Author: Tumininu Yussuf
A night of tension, flair, and controversy saw Rodrygo ignite the spectacle with an early strike, only for Julián Álvarez to level the score with a moment of magic.
In 2022, he shattered a 34-year-old Nigerian national record in the 400m hurdles, clocking 48.42s to win the Big 12 title.
“Fight by fight, Joseph is establishing more credibility, more menace. They’ll all be saying, ‘This guy is dangerous,’ and after the other day, ‘He really is dangerous.’”
The Flamingos will be aiming for a strong first-leg performance in Pretoria as they seek to qualify for their seventh FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup appearance.
Badalona took the lead (44′) through Argentine captain Estefania Banini, who weaved past two defenders before finishing inside the box.
Houston rallied late, cutting the deficit to six points, but Lu Dort’s back-to-back threes restored OKC’s double-digit lead, sealing the win.
However, just when it seemed the game would end in a stalemate, Ogbonna delivered a last-gasp winner in the 90th minute, securing all three points for third-placed Besiktas.
Payne, who started the match, contributed to Everton’s defensive solidity, helping her side keep a clean sheet before being substituted in the 81st minute.
According to Dikko, aspirants will need to meet specific criteria before being eligible to contest, a move that he believes will bring a surprising shift in the quality of leadership within the federations.
The 36-year-old, who remains one of Africa’s top-ranked players, acknowledged the stiff competition but remains confident in his ability to perform at the highest level.
