The teenager was outstanding throughout the entertaining tournament in Asaba.

She propelled Imo Strikers to the final which was eventually won by Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens 2-0 at Stephen Keshi Stadium.

Influential playmaker, Peace Ikediuba and midfield maestro, Ayanfe Adebanjo scored for the Lagos based side.

It was a record win for Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens as they become the first club to win the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup.

Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens dazzler Ikediuba emerged topscorer with four goals.

Meanwhile, Kazeem Zainab of Prince Kazeem Eletu was voted as the best goalkeeper.

Fair play award was deservedly given to third placed team Moje Queens.

The late Ifeanyi Chiejine holds the record of the youngest player to play at the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the of 16 years and 34 days as she made her debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999 and died at the age of 36.

With many young girls turning international stars in over three decades in the country, actress and television personality, Daniels has underlined her quest for youth and girl child empowerment through the women’s game.

“This is actually something that should continue. I like something like this,” Daniels told the media.

“It’s good to empower our youths and help them discover their talents as well as encourage them. By doing that, the world will be a better place.”

The Anambra-born Nollywood actress opened up on her attraction to women’s football.

“Former Super Falcons goalkeeper and Ifeanyi Chiejine teammate, Judith Chime motivated me to attend this event as a very good friend. When she invited me to this Late Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup, I was surprised,” Daniel continued.

“Surprised because I have never heard about late women’s football legends being celebrated. For the first time, something like this is coming up, I decided to attend no matter my tight schedule.

“The girls tried. Actually, this is my first time watching live women’s football. I have watched men’s football live in times past. Honestly, the girls tried. Anambra Angels and Delta Babes tried. I am impressed with their performance.”

Respected veteran Nollywood diva Ngozi Ezeonu graced the opening ceremony of the maiden Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup on Thursday between Delta Babes and Anambra Angels and performed the ceremonial kick-off.

Ezeonu was accompanied by other actors like Daniels, Amar Ignis, and Ken Odurukwe.

The group stage of the tournament is expected to end on Sunday after Saturday’s rest day.

Imo Strikers and Delta Babes have already qualified for the semi-final ahead of the last group games.

Delta Babes in Group A made it to the semi-final after playing out a 2-2 draw with Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship side, Moje Queens.

Jacob Victoria gave the Kwara State-based side the lead as early as the fourth minute. Itaingbene Happiness, however equalised for Delta Babes in the 23rd minute before giving her side the lead for the first time with just the five minutes from the half time break.

The two goals increased Happiness’s goal tally to three after two games. Victoria Idehen equalised for Moje Queens in the 54th minute to ensure a 2-2 draw for her side.

The draw sealed a semi-final spot for Delta Babes while Moje Queens will have to avoid defeat in its last group game against Anambra Angels to make it to the last four.

Imo Strikers in Group B joined Delta Babes in the semi-final after pipping Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens 1-0.

Ezeka Miracle’s 52nd-minute strike was enough to earn a win and a semi-final place for the host team.

Okundia Aisosa’s 29th-minute goal revived Fortress Ladies’ hope of making it to the semi-final after a 1-0 win over Castmog Academy of Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Fortress Ladies occupy the third position in Group B with three points and an inferior goal advantage below Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens which also has three points.

Saturday, December 17, will be observed as a rest day before Sunday’s final group games.

Ifeanyi Chiejine a mecurial member of Nigeria’s senior football team,Super Falcons shockingly died 21 August 2019 ,following a brief illness .

Respected veteran Nollywood diva Ngozi Ezeonu ,a lover of the Girl – child and fan of Ifeanyi Chiejine graced the opening match between Anambra Angels and Delta Babes football clubs with her sterling presence while acting the ceremonial kick off Thursday 15 December, 2022.

Ngozi noted for her excellent interpretation of roles in series of movies like Glamour Girls,Nneka the Pretty Serpent,Forbidden; Co-Wives and Three Wives said came to identify with the memorial project with the aim of further supporting the Girl-Child and encouraging talents.

She praised former Super Falcons goalkeeper Judith Chime (Kamala) teammate of late Ifeanyi Chiejine for championing the idea to remember the fallen shero .

“This is an idea worth praising and emulating, that concerned players led by Kamala and Vera Okolo for Ifeanyi who served the nation and made us proud ,yes their efforts should not be forgotten .I hope the authorities should always find the the need to do this”.

Citing an example with herself,Ngozi went on to admonish the girl child to never give up in life “I struggled and never gave up in life ,I come from a family in the South East where the boy child seemed more appreciated than the girl,I fought to be where I am today.
” So i say to the girls , your dreams will be realized if you keep fighting no matter the circumstances ,chase your dreams always she enthused.

She was in the company of other actors like Phil Daniels ,Amar Ignis and Ken Odurukwe .

Meanwhile,action will continue Friday 16 at the Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup with three games on the card.

Delta Babes who defeated Anambra Angels 2-0 in the opening match will try Moje Queens of Kwara for size in the first game , Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens of Lagos who demolished Fortress Ladies of Edo 4-0 will clash with Imo Strikers who were 2 goals better than Castmog Academy of Ogun State in the second match of the ,the last game will see Castmog Academy and Fortress Ladies who lost their opening games battle ..

Match Day two

Delta Babes v Moje Queens
Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens (PKEQ) v Imo Strikers
Castmog v Fortress.

BYE Anambra Angels

Eulogizing the Super Falcons team Hon. Dare said, “your resilience, character, and management of the game must be commended. I salute your doggedness, commitment and fighting spirit. For holding the Moroccans in front of over 45,000 capacity crowd you have once again displayed the never say die attitude of true Nigerians.

“Even when down to nine players after those red cards, you held your own. You are our champions. Nigeria is proud of you.”

“It was a match I followed very keenly and I am so proud you displayed the Nigerian spirit. I am proud of this team, even in defeat”.

The nine times champions bowed out gallantly with pride, losing 4-5 on penalties to hosts Morocco, after playing majority of the game with nine players as midfielder Halimatu Ayinde and striker Rasheedat Ajibade were given the marching order for dangerous play.

The Super Falcons will square up with the She-polopolo of Zambia on Friday, July 22nd in the third place match of the tournament.

Nine-time African champions Nigeria will fly to the United States of America for a two-match tour against the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) in the month of September.

Both teams, presently competing in their respective continental tournaments, will clash at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas on 3^rd September and then have a go at each other’s jugular once more at the Audi Field in Washington, D. C. on 6^th September.  

The USWNT is the most successful team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, having won half (4) of all eight championships competed for so far. The Stars & Stripes were champions of the very first edition in China in 1991, and then won on home soil in 1999, in Canada in 2015 and in France three years ago. The team has also won four Olympic women’s football gold medals and eight CONCACAF titles.

The Super Falcons, billed to face Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday evening, have won the African championship nine times, played in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and also played at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic women’s football tournament. They remain the most successful women’s team on the African continent.

The Children’s Mercy Park is home to Kansas City in the US National Women’s Soccer League and Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer, while Audi Field is utilized by National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit and Major League Soccer team, D. C. United.

The match in Kansas City will see Vlatko Andonovski, appointed Coach of USWNT at the end of 2019, return to his home area for the second time. It is the sixth time that the USWNT will be playing at the Children’s Mercy Park but it is their first time at the Audi Field, though they have played 10 times previously in Washington – all at the RFK Stadium.

Andonovski says he’s excited to send out his girls against the Super Falcons: “First, I’m just excited to play two matches against Nigeria. They have some very talented players who will present a lot of different problems for us to solve on both sides of the ball. Secondly, of course we’re looking forward to bringing the team back to one of the best soccer stadiums in the United States in Kansas City, as well as getting to play our first game at Audi Field, which I’ve visited several times for NWSL games and is also a fantastic venue for our team to play in front of our home fans.”

The USWNT has already qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, becoming the 12^th team to reach the finals and the first team from the CONCACAF region.

Nigeria’s Falcons are also coached by an American, long-time college coach Randy Waldrum – who is aiming for a FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket and first African title with Nigeria in Morocco.  

Ever-present Nigeria believe they will celebrate another FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket on Thursday night after a quarter-final clash with neighbours Cameroon in Casablanca that will determine who is guaranteed a place in Australia & New Zealand next year.

All four teams that make the semi finals at the ongoing continental championship in Morocco would have picked automatic tickets for the Women’s World Cup, with the team adjudged to have finished fifth presented with another chance for a shot at a Playoff Tournament next year.

Cameroon will come into Thursday’s encounter with the mentality of the yam pounder, knowing they have always been second best to Nigeria at this level, and a third consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup will certainly appeal to the Indomitable Lionesses.

A 1-2 defeat at the hands of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in their opening match of Group C last week Monday somewhat dimmed the shine of the Super Falcons, but they rose stoutly to the occasion and won their other two matches with six points and six goals advantage shooting them to the last eight.

Cameroon also started somewhat slowly, drawing with Zambia, but they picked up impressively and their reward is what is actually the most anticipated quarter-final tie at this tournament.

Both countries flew Africa’s flag at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada and at the last edition in France three years ago, but Nigeria are the untouchables, being one of only six countries on the planet to have participated in all eight editions of the quadrennial global showpiece.

“We are ready to face Cameroon,” said Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum, after his Super Falcons arrived in Morocco’s commercial and economic capital, Casablanca on Monday ahead of Thursday’s encounter.

Cameroon suffered a 6-0 spanking from the Falcons in the semi finals of the 1998 Women Africa Cup of Nations (which Nigeria hosted and which was the first edition) but things have improved a bit for the Lionesses since then. In the semi finals of the 2010 edition in South Africa, they were thumped 5-1 by the Falcons.

Both countries contested the Final matches of the 2014 and 2016 Women AFCON. In 2014 in Windhoek, Namibia, the Falcons ran away 2-0 winners to lift the trophy for the seventh time. In 2016 in Yaounde, the Lionesses suffered a heartbreak in front of their cheering fans when Desire Oparanozie scored a late goal to hand the trophy to Nigeria for the eighth time.

Four years ago, in Accra, both teams also met in the semi final stage. It was a tough duel that ended 0-0 after regulation and extra time, but the Falcons again prevailed 4-2 after penalty shoot-out on the way to their ninth title.

Thursday’s spectacle in Casablanca is expected to be explosive, but Nigeria captain Onome Ebi says the Falcons are up for the challenge.

“Of course, we know what to expect. The Cameroonians also want to go to the World Cup. But we have never missed the World Cup and we won’t start now. Our eyes are fully focused on Australia & New Zealand, and then we can start talking about the trophy.”

Forwards Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu, on two goals each, are expected to start against Cameroon, with Coach Waldrum also expected to keep faith with most of the crew that decimated Burundi in Rabat on Sunday night.

Nigeria Pillar of Sports Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has charged the Super Falcons of Nigeria to sustain their greatness as Africa Women soccer giant even as they seek more glorious outing in the AWCON 2022 championship in Morocco.

Chief Ejidike who described the prowess of the Super Falcons in Africa as an invincible leadership said the Nigeria Football followers have great Hopes in them to make the country proud.

The Pillar of sports in a statement released on Thursday and made available to newsmen expressed joy over the preparation ahead of the championship and praised the Nigeria Football Federation for the encouragement given the the Ladies ahead of the games.

Chief Ejidike admonished them not to be complacent as no country is a push over in global Football of nowadays.

He particularly commended the discipline and commitment by the Technical crew and players in the build up to the championship and charged them to keep their heads high as Africa number in women Football.

Nigeria Super Falcons will lock horns with other African counterparts as the AWCON championship kicks off in Rabark Morocco.

Titled ‘Beauty And Brains’, is an afro fusion highlife and was produced by Dr. Bigmoney Beats who is with Afro Jam records.

Vera Chukwu is a Nigerian Singer and songwriter. Born in Edo State and currently resides in Lagos State Nigeria.

She hails from Enugu State. With an Igbo Dad and Edo mother.

The songwriter, when asked for the reason behind ‘Beauty and Brains, she said: “Coming from this part of the World, our women are often times looked at just being beautiful, which is not true.”

Over the past few years, the Super Falcons have been successful with 9 African titles and have made it to every World Cup since it’s inception.

“It is beyond our ladies being beautiful, but they show it on the pitch hence the brain aspect, they have got skills, finesse and strength, I want to use this song to spur them towards getting the La Decima,” Vera said.

It will be recalled Vera Chukwu in 2019, did a song for the Super Eagles “Helelema” ahead of the Nations Cup in Egypt which gained global acceptance.

The Super Falcons are already in Morroco and will begin their campaign against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Rabat on Monday, 4th July.

The Falcons will also play Botswana (Thursday, 7th July) and Burundi (Sunday, 10th July) in the group phase.

Click the below link to listen and download

When all parties meet at the crossroads, the Nigerian football ecosystem must face some hard questions head-on. The subject of infrastructure will continue to dominate the fore of discussion when Nigeria football is juxtaposed with its contemporaries in the beautiful game.

When one looks in hindsight, the Nigerian Football Federation has not given Nigeria even a single football pitch as a federation. The trend is recent times has been such that the NFF shops the Super Eagles around states governors, delivering the team to the highest bidders, so as to make money for onward self aggrandizement.

Since the assumption of Sunday Dare into office as the country’s Sports Minister, the Ministry has fixed a number of Stadium across the country, from Lagos, to Abuja, to Daura.

It would have been good wisdom if the NFF showed interest in picking up and caring for at least of the many pitches across the country, for utilization by the national teams.
The Football Federation have instead distanced themselves from the talks of football infrastructure in the country, while the Ministry as being continues to invest efforts in it.

The only two on-going stadium projects for football are domiciled in the hometowns of the two leaders of the NFF, perhaps in a smirking move of selfishness.
One can only wonder what usually happens to all the developmental funds FIFA and CAF continually pours in the Federation over the years. One would struggle to find a worthy infrastructural value addition from the Federation.

Sunday Dare will perhaps go down as one of the most cooperative, open and collaborative minister. For every decision, it is discussed with the NFF towards ensuring best choices are made. From Amaju Pinnick to Mohammed Sanusi and others, they have seen having briefs with the minister on numerous occasions.