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NIGERIAN WOMEN IN SOUTH AFRICA HAIL SUPER FALCONS

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Super Falcons’ victory over South Africa in last weekend’s final match of the 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Accra Ghana is still attracting accolades, even beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Mrs Chidilim Chukwuma, Nigerian Union South Africa Women League leader, in Johannesburg said that Nigerian women in that country were still in celebration mood.

 

 

According to her, Nigerian women living in South Africa have commended the Super Falcons.

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“On behalf of the Nigerian union South Africa Women`s League and the entire Nigerian community in South Africa, I heartily congratulate the Super Falcons on their achievement on Saturday, she said in a statement released.

“The women joined their husbands and other households to watch the match and we are happy with the outcome.

“They did us proud and we rejoice in their victory. We wish them more success stories. God bless Nigeria,” she said.

Chukwuma also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for rising up to the occasion in taking care of the team`s welfare during the tournament.

“We understand that the NFF did everything possible to pay the players’ bonus and entitlements.

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“We are happy with this gesture because it motivated the team to work extra hard.

“We praise the NFF for increasing the players’ final match bonus from $5000 to $10,000.

“This is a step in the right direction and we are happy with the result achieved,” she said.

Chukwuma urged the team to start early preparation for the FIFA Women`s World Cup scheduled for next year in France.

She said the team, having won the Nations Cup and qualified for the World Cup, must now work extra hard to perform well at the tournament.

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“The task ahead is not going to be easy but we believe that through hard work and dedication, the Super Falcons will do well at the tournament.

“Nigerian women in South Africa are joining others at home and abroad to rejoice with the rest of the country on the Super Falcons victory,” she added.

 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official

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Abdellatif Akhrif, IRT player reported missing off the coast of M'diq this Saturday, July 6, 2024. © COPYRIGHT: IRT

Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.

They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.

“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.

The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.

While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.

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Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.

-Reuters

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International Football

FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money

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FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development and former soccer manager Arsene Wenger speaks during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.

FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.

Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.

“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”

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FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.

Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.

-Reuters

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Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint

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Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.

Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.

“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.

After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.

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Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.

-Reuters

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