the Year.

The women’s World XI did not include any of the three nominees for Best Women’s Player, with Kerr, Putellas and Jenni Hermoso all left out. However somehow featured Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Marta. Meanwhile, not a single member of Barcelona’s treble-winning side was selected.

Erik Lamela, who departed Tottenham for Sevilla in July 2021 – won the FIFA Puskas Award for his rabona goal in the north London derby in March 2021. It is the second straight Puskas Award to be won for a goal scored in a Spurs shirt, and with Jose Mourinho as the manager, after Heung-Min Son claimed the prize for his strike against Burnley last time around.

BEST FIFA AWARDS WINNERS:

Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas

Best FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes

Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Christiane Endler

Best FIFA Special Award: Christine Sinclair

Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Best FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year: Thomas Tuchel

Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Edouard Mendy

Best FIFA Special Award: Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFA Puskas Award: Erik Lamela goal vs Arsenal

FIFA Fan Award: Denmark & Finland fans for support on Eriksen’s injury

FIFA Fair Play Award: Denmark national team/Danish medical team and coaching staff

The FIFA Fifpro Men’s World XI: Donnarumma; Dias, Bonucci, Alaba; Jorginho, Kante, De Bruyne; Ronaldo, Haaland, Lewandowski, Messi.

The FIFA Fifpro Women’s World XI: Chistiane Endler; Lucy Bronze, Wendy Renard, Mille Bright, Magdalena Erikkson; Estafania Banini, Carli Lloyd, Barbara Bonansea; Vivianne Miedema, Marta, Alex Morgan

Robert Lewandowski becomes the first player to retain FIFA ‘The Best’ player award after Cristiano Ronaldo

Robert Lewandowski has been named the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year for the second year running at a ceremony at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich on Monday.

The Bayern Munich striker (48) beat one-time holder Lionel Messi (44) by four votes and Mohamed Salah (39) by nine votes to the award.

The Polish forward, scored 58 goals in 47 games in all competitions in 2021, which included breaking two long-standing records previously held by the legendary German striker Gerd Muller. He bagged 41 goals in a single Bundesliga season for Bayern, and 43 Bundesliga goals in a calendar year.

The 33-year-old, winner of the men’s award in 2020, also became the first player in Bundesliga history to finish top scorer in four consecutive seasons.

The award was some consolation for the Polish striker who lost out to Messi for the Ballon d’Or in November

Emma Hayes and Thomas Tuchel grab FIFA ‘The Best’ coaching awards

Chelsea had a fantastic night as FIFA held its annual ‘The Best’ awards in Zürich on Monday, collecting three awards and seeing four players named among the best 22 in the world.

The coaches for both men’s team and women’s team Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes are named The Best in the world.

The Blues reached the finals of both the men’s and women’s UEFA Champions League final last season, with the men’s side defeating Manchester City to lift the European Cup for the second time, while the women’s lost 4-0 to FC Barcelona but won a domestic treble.

Chelsea FC Women’s coach, Emma Hayes was awarded FIFA The Best Women’s Coach of the Year award ahead of former FC Barcelona coach, Lluís Cortés and English Manager, Sarina Wiegman.

Tuchel saw off competition from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Italy’s Euro 2020 winning coach Roberto Mancini to win the award for the first time.

In less than five months after Tuchel was appointed manager, Chelsea have won the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.

Édouard Mendy becomes the first African to win FIFA The Best Goalkeeper of the year

The world governing body of football, FIFA during its awards gala in Zurich on Monday, announced Senegal and Chelsea goalkeeper, Édouard Mendy as the best goalkeeper of year for 2021.

Mendy held off competition from Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Germany’s Manuel Neuer in the final to win the prestigious award.

Mendy kept 29 clean sheets and conceded 27 goals in 50 games for Chelsea while winning the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the UCL goalkeeper of the season.

The Senegalese is currently on duty with his national team at the 33rd Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, when the news got to him and was celebrated by his teammates.

Though, yet to make his AFCON debut due to testing positive for COVID-19 but the 29-year-old is expected to be on duty tomorrow when his team face Malawi in the last group B match.

Christine Sinclair and Cristiano Ronaldo win FIFA special award for all-time goalscoring record

Christine Sinclair and Cristiano Ronaldo have been recognised with a special award for breaking the all-time international goal-scoring record and men’s all time goal scoring record respectively.

Sinclair has 188 goals in 308 international appearances, scored in 21 different countries and against 42 different opponents and Canada has won 76 per cent of the matches in which she has scored.

Her bulging trophy cabinet got another piece of shiny hardware as the world governing body of soccer presented her with The Best FIFA Special Award during its Best FIFA Football Awards gala in Zurich on Monday.

The 38-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., the world’s all-time leading scorer, has already taken part in five World Cups, four Olympic tournaments and been shortlisted for FIFA women’s world player of the year seven times (in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016).

Sinclair is the leading international scorer among both women and men.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds the men’s all-time scoring record with 115 goals in 184 appearances, was also presented with The Best FIFA Special Award, breaking Ali Daei’s previous record of 109.

The 36-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner and two-time FIFA Player of The Year winner say he still have several years to carry on; “I’m 37 soon, I feel good and motivated. I keep working hard since I was 18 and I continue. I have that passion and want to continue.”

Alexia Putellas Becomes The First Spanish Player To Win FIFA The Best Player of The Year

Alexia Putellas of Barcelona and Spain has been named the Best Women’s Player in the 2021 Best FIFA Football Awards.

She is the first Spanish player to win the The Best Player of FIFA World Player of the Year award for either men’s or women’s football.

Alexia also became the first female to score in a competitive match at the Nou Camp and scored in the first-ever women’s El Clasico against Real Madrid.

The Ballon d’or winner won the award ahead of teammate, Jennifer Hermoso and Chelsea FC Women forward, Samantha Kerr.

The 27-year-old midfielder enjoyed an exceptional 2020-2021 season with Barcelona when she led the Catalans to the Spanish league and cup double as well as the Champions League (the first Spanish side to win the title).