The threat posed by the Lady Elephant of Cote d'ivoire is real and NFF has started taking proactive steps towards securing a place for Super Falcons of Nigeria in the 2022 Africa Women Cup Of Nations (AWCON) and the 2023 FIFA Women World Cup.
The Super Falcons rounded off a 9-day training camp on Tuesday 30th November 2021 at Abuja.
The first of such camp since Randy Waldrum takes over as the coach of the team over a year ago, an exercise the American coach describes as a marvellous experience as it's a rare opportunity to truly assess the players.
"I am happy we had this training camp as we were able to see the home-based players and the overseas-based, and everyone bonded very well.
“We will look to have periodic campings like this to be able to put forward the best of Nigeria women players for matches and championships at any time,” Waldrum told the NFF media.
This is coming after the coach's first two International games against the Black Queens of Ghana in the first round of 2023 Africa Women Cup Of Nations ( AWCON) qualifiers.
It was a scary 180 minutes as the Super Falcons struggled to break down the Ghanaians in Lagos and laboured to an unconvincing 2-0 victory and the Super Falcons lost the second leg in Accra by 1-0 but qualified by 2-1 on aggregate in October.
The team's performance on both occasions wasn't good enough and it confirms that the dominance of the Super Falcons on the continent is fast becoming a thing of the past.
This is a fact the NFF knows and part of the measures in arresting the downward slide of the team is the introduction of the periodic training camps as the team cannot afford not to defend the 2019 AWCON title won in Ghana two years ago.
Standing between this dream is the Lady Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire as both countries will square up in March next year for a place in place in the competition.
The General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, knows the threat posed by the Ivorians hence the need for the camping exercise.
" We are aware of the challenge that Cote d’Ivoire will pose when we confront them for a place at next year’s Women AFCON. We need players who are committed and are proud to dorn the country’s colours and will strive to deliver no matter the circumstances".
The Ivorians threat is real, as they stopped the Super Falcons from participating at the 2020 Olympic Games and the manner with which the Lady Elephants despatched the Niger Republic in the first round of the 2022 AWCON qualifier scoring 20 goals in 180 minutes.
No doubt this camp is desirable and timely as its importance cannot be overstated as the task ahead is far beyond just two-legged AWCON qualifiers against Cote'd'ivoire as the 2022 AWCON will also determine the countries that will represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA Women World Cup.
Hence the threat posed by the Ivorians cannot be overemphasised and camping the team is a good step to ensuring the Super Falcons scale the hurdle, kudos to the NFF for being proactive.
FALCONS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE TRAINING CAMP:
Goalkeepers: Onyinyechukwu Okeke (Bayelsa Queens); Ibubeleye Whyte (Rivers Angels); Uchenna Chukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders: Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Maureen Okpala (Nasarawa Amazons); Patricia George (SC Sand, Germany); Ashley Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Miracle Joseph (Bayelsa Queens); Joy Duru (Nasarawa Amazons); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Glory Edet (Bayelsa Queens); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)
Midfielders: Adekite Dada (Watford FC, England); Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Yetunde Aluko (WFC Ramat Hasharon, Israel); Amanda Mbadinuju (Bayelsa Queens); Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens); Grace Igboamalu (Bayelsa Queens); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Christy Ucheibe (FC Sevilla, Spain)
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint Etienne, France); Mary-Ann Ezenagu (Rivers Angels); Anam Imo (Pitea IF, Sweden); Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels); Gift Monday (FC Robo); Juliet Bassey (Bayelsa Queens); Chinonyerem Macleans (Gonirk Leczna (Poland)
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