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African ladies converge in Morocco for Wafcon ‘war’

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Lovers of female football on the African continent will be treated to a spectacular soccer ‘war’ for the next three weeks as the best soccer nations gather in Morocco for the 14th edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations tagged Wafcon.

The female soccer fiesta which kicked off on Saturday, will see the two Moroccan cities of Rabat and Casablanca play host to the finest female soccer artistry to come out of the continent.

The 12 nations will also battle for the prestigious trophy while aiming to upstage perenial champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria who have won the trophy a record nine times.

The tournament will also be more intense as it doubles as the African qualifiers to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the top four teams at the WAFCON automatically qualifying for the Mundial in Australia and New Zealand, while two more teams will advance into the inter-confederation play-offs to contest for the final three FIFA Women’s World Cup spots.

Super Falcons of Nigeria is the clear favourites to win Wafcon 2022 (Photo Credit: CAF)

The 2022 Wafcon will also be the first time 12 teams will be participating in the tournament with Togo, Burundi, Burkina Faso and Botswana making their debuts.

As usual, Nigeria’s Super Falcons are the clear favourites with its array of stars including Barcelona’s Azeezat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade of Atletico Madrid and free scoring Gift Monday of Bayelsa Queens set to paint Morocco with goals, the quest for a 10th title may not be far fetched.

But they will have their biggest threats in the Bayana Bayana of South Africa, a team that has proven to be one of the best in the continent in recent times.

The two rivals will begin their qufit for the trophy on Monday, July 4, while Nigeria will battle debutants Botswana on Thursday, July 7 and another debutants, Burundi on July 10th.

Morocco celebrating their goal at the Wafcon

Morocco celebrating their goal at the Wafcon (Photo Credit: CAF)

In the opening match played on Saturday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, hosts Morocco defeated a spirited Burkina Faso side 1-0 courtesy of a free kick goal by inspirational captain Ghizlane Chebbak in the 29th minute and held on to run out victorious.

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Paris Olympics: Nigeria’s D’Tigress in ‘group of death’, to battle Australia, France, Canada

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Nigeria’s women national basketball team, D’Tigress, have been drawn in what many term the group of death after they were paired alongside Australia, France and Canada for this year’s Olympic Games coming up in Paris, France, in July.

The coach Rena Wakama tutored team will take on Australia in their opening Group B game at the competition on Monday, July 29, according to the fixture schedule released on Thursday by the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA).

The African champions will face the host France on August 1 before facing Canada on August 4.

D’Tigress are heading for their third appearance at the Olympic Games after making its debut at the games in Athens 2004, before a second appearance at Tokyo 2020.

In their two previous outings at the games D’Tigress failed to go beyond the group stages after losing all group matches but there are hopes that the current team could spring surprises owing to the pool of talents in the team and the cohesion they have managed to build.

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Tragedy as coach killed, players injured in Sierra Leone club bus crash

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One of the coaches of Sierra Leonean club, Port Authority FC, Lamine Bangoura, a former international, has been confirmed killed while several players sustained different degrees of injuries after the team bus was involved in an accident on Tuesday night when going for a football game.

According to a statement from the club management, the players and officials of the top flight clubside are still reeling from the effect of the accident.

A local media which reported on the devastating accident on Wednesday said:

“The Sierra Leonean football is in mourning. On Tuesday evening, the Port Authority FC bus was involved in an accident. Several first team players are injured and in critical condition after this tragedy.

“The worst was the death of the Port Authority FC coach, Lamine Bangoura, who did not survive after receiving a serious blow during the accident.

“The team was en route to Kenema for a crucial match against Kahunla Rangers when tragedy struck, leaving several members in critical condition.

“The accident, which occurred at Konta Line, has claimed the life of the former Sierra Leone international and team coach, Lamine Bangura.

“Lamine Bangura was a highly revered figure in Sierra Leonean football and leaves behind a legacy that transcends the sport.

“Despite the best efforts of medical personnel at Masiaka Hospital, Bangura succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a void in Sierra Leonean football.”

The Sierra Leone Premier League Board, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed deep regret and sent condolences to the team.

“While details of the incident are still emerging, it has been confirmed that there were injuries sustained by individuals involved in the accident.

“Our immediate priority is the well-being and recovery of those affected by this unfortunate event,” the statement said.

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