22nd August, 2023
Nigeria’s women’s national soccer team secured a spot in the Women’s World Cup knockout stages for the third time in their history after playing to a goalless draw against Ireland in their final Group B match on Monday. Despite the draw, the African side finished second in the group, right behind hosts Australia.
Needing just a draw to advance to the last 16, Nigeria held their ground in the crucial match against Ireland, maintaining their top spot in the standings at the start of the game. Meanwhile, Australia’s dominant 4-0 victory over Canada in Melbourne pushed them to the top of Group B, relegating Nigeria to second place.
As the team awaits their last-16 opponents, which will be decided on Tuesday, all eyes are glued to the conflict that arose.
FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura recently made an assurance that FIFA would pay the prize money directly to the players “for the first time” in the tournament’s history. This comes amidst ongoing disputes over match bonuses and equal pay for the players. Former Arsenal player and football pundit Ian Wright also showed support for the team’s cause.
Manager Randy Waldrum has also been vocal about the treatment of his players, citing issues with unpaid wages, travel arrangements, and canceled pre-tournament camps leading up to the Women’s World Cup.
This is the opposite of what’s happening in the national league. The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), previously Nigeria Premier League (NPL), has increased the winning prize for the 2023-24 season to ₦150 million, up from ₦100 million in the previous season. The league chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, believes that the higher prize money will motivate teams and increase the competition’s intensity.
Preparing for NPFL
The NPFL will kick off its 2023/24 season on the weekend of August 26-27, and preparations are underway. Enyimba FC emerged as champions in the last season, securing their 9th league crown in the Super 6 playoffs.
This year, the league will be following an abridged format in the 2022/23 season due to time constraints caused by the dissolution of the League Management Committee (LMC). Enyimba FC maintained their title during the abridged season, but the league will return to its usual 38 matchdays for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) has instructed clubs to begin the club licensing process. Club licensing is essential for teams’ participation in the Nigeria Premier League and CAF competitions. The IMC has instructed clubs to contact the NFF licensing managers to start their procedures in line with CAF Club Licensing Regulations 2022. Only licensed clubs will be registered for the new season.
On the other hand, the transfer window opened on July 1 and will close on September 1, 2023, allowing players and coaches to move between clubs for new opportunities.
Bringing advanced technology
When Propel Sports, the broadcast partner of the NPFL, has also shortlisted ten stadiums for live streaming during the 2023/24 season. The selected stadiums include Mohammed Dikko Stadium, Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Kwara State Stadium, Lekan Salami Stadium, and Enyimba Stadium. Propel also listed Sani Abacha Stadium, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Rwang Pam Stadium, Pantami Stadium, and Mobolaji Johnson Arena. The various live-streaming locations will enable fans to enjoy the thrill of NPFL matches in their nearest stadium.
These stadiums will be equipped with revolutionary Artificial Intelligence cameras courtesy of NPFL’s partnership with GTI Group. These cameras will live stream at least eight NPFL games per week and over 300 games per season. Propel will train 40 Nigerians to use these cameras, providing employment opportunities and enhanced viewing experiences for fans during the upcoming season.
All these preparations build a good foundation for live betting. Live betting, also known as in-play betting or in-game betting, is a type of sports betting that allows bettors to place wagers on a sporting event while it is in progress. Unlike traditional pre-match betting, where bets are placed before the game starts, live betting enables bettors to make predictions and place bets during the course of the game.
With live betting, odds and betting options constantly change in real time based on the current state of the game. This means that bettors can react to the dynamics of the match and adjust their bets accordingly, taking advantage of the ebb and flow of the game.
With the hype surrounding the NPFL and Women’s World Cup, it’s the perfect time to get into live bet soccer, as the league promises intense action and thrilling moments on the field.