WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Women’s World Cup: Like Banyana Banyana, England also in dispute over bonus

Published

1 year ago

July 3, 2023

England won Euro 2022 last summer and went on a 30-game unbeaten run before losing to Australia this year

England players heading to the Women’s World Cup are frustrated with the Football Association over its stance on performance-related bonuses.

Players for some rival nations are set to receive bonuses, but as things stand the Lionesses will not.

However, they have been in talks with the FA and Professional Footballers’ Association about the issue.

This year, for the first time at a Women’s World Cup, players will receive individual payments direct from Fifa.

These payments range from £23,500 for players whose teams are knocked out in the group stages to £211,000 if they win the tournament. Nations will also receive increased prize money, with the winning country set to be paid £3.4m.

Money from Fifa was previously given to national football associations competing in a Women’s World Cup, who would then choose how to distribute it, including any payments to players.

The new Fifa model guarantees that players from all nations will receive payments, following discussions with the global players’ union, FIFPRO.

The FA had previously offered bonuses to the Lionesses, but it is understood the organisation now believes Fifa’s direct payments to be a suitable replacement.

But players feel that the FA, which considers itself to be a leading federation in women’s football, is being overshadowed by some rivals – including Australia, the United States and Spain – who are willing to provide bonuses to their squad members.

The German Football Federation (DFB) will also not offer bonus payments to its players, who lost to England in the Euro 2022 final.

England are set to fly out to Australia on Wednesday 5 July with their opening match against Haiti set to take place on 22 July in Brisbane, and players are keen to reach an agreement before then.

It comes as part of a wider frustration concerning the FA’s commercial strategy, which players feel limits their ability to earn extra payments from sponsorship and marketing opportunities.

-BBC

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

What a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!

Published

2 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria Super Falconets gave Nigerians additional joy after their 4-0 defeat of Venezuela in Cali, Colombia in their last group match. Their victory followed up with an earlier 3-0 win by the Super Eagles in their opening Group D match with Benin Republic in Uyo.

The Falconets’ win means they have qualified for the Round of 16 where they are most likely going to face Japan when the group games are completed on Sunday.

Both Nigeria and Germany tied on six points, but Germany have one goal better than Nigeria on goal difference.

The Super Falcons made early hays when Amina Bello put Nigeria ahead after 16 minutes. Chiamaka Okwuchukwu doubled the lead in the 28^th minute before Flourish Sebastine put in the third five minutes into the added time of the first half. Joy Igbokwe put in the back breaker four minutes into the added time of the second hald.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Okwuchukwu shines despite Nigeria’s defeat to Germany in U-20 Women’s World Cup

Published

2 days ago

September 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign suffered a setback as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against a clinical German side in Bogota, Colombia on Wednesday night.

The result secures Germany’s place in the knockout stages, while leaving the Falconets with work to do in their final group match.

In an end-to-end encounter, both sides created numerous chances, but it was Germany who struck first. Cora Zicai’s pinpoint cross found Alara Sehitler, who nodded home in the 17th minute to give the Europeans the lead.

Nigeria’s star performer, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, had earlier come close to opening the scoring with a magnificent solo run, only to be denied by German goalkeeper Rebecca Adamczyk.

Okwuchukwu’s persistence paid off early in the second half when she capitalized on a defensive mix-up to draw Nigeria level, celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous ‘siuuu’ celebration.

However, Germany’s quality shone through as they regained the lead through Sofie Zdebel, again assisted by the impressive Zicai.

Despite Okwuchukwu having another goal ruled out for offside, Germany sealed the win in stoppage time with Sarah Ernst’s powerful header.

The defeat leaves Nigeria on three points from two matches, with their final group game against Venezuela in Cali now crucial to their hopes of progressing.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Points of Note in Falconets’ loss to Germany

Published

3 days ago

September 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Germany beat Nigeria’s Falconets 3-1 in their second group game of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. With Germany’s win, the Europeans have made it to the last 16 stage, even with a game to spare.

The coach of Germany, Kathrin Peter acknowledged the efforts of the Nigerian team , saying: “It was a really tough match today.

“That was expected, but we actually had big problems in defence. They had a few chances where we had the necessary luck, we have to admit that.

“But in the second half we were really good and asserted our dominance and I think we deserved to win in the end.”

Here are some major points:

Germany beat Nigeria 2-0 in the final match 14 years ago in Germany.

Germany have now won their last four FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup meetings with Nigeria. Alex Popp inspired a 2-0 victory in the 2010 final, Lena Petermann settled the decider in extra-time four year later, and Stefanie Sanders was the solitary scorer in Group D in 2018.