Super Falcons will play Bayana Bayana of South Africa in today’s African Women’s Championship (AWC) semi-final tie with the aim of revenging the 1-0 semi-final loss to the team in 2012.
What is also at stake in today’s encounter is the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket as the two finalists and the third best team in the championship will represent the continent.
To reach the semi-final, Falcons’ defeate Cote d’ Ivoire 4-2 in its opening group match before humiliating Zambia 6-0 and beat the host team, Namibia, 2-0 to top group A with nine points. South Africa on the other hand, lost its opening match 1-0 to Cameroon, drew 1-1 with Ghana before annihilating Algeria 5-1 to place second in group B.
Falcons Head Coach, Edwin Okon, has assured that the team is battle ready, saying Banyana Banyana won’t be twice lucky against Nigeria.
“We’re angry, hungry and won’t allow ourselves to be beaten twice by South Africa.
We must win today. It is important to our qualification for the World Cup in Canada. We want to reclaim the AWC title, we lost in 2012.”
Falcons’ striker, Desire Oparanozie, has vowed to wreck Banyana Banyana.
“I know that Banyana Banyana is a strong side and will be aiming to beat us, we won’t allow that. “I was not a member of the squad two years ago when the team lost in the semifinal and, I don’t really know what happened in Equatorial Guinea. What I can tell Nigerians is that we won’t lose today. We have the players to beat South Africa and win this AWC and that is our target here in Namibia ,” Oparanozie said.
Meanwhile, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, has charged the players to play with all their heart.
“I am truly impressed with the way the team has played in the tournament and it has no doubt, made Nigerians happy. Now, the team has come to a point where it cannot afford to make any mistakes.
“Against South Africa, we have to be close to perfection. The rivalry between our two countries will make the match more competitive. So, we have to be at our very best. Our girls must play with their hearts.”
“I have told the girls that they have to overcome the South Africans to qualify for the final, because I want to travel to Namibia to watch them play the final on Saturday,” Pinnick added.
The clash at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek , starts at 5pm Namibia time, but 4pm Nigeria time.
