Sports
Edo Queens Win Maiden NWFL Premiership Trophy
For the first time in their history, Edo Queens have emerged as the champions of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership.
The Benin City-based team clinched the title in dramatic final-day showdown following a 1-1 draw against Bayelsa Queens at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, on Matchday Five of the 2023/2024 Super Six on Sunday.
Despite needing a win to secure their position regardless of other results, Moses Aduku’s side managed to top the standings.
They had to keep an eye on the match between seven-time champions Rivers Angels and Super Six debutants Heartland Queens in Nembe, which also had title implications.
Bayelsa Queens nearly took the lead in the sixth minute when Mary Anjor’s cross was mishandled by Mercy Omokwo, who missed an open net. This miss proved costly as Edo Queens capitalized on a corner kick in the 29th minute, from which Emem Essien scored an acrobatic goal from inside the six-yard box.
At half time, with the match between Rivers Angels and Heartland Queens still goalless, both teams in Yenagoa intensified their search for a decisive goal.
Four minutes into the second half, Bayelsa Queens equalized through Zainab Olopade, who converted a free kick following a foul on Anjor near the box.
In Nembe, Rivers Angels took the lead in the 72nd minute with a goal from Olamide Adugbe, which shifted the table in their favour.
This put pressure on both teams in Yenagoa to find another goal to reclaim the top spot. Bayelsa Queens needed more goals to surpass their South-South neighbors.
However, Heartland Queens played spoilers for Rivers Angels as substitute Emmanuella James scored from a goalmouth scramble, equalizing on the dot of 90 minutes. This twist returned the title race in favor of Edo Queens.
Ultimately, both deciding matches ended in 1-1 draws, securing the league title for Edo Queens for the first time.
On their part, Rivers Angels missed out on their chance to win a record-breaking eighth title to finish second, while Bayelsa Queens also fell short of claiming their sixth title to end in third after successes in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2018, and the 2021/2022 seasons.
Edo Queens will now represent Nigeria at the 2024 West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) Women’s Champions League Qualifiers, with the opportunity to qualify for the fourth edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League.
In addition to the giant trophy, the Benin Arsenals received a cash prize of 10 million naira after securing 10 points. The first runners-up, Rivers Angels, were awarded 5 million naira, edging out Bayelsa Queens, who received 3 million naira, due to their superior goals scored despite both teams being tied on nine points.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa Amazons edged Confluence Queens 1-0 in the last game of the Super Six in Yenagoa.
It took Regina Omede’s second-minute goal to separate both sides in the North Central Derby.
Nasarawa Amazons finished fourth with seven points, ahead of fifth Heartland Queens and sixth Confluence Queens, who both ended the tournament with three points each.
On individual awards, FC Robo Queens’ Folashade Ijamilusi, who scored eight goals this season, won the season’s top goal scorer award ahead of Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens) and Ojiyovwi Kesiena (Nasarawa Amazons), who both scored seven goals.
Rivers Angels’ Morufa Ademola was voted the goalkeeper of the season after her heroic efforts led the Jewels of Rivers to a second-place finish at the season-ending Super Six.
The Fair Play award went to the hosts Bayelsa Queens, who finished third.
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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