AWCON 2018: Cash-trapped Falcons Begins Title Defence Against Bayana Bayana

AWCON 2018: Cash-trapped Falcons Begins Title Defence Against Bayana Bayana By IDRIS ADESINA The 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations began in Ghana on Saturday with matches between hosts Ghana and Algeria and Cameroon and Mali. But defending champion, Nigeria, kick start their title defence against South Africa on Sunday (today) at the Cape Coast Stadium. The Super Falcons won their eighth AWCON title two years ago in Cameroon and would be seeking to pick one of the three slots for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France as well as adding another triumph to their past accolades. With the Falcons making their 11th appearance and Banyana making their 10th in the competition, Nigeria hope to continue their dominance over a vastly improved and motivated South African side. The South Africans are coming into the tournament as the COSAFA Women’s Cup champions. Banyana Banyana have been busier than the Falcons as they played friendly matches with teams from Europe, South America and Africa. Well motivated with cash by their national team sponsors, Banyana Banyana have their sights set on clinching one of the 2019 Women’s World Cup slots. It is expected that the Falcons will overrun their South African opponents having won the title eight out of 10 times and only lost the title twice to Equatorial Guinea. They finished third once in 2008 and failed to win a medal in the tournament once in 2012. South Africa, on their part, are three-time AWCON runners-up – 2004, 2014 and 2016. They have finished third twice in 2002 and 2012. Going into the match, Nigeria hold an overwhelming advantage against South Africa having won nine times in 11 meetings in the history of the competition while the South Africans have only managed one victory, which was the 1-0 win in a semi-final clash at Equatorial Guinea 2012. Their last meeting was in the semi-finals of the 2016 edition when Nigeria recorded a 1-0 win. The Falcons are the continent’s most successful national team and they go into the tournament as firm favourites. But many stakeholders have been left to wonder the continued lip service paid to the team by the Nigeria Football Federation. The 1999 Women’s World Cup quarter-finalists are probably the least prepared team at the tournament. Since they won their title in Cameroon two years ago, the team have been left without tangible activity until the qualifiers for the 2018 edition began in June – when they walloped Gambia 7-0 on aggregate to qualify. Africa’s most successful women’s team were without a coach for one year – following the expiration of the contract of the 2016 title-winning coach Florence Omagbemi – until the NFF announced Swede Thomas Dennerby as their coach in January. The team played a friendly match against France in February, where they were walloped 8-0. Since the qualifiers, the team only began camping for the AWCON less than a month ago in Epe, Lagos State. Less than two weeks ago, much to the amazement of many followers of the team, they embarked on the final leg of preparation for the 2018 AWCON in Abidjan clad in mufti, looking very much like a hastily assembled team. The team travelled to Abidjan in different attire, with reports alleging that their kits were held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, due to lack of funds to clear them. Also, the team are allegedly owed bonuses totalling $6,000 per player for their 2018 AWCON qualifying wins over Gambia in Banjul and Lagos. They are also allegedly owed camp allowances for the competition. “Yes, we are still owed $6,000 for the two matches against Gambia. Since we began camping for the competition, we have not received any allowances and we are heading to the competition without an assurance of receiving the bonuses,” one of the players, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. While in Ivory Coast, the team proceeded to face the ASEC Mimosas’ Under-16 Boys team, which they lost 3-1, before getting a 4-2 win over the 11 Sisters side on Abidjan in their second friendly match. Former Falcons midfielder Stella Mbachu wondered what such friendlies would do for the team compared to the level of opposition they would face at the tournament. “It is really a sad situation that the Falcons have to go through. Sadly, it’s been like that since we were in the team. We hoped things would get better but there has been no change. A team going on title defence playing some small teams when their opponents are playing tougher opponents leaves a lot to be imagined,” she said. Although they were welcomed with songs and dance in Ghana on Wednesday, the Falcons didn’t have the honour of travelling in style to the host country. It was learnt that they travelled with the Zambian and Cameroonian teams who also camped in Ivory Coast. However, it is not all-doom for the Falcons as Dennerby has the talent and experience at his disposal to ensure the achievement of his targets – title defence and World Cup qualification. Dennerby will rely on the experience of captain Rita Chikwelu, who will be making her sixth appearance in Ghana, and veteran defender Onome Ebi, who is making her eighth appearance in the competition. Ngozi Okobi and Desire Oparanozie, who are making their fourth appearances respectively, are also key members of the squad while current African Women’s Player of The Year Asisat Oshoala adds to the options of the Swede tactician. Dennerby and his assistants – fellow Swede Jorgen Petersson; Justine Madugu and Maureen Madu – also have the talent of former Falconets stars Chiwendu Ihezuo and Rasheedat Ajibade, who are making their AWCON debuts, to add to the experienced players. Eighteen-year-old Ajibade is currently the best player in the domestic league and could add value to the team. The FC Robo star, if given the opportunity at the tournament, can prove herself as one of the best forwards on the continent. The Falcons will also play COSAFA Cup runners-up Zambia and Equatorial Guinea in their other group matches enroute to their title defence. They will meet any of hosts Ghana, Cameroon, Algeria and Mali from the semi-finals. The Ghanaians won the 2018 WAFU Women’s Championship after beating Nigeria in the semi-finals. Dennerby said his team’s focus was on World Cup qualification. He said, “Our ambition is to win the tournament but importantly, to secure our ticket to the 2019 World Cup in France. Of course, we know it is never going to be easy because there is a big improvement from many teams; so it is important to have preparation if you want to win games. “There is always pressure on the head coach and you have to live with that. I am 59 years now but I am lucky to have experience from two world cups, two Olympics, two European Championships and as head coach for so many clubs as well as playing in the Champions League. But we can just focus on our jobs and not speculate too much. I think we are going to have a good tournament in Ghana.” Team captain Chikwelu backed her coach. “We want to qualify for the 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 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 win the AWCON trophy,” she said. But former Falcons midfielder Mbachu warns the team against complacency. She said, “Everyone expects Nigeria to win but given the preparation of the team and the lack of motivation for the players, the job will be difficult. The talents are there but they need to be motivated and well-prepared to ensure that they give their best in every match. “The other teams are no more what they used to be when Nigeria beat them with as much as five goals. The margin is very narrow now and the Falcons should not underrate any team in Ghana or else there could be an upset from any of them.” Credit: punchng.com