Richard Michael
DeanoHarmoPower Playing Nigerians On it Again.
November 23rd 2010 13:41
It is no longer news that the Super Falcons of Nigeria have again proved their premium in African women football by beating Equatorial Guinea 4-2 last Sunday at the Sinaba Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, to reclaim the African Women Championship title they lost to the same Equatorial Guinea two years ago.
It is now a habitual thing for the Nigerian to be wining the AWC (Africa Women Championship). Nigeria has been winning this tournament all the time except in 2008 when they where defeated in the semi-final by Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria has won this tournament for a record of 7 times.
The Nigerian ladies were polished and impressive throughout the tournament, which they have historically dominated. Last Sunday's victory marked the sixth time the Nigerian girls have won the biannual championship since it was introduced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fourteen years ago. After losing out to Equatorial Guinea at the semi -final of the 2008 edition held in Guinea, soccer fans were skeptical about the Uche Eucharia- trained team's credence to challenge for what bookmakers believed rightly belongs to them. However, the Nigerian ladies dealt with all the competency doubts against them decisively; winning the crown with both panache and determination.
As the new board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), headed by Aminu Maigari, and indeed Nigerian fans savour the sweet taste of victory made possible by this feat, the question on many's lips is that: When will the Super Falcons transport their African dominance to the world stage? In fact, Nigerians are tired of these perennial achievers in Africa; failure in the world. It is time for the Super Falcons to start thinking beyond the continent and see themselves as a formidable world team and not an African domiciliary bully.
The Super Falcons, since inching into the last eight of the 1999 FIFA Women World Cup held in the United State of America, have not had much to cheer about on the world stage. In fact, their opening group match draw against Sweden during the last edition of the women championship held in China was their first match without defeat at the FIFA Women's World Cup since USA 1999.
During the inaugural edition of the FIFA Women World Cup held in China, the Nigerian girls, who paraded themselves as African champions, crashed out in the first round without scoring a single goal in the tournament. They lost their first match to Germany 4-0, second match to Italy 1-0 and the last match to Chinese Taipei 2-0. At the second edition of the championship, the Super Falcons were humiliated 8-0 by Norway, drew their second group stage match 3-3 with Canada and lost 3-2 to England to finish last in their group.
At USA 1999, the Nigerian girls, despite early 7-1 thrashing in the hands of the hosts, USA, came out strong to beat Korea 2-1 and Denmark 1-0 in their second and last group matches, respectively to finished second behind the hosts in their group and advanced to the last eight for the first time. But after raising the standard and high hope by reaching the last eight of the global soccer showpiece, four years later, the African champions disappointed the entire continent with their dismal show. The team was humiliated 3-0 by Korea Republic, thrashed 5-0 by USA and hammered 3-0 by Sweden. At the China 2007, after an early promising start with a 1-1 draw against Sweden, the perennial African champions were humbled in their second group match by 2-0 to Korea DPR and their last group match with USA ended in a 1-0 defeat.
With the Super Falcons again picking one of Africa's slots to represent the continent alongside Equatorial Guinea at next year's FIFA Women World Cup in Germany, Uche Eucharia can count on a promising young generation of players in the team alongside experienced ones led by Pepertua Nkwocha, who was the main protagonist of the Super Falcons throughout the African Women Championship in South Africa, to fly high in Germany.
With Stella Mbachu, another attack-minded veteran who formed a productive partnership with Nkwocha and other promising athletes like Oparanozie, Nigeria can form a deadly combination and tell the world that the Falcons are not only African conquerors, but can also soar above other female football powers across the world.
WE are now looking for how the Nigerian will fare at the world cup when they will take on other world powerhouse as far as woman football is concerned. I do not know which team I should pick as favorite for this tournament. But I will love to see Nigeria and Germany at the final in 2011.
It is now a habitual thing for the Nigerian to be wining the AWC (Africa Women Championship). Nigeria has been winning this tournament all the time except in 2008 when they where defeated in the semi-final by Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria has won this tournament for a record of 7 times.
As the new board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), headed by Aminu Maigari, and indeed Nigerian fans savour the sweet taste of victory made possible by this feat, the question on many's lips is that: When will the Super Falcons transport their African dominance to the world stage? In fact, Nigerians are tired of these perennial achievers in Africa; failure in the world. It is time for the Super Falcons to start thinking beyond the continent and see themselves as a formidable world team and not an African domiciliary bully.
During the inaugural edition of the FIFA Women World Cup held in China, the Nigerian girls, who paraded themselves as African champions, crashed out in the first round without scoring a single goal in the tournament. They lost their first match to Germany 4-0, second match to Italy 1-0 and the last match to Chinese Taipei 2-0. At the second edition of the championship, the Super Falcons were humiliated 8-0 by Norway, drew their second group stage match 3-3 with Canada and lost 3-2 to England to finish last in their group.
At USA 1999, the Nigerian girls, despite early 7-1 thrashing in the hands of the hosts, USA, came out strong to beat Korea 2-1 and Denmark 1-0 in their second and last group matches, respectively to finished second behind the hosts in their group and advanced to the last eight for the first time. But after raising the standard and high hope by reaching the last eight of the global soccer showpiece, four years later, the African champions disappointed the entire continent with their dismal show. The team was humiliated 3-0 by Korea Republic, thrashed 5-0 by USA and hammered 3-0 by Sweden. At the China 2007, after an early promising start with a 1-1 draw against Sweden, the perennial African champions were humbled in their second group match by 2-0 to Korea DPR and their last group match with USA ended in a 1-0 defeat.
Nigerian Women Celebrating the AWC trophy.
With the Super Falcons again picking one of Africa's slots to represent the continent alongside Equatorial Guinea at next year's FIFA Women World Cup in Germany, Uche Eucharia can count on a promising young generation of players in the team alongside experienced ones led by Pepertua Nkwocha, who was the main protagonist of the Super Falcons throughout the African Women Championship in South Africa, to fly high in Germany.
With Stella Mbachu, another attack-minded veteran who formed a productive partnership with Nkwocha and other promising athletes like Oparanozie, Nigeria can form a deadly combination and tell the world that the Falcons are not only African conquerors, but can also soar above other female football powers across the world.
super falcons coach Eucheria Uche.
WE are now looking for how the Nigerian will fare at the world cup when they will take on other world powerhouse as far as woman football is concerned. I do not know which team I should pick as favorite for this tournament. But I will love to see Nigeria and Germany at the final in 2011.
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