“I want to see a Super Falcons’ squad that is feared by the opposition not only in Africa but all over the world” – Amaju Pinnick urges Super Falcons technical staff

Photo credit: Opeyemi images

The Super Falcons’ coaching staff has been urged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) head, Amaju Pinnick, to turn the team into a feared outfit.

He stated this during the induction of coaches Justin Madugu and Edwin Okon into the Super Falcons’ technical staff, which follows a recent decision by the Federation’s headquarters in Abuja to restructure the team’s technical staff.

https://molatsportgist.sport.blog/2021/11/02/awcon-2022-race-nff-appoints-madugu-okon-to-super-falcons-technical-crew/

“I want to see a Super Falcons’ squad that is feared by the opposition not only in Africa but all over the world. I trust that you two (Madugu and Okon) will bring some positive difference to our golden Super Falcons. I don’t want to see our Falcons struggling against teams in Africa when we should actually be going toe-to-toe with the best teams in the world.

“From now, we will scout for more players at home and abroad, particularly at home, and we will start organizing camps for the Super Falcons on the home front even before the overseas-based players arrive.

“We must make the effort and the investment to have a stronger squad that will continue to make Nigeria proud.”

The Falcons won 2-0 in the first leg of the second round of the 2022 AWCON qualifiers against the Black Queens of Ghana, but lost 1-0 in the return leg to go to the final round on a 2-1 aggregate.

Eritrean women’s U20 players go missing in Uganda

Five players on the Eritrea women’s Under-20 football team went missing on Tuesday from a hotel in Uganda during a regional tournament.

Five players on the Eritrea women’s Under-20 football team went missing on Tuesday from a hotel in Uganda during a regional tournament, police and organisers said.

The players disappeared from the hotel in Jinja in southeastern Uganda and “the matter has been reported to the police,” said the East and Central African football association, which is overseeing the tournament.

Eritrea is due to play host Uganda in the East and Central African women’s Under-20 championship on Wednesday. They have lost their first two games at the Cecafa Women’s Under-20 Championship, to Tanzania and Ethiopia.

The quintet were part of the Eritrea squad for the CECAFA Women’s Under-20 Championship, which began on Saturday and runs until 9 November in nearby Njeru.

This is not the first time athletes of Eritrea fled on international duty, usually to escape an oppressive regime and forced military conscription in their home country. This is the second time in two years that Eritreans have gone missing from a Cecafa Under-20 Championship in Uganda, after five male players fled their hotel in the country in 2019.

Two groups of football players went missing at two separate tournaments in Uganda in 2019 and 17 men’s national team players and a team doctor claimed political asylum in Uganda in 2012. Another 10 players with the men’s national team refused to board a plane home and asked to stay in Botswana after playing a World Cup qualifier there in 2015.

A handful of Eritrean athletes also claimed asylum in Britain after the 2012 London Olympics.

Back in 2009, the entire team – apart from the coach and an official – failed to return from a Cecafa tournament in Kenya.

Human rights group Amnesty International says thousands of Eritreans continue to flee the east African country while authorities violate the rights to freedom of expression, religion and freedom of movement.

An executive director of Cecafa has told BBC Sport Africa that “sufficient” measures had been taken to prevent players fleeing despite the evidence to the contrary.

Auka Gecheo added that Cecafa will work closely with the Ugandan FA (Fufa) to find the missing players.

“We have reported [it] to the authorities and given all relevant information and, together with Fufa, we will cooperate with the authorities,” said Gecheo.

“There were sufficient security measures in place, and Fufa ensured that all teams were in good hotels.

“It has happened before. Authorities are well aware of previous occurrences. We will continue to work closely with the authorities while ensuring we deliver on our mandate to deliver all-inclusive tournaments in the region.”

2021 MARCA Women’s Football Awards: FC Barcelona wins big

Jennifer Hermoso, Caroline Graham Hansen, and Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona have won various awards at the 2021 MARCA Women’s Football Awards.

Jennifer Hermoso who scored 31 league goals in 26 games, as well as six goals in seven UEFA Women’s Champions League games in the 2020/2021 season, was awarded the Pichichi Award as the top goal scorer in the Spanish Primera Iberdrola last season.

FC Barcelona midfielder, Caroline Graham Hansen with nine goals in 23 games and three goals in nine UEFA Women’s Champions League games clinched the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.

Midfielder, Alexia Putellas who converted 18 league goals in 31 games last season and two in nine UEFA Women’s Champions League games emerged as the winner of the Selection Award.

Lluís Cortés (Former FC Barcelona Coach) who guided FC Barcelona to the league, cup, and UEFA Women’s Champions League titles clinched the Coach Of The Year Award.

AWCON 2022 Race: NFF appoints Madugu, Okon to Super Falcons’ technical crew

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday absorbed Coaches Justin Madugu and Edwin Okon into the technical crew of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, in line with a recent resolve to rejig the team’s technical group.

This was confirmed in a press release by the NFF Communications Department.

AWCONQ: NFF set to rejig Super Falcons technical team

In a brief meeting presided over by President of the NFF, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick at the Federation’s headquarters in Abuja, Madugu was designated the new 1st Assistant Coach of the Super Falcons while Edwin Okon, Chief Coach of Rivers Angels FC, will be Chief Scout for the squad.



Head Coach Randy Waldrum keeps his position. Coach Ann Chiejine will be 2nd Assistant Coach while Wemimo Matthew moves to the U20 team, Falconets.

“I want to see a Super Falcons’ squad that is feared by the opposition not only in Africa but all over the world. I trust that you two (Madugu and Okon) will bring some positive difference to our golden Super Falcons. I don’t want to see our Falcons struggling against teams in Africa when we should actually be going toe-to-toe with the best teams in the world.

“From now, we will scout for more players at home and abroad, particularly at home, and we will start organizing camps for the Super Falcons on the home front even before the overseas-based players arrive. We must make the effort and the investment to have a stronger squad that will continue to do Nigeria proud.”

Also present were NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi; Technical Director, Mr Austin Eguavoen; Director of Communications, Mr Ademola Olajire; Ag. Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David and; Head of International, Mr Dayo Enebi Achor.

Following a 2-0 defeat of the Black Queens of Ghana in the first leg of the second round of the Women AFCON qualifiers, the Falcons lost 0-1 to the Queens in Accra to scrape through to the final round on 2-1 aggregate.

Victory meant the Falcons will take on the Lady Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the final round. The Elephants, who eliminated the Falcons from the race to the Tokyo Olympics on the away goal rule, blitzed past their counterparts from Niger Republic 20-0 on aggregate.

Nigeria will host the first leg in the second week of February 2022, with the return leg in Abidjan a week later.

In a related development, the President of NFF, Mr Pinnick has approved the opening of the Falconets’ camp as from this weekend for their second round fixture against their counterparts from Congo in December. This is in connection with the African qualifying race for the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup slated for Costa Rica.

The Congolese will host the first leg on 5th December, with the return leg in Lagos on 16th December.

World Cup Qualifiers: Fans react as Rohr recalls Ighalo to Super Eagles despite Awoniyi’s form

Franco-German Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, has invited his 23 man squad for the upcoming GroupC FIFA World Cup Qatar qualifying games against Liberia and Cape Verde this month.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria Head Coach has this time extended an invitation to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ top scorer Odion Jude Ighalo, who announced his retirement from the international game following that AFCON feat in Egypt. Taiwo Awoniyi who was part of the squad last month has been dropped I the process while team captain Ahmed Musa and Ighalo make list.

The Super Eagles will tackle the Lone Star of Liberia at the Grand Stade Tangier in Morocco on Saturday, 13th November, and then fly into Lagos for the final group game against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday, 16th November.

Top of their pool with nine points but hotly chased by seven-pointer Cape Verde who host the Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo, the Eagles need the three points against the Lone Star on the neutral turf of Morocco’s principal northern city to remain on firm ground when hosting the Blue Sharks three days later in Nigeria’s commercial and industrial capital.

The invited players and overseas-based members of the technical crew are to report directly to the city of Tangier on Monday, 8th November while technical officials from Nigeria will join in the same day.

Super Eagles team list for World Cup qualifiers

The addition of the former Manchester United player has caused a stir among the fans.

Nigerians in action: Oparanozie, Ebi, Ajibade, others shine across leagues in Europe

The Parisians traveled to Dijon for the matchday seven of the D1 Arkéma on Sunday where they won 0-3.

Dijon captain and Nigerian forward, Oparanozie played 86 minutes while Esther Sunday was brought in for the last part of the game. Oparanozie was found threatening on the counter attack in the Parisian camp so many times but her efforts wasn’t enough to convert for her team.

Diani opened the scoring for PSG with a beautiful header in the 25th minute before Goetsch own goal in the 57th minute then Katoto sealed the win just three minutes later. PSG were awarded a penalty three minutes into additional time but Däbritz missed her target.

Photo credit: Mayline Linard.
Desire Oparanozie in action for Dijon.

Atlético de Madrid hosted Villarreal in a 3-0 win this Sunday after the national team break.

Santos opened the scoring in the 13th minute from a Kgatlana’s assist. The two combined once again as Kgatlana scored second in the final stretch of the first half, before Sheila García’s second half goal sealed the win (her first goal as a rojiblanca). Lara Mata was sent off for Villarreal after second bookable offense.

Nigerian forward, Rasheedat Ajibade came off the bench to replace Bárbara Latorre in the 68th minute.

Ajibade in action against Villarreal.

Onyinyechi Zogg played for the duration of game as ASJ Soyaux welcome Lyon who easily dominated them (6-1), without forcing too much.

Catarina Macario opened the scoring for Lyon in the 5th minute but Corina Luijks responded immediately after to level for Soyaux. Goals from Bruun (13mins, 39mins) and J. Cayman (28mins) gave the visitors a 1-4 lead at halftime. Malard resume the scoring in the second half at 76 minutes before Mbock completed the rout three minutes later.

Onyinyechi Zogg in action for ASJ Soyaux

While Chidinma Okeke is still recovering, Rita Chikwelu started for Madrid CFF as they welcome Eibar for matchday eight of the Primera Iberdrola. The Nigerian midfielder played 61 minutes in a 1-3 defeat before being replaced by Irene Lopez.

Rita Chikwelu in Madrid CFF lineup.

The first goal of the afternoon came on the 24th minute from Aida Esteve, who scored her first goal of the season, to give the visitors a halftime lead. M. Rodríguez made it 0-2 for Eibar, three minutes into the second half before Aida widened the gap in the 54th with her second of the game. Gabriela Nunes then grabbed a 92nd minute consolatory goal for the hosts.

Onome Ebi for FC Minsk

Both Onome Ebi and Regina Otu started for Minsk in the Belarus women Premier League as they demolished ABFF U19 away from home by 0-5.

Antonio Conte expected in Tottenham today to replace sacked Nuno Espírito Santo

Tottenham Hotspur FC have announced today that Nuno Espírito Santo and his coaching staff Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias have been relieved of their duties.

Fabio Paratici, Managing Director, Football, said: “I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff wanted to succeed and I regret that we have had to take this decision.

“Nuno is a true gentleman and will always be welcome here. We should like to thank him and his coaching staff and wish them well for the future.”

Tottenham are now pushing to convince Antonio Conte as new manager to replace Nuno. He’s always been top of the list since June where there was no agreement with Spurs board.

Antonio Conte is expected in London soon to complete talks on final details with Tottenham.

He is more than tempted to accept Tottenham job. He already worked with Paratici at Juventus years ago, per Fabrizio Romano.

According to multiple sources, Antonio Conte is set to accept the proposal from Tottenham Hotspur.

Conte has requested a three-year contract worth €15M per-year and especially the guarantee of an important January transfer window with the signings of 3-4 players.

Referee Fabio Maresca to face suspension after Roma-Milan poor display

The Giallorossi were defeated 2-1 by Milan. However, the affair was overshadowed by Maresca’s head-scratching decisions, which led directly to both of the Rossoneri’s goals.

The head of the Italian referee association (AIA), Gianluca Rocchi, was not happy with nightmare officiating display from Fabio Maresca.

Rocchi was reportedly very critical of Maresca’s confused attitude, card mismanagement, and the circumstances that led to the penalty given to Milan to seal the 0-2.

According to Sky Sport, Maresca’s errors will cost him one match suspension.

Thus, Maresca will not to get to referee any of next week’s fixtures.

Roma defender Gianluca Mancini shared José Mourinho’s sentiments regarding the nightmare refereeing performance of Fabio Maresca.

“We share the Mister’s anger with the referee, everyone saw what happened,” he said to DAZN.

“The decision against Ibañez was wrong. Are defenders even allowed to make a tackle? I’m speechless. What about the episode of Kjaer on Pellegrini?”

He continued, “These episodes and decisions make a huge difference in big matches and tonight they all went against us.”

“There was a clear penalty on Pellegrini. I don’t know what to say. Every year we meet with the referees and they say they want to award less penalties, but then they go out and give one like that against us.”

“Referees can make mistakes, they’re human, but now there’s VAR…so I don’t know what to say. If we compare us to the Premier League, the referee would laugh if was asked to give a penalty on that.”

He continued, “I think there were 12 yellow cards handed out between the two sides today. Why is every single foul a booking? I’m angry. I don’t want to disrespect anyone but for me, this is an absolute joke.”

“The contrast between Ibra and Ibañez is a normal one between two beast players. These sorts of things shouldn’t happen when the referee has 4-5 fellow referees in VAR watching from another perspective.”

Finally, “It seems like they’re taking the piss, that’s all.”

Sergio Ramos’ PSG contract could be terminated five months into nightmare spell

Paris Saint-Germain are considering rescinding Sergio Ramos’ contract. The Spaniard has not played since May and internal sources believe the club has made a mistake with his signing.

Sergio Ramos has not featured for Paris Saint-Germain since his move to the Parisian club from Real Madrid in the summer.

The French giants are considering a way out of their contract agreement with the Spanish great, according to Le Parisien.

Ramos left Real Madrid to sign for PSG on a free transfer, penning a lucrative contract until 2023.

Unfortunately for PSG and Ramos, though, he has yet to make his club debut as he recovers from a calf injury and PSG are said to feel misled about his status.

In fact, the 35-year-old hasn’t featured in a competitive game since Real’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League last May.

On Ramos’ injury, PSG sporting director Leonardo said: “We know Ramos has had an injury. The Spanish press are playing games, we all knew he had a problem. We know what’s happening here.”

A host of Europe’s elite were keeping tabs on Ramos before he joined PSG and it appears they could have the chance to land their man after all. Watch this space.

Oshoala leads topscorer chart with brace and assist in Barcelona’s home win against Real Sociedad

Asisat Oshoala continues to score for her Spanish Primera Iberdrola side, FC Barcelona Femeni as she helped her side with two goals and an assist against Real Sociedad in an 8-1 win on Sunday, at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.

The 27-year-old scored in the 23rd and 38th minute respectively to extend Barcelona’s lead to 3-1 at halftime, and assisted Lieke Martens who converted for Barcelona’s fourth goal in the 62nd minute, before she (Asisat) was replaced by Claudia Pina in the 72 minutes.

Unable to score for her national team in recent time, the Nigerian has now moved to the top of the goal scorers chart in the league with eleven (11) goals and two assists ahead of her teammate, Alexia Putellas.

Fridolina Rolfö opened the scoring for the hosts in the third minute before Sanni Franssi equaliser for Real Sociedad. Despite the initial threat, the Catalans ended up prevailing, thanks to goals of Oshoala (x2), Martens (x2), Jenni Hermoso, Clàudia Pina and Torre.

A result that, now, has been definitive and that allows Jonatan Giráldez’s ladies to be six points above Real Sociedad who are second in the League.