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Falcons Dominate CAF Women’s Award Nominations

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No fewer than seven Super Falcons players have been nominated for the women’s categories of the CAF Player of The Year Award, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The CAF list, which was largely dominated by Nigerians, has Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, Osinachi Ohale, and Uchenna Kanu.

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The Falcons had a remarkable year having gotten to the round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and were very close to qualifying for the quarter-finals before being knocked out of the competition on penalties by England.

At the club level, some members of the team had an outstanding season.

READ ALSO: Super Falcons Oparanozie Announces Retirement From Football

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Ajibade has been very consistent for the Falcons and has also been a key figure for Atletico Madrid. The forward scored nine goals in 28 games for the Spanish club last season.

Toni Payne has also been a consistent player for Sevilla Women. She had three goals and four assists in 28 appearances for the club last season.

Oshoala, who was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or where she finished in 20th position, helped Barcelona to the UEFA Champions League title. She also outstandingly won the Laliga, recording 21 goals and three assists in 28 appearances.

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The former Robo FC player along with 29 other players will battle vie for the prestigious Player of the Year, which Oshoala claimed for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.

READ ALSO: Napoli Sack Coach Rudi Garcia, Appoints New Helmsman

Just as in the men’s category, the best women’s goalkeeper will be rewarded for the first time to celebrate the heroic efforts of the shot-stoppers.

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Ten players have been nominated for the first-ever CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award with Nnadozie one of the favourites to win the award.

Nnadozie was immense for her Paris FC side, as she helped them qualify for the Champions League group stage.

According to the African football governing body, ten nominees each have been pencilled for the Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Young Player of the Year, limited to players not more than 21 years old.

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The finallists of the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Ivory Coast have each been rewarded with a place in the Club of the Year category.

The Awards Gala is to be graced by the crème de la crème of African football on December 11 in Marrakech, Morocco.

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NPFL: Bendel Insurance Announce Departure Of 25 Players

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Bendel Insurance have announced the departure of 25 players ahead of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, season.

Captain Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi, Austin Ogunye, and Bernard Ovoke are among the top stars who have left the Benin Arsenal.

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Other key players, who left the club are Moses Abioye, Uche Collins, Michael Enaruna, and Uche Collins.

READ ALSO:NPFL: Go For Victory, Enabulele Tasks Bendel Insurance FC

The Benin City club are expected to make new signings to replace the departed players before the commencement of the new campaign.

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Insurance finished in a respectable fifth position last season with 56 points from 38 games.

They will face El-kanemi Warriors in their opening fixture of the new season.

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PHOTO: Okocha Hosts Ex-coach Clemens Westerhof In Lagos

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Nigerian football icon Jay-Jay Okocha recently hosted his former Super Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof, at his Lagos home.

Westerhof, who posted photos from the visit on Instagram on Friday, called it an “unforgettable night of my life” and thanked Okocha for his warm hospitality.

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Westerhof, a Dutch national, managed the Nigerian national team from 1989 to 1994.

READ ALSO:AFCON 2021: Jay Jay Okocha Names One Player Nigeria Didn’t Miss

Under his leadership, the Super Eagles won their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 1994 and made their FIFA World Cup debut the same year, impressively topping a group that included Argentina, Bulgaria, and Greece.

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Okocha made his national team debut during Westerhof’s tenure and later became one of Nigeria’s most iconic footballers.

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Transfer: Atalanta Hold Lookman Back From Inter Milan Move

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Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has again told his Italian side, Atalanta, about his desire to leave this summer.

The camp of the Super Eagles’ forward conveyed the player’s decision to the club on Tuesday after Inter presented a written proposal of €42m plus €3m add-ons.

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Atalanta are insisting on €50m valuation for the Nigerian international and there is no green light to the move as of now, according to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano.

READ ALSO:Inter Milan Give Deadline For Ademola Lookman Deal, With Transfer On Verge Of Collapse

Meanwhile, as earlier reported, Lookman’s international teammate, Victor Osimhen will land in Istanbul on Wednesday with medical scheduled for Thursday at Galatasaray.

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Meanwhile, Álvaro Morata has been waiting for Osimhen’s arrival so as to leave the club and did not train with the team on Tuesday. The Spaniard wants to join Italian side, Como.

Ronano reports that Morata has no intention to stay at Galatasaray and is only keen on the Como move.

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