The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Falcons

  • Banyana seek first win against Falcons

    Banyana seek first win against Falcons

    • Coach insists team good enough

     

    Banyana Banyana are aiming for their first ever win against Nigeria when the two sides meet in the semi-final of the African Women’s Championships in Bata, Equatorial Guinea today

    “We know we are competitive enough to match Africa’s number one side,” coach Joseph Mkhonza said on Tuesday.

    “We came to this tournament with the aim of improving our world ranking of 56th – and African ranking of fourth – and now need to deliver to meet our objective.”

    The top four African nations – Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and South Africa – all qualified for the semi-finals this week so a win against Nigeria would see Banyana move up the rankings.

    Banyana Banyana played to a one-all draw with Nigeria in an international friendly in Rustenburg earlier this year and shared a goalless draw in Lagos two weeks later.

    Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies striker Andiswe Mgcoyi is the current joint leading goal-scorer in the tournament with four goals, having scored the only goal of the match against Senegal and a hat-trick against the Congolese.

     

  • Eaglets, Falcons commended

    Eaglets, Falcons commended

    THE Nigeria Football Federation on Monday praised the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets and the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons for excellent performances in the past 24 hours.

    On Sunday, the Eaglets whip-lashed the U-17 National Team of Guinea 4-0 in Conakry in the second leg of their 2013 African U-17 Championship, to qualify for the final round of qualification series on a 7-0 aggregate. And on Monday in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, the Falcons edged Cameroon’s Lionesses 2-1 to pick up the three vital points in their opening match of Group B at the 8th African Women Championship.

    Speaking in Abuja on Monday, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, High Chief Emeka Inyama said: “The performances of the Golden Eaglets and the Super Falcons followed on the heels of excellent outings by the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles to qualify for next year’s African championships.

    “The NFF is delighted that our National Teams are now giving their all in important games and we will continue to ensure the teams prepare well for major championships within the limits of our resources.

    “The Eaglets, in a way, avenged the defeat of the Super Eagles in Conakry during the qualifying series for the 2012 African Cup of Nations while the Falcons have now paid the Cameroonians back for that penalty shoot-out blot that stopped our girls from the London 2012 Olympics,” said Inyama.

    It would be recalled that the NFF flew the Falcons to Ghana for a one-week final training camp before the tournament and also hiked the team’s win-bonus to $3,000 per player.

    NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu assured that the Federation will give every support to the Falcons in their next match against Ethiopia on Thursday and for the Eaglets in their final round of qualifiers against Mali.

    “We are already putting arrangements in place for the Eaglets to return to Calabar immediately they come back from Guinea on Tuesday, in order that they can start preparation for their first leg match against Mali, which comes up on 18th November. Governor Liyel Imoke (CON) and the wonderful people of Cross River State have been very supportive and we appreciate them.

    “As for the Falcons, we are putting heads together to see how we can further motivate them to fire from all cylinders against Ethiopia, as a win in that match will guarantee our semi final place even before the clash with Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday.”

  • Falcons hit Accra Thursday

    Falcons hit Accra Thursday

    • Nff sure of Ikhana’s ability
    • Dreams 2010 repeat

    As part of preparation for the 8th Africa Women Championship (AWC) in Equatorial Guinea, Super Falcons will depart for Ghana tomorrow to begin a week-long intensive training.

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who confirmed this, re-affirmed that the two friendly matches scheduled for the team in the former Gold Coast is still on course.

    Sanusi reiterated the NFF’s commitment to the Super Falcons, and in ensuring that the team retains the title won in South Africa in 2010.

    “The Super Falcons are very important to Nigerians and the NFF, and we are working very hard to ensure that they retain the AWC title. We will give them quality training, and Ghana is a good place to go to and play good teams.”

    He went on to say, “We will mobilize people to support the team when they play their matches in Equatorial Guinea. We want them to feel the support from the whole country and we will ensure that they feel it.”

    Coach Kadiri Ikhana, who led Enyimba to their first Champions League title in 2003, will lead the Super Falcons as they attempt to win the AWC crown for a record 7th time, and Sanusi reiterated the football house’s support of and belief in the coach.

    “Coach Kadiri Ikhana is very up and doing and I have no doubt in his abilities as a coach. He will use his eagle eyes to select the best players to represent the country [in the AWC] and we have complete trust in him.

    “From what I have seen, he has spoken to the players and made them understand the importance of the task ahead. The atmosphere in the camp is great and I think we are good to go.”

    The Falcons will leave Accra for Equatorial Guinea on October 25, and will play their opening game at the 2012 AWC on October 29.

  • NFF approves Falcons’ programme

    • Team opens camp in Abuja September 16
    • Football House shops for friendlies for team

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the programme submitted by the Head Coach of the Super Falcons, Kadiri Ikhana, towards the 8th edition of the African Women’s Championship(AWC) slated for Equatorial Guinea, a top official has revealed.

    The Chairman, Technical Sub Committee of the NFF, Barrister Christopher Green, who made this known to SportingLife said that the approval given to the programme was with immediate effect as the team is expected in Abuja on Sunday September 16 to regroup for the continuation of the preparation for the AWC billed to start in Equatorial Guinea on October 28th through November 11th in Malabo.

    Barrister Green also noted that international friendly matches are being worked out for the Falcons to keep them in good stead for the successful defence of the title won two years ago in South Africa.

    “They are going to resume camp on Sunday this weekend and the programme submitted by coach Kadiri Ikhana has been approved of.

    “We are working on getting some international matches for them but for now I can’t lay my hands on any because discussions are still ongoing with those countries,” he confirmed.

    Falcons are the most successful African country in the competition having lifted 6 of the 7 previous editions including victories in the first five editions of the tourney from 1998 through 2006. They claimed bronze medal in 2008 in Equatorial Guinea before winning their 6th title in 2010 in South Africa.