Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega and Onome Ebi arrive Super Falcons’ camp in Lagos.

Super Falcons foreign based stars, Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega and Super Falcons’ captain Onome Ebi have arrived the team’s camp in Lagos. They are the last set of foreign based players to arrive the camp.

Asisat Oshoala played in the Chinese cup final at the weekend. Her club, Dalian Quanjian, lost to Tabitha Chawinga’s Jiangsu Suning 3-0 in the final. Many African football experts believe that Oshoala of Nigeria and Chawinga of Malawi are the best African female footballers at the moment. Chawinga scored in the match.

Dalian had earlier won the Chinese Super League for the second time in a row making Asisat Oshoala a two-time champion.

Desire Oparanozie was also busy at the weekend. She scored in the 15th minute as her club, En Avant Guingamp, defeated FC Fleury 4-1 in the top division of the French league. Oparanozie celebrated the goal by giving ₦10,000 to the first five people that could correctly mention the part of her body that she used to score the goal. They were to make their determination based on a picture that she posted.

Here’s a video of Oparanozie’s goal https://www.instagram.com/p/BpyZ2PVHMEw/


https://twitter.com/NGSuper_Falcons/status/1059339389917163520

Meanwhile, CAF has profiled the Super Falcons of Nigeria and many Super Falcons players ahead of the Nations Cup which begins in Ghana on November 17th.

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.

http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=6jECR6vBJF6L9YDmf39rXg%3D%3D&utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Big 9

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.

http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=0MMaKxNA7MyLaqGqkg76rg%3D%3D&utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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.

http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=x6fYB2QTfl4xnWQpMnQcMA%3D%3D&utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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.

http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=ZGP1Edu2OEnqyJLuQDNj3A%3D%3D&utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Super Falcons vice captain

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.

http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=6255a%2FrZpy7aAvJePQjPwg%3D%3D&utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

She's now a coach.

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.

http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=D%2BBfyM8LtECEq5zN%2BTwjPg%3D%3D&utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Home based.

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.

http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=Me9o5zW37G7G0rGBUJcDoA%3D%3D&utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Francisca Ordega

Meanwhile, Ghana lost to Kenya 3-2 in a friendly match at the weekend. They play South Africa in another friendly match this week.

1) Desire Oparanozie of Guingamp (in France) and Onome Ebi of Henan (in China).

These are old pictures.

2) Asisat Oshoala

3) Francisca Ordega. (Ordega was on loan at Atletico Madrid earlier this year, but she's now back at Washington Spirit)

D

I cherish women in soccer

But we haven't yet seen 50 goals a season from women

Ordega is good.

naptu2:
Desire Oparanozie of Guingamp (in France) and Onome Ebi of Henan (in China).

This is an old picture.

..na inside bush dem dey train ni.lol

Best news today

Nigeria will win as usual

bossrillboss:
..na inside bush dem dey train ni.lol

. Even if it is forest they are training they are better than your wayward sisters selling their pussy for a cup of garri. Ungrateful bitch

I knew they will be d last set to land in camp...d movers and shakers of d Super Falcons...

Go girls...let's finish d year on a high!!!

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

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

Thank you.

African women cup is shiit. They would win and loose at group stage in world cup.

Andy2274:
. Even if it is forest they are training they are better than your wayward sisters selling their pussy for a cup of garri. Ungrateful bitch

...guy am nt d foundation of ur frustrations nd disappointment in life,am nt d one dat says u nd ur family should b useless nd worthless dan a toilet paper.pls dnt ever in ur miserable life quote me again.I just joked abt dia training ground nd u took it as if I talked to u personally.see quote me again nd see ao ur life nd dat of ur family members will kip on bin miserable.oloshi omo ale.

Andy2274:
. Even if it is forest they are training they are better than your wayward sisters selling their pussy for a cup of garri. Ungrateful bitch

bros what have he said to demand such insult...haba.

Welcome ladies!.... Let's go....

So Igbo Amaka scored a goal and her team won while afonja ajoka couldn't score and was thrashed 3 condo,what a conehead!

DabuIIIT:
So Igbo Amaka scored a goal and her team won while afonja ajoka couldn't score and was thrashed 3 condo,what a conehead!

pls don't use nairaland when ur brain is closed

Oparanozie wl get d cup ,d potency of oshoala is in doubt

DabuIIIT:
So Igbo Amaka scored a goal and her team won while afonja ajoka couldn't score and was thrashed 3 condo,what a conehead!

is igbo n tiv dat is dominating d women football...d last time igbo women no go nigeria was disgraced

All the best to our Super Falcons.