Sports
AUNZ2023: Sweden Tumbles Italy 5-0 in Group G Match –
The Blue and Yellow girls of Sweden on Saturday caused La Azzurre girls of Italy to tumble in a 5-0 drilling in Group G at the Wellington Regional Stadium a score board that is the highest defeat Italy has ever suffered from Sweden.
Arsenal FC Forward Amanda Illestedt scored a brace in the same manner of the first as she got a header from J. Andersson off a corner kick for the curtain raiser in the 39th minute and came back with an Andersson connect again to score in the 50th minute the very way she did the first goal. Amanda had scored against South Africa in the 90th minute now making three goals haul to her credit.
Wonder girl, Andersson’s corner found Fridelina Rolfo of Barceloana where Azeezat Oshoala plies her trade, as she scored the second goal in the 44th minute. Rolfo had scored the curtain raiser of Sweden against South Africa in the 2-1 victory.
Hardly had the noise gone done for the Rolfo goal had Arsenal player, Stina Blackstenius scored the3rd goal from a goal mouth melee.
Jakobsson set up fellow substitute Rebecka Blomqvist of Wolfsburg in Germany who in the 90+5th minute laced a stormy shot into the bottom – left corner of the net for Sweden’s 5th goal.
Sweden had beaten South Africa 2-1 in the first match and Italy piped Argentina 1-0. Argentina drew 2-2 with South Africa in the second round and now Sweden scolded Italy 5-0.
Sweden tops group G with 6 point from two wins scoring 7 goals conceding 1; Italy is second with 3 points from a win scoring 1 goal and conceding 5; Argentina is 3rd with one point from a draw scoring 2 goals and conceding 3 goals while South Africa is at the bottom with one point from a draw but scored 3 goals and conceded 3.
The last matches of Group G are on 2nd August when South Africa will seek victory over Italy or go home at Wellington Regional Stadium and Argentina will try to avoid disgrace against Sweden at Waikato Stadium both at 1900 hours.
Sweden and Italy both European nations played 14 matches between themselves with Italy winning 6, Sweden 5 and 3 drawn games. Here are the last ten meetings. On 29th May 1983 Swe 2 Ita 1: 15th October 1983 Ita 0 Swe 3; 3rd June 1987 Swe 1 Ita 0; 14th November 1987 Ita 2 Swe 1: 19th June 2000 Ita 2 Swe 1; 19th June 2004 ???; 18th November 2009 Ita 1 Swe 0; 17th June 2016 Ita 1 Swe 0; 10th November 2017 Swe 1 Ita 0 and 13th November 2017.
Sweden has appeared in all the nine tournaments. Sweden were Runners-up at USA 2003 as they lost to Germany 1-2 in the final on the 12th October 2003 before 26,137 fans after losing 1-2 to Canada in the semifinal.
Sweden won the Bronze thrice at China in 1991 when she drubbed Germany 4-0 after losing to Norway 1-4 in the semifinal; at Germany on 16th July 2011 when she defeated France 2-1 after losing to Japan 1-3 in the semifinal and on 6th July when Sweden caged the Lioness of England 2-1 at France 2019 after losing to Netherlands 0-1 in the semifinal. Sweden were quarterfinalists twice at Helsingborg Sweden 13th June 1995 when she lost 3-4 on penalties after 1-1 at full time and at USA 99 when Sweden lost Norway 1-3 at San Jose on 30th June.
Italy called La Azzurre (The Blues) is ranked 16th in the world and coached by Milena Bertolini is making her 4th appearance at the female world cup but have her best record of reaching the quarterfinal twice. In the maiden competition of 1991 at China where only 12 teams were on parade, she placed 6th losing to Norway 2-3 AET before 13,000 fans and at France 2019 she placed 7th among 24 teams and was beaten 0-2 by Netherlands on 29th June before a crowd of 22,600 fans after beating China 2-0 in the Round of 16. Between 2003 and 2015 editions, Italy did not qualify.
Italy’s Goalkeeper and Captain, 39 year old Vanina Correa has been in the squad for all four of the tournaments.
Two Group F matches are still being expected today. First, France versus Brazil at Suncorp Stadium at 1100 hours and Panama will slug it out at 1330 hours with Jamaica at NIB Stadium.
On Sunday 30th July there will be four matches. Korea will meet Morocco at Hindmarsh Stadium at 0530 hours in Group H; two matches will be played simultaneously at 0800 hours to conclude group A as Norway meets Philippines at Eden Park and Switzerland versus hosts New Zealand at Forsyth Stadium while the second round of group H match will also be concluded at 1030 hours when Germany will slug it out with Columbia at Allianz Stadium.
By Eniola Olatunji
Team Nigeria will today, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, depart the country for the Lefika International Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, as the nation intensifies its push to qualify for the World Relay Championships later this year.
The Nigerian contingent is scheduled to travel aboard Ethiopian Airlines, with a stopover in Addis Ababa before arriving in Gaborone on March 26.
At the competition, Nigeria will compete in four key events: the men’s 4x100m, mixed 4x100m, men’s 4x400m, and mixed 4x400m relays.
These races are crucial, as the country aims to secure remaining qualification slots for the World Relay Championships scheduled for May in the same city.
Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams have already booked their places at the global event, shifting focus to the other relay squads that must now deliver strong performances in Botswana to join them.
The delegation is led by top officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, including President Tonobok Okowa, Secretary General Isreal Inwang, and Technical Director Gabriel Okon.
Team Nigeria boasts a blend of emerging talents and experienced athletes expected to make a strong impact.
Among those to watch are Enaruna Anita Itohan, Badmus Gafari Atanda, Ezeakor Chidera, Emmanuel James Taiwo, Ojeli Ifeanyi Emmanuel, and George Patience Okon.
Also named in the squad are Nathaniel Samson, Adeyemi Sikiru Adewale, Sampson Victor Ime, Godwin Tejiri, Andrew Jecinter Lawrence, Chukwuka Obi Jennifer, and Omokwe Maria Thompson, all of whom have been part of an intensive preparation programme.
The athletes have spent the last six weeks training in Asaba, where they focused on sharpening race strategies, perfecting baton exchanges, and building team chemistry ahead of the decisive qualifiers.
With the World Relays serving as a gateway to global competitions, expectations are high that Team Nigeria will rise to the occasion in Botswana and secure the remaining tickets needed to complete its relay lineup for the prestigious event.
Former captain of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh, has said the big teams will begin to go home from the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
There have been no upsets so far at the tournament, with the final eight among the top 10 countries on the continent, according to the latest FIFA rankings.
However, they have all been paired against each other, for places in the semi-finals.
Hosts Morocco take on Cameroon, Nigeria are up against Algeria, Mali will play Senegal and Egypt have been drawn against Ivory Coast.
Oliseh, reacting to a post on X by BBC Sport broadcaster John Bennett, who noted that this AFCON has produced no major shocks heading into the quarter-final stage.
Quoting Bennett’s tweet, he wrote: “Spot on. So far, no huge surprises yet! But this is where it ends!”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has suggested why his team was defeated 2–1 by Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arteta watched as Aston Villa took the lead through Matty Cash in the first half.
But Arsenal fought back and equalised through Leandro Trossard in the second half.
However, a late goal from Emiliano Buendia ensured the hosts defeated the Gunners at Villa Park.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Arteta admitted it was painful to lose against Aston Villa.
According to him, Arsenal failed to have dominance and allowed open spaces in the second half, adding that they gave two balls away to the opponent.
“In the first half we had moments, obviously had the best chance after a foul on Riccy [Calafiori] that Watkins goes through,” Arteta said.
“In the second half we started really well. Scored a goal and we were really dominant.
“But then we had periods again where the same issue appeared and then we didn’t have the dominance and we allowed the open spaces, we gave two balls away ourselves to the opponent which could have cost us the game before actually the goal.
“Last kick of the game we have the chance with the cross from Declan for Noni and Viktor. We don’t score. Goal kick long, second ball, clear the ball, individual action. The ball comes inside the box and you end up losing it. It is painful.”
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