Tag: SUPER FALCONS

• As Nigeria target win against Algeria

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau has denied knowledge of widespread unpaid allowances and bonuses reportedly owed to the Super Falcons, Soccernet.ng reports.

In a conversation with journalist Osasu Obayiuwana in Casablanca on Friday, Gusau responded to questions regarding allegations that the NFF has been owing the Super Falcons various entitlements dating back as far as 2021.

When asked directly about the situation, Gusau said:

“I am not aware of that. As far as I am concerned, we just have a little outstanding. But not up to 2021. I told the girls that they do have a representative, they can come to the NFF, and they can sort it out. We have our records of what was paid to them. But when I hear of these stories and call for an investigation, you hear of a different thing.”

Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo, Super Falcons of Nigeria, during the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Wafcon between Botswana and Nigeria

Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo, Super Falcons of Nigeria during the 2024 Women s Africa Cup of Nations Wafcon between Botswana and Nigeria [Photo credit/IMAGO]

Read Also: Super Falcons not under pressure  in bid for 10th WAFCON title, says Ihezuo

He added, “I don’t know if you have been privileged to be with the team. You should speak to the administrator and get an answer from her.”

Meanwhile, Super Falcons are targeting outright win against Algeria today to stay on top of their group.

Already safely through to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations after two group-stage wins, the Super Falcons now face a spirited Algerian side with ambitions of their own, Soccernet.ng reports.

For Nigeria, Group B’s final fixture is more than just a formality.

With two wins from two, 3-0 against Tunisia and a narrow 1-0 over Botswana, Justin Madugu’s side are sitting pretty on six points.

However, topping Group B remains crucial. It offers a likely softer draw in the quarterfinals and avoids a potential early clash with WAFCON powerhouses from Group A or C.

Three wins from three would not only boost morale but also reinforce Nigeria’s status as tournament favourites.

On the other hand, Algeria, the surprise package of the group, are quietly chasing history.

The North Africans have never advanced beyond the group phase at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, but that could change with a strong showing here.

The Algerians have surprised many with their composure and organisation. A gritty 1-0 win against Botswana, followed by a goalless stalemate with Tunisia, leaves them on four points: unbeaten, and yet to concede a goal.

It’s already their best-ever group stage performance in WAFCON history. In their five previous appearances, they have never collected more than three points or finished higher than third in the group.

A draw will likely see them qualify; a win would send shockwaves through African women’s football.

Nigeria’s campaign for a 10^th  continental title at the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations plodded frontally  on Thursday after the Super Falcons bagged all three points against their counterparts from Botswana to reach the competition’s quarter finals.

Mexico-based Chinwendu Ihezuo, scorer of the third goal in the 3-0 rout of Tunisia on Sunday, stretched her left leg adroitly to connect from a great pass by Esther Okoronkwo and give Nigeria the day from a largely-scrappy encounter in Casablanca.

Refilwe  Tholakele indicated early on that it was not going to be an all-Nigeria evening, as her fierce shot from a bold move from the Southern Africans rattled goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who had to make a second save as the ball spilled.

Botswana threw women in numbers behind the ball as they opted for damage limitation, and nearly came out in flying colours as captain Rasheed Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, Toni Payne and Rinsola Babajide could find no thoroughfare to the goal-line.

Midway into the first stanza, attack-minded defender Ashley Plumptre surged forward again but missed a good chance from Ajibade’s pass. Eleven minutes later, Payne skyrocketed when clear on goal from another cross from the right.

Read Also: Super Falcons not under pressure  in bid for 10th WAFCON title, says Ihezuo

The scrappy nature was the same in the second half, with the opposition stifling play with numbers in midfield and defence. Substitute Ihezuo headed over the bar in the 48^th  minute and the energetic Plumptre saw her tricky shot heaved over the sticks by goalkeeper Maitumelo Bosija in the 64th minute.

Substitute Jennifer Echegini came close with a snapshot in the 71^st  minute, and then called upon the agility of South Africa-based Bosija with an angled shot in the 82nd minute.

The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper was finally beaten with a minute left in regulation time, when Okoronkwo foxed the Botswana rear-guard before a well-placed pass that Ihezuo converted for all three points.

The Super Falcons will take on Algeria in their last match of group B on Sunday evening, at the same Larbi Zaouli Stadium. 

Group leaders Nigeria will fancy their chances of scooping the three points when they take on Botswana in Casablanca today, in their second match of the determined campaign to win a 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations title.

The Super Falcons wasted little sweat in dispatching Tunisia’s senior girls 3-0 in their first match of the campaign, and will book an early slot in the quarter finals if they collect another three points against the Southern Africans at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, at a game starting by 8pm.

Three years ago, in the 12^th  edition of the competition hosted by the same country, the Falcons scored a goal in each half (courtesy Ifeoma Onumonu and Christy Ucheibe) to turn the hopes of the Botswanans to ashes at the Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan.

Read Also: Super Falcons not under pressure  in bid for 10th WAFCON title, says Ihezuo

The opposition will have a number of new birds to contend with today, with the likes of Esther Okoronkwo (Woman of the Match against Tunisia), Jennifer Echegini, Rinsola Babajide and Chinwendu Ihezuo likely to present a number of problems at the fore, alongside the well-known faces of Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne.

Head Coach Justine Madugu may take the option of starting with Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde and Jennifer Echegini in the midfield, to provide ample ammunition for Ajibade, Payne and either of Oshoala and Ihezuo to do the damage.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie remains the rock between the posts, with Osinachi Ohale to provide guidance and wisdom for Tosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie and Ashley Plumptre at the rear.

Botswana comes into the game still nursing their one-goal defeat to Algeria in the first round of matches – the same day the Falcons hit the Tunisians for three, with Asisat Oshoala, debutant Rinsola Babajide and Chinwendu Ihezuo the scorers.

Oshoala’s early goal presaged a comfortable evening for the nine-time champions, and had they taken most of the chances they created, the North Africans would have returned to the dressing room with a basketful of goals.

“As I said before the commencement of the tournament, we remain focused on our Mission X and we believe that victory over Botswana is a huge possibility. We are taking it one match at a time without taking any team for granted,” Madugu told thenff.com.

Experienced striker Chinwendu Ihezuo said the Super  Falcons are not oblivious of the challenges that lies  ahead of them in their quest  to secure  a record  10^th title at the ongoing Women’s Africa  Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, adding  the coach Chris Madugu-led side would take everything in their strides towards achieving their objectives at the tournament. 

The Super Falcons on Sunday opened their  WAFCON 2024 account on a winning note following a 3-0 thrashing of Tunisia  in Casablanca  with  Ihezuo among the goals along with Asisat Oshoala and Rinsola Babajide. For their second game of the tournament, the Super Falcons would return to the familiar Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca  tomorrow (July 10^th) with the resolve to collect  the maximum three points to ease their way into the knockout stage of the competition.

“ My expectations is to do great and make Nigerians proud and happy over our performance at this WAFCON in Morocco,” the lithe  Femenil  Club Pachuca striker told NationSport.“ I don’t think (gunning for a 10^th title)  is an additional  pressure for us.

“ The most important thing is for us to work together as a team and I believe we will get to the top.”

Despite  the heart-warming  opening victory  against Tunisia,  the 2018 WAFCON winner, said the Super Eagles  are not going to underrate any team  but would rather  work on their own game  to be in tip-top shape throughout  the tournament.

Read Also: Pinnick’s CAF appointment will elevate Nigerian football – Presidential aide

 “ From what we have seen, all  the teams participating in this tournament is super good but with our collective  hard work and dedication, we will come up with good results ,” the 2012  FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Silver Boot winner noted.  “ No doubt,  all teams  the  here for this WAFCON in Morocco  are good, we just need to work together and break the obstacles.”

Aside participating  at the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2012, Ihezuo  who was also in the mix  wen Nigeria clinched the Silver at the  2014 FIFA  U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, enthused about the joy of representing the country  at international championships time and again.

“Apart from winning the WAFCON in 2018, I’ve had other good moments with the Super Falcons,” she said. “I’ve also participated at the FIFA Women’s World  Cup (France 2019)  as well as the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (Paris 2024).

“It has been a great honor and privilege for which  I’m very  grateful as such, it is always my expectations to do my best with the team.”

Pressed to comment on the revolving Super Falcons’ coaching doors, the vastly-travelled  striker said she has no qualms with the current technical set-up of the senior  women’s  national team.

Coach Madugu is a good coach like  other coaches that  I have worked  with  in the Super Falcons,” she volunteered. “Every coach has his or her  own tactics and I think the overall objective  is to  help the team in one way or the other in order to achieve success.”

• By Yusuf Kareem

Head Coach Justin Madugu said  the  Super falcons are  still a work in progress despite their 3-0 victory over Tunisia in their opening  Group B match at the ongoing 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Madugu said the team is not getting carried away with  victory  against Tunisia, adding there I still room for improvement  in the upcoming fixtures against  Botswana and Algeria.

“With  regard to the game, we are not larger than the score line. We know what we set out to do. We’ve brushed through the game and identified areas that need adjustments,” Madugu stated.

The  Super Falcons cruise to  victory in their first game of the tournament  with two first half goals by  Asisat Oshoala  and Rinsola  Babajide  while Chinwendu Ihezuo added the third  goal  towards the end of the match.

Victory notwithstanding, Madugu  emphasized that it was just the first game of the tournament,  adding the team will  need time to build on the momentum.

Read Also: Super Falcons ready to win WAFCON $1mprize money, says coach Madugu

 “Playing the first game always comes with a lot of factors. You don’t expect your team to be at their best right away. The key is to improve game by game, all the way to the final,” he added.

The 2025 WAFCON kicked off on Saturday, with several matches already played across the groups.

 In Group B, Nigeria defeated Tunisia 3-0 while Algeria edged Botswana 1-0in the other group’s game. In Group A, hosts Morocco were held to a 2-2 draw by Zimbabwe, and Senegal cruised to a 4-0 win over DR Congo.

Yesterday , defending champions, the Bayana Bayana of South Africa began their title defence with a 2-0 spanking of  Black Queens of Ghana in a lively group C encounter.

A fourth minute strike by six-time African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala steered the Super Falcons to a comfortable 3-0 victory over their Tunisian counterparts as the nine-time champions got their challenge for a 10^th  continental title smoothly off the ground in Casablanca on Sunday.

Rinsola Babajide, from the left side of the field, floated the ball from a free-kick, and as defender Ashley Plumptre missed contact, the USA-based Oshoala met the ball with a glancing header to force the ball past goalkeeper Soulaima Jabrani at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Morocco’s industrial and economic capital.

Oshoala came close to doubling the advantage in the 16th minute, but defender Norhene Bettoumi was alert and diverted the ball as the forward was set to pull the trigger from Toni Payne’s cross.

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Deborah Abiodun’s left-footed shot in the 37^th  minute did not have enough power behind it, but two minutes into added time of the first period, Babajide packed enough power into her shot as she stormed past Chaima Alabbassi and blasted past Jabrani for Nigeria’s second of the evening.

Just before the break, Ashleigh Plumptre thought she had got Nigeria’s third off a header from Babajide’s corner kick, but her effort was disallowed.

In the second half, Plumptre, forever adventurous, rattled Jabrani with a sharp shot, and four minutes later, substitute Esther Okoronkwo’s sharp delivery begged for connection.

Osinachi Ohale missed from close range as Nigeria chased the ball in a melee from a free-kick in the 62nd minute. At the other end, the veteran defender was fortunate not to be penalized after bringing down the lively Salma Zemzem in Nigeria’s vital area.

True to character, Okoronkwo bustled and hustled, and came pretty close with nine minutes left when she turned a defender and saw the ball hit the upfront from her shot.

Three minutes later, she was jumping for joy when her knockdown, from Plumptre’s cross, found fellow substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo in the right place to slot the ball past Jabrani for Nigeria’s third.

In added time, Plumptre’s clever header almost got Jabrani befuddled, but there was still time for Zemzem to rattle goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s crossbar.

Victory handed the Super Falcons three precious points and momentary leadership of group B, ahead of the clash between Algeria and Botswana. 

United States-based rising star Chioma Okafor said she will be patient to grow with the Super Falcons knowing that she will be competing for playing time alongside some of Africa’s most experienced players.

While acknowledging the immense learning curve that comes with her first senior tournament, Okafor noted that making the list was a big achievement for her and that she will make herself ready whenever she’s called upon to play.

 “I’m certainly going to learn and grow from everyone with their experience. I’m ready to take my role, step into it, and make the most out of it,” Okafor told Super Falcons Media.

Okafor who was born in Malawi to a Malawian mother and a Nigerian father is relishing her maiden call-up to the Nigeria senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, ahead of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Read Also: Conte contacts Osimhen to mend frosty relationship

The 20-year-old forward spoke with Super Falcons Media about the pride of donning the iconic green and white jersey, her personal goals, and the collective ambition of the team as the nine-time African champions eye a historic 10th continental title.

 “It feels great, to say the least. It feels awesome,” Okafor said. “I’m really excited, especially with the tournament being in Morocco. It’s a great opportunity. I’m really grateful for everything going on and for being here.”

With the Super Falcons carrying high expectations into the tournament, Okafor is clear about both team and personal ambitions.

 “Expectations are high because the Super Falcons really have high standards—individually and as a team,” she noted. “It’s raised my expectations as well. We’re obviously going for the trophy.”

 “Personally, I want to embrace whatever role I’m given and make the most out of it. I’m ready to do my best to put the team first.”

Away from the pitch, Okafor revealed a surprising personal passion:

 “One thing people don’t know about me is that I’m a finance geek,” she said with a smile. “I’m all about numbers, investing, stocks. I’ve been getting into training lately, and hopefully, I can go a little bit further.”

Nigeria’s WAFCON 2024 campaign kicked off yesterday with a group stage clash against Tunisia. They will trade tackles with Botswana and Algeria later.