Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Randy Waldrum, is optimistic his wards will beat the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon to qualify for the football event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Cameroon will host Nigeria in the first leg of the qualifiers in Douala today.
The last time Nigeria and Cameroon met at the African Women’s Nations Cup in Morocco, the Super Falcons beat the Lionesses to qualify for the 2022 Women’s World Cup, where they put up a superlative performance, but lost via a penalty shootout in the second round to England, who went on to play in the final game.
Waldrum said the girls will build on the momentum they created in Australia/New Zealand to qualify for the Olympics, although he acknowledged that Cameroon has one of the best teams in Africa. He recalled that they stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games, adding, however, that the current Super Falcons’ team is in a good position to overcome the Lionesses.
“Although the tight FIFA window has not given us enough time to prepare, we will call on the momentum we built at the World Cup to play in the game. Fortunately, after the first leg, we will have enough time to prepare for the second leg in Abuja.
“Everybody is in a good mood and we hope for a good game,” he told the Super Falcons media.
Waldrum has recalled fabulous defender Ashley Plumptre, now based in Saudi Arabia, and Halimatu Ayinde, Toni Payne and Christy Ucheibe will get to play together in the middle again after a stirring outing at the World Cup in Australia. There’s also the talented youngster Deborah Abiodun.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is one of the most respected safe hands globally, and in forwards, Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday and Esther Okoronkwo, the Super Falcons boast one of the most stellar attacking ensembles in women’s football.
Captain Ajibade scored two of the five goals that eliminated Ethiopia in the second round of the qualifiers, with Oshoala also scoring, and Okoronkwo and Kanu were on fire as Cape Verde were put to the sword in the final round of qualifiers for this year’s Women AFCON championship.
Veteran defender Osinachi Ohale is peerless on her day, and younger stallions Tosin Demehin and Rofiat Imuran have grown to become true fighters whenever the occasion calls for such.
Cameroon, who edged Uganda 3-2 on aggregate in the second round, will be missing star player Ajara Njoya Nchout. Yet, it will be dangerous to underestimate what the Lionesses can come up with right in their den.
Both teams will join the same flight to Abuja for Monday’s return leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana will take on Tanzania the same weekend, with the winner over two legs to clash with the winner of Nigeria/Cameroon tie for one of the African tickets to Paris in July.
Tunisia clash with Morocco in an all-North African affair, while Ghana hosts Zambia in Kumasi. Winners will face off for the second African ticket to Paris.
