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.

Yesterday, 45 Ministers took the oath of office as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria pursuant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exercising executive powers as granted under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution, and in line with Section 147(3). These Ministers of the “Restored Hope Agenda”, we are told have a mandate to deliver Tinubu’s eight-point agenda as stated in his election manifesto to wit: national security, economy, agriculture, power, oil and gas, transportation, education, and healthcare, with special emphasis on economy and security.

What immediately stands out about this cabinet is that it is the largest since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, and given Nigeria’s current economic situation, this is somewhat disappointing as it signals a resort to “big government” with heavy cost implications. President Olusegun Obasanjo began in 1999 with a cabinet of 42 Ministers (1999 – 2003), which he later reduced to 27, and had increased to 30 by the time he was leaving office in 2007. In 2007, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had a 39-member cabinet. President Goodluck Jonathan appointed a cabinet of 33 Ministers (2011-2014), and later 37 just before the 2015 general elections. In 2015, President Buhari appointed 36 Ministers, later increased to 42 in 2019. Although 45 Ministers were sworn in yesterday, it must be noted that President Tinubu actually nominated a total of 48 Ministers – three of whom were told to await further screening – Stella Okotete (Delta) Senator Abubakar Danladi (Taraba) and Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna). El-Rufai has since announced that he is no longer interested with a cryptic Marley-an “Who The Cap Fits” declaration that “man to man is so unjust…your best friend could be your worst enemy”. That is another interesting matter worthy of full commentary. But if you were to add a list of 45 ministers, which may possibly increase to 48 later, to the 20 slots for Special Advisers earlier approved by the Senate for the President, and the accompanying appointment of Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants, President Tinubu is set to run the most bloated government since 1999. This is curious in the light of the fact that many Nigerians had expected a lean government, to save costs and increase efficiency.

The current state of Nigeria’s economy is frightening, with over 113 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty; headline inflation at 24.08%; food inflation – 26.98%, Nigeria’s unemployment rate is about 41%, debt service to revenue ratio is calculated at about 90%, total debt is over N81 trillion, the available band for more borrowings is extremely narrow. Under such a scenario, the basic expectation would be for government to trim its size at all levels and tighten its belt. The only thing we have heard is the Federal Government asking the people to make sacrifice: fuel subsidy has been removed, resulting in increase in the pump price of fuel, the fuel exchange rate has been harmonized resulting in over 16% depreciation of the Naira, and a rampaging epidemic of empty pockets among the people, with the people trooping to the streets in Yola, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and elsewhere pleading with the government “to please allow them to “breathe”.

On top of it all, the Federal Government has announced plans to achieve an 18% tax to GDP ratio by 2024, and even if Taiwo Oyedele, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reforms says this would not mean higher taxation, the simple logic is that the people would be required to make more sacrifices to help government generate much-needed revenue. What is shocking is that whereas government is imposing a regime of austerity, the Nigerian government at all levels is not showing a similar commitment in the governance process, and this much was confirmed again yesterday by the sheer size of the Federal Government. Many would recall that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass upon assumption of office recently announced the recruitment of 33 aides! The Senate President also has a similar number of 33 aides, and in total, the 10th National Assembly members have since June appointed about 3, 000 legislative aides! It is worse at the state level. The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri recently appointed 47 media aides; the Governor of Kano State Abba Yusuf has appointed 97 persons as special advisers and assistants. In Niger state, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has 131 aides, all of them women. Whereas the President may claim that he is exercising his powers under the Constitution, he has in actual fact created more Ministries. Obasanjo at a time had 27 Ministers, and still fulfilled Constitutional provisions. Jonathan had 33, and still did not violate the Constitution. It is to be expected that Tinubu’s Ministers would soon announce their own aides, further bloating the size of government. Under Tinubu’s government, the cost of governance would shoot through the roof, with the expansion of size, staff and bureaucracy.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the media and other informed groups in society had urged before now, that one of the main priorities of President Tinubu’s “Restored Hope” agenda should be the implementation of the famous Oronsaye Report – an 800-page 2012 Report on the Restructuring and Rationalization of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies which stated that the Federal Government alone has 541 parastatals, 929 MDAs, and that there should be mergers, complete abolitions, and rationalizations to block wastages and duplications and ensure efficiency. It is obvious that President Tinubu has no intention to take a look at the Oronsaye Report. In its June 2023 Nigeria Development Update (NDU), the World Bank had also recommended that for Nigeria, it was now “time for business unusual”. It seems so obvious that well, business will remain as usual in the governance arena, and our fear is that a day may well come when Nigerians will begin to praise President Buhari as things currently stand! And that will be a completion of our worst nightmare.

The process of appointing these Ministers was not impressive enough. Those who know Tinubu and his antecedents were convinced that he would hit the ground running and that he would have no difficulties identifying strong talents, a team of the best and the brightest that would help him deliver on his mandate. But it has been one big anti-climax. It took close to the 60-day deadline, and additional days for the President to come up with a list of party loyalists, former Governors, close advisers from his days in Lagos, and a few technocrats. Nine former Governors, with one of them grudgingly withdrawing conveys a veil of staleness, no matter the experience that the former Governors may bring to the table. The kind of unsureness that governed the list is also embarrassing. During the screening process, the President had to substitute the name of the Kano nominee, Maryam Shetty. Nobody even had the decency to inform her. She only got to know when she got to the Senate for her screening. Nobody deserves to be treated so shabbily.

To worsen matters, it only occurred to the President on the. eve of the inauguration of the Ministers to make last minute changes. He reassigned the 66-year-old Abubakar Momoh whom he had named as Minister of Youth to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. Young Nigerians had complained that a 66-year-old politician as Minister of Youth was an odd choice. The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) had also raised an alarm about the non-inclusion of the Niger Delta in the list of Ministries. Then the Ministers-designate for Transportation, Interior, and Marine and Blue Economy were reshuffled. The Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management was renamed as the Federal Ministry of Environment. This back and forth looks untidy. It shows lack of preparedness, someone certainly was not paying attention to details about credentials, nomenclature and vested interests. If the President’s excuse is that the last-minute reshuffling is to ensure that the right persons are in the right places, then his attempt does not go far enough. It is one of the reasons why we argue that portfolios should be attached to Ministerial nominations to provide enough room for adjustments before the nominees are eventually confirmed. Further, there are fewer women than expected on the Ministerial list, and there are persons who think that the women have been given decorative positions. This is feedback that the President should pay attention to and address as he makes other appointments into the MDAs. And why is there no person living with disability on the list?

For the most part, the Ministerial list looks like an attempt by the President to settle political IOUs. Every President in appointing their first cabinets feel obliged to settle those who worked for their victory. But even at that, there are many aggrieved APC members and foot-soldiers who must genuinely feel left out, because they believe they deserve to share the spoils of victory. However, Nigerians are not interested in “jobs for the boys”. They want a quality team. This is why the present cabinet must be rejigged within a year or 18 months at best. President Tinubu must constantly move people around and recruit only the best. Ministerial positions must not be treated as chieftaincy titles. The kind of sit-tight, “Kabiyesi syndrome” that we witnessed under President Buhari, with some Ministers staying in office for eight years and remaining anonymous and ineffectual throughout - must not be allowed to happen this time around. Nigerians want Ministers who are ready to serve, not traditional chiefs of Aso Villa.

The President has talked about giving the Ministers a Performance Index. This is also known as Key Performance Indicators (KPI), very important but it must not be couched in general terms such as the emphasis on the eight-point agenda. It must be Ministry and sector-specific, and if any Minister does not show enough promise or capacity within the next 18 months, he or she must be turned adrift without fear or favour. Nigerians are impatient. The Federal Executive Council must be seen to work truly in the best interest of the people. It is standard practice to organize seminars and retreats for newly appointed Ministers. Whatever syllabus may have been chosen for the class of 2023 certain specific subjects must be addressed. It is not enough to pack documents inside conference bags – a copy of the Constitution, Public Service Rules and Regulations, the Procurement Act or some other briefing notes – NO. There must be a proper breakdown of expectations Ministry by Ministry and robust discussions. Nigerians don’t like to read except when there is an examination to be passed; putting documents together and hoping that the Ministers would read on their own would be presumptuous. Many of them probably don’t know what their Ministry is all about. They have to be taught and guided.

As is often the case, they are probably thinking of the contracts that they will award through their Ministries and what would be in it for them. They need to be given a crash course in the details of the Procurement Act and Public Service Rules. Out of ignorance, many past Ministers depend on civil servants who lead them by the nose and astray. Having sound knowledge of procurement is part of the process. It is tied to budget performance and defined regulations.

These Ministers also need to be told that they are Ministers of the Federal Republic with responsibility to all the people and parts of Nigeria, regardless of religion, political affiliation, class or gender and the President was right in stressing this yesterday. Cronyism, nepotism, prejudice are the major afflictions in Nigeria’s governance process. New Ministers would come under severe pressure, both external and self-imposed, to use their positions to settle their own incurred political costs. The party in their wards, local governments and states would call on them to remind them that it is their slot they are using and that they owe them an obligation to fund the party in the state, employ children from the state, award contracts to contractors from within the party and ensure major projects are brought to the community that produced them because “it is their turn”. Nigerians are very good at blaming leadership but the followers themselves are mean. A Minister would be asked to come and help pay hospital bills for newly delivered babies, even when he had no knowledge of the pregnancy: “Honourable Minister, we thank God oh, your wife has just put to bed”. The Minister is likely to be confused because his wife probably gave birth to his last child 15 years ago! But every woman in his state would suddenly become his wife, every pregnancy his own, every wedding must receive his blessing. Some other pressures are self-imposed. To keep the job, for example, some Ministers think that they are obliged to build goodwill among the informal circle around the President – very dangerous people - who exploit their proximity to the President to amass unmerited wealth. They promise appointments and access, and bear tales by moonlight. Many Ministers make the mistake of focusing more on this informal ring of vipers, but others commit the crime of thinking that they must take every project to the President’s home-town or state, to gain favour as a result. Tinubu must discourage such sycophancy.

Pastor Tunde Bakare has already warned about an emerging pattern of “imperial Presidency” in his recent State of the Nation Address. The term as described in a book of the same title by Arthur M. Schlesinger (Houghton Mifflin, 1973, 2004) refers to the abuse of power, its reckless use, and a President getting carried away with his own importance. No government can break the law without the President’s consent, because the buck stops at his desk. Nigerians have a way of misleading their Presidents with excessive sycophancy and Aso Rock is the headquarters of sycophancy. Even the best of men can be tempted like Samson, the Israelite. There are those men who in the President’s presence would immediately go down on their knees and start crawling towards him from a distance, bowing and scraping the floor and intoning “rankadede sir”. Others would prostrate. Oftentimes, such persons are clutching a file under their arms. They want the President’s signature. Whoever acts in that manner should be asked to stand up immediately and stop scraping the floor! Tinubu must make it clear that such flattery would not work with him. Work has begun for the Ministers. It won’t be long before the misfits among them will be exposed.

Roma manager, Jose Mourinho is believed to be keen on Mason Greenwood after Manchester United released a statement on Monday, announcing the 21-year-old will not play for them again.

According to Mail Sport, the Serie A side are among a number of teams who have contacted United.

Following a five-month internal investigation, the Red Devils deemed that Greenwood had not committed a string of serious offences he had been charged with.

But the club, along with the player, decided that it would be best if he continued his career elsewhere.

It is unlikely that Greenwood will move to another club in England.

Instead, a switch abroad is on the cards with interest from Italy, Turkey and elsewhere.

Spain's captain and World Cup final goalscorer Olga Carmona was delivered some heart-breaking news after the match against England, about her father's passing.

Carmona scored the winner against England as Spain won their first Women's World Cup on Sunday, August 20.

The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) disclosed that Carmona learned of her father's passing after the match.

Tragically, Carmona's father had been battling a long illness and had succumbed to it on the previous Friday. However, to allow their beloved captain to concentrate on the most significant match of her career, Carmona's family and close friends had chosen not to inform her of this painful loss.

"The RFEF deeply regrets to announce the death of Olga Carmona's father. The footballer learned the sad news after the World Cup final," the Spanish FA said on social media.

"We send our most sincere embrace to Olga and her family in a moment of deep sorrow. We love you, Olga, you are Spanish soccer history."

During the World Cup's group stage, Carmona's mother and brothers had been with her in New Zealand to support her. However, upon hearing the devastating news, they hurried back to Spain.

Spain beat European champions England 1-0 to become the Women’s World Cup champions in the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday.

Captain Olga Carmona fired Spain ahead in the 29th minute, coolly finishing in the right-hand corner after a rapid counter-attack.

England’s best chance came from Lauren Hemp, who rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike as both teams bid to win the World Cup for the first time.

The game was briefly interrupted by a fan running on the pitch wearing a ‘Free Ukraine’ T-shirt before being tackled by security.

Lionel Messi was hailed as the “best in the world” as he scored a 10th goal in seven games to help his Inter Miami side to their first trophy.

The 36-year-old Argentinian fired into the top corner from outside the box to give Miami the lead against Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final.

Fafa Picault levelled in the second half to send the game to penalties.

Miami sealed a 10-9 shootout win when Drake Callender saved Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco’s spot-kick.

Miami had the worst record in Major League Soccer this season before World Cup-winning forward Messi arrived last month alongside former Barcelona team-mates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

They are now unbeaten in seven games on their way to winning the Leagues Cup, a tournament featuring MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs.

It was the club’s first trophy since being formed in 2020.

They also have the chance to reach another final when they play Cincinnati in the semi-final of the US Open Cup on Wednesday.

Co-owner David Beckham said the former Barcelona trio were instrumental in the club’s change in fortunes: “It is like a movie, you watch these players play and, emotionally, everything about their play is beautiful.”

Spain midfielder Busquets added: “The team is growing by leaps and bounds and we are very happy.

“We are making a solid team – and then we have Leo, who makes a difference because he’s the best in the world.”

The win also meant seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi – who was named player of the tournament – has now won 44 trophies, more than any other player.

From childhood, Effiom Otu-Bassey loved the round leather game – football. He would go far away from his parents’ home in Lagos to nearby school fields to join other boys showcasing their skills. Despite his small stature, his mother, Aye, said he was always the best in the game among his peers.

“He would train as if his life depended on it, and he even trained more than he studied,” she told Saturday PUNCH in an interview. “We were even scared he wouldn’t finish his primary education, but he finished and we pushed him to do his secondary education.”

Aye admitted that at first, it was difficult for her to support Effiom’s dreams of going pro because she believed football was just a hobby and not something one should take as a career. Thus, she said she made sure Effiom concentrated more on his books so he would become an engineer.

However, that never happened.

Effiom, the youngest of three boys, was only one year and six months old when his father, John, passed after a brief illness. Life, according to Aye, took a deep and quick dive.

“We went from eating twice to not eating at all. I lost hold of myself. My husband was the one who did all the work and brought in all the resources. His passing broke the family,” she said.

Effiom’s eldest brother, Lawrence, was around 18 or 19 years old. The second child, Bassey, was five years younger. Thus, they barely knew how to survive but had to with the turn of events.

So, when Effiom told his mother at age nine that he wanted to play football professionally, she said it was a rush of mixed feelings.

“I didn’t want him to suffer. He had known suffering for a major part of his life, so I tried all I could to dissuade him but when I saw that he was serious, I let him be,” she noted, in a wearied tone.

Effiom’s little beginning

Before he clocked 12, Effiom was already playing football with boys almost twice his age. He said he would play at the Surulere stadium and people would wonder how he had so much energy. It was during one of those games that a young man told him about the Kwara Football Academy.

He said he applied and was asked to join some boys coming from the commercial city to Ilorin. His coming to camp, he noted, was a dawn of a new beginning for him.

“I wanted to make the best out of my life but I didn’t know I would end up like this – dejected, depressed and lost,” he added.

Originally a striker, Effiom said he mastered the midfield and manned his position well such that his coaches took note of him. He said whenever he got on the field, the suffering his family faced back at home inspired him to perform above par.

Although his mother said she was not in support of his going to Kwara to pursue his dream, especially because of his young age, she gave him her blessings.

“All I wished for him was to become successful and lift us out of poverty. If anyone had told me football would turn my child into this new person, I would not have believed it,” she added.

Lawrence and Bassey, his brothers, stated that they worked as sales agents for different shops in order to make sure they sent some money to him for his upkeep in Kwara.

Interestingly, it didn’t take long before he was signed to play for the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club (founded as Bukola Babes), where they noted he performed extraordinarily well.

A man, who said he coached Effiom at the time but refused to give his name for personal reasons, described him as a ‘spring’ on the field.

He noted, “He was the very best we had. He could man both the midfield as a central midfielder and still play as a striker. He also played right and left midfield sometimes. The entire team knew his prowess. When most players went to sleep after a day’s game, you would see Bassey on the field practicing.

“He became a shining example, especially because he was very young; maybe in his late teens. This was when football really had value in Nigeria, not now that everything has been turned to something else.”

NPL and journey to Norway

After playing for the Nigerian Premier League from around 2009 to 2011, Effiom, then aged 19, was signed to Lillestrøm, a Norwegian club.

Aye said she felt elated when she saw on TV that her teenage son had been signed to play for a foreign club. She said though she wasn’t too happy that he didn’t tell her before leaving for Norway, that didn’t deflate her excitement in any way.

“It was on TV I saw that my son had travelled. I wanted to be angry at him for not telling me, but I told myself it would not change anything. After a few weeks, I got a phone call from him, saying he was still settling down and he would send us some money. It was a really beautiful experience,” she noted.

According to NRK TV, a local Norwegian news platform, the 19-year-old midfielder, Effiom, was signed on Thursday, August 11, 2011. The club had before then sold the duo of Anthony Ujah and Nosa Igiebor, who played for them for a few seasons. Thus, LSK decided to bring in a Nigerian whom they hoped would complement the team.

After the usual rigorous medical test the previous day, Effiom signed the contract, which was to run through the 2014 season.

Described by Romanian sports analyst, Romerikes Blad, as a versatile midfielder from Bukola Babes, who played at a top level in Nigeria, Effiom was expected to be the gamechanger.

In an interview sighted by Saturday PUNCH, Effiom had said, “I enjoy both offensive and defensive tasks. I have mostly played centrally, but can also play on the edges. It is up to the coach where he wants to use me.”

According to several reports by the Norwegian local media, Lillestrøm was to pay Effiom between 1.5m kroner (about N75m today).

Having been on trial at the club for around a month, an investment sporting director, Torgeir Bjarmann, was said to be ‘very happy with his performance’.

In fact, Blad said Otu-Bassey proved to be a box-to-box player who was good on the ball and extremely quick to be a midfielder. “That makes him a young and exciting midfielder who will now have time to develop,” he added.

Another sports journal in Nigeria, All Sports, stated that Otu-Bassey had combined well with his teammates to ‘embarrass’ household names in the country. “He played a vital role as Bukola Babes set an eight-match unbeaten run and scored five goals before his departure for Norway,” it stated.

Season of transfers

Effiom was not the only one who shone at the time. Bassey Akpan, recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in the Nigerian Premier League at the time, who represented Nigeria at the FIFA under-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, also got signed to Heartland FC, Owerri, Imo State.

He had played for Bayelsa United and Kwara United before heading for Heartland. He was also in goal when Nigeria won the inaugural WAFU Cup and was a fringe member of the Super Eagles.

Oke Akpoveta of Warri Wolves was also tipped to replace Ujah at Lillestrom. Akpoveta, who is said to be one of the best stars in the NPL, got another chance to convince officials of Denmark’s biggest football club, Brondby IF, where he was billed to play forward.

Clash of agents

Meanwhile, after a few months of playing with Lillestrøm, Effiom noted that an issue arose between the agents who facilitated his moving to Norway and the receiving agent in Norway, under whose supervision he played.

He added, “For weeks, I practiced in fear, because I was always called aside to speak to my agent to clarify an aspect of the contract. I was barely 20 years old then. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew there was an issue.

“Later on, they said the management was no longer pleased with my performance and my contract was terminated. It was like a movie to me and is still like a dream. The arrangement was for me to go back to Nigeria to clarify some things before I could come back on a clean slate with a better agent,” he said.

Effiom said he never disclosed all he was going through to his family, adding that he only sent them some money once because he was still ‘servicing’ some of the terms of the contract that remained unclear to him to date.

“I had to pay some taxes. I also had a lot of other things I was paying for, so when I was paid the 1.5m kroner, I might end up with just about 600 kroner or thereabouts,” he added.

He also noted that the management of Lillestrøm changed following the 2012 season and he was released from the team despite his contract.

Otu-Bassey had to return to Nigeria, with nothing.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Effiom said, “I was duped. I was looking for a way to stay back in Norway but an agent duped me. That is why people will look at me and say I am mad. Am I mad? I am not mad. I am frustrated. They took all my money in Norway. They left me with nothing. I will go back to Norway. I will play for Europe. Nothing can stop me. After all, I am still training. I am still very good.”

Battle with frustration, depression

On Otu-Bassey’s return to Nigeria, he said he went back to Kwara to play for the Bukola Babes (now ABS FC), his team before leaving for Norway, but during the summer of 2013, he said something surprising happened.

“The management there said I would not play until my performance improved. I knew I was struggling with my game but that was because I was and I’m still depressed. I am frustrated. When I returned to Nigeria before the end of my contract, I almost ran mad. I thought my life was gone,” he said.

Meanwhile, his 70-year-old mother said she had no idea her son was back in the country until a neighbour said they saw him in Kwara State.

She added, “We reached out to him and confirmed that he was indeed in Nigeria. We asked him why he refused to reach out or come home in Lagos but he said nothing. He visited for a while but left again for Kwara State. We were even the ones who paid for his transport, his rent in Kwara and sent him money regularly for upkeep.

“After a while, we told him it wasn’t sustainable. His eldest brother, Lawrence, now 49, is into laundry. Bassey, now 45, the second child, is a hotel receptionist. He had to return to Calabar, Cross River, where we are from, to start his life afresh. I also left Lagos to be with him in his father’s family compound in Calabar.

“To date, he has not told us what happened in Norway. He simply became a shadow of himself. He talks to himself and has become so lean and malnourished because he always refuses to eat, bathe or change his clothes. He fights anyone who tries to help him or talk to him about his attitude. He has become a terror.”

A man, Chief Ekpenyong Bassey-Edem, who introduced himself as Effiom’s uncle, his father’s elder brother, said Effiom had become a totally different person from whom they used to know.

He said, “Effiom has really changed. He acts really strangely. We know he is not okay ‘upstairs’ but there is nothing we can do because we do not have the means to. We enquired how to check him into a psychiatric home for examination and treatment because we know something is really going on with him from his time in Norway, but how do we do all these without money?”

The chief claimed that Effiom woke up one night and chased his mother out of the house after a heated argument over a pot of food. Although the young footballer dismissed this claim, multiple sources, including a close associate of his, Samuel Ibanga, who also studied at the Kwara Football Academy, confirmed it, saying Aye now lives with her younger brother.

Ibanga stated, “Effiom chased the woman away. We don’t know what is wrong with him. That is why we are calling on everyone who loves football and has watched him play to come to our aid.”

When Saturday PUNCH put these claims to Effiom, the 31-year-old said he was perfectly fine, adding that all he needed was to go back to his passion – football.

“I am fine; I am just frustrated,” he insisted. “I lost everything. I am now an artist. I do petty jobs for people but I want to play football. All these things I am doing are out of frustration and depression. I was duped. I want to play football.”

Attempts to reach the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Professional Football League Club Owners Association of Nigeria, Chief Aloysius Chukwuemeka, who was touted to have some personal relationship with Effiom, for a comment proved abortive as calls to his mobile lines rang out while the text messages sent to him were not responded to as of press time.

Super Falcons' captain Onome Ebi has celebrated the grassroots coach who discovered her, Mr Paul Okwudili Nnakwe A.K.A (PALEPA).

In the video shared on her Instagram account on Friday, she said, “This is my papa, PALE, Today I wan let you know say I see you as my father, you be my papa right from when I small. Na you teach me how to play ball, yes I sabi play ball but na you put everything for my head wey make me be like this today.

“Today I want to appreciate you, I wan make you know say as my papa don die na you be second. Thank you very much for everything."