No Gift Monday as Waldrum reveals 23 Falcons for Revelation Cup

The head coach of the Nigeria women’s senior national team, Randy Waldrum, has called up 23 Falcons for next month’s Revelation Cup Tournament to be staged in Leon, Mexico City.

Waldrum has once again omitted the 2019 World Cup team captain Desire Oparanozie, team prospects Gift Monday and Vivian Ikechukwu among players invited, but team veteran and captain Onome Ebi, five-time African best Asisat Oshoala, and 2021 IFFHS world number seven goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, top the list fir the Mexico tour.
 

The nine-time African Champions will be participating in the tournament alongside hosts Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia in the State of Guanajuato.

The tournament, which is slated to take place from the 15th – 21st of February, aims at preparing for the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this summer.

Super Falcons will play their opening match of the tournament against hosts Mexico on Wednesday, 15th February, by 10pm Nigeria time.
 
Three days later, they will slug it out against Colombia by 7pm Nigeria time before locking horns with Costa Rica on Tuesday, February 21, at 11pm Nigeria time to draw curtain on the four-nation tourney.

Nigeria’s delegation to the tournament will depart the country’s shores on Saturday, 11th February.
 
Nigeria will tackle trade with co-hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada, and debutants Republic of Ireland at what will be the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever, in Australia and New Zealand.

FULL LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS:
 
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France)
Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
 
Defenders:
Onome Ebi (Levante Las Planas (Spain)
Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain)
Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England)
Glory Ogbonna (ALG Spor, Turkey)
Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)
Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)
Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France)
Akudo Ogbonna (Rivers Angels)
 
Midfielders:
Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden)
Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna United, Sweden)
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain)
Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA)
Regina Otu (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
 
Forwards:
Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femenin, Spain)
Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA)
Chinwendu Ihezuo (Rayadas Monterrey, Mexico)
Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico)

UPDATE: Asisat Oshoala’s Barcelona thrown out of Spanish Cup

Barcelona Femeni have been thrown out of this year’s Copa De La Reina after fielding an ineligible player in their round of 16 clash against Osasuna.

The Spanish champions who recently won the Super Coppa de Espana will not get the chance to do a league and cup double this season after the RFEF discoverer that the Catalan side lined up an ineligible player in person of Geyse Ferreira in their win against Osasuna.

Despite the Blaugrana’s 9-0 victory in the round of 16, it is Osasuna that will now qualify for the quarter-final of the Spanish Cup (Copa de la Reina).

Barcelona face elimination from Copa de la Reina for fielding ineligle player

Geyse had received a red card in her previous Copa game with Madrid CFF and shouldn’t have played the match against Osasuna.

However, Barcelona went ahead to play the 24-year-old who also scored a goal during the match.

The club is also fined €1,000 and can still file an appeal in the next 10 days.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are not the only side thrown out of the competition as Sevilla also suffered the same fate for also fielding an ineligible player in their win against Villarreal.

This means the Yellow Subamrines also progress to the next round at the expense of Sevilla. With Barcelona’s exit, Rasheedat Ajibade’s Atletico Madrid is now the favourite to win the competition.

Impressive Ajibade secures Copa de la Reina quarter-final for Atletico Madrid

Nigeria international forward Rasheedat Ajibade was the Queen of the pitch for Atletico de Madrid Femenino on Wednesday evening as they booked a spot in the quarter-final of the Copa De La Reina.

The Copel De La Reina is an annual women’s version of the men’s Copa Del Rey.

The Super Falcons star registered a goal and an assist as the Rojablancas defeated Real Sociedad Femenino 2-0 in the round of 16.

Ajibade provided an assist for Martha Cardonna in the 45th minute to break the deadlock before she sealed the game with a goal to her name in the 60th minute to book a fight with league leaders FC Barcelona Femeni in the quarter-final.

However, nine-time winners Barcelona face being thrown out of the Copa de la Reina for fielding an ineligible side in Tuesday’s 9-0 win over Osasuna.

Barcelona face elimination from Copa de la Reina for fielding ineligle player

Osasuna have lodged an official complaint, appealing for the game to be awarded to them as a walkover. If granted, Atletico will play Osasuna in quarter-final instead of Barcelona.

Barcelona face elimination from Copa de la Reina for fielding ineligle player

FC Barcelona Women could be thrown out of the Copa de la Reina for fielding an ineligible player in their round of 16 victory against Osasuna.

Barça demolished Osasuna 9-0 on Tuesday evening to book their place in the quarter-finals and continue their bid for a fourth consecutive Copa de la Reina.

However, it is the inclusion of Geyse -who scored the fourth goal in the commanding win- that is the source of contention.

The Brazilian forward Ferreira Geyse was sent off in the quarterfinals of last season’s competition while playing for former club Madrid CFF.

The 24-year-old was supposed to serve a one-game ban in the first match of this season’s competition, which for holders Barcelona was against Osasuna in the round of 16 on Tuesday.

Osasuna have lodged an official complaint, appealing for the game to be awarded to them as a walkover. In the official statement, the club confirmed they would be appealing the result due to Geyse being fielded, labelling it an ‘evident infraction of the regulations’.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Giraldez, the head coach of Barcelona said the suspension did not appear on the website of the Royal Spanish Federation [RFEF], which oversees the Copa de la Reina.

The Catalan Giants have dominated the women’s game in Spain having won five of the last six Copa de la Reina titles and are vying to secure a domestic double for a fourth successive season.

The nine-time winners are on a 48-game winning streak in the league, dating back to June 1, 2021, when they lost to Atletico which was their last loss in any domestic game.

Victor Osimhen receives his 2022 Globe Soccer Award

Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has finally received his Power Horse Emerging Player Of The Year award plaque by the Globe Soccer Award for his tremendous performance in 2022.

The Nigeria international bagged the award in November but was unable to personally attend the Gala night in Dubai on November 17, 2022 due to club engagements.

However, World Soccer and Power Horse made a decision to organized an awarding ceremony in Naples, Victor’s current hometown.

The 24-year-old edged impressive Barcelona star Gavi and Real Madrid’s sensational midfielder Federico Valverde to the accolade.

The Global Soccer Awards aka Dubai d’Or are football awards organized by the European Club Association (ECA) with the European Association of Player’s Agents (EFAA) and delivered by the organization Globe Soccer.

The star forward on Wednesday night posted a photo of himself receiving the award and expressed his gratitude to the organizers and supporters.

Power Horse CEO, Salvatore Caizzone was joined by Cristiano Giuintoli, Sporting Director of Napoli, and Enrico Bendoni of Globe Soccer as they handed Osimhen with the Emerging Player of the Year trophy.

Osimhen played 32 matches for Napoli in 2022 and scored 21 goals whilst he made four appearances for the Super Eagles and scored 5 goals.

Ajibade, two others join FIFPRO Global Player Council

The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) has added Super Falcons forward, Rasheedat Ajibade to its Global Player Council.

FIFPRO announced Ajibade’s appointment alongside two other players – Enez Mango (Farul Constanta/Kenya) and Marshall Munetsi (Reims/Zimbabwe) – on its Twitter page on Wednesday.

Latest additions to FIFPRO Global Player Council

According to FIFPro, the council is made up of members with demonstrated leadership qualities to raise any issues they have. Its main objective is to ensure viewpoints from both men’s and women’s football and different leagues from around the world are heard.

The council will strengthen the capacity to address cross-border issues, such as the international match calendar, employment standards, the use of personal data, social media abuse, and more.

Speaking on the occasion of her inclusion in the Council, Ajibade said: “It’s important that the voices of players are heard. I’m looking forward to using my platform to help players in Africa and beyond.”

FIFPRO Global Player Council member – Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria)

The Nigeria international who has excelled for Club Atlético de Madrid Féminas, joined the council alongside two other African athletes to bring the total number of players on the council to 34, which include big guns like Giorgio Chiellini, Lucy Bronze, Saki Kumagai, and Nicolas Tagliafico are all members of the council.

FIFpro announce Enez Mango as part of its Global Player Council.

Kenya’s left-back and former Vihiga Queens Captain, Enez Mango, who trades her football at Farul Constanta of Romania said players should be consulted when making decisions which is why she joined the council.

“When it comes to choices that influence our employment, players should be consulted and have a say,” she stated.

“To make a difference, I’ve joined FIFPRO’s Global Player Council,” Mango added.

France based Warriors Midfielder Marshall Munetsi became the first Zimbabwean to be added on the influential FIFPRO Global Player Council to advocate for rights and interests of footballers around the world.

“Being a part of the Global Player Council means we can help footballers worldwide – such as protecting players against fake agents, or against government interference. I’m eager to get started,” said Reims’ Zimbabwean midfielder Munetsi.

The council assists FIFPRO and its 66 affiliated national player associations to represent footballers in negotiations about global issues that directly affect them.

ICMC 2022: Pauline Tallen, Ned Nwoko, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, other top dignitaries to grace final

The Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Kedem Tallen, Former House of Representatives member and Delta North Senatorial candidate in next year’s elections, Prince Ned Nwoko, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick are among top dignitaries expected at the grand finale of the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Tournament on Wednesday.

The tournament which is in memory of former Super Falcons talented midfielder Ifeanyichukwu Chiejine commenced in Asaba, Delta state capital last Thursday and will end this Wednesday with a grand closing at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Seven teams are participating in the inaugural edition of the competition which reaches its semi-final stage on Monday (today). Delta Babes will face Prince Kazeem Eletu Babes at 12pm while Imo Strikers and Moje Queens will slug it out at 2pm.

Winners of the two semi final matches will face in Wednesday’s final which will also have in attendance, top celebrities like Nollywood actors Ngozi Ezeonu, Regina Daniels and Phil Daniel Aniedo.

The winner of the maiden edition of the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Tournament will go home with 500,000 naira while second and third place will get 300,000 and 200,000 Naira respectively.

ICMC 2022: Ngozi Ezeonu and other philanthropists donate trophies for Ifeanyi Chiejine Tournament as Convener announces prize money

Nollywood Screen goddess Ngozi Ezeonu, USA-based Richard Opanuga, and Media house GIS Sports TV have donated trophies for the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Tournament.

Ezeonu, while speaking to the media, said she donated the trophy because she is a massive supporter of the girl child and will always do anything to support the girl child.

Ezeonu also called on the Federal government to immortalize the late Ifeanyi Chiejine because she did well while playing for Nigeria.

If Ifeanyi Chiejine can get immortalized at the national level, it will be good. Late Stephen Keshi was immortalized here in Asaba, and Sam Okwaraji was also immortalized. Why don’t they do it for a girl child? If the Federal government can immortalize Ifeanyi Chiejine, it will be good and show that they’re not discriminating.”

Meanwhile, the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Tournament convener, Judith Chime, has revealed the prize money for the tournament. While speaking to the media, Chime said that the maiden edition winner would go home with 500,000 naira, while the second and third-place teams would receive 300,000 and 200,000 Naira, respectively.

Popularly known as Kamala, Judith Chime says she feels fulfilled giving honour to the late Ifeanyi Chiejine with the memorial tournament and ensuring her name isn’t forgotten.

” I feel happy and fulfilled honouring my dear sister, friend, and sports daughter. Ifeanyi isn’t someone that should be forgotten so soon. Whatever I have put in this tournament, Ifeanyi deserves it. The Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Tournament has come to stay. It will be a yearly tournament. I hope to see corporate bodies in subsequent editions supporting this project.”

The grand finale of the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Tournament will take place in Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba on Wednesday, 21st December.

Nollywood Actress Ngozi Ezeonu Kicks Off Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup In Asaba

Screen goddess, Ngozi Ezeonu led a band of Actors to the main bowl of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba capital of Delta State, South-South Nigeria as the maiden edition of Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup kicked off.

Ifeanyi Chiejine a mecurial member of Nigeria women’s football team, the Super Falcons shockingly died on 21 August 2019 following a brief illness .

Respected veteran Nollywood diva Ngozi Ezeonu, a lover of the girl-child and fan of Ifeanyi Chiejine graced the opening match between Anambra Angels and Delta Babes football clubs with her sterling presence while acting the ceremonial kick off Thursday 15 December, 2022.

Ngozi noted for her excellent interpretation of roles in series of movies like Glamour Girls, Nneka the Pretty Serpent, Forbidden; Co-Wives and Three Wives said she came to identify with the memorial project with the aim of further supporting the Girl-Child and encouraging talents.

She praised former Super Falcons goalkeeper Judith Chime (Kamala) teammate of late Ifeanyi Chiejine for championing the idea to remember the fallen shero .

“This is an idea worth praising and emulating, that concerned players led by Kamala and Vera Okolo for Ifeanyi who served the nation and made us proud ,yes their efforts should not be forgotten. I hope the authorities should always find the the need to do this,” she said.

Citing an example with herself, Ngozi went on to admonish the girl child to never give up in life;

“I struggled and never gave up in life ,I come from a family in the South East where the boy child seemed more appreciated than the girl,I fought to be where I am today.


” So I say to the girls, your dreams will be realized if you keep fighting no matter the circumstances, chase your dreams always,” she enthused.

She was in the company of other actors like Phil Daniels, Amar Ignis and Ken Odurukwe .

Meanwhile, action will continue Friday 16 at the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup with three games on the card.

Delta Babes who defeated Anambra Angels 2-0 in the opening match will try Moje Queens of Kwara for size in the first game, Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens of Lagos who demolished Fortress Ladies of Edo 4-0 will clash with Imo Strikers who were 2 goals better than Castmog Academy of Ogun State in the second match of the, the last game will see Castmog Academy and Fortress Ladies who lost their opening games battle for first point.

Match Day two

Delta Babes v Moje Queens
Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens (PKEQ) v Imo Strikers
Castmog v Fortress.

He has got so much ego – Mikel Obi slams Cristiano Ronaldo

Super Eagles legend John Obi-Mikel has seemingly revealed his pick between the age-old debate between two of football’s greatest ever players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Many have tipped the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to win the World Cup before he retires, but at age 35, his last attempt could be in Qatar and the retired Nigeria captain believes the Argentina superstar can still do it.

Mikel has come up against the two of football’s greatest-ever players, but he’s s only ever had one favorite between the legendary duo.

“I’ve never been a Ronaldo fan really. For me, when a player has so much ego, I don’t really get it. He’s never been one of my favourite players and that’s why I always go for Messi really,” he said in an interview with Dubai Eye.

The 35-year-old further believes Ronaldo’s exit from Manchester United was a horrible situation which should have been avoided.

“I mean, if someone comes out and gives such an interview, what makes you think, if he signs for your club in January, he won’t do the same?”