2023 WWC: Super Falcons Thrash QueensLand Lions 8-1 In Friendly

The Super Falcons walloped Australian side Queensland Lions FC 8-1 in a test game early this morning.

Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala bagged a brace for the Super Falcons in the encounter.

Ifeoma Onumonu, Toni Payne, Halimat Ayinde , Rasheedat Ajibade , Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday scored the other goals for Randy Waldrum’s side.

The nine-time African champions will now move to their official camp base; Sofitel Hotels, Brisbane on Sunday.

The West Africans will begin their campaign at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against olympic champions Canada on Friday, July 21.

australia and Republic of Ireland are the other teams in the group.

The Super Falcons will be making their 10th appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The competition which will be co- hosted by australia and Canada will run from July 21 to August 21.

The England women’s 4x100m relay team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham is set to be upgraded from silver to gold medallists following confirmation that original winners Nigeria have been disqualified due to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

Team England’s relay squad featuring Asha Philip, Ashleigh Nelson, Bianca Williams, Daryll Neita, and Imani-Lara Lansiquot crossed the line in 42.41, eclipsing the previous fastest time set in England colours (42.46) at the Commonwealth Games.

They were beaten in the final by the Nigerian team which included Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha who has since been disqualified. This means Team England retain their women’s 4x100m relay title, having won the event four years ago in Gold Coast where Asha Philip and Bianca Williams were also part of that squad.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are planning to stage a strike and boycott their opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup after the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation Mohammed Sanusi told them their match bonuses for the competition had been cancelled.

Report says the decision was taken after six senior players, captain Onome Ebi, Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, Ohale Osinachi, Tochukwu Oluehi and Desire Oparanozie, held a meeting on arrival at the Mercure Resorts, Gold Coast, following Sanusi’s announcement.

“We are going ahead to press for our demands,” a senior player said “We are ready to go as far as missing our first game against Canada July 21 because this has to stop.

“On Wednesday night, we held a meeting where we agreed that we were going to find out if what we were asking for is legitimate, and that if it’s legitimate, we will press for our demands. It was what was agreed.

The next meeting will be after we get the information we need and then the protest will start.”

It was learnt that shortly before the Nigerian contingent departed Abuja for australia July 2, during a meeting with the players, Sanusi told them that they would not be paid match bonuses by the federation, since FIFA had already announced that every player would get $30,000 in the group stage of the tournament in australia and New Zealand.

Sanusi also announced that the players would no longer be given 30 percent from the $1,560,000 FIFA grant to all member associations for the group stage of the competition

Our source said the players were surprised “after Sanusi landed the sucker punch.”

“The General Secretary came for the meeting clutching so many papers; he told us that we won’t be paid match bonuses at the World Cup because FIFA had already given each player $30,000 for the group stage. He also said we won’t get 30 percent from the $1,560,000 FIFA would give the NFF.

“We were shocked, team morale went down immediately because we couldn’t believe what the man was saying,” our source said.

“One of the oldest players in the team asked him if FIFA would deduct the money ($30,000) they would give us from the $1.5m they gave the federation but he (Sanusi) said no. So, she said if it’s like that, then it shouldn’t affect our match bonuses. After several minutes of argument, Sanusi asked us if we would have preferred the $9,000 match bonus or the $30,000 from FIFA.”

Our source dismissed reports that American team coach Randy Waldrum had instigated the players to stage “a coup” against the federation.

“That’s not true, it’s a ploy to distract Nigerians from the truth. Randy has no hand in this. We’ve been suffering this maltreatment and injustice long before he took charge of the team. When the team revolted after the 2018 WAFCON and the 2019 World Cup, was Randy with us? We are fighting a good cause, we don’t need anyone to push us. They should allow the coach do his job.

“Since the federation is treating us like this, we have decided to stage a protest before the competition begins, so that the whole world will know what we are passing through. We can’t keep suffering and smiling.

“At the last World Cup, the same thing happened and we were shortchanged, we won’t allow this to happen any longer. They dare not treat the Super Eagles like this. Is it because we are women? We must put a stop to this this time around.”

NFF president Ibrahim Gusau and Sanusi did not respond to telephone calls on the matter, while they also didn’t reply to the text and WhatsApp messages sent to their phones as of the time of filing this report.

It’s not the first time the Falcons would be involved in a bonus row at an international tournament.

The record African champions refused to travel back home after winning the 2004 WAFCON in South Africa, insisting they must be paid their bonuses first.

In 2016, after returning from Cameroon with an eighth WAFCON trophy, they also staged a sit-in protest at their Abuja hotel to press home their claims for each player to be paid $16,500 after their triumph.

Striker Desire Oparanozie was stripped of her captaincy and banished from the team after she led a bonus protest at the 2019 World Cup in France, while the squad also boycotted training sessions ahead of their third-place clash against Zambia at last year’s WAFCON in Morocco over same issue.

England will wear blue shorts instead of white at this summer's Women's World Cup after players expressed period concerns.

The new home kit will be worn for the first time in Thursday's inaugural Finalissima against Brazil at Wembley.

It is white with blue details and blue shorts, while the away kit is all blue.

Players including Beth Mead and Georgia Stanway spoke out about wearing white shorts during England's victorious Euro 2022 campaign.

At the time, the Football Association (FA) said the colour of the shorts would not change during the tournament, but that the situation would continue to be looked at and players' feedback would be taken into consideration for future designs.

It added: "We recognise the importance and want our players to feel our continued support on this matter. We have appealed to international tournament organisers to keep this subject in consideration and allow for greater flexibility on kit colour combinations."
Domestically, Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion and Swansea's women's teams are among those to change the shorts colour of their home kits because of concerns about having to wear white while on their periods.

England and other countries have had their kits redesigned by Nike before the World Cup, which takes place in australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August.

The shorts feature a leak-protection liner in response to athletes' feedback.

"We are thrilled to offer this new innovation to all athletes playing for Nike-sponsored federations this summer," said Jordana Katcher, vice-president of Nike women's global sport apparel.

"Professional footballers play two 45-minute halves without breaks. Many told us they can spend several minutes on-pitch concerned that they may experience leakage from their period.

"When we showed them this innovation, they told us how grateful they were to have this short to help provide confidence when they can't leave the pitch."

The new England kits go on sale Monday, 5 June.

Remi Tinubu urges Falcons to win World Cup

1st July 2023

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has tasked the Super Falcons with winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals holding in australia and New Zealand.

She gave the charge in Abuja on Saturday while hosting the team to a dinner ahead of its departure on Sunday for the tournament which starts July 20 and ends August 20.

Tinubu, who was represented by Dr. Betta Edu, the All Progressives Congress National Women Leader, said that Nigeria’s appearance at the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup must be for the noble purpose of bringing the coveted cup home.

Drumming support for the Super Falcons, she pointed out that football was a major unifier in the country and urged the team to work hard so as to match the expectations of Nigerians.

“It is important that you remain committed by playing together as a team; no one should think that she’s a better player than the other.

“It is only when you play as a team that you can record success. It is my expectation that this time, you will surpass your previous efforts.

“I am sure that 99.9 per cent of Nigerians will stay glued to their television sets to watch you. Please try your best to bring the cup home.”

While expressing her faith in the ability and pedigree of the team to excel at the mundial, the first lady promised to receive the team herself when they bring the cup home.

Earlier, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gashua, thanked the Federal Government for supporting the team.

“Football remains the biggest unifier across the world; it has helped to shore up our national image while helping to reduce criminal tendencies among the youth.

“I want to encourage the coaches to be more committed because you will be accountable for the outing.”

Among the dignitaries that attended the dinner were the Deputy Governor of Edo, Mr Philip Shuaibu, top sports administrators, and members of the diplomatic corps.

The Nigerian national female soccer team is among the eight national teams that have featured in each of the competitions since it debuted in 1991.

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The head coach of the Super Falcons of Nigeria, Randy Waldrum, has said his team is not adequately prepared for next month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Waldrum decried the lack of support from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) while appearing on The Sounding Off Of Soccer podcast, hosted by John Krysinsky.

He said: “I know we are not prepared the way we need to be. [I’ve] been very frustrated with the federation (NFF) and the lack of support.

“We were supposed to have a camp for 10-12 days in Nigeria before going to australia for another 10-15 days, but the federation cancelled the camp in Nigeria.”

Aston Villa and Switzerland's Alisha Lehmann is the top ranking Instagram influencer among Women's World Cup players, according to data analysts Gracenote Nielsen.

Players from nine different countries are represented in the top 10 with only the USA having two players.

England captain Leah Williamson would have been fourth, but an anterior cruciate ligament injury means she will miss the World Cup.

Nielsen's InfluenceScope evaluates followers, follower growth, engagement rate, audience reachability and average brand value per post on Instagram to determine which players deliver the most social media value to their sponsors.

Jon Stainer, global managing director of Nielsen Sports, said: "The soccer players participating at World Cup 2023 are not only exceptional sportswomen but also social media powerhouses, capable of driving impactful conversations and fostering genuine connections with their followers."

Germany have the most influential national team account above France and European champions England, all more than doubling their followers in the last year.

Here are the top 10 Instagram influential players at this summer's Women's World Cup in australia and New Zealand...

1. Alisha Lehmann (Aston Villa/Switzerland)

Followers: 13.4 million

In the past year, Aston Villa forward Lehmann has overtaken Alex Morgan as the female football player with the most followers on Instagram.

Lehmann's follower numbers have increased by 75% in the past 12 months, to nearly 13.5 million. She has also overtaken Roger Federer, making her the most popular Swiss sportsperson on Instagram.

The 24-year-old has won 38 caps for Switzerland, although she made herself unavailable for Euro 2022 because she did not feel "mentally ready". She played in 43 of Villa's 44 Women's Super League matches over the past two seasons, scoring seven goals.

2. Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/Spain)

Followers: 2.8 million

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Putellas has attracted more than a million new followers in the past year despite being injured for most of it. Her posts each deliver more than $100,000 of media value to brands.

In 2022, the 29-year-old became Spain's first women's footballer in Spain to reach 100 caps, although she also suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which saw her miss the European Championship.

She has won the Uefa women's player of the year, the Ballon d'Or and the Best Fifa women's player awards for the past two seasons.

3. Alex Morgan (San Diego Waves/USA)

Followers: 10 million

Morgan has helped the United States win the past two World Cups and finish third in 2011. The striker, who won Olympic gold in 2012 and bronze at the delayed 2020 Games, has earned more than 200 caps and scored over 120 goals for her country.

4. Jordyn Huitema (OL Reign/Canada)

Followers: 1.6 million

OL Reign and Canada forward Huitema already has over 1.6 million followers on Instagram and a media value per post of more than $75,000.

Aged just 22, Huitema, who is the youngest player in the top 10, made her international debut for Canada aged 15. She won Olympic gold two years ago, playing the whole of extra time in the final against Sweden in Japan.

5. Marta (Orlando Pride/Brazil)

Followers: 2.6 million

The 37-year-old forward has played at the past five World Cups for Brazil, scoring 17 goals in 19 matches at the tournament, having first appeared at the 2003 tournament.

Brazil's all-time top scorer has been named Fifa's world player of the year six times and could become the first player of any gender to score at six World Cups.

6. Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign/USA)

Followers: 2.1 million

Rapinoe, who has been involved in the USA squad since 2006, was part of the USA teams which won the previous two World Cups and the 2012 Olympic gold.

The 37-year-old won the Golden Boot at the 2019 World Cup, beating team-mate Morgan and England's Ellen White on fewer minutes played after they each scored six goals.

7. Jule Brand (Wolfsburg/Germany)

Followers: 198,000

Brand has increased her Instagram following by 517% over the past year, the highest growth by a player in the top 10. Her average engagement rate on Instagram is above 30%, the highest engagement of anybody on the list.

Brand was part of Germany's Euro 2022 team, who lost 2-1 in the final to England. The 20-year-old has already scored seven international goals for Germany, while at club level for Wolfsburg she finished as runners-up in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

8. Alessia Russo (Manchester United/England)

Followers: 457,000

Russo was used as a substitute in every Euro 2022 match for England, scoring four goals and winning goal of the tournament, and has since established herself in the starting line-up.

She scored 22 league goals in 46 appearances for Manchester United, although she is set to leave the club this summer. As one of the biggest names in women's football, Russo has attracted the attention of some big sponsors.

9. Sakina Karchaoui (Paris St-Germain/France)

Followers: 726,000

Left-back Karchaoui has played for France since 2016 and won more than half a century of caps for her national team. She played for Montpellier and Lyon before joining Paris St-Germain in the summer of 2021.

Karchaoui impressed at Euro 2022 where she helped France reach the semi-finals, providing two assists and winning a place in the team of the tournament.

10. Sam Kerr (Chelsea/australia)

Followers: 1.2 million

Captain of australia since 2019, she is their all-time top scorer with 63 international goals - the last one coming in australia's impressive win against European champions England in April.

Kerr joined Women's Super League side Chelsea in 2020 where she has scored 54 league goals in 67 appearances.

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).