by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 23, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Brighton & Hove Albion have paid glowing tribute to Nigerian international goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie after she secured fourth place in the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year rankings at the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Nnadozie, one of only five finalists for the prestigious Trophée Yachine, impressed voters with her commanding displays throughout the season. The award ultimately went to England and Chelsea star Hannah Hampton, while Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger of Gotham FC finished second and Spain’s Cata Coll of Barcelona claimed third. Netherlands and Arsenal shot-stopper Daphne van Domselaar rounded out the top five.
Celebrating the achievement, Brighton posted on their women’s X (formerly Twitter) account:
> “Chiamaka Nnadozie is fourth in the #TrophéeYachine rankings at this year’s #BallonDor! Congratulations on your nomination, Chiamaka!”
Nigeria enjoyed further recognition on the night as Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu also captured fourth place in the Women’s Coach of the Year category. Dutch tactician Sarina Wiegman—who guided England to the European Women’s Championship title—took home the top honour. Madugu’s nomination followed his historic feat of leading Nigeria to a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown in Morocco.
Both accolades underline a landmark year for Nigerian women’s football, showcasing its growing influence on the global stage.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 23, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer, World Cup
The cheers inside Ouagadougou’s Issoufou Joseph Conombo Municipal Stadium felt different on September 21. Moments before the 2025-26 Burkinabe Premier League kicked off, 15-year-old sensation Loukman Achraf Tapsoba stepped forward, beaming as former national icon Alain Traoré handed him the long-overdue prize: the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations Golden Boot.
Back in April, Tapsoba had lit up the tournament in Morocco, scoring seven goals to share the top-scorer honor with Ivory Coast’s Alinio Aidara. Yet when Morocco lifted the trophy and the individual awards were announced, his name was puzzlingly absent. For months, Burkinabe fans voiced their frustration, insisting their young star deserved recognition.
CAF has now corrected that oversight. In front of a jubilant home crowd, Tapsoba finally raised the gleaming Golden Boot, a reward for his clinical finishing and fearless performances on the continental stage.
The Real du Faso striker’s wait—nearly five months—only makes the moment sweeter. As Burkina Faso gears up for the upcoming U-17 World Cup, Tapsoba carries both the pride of a nation and the confidence of a proven goal scorer ready for the world spotlight.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 23, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Ghana’s Black Starlets are determined to turn chances into goals when they face host nation Ivory Coast in their second Group A match at the WAFU B U-17 Championship in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday evening (18:00 GMT).
Head coach Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum expressed confidence that his side’s attacking edge has sharpened since their 1–1 opening draw with Togo.
> “Creating chances is not the problem—it’s about conversion,” Dr Ogum told reporters. “Because of that, we dedicated a full training session to goal scoring. We recreated some of the situations from our first game and worked specifically on finishing. The conversion was good in training, and I’m sure it will be better against Ivory Coast.”
The Black Starlets, who impressed with their build-up play but lacked a clinical touch against Togo, are eager to grab a first win that could boost their bid to qualify for the Africa U17 Cup of Nations and, ultimately, the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup.
Kickoff at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium promises a lively atmosphere as Ghana aims to silence the home crowd and stake an early claim for a semi-final spot.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 23, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer, World Cup
Zimbabwe’s hopes of creating a neutral “home” advantage in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa have been dealt a blow after the Botswana Football Association (BFA) rejected their request to use the Francistown Sports Complex.
The Warriors, who have played all their qualifiers in South Africa due to the unavailability of FIFA-approved stadiums back home, had targeted the Botswana venue to avoid giving Bafana Bafana an effective home game.
However, the BFA cited scheduling conflicts. Francistown is set to host Botswana’s own World Cup qualifier against Uganda on October 9, just one day before the planned Zimbabwe–South Africa fixture. FIFA regulations stipulate that visiting teams must have access to the match venue a day in advance, making Zimbabwe’s request unworkable.
Likely Return to South Africa
The setback means Zimbabwe may once again be forced to stage their “home” match in South Africa, likely at either Orlando Stadium (Johannesburg) or Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban)—grounds they’ve used in previous campaigns. Reports suggest Moses Mabhida is the leading option, though no final decision has been announced by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
ZIFA spokesperson Mike Madoda criticized the BFA’s public rejection as premature, insisting venue selection is a sovereign process:
> “It is ZIFA’s prerogative to pick a venue that suits our interests. Zimbabwe will always make decisions that are in the interests of the Warriors and Zimbabwean football,” he stated, dismissing rumors of financial inducements as “baseless.”
Group C Picture
With South Africa topping Group C on 17 points, followed by Benin (14) and Nigeria (11), Zimbabwe sits bottom with just four points from eight matches—already out of World Cup contention. The dispute over the match venue only reinforces the uphill task for the Warriors as they face a high-flying Bafana side.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 23, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, International, Nigeria, Soccer, World Cup
Nigeria’s famed Golden Eaglets, five-time U17 world champions, are ready to launch another title chase as they face the Baby Cheetahs of Benin Republic in their opening match of the WAFU-B U17 Championship on Wednesday.
The clash takes place at the Stade du Lycée Scientifique in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, and marks the first step on the road to two major tournaments: the 2026 Africa U17 Cup of Nations and ultimately the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.
Group Battles Already Heating Up
The competition began over the weekend with action across both groups:
Group A: Host nation Côte d’Ivoire beat Niger Republic 2–0, while Ghana and Togo fought to a 1–1 draw.
Group B: Burkina Faso’s Baby Stallions edged Benin 1–0 in a tense opener. Nigeria joins Group B, setting up Wednesday’s Nigeria–Benin showdown as a must-watch contest.
With pedigree and history on their side, the Golden Eaglets carry the hopes of a nation eager to see them qualify for next year’s continental showpiece and the global finals that follow. All eyes will be on Yamoussoukro as the young Nigerians look to begin their campaign with a statement win.
