Two giants of African women’s football, the Super Falcons of Nigeria and Cameroon’s Lionesses will clash in Douala on Friday for a place in the final round of the African qualifying series for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s football tournament.
Nine-time African champions, the Super Falcons are rated top in Africa and reached the Round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, exiting the finals without losing a match in regulation time.
On their part, the Lionesses have grouses of their own, having been bumped by Nigeria in several major events including being denied the Women Africa Cup of Nations title in front of their own fans in 2016, and being shoved out at the quarter-finals of the last Women’s AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum has recalled Ashley Plumptre, now based in Saudi Arabia. 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 with forwards like Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday and Esther Okoronkwo, the Super Falcons boast one of the most stellar attacking ensemble 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 stars 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 Nigeria’s administrative capital, 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 for one of the African tickets to Paris in July.
Tunisia will battle Morocco in an all-North African affair while Ghana host Zambia in Kumasi. Winners will face off for the second African ticket to Paris.
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