WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Former Spain’s Football Chieftain May Get More Than Two-year Jail Term Over Kissing A Woman Player –

Published

1 month ago

March 27, 2024

Former Spain’s Football Chieftain May Get More Than Two-year Jail Term Over Kissing A Woman Player -

A prosecutor at Spain’s High Court is seeking a prison sentence of 2-1/2 years for former soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales over his unsolicited kiss on player Jenni Hermoso, a court document seen by Reuters on Wednesday showed.

Prosecutor Marta Durantez charged Rubiales with one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions in the aftermath of the kiss, offences carrying jail terms of one year and one-and-a-half years, respectively.

Rubiales, 46, unleashed a furore when he grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips on Aug. 20 of last year during the awards ceremony after Spain’s victory in the women’s World Cup in Sydney.

Hermoso and her teammates said the kiss was unwanted and demeaning, but Rubiales argued it was consensual and denied any wrongdoing.

The prosecutor also accused the former coach of the women’s national team, Jorge Vilda, the team’s current sporting director, Albert Luque, and the federation’s head of marketing, Ruben Rivera, of coercing Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.

All three have denied wrongdoing when they appeared before the court.

Durantez seeks to have Rubiales pay 50,000 euros ($54,080) in damages to Hermoso, and another 50,000 euros jointly paid by Rubiales, Vilda, Luque and Rivera.

If the court were to convict Rubiales and impose the sentencing sought by the prosecutor he would not necessarily have to go to prison. Spain’s criminal code allows judges to “exceptionally” suspend the execution of the sentence if – as in this case – none of the sentences imposed individually exceeds two years.

Reuters

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.