SPORTS
My Tactics Suffered Against S/Africa – Peseiro

Jose Peseiro, Super Eagles coach, said his new found winning formation suffered in the last 20 minutes of the semi-final clash with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
Reports says that Peseiro said this during a news conference after Nigeria’s 4-2 penalty shootout win at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Portuguese tactician also said the semi-final match was his toughest game so far in the ongoing AFCON.
“Around 90 minutes, I see that our team suffered, we were shaken, we lost the balance.
“But during the break before the extra time, we put ourselves together and went into extra time with that confidence.
“They are a very good team, they created a lot of problems for us, they did a fantastic job but I think our boys deserved to win,” Peseiro said.
His South Africa counterpart, Hugo Broos, expressed the belief that his team played very well but lost the game and praised his boys for a good job.
“Two minutes before the end of 90 minutes, we had three clear cut chances. If we could score then, it means we are going to the final.
“It is a disappointment for everyone because we feel that we played a very good game today and I’m very proud of it.
“I’m proud of my players, the disappointment is small, the proudness is very big. What they did, what they performed, not only today, I think i have to be proud as a coach,” Broos.
Nigeria’s captain, William Ekong, scored from the spot to give the Super Eagles the lead in the 67th minute.
A dramatic twist of event saw Victor Osimhen’s celebrations cut short in the 86th minute after scoring what would have been Nigeria’s 2nd goal.
But a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review resulted in a penalty against Super Eagles after Alhassan Yusuf had fouled a player in his goal area.
Bafana Bafana’s Teboho Mokoena, sent goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to the wrong side to even the score in the 88th minute.
NAN reports that the two sides had their few chances in the extra time but Nwabali stole the show when he stopped two of the South Africa’s penalties to give Nigeria a 4-2 win at the end of the encounter. (NAN)
SPORTS
Finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games Begin in Enugu

The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.
Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.
7 and Aug. 10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.
Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.
He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.
Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.
“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.
SPORTS
Super Falcons’ Nnadozie Nominated for Ballon d’Or Best Goalkeeper Award

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated for the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy, the Ballon d’Or award for the best female goalkeeper.
The 24-year-old recently joined Brighton Women FC from Paris FC after helping the French side win their first major title in nearly two decades.
Nnadozie delivered a heroic performance in the final of the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine, where Paris FC edged Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw at Stade de l’Épopée in Calais.She was also instrumental in Nigeria’s success at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the Super Falcons secured a record-extending 10th continental crown against host nation, Morocco.
Her standout displays earned her the Best Goalkeeper award and a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Other nominees for the Yachine Trophy include Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), Cata Coll (Barcelona Femeni), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea Women) and Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal Women).
SPORTS
Super Falcons Maintain 36th Position in Latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking

Nigeria’s Super Falcons maintained 36th position in the latest FIFA women’s world ranking.
The latest ranking was released on FIFA’s official website yesterday.
While the Super Falcons remain the number one team in Africa, WAFCON 2024 runners-up Morocco are third on the continent and dropped to 64th spot in the world.
Former WAFCON champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa maintained 54th place in the world and second in Africa.
Ghana’s Black Queens who claimed third place at the WAFCON dropped to 67th position in the global ranking.
The Super Falcons recently won their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after coming from 2-0 down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final.
Second half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and substitute Jennifer Echegini completed the turnaround.
Okoronkwo, scored a goal and provided two assists against the Moroccans was Named Player of the Match.
Chiamaka Nnadozie was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament while Captain Rasheedat Ajibade won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Meanwhile, World champions Spain (1st, up 1) had an impressive run to the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 with five back-to-back wins, which was enough to see them reclaim top spot in the ranking, a position they previously held from December 2023 to June 2024.
The USA (2nd, down 1) have therefore been knocked off their perch, which they had occupied since August 2024.
However, three convincing home wins in friendlies during this period have kept the USA in contention, and they are now sitting less than two points behind Spain.
The top 10 has been shaken up completely since the June edition of the ranking, with France (6th, up 4) performing best among them.
France completed a flawless group stage at the European Championship before falling to Germany in the quarter-finals.
The next edition of the Women’s World Ranking will be published on 11 December 2025.