Tag: Super Falcons

Super Falcons qualify for Morocco 2024 in style

Nine-time champions, the Super Falcons earned their ticket to the 13th edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations in majestic style on Tuesday.

This was after they defeated hosts Cape Verde 2-1, for a 7-1 aggregate win in the final round of the qualification series.

The hosts started like a house on fire at the Santiago-Estádio Nacional Cabo Verde in Praia raiding the Super Falcons’ goal area.

Their quick-off-the-blocks approach paid off when Ivania Tavares Moreira got the ball past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for a goal in the 9th minute.

Sensing the possibility of being able to do the unexpected, the Cape Verdeans swarmed all over the Nigerian rear and earned a couple of corner kicks in the process.

But the resilient Super Falcons, spurred on by members of the Nigerian community cheering in the stands, quickly repelled the onslaughts and launched some of their own.

A couple of corner kicks and free-kicks after, the Nigerians rose to the ascendancy, but the scoreline remained the same as the teams went into recess.

Coach Justin Madugu threw Esther Onyenezide and the clinical Esther Okoronkwo into the fray at the beginning of the second half, for Peace Efih and Uchenna Kanu.

Okoronkwo, never one to engage in frivolities, got the ball in the net 11 minutes into the second half, only to be judged off-side.

The hosts would not be as lucky six minutes later, as Okoronkwo, who got two of the goals when the Falcons brushed aside the Verdeans 5-0 in Abuja on Thursday, scored to draw Nigeria level.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade saw her shot fly over the crossbar in the 71st minute. Substitute Rinsola Babajide could have got her first international goal but saw her low drive agonisingly miss the target by a few inches 10 minutes later.

Yet, the sterling Ajibade would have the last laugh, scoring three minutes into added time.

The goal ensured victory for Nigeria and an overwhelming aggregate win that takes the Falcons into next year’s finals as undoubtedly the team to beat.

December 6, 2023
Maroc 2024: Falcons set to pick up ticket in Atlantic-Ocean nation

Cape Verde is a country situated inside the Atlantic Ocean, some way off the extreme wing of West Africa, but categorised as West Africa. That is where the Super Falcons will, on Tuesday, pick up their ticket to the 13^th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.

The Nigeria contingent arrived in Cape Verde’s capital, Praia on Sunday morning, and after a training session same day, have been scheduled to have the official training at the match venue (Santiago-Estádio Nacional Cabo Verde) at 4pm Cape Verde time (6pm Nigeria time) on Monday.

The return leg encounter will begin at 4pm Cape Verde time (6pm Nigeria time) on Tuesday, with Liberian official Sylvina Welma Garnett as referee. CAF has also appointed Hannah Moses (Liberian) as assistant referee 1, while Sierra Leoneans Precious Amara and Humu Marah will serve as assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will serve as commissioner while Fadouma Dia from Senegal will be the referee assessor.

MOROCCO 2024 FINAL ROUND, SECOND LEG ENCOUNTERS

Cape Verde Vs Nigeria (0-5)

Egypt Vs Senegal (0-4)

Guinea Vs Mali (2-7)

Burundi Vs Algeria (1-5)

Togo Vs Tanzania (0-3)

Botswana Vs Kenya (1-1)

Congo Vs Tunisia (2-5)

Zambia Vs Angola (6-0)

South Africa Vs Burkina Faso (1-1)

DR Congo Vs Equatorial Guinea (1-1)

Namibia Vs Ghana (1-3)

December 4, 2023
Morocco 2024: NFF praises Efih’s mental strength as girls tackle Cape Verde in Praia

The Nigeria Football Federation has described as ‘admirable’ the mental toughness displayed by midfielder Peace Efih in helping the Super Falcons to a five-goal spanking of the senior women national team of Cape Verde in Abuja on Thursday.

Efih’s biological mother breathed her last 48 hours before the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final round, first leg encounter, but the player was her hard-as-nails self in defensive midfield as she paired captain Rasheedat Ajibade and petite Deborah Abiodun to supply the ammunition that dismantled the visitors at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau said: “We must commend, specially, the mental strength and fortitude of Peace Efih, who lost her mother two days ago but opted to remain in camp and help the team to win well today. Hers is an example of a super patriot who will give everything for the good of the motherland.

“The loss of a parent is a calamity, a thing of sadness and sorrow. Many other persons would have cracked and packed bags to leave the camp to go and mourn, but Peace decided it was better to honour her mother’s memory with a great performance that has taken the team closer to another appearance at the Women AFCON. She deserves our praise.”

Efih’s toughness and productivity earned the Falcons a 5-0 win in Abuja, making Tuesday’s return leg in the island nation all but a mere formality for the nine-time champions.

December 4, 2023
Why I took a break from the Super Falcons – Ashleigh Plumptre

Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has explained why she has been absent from the national team in recent times.

The former Leicester lady player, last played for the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the Women’s World Cup which took place in Australia and New Zealand.

At the World Cup, Plumptre played all the Falcons four games and was regarded as one the most outstanding players at the tournament.

However, Plumptre’s absence from the national team has continued to raise concerns among football enthusiasts in the country.

During an interview with Nigeria Football, the beautiful footballer opened up on her absence from the National team.

“I guess it has been a break. I haven’t been able to go to the upcoming, camp, like I said, it’s more of a personal decision while I take care of my body,” she told Nigeria Football.

“But ultimately, I want to be fun with the team. It’s a privilege. And I want to be in the best physical condition to be able to go and compete in important games.

“And I feel like right now, I have complete trust and faith in the team. I will be watching the game while I am here, but I want to get to a point where I can compete maximally and provide as much as I can to the team in the best condition.”

On her future with the Falcons, Plumptre said she hoped to return to the squad.

“It’s like the first or second time or they haven’t had much experience with the senior team,” Plumptre said.

“Hopefully give them a chance as well. And to be seen, at the top level, I think that’s really important. So, yeah, I’ll be supporting the girls from afar.”

Plumptre has hit the ground running in the Middle East scoring a hat-trick on her competitive debut for Al-Ittihad while she won the Player of the Month award for October.

December 1, 2023
Football enthusiasts hail Super Falcons’ 5-0 win over Cape Verde

Football enthusiasts in Enugu on Thursday hailed Super Falcons for defeating Cape Verde 5-0 in the first leg of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Uchenna Kanu and Esther Okoronkwo scored two goals each and Gift Monday completed the rout at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Some football enthusiasts who spoke after the match said the team was well selected and was full of energy and zeal.

Okey Nnamani, Coal City Babes FC coach, said results like the 5-0 against Cape Verde was what football lovers had been expecting from the national teams.

“A result like this is what we have been expecting for a long time.

“Home grown players deserve more chances looking at the performance of the home based players in the match.

“We need hungry players like the home based players who always want to give thier all in order to secure greener pastures outside the country,” said Nnamani.

He added that the hard work of the female coaches at the grassroots had started yielding result, especially looking back at the performance of the Female National team at he last female world cup.

Director Dynamos FC of Enugu, Godwin Onwukwe, said the performance of the players sent a clear massage that the country’s female team was coming back to its golden days.

“Our team performed wonderfully and the beauty of it all was the score line in which three home based players gave the visitors food for thought with goals.

“There is a wide gap between the development of the female football in the country compared to male football, and that showed in the result of today’s match.

“Super Falcons showed the transformation in grassroots female football in Nigeria and that brings to light the great work by our female football handlers in the country,” Onwukwe said.

A player, Chidera Pius, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team, saying that the score line was respectful considering the pedigree of Nigerian team.

“What interests me most was the clean sheet in a match where home based players were given opportunity to play,” he said.

Pius urged Super Falcons and the coaches not to relax as the job was half done, with the second leg still to come in Cape Verde.

Nigeria walked over São Tomé e Príncipe in the first round, while Cape Verde claimed an impressive 6-3 aggregate win over Liberia to set up the clash with the Falcons.

December 1, 2023
Morocco 2024: Super Falcons wallop Cape Verde 5-0 in Abuja

The Super Falcons on Thursday walloped their counterparts from Cape Verde 5-0 in the first leg of their 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final round qualifying fixture in Abuja.

Uchenna Kanu, with a first-half brace, and substitute Esther Okoronkwo, with a second-half brace, swept the nine-time African champions into a comfortable lead in the fixture.

The result earned the Super Falcons a place in the finals slated for Morocco in the summer of 2024.

Gift Monday rocked the bar from a 22-yard free-kick in the 4th minute before Kanu benefitted from a goalmouth scramble that followed a corner kick to slot past goalkeeper Jacinta Rodrigues.

Rodrigues did better two minutes later when she palmed a left-footed angled drive from captain Rasheedat Ajibade.

In the 14th minute, Kleydiana Borges came close with a shot that was charged down by Oluwatosin Demehin.

Toni Payne missed from close range to let off the Cape Verdeans, five minutes later.

However, Gift Monday made good from another goalmouth melee in the 25th minute, to make it two for the hosts at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Petite midfielder Deborah Abiodun, whose turns, swerves and sweet touches were a delight all evening, came close with a 25-yard volley on the half-hour mark.

But Kanu made good again just before the break, making no mistake from a pass from Toni Payne on a swift counter-attack launched by Ajibade.

In the second half, the Falcons again completely dominated, with Okoronkwo lifting the ball past Rodrigues in the 67th minute.

This was after she received a lovely cross from Ajibade by the right.

She then shot past the visiting goalkeeper from a Rofiat Imuran cross from the left with 13 minutes left.

Both teams will clash in the second leg in Praia, capital of Cape Verde on Dec. 5.

November 30, 2023
Morocco 2024: Madugu confident Falcons will fly, as Cape Verde girls storm Abuja

Coach Justin Madugu has expressed deep faith in his Super Falcons’ squad to excel when they clash with their Cape Verdean counterparts in a 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final round, first leg qualifier at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Thursday evening.

“We are without a few regular players for various reasons but we are not here to dwell on that. The Super Falcons’ team remains the Super Falcons anytime, anyday and anywhere. We have players in camp who will do justice to the badge and get us the qualification ticket to the AFCON.

“Surely, we would have wanted a couple more days for the team to train together, but the fixture is the fixture and the window is the window, and we just have to make do with what we have and get the best out of the arrangement. Everyone in camp will play their part for the Super Falcons to qualify for Morocco 2024.”

A total of 20 of the 21 invited players were at the team’s camp on Tuesday morning, with only University of Pittsburgh of America’s Deborah Abiodun still expected.

Nine-time champions Nigeria reached this final stage of the qualification series following the withdrawal of Sao Tome’s senior girls from a second-round fixture in September.

The delegation of Cape Verde’s senior girls flew into Nigeria’s capital, Abuja on Monday morning, and the visiting team will have its official training at the mainbowl of the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Wednesday evening from 4pm.

Thursday’s encounter will begin at 4pm, with Madugu most likely to hand leadership of the rearguard to Mexico-based veteran Osinachi Ohale, who was among the first players in camp, and with Captain Rasheedat Ajibade to lead a midfield and attack that could include Peace Efih, Toni Payne, Esther Onyenezide, Omorinsola Babajide, Esther Okoronkwo, Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, in the shortlist for the CAF African Player of the Year awards holding in Morocco this weekend, will be in goal.

The 13^th edition of Africa’s flagship women football championship will be staged in Morocco in July next year.

For the encounter in Abuja on Thursday, the Confederation of African Football has picked Ghanaian official Ama Boateng-Nkansah as referee, with her compatriots Doris Darko, Alice Chakule and Barikisu Salifu as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Oumou Sy from Guinea will be commissioner while Madeleine Somda from Burkina Faso will be the referee assessor.

For the return leg in Praia on Tuesday, 5^th December, Liberian Sylvina Welma Garnett will be the referee with her compatriot Hannah Moses as assistant referee 1. Sierra Leoneans Precious Amara and Humu Marah will be assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively, while Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will serve as commissioner and Fadouma Dia from Senegal will be in the role of referee assessor.

November 29, 2023
CAF Awards: Oshoala, Nnadozie make final shortlist for Women’s Player of the Year

The Super Falcons duo, Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie have been included in the final shortlist for the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of the Year

Eight other African players, on the list are; Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa), Andile Dlamini (South Africa), Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon) and Hilda Magaia (South Africa) made the shortlist.

Moroccan trio, Anissa Lahmari, Fatima Tagnaout, Ghizlaine Chebbak and Zambia’s Barbara Sanda are the other players in contention for the award.

TheNewsGuru.com reports that Oshoala won the award for a record fifth time in 2022.

The Barcelona Femeni star will be anticipating winning it her sixth crown in the 2023 CAF Awards

Another Nigerian heroine, Super Falcons shot-stopper, Nnadozie is also in the running for Goalkeeper of the Year.

However, the duo of Esther Ajakaye and Deborah Abiodun made the final shortlist for Women’s Young Player of the Year.

The Super Falcons are in contention for the Team of the Year while Randy Waldrum is up for the Coach of the Year.

The Awards Gala will take place on Monday, 11 December 2023, at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco.

November 27, 2023
Madugu picks replacements as Oshoala, Echegini opt out of final AFCON qualifying fixture

Coach Justin Madugu has been compelled to pick replacements for forward Asisat Oshoala and midfielder Jennifer Echegini after the duo voluntarily opted out of the Super Falcons’ squad that is due to contest a 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture against Cape Verde, with the first leg in Abuja in four days.

NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), Abdulrafiu Yusuf, said the two players had been sent their flight tickets to travel to Nigeria a whole week before they announced on Saturday that they would be unable to join the squad.

“We were surprised that they had the flight tickets for so long and did not say anything, only for them to send different messages on Saturday that they would be unable to make the trip. However, Coach Madugu has moved swiftly to call up replacements for them,” disclosed Yusuf.

Midfield lynchpin Halimatu Ayinde, who missed the 2024 Olympics qualifying fixture against Ethiopia last month, is still out injured, and forward Ifeoma Onumonu also requested to be left out, saying she is nursing an injury. Defender Michelle Alozie told the team administrator that she will be undergoing a surgery.

Madugu has called up Portugal-based Peace Efih to once again fill the space vacated by Ayinde, while Rivers Angels’ midfielder Motunrayo Ezekiel will take the place of Christy Ucheibe, who is unable to travel to Nigeria from her base in Portugal.

Nigeria U20 Girls’ ace forward Chioma Olise will take the place of US-based Echegini while Chiamaka Chukwu of Rivers Angels has been called up to take Oshoala’s place.

The Super Falcons will host the first leg of the fixture against their counterparts from Cape Verde at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 30^th November, with the second leg scheduled for the Santiago-Estadio Nacional Blue Shark in Praia on Tuesday, 5^th December.

NEW LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Christiana Obia (Edo Queens)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico); Glory Edet (FCF TP Mazembe, DR Congo); Rihanat Kasali (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Akudo Ogbonna (Remo Stars Ladies); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)

Midfielders: Motunrayo Ezekiel (Rivers Angels); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens)

Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Chiamaka Chukwu (Rivers Angels); Esther Okoronkwo (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)

November 27, 2023
2023 CAF Awards: Super Falcons’ Waldrum, Nnadozie nominated for coach, player of the year

Paris FC and Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated for the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

The France based goalie, has also been nominated for the Women’s Player of the Year.

Nnadozie has been in superb form for both club and country as she shone like a million stars at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The shot stopper claimed the Player of the Match honour in Super Falcons’ draw against Olympic champions, Canada.

At the club level, she helped French side , FC Paris, earn a place in the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

American gaffer, Randy Waldrum, who guided the Super Falcons to the World Cup, is in the running for the Coach of the Year award.

Waldrum tutored the Super Falcons to the round of 16 where they lost 4-2 on penalties to the Three Lionesses of England at the FIFA World Cup in Australia/ New Zealand.

November 14, 2023