Super Falcons Begin Quest For 10th WAFCON Title
The Super Falcons of Nigeria’s quest for a 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title begins on Monday where they meet rivals South Africa in their Group C encounter, by 6pm (Nigerian time) at the Stade Moulay Hassan in Rabat, Morocco.
The last time both sides met in a competitive game, the South Africans ran away with a 4-2 defeat against the Super Falcons at the Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos. Nigeria is in Group C alongside South Africa and debutants, Botswana and Burundi.
Super Falcons defender, Glory Ogbonna, said the team had been given all the needed motivation to win a record 10th WAFCON) trophy in Morocco. She said the team had trained hard and was also mentally ready for the tournament which got underway on Saturday.
“Our first match is on Monday against South Africa; we have been training hard for this competition and finally it is here,” Ogbonna said.
“My expectation in this competition is wide open and of course, we are the champions and I really want us to retain the trophy and most importantly qualify for next year’s World Cup.
“The coaches have done quite a lot and have prepared us to give our best in this competition and come out with good results. The trainings have been quite revealing and we have also been given different game models just to come out best in this competition,” Ogbonna added.
While Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum believes his team ready for a good outing on Monday, South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana says the match against the reigning champions will provide a major boost for women’s football in Africa.
With a host of stars in action, such as Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala and Kgatlana, who plays for Atletico Madrid, the 26-year-old believes today’s match will be a showpiece event.
“It’s good for women’s football because even outside Africa, we know a lot of people are going to be watching that match,” Kgatlana said in an interview.
“We have a lot of players in Nigeria playing in Atleti and in Barcelona, and in South Africa we have players in AC Milan and in a lot of big leagues, so it’s going to be attracting a lot of attention.”
“It’s going to create a good impact on women’s football, not only in Africa, but in the world as well. I think that’s what we need for African women’s football.”
Nigeria will be without first choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who is suspended for receiving yellow cards in different matches of the qualifying series (against Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire).
Meaning Israel-based Tochukwu Oluehi could be between the sticks for the Super Falcons against South Africa.
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