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FIFA Women World Cup: Fans rate Super Falcons better side, despite defeat

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FIFA Women World Cup: Fans rate Super Falcons better side, despite defeat

Football fans have rated the Nigeria Super Falcons high in performance at the ongoing Women World Cup tournament, in spite of Monday defeat through penalty kicks.

The fans assessed the team in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

They said that the outcome of the match was inspiring and won many hearts for women football in Nigeria.

They were of the opinion that the nine time Africa champions were the better team in spite of losing 2-4 on penalty shootout to England after a 0-0 draw, to  bow out of  the tournament in the round of 16 match.

One of the fans, Abdullahi Mohammed, however opined that the Falcons spurned opportunities to win the game within the 90 minutes.

He also felt that the girls failed to utilise their numerical advantage after one of the opponents’ players was sent off.

He acknowledged, however, that the ladies tried their best in the game.

“This is Desire Oparanozies’ first game at the World Cup; before the penalty kicks, she was seen telling her mates to use their sense while taking the spot kicks,” he said.

He added that regardless of those mistakes, the fans were still proud of them.

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Ajayi Damilola, an athlete, said that the Super Falcons did well and exhibited an excellent spirit.

She noted that a game of penalty is always a matter of luck, and called for an improvement in the girls’ ability to convert penalties.

“I am pleased with the technical performance of the coaching crew. I wish all the tiers of football leagues in Nigeria should go and rewatch the game and learn from it,” she said.

Tobilola Fagbuyi, a fan, stressed the need  for the replacement process of older players to start in earnest with better training, camping and more friendly games.

Haruna Idachaba, another fan, said the  girls did their best.

”They were resilient and determined to win. Don’t forget that they were playing against opponents with more exposure and experience.

“The factors that led to their defeat included some tactical faults like inaccurate passes, while their finishing was poor.

“By and large, they have given a good account of themselves. There is time for another day,” he said.

Sesan Adeleke, another fan, said that Super Falcons enjoyed spells of possession, shifting England from side to side, but the English put forth stiff resistance.

“Falcons’ dynamic midfield and back line proved resolute despite persistent English wave of attacks.

“We need to raise upcoming players; there were late substitutions that proved defective for Nigeria team,” he said.

Christopher Onokpegu, a certified CAF C coach, said the team played very well.

“I was expecting them to capitalise on the red card given to England and play from the wings, but I didn’t see much of that.

“Kudos to them. They did very well and I just hope that they would be able to improve.”

FIFA Women World Cup: Fans rate Super Falcons better side, despite defeat

(NAN)

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Finidi George appointed Super Eagles head coach

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1 day ago

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April 29, 2024

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Finidi George appointed Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed Finidi George as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

Finidi’s appointment was announced on Monday as obtained via the official website of the NFF.

George had served as assistant to former coach Jose Peseiro for 20 months before assuming interim leadership of the senior national team in March this year.

The statement read in part, “The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles.”

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Thiago Silva to leave Chelsea at end of season

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April 29, 2024

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Thiago Silva to leave Chelsea at end of season

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva will leave the club at the end of the season.

The Brazilian, who joined the Blues on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain in 2020, has made 151 appearances for the Blues.

He has won three trophies in that time, including the 2020-21 Champions League.

Silva, 39, says his love for the club is “indescribable”.

“Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years,” he said.

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“It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but when there is a mutual love, it’s even harder. But once a Blue, always a Blue.”

Silva joined the club when Frank Lampard was manager and has since also played under Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino.

He has made 34 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season, including 25 starts in the Premier League.

The former AC Milan centre-back, capped 113 times by Brazil, says he hopes to return to Stamford Bridge in a new role in the future.

“I hope to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here,” he said.

Thiago Silva to leave Chelsea at end of season

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Apologise or face legal action, Enoh warns Bash Alli

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1 day ago

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April 29, 2024

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Minister of Sports Development, Sen John Enoh

Apologise or face legal action, Enoh warns Bash Alli

Sports Minister, John Enoh, has told former World Boxing Champion, Bash Alli, to make a public apology within a week for making false claims against his person or face legal action.

Enoh’s statement came in the wake of allegations by Alli in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu that the minister demanded $1m from him in order to endorse his plan to stage what he calls the oldest boxers’ fight in Nigeria.

The video, which went viral after chess master, Tunde Onakoya, recently broke the Guinness World Record for chess marathon, has the 68-year-old boxer said he could have equally put the name of the country on the world map but for certain individuals thwarting his efforts.

In response to the claim, Enoh in a statement titled ‘Bash Alli and his serial blackmail must be confronted and defeated,” warmed the boxer to tender an apology or face legal action.

He said, “I am constrained to speak to the trending video and open petition to the President wherein Bash Alli, a former World Boxing Champion, threw caution and decency to the wind to allege that I demanded the sum of ‘another ‘ $1m from him in order to endorse his plan to stage what he calls the oldest boxers fight in Nigeria.

“When Bash Alli released his video and open letter to the President, with the sole aim to defame and destroy my reputation and integrity, some friends and associates advised that I totally ignore him and his blackmail gambit. They believe that I will validate and bring him to the limelight by responding to Bash Alli and his vile campaign of calumny.

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“After a deep reflection, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that to ignore him will be a profound mistake. My reason for this is twofold. First, the perception in the public domain is that those in the public service are either thieves or kleptomaniacs who mindlessly pillage our Commonwealth. This assumption, no matter how widely held, is not true.

“Despite our challenges as a nation, there are men and women who continue to serve our country with honesty, integrity, and patriotism. I am one of such.”

The minister added that ignoring Alli will further embolden and enable him to continue in his usual trajectory without consequences.

He said, “Bash Alli’s allegation that I demanded ‘another $1m’ as if I had received a first tranche of $1m from him, or perhaps any of my predecessors had done so, is a manufactured lie from the pit of hell. At no point in time did I demand any form of gratification from Bash Alli.”

The minister added that Alli was desperate to meet him upon his resumption in office but he was cautioned by his staff.

He said, “Let me be clear. Bash Alli desperately wanted to meet me in my very early days as Minister of Sports Development when I had hardly settled down on the job.

” In the deluge of his desperate attempts, I decided to meet him against the advice of the ministry staff, who were familiar with his character and antics. Against their advice, I decided to meet him out of respect for his age and based on the open-door policy with which I am currently leading the ministry.

“Bash Alli’s plan to stage his boxing fight in Nigeria has a long history spanning almost two decades. To achieve this personal aspiration, he has deployed all manner of strategies, including naked blackmail and underhand tactics in his desperate effort to arm-twist the Federal Government to spend upwards of $50m to stage his fight.

“Successive Ministers of Sports have rightly told him that his plan to stage this fight is not the responsibility of the government but a business that the private sector should execute.

“In concluding this statement, I sincerely believe that, in spite of our numerous challenges, our country still has a soul. Our humanity will be irretrievably destroyed the day we lose our soul. Bash Alli’s desperate and unprovoked withering attack on me is an attack on decency, honesty, and integrity. The move to clear my name has just started, and there will be no let up until I achieve this sacred mission.

Apologise or face legal action, Enoh warns Bash Alli

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