The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NKWOCHA

  • Nkwocha quits spinsterhood

    Nkwocha quits spinsterhood

    • To wed April 28

    Super Falcons assistant coach, Perpetua Nkwocha has revealed she’ll walk down the aisle on April 28.

    The ex-international, who is set to marry her long time love, Ernest, a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Owerri told SportingLife that the traditional wedding will also come up on the same day.

    “We have fixed both for the same day for convenience sake. The white wedding is first and later the traditional, ” she said.

    Speaking about the big day that should attract big names in the female football family, ”Wedding is a day every lady looks forward to,’ said the shy coach who played her club football in Sweden with Sunama FC.

    The four-time Africa Women’s Footballer, who quit international football after last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, manages second division women side, Clemensnas in Sweden .

    A player with several honours, Nkwocha was the top scorer at the 2004, 2006 and 2010 editions of the Africa Women’s Championship.

    While with the national team, Nkwocha scored 80 goals in 99 appearances.

  • Nkwocha chases Vincent Enyeama!

    Nkwocha chases Vincent Enyeama!

    Super Falcons’ forward Perpetua Nkwocha will win her 101st senior cap for Nigeria if she tastes action in today’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Group D clash with the United States of America in Vancouver.

    This will bring her at par with Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama, who won his 101st cap in the 2-0 defeat of Chad in Saturday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna.

    The elegant striker, who won her first cap for Nigeria in a friendly with Ghana’s Black Queens in Lagos in May 1999, won her 100th cap when she came in for Desire Oparanozie against Australia in Winnipeg on Friday.

    Before the 3-3 draw with Sweden in Winnipeg on Monday, June 8, Nkwocha had been one of only two Nigerians to score at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since Nkechi Egbe netted a famous equalizer against Brazil in the quarter finals of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the United States of America. That match, played in Washington, went to extra time before the Brazilians triumphed.

    The Falcons notably failed to score a single goal at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, also staged by the United States, following the sudden outbreak of SARS epidemic in designated host nation China. Cynthia Uwak scored the Falcons’ only goal at the 2007 FIFA World Cup, in a 1-1 draw with Sweden in Chengdu.

    Nkwocha scored Nigeria’s only goal at the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany four years ago, netting in the 1-0 defeat of Canada in Dresden on July 5, 2011. But the Falcons failed to progress after earlier losing by the same margin to France and host Germany.

    Not only did Nkwocha become Nigeria’s first woman ‘Centurion’ when she came in for Oparanozie against Australia, in a surprise 0-2 defeat, she also became the oldest player in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, at 39 years and 19 days. The previous holder of the record, Meg of Brazil, was 39 years 18 days when she featured at the 1995 finals in Sweden.

    In her meritorious 16-year international career, Nkwocha was also named African Woman Player of the Year on four occasions.

    In Vancouver today, Nkwocha looks to make history with the Super Falcons, at the same BJ Place venue that will host the Women’s World Cup final match on July 5. She will also be hoping to work wonders with the Falcons, not only to accomplish a first –ever defeat of the USA at the Women’s World Cup, but also to sail into the knock –out stage for the first time since 1999, and for only the second time ever.

  • 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.

  • NKWOCHA BOASTS LIONESSES POSE NO THREAT

    NKWOCHA BOASTS LIONESSES POSE NO THREAT

    FOUR-TIME Africa Women’s Player of the Year winner, Perpetua Nkwocha has made it clear that Cameroon will pose no threat to Nigeria.

    The Falcons will start their African Women’s Championship (AWC) title defence on Monday against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in Bata in a Group B game.

    Nkwocha, who has set a 15-goal mark ahead of the 2012 AWC in Equatorial Guinea, said: “I don’t think Cameroon will stop us from achieving our goal in Equatorial Guinea. And Cameroon are no threat to our ambition.”

    The Sunnana SK player also doused insinuation that the Super Falcons of Nigeria are under pressure to defend their title especially as other African teams are closing the gap of dominance on them.

    Nkwocha is certain that the Super Falcons still remain “the best in Africa.”

    She added that the Nigerian squad have learned the hard way having failed to win the AWC in 2008.

    “There is no pressure and there will be no pressure for us. Nigeria have been the best in Africa over the years. We all know ourselves and what we are capable of doing. We can never ever play any team (in Africa) under pressure. We have learnt our lesson (on missing out on winning the AWC in 2008),” said Nkwocha.

    The 36-year-old, who will quit international football after the 2012 edition of the AWC, has won the African title four times in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010.

    Nkwocha is also the most decorated women’s footballer in individual awards having won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2011.