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The Guardian
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
How Nigeria completed ‘Mission X' and sealed 10th Wafcon crown
Eyebrows were raised when Justine Madugu was appointed as the new Nigeria coach in September last year, having had no head coach experience in international football before taking on the role. On Saturday the 'gamble' – if you call it that – paid off when the Super Falcons came from 2-0 down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat to win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The team had not impressed during the group stage, leading to criticism back home that the team were disjointed and uninspiring. Despite this, two wins over Tunisia and Botswana and a draw against Algeria saw Nigeria top their group without conceding a single goal. Madugu acknowledged that his team 'was a work in progress', but remained confident that his team was on course to achieve what Nigerians call 'Mission X' – to win their 10th Wafcon title. Saturday was a testimony to his unbending faith in his team and his coaching methods. 'I have always believed that we take each game as it comes and play according to the opponent,' the 61-year-old said. 'Where we make errors, we will make the needed corrections to get the result we want.' Nigeria are way out in front when it comes to Wafcon titles – Equatorial Guinea (twice) and South Africa are the only other sides to win it. Back in 2016, the women's team had won seven Afcon crowns, level with Egypt's men's team. A 1-0 win over Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses, in front of a hostile crowd at Yaoundé's Stade Omnisport, saw them edge ahead in the pantheon of African champions. 'That final against Cameroon, on their soil, was a very exciting moment for me, scoring that winning goal that led to the trophy,' says the former Nigeria captain, Desire Oparanozie, who worked as a TV co-commentator and match analyst at this year's tournament in Morocco. 'When you have to play against the home crowd [in a final] and you come out on top, at the end of it, it is always special. You are playing against the fans as well. 'There is no better way to describe how formidable the Super Falcons are. They have proven their worth over the years and they continue to shine,' Oparanozie adds. 'One thing that continues to motivate them is that they are hungry for success. They want to win, they have a strong mentality, and they want to keep on dominating African football. It's the driver for the performance put up each time they are in the final.' Maintaining Nigeria's perfect 10-out-of-10 record in Wafcon finals was an arduous task for Madugu as he was up against the former Spain coach, Jorge Vilda, who is now in charge of the Atlas Lionesses. When Morocco went 2-0 up inside 24 minutes through goals from their captain, Ghizlane Chebbak, and Sanaa Mssoudy, Madugu was wearing his emotions on his sleeve, screaming at Nigeria's players to hold on to the ball and create transitions that would put the hosts under pressure. It took the second-half introduction of PSG's Onyi Echeginiand Roma's Rinsola Babajide to give the Falcons the attacking verve to win the game. 'We knew we could do it [win the match],' Madugu told us. 'When we were two goals down, we kept encouraging the players not to lose their belief. If they didn't have mental resilience they would have given up. We did a lot of talking at half-time.' Esther Okoronkwo, arguably the outstanding player for Nigeria at the tournament, and voted the player of the final, said the Falcons had to dig deep into their courage reservoir, to pull themselves back from the brink. 'The first half goals were unfortunate,' she said. 'It happens in football. When we went to the dressing room, we gathered the fighting spirit, because it was all or nothing … the Moroccan team has chemistry, they were a tough team.' Saturday's dramatic final was a fitting end to a successful tournament on the field but as Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa's Banyana-Banyana for 11 years, points out, there is still room for improvement when it comes to the organisation. 'I think there needs to be better spacing of games, so that teams can travel and players can recover in good time,' she said. 'The travel was a bit hard at this tournament and it is something that CAF needs to look at.' The good news is that the chance to make improvements will come quickly – the next Wafcon finals are being played next year, again in Morocco. I say it numerous times, she is an absolute nutter, but she loves her country, she loves playing for her country, putting on that shirt, and she was outstanding in this tournament, considering …' – Beth Mead on her teammate Lucy Bronze after the full-back revealed she had been playing the tournament with a fractured tibia. Stage is set: The draw for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup, staged in Australia next March, has been made this week. Twelve teams are divided into three groups of four each, with the hosts facing South Korea, Iran and the Philippines in Group A. India, runners-up in 1980 and 1983, have qualified for the first time since 2003; the Blue Tigresses face Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan in Group C. North Korea, China, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan have been drawn together in Group B. Penalty drama: Colombia reached the final of Copa América Femenina in the most dramatic way, beating Argentina 5-4 on penalties in the semi-final and securing their place at the 2028 Olympics in the process. Brazil face Uruguay in the second semi-final on Tuesday, with the final to be played on Saturday. Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Wrack, Tom Garry and Sophie Downey to celebrate England's historic Euro 2025 triumph over Spain — and reflect on an unforgettable tournament in Switzerland. Listen here. The story of England's Euros triumph, as depicted by David Squires. Nigeria's Esther Okoronkwo, the player of the match in the Wafcon final, shows off her range of skills in training. 'They thought it was all over. Quite a few times, in fact.' Do read Jonathan Liew at the Euro 2025 final and the perfect unity of 'proper England'. Who was good and who was less good in the Euros final? Sophie Downey's player ratings have the answer. She's also dished out her tournament marks. Singing, dancing and a cavapoo called Reggie: Tom Garry explains how England celebrated their famous win. Aitana Bonmatí's sullen walk to collect the player of the tournament award showed there is no joy in personal accolades when your team loses but Spain will be back, writes Nick Ames. Chloe Kelly's early introduction helped change the game for Sarina Wiegman's side. Sophie Downey analyses the tactical shift. Things got a little weepy in Madrid after Spain lost but the growing interest in the women's national team is a victory in itself, as Sam Jones witnessed. England won on the pitch, but who were the victors in the TV studios? John Brewin kept his beady eye on the BBC and ITV coverage. Nick Ames had a natter with Uefa suit Nadine Kessler about the future of the Women's Euros. And the women's game is growing across Europe and the playing field is starting to level, according to Philipp Lahm.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jermaine Seoposenwe played her final match for the South African national team
The Banyana Banyana striker officially retires from international football after the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Jermaine Seoposenwe played her final match for the South African national team Jermaine Seoposenwe played her 110th and final match in the South African jersey on July 25, 2025. The Banyana Banyana striker brought her international career to an end following the third-place playoff of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which ended in defeat to Ghana (1-1, 4-3 on penalties). Jermaine Seoposenwe had already announced her decision to retire from international football before the start of the continental tournament in Morocco. This third-place match thus marked the conclusion of a long journey with the South African squad. Despite the disappointment of not retaining the continental crown won in 2022, the 31-year-old striker had hoped to finish on a high note with a bronze medal. Unfortunately, Banyana Banyana fell to the Black Queens in a penalty shootout. 15 years of a career filled with highlights and commitment Born on October 12, 1993, in Cape Town, Jermaine Seoposenwe made her national team debut in 2010. She earned a total of 110 caps for Banyana Banyana and took part in several major tournaments, including two World Cups (2019, 2023) and four Africa Cup of Nations campaigns (2016, 2018, 2022, 2024). Notably, she played a crucial role in South Africa's historic triumph in 2022 in Morocco, scoring decisive goals against Nigeria and Tunisia. Her career has been defined by perseverance, leadership, and a relentless drive to advance women's football on the continent. "It's inspiring to see young players stepping up and making their mark, and I am very proud of what they have accomplished. I hope that in the future, they will take up the torch and make it their own. Obviously, playing for Banyana Banyana is not the easiest thing—there is a lot of pressure—and I hope I have shown them that you can succeed by staying true to yourself and by continuing to work hard and remain disciplined in everything you do," said Jermaine Seoposenwe at the pre-match press conference ahead of South Africa vs Ghana.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Nigeria and Morocco contest WAFCON in battle of Africa giants
Who: Nigeria vs Morocco What: Women's Africa Cup of Nations final 2025 Where: Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco When: Saturday at 8pm (19:00 GMT). Two of the continent's footballing powerhouses will contest the Confederation of African Football's (CAF's) 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final in Rabat on Saturday as Nigeria take on host nation Morocco. It's the 13th edition of the tournament, which was pushed back a year due to scheduling issues. Al Jazeera takes a look at the match, which could mark a shift in power in the women's game in Africa. How many WAFCONs have Nigeria and Morocco won? Nigeria are the record nine-time champions. Morocco are yet to lift the trophy but did reach the final on home soil three years ago when they were defeated by South Africa. How did Nigeria reach the WAFCON final? Nigeria opened with a 3-0 win against Tunisia, but the highest ranked team needed a late winner to squeeze past the lowest-ranked side, Botswana. A 0-0 draw in their final group game with Algeria secured the top spot in Group B. The Super Falcons hammered Zambia 5-0 in the quarterfinals before overcoming holders South Africa 2-1 in the last four. How did Morocco reach the WAFCON final? Morocco also remain unbeaten but opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Zambia. A 4-2 win against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and 1-0 win against Senegal sealed Group A. Mali were overcome with a 3-1 win in the last eight before Ghana awaited in the semifinal, in which Morocco needed a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time. 'Mission X' on Nigeria's minds The Nigerian side have come up with branding for their attempt to lift a 10th WAFCON title. Looking to bounce back from their fourth-place finish in the 2022 edition, the Super Falcons dubbed their ambition to win this event as 'Mission X'. A winning mentality in the Morocco camp Morocco's ranks are bolstered by 2022 player of the tournament Ghizlane Chebbak, who netted a hat-trick against the DRC. Atlas Lionesses coach Jorge Vilda could be heading to back-to-back international titles, having led Spain to the 2023 World Cup. 90 minutes from a fairytale ending, The hosts are almost there. 🇲🇦#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 — CAF Women's Football (@CAFwomen) July 24, 2025 Who are the leading scorers at WAFCON 2025? Four goals: Chebbak, Nguenar Ndiaye (Senegal) Three goals: Ibtissam Jraidi (Morocco), Chinwendu Ihezuo (Nigeria), Barbra Banda (Zambia), Racheal Kundananji (Zambia) Where is WAFCON 2025 being staged? Morocco have hosted the last two WAFCON finals as the North Africans' place as a pre-eminent footballing force on the continent is reinforced. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation is also preparing to stage the 2025 men's edition of the Africa Cup of Nations and co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Where is WAFCON final being staged? The Olympic Stadium in Rabat with a capacity of 21,000 people will host the final. What is the prize money for WAFCON 2025? CAF increased the tournament prize pot by 45 percent to $3.475m. The prize money for the winners has doubled since the last edition with the victors of Saturday's match sharing $1m. Predicted lineups Possible Nigeria lineup: Nnadozie, Ohale, Plumptre, Okoronkwo, Echegini, Demehin, Ajibade, Ayinde, Ihezuo, Ijamilusi, Alozie Possible Morocco lineup: Er-Rmichi, Redouani, Benzina, Chebbak, Jraidi, Badri, Tagnaout, Rabbah, Ait El Haj, Ouzraoui, Mrabet
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Brys quits as Cameroon coach citing unpaid salary
YAOUNDE, July 23 (Reuters) - Marc Brys has resigned as coach of Cameroon five months before the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco and with his side's 2026 World Cup qualification undecided, citing unpaid salaries for the Belgian and his technical staff. Brys has had a testy relationship with Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto'o since taking the job in April 2024, but his position is funded by the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education. The coach said in a letter to the ministry, seen by Reuters, that he has made the "decision to unilaterally terminate the said contract for cause, due to the non-payment of my remuneration and that of my staff for more than 60 days." FECAFOOT said in a statement on Wednesday they had noted the resignation and would "implement a coordinated response to mitigate the impact of this vacancy at the head of the national team's technical staff." Cameroon have been drawn in a group with defending champions Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mozambique at the December 21-January 18 finals of the AFCON. They are currently second in their qualifying pool for next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, a point behind Cape Verde with four rounds remaining. Only the top team automatically earns their place at the finals. The qualification campaign will conclude in September and October.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Which Premier League players could feature at Afcon?
A total of 49 Premier League players could miss part of this season due to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and new Manchester United signing Bryan Mbuemo are among the biggest Premier League names who could feature at the held biennially, has historically posed selection challenges for clubs during winter fixtures, with star players temporarily next edition of the tournament, taking place in Morocco, lasts for four weeks from Sunday, 21 December, 2025 to Sunday, 18 January, 2026.A total of 54 players from African countries currently play in the Premier League, but with Ghana and Guinea-Bissau both failing to qualify, Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus and Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo are among the five African players in the Premier League who will not feature at the rounds of Premier League fixtures are due to take place between those dates, as well as the third round of the FA Cup and the semi-final first legs of the EFL Cup, meaning that there is a total of eight matches some players may miss. Which players could be selected? As well as Salah and Mbuemo, several other important players could be called up by their countries for this year's could also call up Salah's international team-mate Omar Marmoush of Manchester City, while Brentford's Yoane Wissa could feature for the Democratic Republic of striker Nicolas Jackson is a Senegal international, as are Everton midfielders Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa United goalkeeper Andre Onana may be called up by Cameroon., while Tottenham midfielders Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr could play for Mali and Senegal, respectively. Which clubs are affected the most? Sunderland have seven players from African nations in their squad who could all receive call-ups to Forest, who will also have European football to also negotiate this season, have six players who may feature at are the only club to have multiple African players that cannot feature at AFCON due to the players' nations not Aston Villa, Leeds and Newcastle are the four clubs who currently do not have an African player in their squads. Which nations are best represented? Of the 24 nations at Afcon, 15 have at least one player from their country at a Premier League Coast and Senegal are the most popular African nation in the Premier League, with eight players each currently at Premier League are the next most popular nation with seven, closely followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Morocco who have four Faso, South Africa, Tunisia, Algeria and Mozambique all have one player each at Premier League clubs. Full list of Premier League players who could feature at AFCON Bournemouth: Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Hamed Traore (Ivory Coast)Arsenal: No African players in current first-team squadAston Villa: No African players in current first-team squadBrentford: Yoane Wissa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria),Brighton: Carlos Baleba (Cameroon), Abdallah Sima (Senegal), Malick Yalcouye (Ivory Coast)Burnley: Axel Tuanzebe (Democratic Republic of Congo), Manuel Benson (Angola), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia)Chelsea: Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)Crystal Palace: Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucoure (Mali), Chadi Riad (Morocco)Everton: Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal), Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)Fulham: Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)Leeds: No African players in current first-team squadLiverpool: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)Manchester City: Omar Marmoush (Egypt), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria)Manchester United: Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Andre Onana (Cameroon), Bryan Mbuemo (Cameroon)Newcastle: No African players in current first-team squadNottingham Forest: Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria), Emmanuel Dennis (Nigeria), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ola Aina (Nigeria), David Carmo (Angola)Sunderland: Blondy Nna Noukeu (Cameroon), Habib Diarra (Senegal), Ahmed Abdullahi (Nigeria), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique), Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Noah Sadiki (Democratic Republic of Congo), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)Tottenham: Yves Bissouma (Mali), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)West Ham: El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal), Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast), Nayef Aguerd (Morocco), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Democratic Republic of Congo)Wolves: Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe), Boubacar Traore (Mali), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast), Tawnda Chirewa (Zimbabwe)African players whose countries have not qualified for Afcon: Antoine Semenyo (Ghana and Bournemouth), Tariq Lamptey (Ghana and Brighton), Yankuba Minteh (Gambia and Brighton), Beto (Guinea-Bissau and Everton), Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and Tottenham)This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. What is Ask Me Anything? Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. More questions answered... Will Barcelona be able to register Rashford?What's changed as FPL goes live?Why does Madueke not count as a homegrown player?How do football agent fees work?
