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Ahead of FIFA World Cup: First lady Remi Tinubu to host Super Falcons

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The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, alongside top government functionaries, will attend the send-forth dinner of the Super Falcons ahead of the team’s departure for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place over a period of one month, starting from July 20 to August 20.

In a statement on Thursday, Head of Communications of the NFF, Ademola Olajire, noted that the dinner, organised by the country’s football body, will be held on Saturday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

“We are expecting the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Ismaila Abubakar, as well as other top sports officials.

“A good number of the team as well as technical and administrative officials are expected alongside the rank and file of the NFF led by the President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.

“The event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel will also attract corporate chieftains, members of the diplomatic corps, and a range of football stakeholders.

“On Sunday, the nine-time African champions will depart the shores of Nigeria for a 15-day camping programme in Australia, before they enter into camp for the tournament beginning from July 20 to Aug. 20,” Olajire noted.

Nigeria’s first match of the finals is against Canada, at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium, on July 21 before clashing with Australia and the Republic of Ireland on July 27 and July 31, respectively, at Lang Park in Brisbane.

NAN reports that Australia and New Zealand 2023 will be the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in history, as it welcomes 32 teams—the same number as featured in the men’s finals in Qatar last year.

It is also the first to be hosted by two countries as well as the first-ever FIFA senior competition to be hosted by two nations in two different confederations: Australia in the Asian confederation and New Zealand in Oceania.

Nigeria’s captain, Onome Ebi, will be one of the oldest players at the tournament, at 40, alongside Brazil’s Marta and Canada’s Christine Sinclair.

The three women will be featured in their sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament.

According to the NFF, 24 hours before the Send-Forth at the Transcorp Hilton, the Australian High Commission will host the Falcons to a dinner, courtesy of the Ag. High Commissioner, Her Excellency Leanne Johnston.

NAN reports that the Super Falcons are in Group ‘B’ alongside Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland.

Nigeria has previously played the Canadian and Australian women’s national teams at the FIFA World Cup.

The Canadians have been unable to defeat Nigeria at the World Cup, drawing 3-3 in 1995 and losing 1-0 in 2011.

Nigeria’s meeting with Australia at the FIFA World Cup in 2015 ended in a 2-0 victory in favour of the Australians.

(NAN)

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Court orders PSG to pay Mbappe €61 million

Qatari-owned PSG did not immediately say if they intend to appeal.Lawyers for Mbappe said in a statement they “noted with satisfaction the decision given by the labour court”.

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•Kylian Mbappe

A French labour court on Tuesday ordered Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to pay their former forward Kylian Mbappe up to 61 million euros ($71.8 million) in unpaid wages and bonuses.

AFP reported that Captain Mbappe, who left PSG in June 2024 to join Real Madrid, had been claiming over 260 million euros in total from his former club. PSG in turn had demanded Mbappe pay them 440 million euros.

Mbappe, 26, also claimed the Parisian club applied the wrong French legal classification to his contract, but that was rejected by the court.

The labour court said the final figure of between 60 million and 61 million euros was made up of 55 million euros in unpaid salary and around six million euros in holiday payments.

Qatari-owned PSG did not immediately say if they intend to appeal.Lawyers for Mbappe said in a statement they “noted with satisfaction the decision given by the labour court”.

“It re-establishes a simple truth — even in the professional football industry, labour laws apply to everyone,” the lawyers added in a statement.

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2025 AFCON Group B Squads

Below is the group B squads in the AFCON 2025 , comprising Angola, Egypt, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

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Below is group B squads in the AFCON 2025 , comprising Angola, Egypt, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Angola

Goalkeepers:

Dominique (Etoile Carouge/SUI), Hugo Marques (Petro Luanda), Neblu (Primero Agosto)

Defenders:

Eddie Afonso (Petro), Pedro Bondo (Famalicao/POR), Buatu (Gil Vicente/POR), David Carmo (Real Oviedo/ESP), To Carneiro (FAR Rabat/MAR), Nurio Fortuna (Volos/GRE), Gaspar (Lecce/ITA), Clinton Mata (Lyon/FRA), Rui Modesto (Udinese/ITA)

Midfielders: Mario Balburdia (Boluspor/TUR), Fredy (Bodrumspor/TUR), Manuel Keliano (Akhmat Grozny/RUS), Maestro (Alanyaspor/TUR), Beni Mukendi (Victoria/POR), Show (Kocaelispor/TUR)

Forwards:

Chico Banza (Zamalek/EGY), Manuel Benson (Swansea/ENG), Gelson Dala (Al Wakrah/QAT), Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari/ITA), Mabululu (Al Ahly Tripoli/LBA), Milson (Crvena Zvezda/SRB), Randy Nteka (Rayo Vallecano/ESP), Mbala Nzola (Pisa/ITA), Ary Papel (Al Akhdar/LBA), Zine (AEK Athens/GRE)

Note: Some Angolans use nicknames rather than official names

Egypt

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir (both Al Ahly), Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids), Mohamed Sobhy (Zamalek).

Defenders:

Hossam Abdelmaguid, Ahmed Fatouh, Mohamed Ismail (all Zamalek), Ahmed Eid, Khaled Sobhy (both Al Masry), Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim (both Ahly), Ramy Rabia (Al Ain/UAE), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids)

Midfielders:

Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia, Trezeguet, Zizo (all Ahly), Mostafa Fathy, Mohanad Lasheen (both Pyramids), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazira/UAE), Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah/QAT), Mahmoud Saber (ZED), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek)

Forwards:

Osama Faisal (National Bank), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City/ENG), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes/FRA), Salah Mohsen (Masry), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/ENG)

South Africa

Goalkeepers: Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Nkosinathi Sibisi (both Pirates), Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau (both Sundowns), Samukele Kabini (Molde/NOR), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB/ROM).

Midfielders:

Oswin Appollis, Thalenthe Mbatha, Sipho Mbule, Relebohile Mofokeng (all Pirates), Bathusi Aubaas, Teboho Mokoena (both Sundowns), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem/KSA), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela/POR)Forwards: Evidence Makgopa, Tshepang Moremi (both Pirates), Lyle Foster (Burnley/ENG), Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq/KSA)

Zimbabwe

Goalkeepers:

Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants/RSA), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi/RSA), Martin Mapisa (MWOS)

Defenders:

Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday/ENG), Brendon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle/ENG), Munashe Garananga (Copenhagen/DEN), Teenage Hadebe (Cincinnati/USA), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns/RSA), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Alec Mudimu (Flint Town Utd/WAL), Godknows Murwira (Scottland), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata/LBA)

Midfielders: Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG), Jonah Fabisch (Erzgebirg Aue/GER), Knowledge Musona (Scottland), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town/ENG), Prosper Padera (SJK Seinajoki/FIN), Andy Rinomhota (Reading/ENG).

Forwards:

Bill Antonio (Mechelen/BEL), Macauley Bonne (Maldon&Tiptree/ENG), Tadiwanashe Chakuchichi (Scottland), Prince Dube (Young Africans/TAN), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell/SCO), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants/RSA), Washington Navaya (TelOne), Ishmael Wadi (CAPS Utd), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy/RSA)

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Lobi Stars suspend technical adviser over club’s poor performances

The management cited poor performance as the reason for the suspension, having played six games, earned only seven points out of a possible 18, and placed sixth out of eight clubs

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Lobi Stars Football Club’s Technical Adviser, Coach Bala Mohammed, was suspended today by the club Interim Management Committee.

The management cited poor performance as the reason for the suspension, having played six games, earned only seven points out of a possible 18, and placed sixth out of eight clubs

The suspension, according to a statement issued on Monday by the club’s Director of Media and Communications, Emmanuel Ujah, followed an emergency meeting of the Committee on Monday in Makurdi.

In the statement, Ujah advised the coach to immediately hand over responsibilities to the Chief Coach of the club, John Onuh.

Bala Mohammed was appointed Technical Adviser in August this year ahead of the new season of the Nigeria Nationwide League.

At the time of his appointment, he had promised to lead the team, which had been relegated from the Premier League after several seasons, back to the top-flight league.

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