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Chelsea 0-1 Man City: Bunny Shaw strike moves Gareth Taylor’s Citizens level on points with WSL leaders

Bunny Shaw scored the only goal of the game at Kingsmeadow – her 14th WSL goal of the season – with a composed finish after only 14 minutes.

The Blues saw penalty appeals turned down in the first half, when Mayra Ramirez was caught by Alex Greenwood in the box.

They were also denied what looked a certain equaliser by a stunning double save from teenage goalkeeper Khiara Keating deep into second-half stoppage time.

After a rare home defeat for Chelsea, only goal difference now separates the teams in the standings, with eight league matches remaining until the conclusion of the campaign.

In her press conference on Thursday afternoon, Emma Hayes suggested there would be little to separate the WSL’s top two the following evening – and, for the first 10 minutes at least, that was the case. It was cagey; a slip-up could have grave implications for either team’s respective title chances.

With their first shot of the game, City took the lead. Gareth Taylor could be heard urging his side to press and the instructions bore fruit, as Jess Park caught Erin Cuthbert in possession and slipped the ball through to Shaw, who stayed composed as she drove forward and slipped the opener past Hannah Hampton.

Shaw almost had another soon afterwards, but Hampton beat the striker’s shot away after she was again found by a clever Park pass.

Meanwhile, Chelsea – who were uncharacteristically lacking fluency and potency in attack – were denied a penalty when Ramirez was caught by a last-ditch tackle from behind by Alex Greenwood. Had VAR been in operation in the WSL, the incident would certainly have been reviewed.

For the most part, the second half passed by without incident. Hayes made changes in an attempt to inject more energy and creativity, but her side had generated just 0.33 xG by the hour mark.

When captain Erin Cuthbert met a cut-back and flashed a curling shot across the face of goal, it became clearer it was not going to be the hosts’ night.

As City sat back to defend their precious in the nine minutes of added time at the end of the game, Chelsea did the opposite.

They almost benefitted from it, too, but 19-year-old Keating produced a great stop to keep out Jelena Cankovic after she caught a bouncing ball sweetly, and an even better one to deny Sjoeke Nusken as she followed up from point-blank range, securing City’s sixth clean sheet of the season and an eighth league win in succession.

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Iconic ’96 Nigeria Kit: Elba, Chalamet Lead Celebrity Wearers

The Super Eagles won the gold medal in Men’s Football at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, but the success of that tournament has soared beyond football, according to Soccernet.ng.

The three-time AFCON Champions had a prolific squad in that competition, to which some argue is the greatest ever team produced by the Nation.

Stars like Daniel Amokachi, Nwankwo Kanu, Sunday Oliseh, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Celestine Babayaro were part of the team at the time.

While the jersey signifies success for many Nigerians, the custom replica produced by Nike has also been making waves in the fashion world.

Hollywood movie star, Timothée Chalamet, was recently spotted with his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, at the Shellona Beach in Saint-Tropez, France.

The 29-year-old donned the retro green and white kit, alongside a bandana that carried these same colours.

Away from Mr Chamalet, other popular figures have also been seen in the retro 1996 Super Eagles kit.

One of those is Fast and Furious actor, Idris Elba. The versatile Brit also doubles as a musician and an event host. He was the host of the 2017 FIFA Best Awards that saw superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Dani Alves, Marcelo, and Neymar pick up awards.

The Arsenal fan was seen wearing the Super Eagles retro kit two years ago at Wimbledon’s star-studded Men’s Final.

Famous Twitch streamer, Kai Cenat, also donned the Nigerian retro kit. This time, in Lagos. The American visited Nigeria to collaborate with creatives, and ended up contributing financially to the growth in education children in the slum area of Makoko.

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Local News

CAF Probes Algeria Ahead Of Super Falcons Clash

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has officially opened an investigation into the Algerian Women’s National Team over alleged breaches of CAF Statutes and Regulations during the ongoing 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

In a brief statement released on Thursday, CAF confirmed that the probe was initiated following reported violations linked to Algeria’s conduct at the tournament.

While the specific nature of the alleged offences was not disclosed, it comes amid growing scrutiny surrounding Algeria’s actions off the pitch, including political tensions affecting the competition’s atmosphere.

“CAF has opened an investigation against the Algerian Women’s National Team on alleged violations of the CAF Statutes and Regulations during the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024,” the statement read.

CAF added that it would not provide further comment until the investigation process is complete.

The development emerges just days before Algeria face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a crucial final group-stage match.

Algeria during an International Friendly match between the Nigeria Super Falcons and the Algeria Green Ladies
Algeria during an International Friendly match between the Nigeria Super Falcons and the Algeria Green Ladies CAF’s decision to step in appears to be a response to growing concerns over how such actions might undermine the integrity and unity of African football competitions.

Soccernet.ng

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Finidi Questions Osayi-Samuel’s Birmingham Move

Former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George has expressed surprise at Bright Osayi-Samuel’s decision to leave Turkish giants Fenerbahçe for English Championship side Birmingham City, according to Soccernet.ng.

The former Ajax star, who donned the colours of the Dutch club from 1993 to 1996, suggested the defender could have aimed higher at this stage of his career.

Osayi-Samuel recently signed a three-year deal with Birmingham City after declining a contract extension at Fenerbahçe, where he was a regular under several managers.

The move has drawn mixed reactions from the Nigerian football community, with Finidi joining those who expected the 27-year-old to remain in top-flight European football rather than a newly promoted EFL Championship club.

“I really do not know his motive for not renewing with Fenerbahçe and going back to England,” Finidi said to Footy Africa.

“For me, I think players should be aiming high while they still have the energy and age on their side to play at the highest level. That is what I was expecting from Bright (Osayi-Samuel).

“He is a good player who I believe can play in the big leagues and with big clubs — with due respect to Birmingham City.”

Despite his concerns, Finidi downplayed suggestions that the move to a second-tier side could affect Osayi-Samuel’s place in the Nigerian national team.

The former Ajax winger praised the defender’s performances for the Super Eagles and insisted that club level should not be a determining factor if the player continues to deliver on international duty.

“No, I do not think it will affect him in any way in the Super Eagles because he is already a regular player in the team. He has demonstrated that he can play, and he fits in properly, giving his best anytime he is called upon,” Finidi added.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be aiming to secure a World Cup ticket later this year, followed by a strong campaign at the 2025 AFCON tournament.

Despite his move to a second-tier club, the Nigerian international is still expected to play a key role in Eric Chelle’s squad.

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