NIGERIA
Super Falcons came from behind to beat Australia three-two and leave the co-hosts facing a battle to qualify for the last 16 of the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Australia scored first when Emily van Egmond converted Caitlin Foord’s pass.
But Nigeria equalised soon afterwards with Uchenna Kanu’s calm finish, before Osinachi Ohale’s header made it 2-1.
Asisat Oshoala scored after a mix-up between Australia’s Alanna Kennedy and Mackenzie Arnold and Nigeria held on, despite Kennedy scoring late on.
Nigeria move top of Group B, level with Canada on four points, while Australia are a point behind both before the last matches in the section on Monday.
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The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, commended the Super Falcons for their victory over co-hosts Australia, in the on-going FIFA Women World Cup.
The Falcons on Thursday overcame a stubborn Australian side 3-2 at Brisbane Stadium in their first win at fiesta.
The First Lady, who watched the game at her Abuja home, said the team made Nigeria proud and charged them to go all the way and win the cup for Africa.
She said doing so would be a source of pride for Nigeria.
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Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala, says the team still had a lot to offer in Women’s football after their superlative performance against co-host Australia at ongoing World Cup.
The Super Falcons coming from behind to humble Australia 3-2 at Brisbane Stadium.
Oshoala came in as a substitute and her presence unsettled Australia in the 72nd minute as she scored Nigeria’s third and decisive goal from a tight angle.
Oshoala told newsmen after the match that the victory for the Super Falcons who are currently ranked 40th in the world against 10th ranked Australia, was a result of hard work and team spirit.
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Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, has waded into the controversy surrounding the payment dispute between the Nigeria Football Federation and the country’s women football team, Super Falcons.
He made the post after the Nigerian female team recorded a stunning victory against Australia the host country of the ongoing Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons will not be paid their tournament match bonuses following an announcement from FIFA that all players would receive around £15,760 for participation in the group stages of the tournament.
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Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze has joined Serie A giants AC Milan from Spanish Laliga side Villarreal.
Chukwueze signed a five-year contract with AC Milan according to a statement on the team’s website.
The deal is reported to be worth €28m including add-ons.
Chukwueze speaks on why he accepted the offer.
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Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has confidently declared that he will emerge victorious in his highly-anticipated rematch against Dillian Whyte, scheduled for August 12 at the iconic O2 Arena in London.
Reflecting on their previous encounter in 2015, which Joshua won via a seventh-round stoppage, the Olympian admitted that he still vividly remembered the thunderous left hook delivered by Whyte during the bout.
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IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Argentina manager German Portanova told his team to “play with the love that optimises our football” before they produced a stunning comeback from two goals down to draw with South Africa.
South Africa were on course to pick up a first ever Women’s World Cup victory in a pulsating encounter in Dunedin but in the end they had to settle for their first point after Argentina scored twice within five second-half minutes.
Knowing defeat would take Argentina to the brink of elimination, they threw everything at Desiree Ellis’ side in the second half and were rewarded for their endeavour.
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Australia will wait until the last minute to make a decision on captain Sam Kerr’s fitness for Monday’s crucial Women’s World Cup game against Canada.
The Chelsea striker missed Australia’s opening two games with a calf injury.
After beating the Republic of Ireland, the co-hosts suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria on Thursday to leave them facing a battle to reach the last 16.
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Portugal set up a face-off with reigning champions the United States for a Women’s World Cup last-16 spot by winning impressively against Vietnam.
The debutants got a maiden victory via their first World Cup goals, scored by Telma Encarnacao and Kika Nazareth.
Portugal will progress to the knockout stages if they cause a giant upset and beat four-time winners the USA.
Vietnam will be eliminated from the World Cup after this loss at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand.
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Captain Lindsey Horan came to the rescue of defending champions the United States after the Netherlands had threatened an upset at the Women’s World Cup.
New Manchester City signing Jill Roord put the Dutch on course for a famous win after a clinical finish from the edge of the box.
The Stars and Stripes have been a superpower on the world stage, winning their previous 13 matches spanning three tournaments, but they struggled to break down a resolute Netherlands defence until Horan equalised with a header from a corner.
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England midfielder Keira Walsh says she feels more responsibility on the pitch under manager Sarina Wiegman.
Walsh, 26, was one of the stars of Euro 2022, completing a world-record transfer to Barcelona shortly after the Lionesses won the tournament.
In her debut season for Barcelona she won the Women’s Champions League and helped them retain their league title.
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ENGLAND
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq.
The England midfielder, 33, has moved in a deal worth £12m plus add-ons.
In a goodbye video a day earlier, Henderson had announced that he would be leaving the club after 12 years during which he won the Premier League and Champions League.
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Former Manchester City playmaker David Silva has announced his retirement from football.
The Spanish great spent a highly successful decade at City and won four Premier League titles before joining Real Sociedad in 2020.
However, Silva suffered a serious knee injury during pre-season and has decided to call time on his 19-year playing career.
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Brighton have rejected a further bid from Chelsea, believed to be around £80m, for midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Caicedo, 21, is with Roberto de Zerbi’s squad in New Jersey, where they are set to play Newcastle on Friday.
Brighton are understood to have rejected the revised offer instantly, and are said to be committed to keeping the Ecuador international.
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The Manchester United fans’ group leading the current protests against the Glazer family’s ownership of the club says any continued long-term involvement by the Americans at Old Trafford would leave “a bitter taste”.
Negotiations around the potential sale of Manchester United are still taking place, with Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani submitting a fifth bid for 100% of the club last month.
Rival bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group is willing to secure a majority stake, which would allow current owners the Glazer family to retain representation in some capacity.
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Fabinho has not travelled with Liverpool on their trip to Singapore with his future still to be resolved.
The midfielder was left behind when the club went to Germany for a pre-season training camp after Al-Ittihad made a £40m bid for him on 14 July.
A move has yet to be completed, but the 29-year-old Brazil international has been left out of the Reds’ 27-man squad in Singapore too.
Liverpool play Leicester City on 30 July and Bayern Munich on 2 August.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis; Britain’s Heather Watson is through to the Poland Open quarter-finals, but compatriot Jodie Burrage’s run is over.
Watson, 31, defeated Belarusian Yuliya Hatouka in three sets, recovering from losing the second to win 6-2 5-7 6-1.
The British number five will play her Belgian doubles partner Yanina Wickmayer in the last eight.
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In Golf; Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a five under par 66 to lead on day one of the Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl.
Jimenez is two shots clear of Germany’s Alex Cejka and USA’s Marip Tiziani and three ahead of Vijay Singh and Jeev Milka Singh.
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In Cricket; England face a battle to level the Ashes after Australia enjoyed the better of the first day of the fifth Test at The Oval.
Finally winning the toss for the first time in the series, Australia pounced on the opportunity to put England in on a green-tinged pitch and dismissed the home side for 283 before moving to 61-1, 222 behind.
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In Rugby; Bristol Bears have signed Argentina forward Santiago Grondona.
The 24-year-old former Exeter player, who can play at lock or in the back row, joins from French side Pau.
Grondona played eight times for Pau after moving to France from the Chiefs in February and is part of Argentina’s squad at the Rugby Championship.
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OTHER LEAGUES.
Players and officials at a Spanish fourth-tier club were among 17 people arrested for alleged involvement in match-fixing, national police announced on Thursday.
A police statement said 11 of the arrests took place in Melilla, one of the two Spanish enclaves on the coast of Morocco, but did not name the club involved.
Spanish daily El Pais said the club was Huracan Melilla, the worst professional club in Spain last season, and the arrests were made in June.
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Barcelona have been provisionally cleared to play in the 2023-24 Champions League amid a Uefa investigation into allegations the club made payments to a referees’ chief.
In March, European football’s governing body confirmed it was looking into claims of payments made by Barcelona for favourable refereeing decisions.
Barcelona have denied any wrongdoing.
While Barcelona have been allowed in Europe, Uefa reserved the right to punish the club in the future.
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Paris St-Germain have made a take-it-or-leave-it bid of 50m euros (£42.8m) for Atalanta forward and Manchester United target Rasmus Hojlund.
The Denmark striker is top of the Red Devils’ wanted list this summer.
Manager Erik ten Hag is desperate to conclude a deal, with United convinced they can sign the 20-year-old before their Premier League opener against Wolves at Old Trafford on 14 August.
However, PSG have now made their interest known.
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Hibernian suffered a calamitous and embarrassing defeat at the hands of Andorran side Inter Club d’Escaldes in the first leg of their Europa Conference League second-round qualifier.
Lee Johnson’s men fell behind to an Adria Gallego strike after questionable defending allowed the hosts to cut through their backline with ease.
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The Football Association has laid out plans to recruit 50% more referees from “historically under-represented” backgrounds by 2026.
It means the governing body plans for an increase of 1,000 women referees and 1,000 black or Asian referees at all levels of football in three years.
The FA also wants to ensure those rises are reflected in the professional game.
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TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is not about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward… Words from Sylvester Stallone.
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