Hurghada, Egypt ready for CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations kick-off 

The awe-striking coastal city of Hurghada – the largest city in the red sea in Egypt – will host the kick-off match of the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2024 this weekend. The opening match will be played on Saturday, 19 October 2024 with hosts Egypt in action at 16h30 Egypt time (13h30 GMT) against Ghana. Morocco and Tanzania will play at 15h00 (12h30 GMT). Senegal are the defending champions – having won the trophy last year in Vilankulos in Mozambique. For the sixth edition of the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to kick-off this weekend, eight African Nations will be divided into two groups. The Groups: The top two teams from the tournament will earn a coveted spot in Africa’s first ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Seychelles 2025. This will bring Africa’s numbers at the World Cup to three. Group A: Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, Ghana Group B: Senegal, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritania

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Osimhen opens up on Galatasaray move 

Victor Osimhen has expressed his satisfaction with his decision to join Galatasaray on loan from Napoli. Despite receiving offers from other clubs, Osimhen chose Galatasaray due to the club’s ambition and the convincing approach from the coach. He was drawn to the opportunity to play alongside experienced players like Mauro Icardi and contribute to the team’s success. “I had plans to stay there and wait for three or four months and leave in January, but I think for me it was fair also to stay there because I wouldn’t let anyone decide for me,” Osimhen told TRT Spor, from the Galatasaray training centre. “It was important for me to stay there since I didn’t get the deserved move that I really preferred. “When I received the call from the Galatasaray coach, it was really convincing. He said what he wanted to do this season and what he wanted to achieve. I could see what he had set for himself as a man, a coach, and a father. I think I fit in this plan and coming to a team with already a lot of quality players with great ambition, as a footballer it was easy to come. “When I came I could see how serious Galatasaray are as a club. For me it was the right decision, but also for my family and my daughter. Coming to a city like Istanbul, one of the best in the world. It was easy. So far so good, I’m really happy about my decision. I want to contribute and win something important here.” Osimhen has quickly adapted to Galatasaray, scoring two goals and providing four assists in his first four games. He has formed a good partnership with Icardi and is focused on helping the team achieve their goals. Osimhen’s decision to join Galatasaray was influenced by several factors, including the club’s prestige, the opportunity to play in a major league, and the personal recommendation from his idol, Didier Drogba. “I would like to thank Galatasaray fans as I remember how they welcomed me,” he added. “I am not a player who puts myself before the team. My ambition was to add and contribute to the quality the team already has,” continued the Nigerian forward.” There were fears that Osimhen would struggle to adapt at Galatasaray playing with another big personality like Mauro Icardi, but the opening games suggest otherwise. “I have great respect for Icardi and what he’s done for football and Galatasaray,” he said. “He’s a big legend here. We’ve seen how me and him can work well on the pitch. But for me, I don’t care about being the best scorer in the league. I want to score, assist and help the team when I have the chance, [help] in defence and attack, just like the coach needs me to do, but collective success is what’s paramount.” Osimhen already has two goals and four assists in four games for the Lions and has firmly established himself as a fan favourite. Galatasaray play Antalyaspor next away from home on Saturday 19 October, Osimhen is expected to return after recovering from a small injury.

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Ademola Lookman makes African Footballer of the Year final shortlist

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially revealed the final three-man shortlist for the highly anticipated CAF Player of the Year award. Ahead of the grand ceremony in Marrakesh, the original ten-man list has been narrowed down to just three players, recognized for their outstanding contributions to both their clubs and national teams. These players were shortlisted due to their stellar contributions on the field, making them top contenders for Africa’s most prestigious football award. The following players made the final cut: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria): The Super Eagles and Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman, earned his place on the shortlist due to his exceptional performances for both club and country. In the 2023/2024 season, the 26-year-old helped his team win the UEFA Europa League and was also named Atalanta’s Player of the Year. Victor Boniface (Nigeria): The Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface, played a crucial role for both his club and national team. During the 2023/2024 season, the highly regarded forward secured victories in the Bundesliga, the German Cup, and the German Super Cup. Brahim Diaz (Morocco): Moroccan and Real Madrid playmaker Brahim Diaz was equally instrumental in his club’s and country’s successes. The 25-year-old enjoyed a stellar 2023/2024 season, winning the Spanish La Liga title, the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.

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Dominican Republic 2024: Flamingos breeze past New Zealand

Nigeria coasted to a 4-1 victory over flummoxed New Zealand as the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals rolled into action in Santiago de los Caballeros on Wednesday. Shakirat Moshood scored one of the competition’s fastest goals since it was launched 16 years ago, when she rounded the defence of the girls from Down Under to score the first goal after only 80 seconds at the CFC Stadium. The precocious Faridat Abdulwahab rocked the crossbar seven minutes later from 23 yards, and in the 13th minute, Nigeria went two goals up when defender Taiwo Adegoke’s shot from well outside the box was misjudged by the goalkeeper who palmed the ball over the line before scrambling in vain to push it out. A check with the Video Assistant Referee confirmed that the ball had, indeed, crossed the line. Firing from all cylinders, Nigeria again rattled the opposing goalkeeper in the 17th minute, with a sharp shot from Moshood that was punched over the bar. Four minutes later, Peace Effiong, all over the pitch, heaved the ball too high from six yards. In the 26th minute, Harmony Chidi rounded the goalkeeper who made a great block on the second attempt. Captain Taiwo Afolabi stung the goalkeeper’s palms from close range in the 28th minute, and from the resultant corner kick, Abdulwahab easily lifted the ball over the goalie from 16 yards for Nigeria’s third goal. In the second half, the Flamingos continued their raid on the opposition goal, and eight minutes into the restart, it was 4-0 after Afolabi’s looping header from Adegoke’s cross from the right sailed over the goalkeeper into the net. On the hour, Saxon scored a goal right from the training ground, collecting the ball from a corner kick and doing a smart turn to shoot past goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, thus pulling one back for the New Zealanders. Although Chidi, Nigeria’s top scorer from the qualifying series, was again foiled in the 75thminute, the Flamingos finished on the ascendancy and will look forward to another three points against debutants Ecuador on Saturday, that will take them to the tournament’s knockout stage.  

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Sanwo-Olu celebrates Oshodi’s rise to ATTF Presidency 

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has praised the election of Wahid Enitan Oshodi as the 6th President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Oshodi, a former Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development, was unanimously elected at the Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the continental body held at the African Union (AU) headquarters. The meeting was attended by 40 member nations of the ATTF, making Oshodi the second Nigerian to lead the continental sports body after Engr. Segun George, who served from 1988 to 1996. “We are indeed proud of a true Lagosian who has continued to put Nigeria and Lagos on the world map through his sheer ingenuity in sports. His rising profile within and outside the continent has not come as a surprise, as he has shown to be a reliable hand when it comes to sports development. “His keen interest in youth development has helped to unearth several stars like Quadri Aruna and Olajide Omotayo. He is loved by the athletes and genuinely takes a special interest in their welfare. Since he left office as Commissioner, he has kept faith in sports, and this has been confirmed by his unanimous election in Addis Ababa,” said Governor Sanwo-Olu. Sanwo-Olu also pledged the state’s support to Oshodi and called on other Nigerians to support their compatriot, who has continued to make the country proud with his international acceptance. Oshodi’s journey in sports administration began in 2000 when he was appointed to the Lagos State Sports Council Governing Board under the administration of then Governor Bola Tinubu. He later became the Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA). Under Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, he was appointed Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development in 2011, where he supervised the National Sports Festival, tagged: “Eko 2012”. He was subsequently elected President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), where he brought vibrancy to the sport, unearthing international stars for the country. Recognised by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Oshodi was appointed Chairman of its Nomination Committee. In 2019, he was elected Deputy President of the ATTF, and in 2021, he topped the voting for the post of Executive Vice President of the ITTF, beating candidates from China and Europe. His ingenuity in sports administration has made Nigeria a hub for table tennis. With his election, Oshodi is currently the only Nigerian presiding over a continental sports body.

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Tuchel becomes England’s third foreign coach

Former Paris Saint-German head coach Thomas Tuchel was on Wednesday confirmed as the new boss of the England men’s national football team. The 51-year-old German, who claimed six trophies in his two years in the French capital, will take over from interim manager Lee Carsley in January after the draw for the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team,” said Tuchel. “I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. “To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.” During nearly two years at the English Premier League outfit Chelsea, he led the side to 2021 Champions League, the Uefa Super Cup and the Club World Cup. But he left the west Londoners after the club was sold to Todd Boehly in 2022. In his 15 months at Bayern Munich, he steered the German giants to the 2023 Bundesliga crown – an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title for the Bavarians – before an acrimonious departure involving public spats with an array of  senior players and executives. “We are thrilled to have hired one of the best coaches in the world,” English Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham said in a statement on Wednesday. Tuchel will be joined by his former Chelsea assistant Anthony Barry, who most recently worked with Portugal at the 2023 European championships. “Fundamentally we wanted to hire a coaching team to give us the best possible chance of winning a major tournament, and we believe they will do just that,” Bullingham added. “Thomas and the team have a single-minded focus on giving us the best possible chance to win the World Cup in 2026.” Tuchel will become England’s third foreign coach after Sven-Goran Eriksson from Sweden and the Italian Fabio Capello.

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Morocco to host 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League 

The Confederation of African  Football (CAF) has announced that Morocco will host the 2024 edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League Finals. The CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024 will be played between 09-23 November 2024. Morocco hosted the 2022 edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League – the premium women’s club football competition in Africa. Eight (8) Clubs will contest the top prize. Winners will get USD 400 000 in prize money with runners-up walking away with USD 250 000.  Mamelodi Sundowns are the current holders – having won the competition twice in three years. Morocco’s ASFAR is the other team that has won the Competition – back in 2022 when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns. Since it’s inception, the CAF Women’s Champions League played a key role in shaping women’s football in Africa. Morocco’s hosting of the CAF Women’s Champions League follows the nation’s successful hosting of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022 which also enjoyed unparallelled success. Six Zonal tournaments took place to qualify 6 teams in addition to the host and the holder of 2023 title to the FT of CAF WCL 2024. The following teams are qualified: CAF Women’s Champions League Qualified Clubs: Holders: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) Host : ASFAR (Morocco) WAFU A  : Aigles de la Medina (Senegal) WAFU B  : EDO Queens (Nigeria) COSAFA  : University of Western Cape (South Africa) UNAF   : Tutankhamun (Egypt) CECAFA: CBE FC (Ethiopia) UNIFFAC: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

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Dominican Republic 2024: Flamingos target three points against New Zealand

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos will gun for the maximum points when they take on their counterparts from New Zealand on Wednesday night in what is actually the first match of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic. Although the game between host nation Dominican Republic and Ecuador (the other fixture in Group A) is billed as the opening match, Nigeria and New Zealand will do battle at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros from 4pm local time (9pm in Nigeria), while the host nation and Ecuador will square up as from 9pm local time (2am Thursday in Nigeria). Bronze medallists in the last edition of the competition in India, the Flamingos are aiming to go farther this time, with Head Coach Bankole Olowookere insisting that he has the ammunition to overcome opponents on their way. “I have confidence in the girls to deliver the goods at this competition. We have come well-prepared to do even better than we did in India. The Nigeria Football Federation have done everything to prepare the team well, with a two-week final camping here in Dominican Republic. “We do not under-rate any of our opponents. However, we will take it one match at a time and produce our best in each game in order to go all the way.” The Flamingos have previously missed taking part in only one edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals – the 2018 finals in Uruguay. In the qualifying campaign for this year’s finals, the Nigerian girls notched 25 goals in six matches, with 13 of them scored by clinical forward Harmony Chidi. After the encounter with New Zealand on Wednesday night, the Flamingos will confront their counterparts from Ecuador, also at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, before their final group phase game against the host nation at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo. The clash with Ecuador is on Saturday, 19th October while the battle with the host nation is on Tuesday, 22nd October. 

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