Tag: Super Falcons

Super Falcons ranked 45th best female team in the world

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have been ranked 45th best footballing team in the world according to the last FIFA -CocaCola Women’s World Ranking of the year.

This is the second time in a roll that Super Falcons will be ranked 45th.

The latest ranking released on Friday as seen on the website of the world football governing body, is the final list for the year 2022.

The US national team is ranked number 1 in the world followed by the German female football team.

Nigeria’s Super Falcon’s 45th position is the highest for Africa.

Sweden dropped to the third position from second place and England and France sit in fourth and fifth place respectively.

For Africa, South Africa come second in 54th place, Cameroon take 58th place, Ghana following closely in 59th position and Cote d’Ivoire in 65th position

December 10, 2022
NFF: Mmadu did not play 101 official matches for Nigeria

The Nigeria Football Federation has disclosed that former Super Falcons’ player and one-time assistant coach of the team, Maureen Mmadu did not play up to 101 official matches for Nigeria as is being claimed by the former player and promoted in certain quarters.

NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire, said on Monday that the Federation’s records showed that the former midfielder played 52 matches for the team between 1995 and 2007 when she called it quits with the National Team.

“Our records show that between 16^th February 1991 when they played their first official game (a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana’s Black Queens at the National Stadium, Lagos) and 18^th September 2007 (when Mmadu featured in her last match for Nigeria against USA in Shanghai during the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup), the Super Falcons played a total of 103 official matches.

“Maureen Mmadu, who did excellently well for Nigeria while wearing the green-white-green, only started playing for the team during a FIFA Women’s World Cup match against Canada in Helsingborg (which ended 3-3) on 8^th June 1995, when she came in for Ann Mukoro. Mmadu won about 52 caps in all, and certainly not 101 as claimed in some quarters.”

The NFF insisted that it had become necessary to put the facts out in the public space after accusations of gender discrimination against the Federation by some former Super Falcons’ players that the body had honoured players like Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa who won up to 100 caps for Nigeria but discountenanced Madu.

“Before the NFF honoured Yobo, Enyeama and Musa, we put out the official matches played by each of them. The NFF has never identified, confirmed, celebrated or promoted Maureen Mmadu as having won up to 100 caps for Nigeria. Anyone domiciling such information anywhere is hanging on to unsubstantiable claims.

“There was no doubt that Madu gave her heart out and worked assiduously hard on the field during her time representing Nigeria. But she did not win up to 101 caps. We challenge those promoting this fallacy to come up with those 101 official matches.

“For avoidance of doubt, official matches (that qualifies for a cap) are matches played wearing the green-white-green colours of Nigeria against a team wearing the colours of another country, and certified as such by FIFA. Matches against selected teams, clubs or warm-up games do not qualify in this direction.”

October 31, 2022
Super Falcons play Canada to begin FIFA World Cup 2023 campaign

Nigeria’s Women’s Senior Football team, Super Falcons, and the best to come out of Africa, and would begin their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign against Canada.

Super Falcons have been drawn in Group B against Canada, Republic of Ireland, and one of the host countries Australia.

The draws were made earlier today (Saturday) in Auckland, New Zealand, one of the host cities of the competition.

Nigeria would look at increasing their chances at the competition, having the highest records of African representative (nine times) in the competition, and never missed the world cup since the competition began.

Other African teams in the competition are South Africa in group G, Zambia in Group C, Morocco in Group H while Senegal and Cameroon still have chances if they win their playoff games.

The historic prestigious competition would kick off with New Zealand playing against Norway on July 20, 2023, while Australia, the other host country, play Republic of Ireland the next day.

The FIFA World Women’s Football fiesta would, in this edition, witness 32 teams all grouped into eight groups competing for honours.

The US national women’s team with the most title would be looking at winning their fifth title and their third straight when they begin their campaign against Vietnam.

In another related competition, Nigeria’s Women Junior national team, Flamingoes, are through to the semifinals of the ongoing FIFA World Women’s Cup in India.

Nigeria beat powerhouse US 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.

The Flamingoes made history, becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals and have a chance to extend their heroics when they play the winner between Tanzania and Columbia.

The semifinal match comes up on Wednesday.

October 22, 2022
Super Falcons to play Australia, Ireland, Canada in group B at FIFA World Cup

Nigeria will play joint-hosts Australia, Canada and Republic of Ireland in Group B of the 9^th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals happening in the summer of next year.

At the draw ceremony held in Auckland/Tâmaki Makaurau on Saturday, it emerged that Nigeria will play Canada in her first match of the competition to be staged in a total of nine cities (five in Australia and four in New Zealand), and which will boast 32 teams – the biggest in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since it began in China in 1991.

Joint-hosts New Zealand will battle Norway, Philippines and Switzerland in Group A.

Nigeria, alongside USA, Brazil, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Japan are the only seven countries to have featured in all previous editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, between China 1991 and France 2019.

The Falcons were on tour of Canada six months ago, where they played two matches against Olympic champions Canada, losing one narrowly and drawing the other.

October 22, 2022
International Friendly: 19 Super Falcons players hit Kobe camp for Japan encounter

19 Super Falcons players have hit the training camp ahead of the International friendly match with the Nadeshiko of Japan.

The Super Falcons camp was opened on Monday in the city of Kobe.

The friendly will take place at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Thursday

The quartet of Amanda Mbadi, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Uchenna Kanu and Vivian Ikechukwu were the latest arrivals in camp on Wednesday afternoon.

More players are still being expected in camp before the game.

Recall that the Super Falcons played two friendly games with the American senior female team recently as a means to prepare for the 2023 Female World Cup that will hold in Australia.

Below is the list of players already in camp.

*Chiamaka Nnadozie

Deborah Abiodun
Esther Onyenezide
Ashleigh Plumptre
Rasheedat Ajibade
*Peace Efih
Osinachi Ohale
Michelle Alozie
Ifeoma Onumonu
Flourish Sabastine
Christy Ucheibe
Amanda Mbadi
Ngozi Okobi- Okeoghene
Uchenna Kanu
Vivian Ikechukwu*Nkiruka Obidinma
Glory Ogbonna
Akudo Ogbonna
Jumoke Alani

October 5, 2022
Super Falcons arrive Kobe for friendly with Nadeshiko

All is set for Nigeria and Japan to clash in a senior women international friendly match in Kobe on Thursday.

The delegation of Super Falcons, which left Nigeria on Friday, has arrived in the Japanese town of Kobe, where they take on 2011 world champions Japan at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Thursday, 6^th October. The date falls within one of the FIFA Women International Windows for this year.

Nadeshiko Japan, which is the alias of the Women National Team of Japan, is rated 13^th in the world. Both teams have clashed only once at a competitive level – at the 2004 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament. Nadeshiko pipped the Falcons 1-0 at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on 14^th August 2004.

Two back-to-back friendlies in 2013 were won 2-0 each by Nadeshiko.

Japan’s entertaining girls won the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2011, beating Team USA in a pulsating penalty shoot-out after regulation time ended 2-2. Nadeshiko thus became the first team from Asia to win a senior FIFA World Cup trophy.

The Super Falcons have participated in every FIFA Women’s World Cup finals since the competition began in 1991, reaching the quarter-finals in 1999. They are one of the 32 teams that will take part in the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals set for nine cities in Australia and New Zealand from 20^th July – 20^th August 2023.

October 3, 2022
Super Falcons captain, Ebi signs for Levante Football Club

Super Falcons captain, Onome Ebi has been signed up by Spanish La Liga club side, Levante Las Planas.

The 39-year-old player last played for ZFK Minsk played in the Belarusian Premier League.

Ebi was elated after signing the deal on Thursday as she hit her social media handle to express her joy.

Her post reads “New Home New Experience @fclevantelasplanasfem

“Thank You Lord For Another Opportunity,” Ebi wrote on her handle.

The center-back has previously played for clubs in Sweden, Turkey, and China.

Ebi has made 104 appearances for Nigeria with two goals to her name.

Onome Ebi is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a center-back the Nigeria women’s national team.

In 2019 she became the first African footballer to play in 5 FIFA World Cup Tournaments.

September 30, 2022
Int’l Friendly: Waldrum calls Ajibade, 21 others for clash with Japan

Head Coach Randy Waldrum has called up 22 players of the Super Falcons, among them Rasheedat Ajibade and Asisat Oshoala, for next month’s international friendly match against the Senior Women National Team of Japan, Nadeshiko, in Kobe.

The team is dominated by the usual suspects but also welcomes four members of the U20 girls that reached the last eight at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica in August.

There are first choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Osinachi Ohale and Ashleigh Plumptre, midfielders Regina Otu, Halimatu Ayinde and Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, and forwards Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday, Vivian Ikechukwu and Toni Payne.

The match serves as continuation of the Super Falcons’ preparations for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand, and comes just weeks after a two-match tour of the United States of America, in which they lost 0-4 and 1-2 to the USWNT.

The match holds at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Thursday, 6^th October.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Nkiruka Obidinma, Yewande Balogun

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale, Ashleigh Plumptre, Oluwatosin Demehin, Glory Ogbonna, Rofiat Imuran, Michelle Alozie

Midfielders: Regina Otu, Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde, Peace Efih, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Deborah Abiodun

Forwards: Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Ifeoma Onumonu, Gift Monday, Vivian Ikechukwu, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne

September 16, 2022
Monday Gift puts pen to paper for Spanish club UDG Tenerife

Super Falcons forward Monday Gift has signed for Spanish giant, UDG Tenerife. from Nigeria Women’s Football League champions, Bayelsa Queens.

The club made the announcement with a short video clip on their social media handles.

Gift was in action for Nigeria in a friendly game against world champions, United States of America on Wednesday morning.

The US defeated the Super Falcons by 2-1 in Wagighton DC.

She has also departed with the team to Kobe Japan for an international friendly against the Asian country in few days time.

Gift was part of Super Falcons’ squad to the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco.

She also represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World in France in 2018.

September 8, 2022
Super Falcons depart USA, shift focus to Japan friendly

Nine-time African champions and FIFA World Cup ever-present, Super Falcons of Nigeria have flown out of the United States of America after a two-match tour in which they lost the second narrowly to three-time world champions USWNT.

Mexico –based forward Uchenna Kanu became the first Nigerian to score against the USWNT in 20 years when she slotted into the net in the 50^th minute for the equalizer in the two teams’ second encounter at the Audi Field in Washington on Tuesday. The Americans won the first session in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday by four goals.

An own goal by defender Oluwatosin Demehin in the 25^th minute had put Nigeria behind in the game, just minutes after goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made a double save from marauding USWNT attackers.

Rose Lavelle restored USA’s lead in the 66^th minute when she nodded in at the far left of Nnadozie’s goal off a pull-out by Megan Rapino.

The delegation of Super Falcons departed from the United States on Wednesday, with focus now shifted to the friendly with Japan scheduled for next month.

The Falcons will take on the Senior Women National Team of Japan in a prestige international friendly match at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Thursday, 6^th October. The date falls within one of the FIFA Women International Windows for this year.

Nadeshiko Japan, which is the alias of the Women National Team of Japan, are rated 13^th in the world. Both teams have clashed only once at competitive level – at the 2004 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament. Nadeshiko pipped the Falcons 1-0 at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on 14^th August 2004.

Two back-to-back friendlies in 2013 were won 2-0 each by Nadeshiko.

Japan’s entertaining girls won the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2011, beating Team USA in a pulsating penalty shoot-out after regulation time ended 2-2. Nadeshiko thus became the first team from Asia to win a senior FIFA World Cup trophy.

The Super Falcons have participated in every FIFA Women’s World Cup finals since the competition began in 1991, reaching the quarter finals in 1999. They are one of the 32 teams that will take part in the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals set for nine cities in Australia and New Zealand 20^th July – 20^th August 2023.

September 7, 2022