The first tier of the Nigeria Women’s Football League, NWFL Premiership will kick off on the 8 of December.
Kick442.com has compiled a list of players transfer within the league ahead of the kickoff and also of players who migrated off the shore from the league during the transfer window.
Managers Appointment:
Delta Queens FC have announced the appointment of Achugbue Whyte as the new head coach of the team.
Players Transfer: The big guns get busy in the transfer window with Rivers Angels, Edo Queens and Sunshine Queens signing seven players each, Naija Ratels with five signings so far and Bayelsa Queens and Nasarawa Amazons signed four players each.
Coalition of NWFL inter-club transfer move.Transfer move.
It is no news that Nigeria is one of the leading women’s league in Africa when it comes to exporting homegrown talents. This transfer window is no difference as eleven players left the shore of the country to plight their trade abroad.
Following the latest round of molecular testing involving the first team squad, AS Roma have confirmed that forward Felix Afena-Gyan has returned a positive test for COVID-19.
The relevant health authorities have immediately been informed.
The player, who has been vaccinated, is doing fine and has now begun isolating at home.
The 18-year-old came off the bench and scores two great goals to clinch the win for Roma against Genoa. He became the first player born in 2003 to score in Seria A.
The European qualifying group stage for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is in progress, running until 6 September 2022. The group winners will be promoted from the qualifications, and the teams from the second place will play in the play-offs. The two best teams will secure their promotion, and the third will have a chance to fight for participation in the World Cup in the intercontinental play-off tournament with 10 national teams.
A record-breaking performance saw Republic of Ireland secured a remarkable 11-0 victory over winless Georgia in their crucial ‘Must Win’ FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier encounter.
Bebia’s own goal opened the scoring in the fourth minute, Carusa (21) doubled it, Quinn (37) extended the lead before O’Sullivan hat-trick (45, 58, 62).
Things got harsh for Bebia who got second yellow card after she was struck by a Fahey shot from just a yard away in the 69th minute.
It was seven in the 70th minute after McCabe swept home a penalty and three minutes later earned her brace. More goals from Saoirse Noonan (81), Amber Barrett (89) and Megan Connolly completed the goal rout.
Spain lead Group B with superiority after knocking previously unbeaten Scotland 8-0 at the La Cartuja Stadium.. That was Spain’s 16th victory in a row without conceding.
England thrashed Latvia with an absurd figures 20-0 in the showdown to top Group D with five points ahead of both Austria and Northern Ireland.
Ellen White’s hat-trick in the defeat of Latvia meant she overtook Kelly Smith as the Lionesses’ all-time leading scorer.
England have won their first six matches without the shadow of problems, and the nation’s women’s national team has a goal score of 53-0 – that is an average of more than eight goals per game.
Poland suffered first defeat in their fight to go to the World Cup after losing 4-0 to Belgium in their sixth match of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers. Belgium (second) now tied on point with Norway (top) in Group F who are yet to play their match game six.
Tine De Caigny opened the scoring in the 15th minute, before Hannah Eurling doubled the advantage in the 33rd. Janice Cayman extended the lead before halftime, and in the 51st, Mesjaz finds the back of her own net.
Germany defeated Portugal 1-3 in Faro and leads the Group H table with the maximum yield of six wins from six games and the terrific goal difference of 31: 2.
Lea Schüller (15th), Svenja Huth (23rd) and Melanie Leupolz (28th) scored the German goals before goalkeeper Merle Frohms made an own goal after a missed penalty by Carole Costa in the 34th minute. The Portuguese are now already five points behind the DFB team.
Russia proved to be the biggest challenge so far in the qualification for Denmark, but the hosts defeated the defensive guests 3-1 in Viborg. Signe Bruun opened the scoring in the 65th minute, Sanne Troelsgaard doubled the lead in the 76th and Mille Gejl’s 84th minute goal sealed it for the Danish before Nelli Korovkina netted a consolation goal in the 89th minute.
Denmark top Group E with a maximum six wins from six games and three points above Russia.
France edged Wales 2-0 to stay perfect after six matches and open up a five-point lead over their previously undefeated visitors.
Kadidiatou Diani opened the scoring in the last minute of first half. Despite having a player sent off in the 70th minute, Wales tried to force an equalising goal as Fishlock hits the post and France scored their second on the resulting counter-attack in the final minute.
After losing o Switzerland, Italy bounced back and dominated the Romanians closing the match with a sharp 5-0 thanks to Milena Bertolini’s blues prevailed thanks to Bonansea’s goal (22nd), Girelli’s hat-trick (53rd, 61st and 94th) and Pirone’s goal in the 87th minute.
Switzerland thrashed Lithuania 0-7 to top Group G with three points ahead of Italy. 1 Piesliakaitė’s own goal opened the flood gate in the 3rd minute before R. Kiwic, Sow’s brace, Crnogorčević and R. Xhemaili made it 0-6 at halftime, then S. Fölmli completed the rout in the 61st minute.
The Matildas came from behind to draw 1-1 in their second and final friendly match against world champions USA in their last hit-out before January’s Asian Cup.
Australia head coach, Tony Gustavsson made a few changes to the starting XI after Australia’s 3-0 defeat to the USA on Saturday, switching out goalkeeper Teagan Micah for the more experienced Lydia Williams, while Hayley Raso and teen star Kyra Cooney-Cross also started ahead of Caitlin Foord and Jessika Nash.
Kyah Simon clawed a goal back in the dying minute of the game in Newcastle, cancelling out an early goal from Ashley Hatch in the fourth minute.
Despite their sluggish start the goal lifted the record-breaking crowd of 20,495 spectators — the second-highest for a Matildas home match in history — and the hosts were able to see out the draw, despite a late goal from USA midfielder Lindsey Horan that was called back for offside.
The General Secretary of the Nigerian Football Federation Dr. Mohammed Sanusi was on ground to receive the Super Falcons on Monday at the NFF Secretariat after their training match against newly promoted premiership side Naija Ratels at the goal project.
The trio of Miracle Joseph, Toni Payne, and Yetunde Aluko with a goal each sealed the match on a victorious note for the Super Falcons.
Dr. Sanusi took time to re-echo his love and total support for the team.
“I welcome the team officially especially the players that are visiting Nigeria for the first time. I want to let you know that the Nigeria Football Federation is interested in your welfare and would not in any way hold back your entitlement “.
Dr. Sanusi also pointed that he specifically made it a point of duty to give the team moral support by traveling with the team in all their invitational tournaments except the USA Summer Series that he was unavoidable absent.
“I listened to the request of the team by making sure valuable technical human resources were injected into the team. I am happy you have a coach that is equipped in man-management.
It is time for revenge, remember it is the Ivorian team that stopped us from going to the Olympics held in Tokyo. We must win convincingly.”
The General Secretary also took time to advise the Super Falcons on the need to be patriotic at all times. He went further by hyping on the importance of education.
“It is very necessary to have something to fall back on, it is never too late to advance your education he emphasised.”
Dr. Sanusi in a matter of fact told the players, technical crew, and backroom staff that the NFF will ensure the provision for the best conditions to train, play friendly and competitive matches in order to do the nation proud each time.
The nine-time Champions of AWCON are due to play Ivory Coast in the final stage of the AWCON qualifier in February 2022.
The Super Falcons will round up their 9-day training camp on Tuesday, the team was comfortably accommodated at the Bolton White Apartments and had their training sessions at the FIFA Goal Project.
Super Falcons veteran defender, Onome Ebi has promised that Cote D’Ivoire will meet a formidable Super Falcons side when both teams lock horns in February for the final qualifying round of the 2022 African Women’s Nations Cup billed for Morocco.
The Ivorian ladies stopped Falcons from reaching the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games after knocking them out in the first round of the qualifiers on away goal rule.
Ebi spoke on behalf of the players as the Super Falcons were set to round off a 9-day training camp in the Federal Capital, Abuja. The training camp that commenced on Monday last week would come to an end on Tuesday.
“I can tell you that we still nurse the pain of missing out of the Tokyo Olympics as a result of the loss to Cote d’Ivoire in the qualifying series. This time, we will repay them in their own coins. I want to play in the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup, and I know it is the same for my teammates,” she said.
However, she believed that the Falcons will be ready for the crucial tie as Cote D’Ivoire will meet a formidable Super Falcons side when both sides face off next year in the final qualifying round of 2022 African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON).
“I want to thank the NFF for this kind of camping which we have not had before now with the blend of foreign and home-based players. On behalf of everyone, we want to say that we enjoyed the camp. With this kind of camp, Cote D’Ivoire are going to hear from us as we are not leaving anything behind. We know what’s at stake as we all want to play at the AWCON and World Cup.”
General Secretary of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who received the players and their officials at the NFF Secretariat, said the football –governing body will always ensure to provide the Falcons with the best conditions to train and play friendly and competitive matches, in order to do the nation proud each time.
Also at the occasion were NFF’s Director of Finance and Admin, Mr. Charity Kadiri; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire and; Director of Competitions, Ruth David.
France football, organizers of the Ballon d’Or introduced two new awards at the 65h Ballon d’Or awards gala, one being the club of the year and the other the best striker of the year.
Chelsea won the newly introduced Club of the year award for its impressive run during the year in review. Both the men’s and women’s team were UEFA Champions League finalist. Although, the women’s team lost the final, but the men’s team triumphed.
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma wins the ‘Yachine Trophy’ from France Football as best goalkeeper of the year ahead of Chelsea’s Édouard Mendy.
“Receiving the Trophée Yachine is a source of great pride for me. From my birth town of Castellammare di Stabia to Milan and now to Paris. Such a long road, so many changes. Life is a journey. I consider myself a lucky man who has already been able to fulfill some important dreams – and this award is one of these. But there are still many others I want to pursue.” – Gigi Donnarumma.
FC Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski has won the ‘Striker of the year’ award. He won the inaugural trophy at the award ceremony in Paris.
The Polish striker scored a Bundesliga record 41 goals in just 29 games last season to eclipse the long-standing mark set by the late Gerd Mueller.
“I’m very proud of this trophy, I know what it means to be ready to score the goal. Everything I do I have to thank my teammates, coach, and staff. Without them, it’s difficult to be at the front.” – Lewandowski.
Lewandowski was largely seen as the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or in 2020 because of his goal scoring exploits for Bundesliga champions Bayern. But the award was cancelled that year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 33-year-old was one of the top candidates to win the award in 2021, too, but he collected 33 points fewer than Messi, putting him in second place.
Barcelona’s teenage midfielder Pedri, was named the winner of the Kopa Trophy – the best under-21 player of 2021. The 19-year-old was presented with the award by the former Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro.
Alexia Putellas and Lionel Messi have been crowned winners of the 2021 Ballon d’Or during a glittering ceremony in Paris.
Putellas said: “I’m very emotional, it’s a very special moment. I would like to start by thanking all my teammates, especially my current [Barcelona] teammates. For me it’s a collective success.”
The 27-year-old follows in the footsteps of Ada Hegerberg and Megan Rapinoe, who won the award in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
“Two years ago, I said that it was my last years,and that I didn’t know what was going to happen, and now I am here again.
“After that they began to ask me when I was going to retire and today I am in Paris. I am very happy and very excited, eager to continue fighting for new challenges.” – Lionel Messi after winning a record seventh award.
Barcelona ace, Pedri Gonzalez Lopez has been voted the winner of the Kopa trophy for being the best U21 player for the year under review.
It has really been an eventful year for the youngster as he was presented the Kopa award at the 65th Ballon d’Or gala night.
“I want to thank everyone at Barcelona, and to you as well, Leo, for all that you did for me,” he said.
Pedri joined Barcelona in the summer of 2019 from Las Palmas for a fee of £5m.
The 19 year old went on to make 52 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona in his first season and helped the Catalan club to the Copa del Rey trophy. He has already crossed the 50 cap mark at Barcelona and has 10 international caps to his name.
He was included in the Spanish U23 team that finished runners up in the 2020 summer Olympics and as well the La Roja team to the 2020 European Championships all at the young age of eighteen.
Pedri was named in the UEFA Champions League breakthrough eleven in 2020 as well as being named the best young player of the 2020 European Championships.
He won the Golden Boy award for 2021 ahead of players like Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham and was also name in the European Championships team of the tournament.
Lionel Messi has been crowned winner of the Ballon d’Or award for a record seventh time with Robert Lewandowski finishing as runner-up.
After finally leading his country to their first major trophy in 28 years with their Copa America triumph in the summer, Messi was expected to win award again.
The Paris Saint-Germain star has extended his lead over rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or stakes, retaining the award as he was presented with the trophy at a star-studded gala in Paris.
It is the 12th time out of the last 13 editions that either Messi or Ronaldo has won the award, presented to the best footballer in the calendar year.
“Robert, you deserve your Ballon d’Or. Last year, everyone was in agreement to say that you were the big winner of this award.” – Messi pays tribute to Lewandowski.
Organisers France Football opted to cancel last year’s event due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the game worldwide, with Messi retaining his award following his win in 2019.
MOLATsportgist 