International Football
Banyana thump Black Queens as Aisha Buhari Cup showpiece reaches halfway stage
The 2018 African Woman Player of the Year Thembi Kgatlana was the star of the evening as South Africa steamrolled Ghana 3-0 on Day 3 of the six-day Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament in Lagos.
In an entertaining encounter at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena firmly dominated by the reigning African vice champions, Kgatlana was too much to handle for the Black Queens’ rear-guard led by Captain Portia Boakye, and she eventually accounted for one goal and one assist as the Queens were diminished.
The shape of things to come was clear as early as the seventh minute, when Ellen Coleman had to stretch full length to clear the ball from the line as the Banyana launched onslaught after onslaught, the pacy Kgatlana creating most of the trouble. The lithe forward, who plays her club football for Atletico Madrid of Spain, was in good enough position to gift the Banyana the lead after 12 minutes, but that was foiled by goalkeeper Dumehasi Fafali.
A minute later, Banyana’s calm-and collected captain Janine Van Wyk conjured a tricky floater from 30 yards that went away, and at the other end, Princella Adubea sliced her effort just wide as goalkeeper Kaylin Swart watched closely.
In the 17th minute, the nifty Kgatlana screened out her marker on the left but the ball hit the goalkeeper and rebounded off her body to kiss the crossbar. A grateful Hildah Magaia nodded the return into an empty net.
The entertainment flowed freely as Kgatlana showboated in beating three defenders, Van Wyk cleared from the line as Ghana launched a rare offensive and Fafali had to be super-alert to save twice from a dangerous Kgatlana. At the other end, Swart was called to action thrice within seconds as Grace Adams, Nina Norshie and Adubea threatened from close range but failed to get the ball into the net.
In the second half, the Banyana, efficient and diligent at the rear and menacing going forward, added another goal as the irrepressible Kgatlana outpaced two defenders and easily rolled the ball past Fafali on a counter-attack.
For some periods of the game, it looked gritty, but even then, most of the bone-cracking took place in the Ghanaian half as the slick South Africans showed technical superiority that prevailed over steam and resilience.
Seven minutes from time, it got worse for two-time African vice champions Ghana, Sibulele Holweni rising highest in the box to nod home a corner kick by substitute Robyn Moodaly.
Victory meant the Banyana are now the team at the top in the tournament, one goal better than African champions Nigeria who defeated Mali 2-0 on the opening day. A total of six goals have been scored in the tournament, with Nigeria’s Gift Monday the leading markswoman with two goals.
Saturday is rest day for all the teams, before Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses and the Femelle Aiglons of Mali tango on Sunday evening.
Representatives from four national players’ unions on Thursday launched a new global organisation in Madrid, which they say will strengthen footballers’ rights and improve dialogue with governing bodies.
Opening a new front in the battle over who speaks for players, the International Footballers’ Association (AIF) was unveiled, with David Aganzo, president of Spain’s Association of Footballers (AFE) and a former head of the global union FIFPRO, appointed to lead the organisation.
Players’ unions from Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland were also represented.
The initiative drew a swift rebuke from FIFPRO, which said in a statement that Aganzo was acting out of self-interest and aligning himself with organisations linked to football governing bodies, as well as groups expelled from FIFPRO over alleged mismanagement.
Aganzo rejected the criticism, saying he “will not seek confrontation with FIFPRO”.
The launch comes amid strained relations between players’ unions and football authorities, particularly over the expanding international match calendar.
Relations between FIFA and FIFPRO deteriorated in 2024 after the union lodged a complaint with the European Commission, arguing that the global governing body was abusing its dominant position by adding competitions without sufficient consultation.
Aganzo denied suggestions that the new initiative was backed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, but said “direct dialogue with FIFA” was essential.
AFE’s Extraordinary General Assembly approved the initiative in February with 99.8% of votes cast in favour of spearheading the creation of the AIF.
The same assembly also backed AFE’s withdrawal from FIFPRO, citing what it described as a “complete lack of transparency, as well as its total lack of dialogue with international bodies.”
“We represent over 30,000 footballers, and we come here with a new model aimed at safeguarding players’ rights and facilitating direct communication with all international bodies,” Aganzo told reporters.
“We are in contact with 15 to 20 unions already who were very aware of this moment and waiting for this announcement to make their move and join our initiative.”
He declined to identify any unions beyond those present.
Asked about a report that a senior envoy to U.S. President Donald Trump had urged FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the upcoming World Cup, Aganzo urged caution.
“These are more political issues; on April 30th, I’ll be speaking to Gianni (Infantino) at the FIFA Congress, and we will discuss those things,” Aganzo said.
“People who want to go to the World Cup have to earn their place on sporting merit.”
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
A new trial over the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona will begin on Tuesday, with seven members of his medical team charged with negligent homicide nearly a year after a previous case collapsed in a mistrial.
An enduring presence in Argentina – from towering murals to tattoos, opens new tab – Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at 60, after a heart attack while he was recuperating from brain surgery to remove a blood clot.
A court in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, will hear testimony from just under 100 witnesses as it tries Maradona’s medical team over alleged negligence in the death of the 1986 World Cup champion.
His medical team has denied wrongdoing. The defendants are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz, physician Nancy Edith Forlini, nurse Ricardo Almiron, head nurse Mariano Ariel Perroni, and physician Pedro Pablo Di Spagna. An eighth defendant, nurse Dahiana Madrid, will be tried in a separate jury trial, with no date yet set.
Two months into the first trial, which started last March, a mistrial was declared when one of three judges, Julieta Makintach, resigned after video surfaced showing her being interviewed by a camera crew in the corridors of the courthouse and in her office as part of a documentary, in breach of judicial rules.
The retrial will require both prosecutors and defense lawyers to reassess their strategies after the first trial aired photographs, videos, audio recordings and forensic evidence. Many witnesses, including Maradona’s children and his former wife, Claudia Villafane, have already testified.
Prosecutors argued in the initial trial that medical professionals broke treatment protocols and that the home where Maradona was recovering from surgery amounted to a “theatre of horror,” where necessary care was not provided.
The defense countered that his death was inevitable given his longstanding health problems. Maradona struggled for decades with cocaine and alcohol addiction.
The negligence charges emerged in 2021 after prosecutors appointed a medical board to investigate Maradona’s death. The panel concluded his medical team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless” manner.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Aliou Cisse has been named coach of the Angola national team, the country’s football federation (FAF) announced on Thursday, 24 hours after the Senegalese left his post in Libya.
The 50-year-old coach, who led Senegal to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022, ended his short stint with the Libyan national team on Wednesday, after taking charge in March 2025.
“Welcome, Aliou Cisse, head coach of the Angola national team,” the FAF said on Facebook. Angola, which failed to reach this year’s World Cup, will start their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign in September.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Relatives of Mexico’s disappeared hold Mother’s Day protest ahead of World Cup
World Cup Debutants to Wear Historic First-Appearance Patches
Set-piece boom unlikely to dominate World Cup, says FIFA’s Technical Study Group
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- Boxing1 week ago
Usyk backs Joshua to beat Fury ahead of heavyweight showdown
- World Cup3 days ago
FIFA Plans Three Opening Ceremonies in All Host Nations for 2026 World Cup
- World Cup3 days ago
United States Unveils Hollywood-Style FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony
- World Cup3 days ago
Mexico president wavers on plan to cut school year by 40 days for the World Cup
- World Cup4 days ago
Burna Boy Joins Shakira for Official 2026 World Cup Song ‘Dai Dai’
- World Cup6 days ago
Despite 2026 Absence, Nigeria Still Leads Africa’s World Cup Winners’ Chart
- Premier League3 days ago
Man United’s Fernandes and City’s Shaw win FWA Footballer of the Year awards
- Nigerian Football3 days ago
Sporting Lagos Crowned 2026 NNL Champions After Dramatic Super Four Finale