The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Falconets

  • France 2018: Super Falconets bow out of FIFA World Cup

    •   Spain reach semis with 2-1 victory

    Super Falconets could not make it beyond the quarter-finals of FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (France 2018) as Spain defeated the Nigerians to reach the semi-finals for the first time.

    Though Falconets fought hard and had a goal but could not overhaul the edge of the Sapinish team as after first-half goals from Aitana Bonmati and Patri Guijarro gave La Rojita a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

    On an overcast afternoon at the Stade Guy-Piriou in Concarneau, it was Spain that made their early advantage count by breaking the deadlock before the quarter-hour mark through captain Bonmati. Her fine left-footed shot from the edge of the Nigeria box gave goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie little chance of preventing them falling behind.

    Bonmati nearly had a second with a free-kick that struck the underside of the Nigerian crossbar and bounced away to safety, while Eva Navarro forced a point blank save from Nnadozie moments later.

    Spain eventually doubled their lead before the break, with Guijarro scoring her fifth goal of France 2018 after getting on the end of Maite Oroz’s free-kick into the West African side’s box and scoring from close range.

    Having struggled to create much in the first half, the Super Falconets responded with a goal just before the hour mark. Peace Efih’s forward run saw her pick out Rasheedat Ajibabe on the left. Her low shot forced a diving Catalina Coll to direct the ball into the path of an unmarked Efih, who duly converted into an empty Spanish goal.

    Though they halved their deficit, Nigeria were unable to find an equaliser, as Spain saw out the remainder of the contest to reach the last four of this competition for the first time.

  • World Cup: Go for gold, StarTimes urges Falconet

    As the FIFA under 20 Women’s World Cup kicks off on the 5th of August, Official broadcast partner of the completion, StarTimes Nigeria has urged the Super Falconets to do the country proud by bringing the cup home.

    The biannual tournament will last until 24th of August, as 16 teams battle for glory. The Falconets are scheduled against Germany at the Stade de Marville in Saint-Malo on Monday, 6th August. Recall that the German team edged Nigeria to lift the trophy the two times Nigeria got to the championship final in 2010 in Germany and 2014 in Canada.

    According to Startimes, all 32 matches will be brought to Nigerians live and in HD on StarTimes World Football and Sports focus for the entertainment of its subscribers across Africa.

    In a goodwill message to the Falconets who are also Two-time runners-up in the previous competition, StarTimes urged the team to do Nigeria proud by bringing home the cup.

    Non-subscribers are not left out as all the matches can be watched live and in HD on StarTimes mobile App, which can be downloaded from the Android and iOS app store with over 2 million downloads since it became available in Nigeria.

    Nigeria’s Group D opponents Haiti will be taking part in their first ever FIFA women’s tournament. The other African flag bearers, Ghana were grouped with hosts France, New Zealand and The Netherlands in Group A.

    Ghana will go up against hosts France in the tournaments opening match in Vannes on Sunday, 5th August. Concarneau is the other city that host matches during the championship.

    Group B is has Korea DPR heading the group alongside England, Mexico and Brazil as group members, while USA, Japan, Paraguay and Spain will battle it out in Group C.

  • 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup : Falconets set to redeem Nigeria’s image

    2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup : Falconets set to redeem Nigeria’s image

     

     

    The Super Falconets have vowed to redeem the country’s image in their Group B match against Canada on Wednesday at the Beva Park Port Moresby after they were pummeled 6-0 in their opening game against Japan on Sunday. 

    In a chat with the NationSport, the media officer of the team, Monica Iheakam said the girls had shaken off the grief of their defeat and were ready for the matches ahead of them.

    She said: “The defeat was indeed an emotional one for all of us. But we have moved on. The focus is now on Wednesday’s match against Canada and the girls have vowed to fight like wounded lions to redeem Nigeria’s image”

    Iheakam revealed that Coach Dedevbo Peter had urged the girls to fight to the end.

    She said: “The coach told the players that it is not over yet. He told them to shake off the grief because some cried. And good enough, they have snapped out of it. In fact, the female officials led by the team secretary, Dupe Shabi had to go to their rooms’ one after the other to talk to them.”

    Also, Falconets defender, Glory Ogbonna has vowed that the team would fight on and revive their World Cup hopes as well as redeem Nigeria’s image in Papua Guinea.

    Ogbonna said: “As a team, we have accepted the fact that we started badly against Japan, but it doesn’t mean that we have given up because all hope is not lost.  I believe that Sunday’s defeat was a wake-up call for us. If we had won or drawn that game, apparently the whole team would feel that we have arrived. Canada is a must-win for us and it is not negotiable.

    Coach Dedevbo said: “This is the time for us to fight till the end of the competition it would be fool-hardy for us to start feeling sorry for ourselves because it will affect our focus for the remaining games in the tournament.”

  • Nigeria unveils AWC squad

    Nigeria unveils AWC squad

    The Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon, has announced his final squad of 21 players for the African Women Championship slated to hold from October 11-25 in Namibia

    Six foreign-based and 15 home-based players made the final Super Falcons’ list for the eight nations’ competition in the Southern African nation, Goal reports.

    The squad is composed of three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and six strikers.

    As expected, France-based Desire Oparanozie topped the list of six foreign based stars that also include veteran Perpetua Nkwocha, Onome Ebi, Ohale Osinachi, Esther Sunday and Francesca Ordega.

    Skipper Evelyn Nwabuoku and 2014 FIFA U-20 Women World Cup best player, Asisat Oshoala led the league of home-based players that scaled through.

    Others are – Ngozi Ebere, Ugo Njoku, Josephine Chukwunonye, Gloria Ofoegbu, Nku Cecilia, Halimat Ayinde, Onyinyechi Ohadugha and Christy Ohiariaku.

    However, the nine dropped players include Sarah Nnodim, Uchechi Sunday, Ihezuo Chiwendu, Loveth Ayila, Rosemary Okezie, Blessing Edoho, Mariam Ibrahim, Charity John and Juliet Obi.

    Nigeria plays in group A alongside Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia and hosts Namibia.

     

    Full list:

    Goalkeepers – Precious Dede (Ibom Angels), Ibubeleye White (Rivers Angels), Christy Ohieriaku (Osun Babes)

    Defenders – Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash, United States), Josephine Chukwunonye (Rivers Angels), Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels), Onome Ebi ( FK Minsk, Belarus), Ngozi Ebere (Rivers Angels), Ugo Njoku (Rivers Angels)

    Midfielders – Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels), Onyinyechi Ohadugha (Rivers Angels), Gloria Iroka (Rivers Angels), Cecilia Nku (Rivers Angels), Ayinde Halimat (Delta Queens), Ngozi Okobi (Delta Queens)

    Forwards – Desire Oparanozie (En-Avent Guingamp, France), Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunana SK, Sweden), Esther Sunday (FK Minsk, Belarus), Asisat Oshoala (Rivers Angels), Stella Mbachu (Rivers Angels), Francisca Ordega (Pitea IFF, Sweden)

  • Falcons defeat Cameroon in AWC clash

    Falcons defeat Cameroon in AWC clash

    A late Perpetua Nwkocha goal on Monday ensured Nigeria’s Super Falcons avenged the 2012 Olympics qualifiers defeat to Cameroon.

    The Nigerian girls defeated their Cameroonian counterparts 2-1 in one of the matches of this year’s African Women Championship in Equatorial Guinea.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the water-logged pitch adversely affected the standard of play and denied both sides a chance to play a free-flowing game and express themselves.

    The Nigerians started the game on an impressive note as they dominated the first stanza and deservely took the lead at the tail end of the first half when Onyinyechi Ohagugha fired a canon from 20 yards.

    The Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon fought back on resumption, but it was the Nigerians who would have doubled the lead in 49th minute when Stella Mbachu’s 19-yard shot hit the crossbar.

    Cameroon then drew level via a 53rd minute penalty converted by skipper Patience Mani after a Nigerian defender committed an infringement inside the box.

    They then dominated the better part of second half and would have taken the lead when Louni fired wide in front of an open net after Precious Dede in goal for Nigeria spilled the ball.

    Substitute Ngozi Okobi brought life to Nigeria attack and her pullout found the durable Perpetua Nkwocha at far post to connect home with a diving header in the 90th minute to seal a hard-earned victory for the African champions.

    In Sunday’s opening game, hosts Equatorial Guinea pipped South Africa 1-0.