Team Romania defeated team England 1-0 in the final of the 2021 Women’s All-Stars Football Competition on Saturday at the Legacy Pitch, Surulere.
The Association of the Nigerian Women Football Club Coaches led by Mr Krämer Hans in conjunction with the Ayisatu Yusuf-Aromire Foundation put this together despite the aftermath of COVID-19 effects on grassroot development, with support from FARE Network, Team Nigeria UK, MonaLiiku among others.
The 26th edition which kicked off on January 6, saw twelve teams grouped into two groups of six teams each, ended on Saturday in the presence of sports dignitaries like Ayisatu Yusuf-Aromire.
The day started with a third-place playoff between Team Nigeria and Team Deutschland in a game that ended 3-0 in favour of Deutschland. Followed by a ceremonial match between the ex-internationals and selected All-Stars players.
Third placed winner – Team DeutschlandSecond placed winners – Team England
All Stars tournament has been an avenue for discovering talents at raw level, nurtured into great potentials and introduced to the global platform since 1997, and this year’s edition is no different as talents were discovered and excellence rewarded.
Nkwocha Favour bags the best Striker award as presented by Ayisatu Yusuf-Aromire. Enebeli Chiamaka Maureen was presented the best goalkeeper of the competition by Mr Hans Kramer and the best defender award goes to Animashaun Tawa.
Best Striker of the tournamentBest Goalkeeper of the tournamentBest Defender of the tournament
The grassroot competition aims at discovery, nurturing and producing talents to the upper level while empowering the girl-child on the street of Nigeria will be back again next year.
Matchday 6 sees 24 goals, two red cards, eight clean sheets, and one crucial away win.
Rivers United with 3 wins and 3 draws, and Remo Stars having 4 wins and 2 draws, are the only unbeaten teams left in the league this season, as the Nigeria Professional Football League wrapped up Matchday 6 on Sunday across nine centres in the country.
Akwa United vs Kastina United
In the game played on Saturday, Charles Okafor and Ubong Friday fired Akwa United to a 2-0 win at home to Katsina United. The defending champions with their first win after three consecutive defeats.
Nasarawa United vs Lobi Stars
Nasarawa United edged past visiting Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1at the Lafia Township Stadium.
Uche Ihurualam put the home side ahead in the 24th minute with a low tap-in. Onyeka Onyebuchi restored parity just three minutes into the second half before Aliyu Abdullahi restored the home side’s advantage with a fine strike in the penalty area in the 72nd minute.
Two minutes later, Lobi Stars were reduced to ten men as Adams Olamilekan got a straight red for headbutting Paul Odeh.
Wikki Tourist vs Remo Stars
Wikki Tourists FC lost 1-2 to Remo Stars of Ikenne at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.
Taiwo Ojo gave the visitors the lead at eleven minutes before a second half goal from Abdullahi Oyedele doubled the lead in the 63rd minute. Salisu Adamu halved the deficit in the 75th minute, but not enough to boost the hosts morale to get a draw at least, as a penalty was awarded in the 90th minute, but Kayode Bankole saved it to ensure the visitors go back with maximum points.
League leaders, Remo Stars are yet to taste defeat after six games with their second win away from home in the ongoing league campaign.
Rivers United vs Kwara United
Rivers United thrashed Kwara United 3-0 at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
Former Kano Pillars forward Nyima Nwagua broke the deadlock for the Port Harcourt side in the 32nd minute from from Ishaq Rafiu’s assist, who later converted a spot kick just six minutes after the break. The Pride of Rivers capped a brilliant afternoon with a third from Chidiebube Duru on 53 minutes, as they moved back to the second spot on the log.
Plateau United vs Dakkada FC
In Jos, Plateau United demolished Dakkada FC 5-0 at Rawang Pam stadium.
Anthony Sunday scored twice while Muhammed Zulkilifu, Akila Jesse, and Albert Hilary secured the other goals for Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side.
Dakkada FC recorded their worst ever result in the NPFL. They conceded 5 goals in the NPFL for the first time in their history, while, Plateau United scored 5 goals in an NPFL match for the first time since January 2020 (5-0 Adamawa United).
Rangers FC vs MFM
MFM fall to 19th position after losing by two goals to Enugu Rangers, away from home.
Emmanuel Olusesi in the 14th minute and Ossy Martins penalty in the 45th minute won the game at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
The win saw Rangers climb to third place on 11 points in the league standing.
Shooting Stars vs Sunshine Stars (The South West Derby)
Sunshine Stars held Shooting Stars to a 2-2 draw at the Lekan Salami, Adamasigba Stadium.
Gafar Olafimihan had given the home side the lead in the 22nd minute from a penalty spot before Anthony Anike headed in the equalizer on 40 minutes. The visitors took the lead in what seems to have been a comeback through substitute, Nwogbada Ebonam with a camera worthy 20 yards screamer but Wasiu Alalade salvaged the point for the Oluyole Warriors in the 73rd minute.
Gombe Unitedvs Enyimba FC
The people’s elephant of Aba, Enyimba FC secured a crucial point away at Gombe United to move to fifth place on the log, four points adrift of leaders Remo Stars.
Kano Pillars vs Niger Tornadoes
Struggling Kano Pillars rise from the relegation zone as the woes of Niger Tornadoes continues.
A 49th-minute strike from Mark Daniel was enough for the Sai Masu Gida to sealed maximum points.
In the 80th minute, Sunday Akinmoladun received a second yellow card, which saw Tornadoes finish the game with ten men, as they sit bottom of the NPFL table with only 5 points and a -5 goal difference.
Abia Warriors vs Heartland FC
At the Aba Township Stadium, Gabriel Innocent’s 11th minute won the game for Abia Warriors in the South Eastern derby.
Standings after match week 6
Action returns to the NPFL on Wednesday, January 19 with all fixtures of matchday 7 kicking off by 4 pm across various match venues in Nigeria.
After so many back and forth with nothing to separate the two sides, a great pass from Angela Sosa between the Basque centrals found a very fast Asantewaa, who took advantage of it very well against Amaia Peña, to broke the deadlock in the 36th minute.
The two players combined once again to doubled the lead and secured the maximum points for the hosts in the 89th minute, when Angela Sosa from the corner laid a back pass for Asantewaa who made no mistake from the edge of the area.
The Ghanaian international has already scored six goals this season beating her own record of four goals last season in Logrono.
The Verdiblancas moved to ninth position and will next face the unbeaten FC Barcelona.
Sevilla FC Women defeated Valencia Féminas CF 3-1 at the Estadio Jesus Navas in the Primera Iberdrola match week 18 fixture.
Nagore Calderón opened the scoring for Sevilla immediately after kick-off whistle.
Nigeria international, Toni Oyedupe Payne came off the bench in the 46th minute to replaced Imma Gabarro and seal a back-to-back victory for her side.
Valencia restored parity just five minutes after the restart through María Jiménez from a set piece. But the scoreline lasted for seven minutes before Michele Vasconcelos restored the hosts’ lead.
The substitute, Toni Payne took advantage of a ball caught on the left side to hit the squad and make the third with more than 20 minutes to go.
Payne thought she had added another one for her team but was denied by a Noelia Gil’s goal-line save, before the visitors were reduced to ten after Ana Torrodá saw a second yellow card.
The Super Falcons player now has four league goals this season with two assists, as they prepare to face UEFA Champions League debutant, Real Madrid.
With this victory, Sevilla FC Women go to the first break of 2022 with a 9 out of 9 that has not been seen for a long time.
Atlético de Madrid femenino came from behind to beat Sporting de Hueva 3-2 in what is the first home game of 2022, on Sunday at the Wanda Alcalá de Henares Sports Center.
Super Falcons forward, Rasheedat Ajibade saw red card after two bookable offense in the space of two minutes (63, 65) while her side trailed 0-1.
The Nigerian international has however scored five goals in thirteen games this season and will miss the game against Osinachi Ohale’s Deportivo Alaves.
Sporting de Huelva took the lead with a penalty goal from Ana Marcos in the 31st minute, before doubling it in the 74th minute through Mayra.
Despite being a player down, the Rojiblancas never relent or lost hope as Ludmila reduced the deficit in the 81st minute. Deyna Castellanos then converted a 90th minute penalty before completing an impossible comeback in the final stretch of added time.
It’s the battle of the Eagles and the Falcons when Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated the Falcons of Sudan 3-1 in the second Group D match of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday.
The Nigeria interim manager made no changes to the side that defeated Egypt 1-0 in the first game.
Just three minutes into the game, Moses Simon latched onto a long throw into the Sudan penalty area, and with his back to goal, the Nantes player laid the ball off to Samuel Chukwueze, who found the net with a clinical left-footed strike.
In the 20th minute, Wilfred Ndidi could have made it 2-0 but hit the crossbar with his superb header. Another opportunity came in the 36th when William Troost-Ekong was denied by a sprawling Ali Abdallah Abu-Eshrein before Taiwo Awoniyi poked the ball against the post from close range. Five minutes later, Joe Aribo with a one-two pass in the box but shoot narrowly wide.
The goal would finally come just before the half-time, as Sudan failed to deal with Kelechi Iheanacho’s deep free-kick, which culminated in the ball bouncing off Awoniyi and into the net.
Eagles started where they stopped as Moses Simon put his name on the scoresheet sliding the ball home after a quick one-two with Awoniyi, just one minute into the second half.
Following a VAR review, referee Victor Gomes pointed to the spot and Sudan were given penalty with less than 25 minutes left to play. Walieldin Khidir calmly converted to net his nation’s first goal of the tournament.
Nigeria seat comfortably at the top of the table and joined Morocco and Cameroon in the round of 16. However, the Eagles will still play their last group game against Guinea Bissau on January 19.
Nigerian international forward, Charity Reuben helped Hapoel Be’er Sheva to its third win of the season, with a goal and assist over Hapoel Mamorek at the Kiryat Gat training pitch on Thursday.
The former Bayelsa Queens has now scored eight league goals with three assists for the Israeli Ligat Al side.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva now seat sixth on the log with just seven points behind league leaders, Maccabi Kishronot Hadera FC, and will next face Bnot Eliat on Sunday, 16th of January.
Burkina Faso became just the second-ever side in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) history to beat Cape Verde in a group game, and could progress to the knockout phase after their 1-0 victory.
Burkina Faso began the match on a high note at the Paul Biya Stadium. Gustavo Sangaré came close with a whipped freekick, while Boureima Hassane Bandé’s close-range effort was denied by the Cape Verde shot-stopper.
Converting Issa Kaboré’s cross with a piece of brilliant improvisation, an acrobatic Hassane Bandé was able to knock the ball home from close range with his chest, just before the interval.
The Stallions had now scored the opening goal in six of their last seven AFCON encounters.
The Blue Sharks had their chances in the second half but unable to utilize any of it as captain Stopira unable to direct a free header goalwards and Garry Rodrigues stung the palms of goalkeeper Hervé Koffi with a drilled effort.
The victory sees the ‘Stallions’ leap up to second in Group A, three points behind leaders and host nation Cameroon.
Hosts Cameroon became the first team to qualify for the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 4-1 win over Ethiopia in Group A.
Ethiopia scored first to silenced the home crowd just four minutes into the game through Dawa Hotessa who rounded off a beautiful passing move past Onana.
The lead was cut short four minutes later when Cameroon hit back before the opponent could settle, Karl Toko Ekambi met Collins Fai’s cross with a superb header that restored parity after Aboubakar’s fierce shot was saved.
Ekambi could have doubled the lead before halftime but clattered the woodwork with a towering header while Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu had a goal ruled out for offside.
An end-to-end affair was turned to a one sided affair when Cameroon took the lead for the first time in the 53rd minute as Aboubakar powerfully headed home from another Fai’s cross.
90 seconds later, Ethiopia lost total concentration as they were caught unguarded and Aboubakar converted from a close range tap-in, recording a brace in two minutes.
With his brace, Vincent Aboubakar now has four goals in two games of this year’s tournament and became Cameroon’s first player to score in three consecutive AFCON games since Samuel Eto’o in 2008.
The 29-year-old scored twice from the spot kick against Burkina Faso in opening game and bagged another brace against Ethiopia as the hosts search for its sixth AFCON title.
Ekambi forced two saves out of Teklemariam Shanko, but he would not be denied a third time, after dribbling round two defenders before firing into the bottom corner as he extends the lead to 4-1 with his brace. His stellar performance did not go unnoticed as he’s voted Man Of The Match.
Substitute Bezabih Melayu missed a sitter to restore Ethiopia hope as they are potentially out after successive defeats.
The result leaves the ‘Indomitable Lions’ top of Group A with six points from two games.
Cameroon still remain unbeaten in Yaoundé in 33 years. If they win their last group game against Cape Verde and/or top Group A they will also play their round of 16 game there and then potential semi-final and final matches in their fortress, Yaoundé.
Vihiga Queens’ save hands, Lilian Awuor Onyango is set to join French Division-1 Femenine outfit, ASJ Soyaux-Charente that plays in the top tier Arkema league in France.
Her stellar performance during the CAF Champions League Zonal Qualifiers (CECAFA) earned Vihiga Queens a slot at the inaugural TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League last year in Egypt.
Lilian made a record 19 saves in the tournament, the most of any goalkeeper; she faced 24 shots on target, a joint-high alongside Malabo King’s Ruth Sunday. She also won herself Player of the Match against Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies despite losing 1-0 in that game.
Confirming the development, Vihiga Queen’s executive committee via its Twitter page, thanked Lilian for her services and wished her well for her new journey.
“The Executive Committee of Vihiga Queens Football Club is proud to announce that our goalkeeper Lilian Awour Onyango is set to travel to France to join ASJ Soyaux-Charente (Association Sportive Jeunesse de Soyaux Charente) commonly-known as Soyaux Women Football Club that plays in the French top division (Division 1Feminine).”
1/5 OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION
The Executive Committee of @Vihigaqueens is proud to announce that our goalkeeper Lilian Awuor Onyango is set to travel to France to join ASJ Soyaux-Charente (Association Sportive Jeunesse de Soyaux Charente) also known as Soyaux Women Football Club… pic.twitter.com/JO9l313FHV
Lilian will jet out of the country on Sunday evening to join her new club and land in Paris, France on the morning of 17th January 2022, where she will join her African sisters, Onyinyechi Zogg of Nigeria and Mireille Tchengang of Cameroon.
MOLATsportgist 