Sports
Namibia’s Coach Urges Support For Falcon’s Coach
Chief Coach of Namibia’s senior women football team, Jacqueline Shipanga, has called for support for her Nigerian counterpart, Eucharia Uche, advising that Uche should be left in-charge of the Nigerian team.
Shipanga whose team lost 0-7 to the Super Falcons in a 2012 Olympic Games qualifier on April 3 in Abuja, last weekend said that Uche deserved respect.
“We of the female stock are not asking our male counterparts for any favour but what we deserve. Don’t give us anything on a platter of gold.
“We have come a long way and we deserve some respects. Uche in her case has also come a long way and should get that respect from Nigerians,” she said.
Shipanga spoke against the background of calls for more technical support for Uche and complaints raised about the team’s performance against Namibia.
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has since about three weeks ago drafted German coach Thomas Obliers to the team, although he did not sit on the team’s bench against Namibia.
“Uche has done a lot for the Falcons. She played for the team for many years and won titles and now she has coached the team and also won honours.
“She won the African Women Championship (AWC) title and the World Cup ticket, the first time by any woman coach.
“So, why not give her the same chance you will give her male counterparts.
“It is not the same thing you do to our male counterparts, and it is clear Uche is as good and deserving of respect like any other male coach anywhere,” Shipanga said.
The Brave Warriors coach who has handled some Namibian clubsides before joining the national team said replacing Uche as the Falcons technical chief would be disastrous for Nigeria.
“Uche is a very good coach from what I can see and replacing her will not only be counter-productive but also going to be really unfair.
“It will not be good for Nigeria in the long run,” she said.
Shipanga who is also a former player and a FIFA instructor for women football and grassroots development, said that Nigerians should rather encourage Uche to further develop her coaching abilities.
“She only needs encouragement from Nigerians to be able to advance in coaching and do better than she is doing now,” she said.
Uche had faced constant criticisms, regarding her coaching capabilities since she took charge of the team in 2009, and was always under fire even when her team was winning.
The Falcons’ inability to score more than a goal in the second half after putting in six goals in the first half of the 7-0 win over Namibia on Sunday, also raised questions about Uche’s ability.
However, the NFA recently drafted Obliers, coach of German league clubside SC 07 Bad Neuenahr, to the team as a response to the calls, although his position in the team has not been made public.
Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi began his 2026 season with victory at the Orlen Cup in ?ód?, producing a dominant 20.82m throw to win the men’s shot put at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Poland, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Africa record holder finished ahead of Romania’s Andrei Toader, who placed second with 20.55m, while Serbia’s Armin Sinan?evi? took third on 19.93m.
Poland’s Szymon Mazur, the best-placed home athlete, finished fourth with 19.69m, with Italy’s Nick Ponzio completing the top five on 19.58m.
The rest of the field was headed by Piotr Go?dziewicz (18.02m), Jakub Korejba (17.55m), Wojciech Marok (17.48m), Damian Rodziak (17.23m) and Ukraine’s Maksym Lebediuk (15.75m).
Enekwechi’s winning mark gave him a clear margin over the field and underlined his status as one of world’s leading throwers, as he laid down an early marker for the new campaign in his traditional season-opening competition.
The result also marked an improvement shift in his Orlen Cup history. This was his third consecutive appearance at the meeting and his third straight season opener with the event, having previously finished second in 2024 with 21.14m and again in 2025 with 20.88m.
On this occasion, he converted consistency into victory, finally standing on the top step of the podium in ?ód?.
Enekwechi is the reigning two-time African champion in the shot put, a silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a two-time African Games champion, having won titles in 2019 and 2023.
His performance in Poland continues a career trajectory that has established him as Nigeria’s leading figure in the event and one of the continent’s most reliable performers on the global circuit.
The women’s competition at the meeting was won by Poland’s Zuzanna Ma?lana.
With the 2026 season now under way, Enekwechi’s opening victory at the Orlen Cup sets an early tone for the year ahead, as he builds momentum towards major continental and international championships.
The next edition of the Orlen Cup is scheduled to take place in ?ód? in February 2027.
Tanzanian giants Simba have opened discussions over a potential move for Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as they look to reinforce their squad following an injury to first-choice shot-stopper Moussa Camara, Tidesports source reports.
The 29-year-old, who plays for South Africa Premiership side Chippa United, is in the final six months of his contract and is eligible to enter pre-contract negotiations with foreign clubs.
Foot Africa reported that Simba are exploring the possibility of bringing Nwabali to Dar es Salaam either during the current window or on a free transfer at the end of the season, although no agreement has been reached.
“Sources have indicated that Simba are in active talks with the player’s camp in a bid to lure him to Dar es Salaam in the ongoing window or on a free transfer – but no agreement reached,” Foot Africa reported.
Simba’s interest has been accelerated by Camara’s knee injury, which prompted the club to move quickly to sign Mahamadou Tanja Kassila from Niger’s AS FAN.
The club are reportedly considering deregistering Camara to accommodate the new foreign signing, a situation that has frustrated the Guinea international, who has asked for the remaining six months of his contract to be terminated.
In their search for a longer-term solution, Simba identified Nwabali as a prime target, although formal negotiations with his club have yet to begin.
“Simba identified Nwabali as the ideal successor to Camara, but the club is yet to submit a formal bid to Chippa United, who are open to offers,” Foot Africa added.
Nwabali’s profile has continued to rise following his performances for Nigeria, most notably at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he kept four clean sheets in seven matches as the Super Eagles secured a bronze medal.
Oyo State is set to return to the continental football spotlight as it prepares to host Nigeria’s Falconets in a crucial 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Senegal’s Lioness of Teranga.
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The Oyo State Government said the state was selected for the fixture following its successful hosting of a previous Falconets’ qualifier, further underlining its growing profile as a destination for international sporting events.
In a statement on Monday Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, confirmed that preparations were in top gear to ensure a hitch-free match. She said the choice of Oyo State as host was a reflection of confidence in the state’s sporting infrastructure, organisational competence and security architecture.
She recalled the emphatic victory recorded by the Falconets against Rwanda at the same venue last year, describing the match as a testament to the state’s readiness to stage major sporting events.
“The successful hosting of the Falconets against Rwanda showcased Oyo State’s world-class facilities and our capacity to organise international fixtures that meet global standards,” Adegoke said. “The Lekan Salami Stadium has continued to serve as a fortress for our national teams, and we are confident the Falconets will once again make the nation proud.”
Adegoke also disclosed that the Falconets are expected to arrive in Ibadan today ahead of the qualifier, to allow ample time for acclimatisation and final preparations. She added that the team would enjoy full logistical support from the state throughout their stay.
The Falconets, who reached the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Japan 14 years ago, will go into the last round of the qualifying series if they win this encounter, to confront the winner of the Guinea-Bissau/Malawi fixture, for one of Africa’s four tickets at the final tournament.
The 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in Poland, from September 5 to 27, 2026.
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