Women’s Sports

Nigeria’s U17 girls are just one step away from claiming the inaugural WAFU U17 Girls’ Cup after defeating Benin Republic 2-0 in Thursday’s semi-final.

The match, held at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram, saw the Flamingos seal their place in the final with two second-half goals.

After a goalless first half, Nigeria broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when forward Mary Lucky Mkpa converted from the penalty spot.

This came shortly after striker Janet Akekoromowei had squandered a golden chance to put the team ahead. Just eight minutes later, Peace Effiong capitalized on a goalkeeping error to double Nigeria’s lead and secure the win.

Akekoromowei had another opportunity to score in the 84th minute, but her effort was ruled out for impeding the goalkeeper.

The victory means Nigeria will now face Ghana in the final on Sunday.

Interestingly, it is the same day the two countries’ senior men’s teams will battle it out in Accra in the first leg of their African Nations Championship qualifying tie.

Nigeria’s Flamingos, who have netted 14 goals and conceded just two in their three tournament matches, will enter the final full of confidence.

Ghana, who defeated Côte d’Ivoire 5-0 in the other semi-final earlier in the day, will be eager to defend their home turf and claim the WAFU U-17 Girls’ Cup title.

Emmanuel Osahon, proprietor of Robo Queens, has criticized the lack of visibility surrounding Nigeria’s domestic football league, arguing that it hindered player recognition, as seen in Chiamaka Okwuchukwu’s snub for the CAF Player of the Year award.

Nigeria’s Flamingos made a gritty 3-2 comeback against Ivory Coast at the ongoing WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup, securing a crucial six points from two matches.

The Super Falcons have been crowned the best women’s national team at the 2024 CAF Awards, and their coach, Justin Madugu, couldn’t be more thrilled with the recognition.

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was named the Best Goalkeeper at the 2024 CAF Awards on Monday night.

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, cruised to a 3-2 victory over Ivory Coast on Monday in their second match of the inaugural WAFU B U-17 Girls’ Cup in Accra, with Harmony Chidi scoring all three goals to seal Nigeria’s top position in Group B.

Chidi, who was a key player in Nigeria’s dominant run to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final in the Dominican Republic this year, once again showcased her clinical finishing.

Zambia’s Barbra Banda has been named the 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year, defeating Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, who finished as the runner-up.

The announcement was made at the star-studded 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.

Banda’s outstanding performances over the past year earned her the top honor.

The Zambia Women’s National team captain becomes the first Zambian to win the CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award.

At the same awards ceremony, Banda also made the CAF/FIFPRO Africa XI 2024.

Playing for Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), she was a key figure in helping the team win the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship.

In the final against Washington Spirit, Barbra Banda scored the winning goal, securing the championship for her team.

Her accomplishments didn’t stop there. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Banda made history by scoring a hat-trick for Zambia, setting a new Olympic record for the most hat-tricks in women’s football.

This remarkable achievement made her one of the standout players of the tournament and cemented her place as a global footballing icon.

Banda’s outstanding year also saw her make history as the first African player to be included in the prestigious FIFPRO Women’s World XI for 2024.

Chiamaka Nnadozie Loses Player of the Year Award to Banda

In the other news, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, was a strong contender for the award. However, she lost the award category to Zambia’s Barbra Banda merging the runner-up of the title.

Nnadozie’s remarkable performances, including her crucial saves and leadership in goal, had earned her widespread recognition. However, she didn’t go home empty handed but made record.

She successfully defended her CAF Goalkeeper Player of the Year Award, edging out two other competitors.

Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie has been named the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive year at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper earned the honor after an outstanding season with French club Paris FC, where she was also recognized as the Première Ligue Goalkeeper of the Season for 2023-24.

Nnadozie’s exceptional performances were key to Paris FC’s strong season, and her consistent displays in goal continued to make her one of the top shot-stoppers in European women’s football.

Nnadozie’s rise to prominence began with Nigeria’s national team, where she has been a vital part of the Super Falcons for several years.

She played a crucial role in their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, helping them reach the Round of 16.

Her saves against top teams like Canada and Australia was one of her standout performances, solidifying her reputation on the international stage.

“I’m incredibly honored to win this award again,” Chiamaka Nnadozie said after receiving her trophy. “It’s been a year full of challenges, but I’ve worked hard to improve every day.”

“This is not just for me, but for all the support I’ve received from my teammates and coaches.”

The Super Falcons of Nigeria once again, won the Africa Women’s National Team of the Year award on Monday night at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Marrakesh, Morocco.

The Nigerian women’s national football team edged out South Africa’s Bayana Bayana, who took second place, and Morocco’s Lionesses, who secured third.

The Super Falcons’ impressive performance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup earned them the top honor.

Under the guidance of head coach Randy Waldrum, Nigeria secured two draws and a thrilling 3-2 win over host Australia in the group stages, advancing to the knockout rounds.

Although they were knocked out in the second round by England after a penalty shootout, the Falcons made history by keeping two clean sheets in the tournament — a first for any African team at the World Cup.

Striker Asisat Oshoala also etched her name into history by becoming the first African player to score in three different Women’s World Cups, thanks to her goal against Australia.

In addition, the Super Falcons made a landmark achievement by qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, marking their first Olympic appearance in 16 years.

Despite not progressing beyond the group stage in the competition, their earlier World Cup performances had set a high bar.

NFF president, Ibrahim Gusau represented and received the award on behalf of the national team.

“We are grateful for this award again this year. I was here last year to receive this same award, and it’s a great honor to win it again,” Gusau said.

The race to secure one of Africa’s four coveted spots in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is officially underway.