Juventus women are Super-Coppa Femminile Champions after a comeback against AC Milan

Juventus came from behind against AC. Milan to claim their third consecutive Supercoppa Femminile title with a 2-1 win on Saturday at the Stadio Benito Stirpe (Frosinone).

Milan grab the lead through Christy Grimshaw who nodded home from Linda
Tucceri Cimini’s corner-kick cross in the added time of the first half.

The lead was short lived as Valentina Bergamaschi’s own goal restored parity in the 50th minute, an event that marked the beginning of a terrible second half.

Four minutes later, Laia Codina was shown red card for a second bookable offense.

The Bianconere took advantage and pushed hard for victory, an effort that later paid off in the 88th minute as Cristiana Girelli headed home the winner from a Lisa Boattin’s corner kick.

Only Torres (seven), AGSM Verona and Brescia (four) have won this title more times than the Bianconere who now has three.

Martina Rosucci joined Arianna Caruso, Lisa Boattin, Barbara Bonansea and Tuija Hyyrynen in the exclusive century club, after making her 100th appearance for Juventus in all competitions.

WATCH: Oshoala on target from injury return

Asisat Oshoala returned to scoring from injury in a 0-7 victory over Granadilla Tenerife as FC Barcelona Femeni started 2022 where they left it off in 2021.

The Super Falcons captain has been sidelined since 13 November 2021 with a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.

The 27-year-old was called on from bench to replaced Lieke Martens in the 76th minute before netting her side’s last goal a minute from full-time (89mins) with her superb solo finish.

Before her injury, she’s leading the league’s topscorers chart with 11 goals in nine matches but was overtaken by teammate Alexia Putellas with just a goal advantage.

With her latest goal, the Nigerian international has now scored 12 goals in 10 league outings this season and goes joint-top with Putellas on the scorers table despite missing out in Barcelona’s last seven league games.

Pisco own goal in the 25th minute broke the deadlock. Other goals from; Graham Hansen (29), Fridolina Rolfö (48), Lieke Martens (63, 69) and Patri Guijarro (74), before injury returnee completed the rout in the 89th minute.

Jonatan Giráldez’s team remains firmly in the lead with 16 victories in 16 league games.

At the other end, Rosa Ariyo was an unused substitute for her side, UD Granadilla Tenerife.

AFCON Show Will Go On, If 11 Players Have Negative COVID-19 Result

According to CAF new guidelines, matches will go ahead if National teams suffering Covid outbreaks has a minimum of 11 players available with negative COVID-19 test results.

Even if none of the eleven players available is a goalkeeper, an outfield player is expected to assume the role or risk automatic work-over – any nation unable to fulfil a fixture will forfeit the game 2-0.

The guidelines was issued after several nations reported COVID-19 cases before the tournament starts on Sunday.

Five players of the Burkina Faso first team including the head coach have been reported positive ahead of their opening game against Cameroon tomorrow. Also, Senegal has reported that first choice goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and team captain Kalidou Koulibally have tested positive ahead of their Monday clash against Zimbabwe.

On Friday, Egypt delayed their departure for the tournament and were forced to cancel training after positive cases were reported in their camp.

Guinea were also forced to leave behind defender Mikael Dyrestam, midfielder Morlaye Sylla and striker Seydouba Soumah at their training base in Rwanda.

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was among two players to test positive in the Gabon squad on Thursday.

Cape Verde and debutants Gambia were hit by several positive tests last week, while Tunisia have also reported cases from their pre-tournament camp.

According to CAF, tournament’s organising committee “will take the appropriate decision” when there are “exceptional cases”.

CAF ExCo Approves Increase In AFCON Prize Money

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has raised the prize money for the winners of the 2022 AFCON in Cameroon to $5 million up from the previous amount of $4 million.

At the 2015 edition of the AFCON, the winner received $1.5M as prize money. After seven years, the prize has shot up by 230%.

The Champions of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will receive a five-million-dollar $5M prize fund (about N2.8 billion).

The continental football governing body announced the 10 percent increment in a statement released on Friday evening.

The decision was made during a meeting of the Confederation of African Football’s Executive Committee in Douala, Cameroon on Friday.

The rise in prize money will begin with the 2021 AFCON, which begins on Sunday in Yaounde.

The prize money for the competition’s runners-up will be 2.75 million dollars, up from 2.5 million dollars and a 10% increase.

The prize money for the semi-finalists and quarter-finalists was also increased, for a total increase of 1.85 million dollars on all prize money.

The rise, according to CAF, is in accordance with the organization’s commitment to rewarding excellent performance and elevating the competition’s status, which is now in its 33rd edition.

The new AFCON prize money structure is as follows:

• Winners: 5 million dollars (an increase of 500,000 dollars)
• Runners-up: 2.75 million dollars (an increase of 250,000 dollars)
• Semi-Finalists: 2.2 million dollars (an increase of 200,000 dollars)
• Quarter-Finalists: 1.175 million dollars (an increase of 175,000 dollars).

Nominees For The 2021 Nigeria Pitch Awards Revealed

In a press conference held at Ibis Hotel Lagos on Wednesday, the nominees for the eighth edition of The Nigeria Pitch Awards were announced with 17 categories to be decided.

The Nigeria Pitch Awards, initiated by Matchmakers Inc in 2012, is aimed at recognising the country’s most outstanding football persons in a given year.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Barcelona women’s Asisat Oshoala are top of the list of nominees for the 2021 Nigeria Pitch Awards billed to hold in Abuja in March, 2022.

Up against Asisat Oshoala for the Queen of the Pitch award are Gift Monday of
Rivers Angels and Uchenna Kalu of Linkopings FC.

Wilfred Ndidi and Paul Onuachu ready to give Napoli star Victor Osimhen a run for the King of the Pitch award.

Speaking on the 2021 awards, President, Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, explained that the journey to the eighth edition of the awards “is the story of the determination of all stakeholders to create and sustain a reward platform for our footballers, administrators and football lovers and supporters.”

He recalled that in its inaugural press conference in 2012, the organiers promised that the Nigeria Pitch Awards would offer Nigerians more than awards to deserving footballers, adding, “In continuing with this vision to offer more to improve sports in Nigeria, we are pleased to announce an annual symposium on sports.

“The symposium which will precede the annual Award Ceremony will attract local and international speakers. Our vision is to make the gathering a unique opportunity to renew and re-focus national attention on sports in Nigeria and open up avenues for administrators to harness the opportunities sports provide. We will outline more details of this project in the coming months,” he stated.

NOMINEES IN FULL:

Goalkeeper of the Year:
Francis Uzoho
Maduka Okoye
Daniel Akpeyi

Defender of the Year:
William Troost Ekong
Olisa Ndah
Leon Balogun

Midfielder of the Year:
Frank Onyeka
Joe Aribo
Wilfred Ndidi

Striker of the Year:
Kelechi Iheanacho
Victor Osimhen
Paul Onuachu

Queen of the Pitch:
Gift Monday
Asisat Oshoala
Uchenna Kalu

King of the Pitch:
Wilfred Ndidi
Paul Onuachu
Victor Osimhen

Team of the Year:
Bayelsa United
Rivers United
Akwa United

Coach of the Year:
Diepreye Teibowei
Edwin Okon
Kennedy Boboye

Journalist of the Year:
Fisayo Dairo
Shina Oludare
Tobi Adepoju

Sam Okwaraji Award:
Victor Osimhen
Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi
Asisat Oshoala

State with best grassroots football development:
Delta
Edo
Lagos

Football Friendly Governor:
Nyesom Wike
Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa

Corporate Sponsor of Football Award:
Aiteo Group
Air Peace

Football Pitch of the Year Award:
Godswill Akpabio Stadium
Mobolaji Johnson Stadium
Teslim Balogun Stadium

Asisat Oshoala Recovers From Injury Ahead Of AWCON Qualifier

Super Falcons and Barcelona Femeni attacker Asisat Oshoala has been medically cleared to resume full training on Friday afternoon.

The former FC Robo Queens forward last played for the European Champions on November 10, 2021, during her side’s 4-0 thrashing of Hoffenheim in the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage match.

Oshoala hobbled off with a knee injury and was replaced by Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic in the 63rd minute of the match and was sidelined for eight matches in all competitions.

The medical clearance came as a good news as she will now be available for selection ahead of Barcelona first game of the year against Rosa Ariyo’s Granadilla Tenerife.

Randy Waldrum will be also be relieved as the four-time Africa Women’s Player of The Year will be match fit ahead of Super Falcons’ final qualifying match for the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) against Côte d’Ivoire.

Sam Kerr Up Against Barcelona Duo For The Best FIFA Women’s Player Award

FC Barcelona duo of Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso has been shortlisted for the 2021 FIFA The Best Women’s Player of the year award along with Chelsea FC and Australian forward, Samantha Kerr.

The award is given to the outstanding player in women’s football as voted for by an international jury comprising the current coaches of all women’s national teams (one per team), one specialist journalist from each territory represented by a national team and fans registered on the FIFA website.

Alexia Putellas who won the 2021 Ballon d’or award was part of treble-winning FC Barcelona Femeni side for the 2020/2021 season as well as its present perfect run in all competitions. The Barcelona Femeni captain scored 18 league goals, five goals in the Copa de la Reina, and two goals in the UEFA Women’s Champions League as her side won three titles.

Sam Kerr is nominated on the back of a fantastic year with the Blues, which saw her won the domestic treble. The Matildas skipper finished the 2020/21 campaign as the league’s top scorer, having netted 28 goals in all competitions.

Jennifer Hermoso on her part was FC Barcelona Femeni’s leading goal scorer for the 2020/21 season scoring 31 goals in 26 league games. The former PSG and Atletico Madrid midfielder scored six (6) goals in seven (7) games as Barcelona clinched its maiden UEFA Women’s Champions League title.

Nigeria Women Football League Bags Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited Sponsorship Deal

The Nigeria Women Football League has secured a new sponsorship deal with Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, a leading engineering and construction company.

Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited is known for the delivery of modern world-class sporting facilities across the country. Peculiar’s goal is to build facilities that are of the highest quality and meet the expectations of the 21st century athlete, player, team, and fans.

The sponsorship deal which was brokered by Nigeria’s foremost sports marketing and Sponsorship consulting company, Nilayo Sports Management Limited is for the 2021/222 NWFL PREMIERSHIP season.

The Managing Director of Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, Mr. Olanrewaju Abel Adeleke, while commenting on the deal said, “we are very excited because this sponsorship will positively redefine women’s football in Nigeria. We are proud to support the Girl Child and the advancement of the women’s game. For us at Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, it is about giving back to the society as well as Investment in nation building. As the saying goes that when you ‘educate a girl you educate a nation’, we strongly believe that anything we do for the Girl Child and the advancement of women, is towards building a stronger society.”

According to the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode, “this is a victory for women football in Nigeria, a victory for the various stakeholders of the league, and a victory five years in the making. Though we have taken the longer route to get here, laying the groundworks and building accordingly brick by brick, we are today better for it”.

“As stated in our strategic positioning and rebranding project NWFL EVOLVE launched March 2020 before the pandemic, the vision is ‘to evolve into a global league brand’, hence our commitment to excellence even in the most challenging of times.

“Our commitment to getting it right once and always is finally paying off as our good works are being noticed and appreciated, the league brand is growing stronger, the NWFL PREMIERSHIP gets her first official sponsorship deal and I say that we are only just getting started as we are very committed to giving our partners the best value. The NWFL is open for business”.

Mr. Bukola Olopade, Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports, marketing consultants to the NWFL said “Nilayo is happy to have played a key role in facilitating this sponsorship deal especially coming at the heels of the Stanbic IBTC and Nigeria Football Federation over 2 billion Naira deal which also spotlights the development of women’s football in Nigeria.

“This clearly shows that investment in women’s football is an innovative approach to change narratives and break the growth barriers bedeviling the advancement of women’s football which is widely considered as the biggest growth opportunity in global football. We are therefore very sure that this parnership between the NWFL Peculiar will help strengthen the league.”

FC Robo Queens gives financial back up to Soccer Queens Cup

Lagos based team, FC Robo Queens joined Nasarawa Amazons in rendering financial support for the upcoming grassroot football tournament.

As preparation continues for the most anticipated tournament mainly for grassroot, the Soccer Queens Cup, the FC Robo Queens through its head coach Emmanuel Osahon has pledged financial support for the one week course.

While praising the generous gesture of the team, the organizers of the tournament through its leader Mr. Moses Nagogo Bako stated that Osahon has always been a strong pillar in women’s football and he’s always supportive of women’s grassroot programs.

The one week tournament cut across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria which is slated to kick off on February 7th, 2022 will be an annual tournament aimed at talent discovery and girl child empowerment.

The theme for the inaugural edition is “PLAYING FOR LOVE” which is inspired to using football to advocate for love and unity in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Salah up against Messi and Lewandowski for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award

Egypt international Mohamed Salah has been shortlisted among the men’s final three shortlist for the 2021 The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award alongside Messi who will be hoping to add to his seventh Ballon d’Or, which he won in November, and Lewandowski, who won the award last year, will be looking to retain it.

PSG forward, Lionel Messi finally ended his major international silverware drought as he helped Argentina to win the Copa America, their first major trophy since 1993.

Polish international forward, Robert Lewandowski won the European Golden Shoe, with his 41 goals in a single season setting a new Bundesliga record after breaking Gerg Muller’s 40 goals record set in the 1971-72 season.

Liverpool forward, Mohammed Salah stole the show in 2021 with his unending scoring ability after a blistering start to the season at club level. He  is the Premier League’s top goalscorer so far this season, with 16 goals to his name.

FIFA’s The Best award was first handed out in its present guise to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016. Previously, the FIFA World Player of the Year award ran parallel to France Football’s Ballon d’Or from 1991 to 2009.

However, from 2010 to 2015, the two awards merged to become the FIFA Ballon d’Or and Ronaldo is the only player to win the award twice, when he retained it in 2017.

The winners will be announced at the Best FIFA Football Awards in Zurich on 17 January.