Sports

FIFAWomen U-20 W/Cup: Falconets Make History Eliminate Champions, USA

Published

15 years ago

July 25, 2010

Nigeria’s Super Falconets did the almost impossible by coming from behind to eliminate world champions, USA from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Germany yesterday.

Goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan was the hero as she saved one penalty kick and intimidated USA star player Sydney Leroux into missing the decisive kick to send Nigeria through 4-2 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 in regulation and extra-time.

Amber Brooks had given the USA the lead on nine minutes as a nervy Nigerian team struggled to find any sort of rhythm in the opening 45 minutes. It was to their credit though, that despite the disjointed play, they held it down at the back and kept the dangerous Sydney Leroux quiet.

At the other end, the USA back-four were also doing a good job stifling and keeping pace with Nigeria’s lethal combination of Ebere Orji and Eberechi Oparanozie.

The Falconets best passage of play came in the closing minutes of the first half when composed passing and ball movement opened up the USA defence, but Orji hit tamely at the keeper.

Nigeria looked a side reborn in the second half, continuing from where they left off in the first and threatened the world champions endlessly.

Both Orji and Oparanozie had half-chances to reap rewards, but found their route blocked by Crystal Dunn and Henninger.

Nigeria coach Ndem Egan then threw on the mercurial Esther Sunday, who had been inexplicably left out of the starting eleven, and Nigeria looked even more dangerous. And the goal didn’t take long to follow.

Sunday rolled a free-kick into the path of Ukaonu, who zapped an unstoppable effort past Henninger and into the top right hand corner.

Nigeria had their tails up and were pinning the rattled Americans back in their own half, but there were to be no further goals even in extra time, although both sides had chances to do so.

Oparanozie muscled round her marker, but hit the side netting with only Henninger in front of her, and Kristie Mewis crashed a volley on the crossbar late on. The game went into penalties, and it was the Nigerian who came out triumphant.

The victory marked the first time the Falconets would go beyond the quarter final stage of the competition and the first time any Nigeria woman football team will reach the semi final stage in a FIFA world cup

They will now play Colombia in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

Sports

Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification

Published

3 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that Nigeria have the players and abilities to compete against any country in the world.

Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.

The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.

We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”

The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.

“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.

“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.

Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.

It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.

Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.

Sports

ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION

Published

3 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.

He stated that in spite the fact that sports journalists are doing greatly in the country but hardly find any sports journalist that specializes on a particular sport reporting and become an authority, as it obtainable in advance countries.

Mr. Ogolo , who was the former Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State Chapter, said this after he received the Veteran Sports Journalist Award, during the SWAN @60 Diamond jubilee award night, in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, sports journalists have done tremendously well in sports development through effective and efficient reportage.

“SWAN has done greatly to develop sports in Nigeria, so they should be given its rightful place.

“Members should continue to do what they are doing, Nigerians are sports loving people when you give them facts and accurate reporting they will be happy, besides, sports writers have a big role to play in advancement of sports in Nigeria”, Mr. Ogolo said.

The former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The TIDE Newspapers, used the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the National Executive Council (NEC) of SWAN for the award.

He explained that the award is one of the most important and special awards he has received, hence it came from his primary constituency as a journalist.

” I am not just happy but overwhelmed. This award will spur me to contribute more in development of sports and I we equally support SWAN Rivers State Chapter in my little way” he stated.

By: Tonye Orabere

Sports

DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN

Published

3 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.

He stated that the sports writing fraternity is where he cannot forget as a sports journalist that starts from the grassroots.

Mr. Nyong said this while presiding over South South SWAN zonal meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries, including some elders in the zone, on Friday, in Abuja.

He explained what led to his suspension and sue unity and peace amongst members, saying that what happened should be a thing of the past, as he was actually misled and deceived.

The Deputy National President reiterated his commitment to work with Cyril Dum Wite led administration in Rivers State Chapter of SWAN, saying that SWAN is one and there should be no division of any such.

He reels out ideas that can make SWAN viable and enviable in the zone.

“I want peace and unity amongst members of the association in the zone, we are one family, let us work as family. Thank God I am back fully, members of the zone will enjoy the association”, Mr. Nyong said.

Also speaking the Vice President of SWAN south south zone, Azuka Chiemeka, thanked members that attended the meeting and also advised members to work in peace, unity and love with others members to achieve positive result.

It will be recalled Bonny Nyong was suspended in Full council meeting held in Kano following what can be described as misconduct, but was forgiven and his suspension was lifted after he apologised to Full council members in a meeting, held in Abuja, during SWAN@60 celebrations.

By: Tonye Orabere