₦airaland Forum

hisexcellency34:
He is the elder brother to the late Maryam Babangida, former First Lady and wife of Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB)

And that is how she will be juggling the ball inside the net when @AsisatOshoala @oparanozie9 and @OrdegaF scores her on the 18th. Full Time in Cape Coast @NGSuper_Falcons 3 @Banyana_Banyana 0
#SoarSuperFalcons #BringHomeTheTrophy

If you are in the same group with Nigeria, you are not going anywhere.

Oparanozie Wary Of South Africa’s AWCON Threat

by Sam O.
— November 11, 2018
in National Teams

France-based female striker, Desire Oparanozie has shot a look ahead of Nigeria’s first match at this year’s Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, and says their opponents, South Africa, are a good side the need to be wary of.





Although Oparanozie believes Nigeria will scale the hurdle when both sides clash next Sunday in Cape Cost, Ghana, sports247.ng learnt she admits the Falcons cannot afford to take Banyana Banyana for granted.

Rather than be overconfident heading into their ripening Group B fixture, the Guingamp of France star says the Falcons must be wary of their opponents in order to get a good start to the continental soccer showpiece.

Nonetheless, Oparanozie is also rating the Falcons high, as she believes they have what other teams in Africa lack, which she believes would be a plus for them at AWCON 2018 in Ghana.

The 24-year-old striker said she is happy that the Falcons enjoy a cordial team spirit that makes life easier for them on and off the pitch, and should help them win the tournament.

“We live as a unit. There is that bond between us and we are all thinking less about ourselves and thinking more about our common goal which is an 11th title.

“People tend to see Nigeria as top favourites (but) I personally don’t think so. You have to prove it on the pitch and not on paper and not ahead of the tournament.

“South Africa are a good side. Don’t forget they have been finalists four times. Equatorial Guinea are back. They won the title in 2008 and in 2012.

“Zambia have greatly improved. Qualifying from the group would not be easy for any of the four teams. It’s going to be a battle. Nigeria have defeated host teams before.

“Although there would likely be huge home support for the Black Queens due to the popularity of female football in Ghana, we have gone past that. We will focus on our play.”

BANYANA SET FOR WAR WITH SUPER FALCONS

By MATHEWS MPETE
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 11:52

BANYANA Banyana's fierce rivals Nigeria are expected to depart for Ghana on Wednesday for their Women's Africa Cup of Nations tournament to be held in the West African country from Saturday to 1 December.

Desiree Ellis' side, the reigning South African Team of the Year, will open their tournament account against the Super Falcons of Nigeria who would be hoping to defend the title they won last year.

But Ellis has made it clear that they will not anybody to walk all over them, and they will fight to win Group B where they are circled with Chipolopolo Queens of Zambia and Equatorial Guinea.


The Equatorial Guinea team managed to dribble their way back to the tournament following a CAF Appeal panel ruling.


The central Africans were initially banned from taking part in the tournament following a protest by Kenya who alleged that they used an ineligible player in Annette Jacky Messomo following their 3-2 win over the Kenyans.

But the Caf appeals board overruled the protest reinstating them back to the tournament.

Banyana, Nigeria and the Guineans will be based in the Cape Coast where they will be playing their matches.


The official Nigeria FA website reports that the Falcons spent the last six days at a football facility, Sol Beni Sports Centre (owned by ASEC Mimosas Football Club) in Abidjan, following a three week preparatory program at the Jubilee Chalets and Resort in Epe, Lagos State.

"Only Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have been successful at the 20-year old continental fiesta, with the latter emerging winners on the only two previous occasions that Nigeria did not triumph," the NFF reports.

While the Guineans have won on the only two occasions they hosted the tournament (2008 and 2012), the Super Falcons have established Africa as their footstool, winning at home in 1998, 2002 and 2006, winning in South Africa in 2000, 2004 and 2010, winning in Namibia in 2014 and winning in Cameroon in 2016.

In the other group are hosts Ghana, Algeria, Mali and Cameroon who will battle it out in Group A in Accra.

Among South African players who will do duty for South Africa include goalkeeper Kaylin Swart, Lebohang Ramalepe, captain Janine van Wyk, Leandra Smeda, Thembi Kgatlana, Jermain Seoposenwe.

megacity:
So many players from Sweden



Is it because the coach is a Swede?

adami:
The coach probably has watched them play more closely.

Ghana 2018: Super Falcons off to Abidjan for final camping

Cup holders, Super Falcons of Nigeria will spend eight days at a training camp in Abidjan to perfect tactics and strategy for the defence of their continental title before arriving in Ghana for the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The team, which has been camping in the magnificent Jubilee Chalets and Resort in Epe near Lagos – courtesy of the Lagos State Government – for the past few weeks, will travel aboard an Air Ivoire flight on Tuesday morning to the Ivorian capital.

Head Coach Thomas Dennerby on Monday unveiled a list of 23 players who will make the trip to the world –renowned ASEC Mimosas FC academy, Sol Beni, before two players are cut for a final squad of 21 for the trip to Cape Coast.

Thenff.com learnt that the eight –time African champions will play a couple of friendly games in the Sol Beni camp before flying to Ghana on 14th November – four days to their Group B opening encounter against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.

Nigeria will also tackle Zambia and Kenya in their pool, as they bid for a ninth continental title out of 11 championships.

Dennerby will be joined on the technical bench by fellow Swede Jorgen Petersson, as well as Justine Madugu and Maureen Madu.

Hosts Ghana, Algeria, Mali and Cameroon will battle things out in Group A in Accra.



THE 23 FALCONS FOR ABIDJAN



Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Confluence Queens); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels)


Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Ugochi Emenayo (Nasarawa Amazons); Sarah Nnodim (Nasarawa Amazons); Ngozi Ebere (Barcelona FC, Cyprus); Faith Michael (Pitea IF, Sweden); Onome Ebi (Henan Huisanhang, China); Osinachi Ohale (Vaxjo DFF, Sweden); Josephine Chukwunonye (Asarum AIF, Sweden)

Midfielders: Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Ngozi Okobi (Eskiltuna UTD, Sweden); Rita Chikwelu (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden); Halimat Ayinde (Asarum AIF, Sweden); Ogonna Chukwudi (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden)

Forwards: Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons); Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo Queens); Asisat Oshoala (Dalian Quanjian, China); Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit, USA); Desire Oparanozie (En Avant Guingamp, France); Chinaza Uchendu (SC Braga, Portugal); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Biik Kazygurt, Kazakhstan)

yummy001:
Ogagun naptu2, loving and following your coverage of the Super Falcons and female football in general. Keep it up. �

NIGERIA: PROFILE OF MIDFIELDER AMARACHI OKORONKWO

04 November 2018
11:06


Current club: Nasarawa Amazons
Age: 25 (12 December 1992)

Amarachi is one of the most improved players on the local scene, where she stars for Nasarawa Amazons with whom she won the 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League.

The experienced midfielder has already won the AWCON title once with the Super Falcons in 2010 and was impressive at this year’s WAFU sub-regional Women’s Championship held in Abidjan where the Super Falcons finished third.

She scored the winner in the 1-0 defeat of Gambia in Bakau in the qualifiers and was described by Coach Thomas Dennerby as ‘one of our outstanding players’ to watch out for in Ghana.

MMADU: NIGERIA REMAINS THE TEAM TO BEAT

04 November 2018
11:10

Maureen Mmadu, the first Nigerian to hit the FIFA Century Club (100 caps) and winner of four AWCON titles with the Super Falcons in her heydays, believes the current squad can go all the way again in Ghana.

Currently serving as an assistant to Swede Thomas Dennerby, the 42-year-old told CAFOnline.com that the Super Falcons remain the team to beat as the 11th edition of the biennial championship gets underway in Accra and Cape Coast in a few weeks.

Nigeria is housed in Group B along with South Africa, Kenya and Zambia, and Mmadu admitted the Super Falcons already have their work cut out.

“I think there is little or no argument that Nigeria is still the number one women’s football country in Africa and not only because the Super Falcons had won almost all the past championship,” explained Mmadu who also featured in four FIFA Women’s World Cup with Nigeria.

“The truth is that we (Nigerians) embraced women’s football earlier than most African countries and that is why you have so much talent all over the country.”


Though the country is still grappling with the task of organising a well-structured women’s football league, Mmadu reckons there would be light at the end of the tunnel should other conglomerate embrace women football as did global energy brand AITEO that guaranteed the sum of N10 million naira (about) for winners of the women’s national cup with N10 million naira

She said: “We must give credit to the organisers of the women’s league because there is greater awareness now and they are working hard to get sponsorship for the competitions which can further improve standard and exposure for the players.

“The Super Falcons have many foreign-based players from the European leagues to the Chinese Super League and this is their edge against other teams on the continent because the players give the coaches different options.”

Mmadu after an impressive career at club and country levels, took up coaching appointment with Norwegian women First Division team Avaldsnes IL before her appointment early this year with the Super Falcons technical set up.

CHIKWELU: WORLD CUP IS OUR PRIORITY

04 November 2018
11:36
Rita Chikwelu led the Super Falcons to AWCON glory two years ago in Cameroon and the experienced midfielder with Swedish side Krstianstand DFF is relishing the prospect of going all the way yet again. Below are excerpts of her interview with CAFOnline.com;



CAFOnline.com: You were the captain when the Super Falcons won the 2016 AWCON trophy in Cameroon, what will be the focus of the team in Ghana?

Rita Chikwelu: Our priority first and foremost is to qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. We have won the AWCON title several times and we are still very positive going to the championship in Ghana.

How do you fancy your chances against Kenya, Zambia and South Africa in Group B?

I think every country wants to do well, so I don't think it's going to be easy for us because they will all come well prepared to play against us. We played Kenya about two years ago and they were very good. Of course, we know the quality of South Africa and I also think Zambia will like to show what they can do. We just have to be focussed.

After beating South Africa in the semi-finals in 2016, are you not scared they would be coming to avenge that particular defeat when you meet on 18 November 2018 in Cape Coast?

We know that South Africa have played a lot of friendly matches coming for this AWCON but we remain positive and confident in our own abilities too. The championship for us is not about playing against South Africa, we are going to take it one match at a time.

How does it feel to be captain of this talented group with a lot of big players?

We are one big family in the Super Falcons and there's no difference between young and old players. We live together like friends and members of the same family; and the unity in the team is one of the secrets of our success.

How tough is it working under Coach Thomas Dennerby?

We have learnt and we are still learning many things from him. He’s from Sweden and I play for Krstianstand in Sweden, so I perfectly understand what he wants from us. We are all coping nicely with his style and it showed in the way we played against Gambia in our qualifying match. It has been a great experience working with coach Dennerby.

What would be a wonderful championship for Super Falcons in Ghana?

We want to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup because we believe we should be out there playing against the best teams in the world. Personally, it is my wish to see the Super Falcons reach the semi-finals at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Ghana 2018 is an opportunity for us to show what we are capable of doing. We want Nigerians to pray for us so that we can get to the World Cup as well as the AWCON trophy.

NIGERIA: PROFILE OF HEAD COACH THOMAS DENNERBY

04 November 2018
10:14

Nationality: Sweden
Age: 59 (13 August 1959)

An experienced trainer who led the Damlandslaget-Sweden women’s national team- to two FIFA Women’s World Cup and finished in third position at the 2011 finals held in Germany.

He was also in charge of the team at the 2009 UEFA European Women’s championship bowing out at the quarters as well as two Olympic Games where they reached the quarterfinals at Beijing in 2008 and four years later in London.


Dennerby is the second expatriate to handle the Super Falcons after Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere, who led the team to their maiden appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991. And the Swede admitted his work is cut out at the 2018 AWCON in Ghana, which doubles as the African qualifiers to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup with the top three teams guaranteed tickets for the event to be staged in France.

Nigeria’s Falcons seeking to extend their dominance

04 November 2018
10:24


Nickname: Super Falcons
Previous appearances: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016
Honours: 8 titles (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016)
Road to the finals: Defeated Gambia (1-0, 6-0)


After winning eight out of the last 10 last editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Falcons of Nigeria are undeniably the favourites as the 11th edition beckons.

But the Super Falcons’ trainer, Thomas Dennerby, said he was not unaware about what lies in store despite the rich pedigree of the West Africans as the most successful team in the history of the biennial championship.

“Of course I know all about the history of the Super Falcons,” the 59-year-old who featured as a midfielder for Hammarby IF and Sparvagens IF in his heydays in his native Sweden, told CAFOnline.com.

“I want us to be one of the best teams in Africa but I’m also aware that women’s football is undergoing strong development in Africa. Many countries are putting in a lot of efforts to develop their national teams.

“To consolidate our position we need to bring the squad together on a regular basis and my mission is to come closer to the best teams in the world,” he noted.

Yet, in his first match in charge of the team, the Super Falcons were thrashed 8-0 by France in an international friendly in Le Mans last April but they showed their near invincibility on the continent with a 7-0 spanking of Gambia over two legs to secure berth for the defence of their title in Ghana.

“Our defending against Gambia was outstanding because they had only one scoring chance against us over the two games which was very, very good (for us). The team really worked hard to stay compact and follow the match plan.

“Our attacking play was also good. We’ve had more than 15 attempts in each game. The difference between the first leg and the second leg was that we were sharper when finishing in the second leg.”

Nevertheless , Dennerby has called up no fewer than 14 of the Class of 2016 where the Falcons beat hosts Cameroon 1-0 in the final to win a record extending eighth title.

In his 48-named provisional squad were 29 home-based and 18 foreign-based players for their pre- Ghana 2018 camping at the pristine Jubilee Chalets located in Epe suburb of Lagos State which was described by Dennerby as ideal ‘because we needed maximum concentration for at least two weeks for intensive tactical training to have a successful outing in Ghana .

Apart from the quality of talents at his disposal, the Swede trainer is experienced enough after managing Sweden women’s national team for almost seven years with some appreciable successes at the FIFA World Cup, European Women’s Championship as well as the Olympic Games.

In the Super Falcons’ mix is current and three-time African Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala as well as other experienced players including defender Ngozi Ebere, Osinachi Ohale as well as striking duo of Francisca Ordega and Esther Sunday.


The squad is a mixture of experienced hands including the likes of Ngozi Ebere, Faith Michael and Onome Ebi that had all been part of the team’s success in the past; while the youngsters would be pulled from the experimental side that finished in third position without conceding defeat over 90 minutes in five matches during the maiden WAFU Women’s Nations Cup in Abidjan in April.

With core of their players in place for Ghana 2018, there is the likelihood that the Super Falcons might nick the title yet again despite stiff challenge from their perennial rivals in the mould of South Africa, Cameroon and host Ghana.

NIGERIA: PROFILE OF FORWARD DESIRE OPARANOZIE

04 November 2018
10:47

Current club: Guingamp (France)
Age: 24 (17 December 1993)



The forward actually started her career at Bayelsa Queens in the Nigerian Women's Championship before moving to Delta Queens en route to Europe.

As a junior international, Oparanozie represented Nigeria at the 2010 and 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups and scored a cumulative five goals over the course of the two tournaments. She has since been one of the mainstays of the Super Falcons and experienced after spells in Russia, Turkey and Germany.


She is a striker who can score in the company of anybody and has scored her fair share for the Super Falcons especially the decisive lone goal win in the semi-final defeat of South Africa as well as the final victory over host Cameroon at the last edition in 2016.


Oparanozie is a three-time winner of the AWCON title was top scorer in 2014 with five goals, including a well-struck free-kick in the 2-0 defeat of Cameroon in the final match.

She proved she’s still a force to be reckoned with after scoring four goals in the 6-0 defeat of Gambia in Lagos as the Super Falcons qualified for their 11th AWCON appearance in style last June.

NIGERIA: PROFILE OF FORWARD ASISAT OSHOALA

04 November 2018
10:37

Age: 24 (9 October 1994)
Current club: Dalian Quanjian FC (China)

Nicknamed ‘Superzee’ for her effervescence both on and off the field, the three-time African Women’s Player of the Year has earned her striking stripes with the Super Falcons and would reasonably be one of Nigeria’s key players in Ghana.

Four years ago, she was the top goal scorer with seven goals at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Canada and was deservedly crowned as the best player at the championship. That same year, she won her first AWCON title with the Super Falcons and was later in the year named best Women’s Player and Best Youth Player on the continent.

In an impressive career spanning more than a decade, Oshoala had previously turned out for both Arsenal and Liverpool Ladies in the English Women’s Premier League.

She’s a winner of several other individual awards including the Chinese Women's Super League top scorer in 2017. Oshoala was in excellent scoring form in the just concluded Chinese Women's Super League season scoring 10 goals in 14 matches to help Dalian Quanjian to their third title in a row.

The 2016 AWCON top scorer with six goals also grabbed a brace in the 6-0 thrashing of Gambia in Lagos to seal the Super Falcons’ qualification for Ghana 2018.

Okorocha Withdraws Security, Staff from Deputy Gov’s Office

November 4, 2018 11:04 am

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Amby Uneze in Owerri

Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha saturday withdrew security personnel and staff attached to the office of the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Eze Madumere without clear reason.

In swift reaction, Madumere condemned the decision of the governor to withdraw most of the key staff attached to his office, describing it as unwarranted action in withdrawing most of the key staff attached to his Office.




He expressed disappointed at the decision during a conversation with journalists, recalling that since his acquittal from the impeachment plot in the High Court seating in Owerri presided by Justice Benjamin Iheka, there had been gross disregard to his office.

He lamented that his security aides have not been restored even after he had written to the appropriate authorities for almost two months running.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi could not restore his security in spite of the court verdict since September, noting that it portended danger of his life.

In a memo with Reference NO: HIS/S.29/S.1/t.3/1/807, 12 members of the staff were posted out of the office of the deputy governor where eight of them are operational staff and drivers while others are administrative staff, including senior staff on data processing.

He, however, said the Imo State Government led by Okorocha had resolved “to cause harm if not make attempt on the life of the deputy governor.

“We recall that during the series of impeachment plots to remove the Deputy Governor, we raised alarm over the grand plan to harm Prince Madumere following his stance against imposition of Governor’s son-in-law, Mr. Uche Nwosu and other irreconcilable issues that bordered on policies.

“We also recall how some members of the domestic staff of the Deputy Governor were approached to be used as agents of death to poison the deputy governor.

“Therefore, Office of the Deputy Governor regrets the tyrannical model of governance approach of the government even in a democracy, where people’s opinion or freedom of Speech, association and other fundamental rights are not respected.

“It is also regrettable to note that Imo State government should throw caution to the wind by flagrantly refusing to observe ethics, values and respect for the hierarchy of office in an established organization as a government to the extent where the opinion of the deputy governor is not sought before issue as sensitive as posting out staff from the office of the deputy governor by the head of service.

“We wish to state categorically that the sudden posting of the operational staff of the office of the deputy governor is a careful plot to compromise the security of Prince Eze Madumere.

“We therefore view the whole actions and inactions of the government of Imo State as wholly suspicious and a well-known old preparatory gimmicks before high profile heinous crimes like assassinations are committed.

“We wish to therefore notify the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Imo State and other security agencies to take note of the suspicious actions and inactions of Imo State Government led by His Excellency, Rochas Okorocha”, the statement said.

Oshiomhole apologises to Imo Catholic community over Okorocha

by Tony Akowe
November 3, 2018


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National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has apologised to the Christian community, especially the Catholic Church in Imo State, for the “sins” of the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

Oshiomhole was however quick to add that the party should not be dragged into the problem of the governor with the Church in the state as it is the governor’s personal problem.

Oshiomhole, who spoke in Abuja, also said that the party will leverage on the past position of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his former deputy to defeat the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2019 elections

Oshiomhole also apologised to Archbishop Anthony Obinna of the Owerri Arch diocese and the entire Christian community in Imo State over what he described as the lack of respect exhibited to the church by Okorocha.

Oshiomhole stressed that “Governor Rochas Okorocha’s personal battle with the Christian community in Imo State is a matter between him and the Catholic Church. We in APC, we are not party to that. We do not want our party to be dragged into such contestation because it will not be helpful to us. Our road to power is election by the people, we cannot antagonise the people.

“Even the ordinary man in Imo is entitled to respect not to talk of the leaders of the Christian community. And so, we distance ourself from all of those things that Rochas has done which some times has been a source of huge embarrassment to our party which sometimes we have been able to manage in-house. So, I sincerely apologise to Bishop Obinna and Christians in Imo State.”

He said the party will utilise the allegations which bothers on the integrity of the former Vice President, made against him by his former boss, Obasanjo, in nailing Alhaji Atiku at the polls, adding that the former Vice President will be defeated by the APC.

He said “now that we know that our main opponent is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, we will defeat him again the way we have defeated him before. And I am confident that President Muhammadu Buhari will return because he has a quality which none of them can boast of, which is integrity, integrity, integrity.

“To make statement about the others, we will just generate what former President Obasanjo has to say about Atiku and what Atiku has to say about Obasanjo.

“By the time we read it, you make up your mind if Nigeria is looking for a leader who they can trust, whether it is one with unquestionable integrity, or is the one that there are debates as to whether or not how much we can trust. I am confident that God will give us victory at the end of the day”.

While assuring Nigerians that the APC was at peace with itself, Oshiomhole said that “peace does not mean absence of some murmuring or grumbling. We are not looking for grave yard peace, we want functioning peace. People can have some arguments, some reservations but with time, it will heal.

“So, I want to assure all those who are genuinely aggrieved, I have a duty along with my colleagues in the NWC to work to heal wounds, for reconciliations.

“So, we are setting up various panels, groups of eminent leaders drawn from APC, statesmen and women within our party who we believe can help us to talk to all those who are aggrieved, so that we sort out all the grievances and approach the next coming election as a functioning party and by the special grace of God, we will win”.