News
Super Falcons Star, Toni Payne Departs Sevilla
The Spanish Femino football club, Sevilla, has cut their relationship with their Nigerian star player, Toni Payne.
The Super Falcons player is reportedly moving on from Rojiblancos after a six-year stint.
Payne joined Sevilla from the Dutch team, Ajax, in 2018.
Payne, who is 29, scored 30 goals and had 20 assists in 181 games for Sevilla in various competitions.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, to Nigerian parents in the United States, Payne played for the USA at the youth level before changing her nationality to Nigeria.
She has played for Nigeria in 14 matches, making her a part of the nine-time African champions.
Payne is set to be part of the Super Falcons team for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In other news, the Nigerian national men’s football team, the Super Eagles, has slipped to the 38th spot in the latest FIFA ranking unveiled on Thursday, 20th June 2024.
The ranking revealed that the Nigerian team now holds 1498.93 points, a decrease from their last standing at 1520.27 points.
Sportxparte reports that this slide represents a major change in the international football scene, as Nigeria continues to struggle against tough competition.
Dropping from their 30th position, Nigeria’s fall is attributed to their performance in the two matches following the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they came in second place after a 1-1 draw against the host country, losing 2-1 in the final.
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In their recent matches, the Nigerian team drew 1-1 with Bafana Bafana from South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and lost 2-1 to Benin Republic in a game held in Ivory Coast.
The future of Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers looks uncertain, as they have not won any of the key matches.
On the other hand, Argentina has secured its top spot in the rankings, cementing its position as the leading football nation globally.
The South American champions have added 2.14 points, increasing their total to 1860.14, showcasing their consistently strong performance in recent competitions.
