International Football
NIGERIAN FEMALE GOALKEEPER, AYEGBA, BREAKTHROUGH IN EUROPE
Rachael Aladi Ayegba made a huge success in Europe by winning the Finnish Naisten Liiga title with PK-35 Vantaa in 2013, making her the first African female goalkeeper to enjoy such breakthrough abroad.
During her active 11-year spell in Finland, she has enjoyed stints at Kokkolan Palloveikot, Kuopion Palloseura, GBK Kokkola and notably with PK-35 Vantaa, where she won a couple of domestic titles and also competed twice in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
At the international level, she made her debut against Namibia in 2001 and was a member of the Super Falcons squad at the 2006 and 2008 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (then African Women’s Championships), as well as the 2007 Women’s World Cup in China and African Games in Algeria same year.
Having retired in 2016, ‘Baruwa’ as she is nicknamed, who locally played for Oladimeji Tigress and Ufouma Babes, FCT Queens of Abuja, and Edo Queens in Nigeria before her move to Finland in 2005 has since ventured into coaching. Since taking to coaching, she has gone on to acquire UEFA A Goalkeepers License, while serving for three years as a player/coach at GBK.
Nigeria boasts of numerous female goalkeepers, including Precious Dede but the 34-year-old, who is renowned for her lanky, fiery attitude, and composure in one-on-one situations, was one of a few that made it out of Africa and she prides herself as being a shining light for the next generation.
In an exclusive interview, she spoke to CAFOnline.com about her football journey, family support, and the motivation to become a coach, among others. Below are excerpts;
CAFOnline.com: How did your journey into football started?
Rachael Ayegba: I was exposed to playing football as a child. The only option I had for a recreational activity was to play football with my dad and brothers whilst growing up in a community in Delta State, Nigeria, where my father served as was also a Police Officer. I was also interested in volleyball and handball, and participated in minor games that were part of the school curriculum for sports. Most of the time, I had to play with my brothers at home, which made football more dominant.
How supportive were your family to your career?
My family has been the bedrock of support for me during my career. They have always been there for me from the outset, and all through the obstacles and victories encountered during my career. It’s been an honour for me to make my dad’s wish of playing for Nigeria at the highest level come to pass.
How did you break into the star-studded national team, Super Falcons?
I participated in a youth competition that took place in Lagos. I represented Bauchi State because I did not make it to the Lagos State team, and ended up emerging the best goalkeeper in that tournament. Two coaches namely Daniel Evumena and George Emenetie invited me to join (defunct) Ufuoma Babes, which was then one of the biggest clubs in Nigeria. With some rapid signs of progress I made in the game, I joined Inneh-Queens (now Edo Queens) of Benin City, where I played until I was invited to the Super Falcons camp for the first time in 2001. I remembered then that my first game was against Namibia in a friendly played in Windhoek under then-coach Peter Egudia.
How did you make it to Europe as a goalkeeper?
I was on the squad for 2003 African Games held in Abuja; unfortunately I got injured in camp. However, that was when I met my then-agent, who informed me of a club offer in Finland which needed a goalkeeper, and I decided to take the opportunity to explore the terrain of women’s football in Europe. It was such an unexpected opportunity for me but I grabbed it with both hands and am glad how things turned out.
What were your major challenges while developing your football passion?
As a young girl going away from my family to join a football club was emotionally tough, but with the support of my family, I was able to overcome that obstacle. An ankle injury sustained during a national team camp was a major challenge. It set me backward and I had to undergo treatment and recovery which lasted over six months. A minor challenge I also face at the early stage of my experience in Europe was the change in weather, cultural difference and language. With the of my club, I was able to learn and integrate into my new environment.
Why did you decide to venture into coaching after your retirement?
During the later stages of my club career, I realized I had huge passion for coaching and sharing experiences and ideas with the youth. I embarked on acquiring the required UEFA B and UEFA Goalkeeper A licenses, and concurrently being a head coach cum player of GBK in Finland, during which I gained a lot of experience about various issues related coaching, and managing relationship with club management and the public.
As a certified coach, what are your aspirations in your new journey?
The women’s game has evolved a lot, as several ideas, skills, tactics and technology have been introduced into the game. The way the game is perceived and played globally has changed a lot compared to the early days of my career. As an optimistic and open-minded person, I would not say no to any opportunity that might come my way anytime in the future. However, based on my experience and involvement in the game and journey over the world, my passion for sharing knowledge with youths, and giving back to society,
I would accept such a challenge as an opportunity. In terms of the difference I hope to make, I can confidently say that my international experience as a goalkeeper and coach has taught me a lot, to let the young players understand the way football has changed over the past few decades in terms of tactical and technical skills, understanding situations, opponents, analytics, data collection and exploitation.
-cafonline
International Football
Players’ union, FIFPRO, wants 20-minute halftimes, more cooling breaks amid extreme heat
Global players’ union FIFPRO is exploring whether extending halftime to 20 minutes and introducing more frequent cooling breaks could better protect players from extreme heat.
Nine of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup face conditions considered “extreme risk” for heat-related illness.
Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Monterrey and Philadelphia are expected to face dangerous levels of heat and humidity, posing player safety concerns and fuelling calls for mandatory cooling aids or schedule changes.
FIFPRO’s heat risk assessments are based on wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a measure combining temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed to estimate how environmental conditions affect the body’s ability to cool itself.
Under FIFPRO guidelines, a WBGT reading above 28 degrees Celsius indicates conditions in which matches should be postponed or rescheduled to protect players’ health.
By comparison, world soccer governing body FIFA’s own guidelines set the extreme risk threshold higher, at 32 degrees Celsius WBGT – but even by that standard, six of the nine cities are still projected to exceed safe limits.
Major League Soccer in the U.S. has a threshold of 29 degrees Celsius WBGT.
“Cooling breaks at the 30th minute and 75th minutes are quite traditional, but from a physiological point of view it does not make sense,” said Vincent Gouttebarge, FIFPRO’s Medical Director.
“Even if you ingest more than 200 millilitres of fluid, you already cannot take it all. So I would definitely like to see some project where we look at the efficacy of perhaps more frequent but shorter cooling breaks – every 15 minutes, rather than only one during each half.”
LONGER HALFTIMES
Gouttebarge also questioned whether the traditional 15-minute halftime interval is sufficient when matches are played in extreme heat.
“You can imagine that halftime of 15 minutes might not be enough in order to decrease the core temperature,” he said.
“It could be a halftime of 20 minutes which would be significant. That has been shown in the laboratory and FIFPRO, together with the national union in Portugal in August, we are going to test this kind of mitigation strategy.”
The urgency of stronger heat protocols became clear at this month’s Club World Cup where two matches — Benfica-Bayern Munich in Charlotte and Chelsea-Esperance in Philadelphia exceeded the WBGT threshold FIFPRO considers unsafe.
“According to our position, those games should have been postponed later that day or rescheduled,” Gouttebarge said.
FIFPRO officials acknowledged that FIFA has responded constructively during the tournament by lowering thresholds for mandatory cooling breaks and improving pitch-side hydration, but stressed that proactive planning is critical.
“FIFA have been quite responsive once the tournament was under way,” said Alex Phillips, FIFPRO General Secretary.
“They have actually modified how they’ve been dealing with heat during the matches based on FIFPRO’s input, which is credit to the work of the team. Obviously, it would have been better if that happened in advance, but it’s better that they have adapted.”
FIFPRO warned that the risks highlighted at the Club World Cup are a preview of what players could face at the expanded 2026 World Cup.
“This is not just affecting the Club World Cup, but also future tournaments either in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world,” said Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO Director of Policy & Strategic Relations.
“We need a better balance between commercial interests and the health and safety of players,” he added, referring to earlier kick-off times to accommodate European television audiences.
-Reuters
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Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Ince has been charged with drink-driving, police said on Monday.
Ince, who earned 53 caps for England and won two Premier League titles during his six years at United, has been released on bail and will appear in court on July 18.
“The incident involved a black Range Rover which had collided with the central reservation barrier. Officers attended the scene and arrested a 57-year-old man,” the Cheshire police said in a statement.
“Paul Ince, of Quarry Road, Neston, has since been charged with drink-driving.”
Reuters has contacted Ince’s representative for comment.
After retiring as a player, Ince led Milton Keynes Dons to a League Two title in 2007-08. He most recently managed Reading during 2022-23.
-Reuters
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International Football
From garbage collector to Starman of Ancelotti’s Brazil team: the story of Ribeiro
“I was without a team for a year and a half, doing trials… and no club in Brazil wanted me.!” Alex Ribeiro
Alexsandro Victor de Souza Ribeiro (Rio de Janeiro, 1999) was, until a few days ago, a semi-unknown to the general public in Brazil.
However, Carlo Ancelotti, impressed by his strong performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League, insisted on calling up the Lille centre-back… and giving him his debut.
Not only that. He started alongside Marquinhos against Ecuador (0-0) and Paraguay (1-0) and helped the Seleçao keep two consecutive clean sheets for the first time in the qualifying rounds.
Alex, as he likes to be called, impressed with his 1.92 meters (6′ 1″) frame and confidence. According to ‘R10Score’, he was the Brazilian player who completed the most actions with the ball (186) and the second with the most cuts (11).
He completed 154 of the 166 passes he made (92% accuracy) and won 12 of the 16 duels he was involved in: 5 of 7 at ground level and 7 of 9 in the air. “A gentleman defender,” boasted the official Ligue 1 Portuguese account.
His path to the elite wasn’t easy. “I don’t think you know this, but this is my first game as a professional in Brazil. Strange, isn’t it? There’s nothing better. To debut in Brazil like this, with a win and qualification,” he boasted after defeating Paraguay.
These first few days with Ancelotti have been unique; I’ll remember them for the rest of my life. I’ve responded well not only to myself, but also to the coach and the Brazilian people. I was able to demonstrate my ability to those who had doubts. Few people give me the opportunity that the manager has given me,” he insists
The Lille centre-back took his first steps in Flamengo’s youth system, where he even met Vinicius.
“When we played against Real Madrid, Vini came up to me and hugged me. He said, ‘I’m glad to see you here, brother.’ That inspired and motivated me even more,” he told ‘Globo Esporte’.
‘Fla’ cut him off. He had to make a living as a street vendor. He also collected trash, especially cans. “I was without a team for a year and a half, doing trials… and no club in Brazil wanted me, so I went to Europe to play in Portugal’s Third Division.”
Praiense (2018-20), Amora (2020-21), and Chaves (2021-22)—the latter already in the Second Division—were his springboard to Lille. The Bulldogs signed him in 2022-23 for €2 million. He has become a more than worthy successor to his compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes.
“Little by little, my name is spreading. My football is reaching everywhere. This includes Brazil,” he said before making his debut with the Seleçao. Now that he’s made it, he has another challenge: “I want to continue it.”
-Marca
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