International Football
CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE LEADS SUPER FALCONETS’ CHARGE FOR GOLD AT AFRICAN GAMES
After recent impressive showings including being crowned as African champions along with Super Falcons at the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2018, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie would possibly be Nigeria’s talisman as the 12th African Games women’s football tournament in Morocco holds between 16 and 29 August in Rabat, Morocco.
The Nigerian girls won Gold at the inaugural then All African Games women’s football tournament on home soil in 2003 and easily defended their crown four years later in Algiers. But the West Africans failed to qualify for the following continental showpiece held in Maputo in 2011 before finishing fourth four years ago in Brazzaville.
“I’m so happy to be part of this team going to the African Games in Morocco,” Nnadozie who had previously represented Nigeria at all levels bar the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament told CAFOnline.com.
“It has been a privilege to have represented Nigeria at the U-17, U-20 and senior level with the Super Falcons but I’m also happy to be included in this team going to compete at the African Games; this is going to be a new experience for me.”
For the women’s football tournament at Morocco 2019, all the eight teams according to the rules and regulations by CAF will be represented by their U-20 women’s sides instead of the seniors hence the inclusion of experienced 18-year-old Nnadozie would give Nigeria a head start.
“We have a good team and an experienced manager in coach Chris Danjuma but at the same time we need luck to win the competition in Morocco,” noted Nnadozie who made history as the youngest ever player goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet after helping Nigeria beat Korea Republic during the recently FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
“ We did well at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France; though we lost in the Round of 16 to Germany, I’m proud of my teammates and what I achieved personally.”
Nnadozie has been constant like the northern star for Nigeria in recent time and was in the Super Falcons squad that won record ninth AWCON title in Ghana last year.
She was in goal when Nigeria came third at the China Four-Nation Invitational Tournament before France 2019.
Earlier on, she was a fulcrum of the team (Falconets) to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018 where she earned the ‘ Dare to Shine’ player of the award for her outstanding performance against Haiti; as well as being part of the ill-fated team (Flamingoes) that finished bottom of their group at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016.
“The truth is that I love to win and I’m not happy when I lose matches,” noted Nnadozie who has won three successive Nigeria’s National Women Cup with Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt between 2016 and 2018.
“I’m really happy with my progress since I joined Rivers Angels in 2016 because it was not easy initially to convince my parents; they felt football was not meant for a girl-child but I have been able to convince them with my achievements at club and national team levels.”
Meanwhile, Nigerian women’s football legend Maureen Mmadu believes Nnadozie’s exposure and experience is a plus to the coach Danjuma-led side as the Falconets challenge for the Gold at Morocco 2019.
“Chiamaka is tall and strong but apart from her physique, she is very confident of herself when she is on the goalpost,” explained coach Mmadu who made more than 100 appearances for the Super Falcons during her heyday.
“She did well at the recently concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup in France; she has great qualities and she is very hungry for success and I think her experience would help the U-20 team succeed at the All Africa Games in Morocco.”
Incidentally, Nnadozie and teammates already have their work cut out in the African Games women’s football tournament since the Falconets are pooled together along with perennial rivals South Africa, Cameroon and Zambia in Group B while the hosts Morocco are in Group A along with Mali, Algeria and Equatorial Guinea.
“We have to go out and show we are hungry to win in Morocco “reiterated Nnadozie, who is the last born in a family with five other siblings.
“The good thing is that we are like a family in this team and this gives me confidence that we can succeed in Morocco.”
In the meantime, hosts Morocco will kick off their campaign against Algeria at Stade Boubker Ammar in Sale while Mali will face Equatorial Guinea in the other Group A’s fixture at the same venue on 17th August.
In Group B, Cameroon will start off against Zambia while Nigeria face rivals South Africa with both matches slated for 18th August at Stade Academie Mohamed VI.
-Cafonline
Soccer chiefs from Europe and South America will hold a final meeting before a Thursday deadline to decide whether and where this month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina will be played, with London emerging as the leading candidate after doubts over Doha, multiple sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The match between European champions Spain and Copa America holders Argentina had been scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
However, it has become increasingly unlikely that Qatar will host the fixture after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has been pushing for a swift resolution, mindful that the March international break is viewed as vital preparation ahead of the June-July World Cup in North America.
“I know that negotiations are underway,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told Spanish Public Radio (RNE) on Monday. “The first thing, as a society, is to stop the conflict, but once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find another venue as soon as possible.
Wembley Stadium staged the previous edition in 2022, when Argentina beat Italy, but it is set to host England v Uruguay on March 27. London, however, has other stadiums capable of staging the showpiece, leaving the English capital as the most likely alternative should Doha be ruled out, sources confirmed.
ALTERNATIVE OPPONENTS CONSIDERED
While keen to face Argentina and high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, sources told Reuters that Spain had made clear their priority was not to waste the last window of international fixtures before the World Cup and they were already contemplating alternative opponents.
With Spain also due to face Egypt three days later, any change would require agreement between the RFEF and European soccer body UEFA, South American confederation CONMEBOL, global governing body FIFA and the Argentine FA (AFA).
The RFEF, AFA and UEFA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
A spokesperson for South American confederation CONMEBOL told Reuters that several meetings between the parties had taken place in recent days but did not confirm Thursday’s deadline or London as the preferred venue.
Madrid was initially proposed by the RFEF but rejected by the AFA, who preferred a neutral venue rather than giving Spain home advantage.
Morocco offered to stage the game, but the RFEF was unwilling to back their Mediterranean neighbours amid tensions behind the scenes over the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will co-host. Both Spain and Morocco are campaigning to stage the final.
Miami was also considered, with Messi based there at Inter Miami, but Hard Rock Stadium is hosting the Miami Open tennis tournament at the same time.
-Reuters
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International Football
Spain-Argentina ‘Finalissima’ in Qatar at risk amid US, Israel attacks on Iran
The match between Spain and Argentina, tagged “Finalissima” in Doha, is in doubt after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The contest between European Championship winners Spain and Copa America champions Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, with potential big-name draws including Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
“Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” the association said in a statement on Sunday.
“The new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course through the Association’s official channels.”
The final call on whether to postpone the game rests with event organisers UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The Bahrain Football Association postponed all its matches until further notice, while the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday announced it was delaying Champions League Elite fixtures in the region.
The Asian Champions League Two, currently at the quarter-final stage, has also been impacted, along with games in the Challenge League.
Countries across the Middle East have been on high alert since Saturday, when the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capability.
Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. targets around the region, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On Sunday, Qatar’s interior ministry reported a fire in an industrial zone after debris fell from an intercepted missile.
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International Football
Iran Conflict Casts Uncertainty Over Super Eagles’ Four-Nation Tournament Opener
Nigeria’s Super Eagles may face fresh uncertainty ahead of their scheduled participation in a Four-Nation Invitational Tournament in Amman, Jordan, following reports that Iran — their intended first opponents — is now at war after attacks by the United States and Israel.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier confirmed that the Super Eagles would compete in the mini-tournament during the FIFA Men’s International Window in March 2026. The competition is slated to run from March 27 to 31 in the Jordanian capital.
Under the original fixture schedule, Nigeria were due to open the tournament on Friday, March 27 against Iran’s senior national team at the 17,000-capacity Amman International Stadium. Hosts Jordan were set to face Costa Rica the same day at the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
However, the escalating military confrontation involving Iran has cast serious doubt over the participation of the Iranian national team and the viability of the opening fixture.
While tournament organisers in Jordan have yet to issue an official statement regarding possible changes, the developing security situation is expected to force urgent consultations between the participating federations, tournament organisers and FIFA.
The competition was designed to provide competitive match exposure during a window initially reserved for the intercontinental play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria’s inclusion in the tournament had already generated debate at home, with observers questioning whether the NFF’s commitment signalled a shift in focus away from potential qualification disputes.
The new geopolitical crisis further complicates matters. International conflicts often trigger travel restrictions, airspace closures and security advisories that can directly affect national teams’ ability to assemble and travel.
Should Iran withdraw or be unable to participate, organisers may be compelled to seek a replacement team or adjust the fixture format entirely.
Nigeria are scheduled to face hosts Jordan on March 31 in their second match of the tournament, while Costa Rica and Iran were originally billed to meet the same day at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Kick-off times for the four fixtures had yet to be officially announced before the outbreak of hostilities.
For the Super Eagles, the tournament was seen as an opportunity to build cohesion and test tactical adjustments ahead of future competitive engagements. Now, attention will turn to whether the event can proceed as planned — and whether Nigeria’s opening match will require a late reshuffle.
The NFF is expected to monitor developments closely and may issue further clarification in the coming days as the regional and international situation evolves.
Meanwhile, Reuters has quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead. But the Iranians have dismissed the claim, saying that the leader is ‘firmly commanding the field’. Both Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran.
President Donald Trump says action will give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers. Hits were reported in Israel and Gulf states as Iran retaliated. The attack has triggered fear and panics as as Iranians flee cities.
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