It’s yet another record breaking ground for Nigeria and Africa No. 1, Aruna Quadri as he became the first African to reach the last eight of the ITTF World Championship in USA.
The Oyo born veteran player saw off Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson in the round of 16, in a seven games thriller 4-3 (11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 5-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6) to clinch a quarterfinals spot.
Unlike his last two games where he had to come from 3 sets down to emerge victorious, this time the 13th seed took the 1st set although he lost the 2nd set to the Swede.
Quadri took the third before losing the fourth and fifth sets to Karlsson.
The Nigerian then put up a massive show to clinch the sixth and seventh sets to match into the historic quarter finals.
Before now, no Africa player has ever reach the round of 16 at the World Championship, Aruna has now surpassed his own record.
“It means a lot to me,” he said, “especially for NIGERIA & the whole of Africa. Table tennis is growing very fast in Africa.”
After dazzling the world with a historic treble with FC Barcelona, Lluís Cortés returns to the pitch with the Ukrainian women’s national team on Friday as a late equalizer from Harrison earns Scotland a point in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The Ukraine’s new manager was met with a warm welcome by the fans
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Women's Football | Жіночий футбол УАФ (@uafwomen) November 26, 2021
Kravchuk opened the scoring in the 22nd minute as she calmly finish past Lee Alexander.
Soon after, Scotland registered their first shot on target through Abi Harrison.
Early in the second half, Scotland were piling on the pressure and nearly scored through Erin Cuthbert’s corner, which was met with a glancing header by the substitute Howard. Then Caroline Weir’s long-range strike from 25 yards out, was tipped onto the bar by Bondarchuk and out for a corner kick.
Scotland had goalkeeper Lee Alexander to thank late on for a fantastic close-range save to keep the score at 1-0 as Ukraine countered, before substitute Lana Clelland drove down the line and played a direct cross into the six-yard box which met the head of Scotland’s hero Abi Harrison, to secure a point in the 93rd minute.
Ukraine is third, with four points from three games, in a group led by Spain and Scotland followed by Hungary and the Faroe Islands.
The Nigeria-American football Association in conjunction with the Lagos State Sports commission on Friday, 26 November 2021 concluded the qualifying matches for the 2022 League games, at the Lagos State University Sports complex, Ojo.
The qualifying round which started on Monday 22 November lasted for five days where various Secondary Schools across the State played to secure their qualification for the League games scheduled to kickoff in the first quarter of 2022.
According to Lawrence Ojoade, head of operations, Nigerian-American football Association, the plan of the Association is to bring the flag side of the American football to Nigerian secondary schools and have Nigerian Secondary School flag football league start next year.
He said the main reason for the qualifiers is to have strong teams competing in the league “To have teams play at a semi-professional level, they need to show some sense of competition and seriousness and that’s the reason for the qualifiers”.
Speaking on the benefits of the League, Lawrence stated that the initiative is to use the games get students’ mind diverted from things that can endanger their lives while keeping them responsible in school. He also said the league will avail students scholarships opportunities and will also contribute massively to the Economy of the country.
“During the league games, we want to see people all over the world come to watch our kids here in Nigeria and also pick talents from them, it’s a game full of opportunities and we’re focusing on helping Nigerian students get scholarships both locally and internationally, in fact we’ve seen partners within this week that have come in terms of academic partnerships to offer scholarships to the students even at this level of qualifiers, it means that there’s so much opportunities for what we’re about to witness come 2022” Lawrence concluded.
Schools like Keke high School, Ikeja Junior and senior Secondary School, Green spring College (both male and female) as well as Okemagba high School from Epe have successfully qualified for the league according to Lawrence.
Ayo Peters, Assistant Chief Officer of Lagos State Sports commission while speaking on the partnership with Nigerian American football Association stated that the advantage of the partnership is all about sports development from the grassroots. In his words he said “Sports development starts from the grassroots not from the top, that is catching them young. So getting students involved to do well in sports is what we tend to gain from this partnership”.
Ayo concluded that with what he’s seen so far in the qualifiers, it’s clear that the students are passionate about the game and they will give in their best when the league starts next year.
Watford FC Midfielfer, Adekite Dada says she is pleased with the technicalities of Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum.
The 25-year-old player who joined up with Super Falcons teammates in Abuja in preparation for 2022 African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) Qualifiers against Ivory Coast is elated to be part of the fold.
“He is very technical with lots of technical inputs that I am quite used to in England. I am enjoying it.”
“It’s been good and fun. Everyone has been so welcoming and kind of show me the way. It’s really nice to be involved.”
This will be the first time that Fatuga Dada will be coming to Nigeria after her previous invitation to the English Women’s U-19 side.
She said: “I have been invited to a training camp like this for the U-19 English team when I was 16. It was kind of preparation camp for the Euros so it was very hard. This in a sense is hard too because of the weather that I am not used to, it’s been so hot. If you are a Nigerian, it’s in your blood and one can handle it.”
“I am 25, born in England with Nigeria heritage. My father lives in Nigeria actually. I am really honoured to be here with Super Falcons in Abuja. Its been great training with the team to know the girls.”
“I am from Lagos originally and this is my first time in Nigeria. My father came in yesterday and this is his first time in Abuja. A lot of firsts for all of us.”
“I started at Watford at 11 and went to Arsenal for a couple of years and came back to Watford.” She concluded.
Fatuga-Dada knows the club inside out and is the longest serving player in the squad.
Fatuga Dada has scored a goal for Watford this season in the 2021/2022 English Women’s Championship against Blackburn Rovers during her side’s 3-1 defeat on September 12, 2021.
FC Bayern Munich forward, Robert Lewandowski has been named IFFHS World’s Best Player of the year ahead of Lionel Messi and Jorginho.
According to the official voting numbers, Robert Lewandowski clinched the award by getting 150 votes. Lionel Messi was second with 105 points while Chelsea midfielder Jorginho was 110 points behind Lewandowski in third place.
The 33-year-old forward has now won the award back-to-back after winning last year despite the 2020 Ballon d’Or not taking place due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The Polish forward scored 48 goals in 40 appearances for the Bavarian giants last season and guided Bayern Munich to its 31st Bundesliga title in their history. Bayern also won the DFL-Supercup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup last season.
Lewandowski will yet again be battling the likes of Jorginho and Lionel Messi for the 2021 Ballon d’Or as he is one of the favorites for the award alongside Lionel Messi.
FC Barcelona midfielder and the Spanish Women’s Soccer Team , Alexia Putellas has been named the 2021 International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) Women’s World Best Player of the Year.
The Mollet del Vallès player takes the baton from Pernille Harder, who won it last year and this season finished in sixth position.
Putellas takes world recognition after beating Samantha Kerr , in second position, and Samantha Mewis , third classified. The Barça captain has won the Chelsea and North Carolina Courage players by a hundred points respectively.
FC Barcelona has had two more representations in the TOP-10 of the ranking published by the IFFHS. Jennifer Hermoso is fourth with 25 points and Caroline Graham Hansen closes the list in tenth position with 5 points.
Alexia scored 18 league goals in 31 games last season and two goals in nine UEFA Women’s Champions League games. During the last women’s categories of UEFA Awards, she clinched the midfielder and player of the season award.
After this award, the next stop is Paris , where Putellas could win the 2021 Ballon d’Or.
Brazil midfielder, who has played at seven Olympics and seven World Cups, makes final international appearance on Thursday at 43, against India in Amazonas’s largest city Manaus, after a record 234 caps.
Miraildes Maciel Mota known by her pitch name, Formiga, has decided to step back from the international game for the second time after retiring in 2016, only to be coaxed back two years later, having made her Brazil debut aged 17.
The 26-year career of the legendary number 8 is laced with two Olympic silver medals, in 2004 and 2008, a runner-up medal at the 2007 World Cup, as well as a third-place finish at the 1999 World Cup. Add to that collection three Pan American Games and six Copa América Femenino titles.
Formiga (Portuguese nickname meaning “ant,” given for a style of play), who left Paris Saint-Germain in June to sign with São Paulo FC (her first club) until December 2022, has spent time in Sweden, the US and France (where she helped Paris Saint-Germain to a first league title last season) around playing for eight Brazilian teams.
Her mother, who is terrified of flying, has never seen her daughter play live. Today Dona Celeste faced her fears and flew to Manaus to see her only girl among five children, Formiga make the final appearance of her extraordinary Brazil career.
Formiga's mother is terrified of flying and has never seen her daughter play live.
She managed to conquer her fear to make the final appearance of her daughter's amazing Brazil career 🥺🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/teyqB8TYnx
“It was one of the greatest gifts to have my mother here this time. So many times I’ve dreamed of it. I’ve bought tickets so many times and she’s always bullshitting me, right?” Formiga.
When Formiga was born, playing football in Brazil was illegal for women. Her influence has given hope and pathways for young girls who wishes to play football.
The Bahia-born player influence on Brazilian football is immense. To prove it, Marta presented a flower with her knee down on ground and took the mic at full-time to pay homage to a fellow legend of the game.
“An honor to watch the last game of our amazing Formiga at this beautiful stadium.”
The draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup African qualifying playoffs will be held on January 22 or 26 during 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
The draw will use the December FIFA rankings, and will not include any results at the African Cup. As such, there will be no change to the current Pots.
On the current raking released on 19 November, the top five in Africa are Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Nigeria.
Another ranking is expected to be released on 16 December ahead of the draw to be conducted in January. Nigeria being the fifth ranked appear to be the only one at risk of being overtaken.
The format will also be a two-leg format, contrary to speculations that CAF was considering a one leg format to be played in Doha.
Under the helm of CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the Extraordinary General Assembly also discussed more issues related to African football, including the agenda of the African World Cup qualifiers and a date of the 2021 African Super Cup game set to be played in Qatar in February.
Also, CAF have confirmed that the ten Associations in the final round of the qualifiers must have VAR facilities installed. Failure to comply will result in an alternative venue.
The draw to determine the final european encounter in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 preliminary competition was held in Zurich, Switzerland, today.
Dramatic stuff as either 2016 or 2020 European champions (Portugal or Italy) will not be going to Qatar 2022 after being drawn in the same qualifying path for the World Cup playoffs.
Twelve teams are grouped into three paths (A,B,C) of four teams each with two semi-finals to be played from each paths, all straight forward and the winners face off for final round to determine the World Cup representative.
Only three out of twelve teams in the playoffs will be joining the already qualified teams to participate in Qatar 2022. According to FIFA, these play-off games will be staged in Qatar in June next year.
The Welsh will face Austria, while Scotland face a tricky home tie against Ukraine at Hampden Park.
Both nations are in Path A and could therefore then face-off for a place in Qatar if they make it.
As the Nigeria women’s senior national team prepares for the final round of the 12th AWCON qualifiers against Cote d’Ivoire for a place in Morocco, coach Randy Waldrum believes his side have to improve in performances.
The nine-time African Champions reached the final qualifying round after edging Ghana 2-1 on aggregate. The Nigerians were beaten 1-0 in Accra.
“We have to improve on performance but the goal was to advance against Ghana and we got the job done,” he told media.
The team have now taken this winter break as an opportunity to train together. Hence, a 9-day training camp was opened on Monday at the Federal Capital, Abuja. With twenty-nine (29) players in camp, Randy hope the camping will help improve the bond, affinity, and familiarity among the group as well as the curation of tactical and technical methods that would work best for the squad in match situations.
“We have like 14 to 15 players in camp we have been tracking. I need to see how they can help us.” He added.
With Asisat Oshoala ruled out on injury, Chinonyerem Macleans could lead the Falcons upfront, as hinted by the coach.
“I don’t think we had the best team against Ghana but now we have some potentials we never had before and I believe Macleans upfront is going to be very good for us.”
The final round of qualifiers will hold in February next year, with the first leg taking place in Lagos.
The Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, Morocco 2022 will be used to decide Africa’s qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
MOLATsportgist 