Sports
Man Utd thrash Tottenham to win first ever Women’s FA Cup
Man Utd thrash Tottenham to win first ever Women’s FA Cup
Manchester United won the Women’s FA Cup for the first time on Sunday, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the final as midfielder Ella Toone scored a fantastic goal.
Marc Skinner’s side, who lost to Chelsea in last year’s Women’s FA Cup final, dominated the game and took the lead on the stroke of halftime thanks to Toone’s screamer from outside the penalty box.
A header from Rachel Williams and two goals from Spanish forward Lucia Garcia after the break sealed the first major trophy for United since the team reformed in 2018.
“Wembley is always special. Last year we spoke as a group and said ‘one day that will be ours’ and today’s the day so I’m buzzing,” goalkeeper Mary Earps, who had little to do all afternoon, told the BBC after her team won the Women’s FA Cup.
The Women’s FA Cup atmosphere was buzzing on a sunny day at Wembley Stadium with 76,082 fans in attendance along with United’s co-owner Avram Glazer and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
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However, the first half produced few chances of note until the second minute of stoppage time when England’s Toone drove the ball forward and unleashed a powerful strike from outside the area into the top corner.
Spurs, playing in their first Women’s FA Cup final in what is Swedish coach Robert Vilahamn’s debut campaign, drew 2-2 with United in the Women’s Super League last month but struggled to create any attacking threat, not registering a single shot on target, and capitulated after the break.
United’s Williams, who previously played for Spurs and won the FA Cup with Birmingham City 12 years ago, climbed high to head in a free kick before Garcia pounced on a poor pass in the box from goalkeeper Becky Spencer to make it 3-0 in the 57th minute.
Garcia added another via a deflection in the 74th as United salvaged a season in which they have struggled, sitting fifth in the league standings after being title challengers last year.
“We don’t like to admit it but it does mask over the issues we’ve had,” goalscorer Williams, 36, told the BBC. “We have had some ups and downs this year. That’s for Marc (Skinner) and the backroom staff to be like ‘right, this is what we have to do in the summer’.
“We are going to have change things next year. We have had some injuries, three or four ACLs, at the start of the season.
“That’s football, teams go through transition. You have a good year, you have a dip. Next year we might just come back bigger, better and stronger and, who knows, we might just be lifting the league.”
Man Utd thrash Tottenham to win first ever Women’s FA Cup
Sports
Updated: Amuneke set to be announced new Heartland head coach
Updated: Amuneke set to be announced new Heartland head coach
Super Eagles’ former forward, Emmanuel Amuneke, is set to return to coaching after a year away from the sidelines.
The former Tanzania coach has previously assisted Samson Siasia as well as Augustine Equavoen in the national team.
Amunike’s last role was with Zambia’s Zanaco FC, where he served as both coach and consultant before leaving in 2023.
He recently applied for the Super Eagles head coach position, but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) opted for Finidi George instead
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According to reports from Owerri, Amunike is close to joining Heartland, which plans to return to the elite NPFL next season.
The report added that Amuneke, who has been quietly working with his hometown club, has started recruiting players for the upcoming season.
Heartland FC was relegated to the NPFL after finishing in the 19th position on the 20-team table last season.
The club is reportedly planning to buy the NPFL slot of Beyond Limits, who earned promotion from the Nigeria National League (NNL), but face participation issues due to their affiliation with Remo Stars.
Amuneke, 53, has extensive coaching experience in domestic and international football.
Updated: Amuneke set to be announced new Heartland head coach
Sports
Asisat Oshoala scores first-ever penalty for Bay FC in NWSL
Asisat Oshoala Scores First-Ever Penalty for Bay FC In NWSL
Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has etched her name in the history books by becoming the first Bay FC player to score a penalty in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Oshoala scored the winning goal in Bay FC’s 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville.
She calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot, 14 minutes before the end of the match.
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This record-setting goal adds to the former Barcelona star impressive start at Bay FC, where she previously scored the club’s first-ever goal on her debut in the USA.
Since joining the club, Asisat Oshoala has now scored three goals.
Meanwhile, her international teammate, Uchenna Kanu, did not feature in Racing Louisville’s matchday squad for the game.
Asisat Oshoala Scores First-Ever Penalty for Bay FC In NWSL
Sports
Super Eagles Ademola Lookman wins Africa’s Best footballer award
Super Eagles Ademola Lookman wins Africa’s Best footballer award
Nigeria attacker Ademola Lookman has been named the Best African International Footballer at the Ghana Football Awards in Accra.
The Atalanta star got the award after a remarkable season with Nigeria’s Super Eagles and his Italian club. Lookman scored a hat-trick to help Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen and win the UEFA Europa League last season.
He outperformed Victor Boniface and Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmund Tapsoba to clinch the title. Lookman succeeds his compatriot and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, who won last year after leading his team to the Serie A title and later secured the CAF Africa’s Best Player award.
Lookman is now a strong contender for Africa’s top individual football award this year.
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The former Fulham and Leicester City player had a standout year, guiding Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations final and scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final.
He also played a key role in Atalanta’s fourth-place finish in Serie A, with 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.
In a video message, he expressed his gratitude: “Thank you for the consideration, the recognition, and the votes. This means a lot to me and my family. I wish I was in Ghana, but my heart is with you all. Thank you and God bless.”
Also celebrated at the Ghana Football Awards was West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus. He won two awards, including Ghana Player of the Year, for his excellent season in England and his contributions at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kudus’ solo goal against Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League was named the best goal of the night.
Super Eagles Ademola Lookman wins Africa’s Best footballer award
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