WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Still #Destination Morocco as FIFA names country as hosts of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for five consecutive editions

Published

1 month ago

March 16, 2024

Still #Destination Morocco as FIFA names country as hosts of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for five consecutive editions

Morocco will be hosts of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ for the next five consecutive editions starting from 2025.

This was officially confirmed by world football governing body, FIFA on Thursday, 14 March where Qatar was named hosts of the next five editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

“These decisions followed a global call for expressions of interest in hosting both competitions, with a focus on leveraging the use of existing footballing infrastructure in the interest of tournament efficiencies and sustainability” FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA also confirmed that the women’s competition will now be expanded 24 teams and will be played annually, while the men’s edition expands to 48.

Both competitions will now be played annually instead of the previous biennial editions as approved by the FIFA Council.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup was launched in 2008 and has since had seven editions played: New Zealand 2008, Trinidad and Tobago 2010, Azerbaijan 2012, Costa Rica 2014, Jordan 2016, Uruguay 2018 as well as India 2022.

Ghana and Nigeria are the two African teams with the most participations with six each.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Dominican Republic 2024: Nigeria calls 25 to camp for Burkina Faso

Published

2 days ago

April 25, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has invited 25 players to the camp of U17 Girls National Team, Flamingos, ahead of next month’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso.

The list includes four goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards.

Olowookere, who led the Flamingos to a first-ever World Cup bronze medal-finish in India last year, saw the girls fire from all cylinders in a 12-0 rout of their counterparts from Central African Republic over two legs in Douala and Abuja in the second round of the African qualifying series in February.

Harmony Chidi, who scored five of the 12 goals, as well as Ramota Kareem and Shakirat Moshood who netted a brace each in the 12-goal haul, are among the 25 players called.

Both teams will clash in the first leg of this third-round fixture at the Stade 4 August in Ouagadougou on Sunday, 12^thMay with the return leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 18^th May.

This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will take place in the Dominican Republic.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens); Elizabeth Boniface (Kwara Ladies); Sylvia Echefu (Confluence Queens); Favour Edward (Naija Ratels)

Defenders: Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies); Oluwatoyin Olowookere (Ekiti Queens); Rokibat Azeez (Royal Queens); Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Vivian Ekezie (Heartland Queens)

Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens); Ololade Isiaka (Abia Angels); Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons); Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Oghenemairo Obruthe (City Sports); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy)

Forwards: Edidiong Etim (Bayelsa Queens); Yetunde Ayantosho (Heartland Queens); Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers); Kudirat Arogundade (Green Foot); Ramota Kareem (Honey Badgers); Aisha Animashaun (Naija Ratels); Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels)

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Banyana Banyana rewards player for 100th cap despite Olympic failure

Published

2 weeks ago

April 10, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The South African Football Association (SAFA) on Tuesday awarded Banyana Banyana right back, Lebohang Ramalepe a 100^th cap milestone jersey despite the disappointing goalless draw with Nigeria’s Super Falcon.

The result meant that South Africa lost out to Nigeria in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification on a 1-0 aggregate.

The skillful Ramalepe who plays as a defender was part of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Banyana Banyana winning squad, as well as the side that finished in the Round of 16 at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.

For Nigeria, it will be the fourth time at the Olympics after the editions of 2000, 2004 and 2008.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Rasheedat Ajibade scored Nigeria’s first winning goal against South Africa in eight years –

Published

3 weeks ago

April 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Rasheedat Ajibade scored Nigeria’s first winning goal against South Africa in eight years -

When Captain of the side, Rasheedat Ajibade scored from a 43^rd minute penalty kick and gave Nigeria a 1-0 win over South Africa in a Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier in Abuja on Friday, it was the first time that the Super Falcons had beaten the Banyana Banyana since their 1-0 win at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations o 29 November 2016 in Limbe, Cameroon.

Ever since, the encounters have been tight and regulation time scorelines had been in South Africa’s favour.

In their next encounter after 2016, South Africa shocked Super Falcons 1-0 in a Group a Group B match of WAFCON in Cape Coast, Ghana. They eventually played goalless in the final match and Nigeria excelled 4-3 on penalties.

The next two encounters in 2021 and 2022 ended in victories for South Africa.