MOLATsportgist

Flying Officers Cup Countdown: How much do you know of Sunshine Queens?

Coach Tayo Onilude has a huge responsibility this coming months, leading a new Sunshine Queens team into the new 2021/22 NWFL Premiership season.

Many of Sunshine Queens key players left Akure, after the departure of Wemimo Mathew to Edo Queens, leaving Onilude with a lean squad.

They crashed out in the Federation Cup losing scandalously to neighbours Osun Babes FC and later went on to lose some friendly matches.

The team picked up at the Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament, winning two games, but wasn’t good enough for them to scale through to the Semi-final.

The ‘Betty Babes’ will be using the Flying Officers Cup to strengthen their squad and furthermore test more players as they head towards more challenges.

Experienced Goalkeeper Christy Ohiaeriaku and Seun ‘Drogba’ Atanda joined from Edo Queens in the summer and would prove to be an important addition to the squad, Ayo Omosuyi, Lucky Andy, Blessing Nkor all joined from Ibom Angels, while Kehinde Salaudeen and Juliet Emereole joined from Osun Babes and Dreamstar Ladies.

The team is beginning to auspiciously show some signs of life and the Flying Officers Cup is just the right place to make some finishing touches to their squad.

Danjumagic show again!

Born in Lagos to a beautiful Hausa mother and Dutch father, Arnaut Danjuma is making waves in not just Spanish but European football. Danjuma who joined Villarreal in the summer has quickly settled into the squad ditching out outstanding performances since he stepped on the pitch of La Liga.

Winning Man of the Match in the UEFA Champions League against Manchester United on Wednesday wasn’t enough for Arnaut Danjuma, who yet again put up a Man of Match performance as Villarreal defeat Real Betis 2-0 on Sunday evening.

The young energetic winger scored brace to increased his tally to four Liga goals and five goals in eight games in all competitions this season.

World Cup Qualifiers: 16 Eagles in camp, 7 others expected to land for CAR clash.

In-form Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, Maduka Okoye, Kelechi Iheanacho, Kenneth Omeruo, Francis Uzoho, Shehu Abdullahi and Simon Moses are expected to hit Super Eagles camp today ahead of Thursday’s Super Eagles clash with Central African Republic.

Chidera Ejuke –who has featured in 10 games for CSKA Moscow this season with 2 goals & 2 assists –was the first player to hit the Lagos camp on Monday.

Chidozie Awaziem who started against Cape Verde last month also arrived camp on Monday before being joined by Daniel Akpeyi,
Paul Onuachu, Samuel Kalu, Kelvin Akpoguma, Innocent Bonke, Jamilu Collins, Taiwo Awoniyi, William Ekong, Frank Onyeka, Leon Balogun, Joseph Aribo, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina and the captain, Ahmed Musa to complete the sixteen players in camp as they target their third consecutive wins in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

The three-time African Champions will slug it out with the Central African Republic in the 2022 World Cup African qualifiers on Thursday in Lagos before the return leg on Sunday in Cameroon. The Super Eagles are topping their group with six points from two matches.

UEFA Women’s Champions League Coverage by DAZN Group.

For the first time ever, all 61 matches in the UEFA Women’s Champions League will be available to stream live for free around the world on the DAZN Group YouTube channel as part of a groundbreaking four-year partnership for women’s sport.

Starting with a 16-team group stage coverage which will be available for global audiences in up to three languages – in the language of the home team, the away team and, if not already covered, in English.

The first game to be aired will be between the defending Champions, FC Barcelona’s and Arsenal tonight.

DAZN will travel to a different city on each match day for its official Game of The Week, which will be presented by a rotating group of iconic faces from football, wider sports and entertainment world.

Each broadcast will feature analysis from pundits based in the relevant territory in what DAZN has called “the biggest on-air team ever assembled to cover women’s soccer for a single broadcaster”.

Bayelsa Queens are Champions of the maiden Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament.

In a battle of Champions’, 2021 Aiteo Cup Champions, Bayelsa Queens humbled 2020/21 NWFL Premiership Champions, Rivers Angels to win the maiden edition of Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament on Sunday.

The First edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament, with the theme; “Promoting The Girl Child” a campaign against Girl Child Trafficking, was brought to an end at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in a game between the two best clubs in the country, Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels.

As there was nothing to separate the two sides after regular time, the game was determined by penalties shootout. It was Bayelsa Queens who came out victorious 4-3 on penalties to humble the ‘Jewels of Rivers’ and clinch the title which was named in honour of Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki.

Rivers Angels: Road to the final:

4-0 win vs Fortress Ladies
5-0 win vs Royal Queens
3-2 win vs FC Robo Queens
3-1 semi-final win vs Edo Queens
Total goals scored: 13
Total goals conceded: 3

Rivers Angels: ✅❌✅✅❌

Bayelsa Queens Road to the final:

0-0 against Confluence Queens
6-0 win against Kaduna Queens
3-0 win against Sunshine Queens
3-1 win against FC Robo Queens in the semi-final
Total goals scored: 12
Total goals conceded: 1

Bayelsa Queens: ✅✅✅❌✅

Earlier on, host, Edo Queens pipped FC Robo Queens 5-4 on penalties to win the third-place match after a 1-1 scoreline in 90 minutes.

The Champion of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament went home with N5million, a giant trophy and medals, the second place gets N3million, third place N2million and fourth place team gets N1million, while all the eight eliminated clubs after the group games, were presented with consolation cash prizes of N500,000 each.

Winners: Bayelsa Queens 🏆

Runners-up: Rivers Angels 🥈

Second runner-up: Edo Queens 🥉

Fourth: FC Robo Queens 👏

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates 25th birthday with first Premier League goal of the season.

Crystal Palace looked down and out after two goals in six minutes from Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy – who had not scored in a league game together since April – to give the Foxes the lead but the Eagles were relentless in getting a deserved comeback as Crystal Palace forced a 2-2 draw against Leicester City.

Rodgers rung the changes, with Iheanacho making his first league start of the season and in came Hamza Choudhury and Timothy Castagne.

Patrick Vieira on the other hand stuck with the same side that suffered a last gasp equaliser here against Brighton a week before.

Andersen bumbled on the ball and was dispossessed by an onrushing Kelechi Iheanacho who had the simplest task of slotting home unchallenged.

The Nigerian forward grabs his first Premier League goal of the season in his first league start to celebrate his 25th birthday.

Six minutes later, Barnes powered forward from deep, playing in Vardy down the left. Andersen had the chance to take control but slipped near the ball, and Vardy made no mistake with a controlled effort into the net.

But two second half subs from Patrick Vieira – who was used to whipping up magical moments on the pitch as a player – saw the Eagles soaring once more.

Michael Olise on for Ayew in the 53rd minute and it took just 8 minutes later for his impact to be felt as Tyrick Mitchell’s cross found the 19-year-old and his first effort was blocked by Ryan Bertrand before rifling home an accurate volley at the second time of asking.

In the 71st minute, Viera made another impactful substitute as Jeffrey Schlupp came on for Gallagher.

One minute later, Olise’s cross was poorly dealt with by a panicked Leicester defence in their own box and Schlupp popped up with the easiest of free headers.

Leicester hung on in the closing stages, and Schlupp almost grabbed a late winner when his flicked header from a corner grazed the post.

“LEVY knock OUT, ENIC knock OUT” Tottenham fans demand owners resignation.

Tottenham Hotspur FC fans were spotted holding a banner calling for club chairman Daniel Levy’s removal from the club during the match against Aston Villa.

The incident took place during Spurs’ Premier League clash with Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where two supporters held a sign that showed Levy losing a boxing match.

This comes after a string of poor results in the top flight as the north Londoners lost their last three successive matches in the league to London rivals Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men conceded three goals in all of the aforementioned encounters.

The club also endured some intense drama during the summer transfer window when reports suggested star striker Harry Kane wanted to leave. Kane was reportedly targeted by Manchester City but the Premier League champions failed to meet his release clause. The England international has yet to score for Tottenham in the Prem, which marks his worst ever start to a season.

Toni Payne assist earned Sevilla first win of the season.

Sevilla FC Femenino has achieved its first victory of the season, from a come back away at Valencia Féminas, thanks to Toni Payne late minute assist in the Spanish Primera Iberdrola Matchday five fixture on Sunday.

The duel was fairly even in the first half, with chances for both teams. The Nervionenses tried it through Ana Franco on several occasions and with the clearest of the game for Rosa Otermín after a great shot with her left foot that brushed the squad off the goal and well defended by Noelia Gil.

Esther Martin who took advantage of a free and direct to, after a rebound on the wood opened the scoring for Valencia in the 43rd minute for a halftime lead.

Cristian Toro made an effective changes that was impactfully felt precisely four minutes after entering the field of play.

Substitute, Zenatha Coleman put the ball after a measured center on the head of another substitute, Eli del Estal for equalizer as she finished at pleasure in the 68th minute to make the tie as she scored her first goal as a Sevilla player.

In the 82nd game and after a good gallop from Toni Payne, the Nigerian hit a good pass to Zenatha Coleman and the Namibian put the second and final of the match.

Eli del Estal and Zenatha Coleman, who entered in the second half, were the scorers in a match in which the Nervionenses managed to add three points for the first time this season.

Sevilla sit ninth on the table with five points from five games and will next face Athletic Bilbao on October 10.

Betsy Obaseki Cup: Rivers Angels defeated Edo Queens as NWFL Champions book a final date with the Aiteo Cup Champions.

Rivers Angels continue their dominance of Nigeria female football with masterclass performance against the home team at the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament, after beating Edo Queens 3-1 to booked a date with Bayelsa Queens in the final.

The Jewel of Rivers had a chance 18 minutes into the game from a mis-communication between the Edo Queens goalkeeper and her defender right inside the box and Ezenagu unable to hit the target after stealing the ball.

Edo Queens were denied by the cross bar in the 35th minute and the rebound saved by Adjei before Rosemary Ekong’s 38th minute header handed Rivers the lead at halftime.

Two minutes into the second half, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu sends in a rebound off Polinus’s shot and with a beautiful volley, she extended the lead to 3 nil and a brace to her name.

Edo Queens will not bow without giving it a fight, an effort that paid off as Elizabeth Zirike reduced the lead in the 78th minute, which in-turn resulted to a consolation goal.

Ikechukwu brilliantly drives from the right flank and puts a cross into the box but Okwuchukwu unable to connect to the ball for hat-trick. But the damage caused was already enough to eliminate Edo Queens on the home soil.

Rivers Angels vs Bayelsa Queens it is for Sunday’s grand finale at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with kick off fixed for 5pm after the closing ceremony.

While Bayelsa Queens are the defending Champions of the AITEO FA Cup, Rivers Angels are the defending Champions of the NWFL Premiership and runners-up of the WAFU B Championship, and also the sole representative of Nigeria at the inaugural edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League scheduled for next month in Egypt.

It is safe to say, the final of the inaugural edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament will be the ‘battle of Champions‘.

The winner of the tournament will go home with a cash prize of N5million, while the first runners up take home N3million.

Edo Queens will play for pride against FC Robo Queens in the third place, which will be played 8am on Sunday morning at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The winner of the third place tie will pocket N2million while the fourth will collect N1million prize money for reaching that stage.

Regina Otu on target as Minsk demolished Brest.

The former Rivers Angels player who featured for Super Falcons of Nigeria at the maiden Aisha Buhari Cup last month scored her sixth league goal for Belarusian Vysshaya Liga side, Minsk FK as her Club demolished Dynamo Brest 16-0 on Saturday.

Regina played all minutes of action for Minsk FK while Onome Ebi was replaced by Anna Krasikova in the 46th minute.

The game which took place at the Brestsky State Sports Complex saw floodgate of goals opened in the first half with a total of eleven scored from Diana Bakum (2), Milana Surovtseva (3), Anna Sas (3), Elizaveta Pinchuk, Selma Kapetanovic, and Diana Hvesko (own goal) finding the back of the net.

The demolition of Brest continued in the second half as the Nigerian forward, Regina Otu added to the woe in the 59th minute before more goals from Tatyana Shereshovets, Milana Surovtseva (2), and Anna Sas completed a 16-0 win for the Belarusian side.

Minsk FK occupies the second position on the league table with 63 points from 23 games, six points behind Dinamo-BGU FK their next opponent on October 8.