The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AWCON

  • Champions League: CAF settles for one legged final, expands AWCON

     

    Indications that Thursday’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Annual General Assembly will embrace new ways of doing business emerged on Wednesday as the Executive body announced changes in management of some competitions on the continent.

    CAF Champions league one of the topmost club competitions whose final was hitherto played on home and away basis will henceforth be a one legged affair to be played on neutral ground.

    The decision is not unconnected with the controversy that trailed this year’s CAF Champions league final between Esperance of Tunisia and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco which is yet to be resolved.

    The Second tear club competition the Confederation Cup final will equally be one legged final to be played a neutral ground.

    Egg heads of the 54 member Confederation believe this will eliminate fracas and ensure that none of the finalists have undue advantage.

    In another development, African Women Cup of Nations which hitherto had 8 teams competing will henceforth feature 12 teams thus offering opportunity for extra four countries to showcase their skills.

    Only eventual champions Nigeria, hosts Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon, Algeria, Mali, Zambia and Equatorial Guinea participated at the AWCON 2018 which will mark the last time the championship will feature 8 teams.

  • Thomas Dennerby dreams AWCON title

    After accomplishing their first target of grabbing a ticket to the FIFA World Cup, Nigeria’s next target is to retain the Women AFCON title by beating South Africa in Accra on Saturday, says Head Coach Thomas Dennerby.

    He said at the post-match conference: “When we arrived in Ghana, we made it clear our first target was the ticket to the World Cup, and after that, retaining the trophy. Now, we have achieved our first target. On Saturday, we have the opportunity of achieving our second target. We will go in there and give it our best shot and take the trophy back to Nigeria.

    “Sincerely, I was not happy with our performance in the first 20 minutes of the match. We lost the ball too many times; we  were too anxious and the defenders and midfielders couldn’t contribute to the attack. However, the positive from this tournament is our defence is very good. We have a compact team and that is why we made it today. Going to the World Cup, we need to improve the way we attack. We need to create chances and make the best use of the opportunities that come our way.”

  • Nigeria 0-1 South Africa Banyana humbles Falcons in AWCON opener

    Thembi Kgatlana scored a superb goal as South Africa got their African Women’s Cup of Nations campaign off to a dream start with a 1-0 victory over defending champions in Cape Coast‚ Ghana yesterday.

    The decisive moment in the match came five minutes from the end when Kgatlana‚ sent off the bench as an impact player by coach Desiree Ellis‚ drilled a volley into the back of the net after being set up by Jermaine Seoposenwe. It is her 11th goal in 41 appearances for Banyana.

    This will be a massive boost for Banyana Banyana in their bid to finish in the top three at the continental finals and seal a place at next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in France.

    Nigeria’s next game comes up on Wednesday against Zambia and then South Africa takes on Equatorial Guinea same day.

  • Falcons in Ghana for AWCON

    Nigerian  Falcons flew into Ghana’s capital city, Accra on Wednesday on their way to Cape Coast for Group B attrition of the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations.

    The Super Falcons flew aboard an Emirates Airline flight from Abidjan, where they had camped for the past eight days at the Sol Beni Sports Centre, into the Ghanaian capital before the trip to Cape Coast, where they play South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the opening match of Group B on Sunday.

    A team of 21 players and 12 officials arrived in Cape Coast. Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League and Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Ms Aisha Falode will join the team on Friday.

    Winners of the competition in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2016, the Falcons are looking for a ninth title, alongside a ticket to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in France. The top three finishers in Ghana will fly Africa’s flag in France next year summer.

    Coach Thomas Dennerby is confident the Cup holders will be in the final match scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium on 1st December.

  • Falcons wallop Gambia 6-0 to qualify for AWCON

    Super Falcons sealed their qualification for the 11th Africa Women Cup of Nations finals in style, with an emphatic 6-0 victory over the Scorpions of Cambia at the Agege Stadium on Monday.

    Four goals from Nigeria international, Desire Oparanozie and a brace from Assisat Oshoala, gave the Falcons a comfortable victory to defend their title in Ghana later in the year.

    Head coach, Thomas Dennerby opted for an attacking line that produced two goals in the first half and four goals in the second half.

    The first goal was a spot kick converted by Desire three minutes into the match, Oshoala scored the second goal in the 22nd minutes.

    Desire also made it early when the second 45 minutes resumed as she hit the net again 6 minutes into the half, Oshoala registered her second goal 10minutes after, to increase the tally to four.

    Rampaging Desire added two more goals before the end of 90 minutes with the assists from 24-year-old Ngozi Okobi.

    Though there was no Most Valuable Player for the match as none was announced, Super Falcons’ performance was, however, described by some as impressive but with room for more tactical discipline.

    “They are always African Champions. Today’s match is a testimony to that. But I think they still need to improve to be fit for a World Cup test” said Mike Maiyaki, a sports analyst with SuperSport in a chat with NationSport.

  • Super Falcons qualify for 11th AWCON Finals

     

    • Wallop Gambia 6-0

    Super Falcons have  sealed their qualifiers for the 11th Africa Women Cup of Nations finals with an emphatic 6-0 victory over the Scorpions of Cambia at the Agege Stadium on Monday.

    Four goals from Nigeria international, Desire Oparanozie and a brace from Asissat  Oshoala gave the Falcons a comfortable victory to defend their title in Ghana later in the year.

    Head coach, Thomas Dennerby opted for an attacking line that produced two goals in the first half and four goals in the second half.

    The first goal was a spot kick that was converted by Desire three minutes into the match, Assist scored the second goal in the 22nd minutes.

    Desire also made it early when the second 45 minutes resumed as she hit again 6 minutes into the half, Oshoala registered her second half 10minutes after to increase the tally to four. Rampaging Desire added two more goals before the end 90 minutes.

    Though there was no Most Valuable Players for the match as none was announced, Super Falcons performance was however described by some as impressive but with room for more tactical discipline.

    “They are always African Champions. Today’s match is a testimony to that. But I think they still need to improve to be fit for a world cup test” said  Mike Maiyaki, a sport analyst with SuperbSport

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • We have not neglected Super Falcons – NFF

    We have not neglected Super Falcons – NFF

    Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ), says the federation has not neglected the Super Falcons who are yet to play any match this year.

    Reports say that after winning the 10th African Women Cup of Nations ( AWCON ) in Cameroon last December, the Falcons have been inactive.

    Sanusi however said plans for the team, which is the country’s senior national women football team, would soon be unveiled.

    He said in Abuja on Wednesday that the federation was working out plans to address the plight of women football in the country.

    Read also: NFF Hides Identity of Super Falcons’ Foreign Coach

    “We always have plans for the women team. It is a different thing if your plans did not work out the way you want it to. But we have not neglected the team.

    “Our plans for them will be unveiled soon,’’ the NFF general secretary said.

    American coach Randy Waldrum was appointed new coach of the team in October but he is yet to be unveiled.

    NAN

  • Super Falcons retain AWCON title, beat Lionesses 1-0

    Super Falcons retain AWCON title, beat Lionesses 1-0

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons have clinched the African Women Cup of Nations for a record 8- times after defeating host Cameroon in the final before an intimidating crowd at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde, Cameroon.
    Desire Oparanozie’s late strike was enough for the Falcons to retain the title they won in Namibia in 2014.
    The Cameroonian Lionesses though dominated play from the beginning but were very profligate in front of goal wasting chances upon chances.
    As early as the 4th minute, Gabrielle Onguene went past the Nigerian defense like a ghost, only to shoot wide with just Goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan to beat.
    Okobi however stood out in the midfield despite the Falcons poor start to the game, she found space in the middle, and then turned brilliantly only for her shot to go so high and completely off target.
    Cameroon’s Enganamouit was as expected a threat to the Nigerian defense and danger man of the Lionesses and she made frantic efforts to ensure her team take the lead, but for Goal keeper Alaba Jonathan’s brilliance, the Cameroonian would have matched her pre-final hype.
    Chance after chance fell on to the hosts, Ngono Mani, Ngock Yango, Gabrielle Oungene and Gaelle Enganamouit all had four clear shots on target as against none for the Super Falcons in the entire first half, a clear opposite that they were a shadow of what they’ve been, dominant in the whole tournament.
    Nigeria’s attack led by Arsenal Ladies’ Asisat Oshoala barely had a charge at goal let alone shoot at Ngo Ndom in goal for Cameroon.
    In the second half, the Falcons faced a more serious charge from their host, but a super defensive display from the duo of Onome Ebi and Oshinachi Ohale ensured the game stayed at goalless.
    Again, in the 57th minute, a rather poor Asisat Oshoala not playing at her best, lose the ball in the midfield allowing Onguene begin another onslaught on the Nigerian defense, only goal keeper Alaba Jonathan could save the Falcons’ blushes, and she did.
    Chioma Wogu was thrown into the fray to replace Washington Spirits’ Francisca Ordega in the 65th minute, the change however brought pep into the attack line of the Falcons, of course Oparanozie got the needed support she craved for to be more potent upfront.
    The Falcons finally got the game’s only goal, and the match winning goal in the 85th minute when Desire Oparanozie met up with a lob from impressive Ngozi Okobi, and she coolly slots home. The goal was greeted with total silence inside the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium a 40,000 seater which was filled up to capacity.
    The Super Falcons held on for the win, to claim the trophy and rule Africa again.

  • AWCON: How Nigeria can beat Cameroon

    AWCON: How Nigeria can beat Cameroon

    A Soccer analyst, Bright Ejeh has charged the Super Falcons to replicate the AFCON 2000 scenario in Saturday’s AWCON 2016 finals against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Falcons are seeking their 8th title in the competition while the Lionesses are seeking their maiden title on home soil.

    Ejeh, who spoke to NAN in Abakaliki on Saturday, urged the Falcons to employ the same “on and off’’ field tactics which the Indomitable Lions employed to defeat

    the Super Eagles in the AFCON 2000 finals in Lagos.

    “The lions were buoyed by the feat of beating the Eagles to win the 1984 and 1988 AFCON and they brought such psychological edge to bear in Lagos.

    “The Falcons should also replicate this antic as they defeated the Lionesses to win the competition’s last edition in Windhoek, Namibia in 2014,” he said.

    Ejeh further stressed that in the 2000 AFCON final, the Lions behaved like those playing at home with various antics which seemingly unsettled the Eagles.

    “Their irrepressible skipper, Rigobert Song, sang ceaselessly and physically buoyed every player who seemed to be intimidated by the crowd at the National Stadium, Lagos.

    “The Lions took control of the match, and scored two goals within 30 minutes and though the Eagles battled to equalise, the match was in the former’s control.

    “During the ensuing penalty shootout, the tension made Victor Ikpeba not to celebrate his goal which crossed the line and was awarded in Cameroon’s favour.

    “Television replays showed that the ball crossed the line as the Lions thus stunned a whole nation by winning its third AFCON title, all at Nigeria’s expense,” he said.

    He then advised the Falcons to impose a physiological edge over the Lionesses on Saturday by behaving as if they were playing at home.

    “The girls should not be intimated by the vociferous Cameroon crowd, but psyche themselves to acquire the needed confidence for ultimate victory.

    “They should attack from the blast of the whistle, seek total dominance of the game and tighten their defence to check counter-attack incursions by the Lionesses,” he said.

    The soccer analyst also advised the Falcons to shun excessive rough tackles and physical contacts with the lionesses while utilising every scoring opportunity at their disposal.

    “The Nigerian bench should play a crucial role with the coaches studying the match and making tactical decisions while the substitutes should ceaselessly spur the players on the pitch.

    “The players should be patient, avoid anxious quest for goals, and shun unnecessary challenge of referee’s decisions and loss of concentration in the match.

    “The Nigerian supporters at the stadium should cheer the team ceaselessly, while the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) should motivate the players by providing all needed incentives,” he said. (NAN)

  • Nwabuoku sure of Falcons’ AWCON success

    Nwabuoku sure of Falcons’ AWCON success

    SUPER Falcons skipper Evelyn Nwabuoku says that her team will go all out to retain the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations trophy when the competition kicks off in Cameroon next month.

    Nigeria, hosts Cameroon and six other countries will do battle for Africa’s crown in women’s football from 19 November to 3 December in the cities of Yaoundé and Limbe.

    The Super Falcons are the defending champions of the competition, having won it in 2014, defeating Cameroon 2-0 in the final.

    Nwabuoku, who now plays for French side En Avant de Guingamp, says that the team are determined to retain the crown to make up for the disappointment of missing out on Rio 2016.

    “We have been talking to ourselves and we have vowed to make our fans happy and make up for the disappointment of not qualifying for the Olympic Games,” Nwabuoku told supersport.com.