Australia Downplay Fowler's Knock Ahead Nigeria Clash

Australia Downplay Fowler's Knock Ahead Nigeria Clash

Ibrahim Lateef 

Australia's Mary Fowler has suffered a knock at training ahead of the Matildas’ Women’s World Cup clash with Nigeria's Super Falcons on Thursday, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

Fowler is due to line up alongside Caitlin Foord in attack against Nigeria as Australia manoeuvres through life without injured skipper Sam Kerr.

Tuesday’s training was closed to media but host broadcasters Optus Sport was originally due to interview Fowler.

But it was instead told by Football Australia that Fowler had suffered a knock late in the session and required a precautionary assessment.

FA later allayed fears over Fowler’s condition, saying she was “all good”.

But there will clearly be a watch on the 20-year-old in Wednesday morning’s final session before Thursday’s game at Suncorp Stadium.

Star forward Foord, meanwhile, insisted Kerr’s calf injury, suffered a day out from the opening 1-0 win over Ireland, won’t derail her entire campaign.

“She’s just doing everything possible to be in the best condition for when she does step back on the pitch,” Foord told Optus Sport.

“She’ll definitely be back this tournament.”

As the only team in Group B with three points from its opening game, Australia can seal progression to the knockout stages with victory over Nigeria, which has one point.

CAF Sets December For Africa's Best Awards

By Gbenga Gboyega

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has announced the return of the prestigious CAF Best Awards for 2023 billed for Morocco on the 11th of December, 2023, BSNSports.com.ng can reports.

The African Footballer of the Year award conferred by CAF to honor the best African footballer annually, has been in existence since 1992, following an earlier version (Golden Ball award) given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine.

The prestigious CAF Awards is poised to make a return for the 30th time since 1992, on the 11th of December, 2023 in Morocco to celebrate the stars of African football who graced the pitch for the 2022-23 football season.

Last year in 2022, Senegal's inspirational forward - Sadio Mane, and Nigeria's top striker Asisat Oshoala claimed the honors for the Men's and Women's categories respectively, as this year's nominees seek to drive splitting views.

According to CAF's website, the Africa Football governing body will communicate the actual time and host city for the event in due course, while recognizing the standout performers from club and country over the past year.

Ivorian Yaya Toure (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014), alongside his compatriot Didier Drogba (2006 and 2009), including Cameroon's Samuel Eto’o Fils (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010), Egypt's Mohammed Salah (2017, 2018), and the great George Weah (1995), are amongst some of the elites to have graced the winning podium over time for the Men.

Super Falcon' of Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022) dominates the Women's category, including compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha (2004, 2005, 2010, and 2011), South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana (2018), amongst others in the history of the award.

Asides from the Best Award category, other honors like the Interclub Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, National Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Club of the Year, and Goal of the Year will also be up for grabs.