Asisat Oshoala has made the final shortlist for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award.

Oshoala, who is in hunting for a fifth crown, faces stiff opposition from Cameroonian Ajara Nchout Njoya and new entrant Grace Chanda of Zambia.

Super Falcons duo Monday Gift alongside their coach Randy Waldrum were among the nominees shortlisted by CAF.

However, the football body on Wednesday announced the final three for the women’s award which includes FC Barcelona Femení player Oshoala.

The skilful attacker was the last player to win the award when it was last held, and she has shown another amazing performance last season to qualify for the final again.

She will face Ajara Njoya of ( Cameroon) and Grace Chanda of Zambia for the award.

The duo of Gift and Waldrum failed to make the final cut in their categories.

The award is slated for Rabat, Morocco on Thursday.

Super Falcons of Nigeria fought gallantly against Morocco before narrowly losing 4-5 on penalty shoot-out, in a supercharged 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations semi final match in Rabat on Monday.

A total of 45,562 spectators turned the Complexe Prince Moulay Abdellah into a boiling cauldron, and only their experience, guts, grit and determination kept the nine-time African champions firmly in the game all their move was booed while the Lionesses were roared on the moment they had the ball.

The Lionesses, who last played at the Women AFCON 22 years ago, before the current finals that they are hosting, started like a house on fire and pegged the Falcons to the rear in the early minutes. But gangling Ifeoma Onumonu should have given Nigeria the lead in the 13th minute when she was brilliantly set up by Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene.

Three minutes into the second half, Mauritian referee Maria Rivet stopped play for a VAR check, only to return and hand a red card to midfielder Halimat Ayinde. The decision shocked the Super Falcons, who had been been challenged by lasers focused on their eyes by spectators,vsome minutes later, Rashidat Ajibade was issued another red card to leave the Super Falcons play nine against eleven.

Morocco leveled only four minutes after, when Nnadozie failed to deal with a cross by the ubiquitous Tagnaout and Mssoudy gratefully slammed into the net.

Nnadozie made a dozen saves towards the end and in the ensuing extra time, with the Lionesses all over the place, but Nigeria could have won it when Gift Monday beat the hosts’ defence on the counter and crashed a well-measured shot against the crossbar, only for the ball to roll out.

In the penalty shootout, forward Ifeoma Onumonu missed for Nigeria as Rita Chikwelu, Regina Otu, Ashleigh Plumptre and Gift Monday scored. Morocco scored all their kicks, through Yasmin Mrabet, Ghizlane Chebbak, Zineb Redouane, Nesryne El Chad and Rosella Ayane.

Morocco will take on South Africa (1-0 winners over Zambia in the first semi final) in Saturday’s final in Rabat, while the Super Falcons will clash against the Copper Queens of Zambia for the bronze medals in Casablanca on Friday. 

The Super Falcons of Nigeria will lock horns tonight with host nation Morroco as they battle for the Final Spot of the Women African Cup of Nation.

The Lionesses of Atlas have been impressive so far at the tournament, proving doubters wrong after winning all four of their matches so far, with South Africa another country to have achieved such a feat in this campaign.

With a place at next year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand already guaranteed, both sides have turned attention to winning the WAFCON title.

After a slow start, which saw the Falcons lose 2-1 to South Africa in their opener, the Super Falcons have grown from strength to strength to revive their title defence, winning their last three games.

While the Super Falcons are chasing the title for a record 10th time, the Lionesses are hoping to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.

Nigeria have taken part in all the past editions of the WAFCON, while the 2022 edition is the Lionesses’ third appearance, but despite the huge gap in class between the two countries, today’s semi-final clash will see fans witnessing an interesting battle between the North and West Africans.

While Nigeria qualified for the semi-final after beating Cameroonian 1-0 in the quarter-finals Thursday night at the Mohammed V sports complex in Casablanca, with the only goal scored by the impressive Rasheedat Ajibade in the 56th minute, Morocco made history with their first-ever qualification for the Women’s World Cup after defeating Botswana in the quarter-finals.

The Semi Final match will kick Off at – 9 PM

The Lionesses of Cameroon and Senegal Women national team have secured their place in the inter-continental playoffs for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, after a narrow 1-0 victory over Botswana in their additional clash at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat on Sunday.

 Ajara Njoya scored the only goal of the game in the first half where Cameroon were largely in control, but finish the game with 10 players after a late red card.

They joined Senegal in advancing to the 10-team global playoffs in New Zealand in February, where they will contest for the three remaining spots available at the finals.

The African duo join Taiwan, Thailand, Haiti and Panama, who have also booked their places in that tournament.

Senegal also defeated Tunisia on penalties in an earlier game at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Njoya scored an excellent goal against Botswana goalkeeper Maitumelo Boseja as she had a clear pre-game plan to test The Mares stopper from distance.

She had another goal shortly afterwards that was easier for Boseja before she made it three, on the stroke of halftime.

Njoya unleashed another strike from 30-yards that took a slight deflection off a defender and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

Botswana offered very little going forward in the first half, though they did have their fair share of the ball.

Super Falcons defender, Osinachi Ohale says the team knows how important the game against Cameroon in the ongoing 2022 Wafcon is. 

She also stated that she will do well at the back with all the players giving their all and Playing well. 

“Like I said earlier, we all know how important and how tough the game is gonna be. Osinachi Said. 

“We are preparing and working to make sure we carry the day today against the Lioness of Cameroon. 

“We are not failures and we will never fail, we are doing everything possible to pick the ticket for the World Cup. 

Super Falcons will take on the Lioness of Cameroon in the Quarter Finals of the WAFCON today by 6pm. 

A win for the Super Falcons would  see them picking one of the Tickets for the 2023 Women’s FIFA WORLD CUP.

The group stages are done and dusted. Eight teams have progressed to the quarterfinals of the 2022 Total Energies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, as we reach the business end of the tournament.

Morocco vs Botswana

The hosts have been perfect in the tournament so far, grinding their way through their Group A matches and amassing nine points, scoring five goals and conceding just once, to top the table and book a place in the quarterfinals.

Captain Ghizlane Chebbak is the current leading goal scorer at the tournament with three goals – all from set pieces – two penalties and a free kick that have elevated the Atlas Lionesses as one of the title contenders in this tournament. She is leading by example.

Against Botswana, Chebbak and Morocco will be up against one of the fastest teams at the tournament. The Mares pride themselves in counterattacks with the incredible Refilwe Tholakele at the center of their attacks and she will be hoping to bring her A game to the hosts on Wednesday at the Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.

Botswana head coach Gaoletlhoo Nkutkwisang has been spoken widely about and she likes coming up against big coaches and in this case they don’t come much bigger than Reynald Pedros – a two-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner with Olympique Lyon.

This tactical battle is one to look out for in this fixture.

Cameroon vs Nigeria

As far as football rivalries are concerned, this is one of the richest on the continent and this cuts across both women and men’s categories.

Ahead of this quarter final matchup which is a repeat of the 2016 final in Yaounde, this derby is expected to produce fireworks. Both are physical and athletic teams that will need to dig deep to progress to the next level.

Nigeria come into this one as the favourites to win, courtesy of their pedigree at this tournament – having won nine titles and having also scored the most tournament goals so far – seven to be exact.

On the other hand, Cameroon started slowly with a goalless draw against Zambia, but have since found their feet in the tournament and can now be taken seriously as title contenders.

This one is a must-watch!

Zambia vs Senegal

First timers. Both Zambia and Senegal had never gone past the group stages at the WAFCON, but at this year’s edition their hard work from many years of building and rebuilding has finally paid off.

With places at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand guaranteed for the semifinalists, a lot is at stake for both teams.

Captain Grace Chanda has been in fine form scoring a brace so far at the tournament, but against Senegal the Copper  Queens face one of the best defences in the tournament. The Teranga Lionesses have only conceded once so far – a penalty scored by Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak.

Zambia too have let in just one goal and will be looking to continue with their impressive setup at the back when they face the West Africans.

This is expected to be a very fast-paced team, as both teams like to counter attack and also fall back when they lose the ball.

South Africa vs Tunisia

Thorough. The 2018 finalists South Africa come into this one as one of two sides that won all their group stage games, amassing nine points.

Even without poster girl Thembi Kgatlana, who is out of the tournament due to injury, Banyana Banyana have enough firepower to overcome Tunisia.

Captain Refiloe Jane, Linda Motlhalo and Andile Dlamini have been some of the standout players for Desiree Ellis’ side, bringing experience and exposure into the team setup and should worry the North Africans.

However, the Carthage Eagles who have found solace in the individual brilliance of Mariem Houji will be out for blood. They are playing at the WAFCON for only the second time and can smell a place at the World Cup. This is a do or die matchup for them as they seek to write history.

The contrast in styles of play will be interesting to look out for on Thursday.

Culled from CafOnline

Super Falcons of Nigeria and Nine time Champions of African Women Nations cup,now stand a chance of beating the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon to advance for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals, following last night 4-0  victory against Burund

This came after the Falcons who are the defending champion trashed Burundi in their final match of Group C WAFCON.

The win took Nigeria to six points and five goals advantage, but South Africa’s 1-0 win over Botswana meant the Banyana Banyana finished on maximum nine points and topped the group, setting up a clash with Tunisia in the last eight.

Goals from Rasheedat Ajibade, (penalty) 25th min, Peace Efih 28th min, and Uchenna Kanu, 29th min and 46th min, made sure Nigeria qualified for the quarter finals of the tournament holding in Morocco.

Nigeria next game against rivals Cameron comes up on Thursday by 6pm

OTHER WAFCON QUARTER-FINAL FIXTURES:

Zambia Vs Senegal

Morocco Vs Botswana

Cameroon Vs Nigeria

South Africa Vs Tunisia

To mark his second competitive match in charge of the Super Eagles, 62 –year old Portuguese José Santos Peseiro led the team to defeat the National Team of Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in the Moroccan city of Agadir, on Monday, and also cancel Nigeria’s 63 year old international scoring record. 

Coach Peseiro was not born when the Nigeria National Team, then known as Red Devils, defeated Dahomey (former name of Benin Republic) 10-1 in a Kwame Nkrumah Cup match in Lagos on 28th November 1959.

Victor Osimhen, who also scored the winner against Sierra Leone in Abuja on Thursday, scored four of the goals,  Terem Moffi, Ola Aina, Oghenekaro Etebo and Ademola Lookman are on the score sheet, while Substitute Emmanuel Dennis won and converted a penalty kick on the 90th minute to round up an exciting afternoon for Nigeria in Morocco’s southern coastal city.

The Super Eagles’ next games in the AFCON qualification game against Guinea-Bissau home and away in September.  

Benfica has confirmed their star striker Drawin Nunez is on his way to Anfield in a club-record deal, with a medical planned for today after he rejected Manchester United and Newcastle.

Liverpool signed Nunez for €75million (£64m) plus add-ons that could see the fee rise to €100m (£85m), meaning that 

Liverpool are set to smash their transfer record for the signing of the 22-year-old, who will overtake Virgil van Dijk as the most expensive player in the club’s history, after the Portuguese giants confirmed the deal.

The Primeira Liga side released a statement announcing they had agreed the transfer of the striker with the Reds.

Benfica added in the statement that the deal now rests on the player confirming personal terms with Liverpool.

Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba has  explained the difficulties of being a Muslim at 18-years-old, as well as the influence Muhammad Ali has had on his life.

For the second time,the 29-year-old will leave   Old Trafford on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer, following six unsuccessful seasons in English football.

“I have Muhammad Ali for me as an inspiration and example. He converted to Islam. I converted to Islam also. I was 18 and sometimes to be a Muslim is not easy.” Pogba said during an interview with UNINTERRUPTED. 

“But you just try to show the example of Muslim people in sport and just in real life that it’s not what we can see. Sometimes in the media, we’re just normal people also and we try to follow our religion the best way we can and give just a smile, give like good deeds to people, do well, do nice things and try to help the world the way that the previous people that they used to do they just try to follow that.”

Ali was a three-time heavyweight boxing champion and his outspoken views on religion and the Vietnam war made him a hero and inspiration to millions around the world.