The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Falconets

  • Ohaegbulem, Oladipo, Yina, 17 others picked for Falconets

    Ohaegbulem, Oladipo, Yina, 17 others picked for Falconets

    Coach Chris Danjuma has picked goalkeeper Anderline Mgbechi, defender and captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem, midfielder Adoo Yina and forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu in his list of 20 players to represent Nigeria in the women’s football event of the 13th African Games.

    Also named are goalkeeper Faith Omilana, defenders Shukurat Oladipo and Jumoke Alani, midfielders Chioma Olise and Olushola Shobowale and forwards Blessing Okpe and Judith Okah.

    Defending champions Nigeria have been housed in Group B alongside Morocco, Senegal and Cameroon, while hosts Ghana will contend with Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda in Group A. Matches will take place at the Cape Coast Stadium.

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    The Falconets won the gold medal in the women’s football event of the 12th African Games that took place in Rabat, Morocco in October 2019. 

    20 FALCONETS FOR AFRICAN GAMES:

    Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi, Rachael Unachukwu, Faith Omilana

    Defenders: Shukurat Oladipo, Oluchi Ohaegbulem, Jumoke Alani, Chidinma Ogbuchi, Oluwabunmi Oladeji, Chidera Okenwa

    Midfielders: Adoo Yina, Joy Igbokwe, Chioma Olise, Chinyere Kalu, Olushola Shobowale

    Forwards: Motunrayo Ezekiel, Blessing Okpe, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Loveth Edeh, Judith Okah, Delight Nwosu 

  • Burundi 0-1 Nigeria: Falconets beat Burundi  to inch closer to  Colombia 2024

    Burundi 0-1 Nigeria: Falconets beat Burundi  to inch closer to  Colombia 2024

    Falconets have brightened their chances of Qualifying for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup following their 1-0 away win over Burundi in the first leg of the final qualifying round in Dar es Salaam.

    Janet Akeroromowei scored the only goal of the game in the 45th  minute from the penalty spot for second goal of the qualifiers.

    With the first leg result, the Falconets put themselves in a promising position for the qualification to the U20 Women’s World Cup.

    The Nigeria’s representatives will now play the second leg in Abuja on Saturday 20th  January with their sights on another Qualifying ticket to the World Cup billed for Colombia later in the year.

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    In the remaining first leg results, Morocco beat Ethiopia 2-0 at the Ben M’ Hamed El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida while Ghana spanked their host Senegal 2-0 at Stade Lat Dior, Thies.

    In the remaining fixture, Egypt were beaten 4-2 at home by Cameroon at the Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria.

    The return legs are billed for this week Saturday and Sunday respectively with the four winners on aggregate qualifying for the World Cup.

  • Colombia 2024: Falconets brush aside Tanzania to reach final round

    Colombia 2024: Falconets brush aside Tanzania to reach final round

    Goals by Janet Akekoromowei and Comfort Folorunsho against Tanzania at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja yesterday  gave Nigeria a 2-1 win and progress to the final round of qualifiers for the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals.

    After a gloomy afternoon for Nigerian ball fans following the Super Eagles’ disappointing 1-1 draw with the Warriors of Zimbabwe in neutral Rwanda in the race to 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, the Falconets gave the fans something to smile about as they edged their Tanzanian counterparts 3-2 on aggregate to reach the final round, where they will take on Burundi’s U20 girls.

    The 2022 World Cup quarter-finalists, who have never been absent from the global finals, swarmed on the visitors from the first blast of the whistle, but poor marksmanship on the part of former U17 team striker Opeyemi Ajakaye robbed them of an early goal.

    Akekoromowei eventually put Nigeria in front after 16 minutes, when she rifled home from the edge of the box after an intelligent pass from Taiwo Afolabi.

    Read Also: Colombia 2024 Race: Falconets  held 1-1 in Dar es Salaam

    Five minutes later, the East Africans were at parity, when goalkeeper Shukura Bakare dropped the ball from an innocuous-looking free-kick 35 yards out and Jamila Mnunduka bundled the ball over the line.

    Nigeria would have been ahead in the 25th  minute, but defender Shukurat Oladipo’s well-struck free-kick from 40 yards was parried away by goalkeeper Zulfa Ally Makau. Ajakaye failed to make hay with another opportunity in the 33rd  minute.

    On the hour mark, defender Comfort Folorunsho broke the spell of 1-1draws for Nigeria’s national teams in recent weeks, when she leapt highest to head home from Afolabi’s cross after a couple of touches from a corner kick. 

    The Falconets will now take on Burundi in the final round of qualifiers, to determine one of Africa’s flagbearers at next year’s global championship to be hosted by Colombia.  

  • Colombia 2024 Race: Falconets  held 1-1 in Dar es Salaam

    Colombia 2024 Race: Falconets  held 1-1 in Dar es Salaam

    Nigeria and Tanzania U20 girls battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup African qualifying series second round fixture in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

    After a scoreless first period, substitute Chioma Olise put Nigeria in front three minutes before the hour mark at the Azam Sports Complex in Tanzania’s commercial and industrial capital.

    The home girls responded 13 minutes later when Asnath Ubamba fired home from a free kick, to which Nigeria’s goalkeeper Anderlin Mgebchi had no answer.

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    Both teams fought hard to establish superiority at the tail end of the encounter on the artificial turf, but the scoreline remained the same.

    The Falconets will return to Nigeria on Tuesday with high expectations to overpower the Tanzanians when both teams clash in the second leg on Sunday, 19th  November.

  • Colombia 2024: Danjuma picks ‘killer squad’ to face Tanzania

    Colombia 2024: Danjuma picks ‘killer squad’ to face Tanzania

    Head Coach of Nigeria’s U20 female team – Falconets, Christopher Musa Danjuma has selected three goalkeepers, six defenders, five midfielders and five forwards for next Sunday’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup second round, first leg qualifying match against their Tanzanian counterparts.

    Goalkeeper Faith Omilana, who starred in Nigeria U17 team’s run to a first-ever FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup bronze medal-finish in India last year, is listed alongside fellow India 2022 star Taiwo Afolabi, as well as defender Comfort Folorunsho and forward Opeyemi Ajakaye, who also played key roles in India and were part of the Super Falcons’ defeat of Ethiopia in a 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament qualifying fixture last month.

    The 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists have been training in Abuja for more than two weeks, and will take on the Tanzanian girls at the Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam from 3pm Tanzania time (1pm Nigeria time) on Sunday.

    Both teams will make it a date again at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday, 19 November, with the winner on aggregate progressing to the third round of the race to Colombia next year.

    Meanwhile, the  Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Letticia Antonella Viana from e-Swatini as referee for the match, with her compatriots Patricia Mkhaliph, Siphiwayikhosi Nxumalo and Nothando Nkhumane as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Kenyan Margaret Omondi will serve as match commissioner.

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    For the return leg in Abuja, Rachel Nzigire from Democratic Republic of Congo will be referee, with Ngarassoum Victorine as assistant referee 1. Rachel’s compatriots Carine Puazi and Carine Ampur will be assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively, with Christine Ziga from Ghana as match commissioner.

    FALCONETS FOR TANZANIA:

    Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi (Delta Queens); Shukura Bakare (Nasarawa Amazons); Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels)

    Defenders: Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Rihanat Kasali (Bayelsa Queens); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Semilore Oladeji (Naija Ratels)

    Midfielders: Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons); Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Shola Shobowale (Nasarawa Amazons); Aminat Folorunsho (Rivers Angels); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens)

    Forwards: Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens); Judith Okah (Remo Queens); Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Chisom Chima (Bayelsa Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Asisat Academy)

  • Colombia 2024: Mauritius withdraws as Falconets progress to third round

    Colombia 2024: Mauritius withdraws as Falconets progress to third round

    The Mauritius Football Association has notified the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of the withdrawal of the country’s team from the ongoing African qualifying series for next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals.

    “Kindly note that CAF was informed of the withdrawal of Mauritius FA from the African qualifiers of FIFA U20 WWC 2024. Consequently, Nigeria is qualified to the next round of the competition and the missions of all officials of matches 37 & 38 are cancelled,” read a communication from CAF to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

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    The Falconets were to fly to Mauritius next week for the first leg in Saint Pierre against the Mauritius U20 girls, with the return leg scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 14th October.

    With this situation, 2022 World Cup quarter-finalists Nigeria now progress to the next round of the qualification series.

  • Eagles, Falconets, others get media officers

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday announced the appointments of new Media Officers for the various National Teams.

    In a statement by Demola Olajire, NFF Director of Communication, Toyin Ibitoye and Miss Jane Nweze have been retained for the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons, respectively, until after the two teams’ major championships.

    He said Ibitoye and Nweze will still retain their positions until the Super Eagles’ AFCON finals in Egypt and the Super Falcons’ FIFA World Cup finals in France.

    Olajire, however, announced the appointment of Pius Ayinor as media officer for the Super Eagles B, also known as CHAN Eagles.

    “Sharif Abdallah will serve as media officer for the U-23 National Team (Olympic Eagles), while Andrew Randa will take charge at the camp of the U-20 Boys National Team (Flying Eagles).

    “Cecilia Omorogbe will work with the U-20 Girls (Falconets), while Francis Achi will serve the U-17 Boys (Golden Eaglets) and Faith Meremegbunam will work with the U-17 Girls (Flamingos).

    “Tobi Adepoju will be media officer of the U-15 National Boys (Future Eagles),’’ Olajire said.

    According to him, all the newly-appointed media officers will serve until after their next major championships, before giving way to other persons to also benefit from the experience.

  • France 2018: Prayer conscious Falconets dream victory over Spain

    Gallant and spiritual on and off the pitch of play, each player of the Super Falconets of Nigeria are not in anyway less adrift from their faith to be victorious, as they get set for their Quarter-final clash against Spain on Thursday (today).

    Falconets booked a spot for the Thursday clash on Monday, with a stoppage-time own goal to earn a highly-dramatic 1-1 draw with China PR in Dinan-Lehon to qualify for the last eight of the 2018 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament.

    The draw was so dramatic and almost unbelievable. And just after the final whistle, it was all a serious thanksgiving service on the pitch of play cum jubilation for the Falconets for emerging victorious at a time when all hopes were lost to secure the much-needed draw.

    The team’s officials and players(on their kneels) spontaneously went on a spirit-filled song anchored hallelujah session obviously to acknowledge that their quarter-final qualification against the China strong side opponent was beyond their making.

    China were the more dangerous side in the first half at the Stade du Clos Gastel encounter as they needed a victory to leapfrog the West Africans to the runners-up spot in the group.

    Mengyu Shen had the first chance of the match on 25 minutes when she hit the Nigeria crossbar. A few minutes later, captain Linlin Wang headed over the target from close range.

    China’s breakthrough came four minutes before half-time, as the diminutive Linyan Zhang turned her Nigerian marker in the box and stroked the ball past a diving Chiamaka Nnadozie to give the Asians the lead at the break

    The Super Falconets pushed hard in search of an equaliser in the second half but found the China backline and goalkeeper Huan Xu in resilient form until the end of the contest.

    Ajibade became Nigeria’s hero when she turned home Aishat Bello’s cross at the near post. The goal sparked celebrations from the West Africans at the full-time whistle.

    Spain finished tops with seven points ahead of Japan, USA, and Paraguay in Group C. The falconets vs Spain Quarter-finals, at the Stade Guy-Piriou, Concarneau will kick off by 3: pm

  • Women’s U-20 World Cup : Falconets will reach final, says Danjuma

    Nigeria coach Christopher Danjuma has backed his team to reach the final of the ongoing Women’s U-20 World Cup in France.

    The Falconets claimed a dramatic 1-1 draw with China on Monday, a result which secured qualification for the quarterfinals as runners-up in Group D behind Germany.

    Danjuma now believes his team has the character and strength to reach the third final after the feats of 2010 and 2014.

    Nigeria will face Group C winners Spain in Concarneau on Thursday for a place in the final four, and Danjuma is backing the African side to make more history.

    “Our ambition is to enjoy reaching another final. We want to be in the final, and the records are in our favour to do so after we did so in 2010 and 2014. And this is now 2018,” said the Falconets’ coach.

    “It was a hard-fought game thanks to the great character and mentality of my players. You could also say we were lucky, but everything has an element of favour.

    “You can work hard, but you also need some luck. The best wishes of Nigerians also helped us and we are grateful to God.”

    The other quarterfinal match-ups are France v North Korea, England v Netherlands and Germany v Japan.

  • Late goal sends Falconets to quarter-finals

    •To meet Spain

    An own goal in stoppage time by China PR, gave Nigeria a highly-dramatic 1-1 draw in Dinan-Lehon, with the West Africans claiming a spot in the quarter-finals from Group D at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018.

    Needing a victory to leapfrog the Nigerians to the runners-up spot in the group, China was the more dangerous side in the first half at the Stade du Clos Gastel. Mengyu Shen had the first chance of the match on 25 minutes when she hit the Nigeria crossbar. A few minutes later, Captain Linlin Wang headed over the target from close range.

    China’s breakthrough came four minutes before half-time, as the diminutive Linyan Zhang turned her Nigerian marker in the box and stroked the ball past a diving Chiamaka Nnadozie to give the Asians the lead at the break.

    The Super Falconets pushed hard in search of an equaliser in the second half but found the China backline and goalkeeper Huan Xu in resilient form until the end of the contest.

    With seconds left to play, substitute Aishat Bello’s byline cross from the right saw captain Rasheedat Ajibade challenge for the ball with China right-back Jiaxing Dou. Bello’s cross struck the Chinese defender before nestling in the back of the net and sparking emotional celebrations from the West Africans at the full-time whistle.