Sports
‘Awa Lokan’ – Edo Queens’ Moses Aduku, Osigwe Goodness Set Sights On Maiden Glory
Head coach of Edo Queens, Moses Aduku, is confident that his team’s time has come to win their maiden Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership title on Sunday.
As the final matchday of the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership Super Six at hand, all eyes would be on the crucial clash between Edo Queens and Bayelsa Queens in Yenagoa.
Aduku is no stranger to success, having previously led Bayelsa Queens to an epic domestic title in Benin City, the current home ground of Edo Queens, in 2022.
Additionally, the former international won the President’s Federation Cup with the Yenagoa-based side before making the switch to Edo Queens.
However, with three South-South teams—Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens, and Delta Queens—claiming the last three league titles, Aduku believes it’s now Edo Queens’ turn to shine.
“We are condemned to win on Sunday. I am from this state (Bayelsa State), and I believe all the other South-South teams have gone for the continent. Therefore, Edo, Awa lokan (it’s our turn),” Aduku told theNWFL.com.
He added, “I want to thank God for today’s victory. Nasarawa Amazons is not a pushover. The first half was tight, but I told my girls in the second half that we needed this match, and my captain did the magic.”
Currently, Edo Queens sit atop the Super Six table with nine points, ahead of Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens, who they face on Sunday.
Aduku hailed the support of Edo State government and pledged to bring home the coveted silverware.
“I believe Edo State is already in jubilation mode, but we will keep our jubilation for Sunday. The government has done a lot for this team. I must tell you the truth, this team is one of the most motivated. Honestly, the government has really done a lot for this team. Our payback is to give them the trophy,” he continued.
“90 more minutes will speak. I don’t like making bold predictions because I believe fate will determine it, but I trust that my players are ready. On Sunday, it is going to be a Cup final and the winners take it all.
“Definitely, we are going to come out smoking. This is not a league standard when you say home and away. It is one-off and we are good to go. We will wait for Sunday and see who will take the title.”
Edo Queens’ star player, Osigwe Goodness, who is also in the running for the highest goal scorer prize, is prioritizing the league title over individual accolades.
“When the first half ended, the coach reminded us about the reason why we are here. We did play badly in the first half but we couldn’t score. I believed that in the second half, we would definitely win and that was what happened,” she said.
“What is on my mind now is the trophy. However, the highest goal scorer is on my mind because it will be a big opportunity for me to experience that happiness. If the highest goal scorer award didn’t come, it might be the will of God, but the trophy will not slip from us if I miss out on the highest goal scorer.”
Edo Queens are determined to secure their maiden league title with a victory over Bayelsa Queens on Sunday, adding a dramatic finish to an already thrilling season.
Cole Palmer has etched his name into Premier League history after becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a match.
The Chelsea forward delivered an extraordinary performance against Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with all four goals coming in a dazzling 19-minute burst during the first half.
Palmer struck in the 21st, 28th, 31st, and 41st minutes, with his four goals spanning just 19 minutes and 57 seconds.
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This achievement places him among an elite group of players who have netted four or more goals in a single Premier League match, a rare feat that has only been accomplished 41 times in the competition’s history.
While Palmer’s feat is remarkable, only one player has scored four goals in a match in a shorter time span—former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe, who netted four times in just 17 minutes and 56 seconds during Spurs’ 9-1 demolition of Wigan Athletic in November 2009.
In addition to this new record, Palmer has also been making a name for himself from the penalty spot.
He has converted all 10 of his Premier League penalties, putting him just one goal behind Yaya Toure’s record of 11 penalties scored with a 100% conversion rate.
Maintaining a flawless penalty record is no easy task, as Ivan Toney found out in the 2022/23 season.
The Brentford striker came close to matching Toure’s record, only for his 11th penalty to be saved by Nick Pope.
Ironically, Toney managed to score another penalty later in the same match.
With Palmer’s incredible form and flawless penalty-taking, the young England international is fast becoming one of the Premier League’s rising stars, adding new chapters to both Chelsea’s and the league’s history.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has imposed a two-match ban on Emiliano Martinez for “offensive behaviour.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) made the announcement on Saturday.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Aston Villa, was also found guilty of “violating principles of fair play” in two separate incidents.
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The first violation occurred during Argentina’s World Cup qualifier win over Chile on September 5, when Martinez held a replica of the Copa America trophy to his groin.
This was not the first time he had performed such a gesture, having done the same with the Golden Glove trophy after Argentina’s victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final.
In a second incident, FIFA sanctioned Martinez for striking a cameraman’s equipment with his gloves after Argentina’s 2-1 loss to Colombia on September 10.
The AFA voiced its displeasure with FIFA’s ruling, stating, “The Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee.”
As a result of the ban, Martinez will miss Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela on October 10 and Bolivia on October 15.
Argentina currently leads the South American qualifying table with 18 points from eight matches, two points ahead of second-placed Colombia. Martinez’s absence will be keenly felt as the team looks to secure qualification.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League match against Qarabag has been postponed due to severe travel disruptions in London.
The announcement was made on the club’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday evening.
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According to the statement, further details regarding the rescheduling of the match are expected to follow.
The post reads, “Kick off for tonight’s fixture has been delayed due to severe travel disruption. Further information to follow.
More to follow………
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