Sports
Horvel Angels Upset Holders Fosla Academy to Claim 2025 HerGame Girls Football Championship Title
Horvel Angels were crowned champions of the 2025 HerGame Girls Football Championship after defeating defending champions Fosla Academy 2–0 in a commanding final on Saturday at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Abuja.
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This year’s edition marked a major leap in scale and quality, expanding from an Abuja-only competition to a regional showcase featuring 16 teams drawn from across the North Central zone, providing a more competitive atmosphere and uncovered new levels of talent and technical depth.
Horvel Angels set the tempo early, with Agatha John firing home a composed first-half finish following sustained attacking pressure. The contest was sealed in the second half when tournament revelation Lilian Odide delivered a clinical strike to secure the victory and prevent Fosla Academy from retaining their title.
Earlier in the day, SIK Paragon of Jos clinched third place after a narrow 1–0 win over Generation Next, earning the bronze prize of ₦100,000. Runners-up Fosla Academy received ₦150,000, while champions Horvel Angels claimed the top prize of ₦250,000.
In Individual accolades, Patricia Habila of Fosla Academy was named Most Valuable Player for her midfield brilliance, while Horvel Angels’ striker Lilian Odide finished as Top Scorer with six goals, concluding her superb tournament with the title-deciding strike. Flora Williams of SIK Paragon was voted Best Goalkeeper, having conceded just one goal.
Horvel Angels head coach, Ogbada Atta, commended his team’s resilience and discipline.
“The girls were exceptional from start to finish. They stayed disciplined, followed instructions and showed real hunger. Beating Fosla in a final is no small achievement. This win means everything to us.”
Fosla Academy’s head coach, Christopher Igbuku, praised his players despite the loss.
“We fought hard but Horvel were more decisive today. My players gave their all and I am proud of them. We will bounce back stronger. That is our tradition.”
HerGame Foundation founder and tournament’s sole sponsor, Dr. Pat Ajuma Ayegba, expressed satisfaction with the championship’s growth and reaffirmed her mission to build a national platform for emerging female footballers.
“HerGame is fulfilling its purpose of discovering, empowering and projecting the next generation of female footballers,” she said. “Every girl who played here has a future in the game, and we will keep expanding this platform nationwide.”
The FCT FA board member and Head of Women’s Football Committee also acknowledged key supporters, emphasising the collaborative effort behind the tournament’s success.
“HerGame is built on collaboration and genuine support. I deeply appreciate the Nigeria Football Federation for donating match balls, and we are grateful for the one million naira financial support from the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports. Their contributions strengthened the competition and showed that investing in girls’ football is a shared responsibility.”
FCT FA Secretary and Head of the Organising Committee, Haruna Ilerika, praised the technical quality and overall execution of the event.
“The level of organisation, officiating and talent on display shows how far HerGame has come in just its second edition. The standard was top-class.”
With Horvel Angels lifting the 2025 crown and Fosla Academy taking second place, the HerGame Girls Football Championship continues to cement its place as one of Nigeria’s most impactful grassroots pathways for discovering and nurturing future stars of women’s football.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Amadu; Hajiya (Dr.) Nafisa Shehu Mohammed, President of the Road Safety Officers Wives Association (ROSOWA); Hajiya Amina Sani-Zango-Daura, Head of Women’s Football at the Nigeria Football Federation; former NFF President and Founder of FOSLA Academy, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi; and FCT FA Secretary, Haruna Ilerika.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons have unveiled a striking new 10-star jersey ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), celebrating the team’s unparalleled success on the African continent.
The newly designed kit features 10 stars encircling the team’s badge, with each star representing one of Nigeria’s 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles.
The symbolic design reflects the Super Falcons’ legacy as the most successful side in the history of the competition.
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The nine-time defending champions first wore the special jersey during Thursday’s 2-1 international friendly victory over Tanzania’s Twiga Stars, giving supporters a glimpse of the new look ahead of the continental showpiece.
Justin Madugu’s team will now turn its attention to Morocco, where it will be aiming to capture a record-extending 11th WAFCON title and further cement its dominance in African women’s football.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to begin on Saturday, with Nigeria opening its title defence against tournament debutants Malawi on Tuesday at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
See the jersey below
The German Football Association (DFB) has officially appointed former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp as the new head coach of the country’s men’s national football team.
Klopp, 59, replaces Julian Nagelsmann, who departed following Germany’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement was made on Friday during a press conference in Frankfurt by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf.
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Neuendorf confirmed that Klopp has signed a contract that will run until the summer of 2030, keeping him in charge through the next FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal. He added that Klopp will officially assume his new role on August 15.
Speaking during the unveiling, Neuendorf expressed confidence that Klopp is the right man to restore Germany’s status as one of world football’s elite nations.
Germany’s latest World Cup campaign ended in disappointment after a penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the Round of 32.
The exit marked the country’s third consecutive poor World Cup performance since lifting the trophy for a fourth time in Brazil in 2014.
The four-time world champions also failed to progress beyond the group stage at the 2018 and 2022 editions, while their only knockout victory in the last five major tournaments came during Euro 2024, where they reached the quarter-finals on home soil.
Klopp had previously indicated his interest in leading the national team after Nagelsmann’s departure earlier this month.
Widely regarded as one of football’s most successful managers, Klopp built his reputation at Mainz before guiding Borussia Dortmund to domestic success.
He later transformed Liverpool into one of Europe’s dominant clubs, winning multiple major trophies, including the UEFA Champions League and the English Premier League.
Germany will now look to Klopp to oversee a long-term rebuild and guide the national team back to competing for major international honours.
Spain’s celebrations after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup were overshadowed by tragedy after a 13-year-old boy died and several others were injured when a fountain collapsed during jubilant scenes in the western Spanish town of Ciudad Rodrigo.
The heartbreaking incident occurred shortly after Spain secured a historic 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, ending a 16-year wait for the country’s second global football title.
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According to local authorities, emergency services received multiple distress calls at around 12:30 a.m. local time after a fountain packed with celebrating fans suddenly collapsed.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Ciudad Rodrigo City Hall confirmed the teenager’s death and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
“The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences for the death of a boy of 13.”
The municipality described the incident as a devastating turn of events, saying: “What should have been a celebration of Spain’s team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy.”
Emergency services also confirmed that another youth was injured in the collapse, while several others sustained injuries as rescue teams rushed to the scene.
Local media reported that the fountain gave way under the weight of dozens of fans who had climbed onto the structure to celebrate Spain’s World Cup triumph.
The fatal accident cast a somber mood over celebrations across the football-loving nation, with many expressing grief just hours after Spain’s memorable victory on the world stage.
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