Sports
USA Thrash Super Falcons In Friendly Match
The United States Women’s National Team, USWNT on Saturday evening thrashed former African Champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria 4-0 in a 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup preparatory match.
The Falcons were a goal down in the 13th minute following Smith strike and conceded their second in the 26th minute to hand the US Ladies the driving seat.
Smith got her brace in the first half added time minute to consolidate their advantage as they headed into the break.
Alex Morgan made it 4-0 on the dot of 54th minute via spot kick and despite mounting an appreciable improvement thereafter, the Falcons were subdued by the more experienced Americans.
The match which was played at the Kansas City was a disappointing result for the ladies. Buy it is an exciting experience and exposure for Falcons young and ambitious group of talents who had Falconets player incorporated into the team.
The match was one of two friendly matches lined up with the Americans. It is the first time the team are regroup after their 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of NationsWAFCON, unimpressive showing in Morocco two months ago.
The second leg comes up tomorrow in Washington DC.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”