Confluence Queens captain, Alexandra Florence has hailed her new teammate Ibinabo for scoring a brace against WACO Ladies FC and expecting her to do the same, when they meet Nasarawa Amazons on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup.
Ibinabo Georgewill joined Confluence Queens this summer, after failing to get playing time at Rivers Angels and has since become an important part of the ‘New Direction’ Ladies since joining them last month.
The ‘Rivers born’ forward have scored three goals so far in the tournament, one against Sunshine Queens and two against WACO Ladies.
Alexander Florence, who has been with the team for three seasons feels she has come to the right place and would play a pivotal role when the league resumes.
“I think she is a fantastic player and one who has alot of great qualities on and off the pitch,” she said.
“She is a good friend and I believe so much in her abilities, just like I do with every member of the squad. I am not surprised she is scoring important goals for us, I expect her to do more when the league starts.
“Nasarawa Amazons game is a huge game for us, we know what they are made of and know their qualities. We won’t let that to worry us. Our aim is simple, and that is to give our all on the pitch.”
Confluence Queens are participating in their second Flying Officers Cup competition and would meet North Central neighbors Nasarawa Amazons in the third quarterfinals game on Thursday.
Bolaji Olamide eyes Flying Officers Cup glory with Osun Babes
Osun Babes Midfielder Bolaji Olamide has told the Flying Officers Cup Media that she only has her sight on winning the Pre-season Championship after her team progressed to the semifinals on Monday afternoon..
Bolaji, who was voted ‘Player of the match’ after a superlative performance in their 2-0 win over young and determined Royal Queens side, said she looks forward to her team getting to the finals and winning the competition.
“Our game against Royal Queens was a very difficult one, we had alot of opportunities, but failed to take them. They were all over us at a time, putting pressure and aiming to score. I’m happy I could help my team get to the semifinals and hopefully we would be in the final.
“I am hopeful and with the squad we have, we can go all the way to do something special. I am optimistic, so are my teammates and everyone in the team.”
Osun Babes are participating at their first Flying Officers Pre-season Championship and would be playing their semifinal game on Friday.
The team won their first game against Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens by 2-1, played a 1-1 draw against FC Robo Queens and their last group game against Bayelsa Queens ended goalless.
Flying Officers Cup: Naija Ratels’ coach looks beyond tournament exit
After a 2-0 defeat to FC Robo Queens which effectively ended Naija Ratels FC participation at the 2021 Flying Officers Cup, coach of the Naija Ratels, Bankole Olowookeere is looking ahead of the tournament with the aim of improving his team for the 2021/2022 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership season.
The experienced Manager is very optimistic that he is heading towards the right direction with his squad and promise to continue assessing the squad and making them stronger.
“It wasn’t a bad game for the team. We tried our best to get the desired result but the best side won the game. FC Robo Queens deserve the victory. We just have to work more because that is the major reason for pre season tournaments,” he said.
He added that, “It’s so clear and glaring that our attack have not been converting their chances that we have to work on.”
Naija Ratels FC finished fourth in the last edition of the Flying Officers Cup with eight teams and have now bowed out of the 2021 edition with 16 teams at the quarter final stage.
Coach Olowookeere is of the view that the most important thing was the fact that his team maintained its status quo without dropping while also highlighting what he needs to work on ahead of 2021/2022 NWFL Premiership season.
“If we do the Mathematics which is not common in football but part of it, it’s still the same position for us because if we had played this tournament with eight teams we would have qualified for the semi final. We now have 16 teams. It’s important for us that we didn’t drop but maintain our status quo. If the team had converted their chances, we would have been contesting for the final but it is an issue in which we have to take a wholistic look at ahead of next season in the NWFL Premiership.” He concluded.
Naija Ratels FC will play in Group A when the 2021/2022 NWFL Premiership season kicks off alongside Nasarawa Amazons, Confluence Queens, Pelican Stars, Osun Babes, Adamawa Queens, and Edo Queens.
Next season will be Naija Ratels FC’s maiden season in the top flight NWFL Premiership after gaining promotion from second tier NWFL Championship this year alongside Adamawa Queens.
Flying Officers Cup: Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi pledges cash prize for topscorer and golden glove winner
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) First Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has reiterated his commitment to continue giving maximum supports to women’s football in Nigeria and beyond.
The Legal Luminary on Monday promised to give a cash prize of N100,000 each to the best goalkeeper and highest goalscorer of the ongoing Flying Officers Cup 2021.
Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi who has been the sponsor of the Referee of the month Awards in the NWFL Premiership for the past three years disclosed that the highest goalscorer and Best Goalkeeper cash prize award is his little way of supporting and encouraging young women footballers to do more as they progress in their career.
“I believe this is my little way of encouraging young women footballers to excel in their chosen careers. The cash prize isn’t much, but am sure it’s going to be a memorable one for them.
“The Flying Officers Cup has been consistent. This is the third year and it means the organisers are doing something special. In the last three years or so, I have been sponsoring the award for the Best Referee in the NWFL Premiership every month, this is something I feel will steadily encourage people to do more in their area of specialization.
“The award I heard has helped officiating in the league, because everybody wants to be decorated and celebrated, which is good for the league and everyone.”
The Flying Officers Cup is an annual Women Football Pre-season Championship for football clubs in Africa.
The first edition was held in Makurdi, where Edo Queens emerged winners, the second edition in Abuja was won by Bayelsa Queens. The ongoing third edition has gotten to the Semi-finals stage.
The past winners of the best goalkeeper awards are Christy Ohiaeriaku of Edo Queens in 2019 and Oyinyechi Okeke of Bayelsa Queens in 2020, while the highest goalscorer in 2019 was Taibat Odueke of Edo Queens (4goals) and Joy Omewa of Confluence Queens (7goals).
‘Representing Nigeria has always been my dream’ – Watford’s forward
Many Nigerian players in the diaspora have been showing interest in representing the giant of Africa of football, and it’s no news how these daughters of the soil have been earning call-up to the national team lately.
Watford wonder kid, Shardonna’e Sadiyah is the latest player to expressed her readiness to represent Nigeria ahead of the 12th Africa Women Cup of Nations.
Morocco will host the next edition of the TotalEnergies Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) from the 2nd of July to 23rd of same month, but Shardonna’e believes that she has what it takes to represent Nigeria as she look forward to a call-up.
“Representing Nigeria has always been my dream and I believe that the opportunity will come someday. All I need to do is to keep working hard.
“With the little experience I have gathered at Watford, I believe I will represent Nigeria well. I’m 19 and still young and I have a lot I can offer the team,” she said.
The 19-year-old utility player, who can conveniently play in any role in the attack, has been a key figure for Watford under 23 Women’s team, with incredible display week in week out for the London-based team.
AWCON Qualifier: Black Queens lands in Lagos for Falcons clash
Ghana’s contingent led by the Chairperson of the Black Queens Management Committee, Madam Habiba Atta Forson have arrived in Lagos, Nigeria for the first leg of the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations second round first leg qualifier against Nigeria.
The Black Queens will hold their first training session Monday afternoon before the mandatory training session on Tuesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos at 3pm.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will battle it out with the Black Queens of Ghana at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos on Wednesday, October 20, 2021.
The second leg is slated for Accra Sports stadium on Sunday, 24th October 2021, after which the winner of the two legged clash will face either Niger or Cote d’Ivoire for a ticket to Morocco 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nation.
Flying Officers Cup: Lagos Landladies and Omoluabi Queens book semifinals spot
Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership sides, Osun Babes and FC Robo Queens qualified for the semifinals of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup after recording victories over Royal Queens FC and Naija Ratels FC in the first two quarter final games on Monday.
The Omoluabi Queens as Osun Babes is fondly called edged Royal Queens FC 2-0 in the first quarter final match.
Osun Babes started the game dominating possession before getting the first breakthrough of the game.
Ebere Oleka in the 18th minute converted from the penalty spot to give Osun Babes the lead after Bolaji Olamide was brought down inside Royal Queens penalty area.
Royal Queens FC of Warri tried to equalise after going behind. Rosemary Adesina in the 23rd minute was well positioned but played the ball far wide.
Oleka after the half hour mark almost doubled Osun Babes of Osogbo lead with a header but her attempt went wide despite Royal Queens dominance. In the 79th minute, Osun Babes had a free kick in a promising area after Alvine Dah Zossu was brought down near Royal Queens penalty area. Bolaji Olamide fantastically scored the resultant free kick to double Osun Babes lead.
FC Robo Queens also replicated Osun Babes score line with a 2-0 triumph over Naija Ratels FC in the second quarter final game.
The game started in an end to end scenario as both teams showed their intentions early in the game.
Naija Ratels goalkeeper, Ohia Doris brilliantly punched out a volley from Esther Onyenezide in the 26th minute. Twelve minutes later, Ohia Doris again made what could arguably be the save of the tournament as she leaned backward to save a ball looped by Taiwo Lawal.
FC Robo Queens resumed the second half in a dominating fashion having the lion share of ball possession and dictated the pace of the game. In the 58th minute, Folashade Ijamilusi gave FC Robo Queens the lead from a very close range.
Aminat Bello in the 76th minute tried to shoot towards goal for Naija Ratels FC but her effort went wide off the post. Four minutes from full time, FC Robo Queens took an advantage position to double its lead as Oladipo Shukurat took a shot from outside the box which rolled inside the net of Naija Ratels.
Two more quarter final fixtures will take place as Edo Queens face Sunshine Queens while Confluence Queens and Nasarawa Amazons trade tackles for the remaining two semi final places up for grabs.
Rise to stardom: ‘I was cleaning gutters for 20 Naira’ – Victor Osimhen reveals
Victorious 22-year-old Super Eagles and Napoli star, Victor Osimhen has revealed his ‘grass to grace’ story, revealing how he performed menial jobs in order to survive before his journey into professional football.
Speaking via his national teammate and captain, William Troost-Ekong’s vlog on his journey to stardom, the striker said: “It all started like a dream, a boyhood dream from the slum and I feel like I have achieved this feat, it’s one of my biggest achievements in life.”
“Most people are familiar when I say this because they have come through even worse [situations] than mine and where I grew up, nothing is promised there because whatever you want to get, you have to work so hard for it,” he added.
“I remember when I was growing up, I was cleaning the gutters for 20 Naira, for my landlord and did some cleaning jobs for my neighbours close to my house, fetch water for 80 Naira, I think.
“I found pleasure in doing these things because I believed when I worked so hard to get this money, it was important for me. I had consciousness on how to spend this money and help my family.
“While growing up, my brother was selling newspapers, my sister oranges. I was in the traffic with water and I’d had to chase cars, give them water to get the money. I feel like these struggles helped me in life.
“I am grateful for where I am today because of what I’d been through, it shaped me into the man I am. I am really grateful to God for that.”
Four-and-a-half months after joining from Manchester City, Sergio Aguero makes his Barcelona debut
Sergio Aguero enjoyed his first minutes in a Barcelona shirt in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Valencia at Camp Nou.
José Gaya had opened the scoring for the visiting team, but Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay and Phillipe Coutinho who scored for the first time since a 4-0 win against Osasuna in November 2020 to stamped the great victory.
Aguero came on for the final five minutes, replacing Sergiño Dest, and Camp Nou fans chanted ‘Kun, Kun’ in reference to his nickname.
“It was incredible to hear them chanting that. I will have to get used to that song. Now I have to prove myself on the pitch so they toast me. I can’t give them all a hug, but I hope they enjoy how I play.” – Kun Aguero
He joined from Manchester City on a free transfer in the summer but has had to wait to debut because of a calf injury.
Victorious Osimhen ensures Napoli perfect run
When Napoli were in desperate need of a goal, Victor Osimhen took off flight and converted a late winner to lead them to victory against Torino.
Napoli remain the only team in Europe’s top five leagues with a 100 percent record thanks to Victor Osimhen’s late minute winner over Torino.
Napoli took control of the game, but failed to open the scoring. Insigne missed the opportunity to give his team the advantage from the penalty spot, stopped by Milinkovic-Savic in the 27th minute. Back from the locker room, Di Lorenzo deceived the goalkeeper with a header, on a cross from Ruiz, but his goal was ultimately refused for an offside by VAR.
With just nine minutes of regulation time left, Napoli scored their only goal through Nigerian forward Victor James Osimhen.
The goal which was a relief for the entire Napoli team, was Osimhen’s fifth in seven games this season. He has now scored four match winning goals in the league for Napoli this season. At Lille, he did so 7 times in 27 league games.
“It’s amazing, the atmosphere was really crazy. I think we deserved the win, it’s very special to our fans, as they never stopped cheering us from the first whistle to the last. I am really happy with the win and we won’t stop.” Osimhen told football Italia media.
“I knew the ball was going to come, so I had to anticipate. It’s an opportunity to get the goal, I am really happy with the win and we won’t stop.
“This shows how this is a difficult league and we have to continue this momentum.”
MOLATsportgist 