The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SUPER FALCONS

  • Nigerians want only victories from you Minister charges Falcons

     

    Super Falcons have been told to settle for only victories in their remaining qualifiers leading to the 2020 Olympics,  as that is the only news Nigerians expect to hear.

    Sports minister Sunday Dare who gave the charge opined that it is the business of the girls to do their job on the pitch, promising that government on its part will ensure their welfare.

    The Minister who visited the girls at their Abuja Stadium training camp on Tuesday, had only few days ago waded into the sudden disappearance of the team’s coach Thomas Dernneby who is being suspected to have dumped the job.

    “This morning I visited the super falcons during their training at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja. I gave inspiring words and assured them that the government will ensure their welfare. I told them Nigerians will expect only victories in their remaining qualifiers,” the minister revealed Tuesday.

    How About this : Falcons player in leg walk with the minister

    Falcons will in continuation of their 2020 Olympic Qualifiers take on their Ivorian counterparts September 30th with the return leg billed for Lagos October 4th.

    The Super Falcons who got a bye in the first round of the Olympic qualifiers edged out Algerian ladies 3-0 in the second round to earn a place in the third round.

    Should the Falcons succeed in disarming Cote d Ivoire in the forth-coming two legged third round, they will face either DR Congo or Cameroon in the fourth round.

  • 2020 Olympics: Falcons get N65, 000 for Algeria victory in Lagos

     

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons who beat Algeria home and away to zoom into the next round of the 2020 Olympic qualifiers have received their allowances and bonuses.

    The Nation  gathered that the players received N65, 000 each for the home victory against Algeria at the Agege Township Stadium last Tuesday, representing N50, 000 bonus, and N15, 000 for transport.

    The bonus and transport fare were transferred straight into the players’ bank accounts.

    The players we further gathered received $500 (about N181, 500) each for the away victory against Algeria in the first leg. Payments of bonuses and allowances have in recent past been the subject of controversy forcing players to sometimes protest before getting paid.

    Ngozi Ebere in action against Algeria  photo Bola Omilabu

    In continuation of their quest for the tickets to the Olympics, the Falcons will next engage Ivory Coast in another two-legged encounter with the first leg billed for Yamoussoukro September 30 while the return leg is scheduled for October 4 in Lagos.

    Other teams involved in the two-legged encounters include Zambia against Botswana, Cameroon against DR Congo, and Ghana against Kenya respectively.

  • Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Falcons pip Algeria zoom into next round

     

    Super Falcons Tuesday at the Agege Township Stadium piped Algerian ladies 1-0 to zoom into the next round of Olympic 2020 qualifiers.

    Falcons who had earlier beaten their Algerian counterparts 2-0 in Algiers, completed the two legged defeat of their opponents on Tuesday.

    Captain of the team and Barcelona forward, Asisat Oshoala scored the only goal of the match just before regulation time

    Francisca Ordega missed a chance to increase the goal tally in the 10th minute after heading straight to the Algerian goalkeeper at close range.

    The tie was not a walk in the park for the Falcons as the Algerians put up a good fight with intent to avoiding a second defeat especially after the 2-0 loss in front of their home fans. Nigeria will face either Mali or Cote d’l voire in the next round.

    Algeria ladies lost by a lone goal to Falcons Tuesday

    Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby who was happy to earn the  slim victory revealed that the players have been granted 10 days rest and will reconvene for the next round  when they are likely to face Cote d Ivoire

    In a swift reaction Minister of sports Sunday Dare hailed the team for sealing their move to the next round noting that they have by the feat re-confirmed that the remain the team to beat in Africa.

    “The Super Falcons just defeated the Algerian female team 1:0 in the Olympic qualifier at the Agege stadium in Lagos this evening.  Again the super falcons have stamped their superiority over female soccer on the continent. Congratulations Super Falcons Nigerians are proud of you” he dished out on social media.

  • Falconets break African Games ‘final jinx

    NIGERIA has ended the 12-year wait for a spot in the final of the African Games after thrashing Algeria 3-0 in the semi-final in Morocco on Monday.

    The West Africans won the competition twice but had failed to reach the final stage since 2007, when they last won in Algiers. Having advanced to the semi-final for the third time in four attempts, the Nigerians were hoping to subdue the Desert Foxes to boost their chance to reclaim the glory on North African soil.

    After the restart, Christopher Danjuma’s side failed to impose their dominance over Naima Laouadi’s team until substitute Zainab Olapade added a third in additional time to wrap up the victory.

    The result also means Danjuma, on his birthday, has led the nation to the final for the first time on the second attempt, after he failed to achieve the feat in Brazzaville four years ago.

    Nigeria will take on the winner between Cameroun and host Morocco in the final at the Boubker Aamar Stadium on August 29.

  • Ex-Super Falcons striker Ifeanyi Chiejine dies at 36

     

    Former Super Falcons striker and maiden Captain of the female under 19 team (The Falconets)  Ifeanyi Stephanie Chiejine is dead.

    The 36 year old was   said to have died at about 10pm on Wednesday night after a brief Illness.

    She made history in 1999 when she became the youngest player ever to play at the Women’s World cup.  The Super Falcons incidentally made it all the way to the Quarterfinals in the United States in that edition, the highest level they have reached so far in the tournament which made its debut in 1999.

    Nigeria Football Federation in a statement released on its official website described the demise of the former Conference Queens of Lokoja ace as shocking and regrettable.

    “We are sad to announce the sudden demise of former @NGSuper_Falcons player Ifeanyichukwu Chiejine who passed on after a brief illness on Wednesday, 21st August 2019. Ifeanyi captained the first set of the U19 National Women’s team to the first U19 (Now U20) @FIFAWWC in 2002” said the NFF.

    Aside from featuring in three World Cups 1999, 2003 and 2007 Chiejine also featured in the 2000 and 2008 Olympics and scored 15 goals for Nigeria in over 61 appearances.

    Late Chiejine dribbles past defenders while in action for Super Falcons

    Chiejine also had good dose of club football staring for SSVSM-Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstani, FC Indiana in USA’s W-League, KMF Kuopio and PK-35 Vantaa in Finland and Zvezda Perm in Russia respectively.

    Soccer fans have since taken to the various social media platforms to pray for the repose of the soul of the departed noting that she indeed contributed in no small measure to the development of female football in the country.

  • BREAKING: Maureen Madu dropped from Super Falcons coaching crew

     

    Super Falcons Assistant Coach Maureen Madu has been dropped from the team’s technical crew.

    The Nation  gathered that the former international was dropped alongside other local coaches that have been sharing the heat of the team with head coach Thomas Derneby.

    The dropped coaches we further gathered had to go as the contract they signed did not extend beyond the World Cup in France where Nigeria crashed out in the group of 16.

    Madu has been replaced by Wemimo Oni who is currently with the Falconets and will join the senior national team on her return from the Africa Games in Morocco where Falconets have been pitched against South Africa, Cameroon and Zambia in Group B.

    The African Games formerly called the All-African Games will hold from August 16-30 in Moroccan cities of Rabat, Cassablanca, ElJadida and Khemisset.

    Nigeria will be competing in 23 sports at the Games. At the 2015 edition in Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria featured in 21 events and finished in the top five with 47 Gold, 55 Silver and 42 Bronze.

    Super Falcons in action against Bayana Bayana

    There were calls in certain quarters for the Super Falcons head coach Thomas Derneby to be shown the door with many insisting that the Swede has not made any input into the team hence the poor show in France.

    The Nigeria football Federation (NFF) have however chosen to allow him continue just like his Super Eagles counterpart Gernot Rohr has been told to continue his job despite submissions in some quarters that the performance of the team at the last Nations cup in Egypt  where the Eagles clinched the third place, was below par.

  • Falcons finally crash out of France 2019 lose to Germany 3-0

    After what could pass for one extra day extended stay in France, Super Falcons finally crashed out of the ongoing FIFA women’s world cup in France losing to Germany 3-0 in the round of 16 in Grenoble.

    The team went two goals down in the first 45 minutes after conceding in the 20th and 27th minutes respectively. While Alexandra Popp shot the Germans into the lead in the 20th minute after an assist from Lina Magull, the second goal was dividend of penalty thanks to 24 year old Sara Däbritz.

    The Germans apparently not satisfied with the 2-0 lead grabbed a third goal in the 82nd minute thanks to Lea Schüller.

    Although the Nigerian team fought hard in their quest to remedy the situation, it was not to be as the German Girls refused to soft pedal holding jealously to their 3-0 lead till the final whistle.

    The Thomas Dernneby tutored side who ordinarily should have left France after the controversial lone goal defeat by France in the last group match,  were given the benefit of staying behind by the best third place finisher’s rule which made provision for four best third place finishers to join the 12 teams that played their  way straight into  the round of 16.

    Chile’s inability to seal the last position against Thailand laid the red carpet for Falcons into the round of 16.

    But the red carpet was finally pulled off on Saturday, thus sealing the team’s exit. Perhaps the only achievement made in this tournament by the team is that they have managed to go one step above the group stage in 20 years.

    The best achievement the team has made remains the 1999 edition in USA where they made it to the quarterfinals.

     

     

     

  • Different Strokes! What has penalty got to do with it?

     

    Remember what’s love got to do with it by Tina Turner?

    Well in case you have forgotten, What’s Love Got to do with it is the eight solo studio album by American-born Swiss singer, songwriter, and actress, Tina Turner. It was released on Parlophone in 1993. It was the soundtrack album for the 1993 Tina Turner biographical film of the same name, which was released by Touchstone Pictures the same year.

    After the final whistle in the Final group F match between Chile and Thailand at the ongoing FIFA Women’s world Cup in France, what came to my mind was “What’s penalty Got to do with it?

    And the answer would be penalty indeed has got a lot to do with it.  It could determine exit and qualification; it would determine staying behind and going home in a tournament.  It could determine whether to re-schedule your flight ticket or leave it as originally booked. It could determine whether to extend hotel reservation or cancel part of it.

    It could be a source of jubilation for one team and source of lamentation for another.  Such was the situation on Thursday.

    Chile needed three goals against Thailand to progress to the round of 16 as one of the third best placed teams.  The hard fighting team succeeded in scoring two goals and needed just one more to seal their round of 16 ticket but alas a penalty miss put paid to that ambition and handed Super Falcons who had been waiting under the canopy of permutations the ticket, some say on a platter.

    It was indeed bad day for Chile’s Francisca Lara. A very impressive player indeed but who on this occasion failed to convert the penalty that meant the whole world to her country men and women.

    That is football for you and such is the ugly side of penalty, an inevitable determinant of men’ fate. What a way to go and what a way to advance!

    The result has forced Chile and Nigeria on this occasion to return to the drawing board.  For Chile, to plan for the next edition and for Nigeria to review pattern of play employed in the last three group games with a view to identifying how best to approach this ‘special qualification’ for the group of 16 and how best to

    handle group of 16 opponents Germany at the Stade des Alpes.

    Can the Falcons convert second chance into a miracle?

    All eyes on Match 38, at the Stade des Alpes, Grenoble Saturday 16:30!

     

     

     

  • Rejuvenated Falcons renew hope in 2-0 defeat of Korea Republic

     

    Super falcons added some icing on the cake as Nigerians celebrated Democracy Day June 12, as they defeated Korea Republic 2-0 at the ongoing Women’s World cup in France on Wednesday.

    The Thomas Dernneby led side who put up a poor show in the opener losing 3-0 to Norway rose to the occasion against Korea who were also desperate to have a win after losing their opening match by 4-0 to hosts France.

    The good news for Falcons started with own goal by Kim Do-Yeon in the 29th minute. The anxious Nigerian girls and the massive crowd at the stadium however had to wait for confirmation of the goal by VAR when it appeared as if Falcons Captain Desire Oparanozie touched the ball with his hands.

    The Nigerian side held on to the lone lead till the end of the first half.  On resumption of the second half both teams increased their desperation to take control of proceedings.  It was however falcons that had the much needed break in the 75th minute of the match thanks to Barcelona forward Assisat Oshoala who converted a well-placed pass from Chidinma Okeke.

    Goalkeeper of the side Chiamaka Nnadozie who was making her world cup debut made history as the youngest ever goalkeeper to maintain a clean sheet in the World Cup match at just 19.

    An elated Nnadozie remained confident that the team will qualify for the next stage despite losing the first match. Falcons are currently 3rd on the log behind Norway with three points. “I am optimistic we will qualify for the next stage the girls are ready and determined,” she enthused

    The team will file out against table toppers France on June 17 and will be praying to have an impressive run to stand a chance of progressing.

     

     

  • Super Falcons in salvage mission against Korea Republic

     

    After a very unimpressive outing against Norway in the opening match losing 3-0, Super Falcons Coach Thomas Dernneby and his girls will today embark on a salvage mission against Korea Republic in their second match.

    The interesting thing about today’s encounter is that both teams lost their opening matches with no point in the kitty which makes it a fight to the finish encounter.

    Hosts France lead the group after beating Korea 4-0 with three points followed by Norway with 3 points but with an inferior goal difference.

    While France and Norway will be seeking consolidation in their next matches, Korea and Nigeria will be hoping to get back into reckoning as losing another match will signal exit or near exit situation for them.

    Most fans who reacted following the 3-0 loss to Norway on June 8 insist Falcons must be more purposeful if they are to avoid early exit in France.

    The team has been to the world Cup a record seven times crashing out in the group stage six times with the Quarterfinals of 1999 edition as the highest achievement that has been achieved.

    Some had prior to the start of the championship predicted that the team will do better citing their preparation and participation to pre-tournament championships including the Cyprus invitational as the reason for such expectations.

    Falcons’ last group match will be against France on June 17, and there are fears that the hosts may be thinking and planning to re-enact the feat they achieved on April 6th 2018 when they hammered Falcons 8-0 in a friendly match played at the Stade Le Mans.

    Twenty seven goals has already been scored in the ongoing championship with the opening match between France and Korea Republic producing the highest number of goals 4-0, followed by 3-1 defeat of South Africa by Spain, 3-0 defeat of Nigeria by Norway and 3-0 defeat of Jamaica by Brazil.