The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Falcons

  • Falcons upbeat ahead World Cup

    Falcons upbeat ahead World Cup

    Super Falcons are in high hopes ahead of the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada from June 06 – July 05.

    Falcons landed in Toronto after five-hour transit of the Charles de Gaulle airport for connecting flight to their training tour venue.

    The nation’s campaigners were welcomed upon arrival in Toronto by Nigeria Deputy High Commissioner, Charles Onianwa who charged the reigning African champions to make the nation proud.

    “I must first and foremost welcome you to Canada because the tournament we are all looking forward to is a very important one.

    “Last year, the Falconets did us proud here and now we have the Super Falcons, so expectations are high and we have no doubt that you are going to clinch the cup,” said Onianwa.

    Falcons head coach, Edwin Okon said the side’s arrival heralds the coming of the champions.

    “Our arrival is that of champions. We are ready and I look forward to the finals and getting the cup here in Canada,” said Okon.

    Team captain, Evelyn Nwabuoku and Francisca Ordega who were already in Toronto received their teammates at the Novotel Hotel lodge. The team is expected to commence training on Thursday.

    The African champions will campaign in Group D together with former champions, USA, Sweden and Australia.

  • FIFA WOMEN’s WORLD CUP NFF to splash N59.4m on Falcons

    FIFA WOMEN’s WORLD CUP NFF to splash N59.4m on Falcons

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has assured players and officials of the Super Falcons of the Federation’s committment to provide all their needs that will make them excel at the FIFA Women’s World Cup which gets underway in Canada next month.

    Amaju gave the assurance on Wednesday evening during the team’s training session at the FIFA goal project inside the Abuja National Stadium.

    He said that the team would be paid $300,000 if they reach the finals of the tournament.

    Quoting his words, the former Delta State FA Chairman said: “You will get $50,000 if you qualify for the quarter finals, $100,000 for semi finals, and $150,000 for playing in the finals.”

    He said that the NFF has arranged quality friendly matches for the team in Canada for their training tour.

  • Falcons suffer World Cup setback

    Falcons suffer World Cup setback

    The Super Falcons suffered a setback ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, as they lost 2-0  to an Under-23 side, Dikko Football Club in a tune up game played at the FIFA Goal Project Pitch, in Abuja.

    The Falcons began the game brightly by piling pressure on the physically advantaged Dikko FC but the likes of Ngozi Okobi and her teammates fluffed several scoring chances.

    Dikko FC took control of the game and went into the lead in the 35th minute from a counter attack. Dikko went further ahead in the 40th minute when goalkeeper Whyte Ibubeleye could not clear her line properly.

    The second half saw the Falcons coming close to reducing the tally but ageless striker Perpetual Nkwocha failed to connect a floater while substitute goalkeeper Precious Dede’s heroics ensured that the Dikko boys did not score more goals.

    Reacting after the match, Super Falcons Chief Coach Edwin Okon expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance adding that it was not about winning but about seeing the girls apply what they learnt in training.

    “They scored their two goals because our girls made some mistakes. We have taken note of the mistakes and we shall correct them,” he explained.

  • Olympic qualifier: CAF moves Falcons, Mali match by a week

    Olympic qualifier: CAF moves Falcons, Mali match by a week

    Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has moved forward by a week the return leg of the Olympic qualifier between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Mali due to the former’s World Cup training tour.

    The match will now be played on May 15 in Bamako as against May 23. The first leg comes up on May 9 in Abuja.

    SportingLife understands that CAF and the Malian FA accepted Nigeria’s request which was communicated in writing to enable the team travel on May 19 to Canada.

    “Going by our travelling plans, the team should be in Canada by May 20 to commence preparations for the second and final phase of training ahead the World Cup,” an NFF official said.

    It is however not clear whether the team will depart from Bamako to Canada or return to Nigeria.

    “That l cannot say,” the official said.

    While in Canada, Falcons will play New Zealand and Canada in friendly matches.

    Nigeria are drawn with the United States of America (USA), Sweden and Australia in the first round of the 2015 World Cup, which kicks off on June 6.

    The reigning Africa champions kick-start their campaign against Sweden on June 8.

  • Anyansi-Agwu revels in Dream Team, Falcons’ feats

    Anyansi-Agwu revels in Dream Team, Falcons’ feats

    Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu has expressed joy in the achievements of the U-23 National Team and the Senior Women’s Team, as both sides qualified for the football event of this year’s All-Africa Games (AAG).

    Siasia’s U-23 boys edged Zambia 2-1 in Lusaka on Sunday to qualify for the Men’s Football Tournament of the Games on a 2-1 aggregate, two days after the Super Falcons had whipped their counterparts from Mali 8-0 in Abuja to reach the women’s event on 9-1 aggregate.

    The ranking member of the NFF Executive Committee was delighted as both teams returned to the football events of the continental Games, from which they were missing four years ago.

    “You will remember very well that four years ago, none of the two teams made it to the All-Africa Games held in Mozambique. Their qualification this time, coming within two days of each other, speaks volumes. This is also a sign of the good and great things coming very soon to Nigeria football.

    “I want to put these feats down to the exceptional leadership style of the NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who has continuously harped on the need to build sustainable football culture as well as earn good results on the international front, and has been leading us all to work assiduously in that direction.”

    Anyansi-Agwu, who has steered the ship of Aba giants, Enyimba FC for the past 15 years, during which the team has won scores of trophies including two CAF Champions League titles, called on Nigerians to be patient with the NFF Board and Management and witness more glorious feats by the various National Teams.

    “This year alone, our U-20 boys have won the African title and qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup; the U-17 boys have won a ticket to go to the FIFA World Cup and defend their title and; the U-23 and Senior Women Team have qualified for the All-Africa Games. I want to call on our ball fans to be patient with this new administration and there will be more glorious accomplishments.

    “We are doing well on and off the field. I want to assure that even the Super Eagles will soon begin to do very well, going by the plans we are putting in place. Also, our people will soon begin to see the benefits and value of the various educational programmes that the NFF President, with the approval of the Board, is driving with so much passion and purpose.”

  • NFF shops for psychologist for Falcons

    NFF shops for psychologist for Falcons

    After playing a 1-1 draw with the women national team of Mali in an All Africa Games (AAG) qualifier last Saturday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is considering hiring a psychologist for the Super Falcons.

    SportingLife gathered that those clamouring for one believe it would enhance the performance of the players at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup beginning in June after a second round target has been given to the team.

    “There is a need for a psychologist to help the players from the foregoing. We have heard of stories of athletes that were able to reach the peak of their respective careers through the help of a psychologist which is what we want for the girls,” an NFF source said.

    But they are silent on the sexual status of the psychologist. “We think a female is suitable because it is a female team, but, other board members are of the view that a male psychologist can also do the job,” said the source.

    Our source, however, declined to mention the challenges affecting the team that they have spotted.

    “I would not want to disclose them, it will be left for the psychologist to handle. These are the issues we have identified from our personal investigation, but certainly when the psychologist comes, more would be discovered,” said the source.

    In 2011 prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the NFF hired a German technical assistant for the Falcons. Unfortunately the team did not go beyond the preliminary stage as it could only win a match after losing two.

    The team is expected to resume for training on Tuesday after a four-day break due to the Nigerian presidential election holding today.

  • Crisis in Falcons’ camp: Coach Okon threatens to dump team

    Crisis in Falcons’ camp: Coach Okon threatens to dump team

    Super Falcons’ Head Coach Edwin Okon has threatened to dump the team if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) refuses to accord him the respect  given to other senior national team coaches.

    In furtherance of his threat, the coach at the weekend prevented a NFF delegation from addressing the team during one of its training sessions.

    It was gathered that Okon’s displeasure started when he submitted his initial Falcons’ team list of 35 players to the NFF. But the NFF increased the number to 36 by including a goal keeper that excelled during the last Women Federation Cup in Lagos.

    This did not go down well with the coach and he voiced his displeasure over the inclusion of the player.

    To make matters worse, the NFF dropped one of Okon’s backroom staff for insubordination and undermining the authority of the federation.

    Okon was said to have not taken that decision lightly, and he questioned why a decision to drop his backroom staff would be taken without his consent. He was quoted as saying that the NFF should know that he is a senior team coach, and should be treated as such. He threatened to dump the team if the NFF refused to respect him as a such.

    As a way of driving home his displeasure, the Rivers Angels gaffer refused the NFF delegation led by Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma, an executive board member and Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, the opportunity to address the players in one of their training sessions on Friday.

    The delegation had arrived at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja National Stadium  training venue of team at about 3.30pm, but waited till 5.15pm, with the coach insisting that no one would be allowed access to the team until he must have rounded up the training.

    Okon’s attitude drew the irk of the fans and journalists who were covering the training, because he directed the delegation to walk round the pitch to the extreme end  where he was seated to meet him, and discuss whatever they wanted to tell the girls

    The coach, however, called off the training at 5.20pm , five minutes after the delegation had angrily left. Nevertheless, Onyedinma still went ahead to donate N100,000 to the girls for their refreshment before leaving.

  • Mali can’t stop Falcons’ AAG race

    Mali can’t stop Falcons’ AAG race

    Super Falcons captain and  defensive midfielder Evelyn Nwabuoku is optimistic that her side will overcome Mali to book their All Africa and Olympic Games tickets.

    The African champions will be the guests of Mali on Sunday, March 22, in Bamako for a place at the 11th All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

    Nwabuoku said her side want to qualify for the championships to erase the ugly memories of their absence from the immediate past games.

    “Mali can’t stop us from going to the All-Africa Games as well as the Olympics no matter how hard they fight.

    “Of course, none of us wants to remember the fact that we didn’t qualify for the last All-Africa Games and Olympics. It was a sad occurrence in our history that nobody wants to repeat.

    “Mali are actually a good side, I remember clearly that we encountered the side in 2010 and they gave us hell, but we eventually defeated them.

    “We’re not going to underrate the Malians nor any other side at any stage of the competition.

    “We just commenced training for the match against Mali in Bamako, team spirit is quite high as everybody is responding very well and eagerly looking forward to the clash,” said the captain of Nigeria Professional Football League (NWPL) side, Rivers Angels to supersport.com.

    The decisive fixture will be held in Nigeria with the aggregate winners going ahead to cement a spot at the quadrennial multiple sports fiesta.

    The reigning African champions will also contest with Mali the ticket for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

  • Falcons will prove a point at World Cup – Oshoala

    Falcons will prove a point at World Cup – Oshoala

    Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala has declared Nigeria will prove a point at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada next year.

    Falcons will be making their seventh appearance at the World Cup in Canada, which is scheduled from June 6 to July 5.

    “We can’t go to the World Cup to merely add to the numbers, but we’re going there to participate and to prove a point,” said Oshoala, who is widely tipped to be crowned Africa’s best female star for the outgoing year after an eventful season.

    “I can’t say right away how far we’ll go at the World Cup, but I’m positive we won’t disappoint Nigerians when hostilities start in Canada.

    “We have quality and experienced players who can turn things around.”

    Nigeria will battle USA, Sweden and Australia in the first round of the World Cup in Canada.

    The country’s best performance at this competition was at USA 1999, when, after finishing second in their group, they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Brazil via a golden goal scored by Sisi with Judith Chime in goal.

  • Treat us like Eagles -Falcons beg Jonathan

    Treat us like Eagles -Falcons beg Jonathan

    Super Falcons players have sent a passionate pleas to President Goodluck Jonathan to honour them like he did to the Super Eagles when the Eagles emerged winner of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Eagles enjoyed great financial and moral support from the Federal Government and the private sector while giant companies like Globacom, Dangote firms splashed millions of dollars on the team and their officials.

    The Falcons are yet to be hosted officially by President Jonathan while the reception was postponed but the players and their officials had received the golden handshake from the President at the Federal Executive Council Meeting shortly after they came back from Namibia where they won the 2014 AWC.

    “It seems that government has no further plans for us after the handshake with President Jonathan,” a key player of the squad said. “We have been dumped because we are women and as if the title we won is not as important as the AFCON won by the Super Eagles.”

    “It is not good that after over one month of our winning the AWC title in Namibia, and after the handshake with President Goodluck Jonathan, nothing is being done about rewarding our feat like they did when the Super Eagles won the AFCON trophy in South Africa,” the players said.

    The players who are senior members of the Falcons said that they have been abandoned simply because they are women adding that they deserve to be hosted and showered with gifts like government did to Super Eagles.

    “It is demoralizing that almost two months after we won the cup, government has yet to appreciate and encourage us after the sports minister had assured us that President Jonathan will reward us handsomely if we win the AWC trophy.

    “When Super Eagles won the AFCON, they were showered with cash, land gifts as well as national honour by federal, states government and corporate firms but in our own case, we were only appreciated by TAN. It is not fair that we are being treated and we are appealing to governments to do to us what they did to the men,” they stressed.