As we get closer to the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament, delegations of the invited teams are expected in Nigeria any moment from now.
ABC media have confirmed that most of the teams will touch down Lagos on Monday with the Moroccan delegation expected to be the early bird.
The Atlas Lionesses have been confirmed to touch down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport around 6am on Monday, September 13, 2021.
As confirmed by the LOC’s Director of Organisation, Aisha Falode on Saturday, the delegations of Black Queens of Ghana and Female Eagles of Mali will arrive aboard the same flight in the afternoon of same day.
Also arriving on Monday is Banyana Banyana of South Africa who are scheduled to jet into Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight in the evening.
The only delegation expected to arrive Nigeria on Tuesday, September 14, is the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.
The event starts on Wednesday, 15th September with the opening clash between host Nation, and the Female Eagles of Mali at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
After two convincing victories against Guingamp (4-1) then Fleury (1-0), Paris FC has chained a third success on its lawn, Saturday September 11, against Stade de Reims (3-0).
Two first half goals from Thea Greboval in the 13th minute and Clara Mateo in the 27th minute to give the hosts total confidence heading into halftime.
Daphné Corboz wrapped up the day with a 81st minute third goal to drove the point home.
Pending the results of Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain, the Paris FC are temporarily top of the D1 Arkema table with nine points.
FC Barça femeni whip Real Betis Balompié (0-5) in a match that ended with Barcelona maintaining perfect start to the season.
Four times African Women’s Player Of The Year, Asisat Oshoala earned her first league start of the season scoring twice in the second half to help her side with maximum points.
The first goal of the game would arrive through Alexia Putellas in the last second of the first half.
Without changes in either team, Barça ended up extending the advantage on the scoreboard very quickly. Three minutes of play had elapsed when Asisat Oshoala, after assistance from Putellas net the first goal of the second half. And seven minutes when Mariona Caldentey defined with great class, after an assist from Aitana Bonmatí, and later Rolfö’s netted the fourth , five minutes later Oshoala appeared again to do the fifth as she rounded up the goals in the 69th minute as FC Barcelona recorded its second win in two league games this season.
FC Barcelona will next face Valencia on September 26 after the women’s International break which will see Asisat Oshoala represent host, Nigeria at the Inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup slated to kick off on September 15.
Hosts Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Mali, Ghana, and Morocco are the six teams who will battle for honours at the ABC tournament being staged in honor of the country’s First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari.
The event which has been endorsed by world football governing body, FIFA, will commence on Wednesday, 15th of September 2021.
It was reported that FIFA are working closely with CAF to adopt the tournament for ranking of participating teams, to make sure that all African teams that are playing friendly matches are eligible for ranking points.
The one week showpiece will take place at two stadia in Lagos, Nigeria, the newly renovated Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan and the Soccer Temple, Agege, with COVID-19 protocols strictly adhere to.
All is set for the commencement of the six-nation showpiece Aisha Buhari Cup (ABC) starting on Wednesday, 15th September with the opening clash between nine-time African champions, Super Falcons and the Female Eagles of Mali at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
The organizers of the FIFA endorsed tournament have today released names of officials that will officiate matches when the tournament kickoff.
Top of the list is FIFA badge referee, Patience Ndidi Madu 🇳🇬 who was one of the five women referees chosen from Africa and the only Nigerian among fourteen Africans to officiate at the just concluded #Tokyo2020 Olympics.
Patience Ndidi Madu in action.
Also on the list is Ghanaian FIFA referee, Juliet Appiah who was part of the officiating officials for the 11th edition of the Total Africa Women’s Cup Of Nations (AWCON) 2018 in Ghana.
Juliet Appiah in action during league game.
Current number one Togolese women’s referee Vincentia Enyonam Amedome who has been shortlisted for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia / New Zealand 2023, will also grace the ABC tournament.
Amedome Vincentia
Others include; Nigeria’s Yemisi Akintunde and Souley Sani Zouwaira of Niger republic.
Jentrix Shikangwa’s brace earns Kenya based team, Vihiga Queens the 2021 CECAFA (East Africa) Zonal Qualifiers title which qualifies the host for the inaugural Total-Energies CAF Women’s Champions League.
The 19-year-old forward converted from Violet Wanyonyi assist, to give the hosts a 1-0 lead against Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE FC) at halftime, before Vivian Makokha headed the opponent’s free-kick past her goalkeeper to draw CBE level in the 53rd minute.
Jentrix Shikangwa made no mistake to convert a late minute penalty – in the 95th minute with just two seconds away from the final whistle –after the center referee pointed to the spot for a foul on Violet Wanyonyi who was brought down inside the box.
Jentrix late minute penalty for Vihiga Queens against CBE FC. Video credit: @bonfaceosano twitter
The three-time Kenyan champions are crowned Champions of the CECAFA Women’s Champions League Qualifiers, winning US$30,000 and a ticket to represent East Africa at the maiden edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Prize money for the top three finishers of the CECAFA Region CAF Women Champions League Qualifiers:-
Winner – $30,0000 – Vihiga Queens 2nd place – $20,000 – CBE FC 3rd place – $10,000 – Lady Dove
Speaking with Mozzart Sport in his post-match interview, Vihiga Queens Assistant Coach Boniface Nyamunyamu was overjoyed after the final whistle and lauded the Vihiga Queens for a job well done.
“I am very happy with the girls, they followed instructions and avenged the earlier loss to CBE. We had to fix the defensive lapses coming to the final and I told the girls to minimize the mistakes at the back and I am happy they did exactly that,” he said.
He also reserved special praise for Jentrix Shikangwa who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“I trust in Jentrix – she is a brilliant player. The penalty duties were on her and I was confident she would get the job done if we got one. Our focus now shifts to preparing for the CAF Champions League. We want to make a mark.” He concluded.
With the CECAFA Champions crowned, the number of teams that have qualified for the Total-Energies CAF Women’s Champions League is now seven with one more ticket up for grab.
The winner of the two-legged clash between Malabo Kings (Equatorial Guinea) and FC Amani (DR Congo) will represent UNIFFAC (Central Africa) picking the last available ticket for the 2021 Total-Energies CAF Women’s Champions League happening in Egypt, later this year.
Already qualified clubs are:
Rivers Angels (Nigeria) AS Mandé (Mali) Hasaacas Ladies FC (Ghana) Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC (South Africa) ASFAR (Morocco) Wadi Degla FC (Egypt) 🆕 Vihiga Queens (Kenya)
Recall, that on the 22nd of August 2021, OGC Nice match against Olympique Marseille ended in mayhem after the fans invaded the pitch.
After thorough investigation, the Ligue 1 board (LFP) ruled on Wednesday that the match be replayed on a neutral ground and behind closed doors.
How it started:
Nice were leading the Mediterranean derby 1-0 with 15 minutes left when Marseille’s Dimitri Payet threw a bottle, initially aimed at him, back into the crowd and within seconds, a scrap broke involving players, staffs, fans and stewards.
The match was halted for over an hour and finally abandoned as the referee blow whistle after Marseille refused to return to the pitch.
The incident left a number of Marseille players with injuries, including Matteo Guendouzi, Luan Peres and Payet.
Photo credit: Twitter
LFP Verdicts:
Marseille physio Pablo Fernandez is banned for the remainder of the season.
According to Marca, Fernandez was seen punching a Nice fan in the chest during the melee, putting him in hospital.
Nice has also been handed a two-point penalty, one of which is suspended, and will play three games without their fans.
Payet has been sanctioned with a one-match suspended ban, while his team-mate Alvaro Gonzalez has been suspended for two games for provoking the home fans.
Top Coaches in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership have heaped praises on the Organisers of the upcoming Women Football Pre-season Championship, the Flying Officers Cup.
The Pre-season Championship will see mine teams from the top tier league NWFL-Premiership lock horns with teams from the lower tier league and top tier teams from outside country.
Managers of the teams sees the tournament as a good way for their various teams to prepare hard at the highest level, ahead of the beginning of the Premiership season.
Speaking to the media, The Head Coach and owner of the AITEO Cup finalists, FC Robo Queens of Lagos, Osahon Emmanuel, showered the organizer – Barrister Paul Edeh and Ratels Sports Development Foundation – with praises for being consistent with the Pre-season Championship.
“We are working towards competing against some of the best teams in Nigeria and Africa. This is a while new idea from what we used to have in the past. Kudos to the Organisers as we look forward to having a great tournament.’, he said.
Making their debut is Sunshine Queens FC who are much excited with their Manager, Tayo Onilude hoping to have a great outing.
“We have been working hard everyday to get the players in shape and against all odds and will be giving our best in Abuja. The good thing is that we would be playing against some solid teams and perhaps we would be using different formations and tactics to execute our games, until we get it right.”- Tayo told media.
Also making their first appearance is Osun Babes, having missed out of the last two editions, Head Coach of the side Olayinka Adunola said she is optimistic and refused to be underdogs.
“No doubt, we have always wanted to participate in the tournament, but I’m glad that we can this time around. We know the standard of the tourney and understand that we have to be at our best to keep the momentum going until the league starts. We want to have fun on the pitch, at the same time, try some new players and improve as a team everyday. The Flying Officers Cup offers us the platform to do that.” She Concluded.
Bayelsa Queens Head Coach, Moses Aduku said his team will use the tournament to test new players and strategized ahead of the new season, as he described the tournament as ‘just a Pre-season Championship’.
So much is expected of the AITEO Cup Champions but Aduku says no pressure will be put on his side when they kickstart in Abuja.
“Every Coach wants to win something and add more silverware to the ones they already have in their cabinet. We are going to be ourselves, improve in every game and test the quality that we have and definitely won’t put too much pressure on ourselves. I am impressed with the standard of the Competition and no doubt, it is the best.”
For Bankole Olowookere, his team Naija Ratels surpassed so many people’s imagination, by reaching the Semi-final of the 2020 edition. His team, then in the NWFL Nationwide, went on to beat teams like Royal Queens, Kaduna Queens and played draws with Edo Queens and Nasarawa Amazons in the third place and Semi-Final games respectively, now in the Premiership, Olowookeere thinks his team will compete better.
“We did well last year and hopefully, we can do more and play better. The team will continue to improve on its style of play and that is the most important thing for us.” – Olowookeere
Nasarawa Amazons Head Coach, Christopher Danjuma, whose team participated in the last two editions of the Flying Officers Cup said the tournament has always helped and given his team a clue of what to expect, when the league starts.
According to the Nigeria U-20 Women National team coach, the competition offers his team the opportunity to be more compact by playing against top teams in a very competitive atmosphere.
“It has always been a perfect way to start the season. The Flying Officers Cup, has become a tradition for Nasarawa Amazons. We were at the last two editions and got to the finals, losing to Edo Queens and Bayelsa Queens respectively. It gives us the chance to get better as a team and that’s one thing that has really been helping us.” He Concluded.
The competition will kickoff from the 10th to the 24th of October 2021, in Abuja, Nigeria.
Houston Dash forward Michelle Alozie will join the Nigerian Women’s National Team for the Aisha Buhari Cup.
Nigeria will host the inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup. The tournament which is a six nation invitational tournament includes the host country, Cameroun, Ghana, Mali, Morocco and South Africa.
The American-born Nigerian made her international debut at BBVA Stadium earlier this year on June 10 against Jamaica during the USA invitational Summer Series. The forward scored her first international goal three days later against Portugal in Houston.
Aissata Traore has made a great statement for her side to pose a huge threat in the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Football Tournament in Lagos, Nigeria this month.
The Female Eagles are scheduled to face hosts, Nigeria and 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations hosts, Morocco in the preliminary stage of Group A.
The En Avant de Guingamp forward is cheering her Malian side to success, warned they are not push away, as she commend the timing of the women’s tournament while speaking to the ABC media.
“I’m just happy and proud of the initiative, especially when it comes from the First Lady of a big country like Nigeria. It will allow teams, especially Mali to better prepare for upcoming competitions. We know that these two teams (Nigeria and Morocco) will be hard to play, but it is a good thing to tackle them and see if we are good to go.”
Stressing on their quest, she said: “Our ambition has never changed – we are challengers and want to go as far as possible in this tournament. So, each match is a final and remains an opportunity to send a strong message.”
MOLATsportgist 