MOLATsportgist

Bankole Olowookeere tutored Naija Ratels FC will face Ghana Women Premier League side, Ghana Police Ladies FC in the opening match of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup.

The encounter will rekindle the Ghanaian and Nigerian rivalry in women’s football as Hasaacas Ladies FC earned a bragging rights over Rivers Angels (3-1) the last time a Nigerian side met Ghanaian opposition at WAFU-B Zonal Qualifiers final for 2021 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League.

Naija Ratels FC still basking in the euphoria of promotion to top flight Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership recently and will attempt to do something spectacular when they start a familiar journey in the Flying Officers Cup.

The Bankole Olowookeere side finished in fourth position during the 2020 edition, losing to Edo Queens in the third place match and will want to improve on that feat by starting its campaign on a positive note against the Ghanaians.

The Nigerian side is harmed with talents like Paulina Ali, Aminat Bello, Emmanuel Blessing, Oyinlola Olamide, and new signings like Sofiat Bankole, Olamide Adugbe, Adesina Itunuoluwa, and Omede Regina to mention a few.

Ghana Police Ladies FC narrowly missed out of the 2021 Ghana Women’s Premier League title behind Hasaacas Ladies FC.

The Frank Oswald led team are making their debut appearance at the 2021 Flying Officers Cup and will relish a keenly contest battle with West African neighbors, Naija Ratels FC of Nigeria.

The team’s attack force of Juanita Aguadze, Jane Ayieyam, Shirley Dzomeku, and Ruth Appiah are sure to wreck some havoc in Naija Ratels defence line if not well marshalled.

It promises to be a titanic clash at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja by 3pm.

Barça finally managed to get rid of the ‘thorn’ from the last visits to Alcalá de Henares and take three gold points from Madrid. The goals of Oshoala , Aitana and Martens were worth to overcome a great Atlético and remain undefeated.

Giráldez started with the same eleven filed against Arsenal.

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Oshoala found the net on her 27th birthday against South Africa international Thembi Kgatlana’s (who had punished Oshoala’s Super Falcons at the AishaBuhariCup final) team in Saturday’s Spanish Primera Iberdrola encounter.

In her fourth league start of the season, Oshoala opened the scoring for the Catalans in the 35th minute with her eighth league goal of the campaign in six matches, before being substituted in the 64th minute.

Aitana Bonmati doubled the lead in the 71st minute before Lieke Martens made it three three minutes.

Kgatlana came off the bench in the 74th minute, with her side already three goals down in Madrid but her effort was not enough to help them avoid their first defeat of the season. Her Nigerian teammate Rasheedat Ajibade, was not dressed for the capital club in the encounter.

According to Opta, Asisat Oshoala and her teammate, Alexia Putellas have scored 15 goals combined which is as many goals as all entire Atlético de Madrid in Primera Iberdrola this season.

Onitsha, Anambra state will come alive this month with the beautiful game of football as Ex- Super Falcons gather to support one of their own, Coach Maureen Mmadu.

In a one week of football fiesta in Onitsha, Anambra state, the Ex- Super Falcons will play three matches with three Onitsha based All Stars Football Clubs.

The three matches involving All Stars Onitsha, All Stars Fegge and All Stars 33 will be played on Sunday 24th, Wednesday 27 and Friday 29th October respectively.

While Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium will host two of the matches of 24th and 29th, the match of 27th will be played at Fegge Stadium.

The Soccer bazzar is organized by Maureen Mmadu kiddies Football Camp to increase sensitization and support for female football.

The Maureen Madu Kiddies are preparing for a trip for Denmark where they have been invited to participate in DANA Cup Competition in the first quarter of 2022

Maureen Madu was born in Onitsha where she started her career with Ado Babes.

She intends to give back to society by discovering, mentoring and guiding young talented girls to superstardom.

Naija Ratels Head Coach Bankole Olowookeere says his team are not of the opinion that they are better than Ghana Police Ladies ahead of their Flying Officers Cup opening day match.

The Police Ladies finished as first runner up in the 2021 Ghana Women Premier League, just behind WAFU ‘B Champions, Hasaacas Ladies.

The ‘Ratels’ who were semi-finalist at the last Flying Officers Cup edition will tackle their Ghanaian counterpart 3pm on Sunday at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja and Olowookeere insists that they will go into the game with alot of respect for their counterpart.

“Everyday we get prepared for the challenges ahead of us and plan to get ourselves better as a team,” Olowookeere said.

“We respect our opponent, and also know that they are a very good team, but nevertheless, we know our strength and have to make the best out of it.

“We are trying to stay modest,” Naija Ratels are not seen as one of the top teams, so there is less pressure on us. We just go out and work hard in every match and continue building a formidable team for the Premiership season.”

The third edition of the Flying Officers Cup will kick-off on Sunday, the 10th of October 2021 at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja.

Ghana Police Ladies FC Head Coach, Frank Oswald Sam has stated that his team will perform well at the Flying  Officers Cup.

Speaking with the media just after his team had their first training session on Friday at the FIFA Goal Project, Package B’, National Stadium, Abuja.

The young Gaffer expressed optimism and satisfaction towards having a memorable and succesful Pre-season tournament in Nigeria.

“At the moment we are fully set for the tournament, we have been training so hard and want to achieve something positive here in Nigeria.

“Basically, we are ready to go. As a team we are coming for the ultimate and using the Flying Officers Cup to prepare for the Ghana Women Premier League, which begins next month.

“So far the reception here by the host, has been topnotch and we are enjoying the atmosphere here in Nigeria.

“We have learnt so much about Naija Ratels and had the privilege of getting some informations about them. They are a good side and we have to be at our best to defeat them.” He concluded.

Naija Ratels FC and Ghana Police Ladies FC will battle it out in the first game of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup on Sunday, the 10th of October at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja.

France Football, the organizers of the Ballon D’Or award, have a total of 20 players for the Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Four-time African Woman Player Of The Year missed out on the list as five members of the Barcelona team which secured victory in the Women’s Champions League last season are among the nominees.

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No room on the list for the reigning holder, Megan Rapinoe, who took the prize when it was last handed out in 2019, but a couple of the National Women’s Super League players, are on the list of nominations for the Ballon d’Or.

Champions League finalists and England’s champions, Chelsea also have five players on the list. Representing Arsenal on the nomination list is, one of the Women’s Super League’s most-feared strikers, Vivianne Miedema.

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Nominees:

Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea)
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG)
Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
Stina Blackstenius (BK Hacken)
Wendie Renard (Lyon)
Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage)
Pernille Harder (Chelsea)
Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal)
Sandra Panos (Barcelona)
Lieke Martens (Barcelona)
Jessie Fleming (Chelsea)
Irene Paredes (Barcelona)
Ashley Lawrence (PSG)
Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns)
Ellen White (Man City)
Christiane Endler (Lyon)
Jennifer Hermoso (Barcelona)
Fran Kirby (Chelsea)
Kaddiatou Diani (PSG)

The winner will be announced on November 29.

FC Internazionale Milano announces the arrival of Ajara Nchout Njoya in the Nerazzurri. The forward who was linked with a switch to both Milan giants Inter and AC Milan has opted for Inter Milan.

The 28-year old Cameroonian striker has penned a contract with the Club until 30 June 2022.

The signing was delayed following the regularization of administrative formalities. She leaves Atletico Madrid for good after eight months in the Spanish capital.

This has taken the number of Cameroon International who have recently switched to the Serie A Femminile to three players following the recent switch of Marie Aurielle Awona to Napoli and Augustine Sylvia Ejangue to Pomigliano.

All is set for the start of the biggest pre-season Championship in Africa, the 2021 Flying Officers Cup which is billed to kick-off on Sunday, the 10th of October at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja.

2021 Ghanaian Women Premier League first runner-up Police Ladies, arrived the country on Thursday morning via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and had their first training on Friday morning at the FIFA Goal Project Package B’, National Stadium, Abuja

All the 16 teams participating are expected to arrive on Saturday, with the opening game between Naija Ratels FC and Ghana Police Ladies scheduled on Sunday by 3pm at the same venue.

GROUP A:

Naija Ratels FC (hosts)
Ghana Police Ladies FC
Royal Queens FC
Honey Badgers

GROUP B:

Bayelsa Queens
FC Robo Queens
Osun Babes
Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens FC

GROUP C:

Rivers Angels
Confluence Queens
Sunshine Queens
Oasis Ladies FC

GROUP D:

Nasarawa Amazons FC
Edo Queens
Lakeside Queens FC
Dannaz Ladies.

Banyana Banyana have failed to defend their Cosafa Women’s Cup crown, after they were edged 3-2 by Malawi at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Thursday.

A new Champions will be crowned when the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship ends on October 9 as Malawi and Tanzania book a final spot after defeating South Africa and Zambia respectively in the semi-final.

Twice, Banyana had to fight their way into the game with Malawi taking the lead, but the visitors had the loudest cheer as they scored in the dying minutes of the game to win the match.

Ireen Khumalo floats a fine long ball into the box, captain Chimwemwe Madise nods it to Fazila Chembekezo to head home the opener as the holders backline is caught napping; a stunning solo effort in first-half stoppage time by last season’s topscorer Sibulele Holweni draws the holders level.


In the second half, Sabinah Thom restored Malawi’s lead in the 74tn minute while Sibulele Holweni equalised for the second time in the 80th minute from the penalty spot.

Sabinah Thom’s 86th-minute goal settled the scoreline in favour of Malawi that suffered a 2-1 defeat in the opening game of the competition to South Africa which ensured that the former finished second in Group A.

Underdogs Malawi shock seven-time champions South Africa to avenge their 6-2 defeat at the same stage in Cosafa 2020 and reach their first-ever final; meanwhile, South Africa fail to reach a Cosafa Women’s Championship final for the first time.

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In the other semifinal match, Tanzania edged Zambia 3-2 on penalties to qualify for the final of the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship.

Lushomo Mweemba nets an own goal in an attempt to clear M.Omary’s shot as Tanzania had the lead on the 17th-minute, Zambia conceded for the first time in this year’s competition. Great pass from the teen Kasonga to the veteran Omary in the buildup.

Zambia captain, Grace Chanda floats a long-range shot from the midfield into the net to draw Copper Queens level in the 69th minute to take the game into penalties shootout, as a 17-year-old Tanzanian goalkeeper conceded for the first time in the COSAFAW2021.

Tanzania eventually won the battle of wills 3-2 on penalties as Margaret Belemu, Lushomo Mweemba, and Lubandji Ochumba missed their spot-kicks for Zambia while Bilali Amina missed for Tanzania.

The two-time CECAFA Champions remain on track for a clean sweep of COSAFA women’s titles –when they face Malawi in the final– as they currently hold the COSAFA U17 & COSAFA U20 titles.

2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship:

October 9
Final
Tanzania vs Malawi

Third Place
Zambia vs South Africa

The 16 teams, which comprises of teams in Nigeria and neighboring country Ghana were today drawn into four different groups which will compete for honours from the 10th to the 24th of October 2021, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The tournament which was formerly known as Ratels Pre-season Championship was re-named the Flying Officers Cup to celebrate and immortalize the late Flying Tolulope Arotile, whose remarkable Achievements and impactful story of bravery, courage , heroism and gallantry has continued to provide a beacon of hope and inspiration to many girls who aspire to achieve their dreams regardless the challenges that exists in their quest.

Speaking at draws, Chairman Ratels Sports Development Foundation, Barrister Paul Edeh urge the football community to embrace further quotas to increase the number of women in decision making roles in order to help secure the future of the game.

“We have been responsibly preparing for this wonderful event and have done our best for players and everyone coming down here for the Pre-season Championship to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of splendid football feast and of course we hope they will enjoy their stay here in Abuja.

The time for talking has stopped. We must move on and start to make impact in the development of women’s football.

Today, I urge the football community to embrace further quotas to increase the number of women in decision making roles in order to help secure the future of the game.

I am extremely proud that FIFA, the world governing Football body has implemented more positive policies to promote gender equality and foster sports through education in women’s football.”

The official ball for the tournament was revealed featuring various colours and pictures variant of Tolulope Arotile and logo of Ratels Sports Development Foundation.

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GROUP A:

Naija Ratels FC (hosts)
Ghana Police Ladies FC
Royal Queens FC
Honey Badgers

GROUP B:

Bayelsa Queens
FC Robo Queens
Osun Babes
Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens FC

GROUP C:

Rivers Angels
Confluence Queens
Sunshine Queens
Oasis Ladies FC

GROUP D:

Nasarawa Amazons FC
Edo Queens
Lakeside Queens FC
Dannaz Ladies.