#2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

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2023 Women's World Cup records

In addition to breaking numerous worldwide social media and viewing records, the 2023 Women's World Cup set and broke a number of unique tournament records as well. The players and teams that participated in this WWC should all feel extremely proud for the history they have made. Their performances continue to show the world that these athletes are capable of so much more than they are ever fully recognized for.

First team from their nation to qualify for a men’s or women’s senior FIFA tournament: Vietnam WNT 8 nations had their debuts for first time appearing in a FIFA women’s World Cup: Haiti, Portugal, Zambia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Republic of Ireland, Morocco, and Panama. Canadian midfielder Quinn starts for Canada and becomes the first non-binary athlete to play at a FIFA World Cup.

Christine Sinclair (Canada) and Marta (Brazil) become the 3rd and 4th players in history to appear in 6 World Cup competitions men or women, with Homare Sawa (Japan) and Onome Zeno (Nigeria) being the other two. The player with the record for most world cup appearances in history remains Brazil’s Formiga, the only player to compete in 7 world cups (men or women).

Kristine Lilly still holds the record for most WC appearances by men or women with 30 games played - a record set and held since 2007. Followed by Formiga with 27 as of 2019 and Lionel Messi with 26 as of 2022. Brazil’s Marta still holds the all time leading record for most goals scored across all World Cup competitions with 17 goals in 23 appearances across 6 tournaments.

Zambia’s Lushomo Mweemba scores the fastest goal of this year’s tournament in group stage at 2min 11 sec, also marking Zambia’s first ever world cup goal in their debut. The fastest goal in a FIFA Women’s World Cup has stood for over 30 years - it remains the goal scored by Lena Videkull of Sweden, who scored after just 30 seconds against Japan in the inaugural 1991 tournament. Zambia’s Barbra Banda scores the 1000th goal in WWC history. Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco becomes the first Women’s World Cup player to wear a hijab.

Ary Borges of Brazil scores a hat trick in her WWC debut and the first hat trick of the tournament. First Caribbean nation to reach the round of 16 in WWC history - Jamaica First Arab nation to qualify for a WWC and reach the round of 16 in WWC history - Morocco Of the eight debutants, Morocco was the only one to advance to the round of 16. Two teams reached the round of 16 having conceded no goals so far in the tournament- Japan and Jamaica.

First time four African nations have been represented at a WWC with three of them qualifying for the knock out stage at this years competition - South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria. 3 of the 4 African nations appearing in this year’s WWC all finished 2nd in their groups (Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria). The US suffered its earliest elimination in WWC history, getting knocked out in the round of 16. The U.S. has never finished below 3rd place in all previous editions of the competition. Sweden’s Zećira Mušović sets a new record for most saves in any WWC 2023 game with 11 saves vs the US in the round of 16.

First manager to lead two different nations to a World Cup final (Netherlands and England)- Sarina Wiegman First goalkeeper to take and convert a PK in a WWC penalty shootout - Alyssa Naeher

Golden ball (best overall player of the tournament) - Aitana Bonmatí Silver ball - Jenni Hermoso Bronze ball - Amanda Ilestedt Golden boot (most goals scored in the tournament) - Hinata Miyazawa (5 goals) Silver boot - Kadidiatou Diani Bronze boot - Alexandra Popp Golden glove (best goalkeeper of the tournament) - Mary Earps

FIFA young player award (best player of the tournament under 21 years old) - Salma Paralluelo FIFA fair play award (team with best record of fair play during the tournament) - Japan Best mascot of the tournament (unofficial) - Waru Longest penalty shootout in World Cup history (20 penalties taken) - Australia vs France quarter final

The 2023 competition was hosted by Australia and New Zealand, making it the first edition to be held in the Southern Hemisphere, the first Women's World Cup to be hosted by two countries, and the first FIFA senior competition for either men or women to be held across two confederations (Asia and Oceanic).

First edition of the women’s tournament to feature an expansion to 32 teams and 64 matches, and largest women’s sporting event in history with 32 teams and 736 players. Only team to play all matches (group stage + knockout) undefeated with a 6-0-0 record - England All 4 previous winner nations (US, Germany, Norway, and Japan) were eliminated before the semifinal stage, marking the first time this has happened in the competition’s history.

For the first time in its 32 year and 9 tournament history, the WWC has a new champion (Spain) and new runner up (England) in 2023, with both nations never having made it to the final stage before. Only the 2nd nation in history to win both a men’s and women’s World Cup - Spain Top scoring country at the 2023 WWC - Spain with 18 goals First time a senior English football team has made it to a WC final in 6 decades - England WNT

First time advancing past quarterfinals in their WWC history and first host nation to advance to semifinals in 20 years - Australia placed 4th place for best in all 8 WWC competitions they’ve participated in and broke attendance records through all stages of the tournament, with an overall stadium attendance across all matches at 1.978 million. More than 1.5 million tickets were sold for the WWC, surpassing the entire tournament’s projected target in the first 5 days alone.

Two attendance records were broken for both host nations on day one of the WWC - largest crowd ever for a men’s or women’s football game in New Zealand (42,137) and largest crowd ever for a women’s football game in Australia (75,784).

Brazil's opening match v Panama was simulcast live on TV Globo and SporTV, delivering a combined audience of 13.9 million viewers - higher than any audience in the territory during the 2007, 2011, and 2015 WWC. China v England produced the highest audience for a single match, reaching 53.9 million viewers, becoming the highest in any global market so far. 17.15 million people tuned into the Australia v England semifinal cumulatively across Channel 7, Optus Sport, venues, and live-sites, comprising approx 64% of the entire Australian population - the biggest television event not just in any sport in the country, but in Australia’s television history.

The record for highest single match attendance still remains the 1999 WWC final between the US and China with 90,185 in attendance - a number that hasn’t been reached since the men’s tournament at the 1994 WC final between Italy and Brazil at 94,194.

The largest 2023 attendances were at Stadium Australia in Sydney, which saw four capacity-crowd fixtures, including Australia's opening win over Republic of Ireland and the final between Spain and England. The crowd of 75,784 was a record home audience for a women's football match in Australia and the third largest individual crowd attendance in Women's World Cup history. Over 50% of all matches had near sell out or at stadium capacity with a total of 1,977,824 fans in attendance at the 64 games in total, setting a new record for highest overall attendance in Women’s World Cup history across all 9 editions of the tournament. Highest grossing Women’s World Cup in history with a revenue of over half a billion dollars ($570 million), surpassing the projected revenue estimate by $100 million.

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Ski resorts face “existential threat” as snow declines amid climate crisis

Ski resorts around the world face an “existential threat” from the climate crisis, warned the international ski federation, which has teamed up with UN weather experts to tackle the growing impact of global warming on winter sports.

Last season, 26 World Cup races were cancelled due to bad weather conditions, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) said, raising alarms about the future of winter sports. The organisation is currently working with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) to try to find solutions. FIS president Johan Eliasch said:

“Climate change is, simply put, an existential threat to skiing and snowboarding. The climate crisis is obviously far bigger than FIS − or sports, for that matter: it is a genuine crossroads for mankind. We would be remiss if we did not pursue every possible effort that is rooted in science and objective analysis. This is what we are trying to follow and what is at the core of this promising partnership with the WMO.”

The co-operation comes against a backdrop of ski resorts increasingly facing irregular snowfall and warmer winters, with many relying on artificial snow to keep their slopes open.

Rising temperatures are forcing snow levels higher, shortening ski seasons and leaving some resorts struggling to maintain their slopes. WMO chief Celeste Saulo said:

“This is about more than just disrupted vacations; the long-term impacts on mountain ecosystems and economies will be profound.” 

This is the first time the WMO has co-operated with an international sports federation.

The federation will hold a global event next month bringing together national ski associations, venue managers and event organisers to discuss strategies for adapting to rapidly changing conditions.

Winter sports and tourism face “a bleak future”

Earlier, in its statement on the cancellation of the events, the ski organisation said:

“Winter sports and tourism face a bleak future due to climate change.”

Switzerland is already facing significant impacts, with Alpine glaciers losing around 60 per cent of their volume since 1850.

By 2019, some 200 countries had ratified the 2015 Paris Agreement, which commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to curb the Earth’s temperature rise. Over the next three years, however, the emissions situation has only worsened. The aggravation of the global situation and the energy crisis forced many countries to abandon their commitments. According to the UN report, only 26 out of 193 countries fulfilled the promised plans. And this list does not include the US, China, which accounts for the largest amount of CO2 emissions.

Sport also often faces challenges from natural disasters. Fires in Australia in 2020 led to the postponement of Australian Open qualifying matches and health problems for tennis players. For example, Bosnian Dalila Jakupović left the tournament due to a coughing fit.

In November 2019 at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, several group round matches were cancelled due to a typhoon, one of which was supposed to see the principal rivals England and France meet. The date of the Africa Cup of Nations was moved from June 2023 to January 2024 due to flooding in Côte d’Ivoire. And the cancellation of NBA and NHL games due to climate disasters is an annual occurrence.

Read more HERE

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For AFCON qualifying, the NFF releases the Super Eagles squad

23 players have been added to the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) roster for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Rwanda and Benin Republic. There are seven defenders, six midfielders, seven strikers, and three goalkeepers, among them Stanley Nwabali, a star for the AFCON 2023. Bendel Insurance is in skilled hands, with Taiwo Awoniyi and Amas Obasogie making comebacks. Super Eagles face Benin Republic's Cheetahs on September 7 and Amavubi in Kigali on September 10. On Monday, September 2nd, all players are required to report to Uyo. FULL LIST Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance FC) Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England) Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England) Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England) Read the full article

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Bruno Labbadia: All you need to know about new Super Eagles Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that German strategist Bruno Labbadia will now be in charge of the Super Eagles team.

Daily Sun reported that the Secretary General of the NFF, Mohammed Sanusi made the announcement on Tuesday morning.

Since his announcement as the head coach of the team, the internet has been buzzing to know who Bruno Labbadia is what are his achievements, and the qualifications he has to move the Super Eagles team forward.

Here is all you need to know about Bruno Labbadia, the new head coach of the Super Eagles:

The German was born on February 8, 1966, in Darmstadt, West Germany.

According to reports, Labbadia’s parents are Italians with his family roots going back to Lenola, a town in the Lazio region.

His Italian parents relocated to Germany as Gastarbeiter and settled in Schneppenhausen near Darmstadt in Hesse.

When he was 18 years old, Labbadia gave up Italian citizenship and became a German citizen since in Germany only two foreigners were eligible to play in one team at the time.

He has played as a striker for various clubs, including Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Köln, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC.

He has 557 club football appearances and scored 204 goals. He won the DFB-Pokal with FC Kaiserslautern in 1989-90, and the Bundesliga with FC Bayern Munich in 1993-94.

He only got to play two games for the German national team. The 58-year-old has not previously coached a national team but has had periods with prominent teams such as Darmstadt 98 – 2003-2006, Greuther Fürth, 2007-2008, and Bayer Leverkusen 2008-2009 Career highlights: Hamburger SV (2009-2010), VfB Stuttgart (2010-2013), Hamburger SV (2015-2016), VfL Wolfsburg (2018-19), Hertha BSC (2020-2021), and VfB Stuttgart (2022-2023).

Throughout his managerial career, Labbadia demonstrated a willingness to trust and develop emerging talent.

At VfL Wolfsburg, he was instrumental in the development of talents like Josip Brekalo and John Brooks.

While Labbadia’s managerial career has had its highs, it’s also seen its share of lows. He has been sacked multiple times, most recently from VfB Stuttgart after a poor run of results.

However, his ability to bounce back from setbacks and land jobs at other top clubs speaks to his resilience and the respect he commands within the footballing community.

One of the distinguishing features of Labbadia’s squads is their defensive organization. He frequently highlights a strong defensive structure as the cornerstone for success. While this does not always result in the most exciting football, it has proven useful in producing results.

With Labbadia’s appointment effective immediately, the German coach will be in charge when Nigeria begin their qualifying campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations next month.

The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic on September 7.

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Brian Masaba To Captain Uganda In Men’s T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup: Brian Masaba has been named to captain the 15-member Uganda team in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, set to happen in the USA and the West Indies from June 1. This will be Uganda’s first appearance in a senior men's World Cup in any format.Frank Nsubuga, the off-spin allrounder, is set to be the oldest player in the tournament at 43. Riazat Ali Shah, whose origins are from Gilgit in Pakistan, has been named vice-captain, taking over from Kenneth Waiswa. Ronald Lutaaya and Innocent Mwebaze are the two travelling reserve players. Other prominent players include spin-bowling all-rounder Alpesh Ramjani, who secured a nomination for 2023 ICC Men’s T20I cricketer of the Year due to taking 55 wickets in the format in the year, as well as Dinesh Nakrani, Roger Mukasa and Simon Ssesazi. Uganda and Namibia were the two teams who made it to the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup from the Africa leg of the qualifying tournament, ahead of Zimbabwe. Uganda will be becoming only the fifth African nation to feature in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Uganda will be coached by Abhay Sharma, who served as fielding coach of India Under-19, A and women's teams. The squad is currently on a 15-day tour of Sri Lanka to play matches against some Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) outfits. At the Men’s T20 World Cup, Uganda is placed alongside co-hosts and two-time winners West Indies, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan in Group C. They begin their campaign against Afghanistan on June 3 at Providence, Guyana. Uganda squad: Brian Masaba (c), Simon Ssesazi, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Dinesh Nakrani, Fred Achelam, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, Bilal Hassun, Robinson Obuya, Riazat Ali Shah (vc), Juma Miyaji, Ronak Patel. Travelling Reserves: Innocent Mwebaze, Ronald Lutaaya Read the full article

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Tella disappointed for missing out of Super Eagles AFCON 2023 squad

Bayer Leverkusen winger, Nathan Tella admitted he was disappointed not to make Nigeria’s squad to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Cote d’Ivoire. Tella was born in England to Nigerian parents. The 24-year-old was eligible to represent both countries. The former Southampton player however opted to play for the Super Eagles. Tella was called up for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November 2023. The pacy winger made his international debut in the 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe. He was however omitted from the AFCON 2023 squad. Read the full article

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2026 World Cup qualifiers: Bafana ‘ll beat Super Eagles — Khumalo

Former South Africa international, Doctor Khumalo has expressed confidence in Bafana Bafana’s ability to triumph over the Super Eagles in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June. In an interview with SABC News, Khumalo pointed to South Africa’s performance at the recently concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as a source of optimism for their World Cup qualification…

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Sports Today - SAFA boss Danny Jordan seeks revenge against Nigeria in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

YouTube Ghana Sports – bringing you all trending sports news as it happens. Get daily comprehensive summary of the recent sports – football news that have rocked the online scene. Check out the news below. #image_title South Africa Football Association (SAFA) President, Danny Jordan has set sights on avenging the defeat against Nigeria in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when they face off in the…

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It’s Time To Focus On The Female Teams – Naa Ashorkor Tells Ghanaian Authorities

Ghanaian media personality, Naa Ashorkor, has called on authorities to focus on the female teams in the country. She made this plea after the Black Stars of Ghana failed to qualify for the round of 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023). If you would recall, Ghana drew 2-2 with Mozambique on Monday, January 22, 2023, when they needed a win to book a ticket for the next stage of the…

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Nigeria defeated Guinea-Bissau 1-0 on Monday night, securing their spot in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16.

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AFCON 2023: Maintain composure and offer assistance Hughton, Chris, CK Akonnor

Prior to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Charles Kwablan Akonnor, the former head coach of the Black Stars, has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Ghanaians to support Chris Hughton. AFCON 2023: Maintain composure and offer assistance Hughton, Chris, CK Akonnor   Hughton faced a great deal of strain before to Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign beginning last…

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ICC Men's World Cup 2023 

The ICC Men's World Cup 2023 is an eagerly awaited event in the world of cricket. India will host the ICC CWC from October 5 until November 19, 2023.This One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament is set to bring together the best cricketing nations to compete for the World Cup. The ICC Men's World Cup 2023 is the 13th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup.This ODI tournament is organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and is a showcase of the finest cricketing talent from around the globe. 

The tournament will witness participation from 10 teams; India, New Zealand, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Netherlands, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, each representing their respective countries. These teams have gone through certain qualifying processes to earn their spot in this prestigious event. Cricket fans are excited to see their favorite players and teams compete for glory, and the excitement is evident. 

The ICC Men's World Cup 2023 will follow the round-robin format. Each team will compete in 9 matches, showcasing their skills and strategies to progress to the later stages of the tournament. The format ensures a high level of competition and keeps fans on the edge of their seats throughout the event. 

The tournament schedule for the ICC Men's World Cup 2023 is packed with thrilling matches. Fans can look forward to clashes between arch-rivals like India-Pakistan, nail-biting encounters, and moments of brilliance on the field. As the tournament approaches, cricket enthusiasts are buzzing with predictions and expectations. The level of competitiveness in international cricket today means any team can rise to the occasion and claim the World Cup trophy. The excitement lies in witnessing which team will demonstrate exceptional skills, teamwork, and determination to emerge victorious in this prestigious tournament. 

The cricketing world's best players will be on display in the ICC Men's World Cup 2023, making it an event to remember on the global stage. As the tournament progresses, fans will witness the excitement, drama, and passion that define the sport. Stay tuned for the latest updates and memorable moments from the World Cup ODI 2023 as cricketing nations battle it out for glory and pride. The cricketing world awaits the crowning of a new champion, and the journey to that moment promises to be a cricketing spectacle of epic proportions. 

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For AFCON qualifying, the NFF releases the Super Eagles squad

23 players have been added to the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) roster for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Rwanda and Benin Republic. There are seven defenders, six midfielders, seven strikers, and three goalkeepers, among them Stanley Nwabali, a star for the AFCON 2023. Bendel Insurance is in skilled hands, with Taiwo Awoniyi and Amas Obasogie making…

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What is Super Eagles Fixtures?

The Super Eagles will face Sierra Leone in their first AFCON qualifying encounter at home between May 30 and June 14 before leaving for Sao Tome & Principe or Mauritius the super eagles fixtures.

Guinea Bissau will play twice in Group A in September, with both games taking place between September 19 and September 27. The Super Eagles will play in Sierra Leone before facing Sao Tome and Mauritius at home.

These matches will be held between March 20 and March 28, 2023. Mauritius has filed a protest against Sao Tome for using an ineligible player in a key qualification match.

The player also scored the goal that advanced Sao Tome to the group stage of the competition. The top two clubs from each of the 12 groups advance to the African Football Championship in Cote d'Ivoire in 2023.

"I will encourage the Nigeria Football Federation to do all it takes to ensure that the Super Eagles gain from the AFCON," Ekpo said, according to Completesportsnigeria.com.

If the Eagles want to stay in condition, they must play competitive games.

Furthermore, the coach must keep an eye on the players because mishaps can occur while they represent their club teams. He would then have the opportunity to consider alternatives.

He must also make the team more competitive in order to get the best potential performance from the players in Super Eagles fixtures.

The History Super eagle of Nigeria

After competing in unofficial matches against other city states in the 1930s, Nigeria played its first formal match in October 1949, while still British territory. The Nigerian Super Eagles played exhibition matches against lower-level teams such as Bromley, Bishop Auckland, and South Liverpool prior to their Super Eagles matches. The team's first important victory came in the form of a gold medal at the Second All-Africa Games. This was followed by third-place finishes in the 1976 and 1978 African Cup of Nations.

Christian Chukwu's team won the Cup for the first time in Lagos in 1980, due to Segun Odegbami and Best Ogedegbe. The Nigerian men's football team won gold in Atlanta in 1996 after defeating Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, they finished second to Argentina in a match similar to the one from 1996.

For more information about Super Eagles fixtures, please visit our website.

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Tella disappointed for missing out of Super Eagles AFCON 2023 squad

Bayer Leverkusen winger, Nathan Tella admitted he was disappointed not to make Nigeria’s squad to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Cote d’Ivoire. Tella was born in England to Nigerian parents. The 24-year-old was eligible to represent both countries. The former Southampton player however opted to play for the Super Eagles. Tella was called up for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November 2023. The pacy winger made his international debut in the 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe. He was however omitted from the AFCON 2023 squad. Read the full article