The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Women’s World Cup

  • Women’s World Cup : Cameroon’s coach Bisseck lauds  FIFA on 32-team format

    Women’s World Cup : Cameroon’s coach Bisseck lauds  FIFA on 32-team format

    Cameroon head coach Jean Baptiste Bisseck has praised FIFA for opening up more opportunities for more countries in Africa to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.

    As from 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 48 countries will participate which is addition of 16 teams to the current 32 that will take part at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, the last time that number would be played.

    Bisseck whose wards lost 2-0 to Nigeria In a friendly game played in Abeokuta on Tuesday was asked the implications of the additional 16 slots and the coach thanked FIFA for making it possible for more African nations to aspire to qualify for the World Cup besides the favourites Nigeria, Zambia, Morocco, Ghana and South Africa.

    “It is a good thing that FIFA is trying to give more opportunities to the African nations,” Bisseck told journalists in Abeokuta. “Women’s African football is growing and it is a good development. We in Cameroon will hope to fall in line too. We hope to use the opportunity to qualify.”

    Read Also: AFCON U20 : NFF submits final 23-man squad  as Flying Eagles  off to Cairo weekend

    Meanwhile, Cameroon’s Goalie, Ange Gabriel Bawou has stated that they do not have any reason to complain about their loss to Nigeria but that they must work on the deficiencies noticed so as not to recur.

    She admitted that the games between both nations have always been tough adding that the latest wasn’t different but that they are happy they gave the Super Falcons a good run despite their inability to qualify for the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco.

    “The game between Nigeria and Cameroon is always difficult. We lost and we shall go back home to work on our errors,” Bawou said.

  • FIFA targets $1 billion revenue from Women’s World Cup

    FIFA targets $1 billion revenue from Women’s World Cup

    FIFA is targeting $1 billion in revenue from the Women’s World Cup, global soccer governing body’s president Gianni Infantino said at the Saudi Arabia-U.S. Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh.

    The 2023 Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, broke even after generating more than $570 million in revenue.

    “Women’s football and women in football are crucially important…,” said Infantino. “It’s growing as well, and exponentially, and we are targeting that as well to have $1 billion revenue just with the Women’s World Cup to reinvest in the women’s game.”

    The next women’s World Cup in 2027 will be hosted by Brazil, making it the first edition to be held in South America. The United States is poised to be named host of the 2031 edition, which will be expanded to 48 teams from 32.

    Read Also: AFCON U20 : NFF submits final 23-man squad  as Flying Eagles  off to Cairo weekend

    Infantino also said there was massive potential for football to generate more revenue outside Europe.

    “If the rest of the world, in particular Saudi Arabia or the United States of America, would do just 20% of what Europe does in soccer, we (could reach an amount of over) half a trillion (dollars) or more of GDP impact (with our sport),” he added.

    “Saudi Arabia, by the way, is doing exceptionally good, as well, by creating a women’s league, a women’s national team. Women’s football is really the only team sport for women that have such a huge audience and impact as well.”

  • New Japan coach eyes  Women’s World Cup glory

    New Japan coach eyes  Women’s World Cup glory

    New coach Nils Nielsen  has declared that Japan can win the Women’s World Cup for a second time and vowed to restore the 2011 champions to their former glories.

    The 53-year-old Dane becomes Japan’s first foreign-born women’s coach and succeeds Futoshi Ikeda, who left at the end of his contract in August.

    Nielsen led Denmark to the 2017 European Championship final and takes over a Japan team that has not reached a World Cup or Olympic semi-final since 2015.

    He said he was inspired by Japan’s 2011 World Cup win and sees no reason why they cannot repeat the achievement under his leadership.

     “We want to get Japan back on top and there are many teams that want to go there, but the talent pool in Japan actually makes it possible,” he told reporters in Tokyo. “We will do the hard work and dedication, all of us will do everything we can to get it done.”

    The Greenland-born Nielsen previously served as Manchester City’s women’s team technical director after spells in charge of the Denmark and Switzerland national teams.

    He said Japan will “always be contenders for titles” and pledged to help them become more than just dangerous dark horses.

    Read Also: CAF Awards: Akpabio, Uzodimma hail Lookman, Nnadozie, Super Falcons

    Japan lost in the quarter-finals of both last year’s World Cup and this summer’s Paris Olympics.

     “In order to actually get there and lift the trophies – and make no mistake about it, that is why I’m here – we will do everything we can to be successful and win trophies for Japan,” he said. “It needs to be a team effort. It’s not about one person, it’s not about me, but I will lead the process.”

    Nielsen joked that there were more reporters at his first press conference in Tokyo than the entire population of his tiny home village in frozen Greenland.

    He said he jumped at the chance to coach Japan after watching them become the first Asian team to lift the Women’s World Cup in 2011.

     “I think managing to create a playing style and a culture around the team that actually fits perfectly with the personalities of the Japanese women, it must have been very difficult to do, but that was what happened,” he said.

     “It was not only me but all across the world it was something everybody noticed and got inspired from.”

  • World Cup: Njoku banned for elbowing Australian opponent

    World Cup: Njoku banned for elbowing Australian opponent

    Nigeria’s Ugo Njoku has been banned for three games for elbowing Australian midfielder Sam Kerr in the face during a clash at the Women’s World Cup, FIFA confirmed on Sunday.

    The Nigerian defender was also fined 3 000 Swiss francs ($3 218) by world football’s governing body after video replays showed the 20-year-old making contact with Kerr’s face during the Group D clash in Winnipeg on Saturday, supersport.com reports.

    Njoku’s actions floored Kerr, 21, in the second half of Australia’s 2-0 win over the Super Falcons which kept the Matildas’ World Cup campaign on track after the opening loss to the United States.

    Kerr has since recovered and is expected to play in Australia’s final clash against Sweden in Edmonton on Tuesday.

    “Ugo Njoku has been suspended for three matches and fined CHF 3 000 as well as being issued with a warning by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,” the world soccer governing body said in a statement.

    The player was sanctioned after disciplinary proceedings were opened for “serious infringements which have escaped the match officials’ attention,” FIFA added.

    The first match of the suspension will be Nigeria’s final group game against the U.S in Vancouver on Tuesday.

     

  • World Cup: Dede promises improved performance against Australia

    World Cup: Dede promises improved performance against Australia

    Super Falcons goalkeeper, Precious Dede, has reassured Nigerians that they would see improved defending from the team in Friday’s second group match against Australia.

    The Falcons defence gave away two cheap goals in the game against Sweden, failing to deal decisively with most of the set pieces against the team, africanFootball.com reports.

    Dede, 35, who is one of the very experienced players in the Super Falcons, was caught napping on several occasions in the game against Sweden.

    “We know the first half didn’t go well and we made some mistakes. But we were determined to correct those mistakes and that is why we came out fighting in the second half,” she told africanFootball.com in Canada.

    “I can assure you that in our next game you would not see those mistakes again because we would go and watch the tapes and correct them.”

    The United States leads the group after defeating Australia 3-1 in both nations’ first game.

     

  • Okon dismisses Sweden coach threat

    Okon dismisses Sweden coach threat

    …  Pinnick arrives team’s camp

    The head coach of the Super Falcons, Edwin Okon, has said he is unperturbed by Swedish coach, Pia Sundhage’s boast that her team would make a mince meat of the African champions in Monday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup match in Winnipeg, Canada.

    In a brief chat with The Nation at the Winnipeg Stadium on Sunday, Okon said, “though the Swedish coach has watched our games and she feels everything is okay and knows how to deal with our team.

    “I have said it when two elephants meet, the grass will suffer.  We are also prepared for them. Though she might have watched the tapes, but she will be in for a surprise.

    “I don’t really know them at that level, though I have watched the tape but I won’t judge the Swedish by the tape. It’s when we get to the pitch that we would know.  We will start the tournament on a good note by winning the match on Monday. ”

    Okon also denied that there were injury worries in the team’s camp, saying, “there is no injury scare in the camp, the girls are in high spirits.”

    Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, arrived Winnipeg on Sunday to cheer the Falcons ahead of Monday’s match against the Scandinavians.

  • Women’s World Cup: Falcons ready for any team – Coach

    Women’s World Cup: Falcons ready for any team – Coach

    Confident Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon, has said his team is prepared to face any team in the first round of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

    The draw for the tournament will be staged in Ottawa Saturday, africanFootball.com reports.

    “We have qualified for the World Cup and we are here for the draw. It doesn’t matter who we are drawn against, what matters is that we are prepared to face any team.

    “Don’t forget we are African champions and we hope to show the whole world the stuff we are made of as champions. We hope for a favourable draw but we are not afraid to meet any team,” africanFootball.com quoted the Falcons’ coach as saying on Saturday.

    The draw ceremony will take place at the Museum of History Ottawa-Gatineau between 12:00 – 1300 local time.

    The Falcons delegation made up of coach Okon, team administrator Ruth David and media officer Gracious Akujobi has arrived Ottawa for the draw.

  • Dike wishes sister luck at Women’s World Cup

    Dike wishes sister luck at Women’s World Cup

    Toronto FC power playing  striker, Bright Dike is happy to  see his younger sister do it in the colours of Nigeria at the Women’s World Cup.

    The Super Eagles striker, Bright Dike made his debut for Nigeria in November 2012 in an international friendly against Venezuela which Nigeria won by 3-1.

    His younger sister has followed in the same step, Courtney Dike is currently with Nigeria’s U-20 Women football, Falconets at the FIFA Women’s World Cup ‘Canada 2014’.

    Bright Dike’s goal helped Nigeria earn a 1-1 draw in an unofficial friendly against Catalonia and a goal in an international friendly against Italy in a 2-2 draw suffered a torn Achilles in February 2014 but recently resumed full training with his MLS team Toronto FC.

    The big brother of Courtney Dike, Bright, tweeted his wishes to his sister on Twitter stating that he wish Courtney and the Falconets who are doing battle at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada all the best.