The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SUPER FALCONS

  • Super Falcons to play Slovakian top club

    Thenff.com has learnt that African champions Nigeria will now play a Slovakian top division club in Slovakia on Sunday, and not the Slovakia women national team.

    Team Administrator Mary Oboduku disclosed that the Super Falcons will be up against ZNK Pomurje Beltinci, which boasts eight players in the Slovakian national squad.

    The Nigeria delegation will depart its Avita Resort camp in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria immediately after lunch tomorrow, and is scheduled to arrive in Beltinci by 2.30pm, for the game starting at 4 pm Slovakia time.

    Read Also: Super Falcons’ defender set for record fifth World Cup appearance

    Tomorrow’s encounter is the last friendly game for the nine-time African champions before they head off to France on Tuesday, where they will participate in the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals starting on Friday next week.

    On Tuesday, the Falcons also travelled to Hungary, where they lashed top division club, Halandas Viktoria 5-1 at the Kiraly Sports Centre in Szombathely, with goals from Asisat Oshoala (brace), Chinwendu Ihezuo, Francisca Ordega and Ogonna Chukwudi.

  • Super Falcons’ defender set for record fifth World Cup appearance

    Super Falcons’ defender Onome Ebi was named to play at her fifth women’s World Cup when she was included in Nigeria’s squad for next month’s finals in France.

    Ebi, 36, first competed at the 2003 Women’s World Cup in the U.S. and then at subsequent editions in China, Germany, and Canada.

    She is the first African to achieve the feat.

    Three-time African women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala will be the Super Falcons’ key player as they take on Norway in Reims on June 8 and then South Korea and hosts France in Group A.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oshoala had featured and scored for Barcelona in the women’s Champions League final which Barcelona loss 4-1 to Olympique Lyonnais in Budapest on May 18.

    Read Also: Oparanozie named Super Falcons captain

    The Nigerian squad features 15 foreign-based players in a much-changed look since Swedish-born coach Thomas Dennerby took over 18 months ago.

    Nigeria have been past the first round only once in seven previous World Cup finals appearances.

    NAN reports that the team is currently on a two-week camp at the Avita Resort facility in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria ahead of their departure to France for the mundial which starts on June 7.

    Nigeria will take on Norway, Korea Republic and host nation France in the group phase of the championship.

    NAN

  • WAFU Cup: Super Falcons wallop Niger Republic 15-0 Falcons

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria on Saturday thrashed their Nigerien counterpart 15-0 in the second game at the ongoing West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Cup tournament in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

    The Super Falcons opened the flood gate of goals as at the 9th minute and ended the first half 9-0.

    In the second half of the one-sided match, the Nigerian girls pumped in another six goals to totally annihilate the hapless Nigeriens.

    With this win, the African champions have now secured passage to the semi-finals of the sub-regional competition.

    REad also: Oparanozie named Super Falcons captain

    The Super Falcons would now slug it out with the entertaining Malian team for a spot in the final of the competition before turning focus to the World Cup preparations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Falcons also thrashed Burkina Faso 5-1 in the opening match on Thursday.

    The competition has eight West African teams in participation.

    The competition serves as the final preparation for the Falcons ahead of the FIFA Women World Cup, in France from June 7 to July 7. (NAN)

  • You have no reason to fumble in France: Falode warns Falcons

     

    World Cup bound Super Falcons have been told to avoid wobbling and fumbling in France as that will amount to making nonsense of their first grade preparation.

    President of the Nigeria Women Football League Aisha Falode who gave the warning, noted that no batch of the Nation’s senior female team has been so well prepared ahead of the world cup than the current team.

    The team according to her did not only get the best of camping, friendly and competitive matches as shape up for the world cup but also have an experienced technical bench that understands what is at stake.

    “No Super falcon’s team has been given the type of preparation that you have had and so we expect that you will go there and do the needful” she said at the unveiling of the touring World cup trophy to the public at the Nicon Hilton Abuja on Thursday.

    Many agree that current super Falcons had what could pass for a good preparation for the forthcoming world cup, going straight from their 9th title at the Africa Women’s Nations cup in Ghana to invitational tourney in China and then to the Cyprus Cup and finally to Spain where they also played two friendly matches winning one and losing one.

    Some die-hard followers of women football in the country say the only way the team can be said to have done well is if they can go beyond the Quarterfinals which is the highest Nigeria has achieved since inception in 1991.  The quarterfinal feat was achieved at the 1999 edition in United States while other editions have ended in the group stage.

    Coach Thomas Dennerby has the task of going beyond that if he hopes to be counted as having made reasonable contribution to female football in Nigeria.

    Some of the soccer fans who came out to see the trophy however called on the NFF to ensure that there are no  distractions in camp.  The reaction is not unconnected with a recent report that there are squabbles in in camp over the choice of captain for the team.

    While some in the Glass House reportedly want Onome Ebi to captain the team, the coach prefers Rita Chikwelu.

    Ebi and Chikwelu have been joint captains since the arrival of Dennerby and both lifted the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations trophy in Ghana.

    A new dimension was added when France based attacker, Desire Oparanozie was named captain after the last friendly against Canada which Falcons lost 2-1.

    Falcons will battle Norway, South Korea and hosts France in the group stage of the World cup which kicks off June 7th.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • France 2019 shape up: Canada beat Super Falcons 2-1

     

    Few days after world Cup bound Super Falcons walloped their Icelandic counterparts 6-1 in a friendly match in Spain, the Thomas Dennerby tutored side failed to continue the run  losing 2-1 to Canada at the Pinatar Arena on Monday.

    Interestingly Super Falcons shot into the lead in the encounter thanks to Desire Oparanozie who found the net after enjoying a timely assist from Uchenna Kanu in the 26th minute.  Oparanozie’s goal was beautiful to watch as she calmly displaced the goalkeeper Erin McLeod before placing the ball neatly in the right hand corner.

    The falcons only managed to maintain the lead for 45 minutes before Janine Beckie leveled up for Canada in the 46th minute.

    Sophie Schmidt increased the tally for Canada in the 54th minute and the Canadians held tenaciously to their lead to the final whistle.

    Match Statistics indicate that the Canadians had a better outing maintaining 66.8% to 33.2% posted by the Falcons. They had nine shots on target to Falcons four, and perhaps would have increased goal tally but for a number of impressive saves made by Falcons goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi.

    Coach Dennerby made five changes in the course of the encounter bring in Rasheedat Ajibade, Iniabasi Umotong,Ogonna chukwudi,Alice Ogebe and Chinaza Uchendu for Ngozi

    Akobi,Uchenna Kanu,Halimatu Ayinde,Anam Imo and  Desire Oparanozie respectively. Falcons have played no fewer than a dozen matches since winning their 9th   African Women’s Nations Cup in Ghana as part of preparation for the World cup less than two months in France.

  • Super falcons hammer Icelandic side UMF Solfoss 6-1 in Spain

     

    Super Falcons Friday at the Pinatar Arena in Spain enjoyed a cruise control as they hammered Icelandic third tier club side UMF Solfoss 6-1. The world cup bound Falcons were given a shocker in the 31st minute when Reimus Magda grabbed a goal for Solfoss.

    But the celebration however lasted for only 12 minutes before business minded falcons went on a goal harvest. Uchenna Kanu grabbed a 42nd minute equaliser thus keeping both teams at par till the end of the first half.  On resumption of play in the second half however it became apparent that UMF Solfoss had no checkmate for rampaging falcons.

    Courtney Dike opened scoring 57th minute of the second half. Ini Umotong took over from Dike to earn a brace in the 62nd and 69th minute.

    Courtney Dike completed her hat-trick when she again scored in the 72nd and 76th minutes and Thomas Dernneby coached team held on to their massive lead to the end of the match.

    Goal Keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was particularly impressive as she pulled a great save to deny their Icelandic opponents a comeback chance in the 89th minute. Rasheedat Ajibade was of great support providing assist for Dike’s hat-rick

    The team will next take on Canada on the 8th of April as part of preparation for the World Cup in France.

     

     

     

     

  • France 2019: Rohr visits Falcons camp rubs mind with Dennerby

     

    Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr was a surprise visitor to Super Falcons camp on Friday, as the team continues to burn calories ahead of the FIFA women’s world cup in France.

    Rohr still basking in the euphoria of Super Eagles back to back victories against Seychelles and Egypt respectively rubbed minds with Super Falcons Coach Thomas Dennerby who is hoping to lead the Falcons to impressive outing in France.

    Falcons just back from invitational tournaments in China and Cyprus respectively are perennial contenders of the Women’s world cup since inception in 1991; unfortunately the team has always been shown the door in the group stage but broke the jinx in 1999 making it all the way to the quarterfinals.

    Subsequent editions however saw the team return to traditional group state exit, a scenario which Thomas Dennerby is hoping and expected to change in France.  Already the team has been pitched against Norway, South Korea and hosts France at the event billed for June.

    While Dennerby has the world cup challenge to contend with Rohr also has the Nation cup in Egypt challenge to worry about.  The German tactician who led Eagles to the world cup in Russia last year posting what some soccer fans in Nigeria described as unimpressive, will be hoping to put a good fight in Egypt. Ironically the former Gabon coach has tipped Egypt as hot favourites to win the title.

    Egypt hold the record of highest winners of the Nations cup haven clinched the title seven times.  Nigeria has won the trophy three times the latest being 2013 in Egypt under late Stephen Keshi.

  • France 2019: Super Falcons get Fitness Trainer, Match Reader

     

    Determined to make a major impact at this year’s Women’s World Cup in France, Super Falcons Coach Thomas Dernneby has requested and gotten the approval Nigeria football Federation to engage two more technical staff, fitness trainer and match reader.

    The duo The Nation understands were part of the team’s technical crew to the just ended Cyprus cup where Falcons finished in the 7th place.

    The request to engage the two technical hands was actually made shortly after the African women Nations Cup in Ghana which team won for the 9th time.  The decision to beef up is not unconnected with reactions that followed the team’s overall performance at the 2018 AFCON.

    Despite winning the championship then, many analysts and soccer fans in the country alike insisted in a chat with The Nation  that although the team emerged victorious, the quality of play needed to be improved  if the team is to stand up to the challenges that will be posed by  opponents at the world cup in France.

    Many who made their views known on the team’s recent outing at the four nation invitational in China and the Cyprus cup expressed hope that useful lessons have been learnt by the technical crew with a view to checking the lapses. In the course two tournaments Falcons suffered some massive defeats first 3-0 defeat in the hands of China at the Invitational and 4-1 defeat by Austria and at the Cyprus cup respectively. 

    The team however did not fail to equally make mincemeat of some opponents like their 3-0 defeat of Thailand to clinch the 7th place in Cyprus. Engagement of match reader some say should be able to help the team hold their own especially when they are comfortably leading an opponent.

    A case in point was the match between Falcons and Slovakia at the Cyprus meet where they team surrendered a 3-0 lead in the first half to eventually end the match winning by 4-3 after the Slovakians cancelled three goals in nine minutes.

    Falcons have been drawn at the world cup which holds in June against hosts France, South Korea and Norway.

  • Cyprus Cup: Falcons hammer Thailand in 7th place match

     

    World cup bound Super Falcons Wednesday at the ongoing Cyprus Cup, hammered Thailand 3-0 in a 7th place match.

    Barcelona Ladies ace Assisat Oshoala opened the floodgate of goals for Falcons in the 23rd minute and Onome Ebi increased the tally five minutes later.

    The Thomas Dernneby girls held on to their 2-0 lead till the end of first half.  On resumption of hostilities in the second half, the first 24 minutes produced no goals for either side but in the 74th minute Anam Imo grabbed the third and final goal for the Falcons as the held on to the lead till final whistle.

    The match was however not without incidence as the duo of Ngozi Ebere and Osinachi Ohale saw yellow in the 64th and 90th minute respectively.

    The Thailand team otherwise called Chaba Kaew began their campaign in the tournament with a 4-0 demolition of Hungary; lost 2-1 to Mexico followed by another 4-1 defeat by Italy, the 3-0 defeat by Falcons thus ensured that the team conceded nine goals scoring six.

    Falcons on their part began with a 4-1 loss to Austria, followed by a 4-3 defeat of Slovakia, a loan goal loss to Belgium and finally a 3-0 defeat of Thailand.

    In other matches played on Wednesday, Hungary beat Slovakia 3-2 in the 11th place match; Finland defeated South Africa 3-0 in the 9th place match while Belgium beat 3-2 in the third place match.

    Other classification matches saw Mexico beat Czech Republic 2-1 to claim 5th place. Korea DPR and Italy will slug it out in the Final match. Falcons are expected back in the country Thursday.

  • Super Falcons tickle birthday girl Rita Chikwelu

     

    The Fraternity in the Super Falcons team came to the fore Wednesday as the players tickled one of their own Rita Chikwelu as she added one more year to her age.

    Chikwelu known for her doggedness on the pitch had the traditional “baptism” of water that has become the popular way of identifying with a celebrant especially among the youths.

    It involves the sprinkling of water on the celebrant from head to toe.  Sometimes the water is just cold with room temperature but sometimes taken directly from the fridge most times forcing the celebrant to run while friends and well-wishers follow in pursuit with bottles and sachets of water as the case may be.

    A video dished out on Social media show the former Umeå IK of Sweden midfielder being chased about by teammates at a beach in Cyprus where the team is currently participating in the Cyprus Cup.

    Tired of running away from teammates the celebrant had no choice but to stop to be properly soaked to mark the occasion.

    The former Olympic team ace that has made over 33 appearances for the Super Falcons since breaking into the senior team in 2007 was impressive as Falcons claimed their 9th African Women Championship in Ghana last year picking qualification for the World cup in France in the bargain.

    As part of the shape up for the June 2019 event, Falcons participated in a recent four Nations cup in China followed by ongoing Cyprus cup.

    Close watchers of the team however say their performance in both tournaments fall below par, an indication that they need to up their game if they are go post impressive run in France.