The Chairperson of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the financial dispute between the Falcons and the Nigeria Football Federation, Blessing Onu, has ordered the football body to produce payment slips for women’s national team players and officials attending the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.

She stated this in Abuja on Thursday while questioning NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, who was present before the committee.

Onu requested that the NFF provide documents detailing how the Falcons were funded for the 2019 Women’s World Cup and a breakdown of match bonuses and payment slips for the team’s 23 players and coaching staff by August 30.

Gusau responded that no funding was available for participation but that the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand would provide $960,000 to all 32 qualifying countries.

According to him, these countries should use the FIFA preparation money to prepare their teams for the World Cup.

We can’t use this money to pay outstanding allowances for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, he said.

The NFF president stated that they typically received funding from the Confederation of African Football and FIFA, and that no payment was received from the Federal Government for its staff and officials.

He stated that FIFA covered the federation’s operational costs.

The Confederation of African Football provides $250,000 per annum as subvention funds, he said.

Onu accused Gusau of obstructing the investigation into the Falcons’ allegations of non-payment of allowances and entitlements.

Her statement came in response to the NFF president’s alleged refusal to accept the invitation of the ad hoc committee investigating the clash between the Falcons and NFF officials.

Onuh said;

It’s obvious that the NFF president is frustrating this ad hoc committee from investigating the allegations levelled against it.

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has reacted to the loss of her world women’s 100m hurdles crown to Jamaica’s Danielle Williams on Thursday in Budapest.

Speaking after the race, Amusan said she will be back “stronger” next year.

It was quite “a journey getting into the final” despite all I had gone through in the last couple of weeks, the track and field sensation told journalists after the race.

“It has been God, my team and my family,” the 2022 gold winner told reporters.

She thanked all her fans for supporting her through the ups and downs, promising that she will be back stronger.

Amusan hopes to get her “medal” back next year.

“Yeah, it’s a tough one; nobody likes to lose but considering what I have gone through in the past couple of months, I’m so grateful that I came out,” she enthused.

Williams, the 30-year-old, who previously won in Beijing in 2015, timed 12.43 seconds to edge out Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico (12.44sec) with Kendra Harrison of the United States taking bronze (12.46).

Amusan and 2019 winner Nia Ali were never in the hunt, finishing sixth and last respectively.

Amusan was cleared of doping violations with the provisional suspension on her lifted ahead of the championship.

Last month, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended the Nigerian track and field athlete for three missed whereabouts failures.

The suspension was announced after it was discovered that Amusan had missed three drug tests within a 12-month period. This charge carried a two-year suspension term, even if an athlete has never failed a drug test.

Ultimately, the Disciplinary Tribunal announced the verdict which stated, “Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period”.

Serena Williams, widely hailed as the greatest female tennis player of all time, is solidifying her position as one of the world’s multimillionaires, with her net worth soaring to new heights.

The tennis icon, also recognized as one of the wealthiest Black women in America, has experienced a remarkable surge in her financial fortunes, with her net worth inching closer to the coveted $300-million mark.

According to a recent report by Forbes, a U.S. business magazine renowned for tracking the wealth of ultra-high net-worth individuals, Williams has witnessed a substantial $30 million increase in her net worth since the beginning of this year, rising from $260 million on Jan. 1 to $290 million on Aug. 24.

This surge in Williams’ fortune follows a significant boost of $20 million in 2022, when her net worth leaped from $240 million to $260 million.

Over the past three years, her net worth has witnessed a notable surge of $65 million, soaring from $225 million in 2020 to her present $290 million.

The accomplished tennis star, who gracefully retired from professional tennis in 2022, has left an indelible mark on the court and established herself as one of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

Her earnings in 2022, a staggering $45.3 million, were primarily the result of lucrative endorsement deals inked with prominent brands such as Nike, Lincoln, and Michelob Ultra. In a significant testament to her influence and success, Williams secured the 49th position on Forbes’ esteemed list of the highest-paid athletes globally.

Throughout her professional career since debuting in 1995, her earnings have accumulated to an astonishing $470 million, underscoring her status as a trailblazer both in the realm of sports achievements and financial triumphs.

Looking towards the future, Williams is expanding her horizons beyond the tennis court. Her focus has shifted toward private equity investments, a domain she has been exploring through her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures.

A testament to her acumen, the firm has raised an impressive $111 million from investors, facilitating the creation of a diverse portfolio featuring 60 firms.

What sets Williams’ investment approach apart is her commitment to promoting underrepresented communities.

A remarkable 78 percent of her investments are dedicated to companies founded by individuals from marginalized groups, whether people of color or women.

FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Luis Rubiales on Thursday after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president kissed Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips following the Women’s World Cup final last weekend.

“The FIFA disciplinary committee informed Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association, today that it is opening disciplinary proceedings against him based on the events that occurred during the final,” world football’s governing body said in a statement.

FIFA said the incident “may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA disciplinary code”.

Spain star Hermoso released a joint statement with union Futpro on Wednesday, which called for action to be taken against the RFEF president.

“We are working to ensure that acts such as those we have seen never go unpunished, that they are sanctioned and that the exemplary measures are adopted to protect women footballers from actions that we believe are unacceptable,” the statement said.

Spain’s women’s football league, Liga F, also called for Rubiales to be sacked.

Rubiales, 46, initially attacked his critics before eventually apologising but the criticism of his behaviour has not abated.

Premier League side, Crystal Palace is set to splash the sum of €12 million for the services of Super Eagles and Leicester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, but a reliable journalist has revealed that Roy Hodgson will only make an official move on one condition.

Turkish journalist and Europe Transfer Football expert, Ekrem Konur revealed on Wednesday via social media platform-Twitter, that Iheanacho who doesn’t want to play in the English Championship, will be offloaded by the Foxes, owing to his huge weekly wage.

At the King Power Stadium, the Nigerian currently pockets £80k-per-week, which he has more than earned during his 210 senior appearances at the club since joining from the Premier League’s reigning champions Manchester City back in 2017.

According to Konur, “Crystal Palace is planning to open negotiations for Iheanacho with a bid of around €10million to €12million.”

However, the 26-year-old’s contract is set to expire in less than a year meaning that the ongoing window will be Enzo Maresca’s final opportunity to cash in should he not want to risk losing his prized asset for free, and especially having suffered relegation, that’s probably a sensible choice.

According to Football Insider, the Nigeria’s international could seal his departure in the final days of the transfer market, and whilst it’s stated that he has admirers over in Saudi Arabia, the centre-forward could end up staying in the top-flight and making his way to Selhurst Park.

Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has congratulated athletics sensation, Oluwatobiloba Amusan for qualifying for the Women’s 100m hurdles final, at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

The world record holder won the second semifinal with a time of 12.56 seconds to defeat all comers in the tightly contested race.

Enoh said “Tobi embodies the resilient spirit of Nigeria and we are glad she’s flying beyond all hurdles to do us proud in Budapest.”

“I have no doubt that Tobi can produce her magic again and clinch gold in the final. She has done it before and she can do it again. She has our support now and always”.

Tobi will file out on Thursday night, flying Nigeria’s flag in the final, as she hopes to defend her 2022 title against other top athletes.

She currently holds the world record in the event with a time of 12.12 seconds, which she set in Eugene, Oregon, to slam Gold at the last World Championships.

World champion, Tobi Amusan, qualified for the final of the 100-meter Hurdle at the ongoing World Athletics Championship in Budapest on Wednesday.

The Nigerian athlete won the second semifinal with a time of 12.56 seconds to qualify for the final billed for Thursday evening.

Despite a slow start, the world hurdles record holder recovered in time, clocking 12.56s to finish ahead of Jamaican Achkara Nungent’s 12.60 seconds and Dutch Nadine Visser’s 12.62 seconds.

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has qualified for the final of the 100m hurdles event at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Amusan, running in lane seven, won the second semi-final with a time of 12:56 seconds despite having a slow start.

Ackera Nugent enjoyed an early lead before Amusan snatched victory at the finishing line.

The reigning NCAA Champion who clocked 12.60 seconds eventually settled for the 2nd position which was also enough for an automatic qualification for the final.

Amusan who is the world record holder in the event is seeking to defend the title she won last year in Oregon.

Though the build up to the World Championships has been challenging for Amusan, she remains determined to prove her last year performance is not a fluke.

On Wednesday, running in Heat 5, Amusan also won her race and she is now looking all fired up for Thursday’s final race.

Predictably, the usual suspects that will be giving Amusan a run for her money in the final also made it through on Wednesday.

Former World record holder Kendra Harrison won the first semifinal race in 12.33s as Jasmine Camacho-Quinn took Heat 3 in 12.41s, ahead of Nia Ali in 12.49s.

Many are hopeful Amusan is saving the best for the last as it appears her rivals have all posted faster times in Budapest than she had done in her two races so far.

In her characteristic way, Amusan says she is not under any pressure and is ready to take each race as it comes.

[Premium Times]

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has been the best in history for African teams, and it will be remembered for ages to come.

All four CAF representatives recorded at least one win each, with three of them – Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco – qualifying for the knockout rounds for the first time ever.

Several stars from these nations have created beautiful moments for fans, making it incredibly difficult to pick the team of the group stage.

However, here is Soccernet.ng‘s compilation of the continent’s Best XI at the football showpiece.

Goalkeeper: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Nigeria

Nnadozie has been one of the standout players at the World Cup and is rated Africa’s best and the second-best goalkeeper overall of the group stage, behind only Jamaica’s Rebecca Spencer.

She had the highest individual rating among players on the pitch against Canada and Australia.

Nnadozie kept two clean sheets in three games and also saved a crucial penalty that earned Nigeria a crucial point against Canada.

Left-back: Ashleigh Plumptre, Nigeria

The England-born defender has been a reliable and consistent performer in Nigeria’s back four.

She has featured in all of the Falcons’ three games, ensuring that Nigeria’s defence has conceded only once from open play at this tournament.

Plumptre, one of coach Randy Waldrum’s most-trusted players, excels with her solidity, technical ability, ball skills, and precise passing.

Centre-back: Nesryne El Chad, Morocco

Despite playing only the last eight minutes against Germany, El Chad’s impact was significant.

In the second game, the 20-year-old put on a masterclass performance beyond her age, helping Morocco secure a historic 1-0 win over South Korea.

She repeated her excellent showing in Morocco’s 1-0 win over Colombia, securing their spot in the Round of 16 in their maiden World Cup appearance.

Centre-back: Osinachi Ohale, Nigeria

Ohale paired up with youngster Tosin Demehin in the center of defence after partner Onome Ebi was benched.

The Spain-based defender ensured Ebi’s experience was not sorely missed and played a crucial role in keeping dangerous attackers away from Nigeria’s goal, scoring a key goal in the 2-1 win over Australia.

Ohale has been crucial in ensuring the Falcons boast Africa’s best defence in Australia and New Zealand.

Right-back: Hanane Aït El Haj, Morocco

Hanane Aït El Haj delivered a remarkable performance in Morocco’s historic 1-0 win over South Korea and provided the cross that led to their winning goal.

She was equally solid as Morocco kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 victory over Colombia, securing their spot in the Round of 16 in their first-ever World Cup appearance.

Defensive-midfield: Christy Ucheibe, Nigeria

Ucheibe is Nigeria’s midfield general. The 22-year-old has battled 16 more duels than anyone else. 

The Benfica midfielder’s total of 18 tackles is twice as many as any of her team-mates, and she is one of only four Nigeria players to have found a team-mate more than 20 times in opposition territory. 

Tenacious, unrelenting, and efficient, the youngster is the wall protecting Nigeria’s defence from being breached. 

Attacking-midfield: Linda Motlhalo, South Africa

Motlhalo’s dynamic play and intelligence make her a standout midfielder for South Africa.

She has been crucial to South Africa’s impressive build-up play, with a successful dribble rate of 44% and an accurate passing rate of 78%.

The versatile midfielder scored one of South Africa’s goals against Argentina in her best performance at the Mundial.

Attacking Midfielder (Left): Racheal Kundananji, Zambia

Earlier heavy defeats overshadowed the Real Madrid striker’s performance, but she displayed her ability throughout the group stage.

Kundananji’s efforts in Zambia’s victory over Costa Rica were commendable, contributing a goal in their 3-1 win.

Attacking Midfielder (Right): Hildah Magaia, South Africa

Magaia’s fleet-footed, tireless, and versatile play has been a delight to watch in the exciting South African side.

She scored South Africa’s first goal at the tournament against Italy and was crucial in their qualification to the next round.

Striker: Barbra Banda, Zambia

Banda’s near-perfect display against Costa Rica showcased her attacking abilities, as she scored a goal, assisted another, and earned the Player of the Match award.

Despite Zambia’s early exit, her talent was evident on the world stage.

Striker: Thembi Kgatlana, South Africa

Kgatlana’s excellence and determination have been unmatched by any African star at the World Cup.

Her performances were crucial in South Africa’s historic qualification to the knockout round, including her brilliant goal and assist against Argentina and the late winning strike against Italy.

Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has slammed Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president, Luis Rubiales, for kissing Women’s World Cup winner, Jenni Hermoso.

Rubiales grabbed and kissed Hermoso on the lips on the podium during the trophy presentation ceremony of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, after Spain beat England 1-0 to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sanchez insisted Rubiales will continue to clarify his action, saying his apologies were not enough.

“Apologies are not enough considering the magnitude of the incident,” Sanchez said.

“What we saw was an unacceptable gesture, Rubiales’ apologies are not enough, I even think they are not adequate. He has to continue taking steps to clarify what we all saw,” Sanchez told a press conference on Tuesday.

Yolanda Diaz, the second deputy prime minister of Spain, has also criticised Rubiales and has demanded his resignation as “a woman has been harassed and assaulted”.

Meanwhile, Irene Montero, the Minister for Equality, perceived the incident as a “form of sexual violence”.

Hermoso admitted she “did not like that” but later spoke out in defence of Rubiales, dismissing his actions as a “totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings”.

She further stressed that the official’s “behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”

Despite the apology, Rubiales stands on shaking ground and it remains to be seen if he remains in his role as RFEF president amid growing pressure from Spanish politicians.