TheNewsGuru

Tag: Super Falcons

  • WAFCON: Pinnick confident as Nigeria, Morocco engage in flaming war in Rabat

    WAFCON: Pinnick confident as Nigeria, Morocco engage in flaming war in Rabat

    Organizers, stakeholders, ardent football enthusiasts, and the media are guaranteed a feast when Cup holders Nigeria and much-improved host nation Morocco go to battle in the second semi-final match of the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations competition in Rabat on Monday night.

    The stage is set for what should be an interesting, engaging, and thrilling encounter at the Complexe Prince Moulay Abdellah in Morocco’s administrative capital, from 9 pm, with a capacity crowd expected to goad on the Atlas Lionesses.

    An intimidating cauldron and a highly-motivated opposition are among the challenges nine-time champions Nigeria would be up against on Monday, but President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has told the girls to think of Nigeria and their scores of millions of fans back home when they enter the pitch against the host nation.

    “The match against Morocco will be perhaps the toughest hurdle for the Super Falcons here. However, I have told them to think of our country and the teeming support back home, and the Government that has shown them much love and encouragement.

    “They must be dogged and exhibit as always, that unique Nigeria spirit that makes us overcome challenges, hurdles, and obstacles. I am confident that we will be in the Final on Saturday.”

    Monday night’s spectacle will see the Falcons aim for their 10th Final Match of the Women AFCON since the competition was launched as a biennial event in Nigeria 24 years ago. They have never failed to win a Final match, and victory over Cameroon on Thursday affirmed that they had never failed to reach the tournament’s last four.

    If you consider history, Morocco’s Lionesses come into the game as dwarfs beside the Super Falcons. In the opening match of the inaugural edition of the Women AFCON, hosted by Nigeria, the Super Falcons lashed the Lionesses 8-0.

    The Falcons have also gone ahead to win nine titles in 11 finals before Morocco 2022, and have taken part in all editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in addition to playing in three editions of the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament, and have become a global brand.

    However, on the evidence of their performance at the Aisha Buhari Women’s Football Tournament that Nigeria hosted in September last year and their run at this championship, the Lionesses do not deserve to be treated with kid gloves.

    Coach Reynald Pedros will bank on the deft touches and dribbling skills of Fatima Tagnaout on the left side of the pitch, as well as the courageous and lethal Sanaâ Mssoudy at the fore. The Super Falcons must be wary of these two players especially.

    On his part, Coach Randy Waldrum could start with an energetic attacking line comprising of three-goal Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, and Francisca Ordega, with the nifty Gift Monday also a possibility. Christy Ucheibe, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, and Halimat Ayinde should retain their places in the middle, with Captain Onome Ebi leading a rearguard that will shield goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

    South Africa’s Banyana Banyana and Zambia’s Copper Queens will play the first semi-final at the Complexe Mohamed V in Casablanca from 6 pm, also on Monday.

  • WAFCON: Super Falcons ready to win 10th title – Ogbonna

    WAFCON: Super Falcons ready to win 10th title – Ogbonna

    Super Falcons defender, Glory Ogbonna, said the team is working  hard to win their 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations  (WAFCON) trophy holding in Morocco, to remain the dominant team on the continent.

    Ogbonna made this development known  on Friday from the team’s base in Casablanca, Morocco however, said they also targeted at winning the world Cup in Australia with their qualification on Thursday.

    The solid defender stressed that the 1-0 victory over Cameroon in the quater-final was a difficult game for the ladies, adding that Super Falcons was adequately prepared for the semi-final clash against host Morocco.

    She said it was very difficult because the Cameroonians wanted the WorldCup ticket too.

    “Like I have previously said, there is no longer small team in Africa and moreover that the Cameroonians are also one of the biggest teams in Africa.

    “We won that game with determination to qualify for the World Cup and also enhance our chances of retaining the Africa Women trophy that we last won.

    “We want to win the trophy for a record 10th time to remain dominant force in Africa Women football.

    “Beyond Africa, we are also looking at winning the Women World Cup,” she stated.

    Ogbonna maintained that while the Falcons respected the host country, they were, however, not loosing any sleep over the semi final match with them.

    “We are very focused in our next match which incidentally is against the host team,” Ogbonna said.

    The defender described the support from Nigerians and their fans as the biggest motivation to the team.

    Glory Akumbu Ogbonna is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a defender for Swedish club Umeå IK and the Nigeria women’s national team. She has formerly played with Edo Queens in the Nigeria Women Football League.

  • 2022 WAFCON: Buhari, NFF President hail Super Falcons

    2022 WAFCON: Buhari, NFF President hail Super Falcons

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s Female Football team, the Super Falcons, for qualifying for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 after their emphatic quarter-final victory at the ongoing 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Super Falcons, the record nine-time title holder and defending champions of WAFCON, triumphed 1-0 over Cameroon on Thursday night.

    President Buhari lauded the spirited performance of the team in the tournament and for maintaining its dominant posture as undisputed champions of the round-leather game and the most successful international women’s football team on the continent.

    “Having won the tournament twice in 2016 and 2018, under this administration, the President assures the girls and their handlers that the whole nation is strongly standing with them and will continue to cheer them on until the final whistle in Morocco.

    “He prays that the Super Falcons, who have produced some of the greatest African players in the history of the women’s game, will surpass their achievement in the last Women’s World Cup in 2019, where they advanced to the Round of 16, for the first time in 15 years.

    “President Buhari also looks forward to the next generation of upcoming stars, who through hard work, discipline, resilience and determination, will one day win the World Cup for Nigeria,” a statement released by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media & Publicity reads.

    Super Falcons showed strength of character – Pinnick

    Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Thursday lauded Super Falcons players for their qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    The Falcons defeated Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 1-0 on Thursday in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

    The win helped them to set up a semi-finals clash with the hosts.

    “I congratulate the girls for a strong performance against another strong team,” Pinnick said.

    “They showed that truly, Nigeria is the powerhouse of African women football. They held firm to victory even in the face of pressure towards the end.

    “Their strength and perseverance was highly commendable. They have done very well to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

    “Now, we can aim for a retention of the trophy.”

    Nigeria, the nine-time champions of the WAFCON tournament, are aiming for the 10th title in Morocco.

  • WAFCON: Super Falcons qualify for FIFA World Cup

    WAFCON: Super Falcons qualify for FIFA World Cup

    Nigeria qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals after a lone goal by Rasheedat Ajibade steered the Super Falcons to the semi finals of the ongoing Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the expense of Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses.

    Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene made a bold run at the Cameroonian defence supported by twists and turns and the ball somehow landed at the feet of gangling Ifeoma Onumonu, who heaved the ball into the box for Ajibade to nod past Ange Bawu for the only goal of the match in the 57th minute.

    The nine-time champions dominated a physical game right from onset and could have led by at least two goals in a first period they created chance after chance only to be undone by near misses.

    In the 7th minute, Onumonu, who scored the first goal in the 2-0 defeat of Botswana in Group C that rejuvenated Nigeria’s campaign following opening game defeat by South Africa, headed Okobi-Okeoghene’s well-weighted free-kick over the sticks. In the 24th minute, Onumonu and Ucheibe were involved as a melee ensued in the Lionesses’ vital area, but Bawu was up to the task.

    The two teams abbreviated each other’s opportunities with very close marking in a turgid second half. However, after Nigeria scored, Gabrielle Onguene lashed at the Nigeria goal but it went far away.

    Ajibade’s headed goal, her third of the tournament, took Nigeria to eight goals in the championship with only two conceded – both against South Africa – and their reward is a potentially-explosive semi final duel against slick host nation, Morocco.

    The Atletico Madrid of Spain forward was named the Woman of the Match.

  • Super Falcons to play Team USA in prestige friendlies

    Super Falcons to play Team USA in prestige friendlies

    Nine-time African champions Nigeria will fly to the United States of America for a two-match tour against the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) in the month of September.

    Both teams, presently competing in their respective continental tournaments, will clash at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas on 3rd September and then have a go at each other’s jugular once more at the Audi Field in Washington, D. C. on 6th September.

    The USWNT is the most successful team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, having won half (4) of all eight championships competed for so far. The Stars & Stripes were champions of the very first edition in China in 1991, and then won on home soil in 1999, in Canada in 2015 and in France three years ago. The team has also won four Olympic women’s football gold medals and eight CONCACAF titles.

    The Super Falcons, billed to face Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday evening, have won the African championship nine times, played in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and also played at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic women’s football tournament. They remain the most successful women’s team on the African continent.

    The Children’s Mercy Park is home to Kansas City in the US National Women’s Soccer League and Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer, while Audi Field is utilized by National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit and Major League Soccer team, D. C. United.

    The match in Kansas City will see Vlatko Andonovski, appointed Coach of USWNT at the end of 2019, return to his home area for the second time. It is the sixth time that the USWNT will be playing at the Children’s Mercy Park but it is their first time at the Audi Field, though they have played 10 times previously in Washington – all at the RFK Stadium.

    Andonovski says he’s excited to send out his girls against the Super Falcons: “First, I’m just excited to play two matches against Nigeria. They have some very talented players who will present a lot of different problems for us to solve on both sides of the ball. Secondly, of course we’re looking forward to bringing the team back to one of the best soccer stadiums in the United States in Kansas City, as well as getting to play our first game at Audi Field, which I’ve visited several times for NWSL games and is also a fantastic venue for our team to play in front of our home fans.”

    The USWNT has already qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, becoming the 12th team to reach the finals and the first team from the CONCACAF region.

    Nigeria’s Falcons are also coached by an American, long-time college coach Randy Waldrum – who is aiming for a FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket and first African title with Nigeria in Morocco.

  • 2022 WAFCON: Super Falcons advance to quarterfinal

    2022 WAFCON: Super Falcons advance to quarterfinal

    Defending champions Super Falcons thrashed Burundi 4-0 in their final match of Group C on Sunday, at the Women African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), to clinch a quarterfinal ticket.

    The win took the champions to six points and five goals advantage, as South Africa’s 1-0 win over Botswana meant the Bayana Bayana finished on maximum nine points to top the group.

    The result ensured that the South Africans set up a clash with Tunisia in the last eight.

    The Nigerian ladies dominated the encounter before Rasheedat Ajibade scored a penalty in the 25th minute after she was upended by onrushing goalkeeper Jeanine Irakoze.

    Earlier, the very busy Ifeoma Onumonu, shot over the sticks when clear on goal in the second minute, and Peace Efih had an opportunity to rifle into the net four minutes later, but opted to pass, which effort was cut off.

    Four minutes after Ajibade scored from six yards, Peace Efih scored from a goalmouth melee after another dashing run and cross into the box by Ajibade.

    Nigeria were 3-0 up, after Ajibade continued with her superlative move and threaded the ball into the box for advancing Uchenna Kanu, who tapped the ball into an empty net.

    Kanu thought she had made it four in the 38th minute, but her effort was ruled offside, and then came very close in the 40th and 43rd minutes only to miss from close range.

    In the second half, the Falcons started the way they left off in the first period, with Ajibade lifting the ball into the box for Kanu to rifle past substitute goalkeeper Amissa Inarukundo, with only 22 seconds gone.

    The Falcons then took their feet off the pedal as the match puttered and petered out, even as Christy Ucheibe’s rasping drive was finger-tipped to the upright by Inarukundo in the 56th minute.

    Nigeria will face Cameroon on Thursday with the winner of the tie qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.

  • Super Falcons to consolidate on victory against Botswana – Ordega

    Super Falcons to consolidate on victory against Botswana – Ordega

    Super Falcons’ forward and most valuable player in the match against Botswana  Francisca Ordega says the team’s victory over Mares is the beginning of better things to come for Nigeria at the ongoing 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

    Ordega said that the Falcons will consolidate on the victory against Botswana to win more games and perhaps emerge champions of the tournament.

    Super Falcons defeated the Mares of Botswana 2-0 to revive hopes of defending the title won in Ghana, four years ago after defeating South Africa on penalties.

    Meanwhile, Ordega who was adjudged the woman-of-the-match, expressed delight at the outcome of the game, saying that the win was the beginning of better things to come for Nigeria.

    “I am indeed very excited about our performance today, especially after coming from a defeat to South Africa in our first game.

    “We executed our game plan and came out victorious and winning today has given us more moral.

    “We are so happy and it is the beginning of good things to come,” she said.

    Francisca Ordega is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for CSKA Moscow in the Russian Women’s Football Championship. She represents Nigeria women’s national football team at both the FIFA Women’s World Cup and African Women’s Championship

  • WAFCON: Super Falcons beat Botswana to raise hopes, as South Africa advance

    WAFCON: Super Falcons beat Botswana to raise hopes, as South Africa advance

    Title-holders Nigeria set on a better track their 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign with a 2-0 win over Botswana in Rabat on Thursday.

    The development meant they rose to second place in Group C behind new leaders South Africa, with Botswana dropping from the table’s apex to third place.

    South Africa had earlier in the day thumped Burundi 3-1 to lead the group and advance to the quarter-finals.

    Botswana, 4-2 winners over Burundi on the opening day, had led the group following the Super Falcons’ 1-2 loss to the Banyana Banyana on Monday.

    But on Thursday, U.S.-based forward Ifeoma Onumonu put the Falcons on their way with a sweet finish in the 21st minute from an intelligent through pass by Halimat Ayinde.

    The Falcons had before then looked brighter on the break than they did against South Africa, with Rasheedat Ajibade, Onumonu and Francisca Ordega launching onslaughts which unsettled their opponents.

    Nigeria could have been two goals up five minutes later, when Ordega found Toni Payne with a stylish pass and the defender sent the ball into the penalty box.

    But the southern Africans cleared their lines to prevent any damage.

    Two minutes later, Onumonu failed to control in good time a good pass by Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene.

    Botswana had their own song in the half, with Tholakele rattling goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie from a 22-yard free-kick in the 31st minute.

    She then shot straight at the Nnadozie six minutes later.

    Substitute Christy Ucheibe, with her first touch of the ball, scored Nigeria’s second goal in the 48th minute.

    She rose highest in the penalty box to nod home Payne’s heaved effort from a corner-kick.

    Five minutes later, Ucheibe controlled and lashed slightly over the bar.

    When Gift Monday and Regina Otu joined the fray in place of Ordega and Okobi-Okeoghene in the 63rd minute, Nigeria’s rejuvenation was unmistakable.

    Onumonu had a couple more goalscoring chances, while Ayinde’s angled shot from 25 yards was punched away and Uchenna Kanu saw her shot blocked.

    The Super Falcons will now on Sunday face Burundi, who are already out of contention, with a win certain to guarantee for them a place in the competition’s quarter-finals.

    Botswana on the other hand need at least a draw against South Africa to have hopes of securing a quarter-final spot through the best-losers spot.

    But a win for Botswana can drop Nigeria to third spot, with the title-holders needing to reach the quarter-finals only if they beat Burundi, or get at least a draw.

    Group C Standings:

    Team                      P   W  D  L  GF  GA  GD  Pts

    South Africa           2   2   0   0   5    2    +3    6

    Nigeria                   2   1   0   1   3    2    +1    3

    Botswana               2   1   0   1   4    4      –     3

    Burundi                  2   0   0   2   3    7     -4     0

  • Beat Super Falcons and get $16,000 – Motswana business mogul, Lahri tells Mares

    Beat Super Falcons and get $16,000 – Motswana business mogul, Lahri tells Mares

    Motswana  billionaire  business mogul  Naseem Lahri has promised the Mares of Botswana $16,000 if they beat holders, Super Falcons of Nigeria in Thursday’s Group C encounter at the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.

    Lahri, who is the managing director of Lucara Botswana, is the first Motswana female to run a diamond mining company in the country.

    She motivated the Mares of Botswana to qualify for WAFCON 2022 and are now hoping to grab a Worldcup ticket.

    Her kind gestures played a key role in the  qualifying the Mares  for WAFCON 2022.

    Lahri doled out $17,000 to the team for making it to Morocco.

    Botswana currently tops group C after defeating Burundi by 4-2 in the first match of the group.

    Nigeria on the other hand lost 2-1 to the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

    The game will be played at the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.

    The kick-off time is 9 pm Nigerian time.

  • Four Super Falcons players nominated for CAF awards

    Four Super Falcons players nominated for CAF awards

    Super Falcons quartet of   Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Uchenna Kanu have been named as nominees for the 2022 CAF Women’s Player of the Year award.

    The annual award which seeks to reward Africa’s best female football player will see the four Nigerian slug it out with 26 other female players from the continent.

    Oshoala is the current holder of the  the title for African footballer of the year  after having won the award for the fourth time in 2019.

    She jointly holds the record with Super Falcons legend, Perpetua Nkwocha.

    Meanwhile, Monday was nominated for the Young Player of the Year (Women) award alongside nine other players from across the continent.

    In addition to the Young Player of the Year award, Gift Monday was also nominated for CAF Inter club Player of the Year alongside Rivers Angels star, Maryann Ezenagu.

    Other prominent  names on the 30-woman list include 2018 winner Thembi Chrestinah Kgatlana, Gabrielle Onguene who finished second behind Oshoala in 2016, and 2017, high-flying Inter Milan striker Ajara Nchout Njoya, and South Africa’s midfielder maestros Refiloe Jane and Linda Mothalo.

    Asides from Nigeria, 11 other African nations are represented on the nominee list with the award ceremony slated for the 21st of July.