By Kunle Solaja

Rabat’s regimented standard-bearers, AS FAR, march onto the global stage on Wednesday, determined to test their military discipline against Arsenal’s celebrated firepower in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.

The club formally known as Association Sportive des Forces Armées Royales will carry Morocco’s flag into the competition for the first time when the CAF Women’s Champions League holders face the reigning European champions in London, a historic moment for the Rabat-based side and African women’s football.

The draw has offered no easing-in period. At Brentford Stadium, AS FAR confront one of the most formidable teams in world football, an Arsenal side whose pedigree, depth and experience at the highest level are well established.

Yet within the Moroccan camp, this fixture is viewed less as a leap into the unknown and more as the next step in a carefully constructed journey. Multiple-time champions of Morocco and winners of the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League, AS FAR have built a reputation as a model of tactical organisation, collective responsibility and sustained success.

Their confidence is reinforced by recent form. AS FAR arrive in London unbeaten in their last five matches, a sequence marked by controlled performances, consistent results and a defence that has shown resilience under pressure. While the magnitude of the challenge is acknowledged, belief remains intact.

Standing in their path is an Arsenal side synonymous with pace, technical excellence and relentless intensity. Winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Gunners are capable of dictating matches through sustained pressure and clinical execution, setting the benchmark for elite women’s football in Europe.

With the Brentford crowd expected to be overwhelmingly in Arsenal’s favour, AS FAR will need composure, emotional control and unwavering concentration. True to their identity, the Moroccan champions are expected to prioritise defensive compactness, restrict space between the lines and exploit transitions with speed and precision.

Beyond the immediate outcome, the encounter carries wider significance. It provides AS FAR with a rare opportunity to measure themselves against the world’s elite and to underline their legitimacy on the global stage.

More broadly, the match represents a landmark moment for Moroccan and African women’s football, signalling a growing ambition not merely to participate on the biggest platforms, but to compete with conviction against the game’s established powers.

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Nigeria U20 women’s head coach, Moses Aduku, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Falconets as they intensify preparations for their third-round FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying clash against Senegal.

Speaking on the team’s build-up, Aduku said the weeks spent in camp have been productive, with all invited players fully present and responding positively to training.

He noted that the technical crew has focused on tactical organisation, team cohesion and overall match strategy, adding that the players have shown commitment, discipline and high intensity throughout the sessions.

The coach stressed that the team’s full attention remains on the crucial qualifier, particularly the need to secure a strong result in the first leg at home. He explained that a series of friendly matches have played an important role in evaluating and fine-tuning the team’s system, with emphasis on improving attacking play while maintaining defensive balance.

Aduku described the performances in the warm-up matches as encouraging, but cautioned that the real test lies ahead against a determined Senegalese side.

Nigeria will host the first leg of the tie at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Saturday, February 7, before travelling to Dakar for the return leg scheduled for Saturday, February 14.

The Falconets, two-time FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup silver medallists and semi-finalists at the tournament in Japan 14 years ago, are expected to travel to Ibadan on January 27 to continue their final phase of preparations ahead of the encounter.

While refraining from making bold predictions, Aduku expressed confidence in the quality and mentality of his squad, citing their competitive displays in recent friendly matches. He reaffirmed the team’s determination to make the nation proud and secure qualification for the next stage.

The winner of the Nigeria–Senegal fixture will advance to the final round of the African qualifiers, where they will face the winner of the Guinea-Bissau versus Malawi tie for one of the continent’s four tickets to the World Cup.

The 12th edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup will be held in Poland from September 5 to 27, 2026.

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A second-half surge helped Manchester United comfortably defeat Aston Villa for their first victory in three Women’s Super League matches and move one point behind third-placed Arsenal.

Kirsty Hanson had cancelled out Julia Zigiotti Olme’s opener for United in the first half but goals from Elisabeth Terland, Jessica Park and Hanna Lundkvist after the restart ensured Marc Skinner’s side returned to winning ways.

United dominated possession in the early stages and were rewarded with the breakthrough at Villa Park.

Ellie Roebuck failed to deal with Zigiotti Olme’s inswinging corner, which flew over the Villa goalkeeper and straight into the top‑right corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute.

But their advantage lasted only two minutes as Hanson struck against her old side, finishing through the legs of Jayde Riviere to wrong-foot keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce for her seventh league goal of the season.

Tullis-Joyce, however, was on hand to keep out Maya Hijikata’s curling effort late in the first half to make sure the score remained level at the interval.

United had to wait until the 71st minute to regain the lead when Hinata Miyazawa’s ball into the box was knocked down by Melvine Malard for substitute Terland to fire home a first-time effort.

Jess Park then drove into the box and finished past Roebuck to give United a two-goal cushion before she played in Lundkvist to score her first WSL goal and seal the victory.

The result means United sit fourth with 25 points while Villa are seventh with 16 points.

-BBC

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