Sports
WAFCON: Super Falcons still wallowing in glory as MTN shower players with N150m cash gifts
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Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, were honoured in Lagos on Thursday by telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria, following their victorious campaign at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, where they clinched a dramatic 3–2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco on Saturday, July 26, at the Stade Olympique in Rabat, Morocco.
The celebratory breakfast, hosted at Eko Hotels & Suites, was filled with emotion, gratitude, and national pride, as MTN presented the team with a N150 million cash reward in recognition of their historic 10th continental title.
The occasion was graced by dignitaries from the federal government, President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Secretary General of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, MTN executives, and enthusiastic supporters.
Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, hailed the Super Falcons as national icons and role models.
He said, “You are more than athletes, you are inspirations,” he said.
“You are proof that when Nigerian women rise, the world takes notice. At MTN, we believe in the power of connection, not just through technology, but through the soul and spirit of the people. Today, we are connected with pride and joy through the unbreakable spirit of the Super Falcons.”
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, speaking on behalf of the squad, expressed deep gratitude to MTN and the wider community for their support before, during, and after the tournament.
“Thank you so much, everyone, for coming out today to celebrate with us. We appreciate the board of MTN, the CEOs, and everyone who came out to cheer us last evening when we arrived at your office. Thank you for this special host; we feel valued, we feel honoured, and we feel respected. This inspires us to be more, to do better, and to keep inspiring the next generation.” She said.
Ajibade further acknowledged the support from the presidency and the federal government.
“We want to thank the President of Nigeria, GCFR, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and our First Lady for the huge gifts and honours. It’s a life-changing experience for us. It inspires us to keep representing and flying the flag high at the global level.”
“We’re grateful for winning this 10th title, but we’re not content; we want to be global contenders. We understand the assignment. We know the huge responsibility on our shoulders. And we hope the Federation, the federal government, and private bodies will continue to invest in us so we can take Nigerian women’s football to the next level,” she said.
Head coach Justin Madugu, who guided the team to the historic title, spoke about the importance of planning and the difficulties in accessing players for preparation.
“It’s all about good preparation. The unfortunate thing is that you can’t always have the players when you want them. They’re professionals, playing in clubs all over the world. Sometimes, you only have them for four or five days, which isn’t enough to prepare a team of this magnitude. Still, we’ll do everything possible within the limited time to get the team ready.”
Madugu also addressed the pressure and public scrutiny, saying, “When we were given this assignment, we knew the implications. We stayed focused, believing in what we were doing, and as for the criticism, people are entitled to their opinions. It’s not possible to please 200 million Nigerians, but I know these girls. I live with them every day, I know what they can do, I know their weaknesses and their strengths, and how to get the best out of them. Constructive criticism is fine, but we can’t let distractions derail our mission.”
Board member and non-executive director at MTN Nigeria, Ifueko M. Omoigui Okauru, praised the team’s resilience and used the moment to share a broader message of hope for Nigerians.
She said, “To every Nigerian watching the Super Falcons, let their story be a reminder, never give up, despite the challenges in the country, economic hardship, discouragement, setbacks, never give up on pulling yourself together, never give up on your dreams, and never give up on the power of rising again, these girls have shown us what perseverance looks like, they’ve given us a reason to believe.”
Sports
Anthony Joshua knocks out Kristian Prenga after initial scare
Anthony Joshua remains on course for a showdown with British heavyweight rival Tyson Fury later this year after recovering from being knocked down inside 20 seconds to secure a second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga in a wild clash in Jeddah.
Joshua endured a dismal first three minutes, hitting the canvas twice, firstly from a vicious uppercut, with the Albanian knockout specialist eyeing a seismic shock.
However, Prenga was demolished shortly after by right hands in AJ’s first outing since he was a passenger in a car crash last December that killed close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Sports
Arsenal in surprise drive for Vinícius Jr. amid Real Madrid contract uncertainty
Arsenal are reportedly considering the possibility of signing Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior in what could become one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.
According to respected transfer journalist David Ornstein, the Gunners have internally approved the idea of pursuing the Brazilian winger if he fails to agree a new contract with the Spanish giants.
While there have been no club-to-club negotiations at this stage, the interest is said to have the backing of Arsenal’s hierarchy, with the North London club closely monitoring the player’s contract situation.
Vinícius has entered the final 12 months of his current deal at Real Madrid, raising questions about his long-term future at the Santiago Bernabéu. Madrid are keen to avoid losing one of their biggest stars on a free transfer and are also mindful of a substantial loyalty bonus that would become due if he remains at the club into next season.
Despite the growing speculation, the move remains in its early stages, with no formal talks having taken place between the clubs. However, Ornstein reports that Vinícius is among Arsenal’s primary transfer targets should an opportunity arise.
The Brazilian international has established himself as one of the world’s top attacking players since joining Real Madrid, playing a key role in the club’s domestic and European successes. Any potential deal would likely require a significant transfer fee and a major financial commitment from Arsenal.
For now, Arsenal are keeping a close watch on developments, with Vinícius’ contract negotiations expected to determine whether the Premier League side can turn their ambitious interest into a formal pursuit.
Sports
Just in: 23m support petition to ban Argentina from World Cup as FIFA pushes back
An online petition calling for Argentina to be banned from the FIFA World Cup has attracted more than 23 million signatures from football fans across the globe, following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.
According to talkSPORT, the petition, titled “Argentina Out,” amassed 23,316,108 signatures from supporters in 170 countries in less than a week, making it one of the most widely shared online petitions in history.
Organisers had initially hoped to collect five million signatures, but the campaign quickly surpassed that target as frustration over Argentina’s performances and officiating during the tournament spread among football fans.
The petition accused FIFA and match officials of showing favoritism toward Argentina and captain Lionel Messi throughout the competition, allegations that FIFA has consistently denied.
The petition stated: “Why should the rest of the teams play in the tournament if the winner is known in advance? Exclude Argentina from the World Cup and give everyone a fair chance.” The campaign gained momentum during the World Cup but ultimately failed to achieve its objective.
Argentina’s campaign ended in disappointment after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final. Messi, playing what many believe could be his final World Cup, was seen leaving the pitch in tears following emotional scenes after the final whistle.
The petition was officially closed after the tournament ended, with its website displaying the message: “FIFA ignored us but Spain delivered. Thank you Spain.” Despite the campaign’s widespread support, Argentina faces no disciplinary action and will continue to participate in future FIFA World Cup competitions.
The South American giants are expected to feature in the 2030 tournament, where they are among the nations scheduled to co-host an expanded 64-team competition. Although the petition drew more than 23 million signatures, it narrowly missed becoming the largest online petition ever recorded.
The current Guinness World Record remains with the Jubilee 2000 campaign, an international movement that called for the cancellation of unpayable debts owed by the world’s poorest nations.
Launched in April 1997, the campaign collected 24,319,181 signatures from 166 countries before being presented at the United Nations Millennium Summit in New York in 2000.
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