Tag: SUPER FALCONS

Spectators who will troop into the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja are guaranteed a game for the vintage memory as nine-time African champions Nigeria and reigning champions South Africa clash in a highly explosive and no-holds-barred encounter with the Olympics ticket at stake.

Both countries, with stellar talents in the women’s game, are arguably among the best in the world at the moment, and a terrific advertising of the best of women’s football is at hand as from 5pm Nigeria time.

The Super Falcons were Africa’s best team at last year’s FIFA World Cup, but the Banyana Banyana were not far behind as they also made it to the Round of 16 in Down Under.

To underscore their seriousness about giving the Super Falcons a good fight for the ticket, the delegation of Banyana Banyana to the encounter arrived in Abuja on Sunday, and have been training for the big match since that day.

On Monday, the South African High Commission started active mobilization of South Africans living in Nigeria to come and support the reigning African champions.

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On Wednesday, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi called on residents of Abuja and environs, and even in the neighbouring States, to storm the MKO Abiola Stadium in their thousands to cheer the Falcons to victory.

The above means that a sizable crowd is guaranteed inside Nigeria’s largest football temple on Friday evening.

Coach Randy Waldrum is most likely to stick to his tested-and-trusted World Cup rear-guard, including goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and defenders Michelle Alozie and Osinachi Ohale. In the absence of the injured Oluwatosin Demehin and Ashleigh Plumptre, Alozie could move to left back to give returnee Chidinma Okeke the space on the right, with youngster Shukurat Oladipo likely to pair Osinachi in the centre.

Hard-as-nails Halimatu Ayinde and Christy Ucheibe will spearhead the midfield, with Captain Rasheedat Ajibade and the slippery Deborah Abiodun providing the guile and flamboyance. Uchenna Kanu, Esther Okoronkwo, Jennifer Echegini, Rinsola Babajide, Gift Monday, Asisat Oshoala and the returnee Chiwendu Ihezuo are all options in the attack.

For sure, Coach Desire Ellis also has dependable weapons in her armoury, not least of them the nimble-footed Thembo Kgatlana, as well as Jermain Seoposenwe, both based in Mexico. There’s also the crafty Hildah Magaia, as well as midfielders Linda Motlhalo, Jane Refiloe and Nomvula Kgoale.

 “We want our people to come to the stadium and support us. The Super Falcons do not fear any team. With their support, we will play with total confidence and overcome,” said goalkeeper Nnadozie.

The return leg will take place at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday evening.  

• Nigeria star on life as a professional footballer and cancer researcher

• Michelle Alozie is more than just a football player.

A morning of training with the Houston Dash is often followed by an afternoon spent at the lab, where the Nigerian works as a cancer research technician.

Alozie’s first love was football, but when her boots aren’t laced up she is driven by the desire to help people, working specifically with young children.

 “At the end of the day, it’s a passion,” she told ABC 13. “I’m fighting for this little girl inside of me who has always wanted to play soccer, and has always wanted to be an awesome, cool doctor.”

While the science career is part-time during the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season in in the U.S., she transitions into more full-time research during the off-season.

But for right now, Alozie is relishing in splitting her focus between her first love and her passion project.

Alozie may be known for what she does on the field, but off it she has a Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular Biology from Yale.

Her fascination with the medical industry had initially prompted her to want to go into cardiology; but then came Texas Children’s Hospital.

There, the 26-year-old is able to tap into her passion for helping people.

 “It’s amazing to meet these young kids that I’m helping find a cure for their cancer,” she explained in an interview with FIFA. “It means everything to me.

 “Childhood cancer isn’t something that is researched that much; being able to be part of that research is such a blessing.”

If training ends at 13:00, the Nigerian is quick to head across to the children’s hospital and pick up her research until 17:00, even going in on free weekends.

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With such a commitment to both, finding the right balance is critical.

“I think sometimes I might feel like I’m not doing enough for either soccer or in my research lab.

“At first it was definitely a little bit difficult to balance the two, but I think overall I’m just grateful. It’s two of my passions and what makes it worthwhile is that I just love doing both of them.

 “It is amazing and a blessing to be able to live my passion and my childhood dream.”

She may not have the title of Doctor just yet, but medical school is on the horizon for Alozie when her “bones are brittle”.

 “Hopefully in a few years they can call me Dr Alozie – but now I just need to be Michelle.”

Whether it be on the field or in the lab, Alozie knows exactly where she belongs.

The Nigerian is now a regular starter for club and country, either as a defender or a forward, and was named in the CAF Africa Women’s Best Xi in December 2023. But her sports career hasn’t always been straightforward.

In 2019, Alozie registered for the NWSL draft but was not selected, prompting her to sign a contract with Kazakhstan club BIIK Kazygurt.

Her time there was cut short as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting a return to California after three months.

Then came the chance to trial for the Dash ahead of the 2021 season, signing short-term contracts before being handed a two-year deal in late 2022.

 “I just knew that, regardless of where I go, as long as I believe in myself, as long as I put in the work to differentiate myself in whatever situation or environment that I’m in, then things will happen,” she told Equalizer Soccer. “Just believe in yourself and know your path is your path and it’s fine for it to look different to other people’s.”

Africa’s top-ranked team, Nigeria will host reigning African champions South Africa in the first leg of their Women’s Olympic Football Tournament final qualifying fixture at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, 5th April.

The encounter at Nigeria capital’s magnificent facility will kick off at 4pm, with Algerian referee Ghada Mehat as referee. Mehat’s compatriots Asma Feriel Ouahab and Lamia Atman will be in the roles of assistant referee 1 and fourth official respectively, while Mariem Cheddad from Mauritania will serve as assistant referee 2.

Senegalese Fadouma Dia, a former FIFA referee, will be referee assessor while Ghanaian Chrstine Ziga will serve as commissioner.

Read Also: Paris 2024: Super Falcons  edge Lionesses  to final round

For the return leg scheduled for South Africa (venue to be decided) on Tuesday, 9th April, the Confederation of African Football has appointed Tunisian official Dorsaf Ganouati as referee. She will be assisted by compatriots Houda Afine (assistant referee 1) and Emna Ajbouni (fourth official) with Egyptian Yara Atef Abdelfattah as assistant referee 2.

Agar Mezing from Cameroon will be the referee assessor while Cindy Dludlu from Eswatini will be commissioner.

The Super Falcons saw off the challenge of Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in the penultimate round of the race, with a single goal over the two legs scored by Esther Okoronkwo at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, while Banyana Banyana trounced Tanzania 4-0 over two legs in Dar es Salaam and Nelspruit.

The winner over two legs in early April will join15 other senior women teams from across the globe for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament starting in Paris on 16^th  July.

Nigeria reached the final round of the African qualifying series for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after Esther Okoronkwo’s 15^th  minute goal at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja separated Nigeria and Cameroon in a turgid 180-minute battle over two legs.

After 105 minutes of scoreless action (90 minutes in Douala and 15 minutes in Abuja), the Henan FC of China forward took matters into her own hands. Latching onto the ball from a long thrust out of the defence, Okoronkwo outpaced her markers and got close to the byline before finding captain Rasheedat Ajibade, whose chip was parried by the brilliant goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, only onto the path of the onrushing Okoronkwo who finished with aplomb.

Read Also: Paris 2024: Super Falcons, Cameroon battle to goalless draw in Douala

Jennifer Echegini, whose disallowed goal in Douala on Friday was still subject of controversy among pundits, had blazed over the sticks in the 13th minute, before Okoronkwo’s excellent effort. In the 32nd minute, Cameroon came very close from a corner kick when Menene Meyong got her head to the ball, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie stopped its progress to the far corner.

Ajibade and Okoronkwo had efforts blocked by Bihina, and Cameroon’s Mana Lamine blazed over the bar with two minutes left in the first period.

In the second period, Bihina kept out all efforts by Ajibade, Echegini and substitutes Akudo Ogbonna and Asisat Oshoala. On the hour mark, Cameroon thought they had equalized when Marie Ngah Manga got her head to a cross by the energetic substitute Marie Enganemben, but Nnadozie stretched full length to parry the ball out of danger.

The Lionesses finished with 10 men when the volatile Enganemben pushed Nnadozie during a bizarre rush by Cameroonian players to touch Nnadozie’s net.

Victory sets up a mouth-watering final round fixture between nine-time champions of Africa, Nigeria and reigning African champions South Africa, which will be disputed in April.

Heavyweights Nigeria and Cameroon fought to a 0-0 draw in their 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament third-round, first-leg encounter in Douala on Friday.

The nine-time champions of Africa took the pitch with their usual dash and gloss and forced consecutive throw-ins. Yet, the game would become a ding-dong as time wore on, and in the 27th minute, midfielder Toni Payne wasted a good opportunity to put Nigeria ahead.

Read Also: Paris 2024: Super Falcons off to Douala to confront Indomitable Lionesses

Twelve minutes later, the Indomitable Lionesses caught sight of goal, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, one of the world’s safest pair of hands at the moment, had things covered.

In the second half, the Lionesses stepped up their game as they were urged on by the home crowd at the Stade de la Reunification Douala. Yet, it was Nigeria that had the ball in the net five minutes into the second half, only for Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabbada to rule Jennifer Echegini off-side.

In another match in the penultimate round of the African qualifying series, reigning continental champions South Africa trounced Tanzania’s senior girls 3-0 in Dar es Salaam, with goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe, captain Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia. The winner on aggregate of the Nigeria/Cameroon fixture will most likely have to duel with the African champions for a place in Paris.

Both the Super Falcons and the Indomitable Lionesses clash in the second leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Monday evening.

Nine-time African champions Nigeria will fly to Cameroon’s industrial and economic capital, Douala on Wednesday night as they continue the search for a ticket to another appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years.

The Super Falcons last participated at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in China in 2008, when they lost by the odd goal to both Democratic Republic of Korea and Germany in Shenyang, and 1-3 to Brazil in Beijing to crash out at group stage.

The route to London 2012 was blocked by Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, who won a penalty shoot-out in Yaounde after both teams finished the two legs in a stalemate. Equatorial Guinea made the journey to Rio 2016 impossible and Cote d’Ivoire bumped the Falcons in the race to a place in Tokyo.

After eliminating Ethiopia in the second round of the series, the Super Falcons must now cross the Cameroonian hurdle to reach the final round of the African qualification series, and throw down the gauntlet to whichever opposition appears at that stage in two months’ time.

Read Also: Ex-Super Falcons’  coach Izilein dies at 81

The first leg encounter will take place at the Stade de la Reunification in Douala on Friday evening, with Ugandan official Shamirah Nabadda as referee. Her compatriots Lydia Nantabo, Jane Mutonyi and Diana Murungi will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Khadija Rezzag from Morocco will be the referee assessor while Lukusa Kanjinga from Democratic Republic of Congo will be the commissioner.    

Coach Randy Waldrum has selected 21 players, who will all be on the trip to Douala, and then fly down to Abuja on Sunday morning for the return leg against the Lionesses, which will hold at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Monday evening.

Waldrum and his assistants will lead the full squad on a training session at the main bowl of MKO Abiola National Stadium this evening before the delegation’s departure to Douala. The team will have the official training at the Stade de la Reunification in Douala on Thursday evening.

By Julius Okorie

Former Super Falcons and Golden Eaglets coach Godwin Izilein is dead.

He reportedly  died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) yesterday ( February 7) at the age of 81.

Aside from national team jobs,  late Izilein in the course of his coaching career handled  a string  of domestic clubs  including  New Nigerian Bank, Sharks Fc ,Dolphins and  Bendel Insurance respectively.

Izilein who took to sports Consultancy after his coaching career, had his early education at Annunciation Catholic College Irrua, Esan Centre LGA, Edo State, Nigeria. He subsequently studied at sports school, Sportschule Hennef and DHfK Deutsche Hochschule für Körperkultur all in Germany.

He is regarded as one of the country’s best indigenous coaches having  guided the Super Falcons to their sixth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations glory in South Africa in 2004 amid  controversies.

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After their continental triumph in South Africa, protesting Falcons players insisted on getting their camp allowances and winning bonuses in Johannesburg before the trip back home, but angry federation officials believed the girls were instigated by Izilein.

The then Ibrahim Galadima-led Nigeria Football Association board refused to pay Izilein his entitlements $12,000 after the protest, with successive boards also reneging on payment 20 years after, until his demise.

Pix- Rivers Commissioner Green withN orrie Williamson,the  road calibrator