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Women Football: Benue State’s Honey Badgers Unveil New Team Manager

In their quest to attain higher heights, Honey Badgers have appointed and unveiled an experienced Technical Adviser (TA).

He is Coach Liadi Bashiri, a known tactician in Nigeria’s women’s football circle, who had handled Confluence Queens of Lokoja and Osun Babes in the recent past.

At his unveiling in Makurdi, Benue State capital at the weekend, the Chairman of Honey Badgers, Mr Abdul Sule, said the choice of coach Liadi as the club’s technical adviser was due to his rich vast coaching records.

Sule, an ex-international said, “It’s our desire to keep ensuring that Honey Badgers grow from one point to another. And that is why we are doing everything possible to engage capable hands.”

The club chairman also announced the reconstitution of the entire technical crew with coach Felicia Anthony being elevated to the position of a head coach.

Also, Sani Baba and Theresa Wuhe were promoted to assistant coaches.

The Chairman of Benue State Football Association (BSFA), Barr. Paul Edeh, who was flanked by board members to the unveiling event, described women’s football as a pride.

While speaking to the Honey Badgers players, he said, “I sincerely have top regards for any woman who takes to playing football. The reason is because number one – it takes courage to do what you are doing, particularly when you identify the stigma attached to those who don’t understand the beauty of what you are doing.

“Two – with what you are doing today, that is playing football, you are already the breadwinners in your homes. The third is the fact that you are making Benue State proud. As we talk about women’s football in the state, Honey Badgers remain the only team in the mainstream, participating in the championship of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).

“Let me congratulate you perhaps for the very first time after you returned from Ijebu Ode. I understood you fought with vigour… and that is why I’m pretty sure that with the appointment of a Technical Adviser who knows what it takes at the highest level, you will be better off for it.”

The BSFA chairman who is the founder of the women’s club commended the coaches for their commitment and contributions in steering its affairs while tasking the reconstituted technical crew to redouble their efforts in moving the club forward.

To the new TA, he said, “To whom much is given, much is also expected. Coach Liadi you know that lots of responsibilities are on your shoulders as you have become the father of the players in Honey Badgers.

“It is left for you to carry all the experiences you have gathered and bring it to bear here in Makurdi. For BSFA, we will give you all the support that you need to succeed because women’s team is a pride.

Talking about the plans of Benue FA for women’s football development, Barr. Edeh said, “The Benue State Football Association is is very determined to put women forward, and I say so with a deep sense of responsibility being founder of two women’s clubs that are operating concurrently and smoothly.

“By the grace of God, I’m very sure that many women’s football clubs will spring in every nook and cranny of the state with time. It is my desire that pretty soon Honey Badgers will qualify to play in the NWFL Premiership.

“And when you do so, there are discussions already on for the Benue state government to come into this matter and possibly take over Honey Badgers when discussions are famed up. When that happens, I’m very sure you will be more excited and happier for it.”

The BSFA chairman later announced a donation of 25 balls to both Honey Badgers and a newly founded women’s club in Benue State.

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King Ademola Lookman Brings Out His Love

Like his father opened up, Ademola Lookman is essentially a private person, who prefers to do his stuff without all the media blitz.

But on one of his biggest days, when he was crowned Africa’s best player, he could not but make the first public appearance with the woman in his life – Jayda Love.

‘Adebobo’ would even steal a moment on his big night to kiss his American beau.

The 27-year-old Super Eagles star is still single.

Rumours of this romance first surfaced in the summer when the couple appeared to have spent the holidays together.

This was after ‘Mola’ scored his unforgettable hat-trick for Atalanta to win the UEFA Europa League in super style.

Jayda, an Information Technology specialist is based in Dallas, Texas, graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2021 with a degree in public relations.

She follows Ademola Lookman and his foundation on social media.

She is also known to have visited him at his Italian base.

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FIFA Rankings: Nigeria’s Super Eagles End 2024 Ahead Of Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have ended 2024 ranked as Africa’s fifth-best team in FIFA’s latest global standings, released Thursday morning, Soccernet.ng reports.

Despite a challenging end to the year that saw the team drop eight places to 44th globally, the Super Eagles still managed to hold their own against eternal continental rivals like South Africa, Cameroon, and Ghana.

This year’s ranking represents a mixed bag for Nigeria. While the team retained its fifth spot in Africa, their decline in global rankings was driven by underwhelming performances in key fixtures.

Most notably, the Super Eagles struggled during the final rounds of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, securing just a solitary point in lackluster outings against the Benin Republic and Rwanda.

Nigeria were forced to a scored draw by the Cheetahs in Abidjan only for Samuel Chukwueze’s excellent strike to end up as consolation in a 2-1 home defeat to the Wasps.

Looking at year-to-year standings, at this time in 2023, Nigeria’s Super Eagles were ranked 42nd in the world but sixth on the continent.

Elsewhere, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana showed marked improvement, climbing th

Cameroon and Ghana, however, endured disappointing campaigns. Ghana’s Black Stars finished the year ranked 77th, a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles within the Black Stars setup.

At the continental summit, Morocco retained their status as the continent’s best, finishing as Africa’s top-ranked team in 14th place globally.

Senegal (17th), Egypt (33rd), and Algeria (37th) rounded out the top four, with Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, and South Africa completing the top 10.

Globally, Argentina retained their position as FIFA’s top-ranked team, followed by France, Spain, England, and Brazil.

With 1,181 international matches played across the calendar year, the rankings reflected consistent dominance from the world’s elite teams.

As Nigeria enter 2025, all eyes will be on the Super Eagles to reignite their competitive spark, with the World Cup qualifiers returning in the first quarter of the year.

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Mbappé: Would Have Been ‘Fun’ To Play With Cristiano Ronaldo

Kylian Mbappé has said he wishes he could have played with Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo, the club’s all-time leading scorer.

The France international has been a teammate of other football icons but would have relished playing alongside Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and Portugal captain.

“I’ve played with great players: Lionel Messi, Neymar, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Paul] Pogba, [Karim] Benzema…” Mbappé told BeINsports.

“It would have been fun to play with Cristiano Ronaldo — it’s going to be very difficult now — but I was lucky enough to play against him, a legend of the sport.”

Ronaldo, 39, left the Spanish giants in 2018 now plays for Saudi Pro-League side Al Nassr.

Mbappé helped Madrid win the Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday, his second title since joining the Spanish giants in the summer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired.

Speaking to young people with disabilities as part of the BeUNITED program, Mbappe, 25, said he would have never left Paris Saint-Germain had it not been to join Madrid.

“I went to the biggest club in the world,” the 2018 World Cup winner said.

“I have always said that it was the only club I would have left PSG for. If I hadn’t been able to go to Madrid, I would have stayed at PSG all my life.”

Although Mbappé has been prolific for Madrid so far, he has faced criticism for his all-round performances with the team having suffered some high-profile defeats earlier in the season.

“Since I was 14, everyone told me I was going to be great,” Mbappé said.

“But when you’re big, sometimes you feel small…At first I was too hungry and it played tricks on me because I was impatient. But I have passion and this competitive side.

“My dream now is to win trophies with my team, not individual awards. What great title is left for me? The Champions League, but I’m in the best club in the world for that.”