WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
My boss should not have kissed me, Spain’s World Cup winner tells court
Spanish women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso confronted former soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales at his trial on Monday, saying she did not agree to the kiss that triggered a national backlash against sexism in sport.
“I knew I was being kissed by my boss and that should not happen in any social or work environment,” she said of the encounter seen live by millions around the world at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Australia.
“I think it was a moment that tainted one of the happiest days of my life,” added the 34-year-old forward as Rubiales sat nearby at Madrid’s High Court taking notes.
Jenni Hermoso arrives at the court ahead of the trial REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Rubiales, 47, is accused of sexual assault and then attempting to coerce Hermoso – with the help of three other men – into declaring that the kiss had been consensual.
Though he apologised for being over effusive in a moment of national triumph, Rubiales denies those criminal charges and has cast himself as the victim of a witchhunt.
Asked by a prosecutor at Madrid’s High Court if she had agreed to the kiss, Hermoso replied: “Never”.
“I didn’t hear or understand anything,” she added, describing the moment. “The next thing he did was to grab me by the ears and kiss me on the mouth.”
Rubiales has said it was consensual and scoffed at critics in the aftermath, but Hermoso said she felt a victim of aggression and had pressure put on her to sign a statement exonerating him, which she said she refused to do.
WORLD CUP WIN OVERSHADOWED
The ensuing scandal eclipsed Spain’s first women’s World Cup victory and proved a tipping point for efforts by Spain’s female players to expose sexism and achieve parity with male counterparts.
The trial will see several of Hermoso’s teammates, including Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, testify.
Rubiales has asked his daughters to take the stand.
He and his co-defendants – former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, former Spanish football federation (RFEF) sporting director Albert Luque and the RFEF’s former head of marketing Ruben Rivera – will testify on or after Feb. 12 once the court has interviewed the rest of the witnesses.
“I trust in justice. I am calm,” Vilda said as he arrived.
The prosecution is seeking 2-1/2 years’ prison for Rubiales, although in Spain those handed sentences under two years can usually escape incarceration by paying damages instead if they do not have prior convictions.
The scandal sparked a strike by Hermoso’s teammates and saw several heads roll at the federation, with both Rubiales and his right-hand man and successor being ousted and a woman appointed to coach the women’s team for the first time.
-Reuters
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Nigeria Women’s Football League intensifies brand enhancement with StarTimes partnership
In a bid to ensure increased visibility for the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) this coming season, the Board has reaffirmed its commitment by engaging with StarTimes, a key broadcasting partner.
Following the NWFL Annual General Assembly held in Abuja on Tuesday, Nkechi Obi, Chairman of the NWFL Board, led a high-powered delegation to meet with StarTimes management on Wednesday.
Obi remarked: “This partnership is a vital step in our mission to bring the excitement of the league to a wider audience and showcase the talent in women’s football.”
During the discussions, StarTimes’ Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Tunde Aina reiterated: “StarTimes is committed to delivering top-quality coverage and ensuring that our viewers enjoy every moment of the women’s leagues.”
These initiatives aim to significantly boost audience engagement and elevate the NWFL’s profile both locally and internationally. The discussions covered the production and coverage of matches, highlight shows, and strategic marketing of league content across StarTimes’ diverse channels.
As a key outcome of the meeting, a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being finalized, with both parties expressing optimism about concluding arrangements in time for the Season Opener.
The anticipated partnership is expected to kick off with the high-stakes NWFL Premiership clash between defending champions Edo Queens and Abia Angels at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on January 15, 2025.
The meeting was attended by high-ranking NWFL officials, including Vice Chairperson Hajiya Hussina Suleiman and Board member Madam Henrietta Ihiabor.
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Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, fired from all cylinders to record a 9-0 win over their counterparts from Niger Republic on Thursday, in the second match of this year’s WAFU U17 Girls’ Cup, taking place in Ghana.
The Flamingos started brilliantly, with Aishat Animashaun scoring after only five minutes, following an in-swinger by Mary Mamudu. FIFA World Cup star Shakirat Moshood then started her own song, as she produced a screamer from 35 yards that saw the ball sail above Nigerien goalkeeper Ndiaye Fatai Basiru for the second goal in the 17th minute.
Six minutes later, the ever-relentless Moshood scored her second and Nigeria’s third, assisted by Animashaun, and in the 33rd minute, Janet Akekoromowei made it four by netting from close range.
Akekoromowei escaped the attention of Nigerien defenders in the 42nd minute to power home for Nigeria’s fifth and nicked her hat-trick almost immediately after with a powerful header.
Moshood, not to be outdone before recess, got her own hat-trick in the 45th minute to make it 7-0 against the hapless neighbours-to-the-north at half time.
Moshood was on song again just before the hour, collecting the ball high up the pitch and making a solo drive to fire past Ndiaye for her fourth and Nigeria’s eighth.
With 11 minutes left on the clock, Peace Effiong opted to have her own name on the scoresheet, when she fired from outside the box to beat Ndiaye for Nigeria’s ninth goal.
The Flamingos will next take on their counterparts from Cote d’Ivoire on Monday.
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Falconets, Flamingos draw Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying opponents in Women’s World Cup Qualifiers
Nigeria’s age-grade women’s national teams have been drawn to face countries that the Men’s national team, the Super Eagles are facing in the quest for World Cup qualifications.
The Super Eagles still have World Cup qualifying matches with South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe, the three teams that the U-17 women’s side, Flamingos and the U-20 team Falconets will respectively face in the qualifying for the age-grade Women’s World Cup.
In the draw made in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday, the Flamingos will begin their journey from the second round where they will face the winners of the first-round match of Gabon and South Africa.
In the U-20 category, the Nigeria Falconets also advance to the second round, awaiting the winners of the Rwanda/Zimbabwe first-round clash.
For the U-17 World Cup qualifying series in which four teams are expected to qualify, there are 28 entries.
The four successful teams in the qualifiers will join Morocco, hosts, at the global showpiece set to take place between 17 October – 08 November 2025 in Morocco.
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will for the first time be contested by 24 nations following its expansion from 16 teams.
The African qualifiers will be played over three knockout rounds of home and away to determine the qualified nations.
The first leg round of qualifiers will be played between 10 – 12 January 2025 for the first round ahead of the first leg return fixtures between 17 – 19 January.
The second round of qualifiers which will have been narrowed down to 16 nations will take place between 07 – 09 March ahead of the return fixtures set to take place between 14 – 16 March 2025.
The qualifiers officially conclude in April 2025 when the third and final rounds take place for the eight remaining nations.
The third round first legs will take place between 18 – 20 April, with the final round of qualifiers to determine the qualified nations to be decided between 25 – 27 April 2025.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers Draw Results:
ROUND 1:
- M1, 2: Namibia vs Uganda
- M3, 4: Egypt vs Cameroon
- M5, 6: Zimbabwe vs Ethiopia
- M7, 8: Eswatini vs Tanzania
- M9, 10: Congo vs Benin
- M11, 12: DR Congo vs Niger
- M13, 14: Gabon vs South Africa
- M15, 16: Equatorial Guinea vs Botswana
- M17, 18: Tunisia vs Algeria
- M19, 20: Cote d’Ivoire vs Senegal
- M21, 22: Sierra Leone vs Central Africa Republic
- M23, 24: Togo vs Guinea
ROUND 2:
- M25, 26: Namibia x Uganda vs Kenya
- M27, 28: Egypt X Cameroon vs Zimbabwe x Ethiopia
- M29, 30: Eswatini x Tanzania vs Zambia
- M31, 32: Congo x Benin vs DR Congo x Niger
- M33, 34: Gabon x South Africa vs Nigeria
- M35, 36: Equatorial Guinea x Botswana vs Tunisia x Algeria
- M37, 38: Cote d’Ivoire x Senegal vs Burundi
- M39, 40: Sierra Leone x Central Africa Republic vs Togo x Guinea
ROUND 3
- M41, 42: Winner 25, 26 vs Winner 27, 28
- M43, 44: Winner 29, 30 vs Winner 31, 32
- M45, 46: Winner 33, 34 vs Winner 35, 36
- M47, 48: Winner 37, 38 vs Winner 39, 40
In the U-20 Women’s World Cup African qualifiers draw, the tournament, scheduled for August 2026, will feature 24 nations, including four representatives from Africa.
A total of 38 African teams are vying for the four coveted slots, with the qualifiers set to unfold over four knockout rounds of home-and-away fixtures.
The first round will be contested by the 12 lowest-ranked teams, based on previous U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers performance.
The six winners will advance to join the 26 top-ranked teams exempted from the first round.
The six first-round winners and 26 exempted teams will form 32 teams. These will battle it out for 16 spots in the third round.
The remaining 16 teams in the third round will compete in a knockout format to determine the eight teams advancing to the fourth round which will comprise of eight teams.
The final eight teams will play knockout ties, with the winners earning qualification to the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers Draw Results
First Round
- M1, 2: Gabon vs Niger
- M3, 4: Togo vs Tunisia
- M5, 6: Gambia vs Côte d’Ivoire
- M7, 8: Rwanda vs Zimbabwe
- M9, 10: South Sudan vs Djibouti
- M11, 12: Malawi vs Central African Republic
Second Round
- M13, 14: Gabon/Niger vs Cameroon
- M15, 16: Botswana vs Mozambique
- M17, 18: Ethiopia vs Kenya
- M19, 20: Tanzania vs Angola
- M21, 22: Togo/Tunisia vs Ghana
- M23, 24: Eswatini vs South Africa
- M25, 26: Uganda vs Namibia
- M27, 28: Burundi vs Zambia
- M29, 30: Gambia/Côte d’Ivoire vs Morocco
- M31, 32: Mali vs DR Congo
- M33, 34: Equatorial Guinea vs Egypt
- M35, 36: Benin vs Guinea
- M37, 38: Rwanda/Zimbabwe vs Nigeria
- M39, 40: Senegal vs Algeria
- M41, 42: Guinea-Bissau vs Congo
- M43, 44: South Sudan/Djibouti vs Malawi/Central African Republic
Third Round Fixtures
- M45, 46: Winner M13, M14 vs Winner M15, M16
- M47, 48: Winner M17, M18 vs Winner M19, M20
- M49, 50: Winner M21, M22 vs Winner M23, M24
- M51, 52: Winner M25, M26 vs Winner M27, M28
- M53, 54: Winner M29, M30 vs Winner M31, M32
- M55, 56: Winner M33, M34 vs Winner M35, M36
- M57, 58: Winner M37, M38 vs Winner M39, M40
- M59, 60: Winner M41, M42 vs Winner M43, M44
Fourth Round Fixtures
- M61, 62: Winner M45, M46 vs Winner M47, M48
- M63, 64: Winner M49, M50 vs Winner M51, M52
- M65, 66: Winner M53, M54 vs Winner M55, M56
- M67, 68: Winner M57, M58 vs Winner M59, M60
Round-by-Round Timeline
- First Round Matches: First leg: 9–11 May 2025 | Second leg: 16–18 May 2025.
- Second Round Matches: First leg: 19–21 September 2025 | Second leg: 26–28 September 2025.
- Third Round Matches: First leg: 6–8 February 2026 | Second leg: 12–14 February 2026.
- Fourth Round Matches: First leg: 1–3 May 2026 | Second leg: 8–10 May 2026.
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