Determined Ashleigh Plumptre vows to be back stronger

 

By Julius Okorie 

Super Falcons and Al-Ittihad of Saudi defender Ashleigh Plumptre has expressed optimism that she will return to action soon for both club and country stronger and better.

The former Leicester City star made the submission shortly after undergoing successful surgery in Saudi Arabia.

Recall that the 25 year old sustained injury while playing for her club last month, thus forcing her to be dropped after originally being named for two legged 2024 Olympic qualifier against Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

Interestingly the Super Falcons succeeded in picking one of the two tickets to the Olympics with the second slot going to Copper Queens of Zambia.

An elated Plumptre took to her X handle to reveal the success of the surgery on one hand and express gratitude to all who made it happen while promising to be back soon.

"Thank you to everyone at @ittiladiescluband to Dr Pieter D’Hooge at @Aspetar for supporting me through my first surgery.

It’s been a long time coming trying to get answers but I’m so grateful to now be at this stage.

To my @NGSuper_Falcons teammates and Nigerian fans… thank you for your patience and understanding when I’ve not been able to be with you. I can honestly say I have fought as hard and for as long as I can with this pain. I can’t wait to be back healthy with you all

My club - @ittiladiesclub I’m so grateful to be surrounded by some really great humans at this club. Thank you, all of you, for helping me through and supporting me every step of the way 💛 Back soon ✌🏽🧘🏽‍♀️

With the 2024 Olympics still about three months away, Plumptre stands a good chance of making the party to Paris as the Super Falcons plot an improved appearance at the Olympics.

 Nigeria will be playing in Group C in Paris against World Cup champions Spain, Japan and Brazil.

 

 

Rivers disarm Rangers as Pillars roast Gombe in Kano

 

Julius Okorie

Rivers United ran away with two goals and three points at the expense of visiting Rangers international at the Adokiye Amasiemeka Stadium PH on Sunday. 

Rivers United who recently crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup after below par performance in two legged battle with Algerian side USM Alger obviously have returned to the league with increased vigour recording two victories in sequence against Plateau United and Rangers in that order. 

Today's clash indicate that the homers statistically dominated the match with 61%to 39% possession. Alex Oyowah fired Rivers into the lead in the 34th minute with Echeta Deputy as if playing the role of a typical deputy increased the tally in the 82nd minute to finally push the match out of the reach of Rangers who were recording their second defeat in five recent matches.

But for the 2-0 away defeat of Rivers United by USM Alger, the Garden City boys would have enjoyed five wins in five recent matches.

Meanwhile it was party time for Kano Pillars as they took Gombe United to the cleaners thanks to a 4-0 demolition at the Sani Abach Stadium.

 In what could pass for no nonsense approach to the encounter, Ibrahim Mustapha grabbed the first goal for Pillars as early as the 9th minute.

 Rabiu Ali grabbed a brace just before half time, and by the 79th minute Mustapha Umar delivered the icing on the cake for the kano landlords. 

The victory was a relief for Pillars who have not tested victory in their last three matches going into today's clash. 

Their misery had started with 5-0 bashing by Enyimba, followed by 2-1 defeat by Shooting Stars and Bendel Insurance respectively. It was the third consecutive loss for Gombe who are still searching for the first win after five matches.

In other matches played today, Kastina United beat Sporting Lagos 2-0, Kwara United beat Akwa United 1-0, Niger Tornadoes were 2-0 better than Doma United while Plateau United edged Remo Stars 1-0. Enyimba held Sunshine Stars to a 1-1 draw with Lobi Stars and Bendel Insurance settling for a goalless draw at the Lafia Township Stadium. 

Rangers however remain top of the ladder with 64 points in 31 matches played so far.

 

 

Paris 2024: Nnadozie a boost as Falcons seek to improve Athens record

 

By Julius Okorie

Reigning African goalkeeper of the year and Super Falcons dependable safehand Chiamaka Nnadozie earned a well-deserved eight over ten rating as Super Falcons grabbed Olympic ticket at the expense of Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

Nnadozie who was recently voted best goalkeeper in Europe on number of saves made, continued her tantalizing performance making five saves in the South Africa vs Nigeria encounter thus keeping clean sheet at both ends of the two legged play-off in Abuja and Pretoria respectively.

Recall that the Paris FC safehand also had a good run at the last World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with one of the highlights being a penalty save against Canada en-route the round of 16 where the team eventually crashed out after mother of all battles against England.

Nnadozie's form is sure to be a huge boost to the Super Falcons who will be hoping to better their achievement at the 2004 Olympics in Athens where they made it to the Quarterfinals before losing to 2-1 to Germany.

On that occasion the Falcons had shot into the lead thanks to former international Mercy Akide who grabbed a 49th minute goal. But the Germans will not have it as they bounced back in the second half with two quick goals in the 76th and 81st minute to clinch victory.

 The Athens outing was the best for the Falcons who had failed to go past the group stage at their last outing in Beijing, China in 2008.

The worst outing however was at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 where the team experienced what could pass for Baptism of fire losing to China 3-1, to Norway 3-1 and to USA 3-1 to exit just in the group stage. Only eight countries participated in that event, viz Germany, Brazil, Sweden and Australia in Group A. Group B had United States, Norway, China and Nigeria with United States and Norway progressing to semifinals. Norway eventually emerged champions after beating United States 3-2 in the final.

With a catalogue of experience behind the Randy Waldrum tutored side, the 2024 Olympics in Paris promises to be a different ball game despite being pitched against Spain, Japan and Brazil.

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will hold from Friday July 26 to Sunday August 11.

 

 

Paris 2024: Falcons declare operation consolidate in SA

 

By Julius Okorie

The Nation's Senior female team, Super Falcons have declared operation consolidate in today's make or break final Olympic Qualifiers against Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

The Falcons settled for a lone goal victory at the MKO Abiola Stadium Abuja in the first leg and are hoping to either re-enact that performance or hold the hosts to a score or goalless draw at the Loftus Versfeld, Stadium in Pretoria to guarantee their ticket to the Paris 2024.

 Sevilla and Super Eagles midfielder Toni Payne expressed optimism that the Falcons will triumph in today's encounter.

"We have a lot of confidence from the last match, we have rested and are prepared we are determined to get to the Olympics" she assured in a chat with NFF tv ahead of the match. 

South Africa are still looking for a first win over the Falcons in any match at home soil, a record which Falcons are determined to maintain today.

In 24 previous encounters (with seven played in South Africa), Nigeria clinched 15, with five ending in draws and South Africa winning on four occasions all away.

The Randy Waldrum tutored side had after the first leg lone goal victory in Abuja described is as "One step closer to target"

Four Countries, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Morocco are locked in two legged play-offs to claim only two African slots to the Olympics which will hold from Fri, 26 Jul 2024 – Sun, 11 Aug 2024.

Zambia who made a debut at the last Olympics in Japan look likely to miss the ticket this time after losing 2-1 at home to visiting Morocco. The second leg takes place today at the Prince Moulay El Hassan stadium in Rabat with Morocco taking 2-1 advantage to the match plus guaranteed vociferous home support that will further cement the deal.

Should the Atlas Lionesses make it to the Olympics as they are set to do, it will not only be their first time but it will be the first time Women team from North Africa will be featuring at the event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taiwo Awoniyi, Jamilu Collins lose at home

Mainz Loanee  Taiwo Awoniyi was in action for 25 minutes Saturday as Bundesliga side Mainz were humbled at home by visiting Borussia mgladbach.

The Nigerian was ushered into the pitch in the 65th minute as substitute for consolation goal scorer Robin Quaison. 

The Swede had opened scoring for the homers in the 18th minute of the game to the delight of supporters who saw the early lead as an indication that it would be a day of bountiful harvest. 

But the reverse turned out to be the case as the visitors leveled in the 31st minute thanks to Stefan Lainer.

Borussia mgladbach doubled the lead in the 77th minute just within 12 minutes of action for Awoniyi. The situation rather than improve for Awoniyi and his teammates got worse with a third goal for the visitors two minutes later.  

Attempts by the homers to remedy the situation proved abortive. Mainz enjoyed a minimal possession advantage in the ratio of 51 to 49 which nonetheless failed to produce an advantage in the score line.

Super Eagles left back Jamilu Collins equally had a bad day as his SC Paderborn were equally beaten by the same margin at home by Freiburg.

Collins was in action for the entire duration of the game which saw SC Paderborn shoot into the lead as early as the third minute through Streli Mamba.

The early lead however came to nothing after the visitors earned and converted a penalty in the 21st minute followed by two more goals scored in the 40th and 90th minutes respectively.

Awoniyi and his teammates will now be hoping to earn a point when they face Bayern Munich away next Saturday while Collins and teammates will look forward to the tie against Obafemi Martins former club Wolfsburg on the same day.

U17 Nations cup semis: forget about past victories Manu warns Eaglets

Ahead of their semifinal clash against Guinea U17 Wednesday, Eaglets coach Manu Garba has told his boys to forget past victories and treat the clash as final showdown.

While admitting that the achievements made so far at the on going championship in Tanzania is heartwarming, the party according to the former Flying Eagles coach must be put on hold to fight all the way to the final.

"We topped the group and we didn’t lose any match that is good, but we must put all that aside and give full concentration to the semifinal clash like I said will be very tactical, “he said

Guinea finished as runners up in Group B with six points in three games to set up semifinal clash against Nigeria.

 Garba who won the FIFA U-17 world cup in 2013 and the 2015 Africa U-20 championship in 2015, is hoping to add the U-17 Nations cup title to his resume. Nigeria last won the championship in 2007 in Togo, finished as runners up in 2013 in Morocco, and in the 4th place in the 2015 edition in Niamey.

 In comparison Guinea's highest level in the championship has been the third place finish. Interestingly the West African country have finished in the third place three times 1995,2015 and 2017 and will no doubt be dreaming to go beyond that in  Dar es Salaam.

Nations Cup: No time to experiment with new players-Rohr

Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr says two months to the Nations Cup in Egypt is too short a time to experiment with new players. 

Rohr who has dismissed insinuations in some quarters that he is under pressure to win a laurel with the team he inherited from former international Sunday Oliseh in 2016, maintained that the devil you know is better than the Angel you know nothing about.

 Some analysts had opined that though the Eagles did well in qualifying for the Nations cup without the usual migraine before qualification, the team needs to be given a close look with a view to effecting some changes especially in the goalkeeping area considered a bit shaky.

But in a swift reaction Rohr told whoever cares to listen that he has decided on the trio of Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

"We have a little challenge because our young goalkeeper Uzoho has not really played at his club this season," Rohr told BBC Sport.

"Uzoho made one mistake in the last qualifier [against Seychelles] but we gave him a chance with the youth under-23 and it was good for his confidence.

"Daniel Akpeyi is playing now for a big team in South Africa and doing very well. Our third goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa too is good so we can work harder with them.

"We have a good spirit as a team since the World Cup, so there's no time to bring in new players," he submitted  

Luckily Eagles who got what has been described as soft draw will face two debutants of the Nations cup Burundi and Madagascar with only Guinea expected to pose a bit of a challenge having been to the Nations cup 11 times and posting their best performance in 1976 in Ethiopia where they ended up as runners up to eventual winners Morocco.

The Syli Nationale, have also made it to the quarterfinals four times, the latest being at the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea. 

Incidentally Eagles were absent in the last two editions and will need to show on the pitch that indeed they are back.  All the 24 teams that will battle for honours in Egypt have till June 10^th to submit their final 23-man squad.