Sports
Women’s Football: Nigeria Jumps Eight Spots to 32 in World Ranking
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Super Falcons of Nigeria may have crashed out in the second round of the recently concluded 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but the latest rankings showed that they climbed eight spots to number 32 in the world.
In the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking released on Friday, the bronze medallists at the tournament, Sweden, sat atop the list for the first time in their history.
Meanwhile, Spain, which won the tournament after beating England 1 – 0, settled into second spot. La Roja, as the team is called, could have even clinched pole position had they not missed out on the 35 points at stake in their heavy 4-0 defeat to Japan in their final group-stage game.
As a result, it is Sweden who sits at the top of the pile for the first time (1st, up 2). The Scandinavians dethroned the USA (3rd, down 2), whom they squeezed past in the round of 16 before ultimately being edged out in the semis. They recovered to overcome joint hosts Australia in the match for third place. The Matildas of Australia came in 11th as they dropped from 10th.
Meanwhile, quarter-finalists Japan (8th, up 3) move in the opposite direction to reclaim their spot amongst the leading pack.
England didn’t move from the fourth spot, but other movers in the top 10 of the global standings are the Netherlands (7th, up 2) and Germany (6th, down 4), the latter having failed to progress beyond the group stage for the first time at the finals. Elsewhere, Canada (10th, down 3) also suffered the consequences of their early exit.
Tournament newcomers Morocco proved to be one of the revelations in Australia and New Zealand – where they reached the Round of 16 – and they also make waves in this ranking as the biggest climbers (58th, up 14).
Joining Nigeria and Morocco are the other two African participants in the World Cup. South Africa rose to 45th (up 9) while Zambia, 69th, rose up eight as they recorded their highest-ever position in the ranking.
Nigeria, after gathering five points (one win, two draws) in the group stage, could not go through to the quarter-finals as they lost a penalty shootout 4-2 despite having a man advantage on England in a second-round game that ended 0-0 after extra time.
Nigeria remains Africa’s highest-ranking country in the women’s category with nine titles from 12 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles, but this has not translated to international honours.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on December 15, 2023.
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By Dipo Olowookere
Manchester United centre-back, Harry Maguire, has signed a new contract with the football club for an additional year.
He will remain at the Theatre of Dreams until June 2027, with the option for a further year, a statement from the Red Devil said.
“Representing Manchester United is the ultimate honour. It is a responsibility that makes me and my family proud every single day.
“I am delighted to extend my journey at this incredible club to at least eight seasons and continue to play in front of our special supporters to create more amazing moments together.
“You can feel the ambition and potential of this exciting squad. The determination throughout the whole club to fight for major trophies is clear for everyone to see, and I am confident that our best moments together remain ahead of us,” the club’s former captain stated.
“Harry represents the mentality and resilience required to perform for Manchester United. He is the ultimate professional who brings invaluable experience and leadership to our young, ambitious squad.
“Harry, like everyone at the club, is completely determined to help Manchester United to achieve regular and sustained success,” the Director of Football at Manchester United, Mr Jason Wilcox, was quoted as saying in the statement.
The Three Lions defender has made 266 appearances and won the Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup since joining the club in 2019.
European club football enters its decisive quarter-final phase in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. With semi-final places on the line, the first-leg fixtures promise high-intensity clashes. All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport, available on DStv and GOtv.
Champions League: Heavyweights Collide
At 8:00 PM, Real Madrid host Bayern Munich in the standout tie of the round. Both sides were emphatic in the previous stage, with Madrid dismantling Manchester City and Bayern delivering a dominant performance against Atalanta. The match airs live on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203).
Madrid arrive off a disappointing domestic setback, while Bayern continue to show resilience and attacking firepower. The Bernabéu will be central to Madrid’s hopes against a side currently scoring with ease.
Also at 8:00 PM, Sporting Lisbon face Arsenal in Lisbon, live on SS Football Plus HD (DStv Ch. 202). Arsenal come into the tie under pressure following consecutive cup losses in the Carabao and FA Cups, while Sporting are full of confidence after an impressive run of form. With momentum firmly on the Portuguese side, this fixture presents a significant test of Arsenal’s mentality.
At 8:00 PM on Wednesday, Barcelona welcome Atletico Madrid in what promises to be a tightly contested tactical encounter. The game will be shown live on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203). Barcelona claimed a recent league victory between the sides, but Atletico have already proven their ability to disrupt them this season. Expect a high-stakes contest between two teams who know each other well.
Also at 8:00 PM, Paris Saint-Germain take on Liverpool in Paris, live on SS Football Plus HD (DStv Ch. 202). PSG have emerged as one of the competition’s most dominant sides, carrying strong momentum into the tie. Liverpool, meanwhile, arrive under pressure following a heavy domestic defeat and will need a significant improvement to remain competitive heading into the second leg.
Europa & Conference League: Thursday Night Stakes
While the Champions League dominates midweek headlines, Thursday brings its own high-stakes quarter-final action across the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
In the Europa League, Bologna host Aston Villa in a compelling first-leg encounter, live on SS La Liga (GOtv Ch. 62, DStv Ch. 204) at 8:00 PM, . Aston Villa have impressed throughout the competition and arrive well-rested, while Bologna’s path to this stage has been defined by resilience and high-intensity performances. The contrast in preparation could shape the outcome.
Also at 8:00 PM, FC Porto face Nottingham Forest, with the match airing on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203). Porto will look to assert themselves at home after previous meetings between the sides, while Forest have already demonstrated their ability to navigate difficult knockout ties.
For the Conference League, Crystal Palace take on Fiorentina at Selhurst Park, live on SS Football (GOtv Ch. 61, DStv Ch. 205) at 8:00 PM. Palace continue their pursuit of European silverware against a Fiorentina side balancing continental ambition with inconsistent domestic form. The hosts will aim to build a first-leg advantage before the return fixture in Italy.
Quarter-Final Fixtures – First Legs
UEFA Champions League
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Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich – Tue, 8:00 PM (SS Premier League)
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Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal – Tue, 8:00 PM (SS Football Plus HD)
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Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid – Wed, 8:00 PM (SS Premier League)
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Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool – Wed, 8:00 PM (SS Football Plus HD)
UEFA Europa League
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Bologna vs Aston Villa – Thu, 8:00 PM (SS La Liga)
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FC Porto vs Nottingham Forest – Thu, 8:00 PM (SS Premier League)
UEFA Conference League
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Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Thu, 8:00 PM (SS Football)
Follow the Action
Catch all the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League action live on SuperSport on DStv and GOtv. Matches are also available to stream via DStv Stream and GOtv Stream. Manage or upgrade your subscription via the MyDStv or MyGOtv apps, visit www.dstv.com or www.gotvafrica.com, or dial *288# to stay connected.
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