Retrospect: Review Of Major Sporting Events That Made Headlines
It’s been raining rewards and accolades for the Super Falcons following their triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
In a week that saw the Nigerian girls tour the country, their basketball counterparts, the D’Tigress, are also on the verge of making history in Cote d’Ivoire.
As the football season nears kickoff, the transfer window is still buzzing with clubs beefing up their squads for the soon-to-start campaign.
Retrospect — the recap of the most talked-about sports headlines — explores the above and other news that shaped sports in the last seven days!
Osimhen Seals Blockbuster Move
Starting from football, but this time from one of football’s most in-form strikers, Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian sealed a blockbuster move to Galatasaray, signing a €75m contract with the Turkish side from Napoli.
Osimhen’s four-year deal meant he will be paid €15 million per season and ends a two-year saga with Italian side Napoli.
Super Falcons’ Victory Parade
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His contract signing came just as the Super Falcons got a rousing welcome home following their WAFCON victory. President Bola Tinubu splashed $100,000 on each player, a house, conferred national honours on them, and also the technical crew.
The team also had a trophy parade in Lagos State to mark their record-extending 10th WAFCON title. The Super Falcons’ next target is to win the World Cup.
WAFCON: Fintiri Rewards Justin Madugu
For leading the team to the title, Coach Justin Madugu has been rewarded by his governor — Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State. He was gifted a house and also N50m.
At a ceremony at the Government House in Yola, Fintiri eulogised the coach for making Adamawa proud.
D’Tigress on Historic Afrobasket Run
Meanwhile, the D’Tigress are on the hunt for a fifth consecutive Afrobasket title and are in the semi-final of this year’s competition.
The Nigerian ladies crushed Cameroon in the quarter-final and will now take on fellow West Africans Senegal in the last four.
Burna Boy Thrills Lionesses
Back in the week, Nigerian singer Burna Boy made headlines for spicing up England’s Women’s Euro trophy tour.
The afrobeat superstar, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, was a surprise guest at Buckingham Palace during the Lionesses’ tour. Burna Boy performed his 2022 song “For My Hand” to the delight of manager Sarina Wiegman, the players, and fans who witnessed the event.
World Cup Draw To Hold December 5
The Fifa World Cup trophy is displayed ahead of the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup European qualifiers at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, on December 13, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
In the US, reports emerged that Las Vegas will play host to the 2026 World Cup draw on December 5. Vegas had been picked for the draw of the expanded 48-team event, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In all, 12 groups of four nations will be drawn. When the United States played host to the 1994 World Cup, the draw ceremony was also conducted in Las Vegas. But FIFA has not commented on the matter as of now.
Transfer: Diaz Moves To Germany, Xhaka Returns To England
Returning from the courts, the football transfer window has been buzzing all week ahead of the new season. In England, and across Europe generally, it’s been all fireworks as players make the move and clubs shore up their teams.
Germany’s side Bayern Munich’s signing of forward Luis Diaz from Premier League champions Liverpool was one of the biggest stories in the game. Ex-Arsenal player Granit Xhaka made a move in the opposite direction, joining Sunderland from German team Bayer Leverkusen.
Aubameyang, Pedro Get New Homes
In the meantime, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned to Marseille after a season in Saudi Arabia. The 36-year-old striker arrived in southern France late on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Portuguese forward João Félix signed a two-year deal with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, where he will join Cristiano Ronaldo. Felix, now 25, made a blockbuster move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019, but has since seen his fortunes decline.
