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FIFA Expects Maiden WCL To Boost African Game
Hopes are high that this year’s inaugural African Women’s Champions League can raise the standard of the game in Africa to unprecedented levels, both on the continent and more globally.
The line-up for the maiden finals was decided after Malabo King of Equatorial Guinea clinched the last place.
Malabo King beat Amani FCF 1-0 in DR Congo to secure a 5-1 aggregate win and secure the qualification from the Central African zone.
They now join AS FAR (Morocco), AS Mande (Mali), Hasaacas Ladies (Ghana), Sundowns Ladies (South Africa), Rivers Angels (Nigeria), Vihiga Queens (Kenya) and Wadi Degla (Egypt) at the November’s tournament.
“We want to see better performing African teams during the qualifying phases for the World Cup in 2023,” FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said of the tournament.
“We want Africa this time to do even better than in France two years ago. We are strongly committed in developing women football.”
At the last Women’s World Cup in 2019, which France hosted, two African teams, Cameroon and Nigeria, reached the last 16 for the first time. The next tournament takes place in 2023.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the creation of the African Women’s Champions League last year as it seeks to develop the sport.
All but hosts Wadi Degla came through regional events, with Rivers Angels, Hasaacas Ladies and AS Mande qualifying from West Africa, AS Far from the north, Malabo King from the centre and Vihiga Queens and Sundowns Ladies from the east and south respectively.
“The competition offers us a great platform to showcase our talent when we go to Egypt,” said Vihiga Queens captain, Enez Mango, after their qualification last week.
“I know we have many good players, and this can be a route to them playing professionally with teams abroad.”
Senegalese Samoura was in attendance for last week’s final stages of the eastern and southern matches, whereby Queens and Sundowns progressed.
“This is the first edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League and by having (East African region) Cecafa and other regions organising it, it means we are taking growth of women football (to) the next level,” she said last week.
“The women’s game in Africa is growing, and growing fast, and what I have seen in southern Africa with seven clubs, and eight clubs participating in Cecafa, (all entering qualifying) means that more investment is going into football.”
Caf is not only developing women’s football but also investing in the sport, as is Fifa which makes the creation of women’s football programmes an incentive for member associations to receive more money from the game’s global body.
“FIFA invested $1.5 billion in women’s football for the 2019-2022 cycle because we have a clear objective, which is to have 60 million women footballers registered by 2026,” Samoura explained.
The maiden African Women’s Champions League, which will feature two groups of four before a knock-out phase, will run between 5-19 November in Egypt.
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene