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Nigeria's Halimatu Ayinde was sensational for the Super Falcons and has received deserved recognition.

Spain won the FIFA Women's World Cup after a spectacular run to the final that saw them defeat England 1-0 to wrap up a thrilling tournament.

After the final, reputable UK media outlet, The Sun, announced their team of the tournament, featuring a host of top performers throughout the competition.

Super Falcons' Ayinde makes team of the tournament

One name that stood out was Nigerian Super Falcons defensive midfielder Halimatu Ayinde.

Ayinde was spectacular throughout the tournament, especially in Nigeria’s last-16 clash against England which the Super Falcons lost on penalties.

She did a man-marking job on England and Chelsea star Lauren James, neutralising her efforts at every turn.

James had no impact on the game whatsoever, causing her to lose composure and get sent off in the process.

Some of the other prominent names in the SunSport team of the tournament include Mary Earps, Keira Walsh, and Manchester United's Ona Batlle.

Full SunSport team of the tournament

Mary Earps (England)
Ona Batlle (Spain)
Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden)
Millie Bright (England)
Olga Carmona (Spain)
Halimatu Ayinde (Nigeria)
Keira Walsh (England)
Aitana Bonmati (Spain)
Lauren Hemp (England)
Lauren James (England)
Hinata Miyazawa (Japan)


Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/super-falcons-uk-sun-names-halimatu-ayinde-in-world-best-11-for-marking-lauren-james-2023082211100979087

Mauricio Pochettino has struggled to explain Chelsea's defeat to West Ham but has asked his side to trust in his process to improve the Blues

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was at a loss for words to explain the Blues’ loss to West Ham as their winless start to the Premier League continued on Sunday.

Pochettino unable to explain Chelsea defeat
The Blues followed up an impressive opening-day draw against Liverpool with a disappointing 3-1 loss in the London derby against West Ham, and Pochettino was confused about how Chelsea failed to win the game despite creating better chances.

The Argentine gaffer said, “We create many chances and we did well in the first half. We should have won the game with our first half.

“In the second half with another isolated action we concede again. To find the space to create clear chances [is difficult] but overall it is this type of game that is difficult to explain.

'You had the possession, you create and maybe you were the better side but in the end you lose.

Pochettino asks team to trust his process
Pochettino further elaborated on his frustration with Chelsea’s defeat against West Ham, and their lack of cutting edge, saying, “It was the frustration when we miss the penalty. We were playing well and we didn't get the reward. We start the second half a little bit with this belief until we started again to play.

“We need to be more strong in this type of situation because we knew West Ham sit deep and counter-attack and set-pieces are really dangerous.

Despite the setback, Pochettino was still adamant about Chelsea’s future and charged his team to trust his process as they look to recover from a poor start to the season.

He said, “Disappointed but this is only the beginning. We need to believe in the process. I think we are going to be stronger and for sure be really competitive.”

After finishing in 12th place last season, Chelsea will be keen for Pochettino’s side to improve on that result after arming the Argentine with an expensively assembled squad.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria


https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/chelseas-pochettino-says-defeat-to-west-ham-is-difficult-to-explain-2023082023284309974

Why Tobi Amusan could still receive a ban despite clearance ruling by Disciplinary Tribunal.

The news of Tobi Amusan getting cleared of Anti Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three whereabouts missing tests is arguably the best news in the Nigerian sports sector this year.

In a press release by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), a panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, found that Amusan had not committed an ADRV of three whereabouts failures within 12 months.

This decision means her provisional suspension by the AIU is invalid with immediate effect, and she's cleared to compete at the World Championships in Budapest.

However, amid this excitement, Nigerians still have a cause to worry as the AIU head Brett Clothier isn't aligning with this decision, and he has stated that the AIU will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal.

"The AIU is disappointed by the decision and will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration on Sports (CAS) within the applicable deadline. The decision is currently confidential but will be published in due course," wrote Clothier in a press release.

When Clothier and the AIU members review all documents presented at the Disciplinary Tribunal and still proceed to the CAS, then Amusan may be in trouble again.

If the CAS rules in approval of the AIU and confirm Amusan is guilty, then the Nigerian World Record (WR) holder will face at least a two-year ban.

But if she's proven not guilty, then she's cleared of all charges and can compete freely without any ADRV case in her name

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/athletics/story/explained-tobi-amusan-could-still-receive-a-ban-despite-clearance-ruling-2023081800510093748

Things are not going to plan for Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and their club Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr and their superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane are not enjoying the best of moments in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Nassr suffered another defeat following a poor outing at home to Al-Taawoun.

The visitors came, saw, and defeated their hosts 2-0, with Ronaldo and Mane on the pitch at the Al Awal Park on Friday night.

Al Nassr suffered another defeat following a poor outing at home to Al-Taawoun.

The visitors came, saw, and defeated their hosts 2-0, with Ronaldo and Mane on the pitch at the Al Awal Park on Friday night.

Al Nassr vs Taawoun: Brief
After the defeat to Steven Gerrard Al-Ettifaq last time out, Ronaldo-led Al Nassr went in the game hoping to bounce back to winning ways.

However, despite starting well, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when Leandre Tawamba Kana put Taawoun ahead in the 20th minute.

The away side held on to the slim lead heading into the break, leaving Al Nassr with work to do in the second half.

After the break, the hosts piled on the pressure but could not find a way behind the well-drilled Taawoun back line.

And against the run of play, the visitors doubled their advantage in added time when Ahmed Saleh Bahusayn made sure they will leave with all three points.

Ronaldo and Mane caged
Ronaldo and Mane played from start to finish, with the Portuguese start attempting four shots without troubling the away goalkeeper.

For Senegal’s Mane, he created three chances but his teammates could not make use of any in a frustrating night.

The former Bayern Munich man also attempted three shots but failed to save his side from another defeat.

What the result means
After a run of eight matches without defeat in all competitions, Al Nassr have now suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since they lost to Celta Vigo and Benfica in pre-season.

The latest defeat means the club is flirting with relegation as Al Nassr sit 15th with zero points in the 18-team league.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/al-nassr-vs-al-taawoun-ronaldo-sadio-mane-lose-saudi-arabia-2023081821202196843

Adamawa Warriors and Rivers Queens have emerged champions of the National Division One League 2023.

Adamawa Warriors have emerged as the champions of the National Division One League 2023 after an epic clash against Sunshine Kings of Akure in the final.


The Warriors defeated the Kings in a closely fought encounter at the indoor sports hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State.

National Division One brief
The Yola-based team, who got promoted to the Ardova Handball Premier League on day 5 after shockingly defeating tournament favourite COAS Shooters, encountered faced an end-to-end battle against Sunshine Kings.

However, they eventually overcame their opponent with a 22-20 victory to be crowned champion of the Division One League.

Sunshine Kings, who have also gained promotion and will play in the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024, finished second while COAS Shooters settled for third position after defeating Nasarawa Ambassadors 34-25.

Women’s category
In the women's category, Rivers Queens were crowned champions after going unbeaten in the National Division One League. They have also gained promotion to the Ardova Handball Premier League.

COAS Babes finished second after they comfortably defeated Fountain Queens 35-19 and they also earned a promotion to the Ardova Handball Premier League.

Mindscope Academy ruthlessly saw UNIBEN with a 32-17 victory.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/other-sports/story/handball-adamawa-warriors-rivers-queens-2023-crowned-national-d1-champions-2023073119572194388

Nigeria's Super Falcons are set to earn a massive payday after securing a place in the second round of the Women's World Cup
Stars of Nigeria’s Super Falcons will have even more reason to celebrate their qualification for the Round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup apart from doing their country proud as they have now earned a massive payday as well.

Super Falcons qualify for Round of 16
For reaching the second round and being ranked between 9th to 16th, the Super Falcons are guaranteed at least $1,380,00 in prize money to be shared amongst the players, a figure that could rise depending on their progress in the competition.

The money promised to teams that reach the round of 16 by FIFA will amount to $60,000 per player when divided amongst the 23 Super Falcons squad members.

This comes to double the amount that the players were set to receive for playing in the group stages alone and will certainly serve as extra motivation for the Super Falcons to go even further.

Super Falcons eyeing huge payday
As they progress, the Super Falcons will enjoy larger financial rewards, and will see their earnings rise by another $30,000 to become $90,000 if they are able to scale past their round of 16 opponents.

If they go all the way to win the competition, each player on the Super Falcons’ team will receive up to $270,000 in prize money, the largest payout in Women’s World Cup history.

The Super Falcons still have a long way to go to reach the payday, but they will be quietly confident after pulling off major surprises already in the group stage.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/super-falcons-set-to-earn-naira46-million-per-player-after-reaching-world-cup-round-of-16-2023073114353580132

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is set for the toughest decision of his career after Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal reportedly offered the Nigerian forward

Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal have reportedly offered Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen more than 10 times his current wages in an attempt to tempt the 24-year-old forward to leave Napoli.

Al-Hilal make mouthwatering Osimhen offer
The Saudi Pro League side reportedly offered Napoli a whopping €140 million for Osimhen’s signature, while offering the Nigerian striker close to £1 million per week to join them.

Neither Osimhen nor Napoli have responded to the offer but both parties will definitely be tempted by the money being discussed in the deal.

Napoli have said they are intent on keeping Osimhen in the past and had set a price tag of €150-€180 million if they were to part ways with the Super Eagles striker, but could be tempted to consider the offer from Al-Hilal or negotiate a deal for the marksman.

Osimhen offered tempting wage increase
Osimhen, who is in the process of negotiating a new deal with Napoli, will also be tempted by the offer as it represents a wage rise of up to 1000% from his current €4.5 million per year salary at Napoli.

Napoli and Osimhen are currently locked in negotiations for a new four-year deal for the Nigerian striker and are believed to be close to an agreement for Osimhen that bumps his current salary up to the region of € 7 million to €7.5 million, but even that pales in contrast to what is being offered by Al-Hilal.

It is left to be seen how Napoli and Osimhen react to the reported bid, with the transfer window closing in just over a month, and Al-Hilal desperate for a new striker after the departure of Odion Ighalo, who left the club this summer.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/al-hilal-offer-osimhen-more-than-10-times-his-current-wages-to-replace-ighalo-2023073115033860906

The Super Falcons are through the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after 0-0 draw against Ireland.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria recorded a 0-0 draw against Ireland in their final 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup fixture early on Monday, July 31, 2023.

The Super Falcons started in defensive shape against Ireland, already out at the group stage.

The best chance of the first half came the way of Barcelona star Asisat Oshoala, who shot wide from a ball by Uchenna Kanu.

The Super Falcons struggled to build out from the back, but Ireland, despite dominating possession, struggled to create much.

Super Falcons' second-half resurgence
The Super Falcons started the second half on the front foot and shortly were able to string together decent chances.

Toni Payne was able to locate Kanu whose header was saved by the Irish goalkeeper.

Shortly, Oshoala was also through on goal but dragged her shot wide for the second time in the game.

It became a back-and-forth encounter in the second half, with more urgency from the Super Falcons.

In the 67th minute, Super Falcons Head Coach Randy Waldrum made the changes, introducing Monday Gift and Ifeoma Onumonu.

The game became stagnant for a while as both teams created little in the closing stages.

In the end, the Super Falcons were able to hold off Ireland late in the game, settling for a draw.

The result means the Super Falcons finish their group in second place and progress to the round of 16.

With two draws and a win, the Super Falcons end up with five points from three games. They will now await the results from group D to figure out their opponents in the round of 16.

Source : Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/super-falcons-0-0-ireland-wasteful-nigeria-qualify-for-world-cup-round-of-16-2023073111552700891

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/super-falcons-stars-risk-suspension-against-ireland-2023073019242360050

A couple of Super Falcons players will have to play against Ireland with the safety on as they risk being suspended for Nigeria's Round of 16 clash

Two key players on the Super Falcons’ roster are at risk of being suspended for Nigeria’s round of 16 clash if they scale through the group stage.

Super Falcons set for Round of 16 qualification
The Super Falcons are on the brink of reaching the second round of the Women’s World Cup for the second time in a row, having never managed the feat in their history before this.

Thanks to a win over co-hosts Australia and a draw against reigning Olympic champions Canada, Nigeria currently sits atop Group B and only need a draw against Ireland to seal a place in the round of 16.

The Super Falcons would have to tread carefully to avoid going into the second round of games short-staffed as two key players will play the final group game against Ireland while walking a disciplinary tightrope to dodge a suspension.

Alozie and Oshoala risk second-round suspension
Both Michelle Alozie and Asisat Oshoala are one yellow card away from suspension after picking up yellow cards in Nigeria’s famous win over Australia.

Alozie was booked for a first-half foul, while Oshoala was shown a yellow card for her celebration after taking off her shirt following her goal for the Super Falcons against Australia.

The duo will now have to avoid picking up another yellow card against Ireland, as consecutive matches with yellow cards attract a one-match suspension.

Another Super Falcons player, Blessing Demehin, also picked up a yellow card in a previous match, however, her booking came against Canada, meaning she is not at risk of a suspension even if she gets yellow carded against Ireland.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/super-falcons-stars-risk-suspension-against-ireland-2023073019242360050

Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala celebrated her first goal of the Women’s World Cup against Australia by removing her jersey.

Nigeria secured their first victory in the tournament with a 3-2 win against host country Australia in the group stage.

Goals from Uchenna Kalu, Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala gave the Super Falcons the desired win and put them on the edge of qualification.

The unexpected moment of the game was Oshoala scoring after being brought on as a substitute and celebrating by taking off her jersey.

With Oshoala’s jubilation causing an uproar on social media, we take a look at female football players who have removed their jerseys while jubilating.

1. Asisat Oshoala

The Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala entered the list of female players who have celebrated by removing their jerseys.

Oshoala, who entered the match as a substitute in the 63rd minute, scored the team's third goal in the 72nd minute of the Brisbane Stadium match.

She showed off her sports bra while celebrating by ripping off her jersey, a move that has since become iconic in the minds of many.

2. Valentina Giacinti
Italian forward Valentina Giacinti who plays for Roma women joins the list of female players who celebrated their goals by removing their jerseys.

During a game against Inter Millan in 2021, she scored four goals and removed her jersey to celebrate which surprised many.

She then apologised to her fans for her celebration, saying that she had not prepared her response to the victory.

3. Brandi Chastain
Chastain, a former American female football player, made headlines in 1999 for her celebration after scoring the game-winning penalty in the Women's World Cup final.

The American missed a penalty during the game but later made up for it by scoring the last penalty during a shootout against China

She celebrated the victory by taking off her jersey, which drew both applause and criticism from fans.

4. Chloe Kelly
The list of women who have celebrated by taking off their jerseys during a game also includes Chloe Kelly as well.

The English International, who plays for Manchester City Women celebrated her winning goal against Germany in the 2022 Euro Championship Finals.

However, she was met with a yellow card by the referee for removing her jersey during her celebration.

5. Sam Kerr
Australia and Chelsea superstar Sam Kerr also join the list of female players who have taken off their jerseys during the celebration.

In the 2022 Women's Super League match against Aston Villa, Chelsea star Kerr removed her jersey in celebration of scoring an injury-time goal.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/asisat-oshoala-5-female-footballers-who-removed-shirts-during-celebration-2023073014332058712

Wake Up early! Time and Where to Watch Super Falcons of Nigeria vs Ireland World Cup Group final game

The Super Falcons of Nigeria produced the first major shock of the Women's World Cup as they stunned Australia 3-2 In Brisbane to leave the co-hosts' tournament hopes on thin ice and home fans reeling.

The Super Falcons will now take on Ireland in their third and final group match at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Ireland will wrap up their campaign against Nigeria as they hunt for a first World Cup win.

The Super Falcons, on the other hand, need a positive result against Ireland to progress to the second round.

Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland are playing in the final Group B encounter; will this be the end of their tournament or just the beginning of their road to glory?

Nigeria and Ireland World Cup so far
Ireland hasn't earned a point in the competition yet, while Nigeria has four so far.

The Super Falcons held Canada to a goalless draw before a shock 3-2 victory against co-hosts Australia.

Ireland hopes to complete their tournament on a positive note, while Nigeria, which has a record of 4-1-1 versus World Cup teams this year, will be striving for another triumph.

Ireland promises victory against Super Falcons of Nigeria
The World Cup heroes from Ireland may have lost their chance to advance to the round of 16, but this is only the beginning for them.

The heartbroken stars of Ireland are prepared to complete their World Cup run against Nigeria on Monday with a victory.

Vera Pauw's team will be unable to advance to the final 16 after their loss to Canada.

Marissa Sheva speaking after the loss to Canada, said, “Oh, it's so important (to get a win against Nigeria).

"We're gonna treat it just like we treated the last two games, regardless of the fact that we're now out.

“For the girls, for the fans. I mean, the atmosphere here tonight was incredible. It felt like a home game. And, I mean, I had goosebumps the entire time.

“And so for the fans, for the girls, for, you know, the players that didn't make the trip to Australia, for everyone back home in Ireland, we will be fighting for a win against Nigeria.”

Ireland has scored one goal in two games and will need to be efficient in attack to get the win against Nigeria.

Super Falcons of Nigeria target qualification against Ireland
The Super Falcons' victory at Lang Park, which was brightened by 49,156 spectators, marked Africa's first victory in the competition, and the nine-time African champions established a solid footing for the knockout round.

The Super Falcons Head coach, Randy Waldrum, was satisfied with the victory against Australia and the performance of star player Asisat Oshoala but stressed the importance of a good victory against Ireland.

He said, "We know there’s still work to do.

"So, we’ll enjoy it tonight (Thursday) and get our recovery going tomorrow because it was a very, very taxing game on us physically.

"And then we’ll do our best to get ready for another very good opponent with Ireland.”

Time and Where to Watch Super Falcons of Nigeria vs Ireland final World Cup group game
The final Super Falcons group game of the 2023 Women's World Cup will be against Ireland.

The game will take place at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

The game will kick off at 11 a.m. Nigerian time on Monday, July 31, 2023.

The Super Falcons' game against Ireland will be available on Supersport, Afrosport, and Blend TV.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/sports-gist/story/super-falcons-time-and-where-to-watch-nigeria-vs-ireland-world-cup-group-final-game-2023072808483076035

Nouhalia Benzina created a piece of FIFA Women's World Cup history by becoming the first woman ever to compete at the tournament while wearing a hijab.

Benzina, a devout Muslim, made her first appearance at the Women's World Cup for Morocco against South Korea.

Benzina had been left out of her country's opening game — a 6-0 defeat against Germany on July 24.

She was re-instated into the team and started in central defence, putting in an immaculate display as she led the Atlas Lionesses to a historic first-ever Women's World Cup win.

Benzina makes World Cup history

The 25-year-old, who plays for the Association's Sports of Forces Armed Royal team in Morocco, was inserted into the starting lineup by head coach Reynald Pedros.

Clad in traditional headwear, in perfect sync with her team's white jersey, Benzina was a rock at the back, intercepting, blocking, and making key tackles to keep her team in the game.

The topic of the hijab being used in sports, remains one that splits opinion, with France banning its use in football matches.

Benzina is yet to speak on her decision to play while wearing the hijab, but for embracing her faith so openly and her performance in Morocco's win, her story will spread far and wide.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/nouhaila-benzina-morocco-defender-becomes-first-player-to-wear-hijab-in-a-world-cup-game-2023073007475084336

Starboy hosted one of the biggest Afrobeat concerts of all time at the home of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Wizkid took centre stage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

The ‘Bad To Me’ crooner has continued to push the Afrobeat genre to world via his music, performances, concerts and even tours.

Wizkid, real name 'Ayodeji Balogun Ibrahim' is widely regarded as one of the greatest Nigerian musicians of his generation.

The 33-year-old singer, songwriter and performer thrilled thousands of fans at the home of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend in North London.

Wizkid performed alongside Afrobeat band and Nigerian duo, The Cavemen, as well another Jamaican-American musician and instrumentalist, Masego.

Pulse Sports reported that Wizkid also linked up with a few Premier League stars like Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, while Everton’s Alex Iwobi and Nigerian singer, Seyi Vibes were also spotted at the 62,850-capacity venue.

Wizkid performed at Spurs’ stadium to kick off his More Love Less Ego concert as the Grammy-Award-winner continues to promote his fifth studio album.

Why Wizkid did not sell out Tottenham Hotspur’s 62,850 Capacity Stadium

Following Wizkid’s iconic performance at the Spurs stadium this weekend, a number of netizens have been quick to point out that the Afrobeats superstar did not sell out the entire stadium, as footage from the show revealed that some sections of the stadium were indeed covered.

However, it is not the first time that we've seen some sitting areas in performance areas covered during musical concerts.

Pulse Sports gathered that the Tottenham Hotspur stadium did not sell out to full capacity for Wizkid’s ‘More Love Less Ego’ tour based solely on ticket sales alone.

Last week, Wizkid sold out four out of seven Tiers of tickets for his Tottenham Hotspur stadium show, with the most expensive tier (Gold Circle) confirmed to have been fully sold out.

A few days later, a source close to the singer revealed that the majority of the tickets had been sold, announcing that 50,000 tickets had already been sold.

However, Pulse Sports gathered that the actual number of tickets designated for Wizkid’s show in London had not been fully sold out by Saturday, although, the exact figures remain unclear.

The Tottenham Hotspur stadium is the second-largest club ground in the Premier League and one of the largest stadiums in England.

It is pertinent to note that the stadium had an initial capacity of 62,062, which was later increased later in stages to 62,850.

However, due to the need to segregate fans in football matches, the full capacity may never be reached for matches as some seats are deliberately kept unused.

A few sections of the stadium which were covered during Wizkid’s concert are areas believed to have been designated as being deliberately kept unused.

Although there are rumours of discounted tickets and later free tickets being issued in an attempt to sell out the stadium, it remains unclear if every single ticket holder attended Wizkid’s London show.

Like in football, attendance at shows is most times counted by the number of fans going through the gates rather than the number of tickets issued.

This is the same method used by many grounds like the Emirates as well as Spurs and even Wembley.

Although, in some cases, attendance figures may include season ticket holders who did not turn up for matches and unused free tickets.

In summary, ticket sales don’t directly equate to attendance at events and shows, as a significant number of attendees could have access to free tickets

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria


https://www.pulsesports.ng/sports-gist/story/revealed-why-wizkid-did-not-sell-out-tottenham-hotspurs-62850-capacity-stadium-2023073007265136517

When Mercy Akide and Perpetua Nkwocha dominated Women’s football in Africa, not many believed that their records could be matched, but years later, the story is different.
The Super Falcons are the greatest women's football team in Africa, and it is only normal for them to have produced so many great players.

Cynthia Uwak, Florence Omagbemi and Precious Dede are some of the big names to come out of Nigeria and Africa.

However, while these names are great players in their own right, none matches up to Mercy Akide and Perpetua Nkwocha.

Akide- Nigeria's first superstar in Women's football
While Women’s football has been a thing for many years in Nigeria, the emergence of Akide made the game more popular.

In fact, it will not be an exaggeration to say Akide was the first true superstar in Women’s football in Nigeria.

During her career, she set different goalscoring records in the local league. The former Ufuoma Babes scored 16 league goals in 1993 and another eight in the Challenge Cup.

Akide continued to obliterate all records in the domestic leagues, but it was her performances for the National team that made her a superstar.

The former Nigeria international was the first recipient of the African Women Footballer of The Year in 2001.

She represented Nigeria at three FIFA Women’s World Cups and was a key figure in the squad that reached the quarter-final in 1999.

Also, Akide won three African Women's Championships with the Super Falcons. In her prime, there was no one close. She was not just the face of women’s football in Nigeria but across Africa.

However, while Akide made the game popular in the country, Nkwocha took it to another level with her performances and achievements.

Perpetua Nkwocha's raised the level of Women's football in Nigeria
The 47-year-old represented Nigeria at eight CAF Africa Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON), winning a record six times and finishing as the top scorer on three occasions.

On one of those occasions (2004), she scored nine goals, including four against Cameroon – a record that still stands today.

Nkwocha also represented Nigeria at four FIFA Women's World Cups and three Olympic Football events, while she also won CAF Women's Player of the Year awards, which was a record at that time.

By the time Nkwocha retired from football in 2015, she had cemented her status as the greatest African women's player of all time, and it was unfathomable to think her achievements would be matched or surpassed soon.

Oshoala- Nigeria's first true global star in Women's football
However, eight years after her retirement, another Nigerian by the name of Oshoala has matched, if not surpassed, Nwkwocha's achievements.

Oshoala's journey to surpassing her fellow countrywoman started a year before she retired. The 27-year-old's breakout campaign came at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, where she finished as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals.

After the competition, it was clear that Oshoala would be a threat to Nkwocha's title. Her profile continued to rise that same year as she finished as Super Falcons' second top scorer at the 2014 AWCON, which Nigeria won.

It is important to note that both Oshoala and Nkwocha were in the squad that won the competition in 2014, which made it seem like a passing of the baton.

Both players also represented Nigeria at the 2015 Women's World Cup, but Oshoala outshined her older rival, who retired after the competition

Although Nigeria failed to qualify for the knockout stages, Oshoala was one of the team's scorers in the 3-3 draw against Sweden, which was the only game they picked up a point.

Following Nkwocha's retirement, the spotlight was now on Oshoala, and it is something she has taken in her stride.

She has added two more continental titles to the one she won in 2014 while also playing at another World Cup.

However, Oshoala's biggest individual achievement is winning five CAF Women's Player of the Year awards - the most by a player, man or woman.

It is a remarkable achievement for the 28-year-old, considering the short time it took her to eclipse her Nkwocha’s record.

And with Oshoala just 28, she is on course to make it six. But it is not just the CAF awards that put Oshoala ahead of her older rival.

For all her greatness at the international level, Nkwocha did not have a great club career. The ex-Super Falcons star played for just Sunnanå SK outside of Nigeria, scoring just 65 goals for the club.

In contrast, Oshoala has had a stellar club career since leaving the shores of the country in 2015. The 27-year-old has played for some of Europe's top clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal, while she also had a successful stint in China.

Oshoala currently plays for Barcelona Femeni, who are the best club in the world right now. She won the treble with the club in the 2020/2021 campaign, and she was the club's current top scorer this season with 23 goals in 25 games.

Although it could be argued that Nkwocha played at a time when women's football was still growing, as many of these top European clubs did not have a women's team, it still does not take away what Oshoala has achieved in a short period.

And also, considering their achievements and the fact that Oshoala still has many more years left, it is hard to deny that the Barcelona star has already cemented her status as the greatest women's player to come out of Africa.

Nkwocha will always be known as the player that changed the level of women's football in Africa, but Oshoala will be remembered as the player that took the game to an unprecedented height.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/super-falcons-oshoala-has-surpassed-nkwocha-and-akide-as-nigerias-greatest-womens-player-2023072916564645130

Chelsea has reportedly rejected Juventus' loan offer for Romelu Lukaku but are open to a permanent deal.

Chelsea are currently looking for a suitable fee for the Belgian after making it known that he is not in the club's future plan.

The Belgian was signed by Chelsea from Inter Milan for a fee worth £97 million and spent last season on loan with the Italian giants.

Lukaku has been linked with several clubs, and Inter Milan have been keen to bring him back to San Siro before pulling out of the deal.

Juventus are the latest team to enquire about the forward and have presented a loan offer to Chelsea which has been rejected.

Chelsea reject loan offer, set asking price for Lukaku
According toTuttosport, Juventus have put up a loan offer to sign Lukaku with the offer being rejected by the Blues.

Chelsea declined the offer, just as they did when Inter attempted to sign Lukaku for another short-term deal.

The West London club are keen to sell their top earner for £34 million and are not willing to bend on that price, according to the Sun.

According to reports, Juve and Lukaku might be ready to stand their ground and wait for Chelsea to cave in order to complete the transfer later on in the window.

After having two offers rejected, Inter withdrew from a potential deal because they were "furious" that Lukaku's agents were also in talks with Juventus, a rival club.

Lukaku not in Pochettino’s plans
Lukaku assisted Inter in reaching the Champions League final while on loan with them last season, scoring 14 goals in 37 games.

However, Mauricio Pochettino, the new Chelsea manager, was not persuaded to reinstate him at Stamford Bridge despite his performance last season.

Before the start of preseason, the two spoke about the Belgian's future, but it appears they both agreed that Lukaku will play his game outside of West London this year.

Poch explained as reported by the Sun, “It is the club and of course, it is an interesting situation.

"When this type of decision is [made, it is] because they all agree. The player and club are working hard to try and find the best solution.

"It is obvious the decision had been made on the side of the player also. We act in consequence of the decision. The club and player are in the position they wanted.”

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/chelsea-rejects-juventus-loan-bid-for-romelu-lukaku-2023072914461774603

After a sensational win over Australia, Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum believes that there is still more for the team to do

Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has charged his players not to relent in their efforts after securing a famous win over World Cup hosts Australia.

Waldrum keen to continue good form
Nigeria overcame great odds to beat Australia 3-2 in Brisbane, and consequently went top of Group B, putting them in a great position for a place in the second round ahead of their final group match against Ireland.

With qualification virtually secured for the next round, the Super Falcons could be tempted to rest on their oars, but coach Waldrum is keen to impress the need for more work.

Speaking after the victory over Australia, Waldrum said, "We know there's still work to do. So we'll enjoy it tonight and then get our recovery going tomorrow because it was a very, very taxing game on us physically."

Waldrum believes Super Falcons can make a mark
The American coach also re-stated his belief that Super Falcons can achieve something special in Australia, tipping them to go further than any expectations after pulling off two credible results against Canada and Australia.

He said, "I told (the players) after the match, you know, keep believing, keep believing in yourself because great things can happen for teams when you really fight for each other.

"And it's not always sometimes the best talent that wins. Sometimes it's the best team, the team that works best together -- and we're enjoying the journey.”

The Super Falcons face Ireland in their final Group B match, hoping to finish top of their group for the first time in World Cup history with a win against the debutants.

Souce: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/theres-still-work-to-do-waldrum-charges-falcons-to-keep-going-2023072820002899477

Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen is set to receive a bumper wage increase in his new Napoli deal

According to reports in Italy, Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen is set to receive a sizeable wage increase in a new deal with Napoli.

Oismhen set for Napoli pay rise
Osimhen is set to sign a contract extension with Napoli to continue with the Partenopei beyond 2025 when his current deal runs out.

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Osimhen is set to sign a four-year contract extension with an option for a further year that will see him remain with Napoli until 2027.

The Super Eagles striker will reportedly earn between €7m-€7.5m, a significant increase from the €4.5m he currently earns in Naples.

Napoli keen to tie down Osimhen
The Nigerian forward enjoyed a marvellous 2022/23 season with Napoli, scoring 31 goals in all competitions, including an African-best 26 Serie A goals to propel the Partenopei to their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Osimhen’s superb performances lead to speculation over his future after teams including Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea reportedly became interested in his services, forcing Napoli to make efforts to secure their prized asset on a longer contract.

With Osimhen’s new deal, Napoli should be able to keep Osimhen at the club for an extended period or at least gain a strong hand in negotiations when clubs come for him in the future.

Despite a €180 million price tag, Napoli knows that it will be an uphill battle to keep Osimhen if they allow his contract to run down any further after this summer and will be keen on him agreeing to their four-year contract proposal.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/newsfeedhttps://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/osimhen-set-to-earn-over-naira6-billion-per-season-in-new-contract-2023072818423350585

The Super Falcons of Nigeria beat Australia in historic fashion but that win against the co-hosts only papers over the cracks.

Several hours have passed since Nigeria shocked the world by coming from behind to beat Australia 3-2 and the euphoria still has not died down.

The win against the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts was a truly fine moment and solidifies the Super Falcons’ chances of qualifying out of Group B.

The heroines who pulled this off and their millions of well-wishers around the world deserve to revel in the moment but they must do so with caution for a number of reasons.

Nigeria played well, really well in fact but there is at least one reason why the result was such a surprise, and also why they were such massive underdogs pre-game against Australia.

And one win, however impressive, does not change all of that, the mountain of problems surrounding the team pre-tournament still exists and would most likely hinder their progression at the Mundial.

The Super Falcons still have a tactical problem
Nigeria finished both games at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup so far with 32% and 36% possession respectively.

And although possession stats do not tell the full story, it does well enough to paint the picture of the Super Falcons’ approach so far.

Waldrum’s side pretty much sat back and hoped to hit both of their oppositions on the counter, a tactic that worked much better against Australia than it did against Canada.

This is not a criticism of the approach, it was what the team needed to secure positive results from games where they ideally should have gotten nothing.

The point is, the counter-attacking approach might not work against every team and the Super Falcons have not necessarily been great at controlling games.

The next game against the Republic of Ireland will test Nigeria’s ability to create chances without counter-attacks as the Irish have also adopted similar tactics in both of their games so far.

So how will the Falcons play when they carry the full burden of creativity against another defensive-minded team? That is a question for Waldrum to answer.

Randy Waldrum’s Super Falcons wahala
Speaking of Waldrum, the American manager was mired in controversy just before the Mundial for his comments about the Nigeria Football Federation and their peculiar ways of football administration.

What followed was a nasty back-and-forth with Ademola Olajire, the NFF spokesperson who ironically spoke with reckless abandon on the matter.

That matter which brought disrepute and unwanted international attention to the senior women’s national team is still not done.

The great result against Australia might have been enough to shut up dissenting voices on social media but the circumstances that led to the brouhaha have not automatically disappeared.

There was still a standoff between the players and the federation as recently as two days prior to the kickoff of the World Cup over financial issues of course.

Report: NFF owes Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum ₦64.4m
FOOTBALL

To simply ignore that situation as Nigerians because of one win and hope that it fixes itself is equivalent to going to bed with the roof on fire.

The Super Falcons are a collection of disgruntled players led by an unhappy head coach all of whom are self-motivating based on passion for the country and desire to achieve greatness at the highest level and nothing else.

Questions surrounding Randy Waldrum
The tournament in Australia and New Zealand was preceded by widespread criticism from Nigerian football stakeholders including fans and most especially the media, criticism that was well earned in all honestly.

The general consensus was that the team was underperforming under the American’s tutelage with the poor outing at the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco regarded as the final nail in his managerial coffin.


So it is not illogical to say that a win and a draw, however impressive, is not enough to completely whitewash Waldrum’s reputation in such a short period of time.

Human beings are fickle, football fans even more so which is why people have gone from asking for Waldrum to be sacked before the World Cup to now dubbing him the Messiah just two games in.

Of course, it is only fair that the results improve Waldrum’s reputation but it should not be enough to completely rebrand him so quickly.

Notwithstanding, Randy Waldrum and the Super Falcons have surpassed everyone’s expectations so far which is great, just do not forget why the expectations were so low in the first place.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/super-falcons-why-nigerias-historic-win-against-australia-changes-nothing-2023072820100153617

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are reportedly set to make a huge bid for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen after being turned down by PSG forward Kylian Mbappe.
Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been the subject of transfer rumours since the end of last season and the exit stories are not going away.

Osimhen wanted by Al Hilal

The most recent report comes from French publication L’Équipe, who are reporting that Saudi side Al Hilal are set to launch an audacious bid to snap up Osimhen from Napoli

PSG who are currently in a standoff with star forward Kylian Mbappe over a summer exit have also had Osimhen on their radar this summer but are yet to submit a formal offer to Napoli.

In recent days they have turned their attention to Manchester United target and Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, with the Napoli key man perhaps proving too expensive.

He would not be too expensive for Al Hilal though, with the Saudi outfit proving money is no obstacle after making a €300m offer for Mbappe, which was immediately accepted by PSG — only for the France captain to turn down the move.

Osimhen could cost more than 150m and it remains to be seen if a move to the Middle East this summer is on the cards for the Nigeria international.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria

https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/osimhen-al-hilal-turn-attention-to-super-eagles-striker-after-naira264billion-mbappe-snub-2023072815395387961