The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Falcons

  • Falcons return to camp on Monday

    Falcons return to camp on Monday

    Interim Coach Chris Danjuma has invited to the camp of the Super Falcons a total of 35 players in preparation for the Women’s Football Tournament of next month’s 11th All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.

    Onome Ebi, Francisca Ordega, Halimat Ayinde, Esther Sunday and Josephine Chukwunonye – who all missed Sunday’s defeat in Equatorial Guinea which meant ouster from the 2016 Olympics race – have been called again, but injured star forward Asisat Oshoala is left out.

    Osinachi Ohale, Ngozi Ebere, Desire Oparanozie, Ngozi Okobi and Evelyn Nwabuoku, who were at the FIFA World Cup in Canada in June, are joined by junior internationals Yetunde Adeboyejo, Chinaza Uchendu and Chinwendu Ihezuo.

    All the players are to report on Monday, August 10 with their international passports and training kits. The Super Falcons will play host Congo-Brazzaville, Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A of the Women’s Football Tournament of the All-Africa Games. Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana and Egypt are in Group B.

    THE FULL LIST

    Namchi Jeriam (Arkansas FC, USA); Onome Ebi (FK Minsk, Belarus); Osinachi Ohale (Rivers Angels); Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit, USA); Kemi Fatuyesi (Confluence Queens); Tochukwu Oluehi (Bayelsa Queens); Kemi Adetunji (Delta Queens); Sandra Chiichii (Bayelsa Queens); Charity John (Rivers Angels); Joy Jegede (Delta Queens); Mariam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons); Halimat Ayinde (Western New York Flash, USA); Ngozi Ebere (Rivers Angels); Onyinyechukwu Okere (Inneh Queens); Esther Sunday (FK Minsk, Belarus); Alaba Adenusi (Adamawa Queens); Charity Uchebe (Capital Queens); Desire Oparanozie (En Avant De Guingamp, France); Josephine Chukwunonye (Washington Spirit, USA); Anam Imo (Ibom Angels); Ngozi Okobi (Washington Spirit, USA); Evelyn Nwabuoku (BIIK Kazygurt, Kazakhstan); Gladys Akpa (Sunshine Queens); Alheri Jummai Ayuba (Adamawa Queens); Lilian Tule (Bayelsa Queens); Amaka Enzor (Taraba Queens); Osarenoma Igbinovia (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars); Yetunde Adeboyejo (Bayelsa Queens); Chinaza Uchendu (Nasarawa Amazons); Gloria Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Sarah Nnodim (Nasarawa Amazons); Mercy Amanze (Rivers Angels); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Delta Queens).

  • Falcons crash out of Rio Olympics

    Falcons crash out of Rio Olympics

    Nigeria will not feature in the women’s football event of the Rio 2016 Olympics after they lost 2-1 to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday in Bata in the second leg qualifier.

    The Equatorial Guineans go through on 3-2 aggregate after playing 1-1 in the first leg a fortnight ago in Abuja.

    Falcons took the lead in Bata on Sunday through Ngozi Okobi in the 12th minute, the host team equalised four minutes from time to drag the game to extra time and win 2-1.

    Reigning African champions also failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London after they were stopped by Cameroon.

  • Falcons train in Bata

    Falcons train in Bata

    The Nigeria senior women’s team arrived in Bata, mainland Equatorial Guinea on Friday morning, and after catching up with some rest, had a light training session at a venue not far from the team hotel.

    Led by NFF Executive Committee members Ibrahim Gusau and Dilichukwu Onyedinma, the delegation arrived in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea’s administrative capital on Thursday night, and slept there before proceeding to Bata on Friday morning.

    “The Equatorial Guinea FA officials have been behaving funny, but we expected that. They have been trying to frustrate our team,” said NFF official Tunde Aderibigbe, who is on the delegation.

    NFF protocol official Barnabas Joro added: “The FA sent only one member of their staff to receive us at the airport in Bata, and since then, we have not seen them.

    “We need information on the match coordination meeting, tickets for members of the Nigeria community here and so on. But they are nowhere to be found. Even when we went to the FA office in Bata on Friday afternoon, the place was locked.

    “It was through our own efforts and that of the staff of the Embassy of Nigeria, who have remained with us, that we were able to get somewhere for the team to train.”

    However, it is expected that the Super Falcons will be allowed to have the official training at the match venue – Stade Nkoatoma de Bata – today by 4pm.

    However, Falcons captain and midfielder, Evelyn Nwabuoku has declared that her side are condemned to win against the Equatorial Guinean opposite, Nzalang Nacional.

    The Nigerian campaigners are already in Bata, Equatorial Guinea for the make or mar 2016 Olympic Games qualifying clash on Sunday.

    Fortnight ago both sides ended their superiority hostilities one goal apiece at the Abuja National Stadium.

    Nwabuoku said her side will not allow the Equatorial Guineans to deny the seven-time African champions the life time opportunity to appear at the multiple global sports showpiece.

    “We are condemned to win in Bata, Equatorial Guinea against the side opposite, Nzalang Nacional.

    “We know it will not be an easy game after both sides battled to a 1-1 draw two-week back in Nigeria we have no choice but to go all out to claim the Olympics spot at their own expense.

    “It will not speak well of our reputation as African champions to miss the Rio Olympics the same sore manner we missed the 2012 London Olympics.

    “We have pushed behind us the psychological trauma that held us down in the first fixture as the reverse clash is almost a life battle we must win.

    “Though we are missing some key members of the team we have resolved to win for them, ourselves and Nigerians.

    “We will not disappoint this time around in Bata, Equatorial Guinea,” said the playmaker of Kazakstan Women Premier League (KWPL) champions, Biik Kazygurt to supersport.com.

    Overall winners of the encounter will automatically claim a spot in the women football tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

  • 2016 Olympics : Stay focused – Glo urges Dream Team, Falcons

    2016 Olympics : Stay focused – Glo urges Dream Team, Falcons

    National telecoms operator, Globacom  has urged the national U-23 team and Super Falcons to make Nigeria proud in their respective assignments as they compete for the tickets to two key international tournaments this weekend. Globacom is   Africa’s biggest corporate supporter of football.

    Dream Team will be in Pointe-Noire to face their Congolese counterparts in the second leg of the final round of the 2016 Olympics African Championship qualifier after defeating their hosts 2-1 in Port-Harcourt on July 19.

    The Falcons also have a mountain to climb in Malabo where they will meet Equatorial Guinea in an Olympics 2016 second round second leg game after the first leg in Abuja on July 18 ended 1-1.

    “We believe that the national U-23 team will sustain the tempo and hold their nerves against the Congolese in Pointe-Noire to win the ticket to the African Championship which will be held in Senegal in December,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.

    “We also believe in the ability of the Super Falcons to turn the table against the Guineans in their true fashion as the reigning African champions,” the statement added.

    “We appreciate the support given to both teams by Nigerians and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in particular.  We enjoin all not to waver at this time when more support is needed.

    “Essentially, we all have to sustain the belief we have in both teams to excel,” Globacom added, while urging the technical crew of both teams to remain focused as they intensify efforts to qualify for the next Olympics.

    “The tasks are surmountable; instances abound in the past and even as recent as last month when the U-23 team overcame Zambia in Lusaka to win the All Africa Games 2015 ticket, the statement concluded.

    Globacom is the major partner of the Nigeria Football Federation and official sponsor of the Nigerian national football teams.

  • Falcons’ Chukwunonye upbeat after US switch

    Falcons’ Chukwunonye upbeat after US switch

    Super Falcons defender Josephine Chukwunonye has expressed her delight at joining the list of Nigerian players abroad after she agreed a deal with US Women’s League team Washington Spirit.

    “I am excited to join the Washington Spirit family; it’s a thing of joy and a dream come true for me,” said Chukwunonye.

    “I love playing with great players like Crystal Dunn, who I faced at the U-20 World Cup in 2012. I am excited to work with coach Parsons because I know he will bring out the best in me.”

    Chukwunonye, 23, has been with Rivers Angels since 2008 and she is the second Nigeria player in the team’s fold, the first being Francisca Ordega.

    The club’s general manager and head coach, Mark Parsons, said he’s delighted to add the defender to his squad.

    “Josephine is a very talented defender with tremendous character,” he remarked. “She brings plenty of defensive qualities,while being very technical and confident with the ball at her feet.”

    Meanwhile, striker Ngozi Okobi, who was the star of the Falcons’ 3-3 draw with Sweden at the Women’s World Cup in Canada, may be the third Nigerian to join Washington Spirit as talks are on going over a possible

  • Falcons will qualify- Nkwocha

    Falcons will qualify- Nkwocha

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria arrived in Vancouver , venue of their last group game against The US yesterday, and veteran striker, Perpetua Nkwocha, said her teammates can still qualify for the second round of the Canada 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    Nkwocha told SportingLife that all hope should not be lost on the Nigerian side.
    The Super Falcons will lock horns with The United States in a must-win match at 1 am (Nigerian time) on Tuesday, in Vancouver.
    A draw with Nigeria in Vancouver coupled with an Australia victory over Sweden could see the United States still finishing second in Group D as against their lead on the table. Nevertheless, expectations are high in the Nigeria camp that star striker, Asisat Oshoala, will put in a professional touch against the Americans, just like she did to torment the Swedish defence in their first match.

  • Okon: Half-time pep talk fired Falcons

    • Australia tie a ‘must-win’ • Coach to plug Falcons’ leaky defence

    Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon has attributed the team’s spirited comeback against Sweden in their 3-3 draw at the FIFA Women’s World Cup to the pep talk he delivered at the interval.

    “I told them that it was not over until it was over. It’s unfortunate that we conceeded those cheap goals, but we will go back and work on them before the next game,” Okon told AfricanFootball.com.

    “We are glad for the result, it’s a good one.”

    He insisted there are no pushovers at the World Cup and that what the players bring to the pitch on match day will decide the outcome of a match.

    “I have said it that there are no small teams in this tournament. Every team here in Canada are good teams. We are not under rating any team, but on every match day it is what happens on the pitch that would decide the game.

    “By the special grace of God, we are done with Sweden match, my girls are fit and ready for every game. In fact, we could decide to change the entire 11 as those on the bench too are ready for matches.”

    He promised to work on the defence before the next game against Australia on Friday.

    “I know we have problem in the defence today (Monday). And we would go back to fix the problems so that the mistakes we made against Sweden won’t be repeated against Australia. Our focus right from now is the game against Australia,” he reassured.

    However, Okon has described the side’s match day 2 clash against Australia in Winnipeg on Friday as a ‘must-win’ match for the Nigerians.

    Okon said the African champions will have to go back to the drawing board after their 3-3 draw against Sweden.

    “We will go back to the drawing board to make sure we correct those mistakes that saw us concede own goals and not being able to defend set-pieces.

    “Our next match against Australia is a must-win match and we are moving forward from there. Nothing is going to stop us,” Okon said to NFF website www.thenff.com.

    Ngozi Okobi, scorer of the Nigeria’s first goal against Sweden and Player of the Match, said she was excited over the individual award.

    Okobi disclosed that beating Sweden was the plan but that the team was happy to have come away with the draw.

    “I am excited about this game because this is my first World Cup goal and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to do this.

    “I was not surprised with our performance because we had planned to win the match against Sweden. The goals they scored were given to them by us, so I think we did well,” said Okobi.

  • Falcons get win bonus for Sweden draw

    Falcons get win bonus for Sweden draw

    Following their superlative comeback against Sweden, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) approved for the Super Falcons to get their full win match bonus.

    The Falcons came from two goals down to pull out a 3-3 draw and shock bookmakers, who had given Sweden this game.

    NFF head of women’s football and chairperson women league, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, revealed to AfricanFootball.com “the girls got full compliment of their bonus”.

    She said: “NFF president Amaju Pinnick surprised the girls after the game when he announced that he had ordered that their full win bonus be paid to them.

    “He even came ahead of the team waiting for them in the hotel and expressed his satisfaction with their performance.

    “And I must tell you that this gesture from the president has propelled the girls. Remember that he had already promised them several other monies.”

  • Falcons is not in group of death – Coach

    Falcons is not in group of death – Coach

    The Super Falcons Coach, Edwin Okon is still optimistic that his team would survive the acclaimed ‘group of death’.

    In an interview with the NationSports in Winnipeg, Okon stated:” We are all here to play good football. My girls are ready, we are not pushovers. The girls have been training here; there is a mixture of young and experienced players in the team. We are African champions and there is no reason not to dominate the world scene.”

    He added; “We are here for a purpose and the purpose must be achieved. We are prepared for them. We are not just pushovers like people want to believe,” he said.

    The Nigeria Super Falcons would play Australia in their next match on.

  • Ordega outshines Oshoala in Falcons’ 9-0 win

    Ordega outshines Oshoala in Falcons’ 9-0 win

    Francisca Ordega smashed a second-half hat-trick to eclipse BBC World Footballer of the Year Asissat Oshoala in a test match World Cup-bound Super Falcons won 9-0.

    Canadian club Woodbridge Ladies went behind as early as the fourth minute through Ngozi Okobi, before Oshoala doubled the lead in the 38th minute.

    Ordega then plundered an eye-catching  treble after the interval with Courtney Dike grabbing a brace.

    Perpetua Nkwocha was also on target for the African champions.

    Coach Edwin Okon said he was more impressed with his team’s performance than the huge score line.

    “It was a very good game today. Though we won by a massive margin, I was very impressed with the team’s coordination in all departments,” he said.

    “This does not mean we won’t still correct a few lapses here and there but I can see the team preparing well for the tournament proper.

    “I’m glad we scored many goals because we need a strong firepower upfront to achieve our dream which is to lift the trophy of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. We will continue to work hard until we achieve this,”

    Nigeria are drawn with USA, Sweden and Australia in the first round of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, which begins on June 6 in Canada.