naptu2: The ball bounced up beside Oshoala's shoulder. She only saw it at the last minute, but she was still able to smash it against the post. She put her hands on her head because of the missed opportunity, but the ball bounced out off the post and Alexia fired it into the goal. Oshoala who had been in agony, suddenly put her hands down and chased Alexia across the field in celebration. This was in the 91st minute and it ended
Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid
Today it's Rasheedat Ajibade's turn in the other semi-final. Atletico Madrid will play Levante.
(Last picture: Rasheedat Ajibade and Kgatlana The First getting ready).
Sammy K is number 1 on the list and we're going to face her at the World Cup. The only African players on the list are Asisat Oshoala (number 45), Chiamaka Nnadozie (number 73), Rasheedat Ajibade (number 83) all from Nigeria and Racheal Kundananji from Zambia at number 100.
Players with double asterisk beside their name will miss the World Cup either because of injury or because they are protesting.
The best players in the women’s game have assembled for the biggest international competition in The World’s Game—here are 100 of the highest rated international stars in FIFA 23 ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.*
*Ratings will be updated to reflect the final squads once all teams have been announced.
Rank Player Nation Overall rating.
1 Sam Kerr Australia 91
2 Alexia Putellas Spain 91
3 Caroline Graham Hansen Norway 90
4 Alex Morgan United States 90
5 Ada Hegerberg Norway 90
6 Wendie Renard France 90
7 Lucy Bronze England 90
8 Marie Katoto** France 89
9 Irene Paredes Spain 88
10 Guro Reiten Norway 88
11 Kadidiatou Diani France 88
12 Debinha Brazil 88
13 Beth Mead** England 88
14 Sophia Smith United States 87
15 Fridolina Rolfö Sweden 87
16 Alexandra Popp Germany 87
17 Lena Oberdorf Germany 87
18 Grace Geyoro France 87
19 Lauren Hemp England 87
20 Ashley Lawrence Canada 87
21 Lina Magull Germany 87
22 Millie Bright England 87
23 Rose Lavelle United States 87
24 Mallory Swanson** United States 87
25 Vivianne Miedema** Holland 87
26 Lindsey Horan United States 86
27 Jill Roord Holland 86
28 Selma Bacha France 86
29 Sakina Karchaoui France 86
30 Svenja Huth Germany 86
31 Lea Schüller Germany 86
32 Cristiana Girelli Italy 86
33 Becky Sauerbrunn** United States 86
34 Jenni Hermoso Spain 86
35 Megan Rapinoe United States 86
36 Fran Kirby** England 86
37 Rachel Daly England 85
38 Mary Earps England 85
39 Kailen Sheridan Canada 85
40 Sara Däbritz Germany 85
41 Kadeisha Buchanan Canada 85
42 Lieke Martens Holland 85
43 Keira Walsh England 84
44 Katie McCabe Republic of Ireland 84
45 Asisat Oshoala Nigeria 84
46 Georgia Stanway England 84
47 Amel Majri France 84
48 Pernille Harder Denmark 84
49 Merle Frohms Germany 84
50 Ann-Katrin Berger Germany 84
51 Lisa Boattin Italy 84
52 Alyssa Naeher United States 84
53 Pauline Peyraud-Magnin France 84
54 Christine Sinclair Canada 84
55 Kathrin Hendrich Germany 84
56 Barbara Bonansea Italy 84
57 Amanda Ilestedt Sweden 84
58 Aubrey Kingsbury United States 84
59 Ingrid Syrstad Engen Norway 84
60 Kosovare Asllani Sweden 84
61 Tabea Waßmuth Germany 84
62 Clara Mateo France 84
63 Desiree Scott Canada 84
64 Leah Williamson** England 84
65 Delphine Cascarino** France 84
66 Linda Dallmann** Germany 84
67 Griedge Mbock** France 84
68 Trinity Rodman United States 83
69 Ellie Carpenter Australia 83
70 Ana-Maria Crnogorčević Switzerland 83
71 Steph Catley Australia 83
72 Alessia Russo England 83
73 Chiamaka Nnadozie Nigeria 83
74 Alex Greenwood England 83
75 Felicitas Rauch Germany 83
76 Lia Wälti Switzerland 83
77 Magdalena Eriksson Sweden 83
78 Caitlin Foord Australia 83
79 Klara Bühl Germany 83
80 Dominique Janssen Holland 83
81 Ella Toone England 83
82 Mayra Ramírez Colombia 83
83 Rasheedat Ajibade Nigeria 83
84 Sara Doorsoun Germany 83
85 Sophie Schmidt Canada 83
86 Casey Murphy United States 83
87 Martina Rosucci Italy 83
88 Laura Freigang Germany 83
89 Rocky Rodríguez Costa Rica 83
90 Marina Hegering Germany 83
91 Arianna Caruso Italy 83
92 Kelley O'Hara United States 83
93 Caroline Seger Sweden 83
94 Hedvig Lindahl** Sweden 83
95 Tamires Brazil 83
96 Giulia Gwinn** Germany 83
97 Perle Morroni** France 83
98 Sandy Baltimore** France 83
99 Vanessa Gilles Canada 82
100 Racheal Kundananji Zambia 82
**Included in matchday squad from launch of update but ruled out of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ due to injury or other circumstances (as of June 22nd).
naptu2: Aha! This is what I was referring to earlier.
I've posted videos of F89 (NNS Aradu) and F90 (NNS Thunder). This is NNS Nigeria/Obuma (F87), the ship that led the invasion of Bonny Island.
The government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa realised that the warships that the British left us were not adequate to defend a country like Nigeria. They realised that we needed a frigate, so they ordered a frigate in 1965. NNS Nigeria was built in The Netherlands and commissioned in 1965. It was Nigeria's first frigate and it automatically became Nigeria's flagship.
This is a video of the ship on a port visit to Ghana in 1971. NNS Nigeria was Nigeria's flagship from 1965-1982.
The military government of Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo realised that we needed a newer frigate and so they ordered for a frigate from Blohm and Voss in Germany. The new frigate was the first MEKO 360 ship ever built and it was delivered in 1982 and commissioned by President Shehu Shagari.
The Navy realised that it couldn't call its second line frigate Nigeria and so its name was changed to NNS Obuma. Obuma means thunder in Efik, Aradu means thunder in Hausa and Thunder means thunder in English.
NNS Obuma was still operational in the 1980s, but it became inoperable in the 1990s and spent a long time at the shoreline. In the mid-2000s, the chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye launched a programme to resuscitate Nigeria's warships through local Nigerian efforts. NNS Aradu was revived and there were plans to build made in Nigeria patrol boats. Admiral Adekeye also expressed his desire to revive NNS Obuma, so that it would serve as a training ship for sailors that would eventually serve on NNS Aradu. That was never done and NNS Obuma was scrapped by the end of the 2000s.
The need to have a modern sophisticated frigate to complement and eventually replace Nigerian Navy's long serving frigate, NNS Nigeria (now Obuma) became apparent to naval planners in the mid seventies. The old lady, as NNS Nigeria, was popularly known then was fast becoming irrelevant in the fast changing world of naval technology. Nigerian Navy needed to reach blue waters with the appropriate ships in terms of firepower, extended operational range and enhanced surveillance capability. NNS Aradu became the answer to these aspirations.
The ship initially named The Republic was ordered in 1978. Her keel was laid in December 1978 and she was launched on 25 January 1980. In November of the same year, following a new policy of the Nigerian Navy was renamed Aradu (Aradu means thunder in Hausa). It was commissioned on 22 February 1982. Aradu was acquired by the regime of former President Shehu Shagari. She was recently refitted, refurbished and equipped after being alongshore for over 12 years. The ship proved it was still seaworthy by taking part in celebrations commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar by sailing to Great Britain in 2005. The ship, which carries a crew of about 250 officers and men, requires 500,000 litres of petrol per voyage.
Aradu is the first of the MEKO 360 General Purpose frigates built by the German Blohm + Voss company of Hamburg.
The 125.6 m ship is the biggest in the Nigerian Navy. She is a multi-purpose frigate with capabilities for anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare effectively. The ship also possesses capability for naval fire support and electronic warfare. Additionally, she carries a ship-borne helicopter for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and enhanced surveillance/detection
The ship is unique in the adoption of the modular approach in the design of the hull and the containerization of armaments. By the modular design concept, various sections of the hull of Aradu are built to specific measurements separately and then assembled at a shipyard. The advantage of this style of construction is that every section of the ship can be produced independent of the other sections. In case of damage, it is thus easier to replace the affected section of the ship separately and then fixing it back at a shipyard. This same flexibility is adopted in the armament of the ship. These are kept in containers and can be tested ashore independent of the various stage of construction. Once the hull is ready, the containerized armaments are then easily fitted into the hull the same procedure adopted in case of major repair or replacement.
The MEKO class of ships is thus able to proceed on other missions while defective units are left for repairs at workshops. This is different from other designs where the ship for example has to sacrifice other missions in order to repair or replace a unit of her armament. Another advantage is that with the Meko concept, whole sections of the ship can be produced and stored as spares. In case of emergency, the ship simply enters a dockyard to replace whatever section that is needed. Modernization of armaments and systems can thus take place with minimum interruption to the ships' program.
Aradu is an all-purpose fighting ship capable of undertaking the following missions alone or in concert with other units:
*) Sustained and independent blue water patrol over a range of 6500 miles.
*) Gunfire support to friendly forces operating up to 16 km from the coast.
*) Air defense of self and cooperating forces over a range of 155km,
*) Anti-submarine warfare (short range or extended range using helicopter borne torpedoes.
*) Electronic warfare (intercepting and jamming).
*) Missile attack against surface units up to a range of 80 km.
*) Mine laying.
*) Airborne or surface Search and Rescue
Since she entered naval service, NNS Aradu has taken part in major naval exercises, fleet reviews and diplomatic cruises. She played a prominent part in "Operation Seadog" in 1985 and "Operation Odion" in 1987. The ship has undertaken extensive diplomatic visits to countries like Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Equatorial Guinea and numerous European countries. She has also participated in joint exercises with visiting ships of the German, Indian, French and the Brazilian Navies. Aradu played a major role in peace keeping operations in Liberia and Sierra-Leone and was also involved in border skirmishes between Nigeria and Cameroun. She had a total of two groundings and a major collision in 1987 She ran aground again early in 1994 during post refit trials, and was assessed as beyond economical repair in 1995, but then managed to go to sea again in early 1996, and again in 1997 when she broke down for several months in Monrovia. She then steamed back to Lagos on one engine in 1998.
In August 2005, Aradu participated at the International Fleet Review to mark the Centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in memory of Admiral Lord Nelson at Portsmouth with other 100 warships from 36 navies. It also participated in two major exercises in 2005 and 2006, called "Igbochi" and "Idabo".
In a bid to strengthen Nigeria/Brazil military cooperation, 2 naval ships, NNS Aradu and NNS Nwamba, departed Nigeria on 3 August 2007 to take part in Brazil BiCentenary Celebrations. The ships arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, on 9 August to a rousing welcome by Liberians and Nigerians resident in the West African country. They were received by the Chief of Defense Staff of Liberia, Major General Abdurahman of the Nigerian Army.
1) Sailors aboard NNS Aradu prepare to salute Queen Elizabeth during ceremonies marking the bi-centenary of the battle of Trafalgar.
Unfortunately I no longer have the picture of NNS Aradu and NNS Nwamba in Brazil. That picture shows the size of the ship.
NNS Obuma was originally named NNS Nigeria and is Nigeria’s first frigate. This private-design frigate was ordered from Wilton-Fijenoord shipyards in the Netherlands to serve as the Nigerian Navy’s flagship. It was constructed in Holland, launched on 12 April 1965 and commissioned on 16 September 1965. The ship’s first commander was Captain Nelson Bossman Soroh (who retired with the rank of Rear Admiral and served as Chief of Naval Staff).
Following the collapse of the bloody January 15th “Majors mutiny”, coup suspects were initially kept aboard the detention cell on NNS Nigeria before being transferred to land based prisons (It was rumoured that Major General Ironsi, the Supreme Commander, slept aboard NNS Nigeria every night and returned to State House Marina in the mornings, for fear of being killed by either northern soldiers or Nzeogwu’s loyalists). During the last weekend of July 1966, it was NNS Nigeria under Soroh that provided offshore refuge to the late Brigadier B Ogundipe when discipline broke down completely following the “Northern counter coup”. Ogundipe subsequently transferred to the MV Aureol and left for the United Kingdom as Nigeria’s new High Commissioner, by sea.
The NNS Nigeria overcame several serious attempts by secessionist sympathizers to sabotage it during the run up to hostilities in early 1967. This ship saw heavy use during the Biafran War, both as a blockade ship and as a makeshift transport. It subsequently took active part in the naval blockade of the Eastern Region in June and July 1967, during the opening phase of the civil war and the joint amphibious assaults on Bonny (July 1967) and Calabar (October 1967). On 5 January 1967, NNS Nigeria was loaded with marines who were landed via the ship’s boats and other small craft in the area, to support Nigerian troops outside Bonny. This reinforcement was viewed as a critical success by the Nigerian army. Other ships involved were the NNS Penelope, NNS Lokoja, NNS Ogoja, NNS Benin, NNS Enugu, MV Bode Thomas and MV King Jaja. The NNS Nigeria in particular was credited with beating back a determined Biafran attempt to retake Bonny in late September 1967. She also gained international spotlight when she seized the Dutch ship MV Jozina (which became the NNS Kwa River). MV Jozina had unsuccessfully attempted to penetrate the blockade. In 1968, Nigeria was attacked by B-26 Invaders of the Biafran Air Force. The ship was not damaged. Nevertheless, at one difficult point during the breakout phase of the Calabar landing, the ground force commander, then Lt. Col. Benjamin Adekunle, stopped responding to signals from the NNS Nigeria requesting situation reports. In response to frantic inquiries from higher-ups in Lagos, then Captain Soroh sent a controversial signal to Supreme Headquarters that simply stated, “I wish I knew”.
Only four years after commissioning, the ship was in bad shape and from 1970-1971 underwent an overhaul by Cammell Laird in the UK. By 1977 the ship was again in poor condition and underwent a second overhaul, this time in the Netherlands. The ship’s name was changed at the 1980 launch of NNS Aradu as the Nigerians did not want a second-line frigate to bear the country’s name.
In 1982 NNS Obuma was decommissioned but recommissioned shortly thereafter, following an austere repair period at Lagos in Nigeria. All the anti-submarine weapons (ASW) systems were deleted at this time. By 1986 Obuma had been reduced to a training vessel, again in poor condition. From then on out the ship’s condition progressively deteriorated. Obuma had largely been abandoned by 2001, with the 40mm guns having been stripped off. The ship was last seen flying the Nigerian ensign in late 2005 and has not been mentioned since, except for once in 2008 when a senior naval officer suggested the ship might be refitted and restored to service. As of 2011 this has not happened and Obuma will likely be scrapped soon.
The Nigerian navy had several planned upgrades for this ship that were never carried out. In 1979 plans were drawn up to replace the Squid with ASW torpedo tubes and modernize the radars, this was cancelled early on due to lack of funds. In 1983, a very ambitious comprehensive refit was planned that would have replaced the Squid with ASW torpedo tubes, replaced the main gun with a OTO-Melara 76mm Rapid, added a EO/FLIR sensor, modernized the sonars, added SCLAR countermeasures launchers, and refurbishment of the engines and hull. It was also hoped to buy an additional Lynx helicopter. Although the project was approved in 1983, the money was siphoned off elsewhere and by 1987 the project had been abandoned. During the brief 1993-1994 return to democracy the Nigerian navy restarted the effort however when the Abacha regime took over in 1994 the effort was blocked as Abacha wanted to limit spending in the Lagos shipyards which he viewed as a potential centre of political opposition.
Turkish Shipyard Dearsan to Modernize Nigerian Navy’s flagship
Turkish shipyard Dearsan has announced a new contract to refit and modernize the Nigerian Navy's flagship, MEKO 360-class frigate "NNS ARADU". The contract also includes delivery of a new 57-meter Tuzla-class patrol boat.
Dearsan Shipyard press release
A contract signing ceremony was held between the Nigerian Navy and Dearsan Shipyard on 6 June 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria which was attended by the Members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Officials of the Ministry of Defence, Commander of the Naval Forces Vice Admiral AZ GAMBO, Headquarters staff of the Naval Forces Command, Chairman of the Board of Dearsan Shipyard Mr. Aziz YILDIRIM, and our company executives.
A contract has been signed between our shipyard and the Nigerian Navy within the scope of the Refit and Remodeling project of the historically important NNS ARADU Frigate (F89), the Flagship of the Nigerian Navy. The refit and remodeling project of the MEKO 360 class NNS ARADU Frigate, which was built by the German Blohm & Voss Shipyard and commissioned in 1982, has a length of 125 meters and a displacement of 3500 tons, will be carried out at our shipyard in Tuzla, İstanbul. Within the scope of the project; systems, equipment and devices that are out of use due to the age and obsolescence will be repaired or renewed with equivalent modern systems and the frigate will be brought to modern-day standards.
Within the scope of the same contract, 1 unit of 57-meter Tuzla Class Patrol Boat will also be delivered to the Nigerian Navy. The Nigerian Navy will be the fourth user of the 57-meter Patrol Boat after the Turkish Naval Forces, Turkmenistan Navy and Turkmenistan Coast Guard Command, which we will be delivering the 27th unit.
The Patrol Boat, which can take active roles in Patrol /Escort, Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance, Anti-Smuggling & Anti-Piracy, Protection of Rights and Interests at Sea and Natural Resources, Maritime Situation Awareness duties and illegal Fisheries Inspection will also be equipped with Anti-Air Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, and Asymmetric Warfare weapon systems. We are happy and proud that our platform, which has the distinction of being Turkey’s first national warship, will also carry out its duties in Nigerian territorial waters from now on.
Within the modernization and new building projects, we are decisively advancing our works for the continuation of the relations between the Republic of Türkiye and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for our export targets with Nigeria and other countries.
Naval News comments
The 57-meter-long Tuzla-class patrol boat is operational at the Dearsan shipyard. According to the sources, the boat was built for Libya, but the delivery was not completed due to some problems. Therefore, the Nigerian Navy will be the first user of the vessel.
Dearsan Shipyard is currently building OPV 76 offshore patrol vessels for the Nigerian Navy. The shipyard laid the keel of the first of two vessels in September 2022. Despite refit, NNS Aradu is a 40-year-old frigate. As a result, this relation has the potential to lead to a new frigate procurement in the near future.
Sports › Re: EA Sports Releases FIFA '23 Rankings Ahead Of Women's World Cup by naptu2(op): 9:22am On Jun 23, 2023
