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Tag: FIFA Women’s World Cup

  • France president, Infantino booed at FIFA Women’s World Cup final ceremony

    The crowd at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final match on Sunday in Lyon booed FIFA president Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron.

    This was as the U.S. fans demanded equal pay for the players after their team claimed a fourth global title by beating The Netherlands 2-0.

    Macron and Infantino, the head of football’s world governing body, were turned upon by the supporters as they approached the ceremony podium.

    It was a sharp contrast with the hero-like reception given to player of the match Megan Rapinoe by the 57,900 crowd.

    In spite of a recent rebound, Macron’s popularity was last at 38 percent in an Ifop poll, up 15 points since a low in December at the peak of the anti-government yellow-vest crisis.

    U.S. captain Rapinoe, the leading voice for equal pay in a sport where the men are far better paid than the women, scored the opening goal with a VAR-awarded penalty kick.

    She scored in the 61st minute at the sold-out Groupama Stadium.

    Read Also: USA Are Women’s World Cup CHAMPIONS

    Rose Lavelle rounded off the victory eight minutes later as the Americans added to their 1991, 1999 and 2015 world titles.

    After the game, Rapinoe told reporters: “I think everyone is ready for this conversation and move to the next step. I think we’re done with: ‘Are we worth it? Should we have equal pay?’.”

    Earlier this year, members of the U.S. squad were named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the national football federation alleging gender discrimination.

    It was filed in a federal court last month and it says the women are not paid the same as their male counterparts.

    On Saturday, Rapinoe launched a scathing attack on FIFA, saying the organization did not respect the women’s game.

    Rapinoe said FIFA’s decision to allow the men’s Copa America final and Gold Cup showpiece to take place on the same day as the women’s final was “unbelievable”.

    Rapinoe shook Infantino and Macron’s hands as she received her medal.

    “It’s unbelievable to know all the people who put in so much in this group,” she said.

    “We have all our families and friends here. It’s surreal. I don’t know how to feel right now. It’s ridiculous.”

    NAN

  • VAR Palaver: Chioma Ubogagu cautions players on African image

     

    African players competing at all levels of football must resist the temptation to react in a manner that can paint the continent in bad light.

    That was the submission of Nigeria born British footballer Chioma Ubogagu while reacting to VAR triggered brouhaha during the England versus Cameroon FIFA women’s world cup round of 16 clash last Sunday.

    Ubogagu who plies her trade with Orlando Pride in the United States said why it is understandable to sometimes disagree with the rules, it is important to resist the temptation to over react and throw caution to the winds.

    Ubogagu who was called up to the England national team for a set of friendlies ahead of the FIFA Women’s World cup was however left out of the final 23-man team.to France 2019.

    The 26 year old bared her mind on the controversial match via the social media, tweeting “‘As someone with English, American, and Nigerian ties, I found it embarrassing watching a nation represent Africa like that.

    ‘I also find it worse that people are defending it, in my opinion. Because again, in my opinion, that to me means subconsciously you have and hold African nations at a lower standard.

    ‘I understand the frustrations of football, I understand being in the moment, and I understand strongly disagreeing with VAR decisions, but behaviour in these times is still massively important,”

    The striker who played for Arsenal and Houston Dash before joining Orlando Pride, made a combined 80 appearances for the clubs scoring 18 goals.

    Ubogagu born to Nigerian parents mother Tina a nurse and father Aloy a social worker was eligible to represent Nigeria, England and the United States, but chose to represent United States at the youth level, playing for their under-18, under-20 and under-23 teams.

    She settled on representing England at the senior level, accepting a call up from the side in October 2018 and making her England and senior international debut on 8 November 2018 against Austria which England won by 3-0.

    This year’s edition of the FIFA Women’s World cup has recorded a number of controversies with the VAR mostly at the centre of the matter. The Cameroon/England controversy came just a few hours after round of 16 clash between hosts France and Nigeria also ended with France progressing follow VAR triggered penalty replay.

  • Different Strokes! What has penalty got to do with it?

     

    Remember what’s love got to do with it by Tina Turner?

    Well in case you have forgotten, What’s Love Got to do with it is the eight solo studio album by American-born Swiss singer, songwriter, and actress, Tina Turner. It was released on Parlophone in 1993. It was the soundtrack album for the 1993 Tina Turner biographical film of the same name, which was released by Touchstone Pictures the same year.

    After the final whistle in the Final group F match between Chile and Thailand at the ongoing FIFA Women’s world Cup in France, what came to my mind was “What’s penalty Got to do with it?

    And the answer would be penalty indeed has got a lot to do with it.  It could determine exit and qualification; it would determine staying behind and going home in a tournament.  It could determine whether to re-schedule your flight ticket or leave it as originally booked. It could determine whether to extend hotel reservation or cancel part of it.

    It could be a source of jubilation for one team and source of lamentation for another.  Such was the situation on Thursday.

    Chile needed three goals against Thailand to progress to the round of 16 as one of the third best placed teams.  The hard fighting team succeeded in scoring two goals and needed just one more to seal their round of 16 ticket but alas a penalty miss put paid to that ambition and handed Super Falcons who had been waiting under the canopy of permutations the ticket, some say on a platter.

    It was indeed bad day for Chile’s Francisca Lara. A very impressive player indeed but who on this occasion failed to convert the penalty that meant the whole world to her country men and women.

    That is football for you and such is the ugly side of penalty, an inevitable determinant of men’ fate. What a way to go and what a way to advance!

    The result has forced Chile and Nigeria on this occasion to return to the drawing board.  For Chile, to plan for the next edition and for Nigeria to review pattern of play employed in the last three group games with a view to identifying how best to approach this ‘special qualification’ for the group of 16 and how best to

    handle group of 16 opponents Germany at the Stade des Alpes.

    Can the Falcons convert second chance into a miracle?

    All eyes on Match 38, at the Stade des Alpes, Grenoble Saturday 16:30!

     

     

     

  • Falcons off to France today

    African champions Nigeria have departed the Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf in Austria, where they were on two-week residential camping, and will spend Monday night in Vienna before flying to Paris on Tuesday for the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.

    Spirit is high in the team’s camp after handsome wins in two friendly matches against top clubs in Eastern Europe. On Tuesday, they defeated Hungarian Premier Division side, Halandas Viktoria 5-1 in Hungary and on Sunday, put three past ZNK Pormuje in Slovenia.

    Individual accomplishments are also a booster. Asisat Oshoala, who scored a brace in each of the friendly matches, has secured a substantive contract with FC Barcelona Ladies in Spain. Only weeks ago, she became the first African to score in the final of the UEFA Women’s League even as FC Barcelona lost to defending champions Olympique Lyon in France.

    Uchenna Kalu, who scored the other goal against Pormuje on Sunday, is in a rich vein of form, after scoring nine goals to emerge top scorer of the WAFU Women Cup of Nations in Abidjan just before the trip to Austria.

    Read Also: Super Falcons to play Slovakian top club

    There is a new bounce to the steps of power forward Desire Oparanozie, who has been made the captain of the squad, and energetic winger Francisca Ordega is rearing to go after fully settling down to football life in China.

    Petite forward Rasheedat Ajibade will be attending her first major finals as a foreign-based professional, and Chinwendu Ihezuo, who scored against Viktoria in Hungary, is also in a great mood after settling down in China.

    Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale and Ngozi Ebere, and midfielders Ngozi Okobi and Halimatu Ayinde, who played key roles in Nigeria’s triumph at the Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ghana late last year, are all confident the Falcons can pull surprises in France.

    The Falcons are up against Norway in their first match of the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup at the Stade Auguste Delauney in Reims on Saturday, before other Group A matches against the Korea Republic (Grenoble, 12th June) and host nation France (Rennes, 17th June).

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy arrives Nigeria on Thursday

    The FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy is expected to arrive Nigeria on a tour on Thursday, Demola Olajire, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Director of Communication said on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Olajire said in a statement: “The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is already agog in anticipation of the arrival of the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy, which is expected on Nigerian soil on Thursday.

    “The Women’s World Cup trophy’s stop-over is coming 13 months after the FIFA World Cup trophy (for men) also made a stop-over in Nigeria ahead of last year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.”

    He said the World football governing body, FIFA, had informed the NFF that former Nigeria international striker, Osaze Odemwingie, would arrive in the country on Wednesday.

    Odemwingie is one of the FIFA Legends for this year’s World Cup finals in France.

    “Three other FIFA officials are due in the country hours later.

    “Nicole Fisch (lead for women’s football project), Sarai Bareman (chief women’s football officer) and Vanessa Marques (lead for marketing project) are the FIFA officials expected on Wednesday,’’ Olajire said.

    Read Also: Qatar, FIFA to decide on 48-team world cup in March

    The NFF director of communication said that Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong, would receive the team on Thursday.

    He said the FIFA team alongside ministry and NFF officials would move to Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, for the display of the trophy.

    “At the Transcorp Hilton, there will be a video documentary on the evolution of women football in Nigeria,’’ he said.

    According to him, Acting President of the NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode, some other NFF and sports ministry officials are expected at the venue.

    “Some players of the Super Falcons, who returned from a two-match tour of Spain on Tuesday afternoon, will be there.

    “Pupils from two schools within the Abuja metropolis as well as media representatives and other stakeholders will also be part of the event,’’ Olajire added.

    The best 24 women national teams in the world will battle for the cup in nine cities in France between June 7 and July.

    NAN

  • U.S wins third Women’s World Cup

    U.S wins third Women’s World Cup

    United States ended its 16-year FIFA Women’s World Cup drought on Monday morning, trouncing holders Japan 5-2 in a thrilling final played before a largely pro-American crowd in Vancouver, Canada.

    A scarcely believable four-goal salvo inside the opening 16 minutes lifted the spirit of the 53,341 soccer fans that stormed the stadium to watch the two finalists of the 2011 tournament in action, fifa.com reports.

    The Americans were quickest to the ball from the opening whistle and immediately reaped greater rewards than they could ever have imagined.

    A low driven Megan Rapinoe corner from the right deceived a flat-footed Japan defence and Lloyd finished first time from near the penalty spot to put a perfect flourish to a training ground move.

    Barely 150 seconds had passed on the stadium clock but, incredibly it was about to get even better for the Stars and Stripes. A low free-kick from Lauren Holiday evaded a swathe of players before the ball found its way, almost magnetically, to Lloyd who applied the finishing touch from close range.

    The two-time champions were 2-0 up inside five minutes and Lloyd had nabbed the two fastest goals in Women’s World Cup Final history.

    The Japanese were looking uncharacteristically shaky at the back and when central defender Azusa Iwashimizu failed to deal with a Tobin Heath delivery, Holiday latched onto the loose ball to volley home. Only 14 minutes had elapsed but the Americans already had one hand on the trophy.

    Just two minutes later the contest was effectively over as Lloyd completed a 13-minute hat-trick with a goal straight from the realms of fantasy. Collecting the ball inside her own half Lloyd advanced before unleashing a high shot from the halfway line over the head of Ayumi Kaihori, whose desperate back-peddling only resulted in finger-tipping the ball onto the inside of the post and into the net.

    Incredibly Lloyd, playing the match of her life, almost immediately scored another, heading just wide and narrowly failing to become the first person to score four in a World Cup Final of either gender. Then it was the turn of Alex Morgan who made a trademark driving run into the box and although she did not make full connection with her shot Kaihori was still forced into a diving save.

    However, Japan grabbed a much-needed goal midway through the opening half thanks to inspired finishing from Yuki Ogimi who ended Hope Solo’s run of 540-minute unbeaten run by superbly spinning away from marker Julie Johnston and coolly firing home.

    The Nadeshiko momentarily looked like they would pull another goal back three minutes later and only some fine scrambling defending prevented a clear shot on goal with Aya Miyama’s final shot unable to trouble Solo.

     

  • WWC: We did not play to Okon’s instructions – Falcons

    WWC: We did not play to Okon’s instructions – Falcons

    • As they insist ‘God of soccer’ did not fail them
    The Super Falcons of Nigeria in spite of their 2-0 loss to a technically sound Australian team on Friday at the Winnipeg Stadium had insisted that God was still with the team.
    One of the Super Falcons players who spoke with NationSports confessed that the team did not play to Coach Edwin Okon’s instructions.
    “Today was our bad day. I can’t say the God of soccer failed us because we did not do the right thing. Our coach told us that we needed to fight together but we did not,” she said.
    The Most Valuable Player (MVP)  of the match against Sweden, Ngozi Akobi was however of the opinion that the players did not put up the fighting spirit that was synonymous with the team in their opening match against Sweden.
    “Only God knows why we were not coordinated, we were so anxious,”  she revealed.
    There was however a notion that the Nigerian team was more of a spiritual team than other teams. This was captured by some Australian journalists in their tabloid prior to the match against the Coach Edwin Okon led team.
    However the Super Falcons Coach who is also known in the tournament as one who believes and associate his victory to God admitted that his team lost to a team that had a technical depth than his team but was  also spiritually sound.
    In separate interviews with some other players of the team, after their match against Australia, they admitted that the team lacked cohesion this time around which according to them was indeed baffling as they had all come out prepared for the match.
    The team’s ace player, Assisat Oshoala who was substituted in the game during the heat of the match told NationSports that: “God did not fail us, I guess it was over confidence on our part. We still have a lot to do to make sure we get the best point, “she said.
    The Super Falcons will play their 3rd  Group D match against USA on Tuesday in Vancouver.
  • Women’s World Cup: Injury scare for Swedish team

    Women’s World Cup: Injury scare for Swedish team

    The Super Falcons will confront an injury -riddled Swedish team in Monday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup match in Canada.

    The Nation gathered that two of the Swedish potent strikers were down with injuries.

    However, the head coach of the Sweden female national team, Pia Sundhage, said at a press conference on Sunday evening that her team would not be ruled by emotions as they have watched several videos clips of the Super Falcons.

    She said:”We know quite alright that we are meeting a formidable team. However, I feel we are all prepared for this match against a very strong opposition. We are really looking forward to the game and we are well prepared. “

    The Captain of the team, Caroline Segar, added:”It’s easier when you have lots of information about your opponent. I think our coaches have been showing us games of how Nigeria plays, so we are well prepared and we know what type of game it’s going to be on Monday.

    “We have seen their games and that gives us a good feeling, so we are looking forward to it. I think for us it’s about preparing and focusing on what to do which is to play soccer.”

    The match will start at 9pm Nigerian time in Winnipeg.

  • Nwabuoku in buoyant mood ahead of World Cup

    Nwabuoku in buoyant mood ahead of World Cup

    Super Falcons captain,Evelyn Nwabuoku has said that the togetherness in the set-up would stand them in good stead for the forthcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    Speaking to SL10 reporter Abayomi Ademetan on Friday, the utility player hailed the set up of the team and stressed on the need for support from all.

    “The coaching crew have always done their best. Now we need to keep the momentum going.”

    She stressed,however, unity and teamwork would be the key and the players have adopted the one team,one country slogan from head coach Edwin Okon.

    “There is no special preference,we are all Falcons players fighting to achieve the same goal and that is getting through a tough group where we have USA, Sweden and Australia.

    “But things are looking up.The mood in the camp since I arrived has been fantastic.

    “The winning mentality is always there.We just need good preparation and support.We have never doubted our ability as a team.

    “We just have to be given the right exposure.We see this task as an opportunity to announce ourselves to the world not just in Africa”, the former MFK of Finland and Bayelsa Queens of Nigeria star said.