Nigerian born Dutch forward, Arnaut Danjuma put in a performance to remember at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
The star grew up idolising Cristiano Ronaldo but wasn’t afraid when his Villarreal side faced Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United in the Champions League encounter.
The 24-year-old Dutchman ‘tormented’ Diogo Dalot all evening and earned the Man of the Match award despite being on the losing side.
Danjuma’s display contained two shots on target, three successful dribbles, one assist and two key passes (Sofascore) as well as the ‘unplayable’ tag from Owen Hargreaves.
He took solace in his Man Of The Match award after his side bowed to a narrow defeat as Cristiano Ronaldo scored a last gasp winner for the hosts.
Born to a Nigerian father and Romanian mother, Karim-David Adeyemi has won back-to-back Player Of The Match award in the UEFA Champions League this season after his impressive against Sevilla and Lille respectively.
The teenager scored both goals in Salzburg’s 2-1 victory over Lille on Wednesday to reach double figures for the campaign in just 14 games.
He has now won the joint-most penalties in a single UEFA Champions League season (4) level with Arjen Robben from the 2013/14 season, and has done it in 110 minutes across two appearances.
Having previously spent two years at Bayern Munich’s academy, his double saw him surpass club legend Thomas Muller (20 years 2 days) by becoming the youngest (19 years and 254 days) German player to score twice in a Champions League fixture.
In early September, German outlet Bild reported Liverpool are keen to sign Adeyemi but warned they will face competition from Bayern and Barcelona for the highly-rated teenager.
Having extended his contract until 2024 last year, Adeyemi is believed to be available for a fee between £17million and £26million, which could prove too enticing to pass up.
The Nigeria men’s senior national team, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has named his 23-man squad ahead of the Qatar 2022 double qualifying encounters against the Central African Republic in Lagos and Douala next week.
Rohr’s men will take on the Central African Republic on October 7 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos before travelling to Douala, Cameroon (presently the ‘home’ of CAR national teams) for the return fixture three days later.
The team list was released in a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Communications Department on Thursday.
Captain Musa leads the line at the fore, with in-form France –based Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Chidera Ojuke, Paul Onuachu, among others called up.
21-year-old Calvin Bassey who plays for Scottish giants Rangers as a left-back/centre-back was handed his maiden Nigeria call-up while Lorient forward Terem Moffi has been dropped.
With enforcers Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo out injured, the lot falls on Frank Onyeka and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo to replicate their firm handling of things in the middle in Mindelo, when the Central African Republic comes calling on Thursday and in Douala on Sunday. Rohr has now listed England –based duo Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho in the midfield.
Nigeria already kicked off their campaign in the qualifiers on brighter note with two winnings in their first two games and are currently the group C leaders with six points. Victory in both games will all but guarantee the Super Eagles’ passage to the all-important knockout rounds scheduled for March 2022, which will produce Africa’s five flagbearers in Qatar.
Super Falcons captain, Asisat Oshoala scored two goals as the Catalans win with authority against newly promoted Villarreal (0-8) in a great game for the entire team and remain intractable leading the domestic championship, with four victories in four games.
Lieke Martens opened the floodgates of goals in the 17th minute with a powerful shot to the right of the goalkeeper.
Barça’s dominance was absolute, and the second was not long in coming through Alexia Putellas. The captain, with a powerful shot from the front, doubled the lead in the 28th minute.
The third goal ended up before the break through Marta Torrejón, with a tight shot to the post after a good drop from Asisat Oshoala in the 36th minute, a result that would end the first half.
Aitana Bonmati header and Alexia Putellas in the 52nd minute with her second of the game increased Barcelona’s lead to five after the interval.
Asisat Oshoala joined the goal party three minutes later. The Barça gale continued to attack and once again Oshoala saw the goal with an acrobatic shot after a Martens cross. The Dutchwoman was also in charge of completing the rout in the 83rd minute.
Oshoala has now scored six goals in four league games for the European Champions this season with her latest brace.
Finally, a resounding victory for Barça that continues to be intractable in the League, with four victories in four games.
The goals of Toni Payne and Rosa Otermín once again gave wings to Cristian Toro’s side as Sevilla FC drew against Madrid CFF at the Jesús Navas Stadium (2-2).
In the first half, the Sevilla took control of the meeting with Inma Gabarro and Toni Payne active in attack and with the entire team exerting great pressure on the visitors, who had two or three approaches through the mediation of the Brazilian Geyse, effectively solved by Catalan goalkeeper Esther Sullastres.
After 40 minutes into the game, the hosts efforts paid off from a good move by the Nigerian international, Toni Payne on the right putting in the first of the afternoon to give her Club a 1-0 lead at halftime with her first goal of the season.
Mónica Hickman equalised for Madrid CFF in the 52nd minute but the hosts made a show of never giving up and within six minutes of receiving the tie, Rosa Otermín made a personal move from the left to put the ball in the cobwebs of Ulloa’s goal.
Rita Chikwelu who didn’t start the game for Madrid CFF replaced Silvia Rubio Avila in the 69th minute.
Madrid CFF draw level once again through Geyse to ensure that the match ends in a 2-2 draw.
Sevilla’s next appointment will be on Sunday against Valencia Féminas CF at the Antonio Puchades.
Rita Chikwelu’s Madrid will face Ajibade’s Atlético de Madrid on Sunday.
Meet Rivers Angels ahead of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup.
With just 10 days to the kickoff of the third edition of the prestigious Flying Officers Cup, Rivers Angels will be competing for the first time ever and they would definitely be presenting a very strong squad.
The defending Champions of the NWFL Premiership have a very rich history in women’s football, having won the league title a record 7 times, equaling the record, previously set by Pelican Stars of Calabar.
Edwin Okon have succeded in smoothly integrating the bright young talents at his disposal, including Deborah Abiodun, Maryann Ezeanagu, Oghenebrume Ikhekua and many more, all whom have now established themselves as key parts of the ‘Jewels of Rivers’.
Deborah Abiodun, a tireless grafter, since joining from Nasarawa Amazons have been an unplayable cog in midfield and has garnered a reputation of being a combative and feisty player in her performances.
Evelyn Nwabuoku, a club legend and Super Falcons midfielder have rejoined the team after a stint in Spain and would also bring her wealth of experience to play when it matters.
Rivers Angels have all it takes to do very well at the Flying Officers Cup and use the tournament to prepare properly ahead for the CAF Women Champions League starting in the early November 2021.
The team have also imported some new players from neighboring African countries like Ghana and Mali and these new players will need to quickly get in vibes to the ‘team DNA’ and style of play before the big event in Egypt.
Zimbabwean International forward Kabwe Berita, Cameroonian Lioness midfielder Omboudou Brigitte, Ghanaian Black Queens Goalkeeper Adjei Charlotte will all be competing for Rivers Angels at the Flying Officers Cup.
On a daily basis histories are being made in the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament taking place in Benin City, Edo State, as the Chief Coach of FC Robo Queens of Lagos, Emmanuel Osahon, for the first time in the history of women football development in Nigeria introduced a 10 year old player, Kemi Adegbuyi, in the second half of the Group B match against Fortress Ladies FC of Benin, where team captain, Gift Monday scored all the five goals of the match that confirmed the club’s leadership of the group.
Kemi Adegbuyi, who was first seen earlier this year at the First Eko Football Women’s Championship played at the Legacy Pitch and Agege Stadium, Lagos, provided the assist for the fifth goal scored by Gift Monday.
The young player said she want to be like Assisat Oshoala when she grows, reason she was happy joining FC Robo, the team that trained her to become the best player in Africa. Aunty Assisat is my hero. I believe God will take me there.
FC Robo Queens of Lagos Proprietor and Chief Coach, Emmanuel Osahon, noted that, he first saw Kemi Adegbuyi, a student of Igbowu Junior Secondary School Mushin, Lagos at the EkoFootball Women’s Championship at the Legacy Pitch one of the venues, playing for an Amateur club, OC Queens and he saw the potential in the young girl and he decided to sign her on for his NWFL Premiership club, looking back at his antecedents in grooming young players like Assisat Oshoala, Rashidat Ajibade, Chidima Okeke, Gift Monday and Esther Onyenezide. All these five players are regulars in the national women’s football teams, the Super Falcons,the Flamengos and Super Falconets. With three out of them foreign based Stars and one of them Assisat Oshoala, a four times African Woman Footballer of the Year.
“I believe that with her flair and talents, she will turn out to be a great player in years to come. Thank God for the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament, we are using it as our pre-season to prepare for the NWFL Premiership League which starts on December 8, 2021,” he told media.
CAF has released the draw for the maiden edition of the TotalEnergies Women’s Champions League to be staged in Egypt next month.
The competition will see eight teams grouped into two groups of four teams each. The two top teams from each group will qualify for the Semifinals.
The draw which was conducted on Wednesday saw Nigeria representative Rivers Angels placed in group B alongside Mamelodi Sundown Ladies of South Africa, Vihiga Queens of Kenya and ASFAR FC of Morocco.
Despite suffering a defeat to Hassacass Ladies of Ghana in the final of the WAFU B qualifier, Rivers Angels remained a strong favorite to win the tournament owing to the pedigree of Nigeria women football.
In group A, we have the host, Wadi Degla of Egypt, AS Mande of Mali, Malabo Kings of Equatorial Guinea and Hasaacas ladies of Ghana.
Two times finalist of the Flying Officers Cup, Nasarawa Amazons lost to Edo Queens and Bayelsa Queens in 2019 and 2020 consecutively.
A very strong side tutored by Christopher Danjuma who was a highly succesful defender as a player. He was a rock of a defender with strength, vision, an adept tackler and had an awesome organisational leadership skills.
The ‘Solid Babes’ have won the NWFL Premiership title twice in 2013 and most recently 2017 and were recently overthrowned by Bayelsa Queens as AITEO Cup Champions.
Out of the 16 participating teams in this year’s Flying Officers Cup, Nasarawa Amazons can be regarded as one of the favourites to lift the title. Every box required for success is ticked and they boast of a squad rich in talent and in Christopher Danjuma, they have a Manager who is renowned for success.
The team boasts of a blend of youth and experience and this mixture, may perhaps be an advantage for them. Amarachi Okoronkwo, Maryam Ibrahim, Dooshima Tarnum, Loveth Edeh, Adoo Yina and many more are some of the great talents the team posseses.
Amarachi Okoronkwo, the Nasarawa Amazons midfield general would be the heartbeat and fulcrum of the ‘Solid Babes’ with her great vision, creativity, ball control and dribbling ability in small spaces. She is also comfortably able to effectively create opportunities and goals for both her teammates and herself.
Hosts Edo Queens, Rivers Angels FC, FC Robo and Bayelsa Queens have continued their Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament campaigns with dominating victories yesterday at the UNIBEN Sports Centre, and Western Boys High School in Benin City metropolis.
Match day 2 results.
Hosts, Edo Queens in group A had a comfortable win over Rolly Angels. The Queens humbled the Angels through goals from Abibat Abaji, Chioma Olise who scored twice and Emmen Essien, ensures the hosts dominant start continued on home soil.
At the other end, Heartland Queens shared the spoil with Naija Ratels in a goalless stalemate. Heartland now has four points after match day 2 while Naija Ratels managed just a point after losing opening game against the hosts.
Group A standings after match day 2.
FC Robo Queens dazed fellow NWFL Premiership side, Royal Queens 5-0 in a fascinating performance that saw team captain Monday Gift scored all five goals in the presence of Her excellency Betsy Obaseki and Deputy Governor Rt Hon Philip Shuaibu, at the Western boys high School mini Stadium.
Taking their tally to two wins in two games, while scoring ten goals without conceding, FC Robo now top group B ahead of Rivers Angels on goal difference. The two sides will slug it out in the final group game on Thursday at the UniBen sports complex to determine who gets the semi final slot.
Group B standings after match day 2.
In another Group B game played yesterday Rivers Angels schooled Fortress Ladies scoring three unreplied goals, thanks to goals from Edafe Mamuzo, Precious Christopher and Polinus Ifeoma, to maintain the Jewels of Rivers flying start.
After starting group C affair on a goalless draw, Confluence Queens sunk to a narrow defeat against Sunshine Queens thanks to Taiwo Ajibade’s lone goal.
Bayelsa Queens welcomed Kaduna Queens to the City of Benin to a colourful goal loaded tie. The reigning Aiteo Champions opened floodgate of goal through Emmanuel Favour before five different players added to the woe of Kaduna Queens.
Other goal scorers are; Sunday Juliet, Joseph Miracle, Chinyere Igboamalu, Celine Otta and Kafayat Bashiru.
The most intriguing moment of the day games was the introduction of a 10-year-old attacking midfielder of FC Robo. The lil dribbling master was used as a substitute during her side’s 5-0 win against Royal Queens.
Kemi Adegbuyi became the youngest player to feature in the ongoing Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament.
MOLATsportgist 