WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Two Nigerians among 8 Africans CAF listed as players to watch

Published

1 year ago

July 18, 2023

With the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand starting this week, Cafonline.com takes a look at some of the African players hoping to shine at the tournament.

Chiamaka Nnadozie – Nigeria

Age: 22

Position: Goalkeeper

Club: Paris FC (France)

The youngest goalkeeper at France 2019, Nnadozie has grown over the last four years. After a stellar season with 11 clean sheets in 26 games to help Paris FC finish third and qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Nigerian’s shot-stopping abilities will be key. Standing at 1.8m, she dominates the area and is strong on crosses and set-pieces.

Andile Dlamini – South Africa

Age: 30

Position: Goalkeeper

Club: Mamelodi Sundowns

Fresh off being named the best goalkeeper at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022, Dlamini heads to her second World Cup. The Mamelodi Sundowns star is renowned for her one-on-one prowess thanks to speed off her line and positioning. Her reflexes and reach also make her a top shot-stopper.

Ireen Lungu – Zambia

Age: 25

Position: Midfielder

Club: BIIK Kazygurt (Kazakhstan)

A mobile midfielder, Lungu is aggressive on the ball and willing to take risks. She possesses excellent close control to retain possession in tight areas and draw fouls. Going forward, she shows creativity and guile to dictate play from the middle third with precise short and long passing.

Ghizlane Chebbak – Morocco

Age: 32

Position: Midfielder

Club: AS FAR (Morocco)

Voted player of the tournament at the Women’s AFCON 2022, playmaker Chebbak has football pedigree as daughter of 1976 AFCON winner Larbi Chebbak. Equally adept as a box-to-box runner or advanced playmaker, her vision, passing range and set-piece delivery make her a key cog for Morocco.

Fatima Tagnaout – Morocco

Age: 24

Position: Forward

Club: AS FAR

Pace and creativity define Tagnaout’s game. The versatile striker can play across the front line but prefers the left channel, cutting inside to shoot with her right foot. Her acceleration and top speed make her a constant threat on the counter, while clever movement creates space.

Asisat Oshoala – Nigeria

Age: 28

Position: Forward

Club: Barcelona (Spain)

A five-time African Women’s Player of the Year, Oshoala thrives on the open field with her blistering speed. Though she can finish anywhere, her heading, hold-up play and athleticism make her a well-rounded striker. Intelligent runs in behind defences are a speciality of the prolific finisher.

Barbra Banda – Zambia

Age: 23

Position: Forward

Club: Shanghai Shengli (China)

Banda announced herself on the world stage at Tokyo 2020, becoming the first women’s footballer to score back-to-back hat-tricks at an Olympics. Her pace with the ball creates space to shoot from distance or attack defences directly. Dropping deep to link play, she also provides key passes, while curling right-foot strikes echo Thierry Henry.

Thembi Kgatlana – South Africa

Age: 27

Position: Forward

Club: Racing Louisville (USA)

After missing most of the Women’s AFCON 2022 through injury, Kgatlana is back fit to lead the line for Banyana Banyana. Boasting superb technique and explosive acceleration, her low centre of gravity helps in duels. Strong aerial abilities and smart movement round out the skillset of the 5’4” striker.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

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

Published

3 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

3 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.