₦airaland Forum

FIFA Women’s World Cup holders Germany meet African champions Nigeria in Frankfurt on Thursday evening, and although it is only the second match for both nations, there is already plenty at stake. The hosts are hoping to continue riding the euphoria currently sweeping the nation, but the Super Falcons urgently need a good result to make up for their poor start to the tournament. Last year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup provided an appetiser for Thursday evening’s clash, as the German juniors beat their Nigerian counterparts 2-0 in the final. The meeting between the seniors could be well decisive in determining the final Group A outcome.

The Stakes
The teams approach Thursday’s clash in contrasting moods. Heartened by their 2-1 opening day victory over Canada, and guaranteed the support of another huge and partisan home crowd, the Germans will be brimming with confidence as they pursue a second victory and top spot in the group.
https://img00.beijing2008.cn/20080806/Img214509395.jpg
_{Germany Women's Team}

On the other hand, the Nigerians 0-1 defeat to France in their first match means they must go in search of points against the favourites for the trophy. That should make for an exciting game, as Uche Eucharia’s team cannot afford simply to defend and hope to come away with a draw.
[img]http://4.bp..com/_kC5MT2r5U8s/TPMhYpq163I/AAAAAAAARRo/9UMK5-A8uL8/s1600/10Nigeria+super+falcons.jpg[/img]
_{Super Falcons of Nigeria}

Brigitz Prinz and company beat the Nigerians 8-0 on a bitterly cold November evening in Leverkusen last year, on a night pretty much everything went right for the home team. Nevertheless, Silvia Neid and her players know they will face far more motivated opponents this week. The Super Falcons are a robust, dynamic team always capable of putting their opponents under pressure, whereas the Germans will be looking to improve on their display in the opening match, after Neid expressed dissatisfaction with her team’s passing in the meeting with Canada.

The Words
‘’I think we’ll see a different Germany against Nigeria. We’ll imposer our authority on the match from the start until the end, and that’ll give us a good chance of the three points,’’ – Germany defender Saskia Bartusiak

We certainly have a chance of making the World Cup Final, and maybe even winning it,’’ – Nigeria Keeper Precious Dede

Dede1: I partially agree with your post. While I agreed both Loveth Ayila and Amarachi Okonkwo should have been included, I do not agree on Joy Jegege. Jegede was the captain of U-17 women team and the weakest link on the team’s defense.

Dede1: By the way, Uchechi Sunday is Esther Sunday. Sheep can not beget a tiger.

LOL. . .is this an informed opinion or you're making that assumption cos of the surname and you think she's using a different ''first'' name in this competition?. . .just like how Osaze Odemwingie is known as Peter Odemwingie in the EPL?

I hate to burst your bubble, but again you are wrong! UCHECHI SUNDAY IS NOT ESTHER SUNDAY. I  know it seems very unlikely that two different female footballers in a team would have the same surname but believe me, they're different people.

I have the official squad list in PDF format as released by FIFA (downloaded from FIFA.com and I'm looking at it now) of all the participating countries detailing all their info & statistics and I've checked it out. . .and done some research too.

Uchechi Sunday is an Igbo girl and her full name is Uchechi LOPEZ Sunday. She 16yrs+ (09/09/94), stands at 1.82m (should be about 6ft) tall and she plays for FC Neunkirch in Switzerland and was uncapped for the Falcons until yesterday WHILE Esther Sunday is an Efik or Ibibio girl. Her full name is Esther UKPONG Sunday, of average height and she plays for Sunshine Queens of Akure. She played at the AWC 2010 and also in the Olympics & All Africa Games qualifiers this year. Her caps for the Falcons should be at least 10 by now or just a little less. Esther Sunday was part of the 30 players that was in the Austria training camp but she didn't make the final squad.

Dede1: I do not think Nigerian girls have the same physical preparation and regimentation available to European and USA teams.

medjai: I think it's time we accepted that womens football is not our thing. . . We're just not good at it and move on.

TRUE!

I think it's time we also accepted we suck in mens football and move on too. . . . .

*Sigh, shakes his head vigorously and says to himself. . . .the kind of things I read on Nairaland sef*

MeGaStReEt: I dont trust Precious Dede

lekyar: Seconded, she's too jittery when put under pressure.

Are you guys psychic or what cos both of you just spoke my mind. The FIFA Technical committee mentioned her as the weakest link in the Nigerian team @ the last world cup and Olympics and I'm surprised she's still the first choice goalie. How I wish we could borrow USA's Hope Solo or the Equatorial Guinea goalie cos both are very good

Someone needs to tell Precious Dede an aerial ball been contested with her should be punched away and not caught. It was her mistake of trying to catch a ball over an Equatorial Guinea player's head in the AWC final that led to EG's first goal. I hope she's learned from her mistake and the goalie trainer has drilled this into her. Apart from the ''aerial ball'' problem, I think she can dive, parry and her reflexes are okay.

honeric01: But do we have a formidable replacement?

Dis Guy:
Yes but he is not being 'respected', can you imagine they called him up just to play 2 games during the championship in South Africa, after releasing him to his club in Norway they wanted him to fly back after a crucial match all the way to SA

I don't think they will do that to any other player

The 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off on Sunday 26th June with a Group A match that sees African Champions Nigeria play emerging European powerhouse France at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in Sinsheim, Germany.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been a main stay in the Women’s game and are known for a powerful style predicated on endurance. The majority of these players play their club soccer in Scandinavia, more specifically in Sweden where the players have learned the technical side of the game to a great degree.

[img]http://4.bp..com/_kC5MT2r5U8s/TPMhYpq163I/AAAAAAAARRo/9UMK5-A8uL8/s1600/10Nigeria+super+falcons.jpg[/img]
_{Super Falcons of Nigeria}

Coach Uche Eucharia has done wonders for the African side since after being appointed and is well respected. In fact, she was the only female coach at the most recent African Championships in which her team came out tops.

The key player for the team is Perpetua Nkwocha; even at 35 years old she is still one of the more clinical forwards in the Women’s game. She is also well decorated, winning 4 Women’s African Soccer Championships and 3 African Women’s Player of the Year awards; she is the clear leader of what is mostly a youthful side. Other important players for the Nigerian team are Rita Chikwelu, Glory Iroka and Desire Oparanozie.

As for France, this is a team that is quickly on the rise and has made their first World Cup appearance since 2003 where they exited in the First Round. In that year they were in a tough group with Norway, South Korea and Brazil and this time around it’s a similar story with Germany, Canada and Nigeria.

[img]http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200908/430x313/equipe-de-france-feminine.jpg[/img]
_{Le Bleues Feminine}

The aspect of this team that gives them an advantage is familiarity, as they are all ply their trade in the French League, this is one of the strongest leagues in Women’s soccer and most of the players reside with either Lyon or Paris Saint- Germain which are two of the strongest club teams in Europe.

Coach Bruno Bini is one of the best coaches in the Women’s game, and knows all of these players very well being within the French Female set up since 1993 with the U16 side. The key players for Les Bleus are Camille Abily and Eugénie Le Sommer.  Abily has experience in the U.S playing with FC Gold Pride of the WPS while Le Sommer is a rising talent on the French frontline

Syenite:
This implies that the tournament will receive serious followership from those day dreaming nairaland dudes.
@poster I am sure you are one of them abi? Talk true make devil shame.

But I hope she will not deputise for Rita Chikwelu who is usually the preferred choice for the central mid-fielder position.

Jesoul: SemiD chill & just wave it off now Life is too short for drama jor. I apologize to you sincerely on behalf of Obinna, and Obinna I apologize to you sincerely on behalf of SemiD. Oya move on jor.

Seriously, why you dey apologize to me on his behalf? AND have your read his post immediately after this your post I quoted? Also, have you been to the thread I referred to to read his insulting posts which are still sitting there comfy (at this time) when I've since modified mine _{(a post in which I was poking fun at myself but he misinterpreted cos of his poor reading & comprehension skills?. . . like sey I nor know sey the so-called movies are effing old)}

Like I said, he should do the right thing and I just might accept his apology otherwise, lets do as I suggested. . . IGNORE OURSELVES ON THE FORUM AND NOT COMMENT DIRECTLY ON EACH OTHER'S POST. . . .at least, there''ll be peace that way and it'd be enough for me and should be enough for everyone else

Finally, I nor wan read any ''peacemaker's'' comment on the matter again. . .make we die the matter and move on

@ Obinna5000,
You can interpret my post anyhow you want but mo sorry gan, APOLOGY IS STILL REJECTED and things will never be the same between us.

If you like, continue posting smileys at me, OYO lo wa but the ball is in your court sha. . . 

Dis Guy: No player from the U-23 U-20, U-17 team there?

Unfortunately i dont recognise the name but they should have graduated into the Falcons by now (considering some are overaged in the junior team)

Sagamite: I never had the time to say it on NL even though I saw a few posts of people complaining that Argentina were not bringing Messi, Tevez and co, but I was saying it to friends in real life:

"That is no problem, smack their second team 6-0 and see how quickly they will ask for a rematch the next year. That is the only thing we can do, since they are the star team and we are the beggars."

Now that we have smacked them 4-0 (their goal was insignificant), they are now keen for a rematch. I just never envisage it will be so quickly.

But, God, it is sad that we have reetards running our football. I can't believe they accepted this invite. What utter cretins!

We should not accept any invite that requires us to play 2 days after an important game. They are highly likely to win our tired players and their reputation salvaged.

We should not take any invite that gives us less than 1 week to prepare, so that we have a chance of winning. If we win them again in Round 2, then other big nations will start calling us, instead of us calling them.

Utter cretins in NFF are going to fck our potential revenue up because once Argentina wins no one will listen to excuses. I hate mooorons!

Lol. . .as if I knew this was gonna happen and I also think this match would have been better played in Europe since majority of the players that will be fielded by both teams are Europe-based.

My only worry is the timing. Just 2 days after our match with Madagascar is a very tight schedule and that means the team must leave for Dhaka, Bangledesh immediately after the match on a chartered plane to be able to arrive there at least a day to the match keeping in mind that Asia is very far off from Africa.