WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Edo Queens’ victory is icing on Edo State’s 33rd anniversary cake
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has appreciated the victorious Edo Queens FC for their success at the 2024 WAFU-B Zonal Champions League qualifiers in Côte d’Ivoire.
He tagged the victory as an anniversary gift to Edo State which was carved out of the former Midwestern/Bendel State on this day, 27 August 1991.
Obaseki also a N100million cash reward for the team. ” You have all done well. For me, this is our season of celebration. Tomorrow, (this Tuesday) Edo will be 33 years old. When I look at the present you have come to give me, I am so glad.
“Before we came into power, there was no respect for Edo women; nobody gave them the chance but thank God all that has changed now.
“Some past governments didn’t understand that sports is a vital aspect of youth development and thank God we recognize that. I am happy that the work and investment we have put in since the past eight years is showing now and we will continue to encourage our youth.
“I congratulate you girls. I encourage you to win the CAF Champions League. I will not tell you what I will do for you yet but for this you have done, you have made us proud and you have made Nigeria proud. So, I give you all one hundred million Naira, ” Governor Obaseki said.
Edo Queens before emerging as the 2024 WAFU-B champions as the second Nigerian team to do so in history, they had previously won the Sheroes Cup, Betsy Obaseki Cup and the NWFL Premiership titles.
The representatives of Edo Queens were outstanding throughout the WAFU B zonal qualifiers, winning all their five matches convincingly. They scored 14 goals and only conceded one goal in the match against Inter D’Abijdan which they won 2-1.
Edo Queens will be at the 4th edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League finals later this year.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman, of Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Alli and the head coach of the victorious Edo Queens Moses Aduku have heaped praise on the Edo State Governor and the First Lady Dr Betsy Obaseki for their support and investment in women’s football, which has been instrumental in the team’s success. They ascribed the success of the team to Governor Obaseki’s prompt response and release of funds for preparations.
The Edo Sports Commission boss maintained that the commitment of the Edo State Government to developing women’s football and sports in general is what has led to the success of Edo Queens.
“Since I assumed office in Edo, I have been winning. We reigning national champions and now West African champions. We played five games in Cote d’Ivoire, winning all with 14 goals and only conceded one. Our girls have done well.
“We sincerely thank our Governor for the huge support he has given us in everything we have done. I made a huge mistake in applying for funds to take care of the girls’ bonuses but upon realizing my mistake, I wrote to the governor again, drawing his attention, instead of query, the governor gave express approval and immediately we got the money we requested.
“What else can we say than to say thank you to our governor for his understanding and support,” Alli said.
The head Coach of the team Moses Aduku said that the Governor’s interest and prompt release of funds gave him and his team more confidence while going into the West Africa battle.
“I was confident that we were going to achieve good results. I told my inner man that we were capable of winning the zonal ticket even though we were going there for the first time. We were not rated but God saw us through.
“We remain grateful to the governor and I want to start preparation for the Champions League proper as soon as I present this cup because early preparation is key. We want to assure our Governor of bringing another cup home,” Aduku enthused.
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia
Three members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have decided to return to Iran, Australia’s government said on Sunday.
Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian footballers last week after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home after they failed to sing the national anthem at a Women’s Asian Cup match.
Four of the seven members have decided to leave Australia so far. Another member changed her mind last week.
“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.
“While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” he added.
The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) named the players as Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali and Zahra Meshkehkar.
“After arriving in Malaysia and joining the rest of Iran’s women’s national football team, the three players will travel to Tehran in the coming days to once again be embraced by their families and homeland,” FFIRI added in a statement.
The Iranian team’s campaign in the Asian Cup started just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament last Sunday.
-Reuters
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Australia became the first nation to qualify for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil with a 2-1 win over North Korea that booked their place in the Asian Cup semi-finals on Friday.
All Asian Cup semi-finalists earn automatic berths to the global showpiece, with the losing quarter-finalists to play off for two more spots on the Gold Coast next week.
Australia midfielder Alanna Kennedy scored her fifth goal at this year’s Asian Cup in the ninth minute against the North Koreans, while captain Sam Kerr doubled the Matildas’ lead just after the break before Chae Un-Yong pulled one back.
Australia will meet the winners of the match between defending champions China and Taiwan, who clash at the same Perth Rectangular Stadium on Saturday.
“I felt it was a really good team performance, defensively,” said Kerr. “The crowd was immense today, got us over the line. We’re going to need them again in the semi-final.”
Kennedy has been in fine form for the 2010 champions and pounced when Kerr robbed opposing captain An Kuk-Hyang of the ball on the right side of the penalty area.
Kerr’s cut-back was intercepted but the clearance fell to Kennedy who lashed a fierce strike from the edge of the box inside the right post.
Kerr stretched the lead with a poacher’s goal in the 47th minute, swooping on a defensive mistake and thumping in another rising left-foot shot.
North Korea got their consolation goal in the 65th minute when Kim Kyong-Yong’s cross found Chae who slid the ball home.
Midfielder Emily van Egmond became Australia’s joint most capped player, joining Clare Polkinghorne on 169 appearances.
-Reuters
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Iranian women’s soccer squad member changes mind on Australia asylum offer, to return home
Australian police helped two more members of the Iranian women’s soccer delegation slip their minders to claim asylum, but one has changed her mind and decided to go back to Iran, the country’s interior minister said on Wednesday.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced in parliament the squad member’s decision to return home, after five players from the team were granted asylum a day earlier.
A player and a support staff member accepted the government’s open offer of aid on Tuesday evening.
“One of the two who had made the decision to stay last night had spoken to some of the teammates who had left, and had changed her mind,” Burke told parliament.
“In Australia, people are able to change their mind, people are able to travel. And so, we respect the context in which she has made that decision.”
It was not immediately clear who had decided to return to Iran.
Burke said the rest of the players have been moved to a safe location after the member contacted the Iranian embassy, giving away their location
Concerns about the players’ safety grew after Iranian state television labelled the team “wartime traitors” for refusing to sing the national anthem during the women’s Asian Cup match in Australia earlier this month.
The two additional members of the delegation – 21-year-old striker Mohaddeseh Zolfi and support staffer Zahra Soltan Moshkehkar – were removed from the rest of the team with the aid of Australian Federal Police before they boarded a domestic flight to Sydney.
Before leaving the country, Australian officials separated the remaining team from their Iranian minders at Sydney airport and informed them of their options before they flew out of Australia. All those that made it to the airport elected to return to Iran.
“What we made sure of was that there was no rushing, there was no pressure. Everything was about ensuring the dignity for those individuals to make a choice,” Burke said during a media briefing in Canberra.
FEAR FOR FAMILIES
Burke said some players had asked him about the possibility of aiding their family members leave Iran.
“Obviously, when people are permanent residents, there are rights that they have in terms of sponsoring other family members. But all of it only becomes relevant if people can get out of Iran in the first place,” he said.
Some discussed their options with family but declined the offer to remain in Australia. The team has since reached Kuala Lumpur on their way to Iran.
The Iranian team’s campaign in the tournament started just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament on Sunday.
A group of Iranians living in Australia gathered to protest against the Iranian government and surrounded the players’ bus in Gold Coast when they left the hotel for the airport.
Many also turned up at the Sydney airport on Tuesday evening while they were being transferred to the international terminal, television footage showed.
The office of Iran’s general prosecutor said on Tuesday the remaining members of the team were invited back to the country “with peace and confidence,” Iranian media reported.
-Reuters
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