Rivers Angels of Nigeria will have to battle the pressure of Super Falcons' dominance in Africa football to win as the maiden CAF Women Champions League begins in Cairo.
The Super Falcons has won nine out of the eleven editions of the Africa Women Cup Of Nations ( AWCON) to show the gap between Nigeria and the rest of Africa in terms of women football.
This rich history of Super Falcons on the continent will no doubt put an extra burden on Rivers Angel to go all out and conquer as they represent Nigeria in the inaugural competition.
The Angels' coach Edwin Okon, understands this fact and he is not settling for less.
The 51-year-old gaffer has set a minimum target of winning the trophy at the end of the three weeks competition which kicks off on Friday, November 5, 2021, in Cairo.
“Our target is the title as we’ve prepared well for the tournament. My calculation and focus are on winning the trophy. I have made the players understand the burden of the challenge on us".
The club has dominated Nigeria Women football over the years and will be competing with intimidating records of having won the NWFL Six times and the Federation Cup Eight times all in a space of Eleven years.
The team from the oil-rich state has been a great conveyor belt for players to get into the national teams.
The club boasts of Perpetual Nwokcha and Asisat Oshoala as former players both of whom have won the Africa Women footballer of the year a combined 8 times and plenty of others who have helped the Super Falcons dominate the continent over the years.
Winning the maiden edition will be a good way to further extend Nigeria's dominance of women football on the continent beyond just the Super Falcons.
It will also it will boost the club's pedigree beyond being just a local champion.
No doubt they are one of the favourites to win the trophy.
However, they have to compete with seven other top teams on the continent to actualise their dream as well live up to the rich history of Nigerian women football on the continent.
The Nigerian Champion will put their credentials to test first against AS FAR of Morrocco on Saturday ( 6 November 2021) by 7 pm.
An opening day victory is key, this will restore confidence and reassurance as the team's ego was deflated by Hassacas of Ghana in the final of the WAFU B qualifying competition when they lost unexpectedly by 3-1 in Accra.
And winning their first game against the Moroccan champion will also put the team in good stead navigating group B which has Kenyan side Vihiga Queens and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies of South Africa.
A top-two finish in the group will set up a semi-final clash with any of Hassacas of Ghana, Wadi Degla FC of Egypt, As Mande of Mali and Malabo Kings of Equatorial Guinea, all group A of the competition.
Hassacas FC defeated Malabo Kings by 3-1 and Wasi Degla defeated As Mande with the same scoreline to shoot into an early lead, after the conclusion of group A matchday 1 as both sides left no doubt they are in Cairo for business.
If River Angel's can convert the pressure from the Super Falcons dominance on the continent to a source of strength and inspiration, the team have enough in history and pedigree as a backup to go all the way
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