Sports
Green Falcons complete Ghana double ahead World Rugby Series
After a humbling 40-0 defeat in the first game on Tuesday, the Ghanaians were more resilient on Saturday and were delighted to keep the scoreline more respectable.
Nigeria got off the blocks as quickly as possible with a couple of tries in the opening stages, as the Ghanaians trailed 12-2 at halftime.
Ghana showed more intent in the second half and halved the deficit to 16-8.
The friendly encounter became more intense with some hits and fists between the players, but that was doused by a Nigerian try, Faustina Akeje, who took Nigeria’s tries to 20.
The Green Falcons added one more try to end the game at 24-8.
General Manager of the NRLA, Isah Lawal, said the results of the friendly games will reflect in the team’s tactics ahead of the World Series.
“We wanted to make this game more structured and more constructed, and them being able to score this time, we don’t see it as a negative, but now we know the areas to tighten up and make sure we are sharp at the tournament,” he said.
Chairman of the Nigeria Rugby League Association, Abiodun Cole, expressed confidence in the team’s ability ahead of the World Series.
“We have fantastic guys in Alaro City behind us, and we also have a lot of support from ex-players who are home and abroad. The team’s strategy involves combining local players with those based abroad to create a formidable squad.
“With faith in their abilities and God’s guidance, the team is looking forward to putting up a good show in Canada.”
The friendly matches offered the Green Falcons the opportunity to fine-tune their tactics ahead of a more significant test, their participation in the inaugural Rugby League World Series in Canada later this month.
Nigeria will compete against Ireland, Fiji, and hosts Canada for the final qualification spot at the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
ON finals, which will be staged in Morocco.
Benin Republic’s interim coach Abdoulaye Ouzérou has released the list of players who will represent the Cheetah Queens as they battle the reigning African champions for a place in the final qualifying round.
Ouzérou’s squad features a mix of experienced players and emerging talents drawn from both local and foreign clubs.
According to the Benin Football Federation, the team has been in camp for over a week, focusing on tactical discipline and physical conditioning to face the star-studded Nigerian side.
The Super Falcons are the defending champions after defeating Morocco in the last edition’s final, and will be aiming to continue their dominance on the continent.
Nigeria is expected to announce its final squad in the coming days, with head coach Justine Madugu likely to retain most of the players who featured in the last international window.
The two-legged encounter promises to be intense, as Benin seeks to pull off a major upset against one of Africa’s most successful women’s teams.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.