Sports

WAFCON Final: ‘We Play At Home’ – Morocco Coach, Vilda Warns Nigeria

Published

10 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

Head coach of the Moroccan female national team, Jorge Vilda, has issued a strong warning to the Super Falcons.

Both teams will face each other in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON on Saturday.

The coach laid emphasis on his team’s desire and determination to make history in front of their home fans by winning the trophy.

Nigeria is targeting a new world record as the national team with the most continental titles.

Morocco beat Ghana through a penalty shootout to qualify for the final while Nigeria defeated South Africa 2-1 to book their place.

Ahead of Saturday’s game both coaches addressed the press and Vilda praised the quality and experience of the Nigerian team but maintained that his players are driven to deliver glory for their nation.

“A team with a very high mid-level. It is a team that not only has physically strong players, but also different players on an individual level. They also have experience in other competitions,” Vilda said of the Super Falcons.

“I say it again, it is a game and a final. We play at home. We play with our fans. Our players have a lot of desire and enthusiasm to make history.

“We are here to make history. They have it inside, and that is what we are going to try to do,” he added.

Related Topics:#Nigeria Morocco Coach WAFCON

Up Next

WWE: Real Cause Of Legendary Wrestler, Hulk Hogan’s Death Revealed

Don't Miss

WAFCON: Why I Chose Nigeria Over Malawi – Super Falcons Star, Okafor

Comments

Sports

WAFCON Final: Super Falcons Produce Stunning Comeback To Defeat Morocco, Win 10th Title

Published

1 hour ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

Nigeria’s women national team, the Super Falcons, on Saturday night beat Morocco to win the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations.

The West Africans had to fight back from two goals in the first half to win 3-2 in Rabat.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks and scored twice through Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy.

But the Falcons came out strongly in the second half and scored through Esther Okoronkwo’s penalty.

Okoronkwo then turned provider for Folashade Ijamilusi who drew Nigeria level.

Jennifer Echegini then got on the end of a free-kick to score a late winner.

The victory means Nigeria have now won a record-extending 10 WAFCON titles.

Sports

Arsenal Sign Swedish International Viktor Gyokeres

Published

2 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

Arsenal on Saturday announced the signing of Swedish international striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon.

The 27-year-old, who fired Sporting to the Portuguese title last season with 39 goals and netted a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City, is reported to have signed a five-year deal in a transfer worth £55 million (62.9m euros).

Gyokeres’ transfer, which could end up costing the north London club as much as £64m with performance-related add-ons, takes Arsenal’s close-season spending to the region of £200m.

He becomes Mikel Arteta’s sixth summer signing and follows defender Cristhian Mosquera (£13m), midfielder Martin Zubimendi (£60m), goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5m), midfielder Christian Norgaard (£10m) and forward Noni Madueke (£48.5m) in moving to the Emirates.

Arsenal confirmed the news with a brief post on X which read: “This is where you need to be. Viktor Gyokeres is a Gunner.”

Gyokeres will be expected to meet up with his new team-mates in Arsenal’s ongoing pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Gunners face Newcastle in the Singapore National Stadium on Sunday ahead of the concluding game of their tour, against Tottenham in Hong Kong on July 31.

Gyokeres moved to Brighton from Swedish side Brommapojkarna in January 2018, but spent time on loan at St Pauli and then Swansea and Coventry, before making a permanent move to the Sky Blues in July 2021.

After Coventry were beaten on penalties by Luton in the 2023 Championship final at Wembley, Gyokeres completed a £20.5m switch to Sporting. He scored a remarkable 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese side.

Arsenal spent the concluding months of last season without a recognised striker following long-term injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Even before then, Arsenal were in desperate need of a reliable scorer, and Arteta will hope his new signing can fire him to his first silverware since he won the FA Cup in 2020, and end the club’s two-decade wait for a Premier League title.

Constance Owoyomi praised for stellar performances in “To Kill A Monkey”

Arsenal’s new sporting director, Andrea Berta has wasted little time in strengthening a squad which has finished runners-up in the league for the past three seasons.

Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly have also put pen to paper on new contracts in the off-season, with a long-term extension for teenager Ethan Nwaneri believed to be all but completed.

Sports

[BREAKING] WAFCON Final: Super Falcons’ Starting XI Against Morocco Unveiled

Published

3 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

The Super Falcons’ starting XI to face Morocco in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON, has been confirmed.

Super Falcons coach, Justine Pwanidi Madugu, opted to start goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal against the host nation.

Madugu also started the likes of Osinachi Ohale and Michelle Alozie in the defensive line.

Nigeria head into the game after beating South Africa 2-1 in the semi-final encounter.

Morocco, on the other hand, defeated Ghana via a penalty shoot-out.

The WAFCON final will take place at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Saturday at 9 p.m.

Here is the Super Falcons’ starting XI against Morocco:

Chiamaka Nnadozie, Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin, Ashleigh Plumptre, Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Folashade Florence Ijamilusi, Rasheedat Ajibade, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Esther Okoronkwo

Substitutes: Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini, Sikiratu Isah, Toni Payne, Asisat Oshoala, Ifeoma I. Onumonu, and Tochukwu Oluehi.