Author: The Nation

A package of social media tools designed to protect players from online abuse will be offered to all teams at the 2023 Women’s World Cup including the Super Falcons of Nigeria, soccer’s world governing body FIFA said yesterday..
The Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), developed by FIFA and the players’ union FIFPRO, monitors and moderates hate speech on social media, hiding harmful content from the players.
“Discrimination is a criminal act,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “With the help of this tool, we are identifying the perpetrators and we are reporting them to the authorities so that they are punished for their actions.”
Several teams in this year’s Women’s World Cup, being held in by Australia and New Zealand from July 20-Aug. 20, have agreed to implement the moderation element of the service immediately to automatically limit visibility of online abuse, FIFA said.

Read also: Women’s World Cup: FIFA appearance fee excites Oshoala

The tool was offered to players at the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar, where the quarter-final between England and France saw the largest spike in abuse, FIFA said in a report yesterday.
“38% of identifiable abuse came from accounts based in Europe, with 36% from South America,” it said.
The SMPS scanned over 20 million posts and comments on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube throughout the men’s tournament in Qatar.
With specialist artificial intelligence flagging abusive comments, plus two layers of human analysis, nearly 20,000 social media posts were abusive, discriminatory, or threatening.

Cape Verde showcased their dominance in a resounding 3-1 triumph over Burkina Faso at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde.
The spectators erupted with joy as Bebé opened the scoring in the 7th minute, expertly finishing off a play orchestrated by Cape Verde’s Patrick Andrade.
Comfortable on home turf, the Islanders seized control of the game, leaving their Burkinabe opponents devoid of offensive tactics. A notable instance saw Tapsoba failing to capitalize on an opportunity created by the Cape Verdean defence’s lapse.
While the Blue Sharks impressed offensively, they did encounter some lapses in concentration during defensive transitions. Taking advantage of these moments, Issoufou Dayo found the back of the net with a scrambled finish just before halftime.
As the teams emerged from the locker room, the Burkinabe side failed to regain their composure, losing their captain Bertrand Traoré to injury.

Read Also: Former Sports Minister hails Super Eagles on AFCON qualification

A significant blow for the semi-finalists of the previous TotalEnergies AFCON, who found themselves suffocated by their West African rivals. Fernandes’ 76th-minute strike from the right wing restored the advantage for Cape Verde.
In the dying moments of the game, Andrade delivered the final blow, netting the third goal past Kilian Nikiema. With this remarkable victory, Cape Verde secures their place in the upcoming Côte d’Ivoire tournament, marking a significant achievement for the Blue Sharks.
Elsewhere, Mali emerged victorious in a 2-0 triumph over Congo during the CAF TotalEnergies 2023 qualifiers.
The match started with a goalless first half, but the Malian team showcased an entirely different level of play after the break. The Eagles unleashed a series of incisive attacks, ultimately breaking the deadlock through Ibrahima Koné.
Capitalizing on their excellent phases of play, Malian coach Eric Chelle made a few strategic changes.
The introduction of Nene Dorgeles in place of Kamory Doumbia proved to be a winning move, as Dorgeles found the back of the net just four minutes after coming on.
With a 2-0 lead firmly in their grasp, Mali skilfully navigated the rest of the match without conceding.
This victory secures Mali’s qualification for the highly anticipated CAF TotalEnergies Côte d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The immediate past minister of Sports and Youth Development, Honourable Sunday Dare has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals, to be hosted by Côte d’Ivoire, early next year.
The Eagles secured the ticket with a hard fought 3-2 victory against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, who hosted the penultimate tie in the qualifiers, in Monrovia, capital of Liberia.
Red hot Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen netted a first half brace to put Nigeria two goals up, but a goal in either half by the Leone Stars, pegged back the Super Eagles, before Kelechi Ihianacho scored deep in stoppage time, to seal the win for Nigeria, who regained top spot of Group A from Guinea Bissau, who are now second with 10 points, but have also qualified for the AFCON finals.

Read Also: Osimhen, Iheanacho’s secure Super Eagles’ AFCON ticket
Dare who followed the entire match anxiously, described it as a tough match, on a plastic pitch that made it a bit difficult for players of both sides, who are used to better turfs.
“But at the end of the day we won, which is very vital, the most important thing is that, the boys have qualified for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, with a game to spare. I say a very big congratulations to the players, coaching crew and supporters of the national team, across the country,” Dare reportedly said.

Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Group Ebi Egbe has commended the chairman of Interim Management Committee(IMC) of the nation’s domestic league, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye.
X-raying the just concluded season, Egbe said the former Director General of the defunct National Sports Commission (NSC) and his team have done well.
He noted that the IMC has succeeded in bringing back life and competitiveness to the domestic league, adding it would rob off positively on Nigerian football.
“We have just seen a league season that is quite different. A season where clubs sweated for every point and played for something tangible. The league winners pocketing N100m is quite commendable,” Egbe said.

Read Also: NPFL: Enyimba receive prize money from GTI

The Bayelsa-born football buff also gave a pat on the back to the IMC for taking the season ending Super 6 to the MJA Arena where clubs had the opportunity to be at their best playing in a hybrid synthetic pitch which is one of the best in the country.
“The MJA Arena has one of the best turfs in the country and it is one of the signature projects of Monimichelle Sports. Our vision is to eradicate bad pitches in the country and the MJA Arena pitch clearly shows what we can do,” Egbe said.
Egbe charged the NFF to retain the Gbenga Elegbeleye -led IMC insisting that it is clear the NPFL would become a league to reckon with if the IMC is allowed to consolidate on the gains of the just ended season.

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly closing in on the appointment of Luis Enrique as their new head coach.
The Ligue 1 champions have decided to part ways with Christophe Galtier after just one season, in spite of the Frenchman delivering top-flight and Trophee des Champions success to the club.
Galtier left Nice to take charge of Les Parisiens, but he was unable to break their Champions League hoodoo, overseeing a last-16 exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.
PSG are yet to make an official announcement on Galtier’s sacking, but the 56-year-old’s departure is expected to be confirmed imminently as the French champions scope out potential replacements.
Following an extensive search, L’Equipe claims that former Spain and Barcelona head coach Enrique has been identified as the number one candidate, and PSG are now close to reaching an agreement with the 53-year-old.
While there are still a few details to be finalised, PSG are confident of getting a deal over the line and are hopeful of announcing Enrique as their new head coach at some point this week.
The Ligue 1 holders had considered several top coaches for the role, including former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann, who was at one stage thought to have been leading the race for the job.
Nagelsmann is believed to have held positive talks with PSG chiefs based in Doha, but the German subsequently pulled out of the race after failing to agree key details with the capital club.
The powers-that-be have had a long-standing interest in ex-Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane, although the 50-year-old is believed to have been waiting for the France job to become available.
PSG’s chances of landing Zidane seemingly improved when Didier Deschamps extended his France deal until 2026, but he is understood to have rejected a fresh approach from Les Parisiens.
Ex-PSG midfielder Thiago Motta – currently in charge of Bologna – was also linked with the role, but PSG have instead opted for experience in the shape of Enrique.

Read Also: Mbappe reaffirms commitment to PSG

The 53-year-old stepped down from his Spain post for a second time following La Roja’s last-16 exit from the 2022 World Cup and was also linked with the Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur jobs before the Premier League giants hired Mauricio Pochettino and Ange Postecoglou respectively.
Enrique won 24, drew 11 and lost nine of his 44 games in charge of Spain across two separate spells, taking La Roja to the Euro 2020 semi-finals and 2020-21 UEFA Nations League final, which they lost to France.
However, the Spaniard is best known for his glittering three-year stint at Barcelona, during which he won nine pieces of silverware, including a Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey treble in the 2014-15 campaign.
Enrique was named the World’s Best Club Coach in his treble-winning year, and he has also taken charge of Celta Vigo and Roma since retiring as a player in 2004.

• Offers scholarship to kids, jobs to wives

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has granted scholarship to university level for children of the four supporters of Bayelsa Queens Football Club who died in a road accident last week.
The Governor also directed immediate employment for their wives while anyone that is not employable be empowered by the state government to set up a business.
He directed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to liaise with Office of the Secretary to the State Government to immediately effect the pronouncement.
His Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the Governor as having given the directives on Saturday during the funeral service for the deceased at the Peace Park in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Eze Igali 38, Kurotimi Igali 36, Clement Diripigi 34 and Philemon Ogidi 38 lost their lives in an auto crash last Sunday on their way to Asaba, Delta State, to support the state’s female team playing the final game of the Super Six playoff.
Diri said they were promising youths who died in active service to the state.
He said: “We join the Igali, Diripigi and Ogidi families to mourn these four young men of Eniwari and Fonibiri communities, all in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of our state.
“They gave their best to the state. They contributed their quota towards the development of Bayelsa and they died in active service.

Read also: Accidents: Diri mourns Ijaw indigenes, consoles families

“These young men embarked on that trip to bring victory to Bayelsa and to make the image of our state soar higher. Unfortunately, they lost their lives in the process.”
Speaking on behalf of the Igali family, Ambassador Boladei Igali said while they cannot question the will of God over the tragedy that befell the family, it will not deter them being one of the biggest sporting families in the country.
Igali thanked the governor and the state government for the support since the incident occurred.
Igali, who was a former Federal Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, urged Bayelsans to continue to pray for the families at this difficult time as well as for those still hospitalised as a result of the accident.
The remains of the four youths were on Saturday interred at the Azikoro cemetery in Yenagoa.

AC Milan has intensified their efforts to secure the services of Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze, with a new meeting scheduled next week between the club and the player’s representatives, Soccernet.ng understands.
The Serie A giants have identified Chukwueze as a key target for the upcoming transfer window.
The pursuit of Chukwueze has become a priority for AC Milan, and he is considered one of the hottest prospects on their transfer shortlist.
Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Milan News) has listed Chukwueze, along with Reiss Nelson, as the most sought-after player by the Rossoneri.
Last week, Milan held discussions with Chukwueze’s representatives at the club’s headquarters, aiming to address contractual matters and personal terms. However, further talks have been scheduled for next week to continue the negotiations.
Villarreal, the player’s current club, are reportedly demanding a fee of at least €25 million (approximately 13 billion naira) for the 24-year-old Nigerian.

Read Also: Arsenal linked with Samuel Chukwueze

AC Milan face competition from other top clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham, and Real Madrid, who are all monitoring Chukwueze’s situation closely.
Chukwueze joined Villarreal in 2018 following his impressive performances for Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, who won the FIFA U17 World Cup. Since then, he has developed into one of Europe’s top performers – winning the Best African Player in La Liga award.
This season, Chukwueze contributed significantly to Villarreal’s success, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists, totalling 24 goal involvements across all competitions.
While negotiations continue, Chukwueze is currently representing the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, in Monrovia as they aim to secure qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next year.

Coach Jose Peseiro admitted that it was a hard fought 3-2 win for the Super Eagles against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in yesterday’s ‘s 2023 Africa Cup. of Nations Group A Matchday 5 encounter played in Monrovia.
Nigeria raced to a two-goal lead courtesy of striker Victor Osimhen’s first half brace but the hosts braced and fought their way to a 2-2 scoreline until Leicester City’s forward scored the winner almost at the dot of time in the 95th minute.
Victory secured Super Eagles’ qualification for the 34th edition at the continental prestigious tournament much to the delight of the Portuguese coach.
“ Hard match but our team qualified,” the former manager of Venezuela said in his smattering English at the post-match conference.“ Very hard match.
“But a beautiful team that fight to the end ; and Sierra Leone did fantastic job to make it 2-2 .
“ But we deserved to win though it was difficult and I’m happy with my players because after 2-2 it was not easy in a difficult atmosphere.

Read Also: Peseiro unfazed about Super Eagles future

“ The players fought well and we won in order to be in the first position,” he added.
Pressed on the team’s chances at the AFCON proper next year in Cote d’Ivoire, Peseiro said the Super Eagles need better condition in order to give their best at all times.
“ Of course, we need better condition to do well; good condition, we can win the AFCON.”
Defender Kenneth Omeruo echoed Peseiro’s sentiment saying the Super Eagles deserved victory despite the resilience of the Sierra Leone.
“It was a difficult game and we knew that they were going to fight but I’m happy we held out till the end to secure the victory,”

Victor Osimhen scored a brace and Kelechi Iheanacho fired a stoppage time winner for the Super Eagles to beat Sierra Leone 3-2 in Monrovia, Liberia yesterday in a Group A Matchday 5 tie to secure their ticket to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to be held next year in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Eagles lost the chance to pick the ticket in the last window of matches in March after they were shocked by Guinea Bissau 1-0 in Abuja in the Matchday 3 tie. They beat the same side in Bissau some days later but it was only enough to keep them at the top of the table, then with nine points with Guinea Bissau pushed to the second spot with seven points.
Guinea Bissau regained the top spot with 10 points after beating Sao Tome and Principe 1-0 on Wednesday but the Eagles win in Monrovia’s Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium against the Leone Stars has taken them back to the zenith of the group with 12 points from five games.
The points tally has taken them to another AFCON slated for Cote d’Ivoire in January by virtue of the crucial win.

Read Also: Former Sports Minister hails Super Eagles on AFCON qualification

But yesterday, the Eagles started the game on a fast pace with Victor Osimhen scoring a quick brace in the 19th and 32nd minutes. But the Leone Stars reduced the goals arrears through Mustapha Bundu in the 41st minute.
The Leone Stars completed the comeback with six minutes of normal time left through Augustus Kargbo albeit after missing several chances.
The Sierra Leoneans sensed they could grab an unlikely win but they were caught in a counter attack as Kelechi Iheanacho guided the ball to the back of the net after a good cross from the left wing.
The goal came in the 95th minute and there was no time for the hosts to restart the game as the Eagles sauntered to another key win.
Osimhen’s double made it his 17th goal for the Super Eagles from 26 games while Kelechi Iheanacho notched his 12th goal from 43 appearances for Nigeria