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Super Falcons Beat Ghana 2-0 In AFCON Qualifier

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4 years ago

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The Super Falcons of Nigeria took a two-goal lead over Ghana’s Black Queens in their Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture, thanks to a brace by Sweden-based forward Uchenna Kanu at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Wednesday.

The visitors had come close in the 11th minute when Grace Animah saw her fierce shot inside the box blocked by Onome Ebi for a corner. But it was much against the run of play and nine minutes later, Nigeria made pressure count when Kanu rose to meet a perfectly-weighted pull-out by Francisca Ordega and nodded past impressive goalkeeper Dumehasi Fafali.

Both teams, knowing the loser on aggregate will be without any major qualifying contest or tournament for the next two-and-half years, threw everything into the clash played behind closed doors on Lagos Island, but it was Nigeria that made the breakthrough again in the 26th minute, when Kanu rose highest in the box to meet Toni Payne’s corner kick and nodded firmly past Fafali and a clutch of watching defenders.

Former junior international Kanu could have added an assist to her impressive tally for the day when she darted past two defenders and squared for Asisat Oshoala, but Fafali foiled any intentions of the Nigeria captain.

Three minutes before recess, Grace Asantewaa unleashed from just outside the box but her shot rose far above goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s post.

In the second half, the Black Queens did something in the mould of throwing the kitchen sink at the Super Falcons, harrying, pushing, kicking and running all over to try and reduce the tally and make the second leg in Accra something to look forward to. But veteran defender Onome Ebi, youngster Opeyemi Sunday, Glory Ogbonna and Osinachi Ohale thwarted their efforts.

Grace Asantewaa was again foiled in the 50th minute by Nnadozie, who tipped her rising shot over the sticks. Two minutes later, Oshoala darted past her marker and headed for glory, but was again stopped by Fafali.

Ghana’s captain Portia Boakye was the usual energetic warrior with an uncompromising stance and worked well with Gladys Amfobea, Janet Egyir, and Ellen Coleman to minimize the damage from the Super Falcons.

At the fore, Princella Adubea, Vivian Konadu and Nina Norshie sought vainly to unlock the Nigerian rear.

In the 82nd minute, Fafali was on hand to neutralize a plan cooked by substitute Vivian Ikechukwu, leaving the scoreline still at 2-0. And with a minute to the end, the tireless Princella Adubea waltzed her way into the Nigeria box and found herself face to face with Nnadozie, only to see her close-range bullet parried and then cleared out to safety by Ebi.

Both teams clash again on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium, as from 4pm Ghana time (5pm Nigeria time), with the winner on aggregate qualifying for the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations holding in Morocco next year summer.

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Business

PenCom Bars Operators From Engaging Service Providers Not Complying With Pension Act

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3 hours ago

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May 22, 2025

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By Sola Alabadan

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has barred all Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs), comprising Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) from transacting with service providers and vendors that do not remit pensions for their employees as evidenced by a Pension Clearance Certificate issued by the commission.
The pension operators have been given a grace period of six months to comply with this new directive aimed at expanding coverage of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in Nigeria,
Section 2 of the Pension Reform Act 2014 mandates all employers in the public and private sectors, including Federal, State, and Local Governments, to participate in the Contributory Pension Scheme and remit pension contributions no later than seven working days after salary payments.
However, PenCom lamented that in spite of the continuous engagement and enforcement measures, a significant number of employers remain non-compliant with this legal obligation.
This development made PenCom intensified its regulatory actions by appointing Recovery Agents to audit defaulters, recover outstanding contributions, and enforce sanctions.

To further strengthen enforcement, improve compliance, and broaden pension coverage, the commission directed all pension operators to ensure that any vendor or service provider they engage presents a valid Pension Clearance Certificate (PCC) issued by the Commission as a condition for entering into or renewing Service Level or Technical Agreements.

The pension operators are also mandated to ensure that investments are made only with companies and financial institutions that require PCCs from their own vendors and service providers.

Every Counterparty is required to execute a Compliance Attestation, confirming that it enforces the PCC requirement across its vendor network, and this attestation must be updated annually and included in the pension operator’s investment documentation.

Besides, counterparties are to submit valid PCCs from their own vendors/service providers before engaging in any investment transaction with the pension operators, including those involving commercial papers, bond issuances, and bank placements.

PenCom further directed the pension operators to integrate these requirements into their internal policies, vendor selection processes, due diligence procedures, governance, and investment risk assessment frameworks.

Based on the new directive, the Parent Companies, Subsidiaries, Holding Companies and Institutional Shareholders of pension operators are required to possess valid Pension Clearance Certificate and ensure that every vendor and service provider engaged by them complies with the requirement of the PCC as a precondition for entering into any Service Level or Technical Agreement. The requirement for compliance attestation is also applicable to the categories.

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Business

Sanlam, Allianz Merger Expected In Nigeria

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4 hours ago

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May 22, 2025

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Sanlam and Allianz have sparked speculation in Nigeria’s insurance industry following a wave of coordinated digital communication activities indicating an imminent completion of the expected merger of the operations in Africa’s largest economy.
The firms, which have already merged operations in 27 African countries, including Ghana and Rwanda, under the SanlamAllianz banner, are now widely believed to be ramping up their alliance in Nigeria as the next significant step in their partnership.
Recent posts on both companies’ digital platforms featuring their logos side-by-side and joint thematic messaging have drawn attention across financial and business circles. The coordinated activity mirrors pre-merger patterns observed in other African markets where their collaboration was subsequently formalised.
In 2022, Sanlam and Allianz announced the formation of a strategic joint venture covering 27 African markets. The move was intended to combine Sanlam’s local market depth with Allianz’s global scale and technical expertise, creating a formidable pan-African financial services entity with ambitions to lead in life and general insurance, asset management, and health insurance.
The partnership has taken concrete shape in countries like Ghana, where existing operations have been unified and rebranded under the SanlamAllianz name. The goal has been to offer more relevant, inclusive, and tech-forward financial solutions for individuals and businesses in these markets.
Nigeria is the continent’s most populous nation and its largest economy, yet despite recent progress, its insurance penetration remains under 1%. In 2023, the industry crossed the ₦1 trillion gross written premium mark for the first time, indicating untapped potential and growing consumer interest in financial protection.
Given these dynamics, analysts say Nigeria is a natural next step in the SanlamAllianz expansion journey. The presence of both logos in coordinated messaging has been read as a signal of intent. Both brands already operate in Nigeria, and a merger of local operations would represent a formidable alliance and substantial consolidation.
Market observers believe such a move could raise the bar in Nigeria’s insurance industry, fostering more robust competition, improved product design, and greater consumer trust in formal financial services. It would also align with both firms’ broader objective of promoting financial inclusion and building long-term resilience across African economies.
At a time when several global brands are reassessing their African strategies, Sanlam and Allianz’s continued commitment affirms their vote of confidence in Nigeria’s long-term prospects. This potential merger could not only reshape the insurance landscape but will also evidently become a significant catalyst and signal to the global investment community that Nigeria remains a viable and valuable market.

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Business

Ghana’s Delegation In Nigeria To Marine Cargo Sector

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1 day ago

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May 21, 2025

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Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Omosehin received delegates from Ghana's Marine Cargo Technical Committee on a study tour of Nigeria's marine cargo sector at his office in Abuja recently. The delegation was led by Mr. Fred Asiedu-Darteh of Ghana Shippers' Authority.

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