WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

End of an era for Brazil as Marta bows out of sixth World Cup

Published

1 year ago

August 2, 2023

FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Group F - Jamaica v Brazil - Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia - August 2, 2023 Brazil's Marta with Jamaica's Vyan Sampson after the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Brazil exited the World Cup on Wednesday hoping a new generational talent will emerge as Marta’s sixth and final Women’s World Cup ended with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica that sent the Caribbean side to the last 16.

Her team mates had promised a better send-off for the iconic forward affectionately known as “Queen Marta” in soccer-mad Brazil but none could find a way through the Jamaicans at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

Marta, the tournament’s all-time highest scorer with 17 goals, may have been the most frustrated of them all, having had her chances in a match in which they needed three points.

Starting on field for the first time in the tournament, her team mates found her a number of times in the area but she could not conjure the magic touch wielded at five previous World Cups.

The 37-year-old tired as Jamaica stayed firm in defence and she came off in the 80th minute to cheers from anxious Brazil fans.

Having won virtually every individual award in women’s football, Marta missed out on the World Cup she had craved, and Brazil’s wait for a first goes on.

With the team crashing out of the group stage for the first time in 28 years, questions will be asked about their preparations and tactics under coach Pia Sundhage.

Though contracted for another year, Sundhage conceded her future may be out of her hands.

The Swede was blunt about Brazil’s need to regenerate, likely without the player who has dominated women’s soccer in the country for decades.

Sundhage said she had no idea whether Marta wanted to play on for the national team but suspected she would because of her love of the game.

“Whether she’s good enough to be called up to the national team, let’s see,” said Sundhage.

“As long as I am coaching the national team, I am going to do a lot of work to find new players.

“That means it’s going to be harder for Marta to play going forward.”

-Reuters

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

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.