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Modric, Marta Wins 2018 FIFA Best Player Of The Year Awards ⚽️

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Real Madrid’s Croatia midfielder Luka Modric was named Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2018, while Orlando Pride’s Brazil forward Marta won the women’s award at a ceremony on Monday.

Modric won the Champions League with Real and then played a major role in Croatia’s run to the World Cup final where they were beaten by France. “This award is not just mine. It is my team mates’ from Real Madrid and Croatia. Without my coaches, I would not have won this and without my family I would not be the player I am today,” said 33-year-old Modric.

It is the first time since Brazilian Kaka’s triumph in 2007 that the men’s prize was not won by either Cristiano Ronaldo or Barcelona’s Argentina forward Lionel Messi — neither of whom attended the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Portugal international Ronaldo, who joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the close season, was second in this year’s awards with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in third place.

The 32-year-old Marta, whose Orlando Pride team reached the the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) playoff semi-finals, had won the previous FIFA Women’s Player of the Year award five times, most recently in 2010.

The Brazilian, who led her country to the Copa America title in April, beat Olympique Lyonnais pair Ada Hegerberg of Norway and Dzsenifer Marozsan of Germany to the award.

France’s World Cup-winning manager Didier Deschamps took the Men’s Coach of the Year award, with compatriot Reynald Pedros claiming the women’s award after winning the Champions League with Lyon.

Voting for the player and coach categories was conducted by national team captains and managers, selected journalists and, for the first time, an online poll of fans.

Real Madrid’s Belgium international Thibaut Courtois won the Goalkeeper of the Year Award.

Salah’s goal for Liverpool against Merseyside rivals Everton in the Premier League won the Goal of the Year, which is voted for by fans, ahead of Gareth Bale’s spectacular overhead kick for Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

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My Love for Nigeria Made Me Resign as NFF President — Ibrahim Gusau

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Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau has explained that his decision to resign from office was motivated by his love for Nigeria and his desire to see the country’s football move forward.

Gusau confirmed his resignation at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, bringing to an end his three years and 11 months in charge of Nigerian football.

His resignation comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s recent performances in international football competitions.

 

Gusau Confirms Resignation

Gusau said he reached the decision after consultations with his family and friends.

According to him, he had also advised members of the NFF Executive Committee who were willing to follow his example to resign from their positions.

“I have decided to resign my position as the president of NFF after consultations with my family and friends,” Gusau said.

He added that he could not immediately confirm how many members of the NFF board had also resigned because those who were considering the move had yet to communicate their decisions directly to him.

 

Decision Comes After Football Setbacks

Gusau’s departure follows a difficult period for Nigerian football, with the country’s national teams recording disappointing results in some recent international competitions.

The development has generated renewed debate over the leadership and administration of the NFF, as stakeholders continue to demand improvements in the management and development of Nigerian football.

The former NFF president’s resignation therefore comes at a time when the federation is under pressure to address concerns surrounding the performance of the country’s national teams and the wider state of football administration.

 

Gusau Says Nigeria Remains His Priority

Despite stepping down, Gusau said his decision was driven by his desire to protect the interests of Nigerian football.

He maintained that his love for the country influenced his decision and suggested that leaving office was intended to create room for the next phase of leadership.

His resignation marks the end of his tenure at a critical point for Nigerian football, with stakeholders expected to focus on finding new leadership capable of addressing the challenges facing the federation.

 

What Happens Next?

The resignation is expected to trigger discussions within the NFF over the federation’s next leadership arrangement.

Attention will now shift to the NFF Executive Committee and other relevant stakeholders as they determine the process for filling the leadership vacuum.

For Nigerian football, the immediate challenge will be to restore confidence, improve the performance of the national teams and implement reforms capable of producing sustainable results.

Gusau’s departure closes one chapter in the NFF’s leadership, while the federation enters another period of transition with Nigerian football fans demanding stronger performances and better administration.

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WAFCON 2026: Cameroon Make History With First Title After 3-0 Win Over Malawi

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Cameroon have made history by winning their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title after defeating Malawi 3-0 in the 2026 final in Rabat, Morocco.

The Indomitable Lionesses produced a dominant first-half performance to secure the continental crown, with Marie Ngah scoring twice before Naomi Ndjoah Eto added the third goal.

The victory ends Cameroon’s long wait for the women’s continental championship. The team had previously reached the final on three occasions but failed to lift the trophy. Their fourth appearance in the final finally delivered the title.

Ngah’s Double Puts Cameroon in Control

Cameroon established control of the final during the opening half, with Ngah finding the net twice to put her side in a commanding position.

Eto then completed the scoring, giving Cameroon a three-goal advantage before the interval. Malawi were unable to produce a comeback as Cameroon’s defence maintained its composure throughout the second half.

The result was particularly significant for Malawi, who were appearing in the WAFCON tournament for the first time and had produced one of the competition’s biggest surprises by reaching the final.

Historic Run for Malawi

Malawi’s journey to the final was remarkable considering their ranking and lack of previous WAFCON final experience. Ranked 153rd in the world, they became the lowest-ranked team to reach a WAFCON final.

The Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, were among the key figures behind Malawi’s impressive campaign, with their goals helping the team advance deep into the competition.

Although they ultimately fell short against Cameroon, Malawi’s run represented a landmark achievement for women’s football in the country.

Cameroon Overcome Nigeria and Morocco

Cameroon’s path to the trophy included victories over two of the tournament’s leading teams.

The Indomitable Lionesses eliminated defending champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals before overcoming hosts Morocco in the semi-finals. They then completed their remarkable campaign by defeating Malawi in the final.

Cameroon also finished the tournament with one of the strongest defensive records, conceding only two goals throughout the competition and none during the knockout stage.

Ngock Named Woman of the Competition

Cameroon’s Monique Ngock was named the Woman of the Competition after an outstanding tournament.

Ngock played a key role in Cameroon’s successful campaign, starting five of their six matches and contributing an assist during the tournament.

Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, meanwhile, finished the tournament as the Golden Boot winner, highlighting the individual quality that helped drive Malawi’s historic campaign.

Cameroon’s triumph marks a new chapter in the country’s women’s football history and gives the Indomitable Lionesses their long-awaited first WAFCON crown.

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Jessica Oji Makes History With World U20 Shot Put Gold for Nigeria

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Nigeria’s Jessica Oji has achieved a historic milestone at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, winning gold in the women’s shot put and becoming the country’s first-ever champion in a field event at the competition.

The 19-year-old produced a winning mark of 18.08 metres to secure the title in impressive fashion. Oji was the only competitor in the final to surpass the 18-metre barrier, underlining her dominance throughout the competition.

Oji opened the final with an 18.05m throw before improving to her winning distance of 18.08m. She followed that with 17.95m and 18.07m, while two of her attempts were recorded as fouls. Her consistency was enough to keep her ahead of the field and secure the gold medal.

The victory marks a breakthrough for Nigeria in the field events at the World U20 Championships. Before Oji’s triumph, the country’s previous field-event medals at the competition were Esther Aghatise’s long-jump silver in 2002 and Chinecherem Nnamdi’s javelin bronze in 2021.

Oji’s achievement comes during an extraordinary year in which she switched her international allegiance from the United States to Nigeria. She has quickly established herself as one of the country’s brightest young field-event talents.

Her World U20 triumph also comes shortly after another major international achievement. Oji won silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, adding a senior-level medal to her growing collection before claiming the world junior title in Oregon.

The historic performance provides another major boost for Nigerian athletics, particularly in the field events, where the country has traditionally enjoyed greater success in sprinting and jumping disciplines. At just 19, Oji has already created a new chapter in Nigeria’s World U20 championship history.

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