Sports
‘I Didn’t Want To Watch WAFCON Final Because I Don’t Want High BP’ – Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday revealed that he avoided watching the final match of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) live to save himself from a possible high blood pressure episode.
While receiving the victorious Super Falcons at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu admitted the tension of the match against South Africa was too intense for him.
“I didn’t want to watch the match initially because I don’t want high blood pressure. My wife was cooking my food in the kitchen, rushed out to tell me we have won,” Tinubu told the players.
The Super Falcons defeated South Africa to clinch a record 12th WAFCON title, further cementing their dominance in African women’s football.
Naija News had earlier reported that at the State Banquet Hall, President Tinubu conferred National Honours of Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) on the 24 players, in recognition of their victory.
In addition, each player received:
Three-bedroom apartment
$100,000 (₦150 million) cash award
The technical team was also rewarded with $50,000 (₦75 million) each.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum added ₦360 million, with each of the 36 states contributing ₦10 million, further boosting the team’s rewards.
During the ceremony, team captain Rasheedat Ajibade and vice-captain Chiamaka Nnadozie presented the WAFCON trophy to the President and First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, drawing applause from attendees.
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Morocco said the manner of their switch of nationality is faulty, citing some irregularities in their claims to be Nigerians.
A petition against Nigeria has been filed by Morocco.
Morocco filed the petition before CAF as it questions the eligibility of two players who played for the women’s team of Nigeria in the final of the WAFCON, which Nigeria won 3-2 on Saturday.
It was gathered that before the game, there was a protest lodged by Morocco on the eligibility of two of the Nigerian players in Ashleigh Plumptre and Michelle Alozie.
Both players were born outside Nigeria but made the decision to play for Nigeria at senior level.
In their protest, Morocco said the manner of their switch of nationality is faulty citing some irregularities in their claims to be Nigerians.
They expressly want Nigeria to lose the title by virtue of fielding both players in the tournament.
Plumptre was granted approval by FIFA to play for Nigeria in 2021 after it was established that her paternal grandfather is a Nigerian. Alozie’s case is more straightforward as she was born in the USA to immigrant parents from Nigeria.
Nigeria are however not losing sleep over the protest with a top member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) terming it as dead on arrival.
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Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq is in discussions with Deportivo Alavés over a potential summer move, even as his former club Almería have also renewed their interest in bringing him back ahead of the new season.
According to Onda Vasca, the 27-year-old is currently in contact with Alavés as the Basque club look to bolster their attacking options following the departure of Joaquín Panichelli to Strasbourg for €16.5m.
With only Asier Villalibre and Toni Martínez available to coach Eduardo Coudet, the club’s technical director Sergio Fernández has made signing a new striker a priority.
“Sadiq is in conversations with the Vitoria-Gasteiz side,” journalist Samu Valcárcel said on La Movida Deportiva Gipuzkoa, affirming Alavés’ intent to pursue the Nigerian, despite Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay recently suggesting the player could still remain at the San Sebastián-based club.
Sadiq, who joined Real Sociedad in 2022 from Almería for €20m, has struggled to settle following a long injury layoff after an anterior cruciate ligament tear in September of that year.
A six-month loan spell at Valencia earlier this year helped him regain form, as he scored six goals to help the club avoid relegation.
While Alavés continue negotiations, they are also considering other targets, including Lucas Boyé, while Mariano Díaz remains in pre-season contention but is not being considered a formal signing, Onda Vasca reported.
Meanwhile, Almería have re-entered the race for Sadiq, who played a starring role in their promotion to La Liga in 2022.
According to Super Deporte, the Andalusian club see him as the ideal striker to spearhead their bid for a return to the top flight after relegation.
The club have recently banked €22m from the sale of Luis Suárez to Sporting CP and are looking to reinvest that fee in proven talent.
The report notes that “Almería longs for one of the main architects of their promotion in 2022” and now join Alavés on the list of suitors, with Valencia also monitoring developments.
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Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze could be on his way to Premier League outfit Fulham, as the Cottagers are reported to be interested in a move for the AC Milan wideman.
The 26-year-old Nigerian international, who is currently with the Rossoneri on their pre-season training programme, is rumoured to be on his way out of the San Siro outfit, following his inconsistencies since arriving from La Liga side Villarreal in a €20m move in 2023.
He had a mixed 2024/25 campaign, where he made 26 appearances, of which just nine were starts in the Italian Serie A, which amounted to a total of 918 minutes, and he contributed just three goals and two assists.
Chukwueze recently made a cameo role for Milan as they defeated Premier League champions Liverpool 4-2 in a pre-season fixture, which went down at the Kai Tak stadium in Hong Kong, as Max Allegri’s men continued preparations for the 2025/26 football campaign. He featured for 27 minutes after coming off the bench for Portugal forward Rafael Leao in the 63rd minute, although he did not make any goal contribution for the Rossoneri.
Milan, who are currently operating under tight financial conditions, especially having missed out on UEFA Champions League football for next term, are keen to offload fringe players in a bid to afford new arrivals in what is a major squad overhaul. According to Italian media outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport via Milan Press, the duo of Ismaël Bennacer and Yacine Adli are at the top of the list of those who will be leaving Lombardy, while Fulham are keeping an eye on Chukwueze.
“At the top of the list are Ismaël Bennacer and Yacine Adli. Both are expected to leave without question, especially given their absence from the Asian tour: the former has yet to agree to a move to Saudi Arabia, while the latter is training with Milan Futuro as he waits for a solid offer (Sassuolo is especially interested). As for Samuel Chukwueze, Fulham is keeping an eye on him,” the publication wrote.
This will be the second time that Fulham will signify interest in Chukwueze, after having first made a move during the January winter transfer window. Although nothing came forth, Marco Silva’s side could be said to be determined to make it work this time around.
Chukwueze, who still has three years left on his existing deal at the San Siro, has made 14 goal contributions in 69 appearances across all competitions for the Rossoneri.
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