Mission X: Super Falcons land in Casablanca

The delegation of Nigeria’s title aspirants, Super Falcons, will arrive in Morocco’s economic capital, Casablanca on Wednesday night from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. 

The delegation will comprise 22 players and team officials. China-based forward Folashade Ijamilusi and USA-based Asisat Oshoala are already in Morocco’s economic capital. 

The nine-time African champions played a gutsy game to hold their Portuguese counterparts to a scoreless draw in a friendly at Lisbon’s Estádio José Gomes on Monday evening. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Shukurat Oladipo and veteran forward Francisca Ordega each had a game to remember. 

Nigeria’s first match of the 13^th Africa Cup of Nations finals will be against Tunisia’s senior women national team at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Sunday, 6^th July, before other games against Botswana and Algeria in the group phase. 

The Super Falcons have never failed to reach the last four at the Women Africa Cup of Nations, since it was launched as the African Women Championship in 1998. Winners in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018, the Falcons made the last four in 2008, 2012 and 2022. 

President Federation Cup: Governors Sanwo-Olu, Abdulrazaq set to grace grand finale

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State is expected to be the special guest of honour at Saturday’s President Federation Cup grand finale at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos in which Cup holders Rivers Angels will confront Nasarawa Amazons in the women’s final, before ‘giant-killers’ Abakaliki FC tango with Kwara United in the men’s final.

A colourful occasion is afoot by the Lagos Waterfront with Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq also confirmed to be in attendance, while the number one citizens of Nasarawa, Ebonyi and Rivers State may also be in attendance or send high-powered delegations. 

It is the first time that a team from Ebonyi State, which was created in October 1996, will reach the final of Nigeria’s national Cup competition, while it is the first time in 49 years that a team from Kwara State, which was created in 1967, will show up at the final of the competition. 

In 1976, little-known Alyufsalam Rocks of Ilorin decimated more illustrious clubs across the country to reach the final of what was then known as the Challenge Cup, losing 2-0 to Rangers International of Enugu. Today’s Ebonyi State was created from parts of Enugu and Abia States. 

This year, Abakaliki FC have turned out to be the surprise packets. The club has continued to show disdain for big names, and have, like Kwara State’s Alyufsalam Rocks 49 years ago, sailed into the final at the expense of fabulous names in the football establishment. 

NPFL clubs Katsina United (who fell 2-3 after penalty kicks in the Round of 32), two-time African champions Enyimba FC (grilled 2-0 in the Round of 16), Nasarawa United (bumped in the quarter finals following 4-5 penalty-kicks defeat and Ikorodu City (whose sweet song was truncated after another 4-5 penalty-kicks defeat in the semi-finals) were the victims, after Yobe Desert Stars were cut out in the Round of 64.

The club is financed by Senator Joseph Obinna Ogba, a former Chairman of Ebonyi State Football Association, one-time vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation and a two-term Senator of the Federal Republic. 

Although Kwara United had a foretaste of Ebonyi opposition earlier in the competition, when they dismissed Cynosure FC in the Round of 64, they will do well not to take anything for granted against Abakaliki FC when the whistle goes for kick-off inside the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. 

Nicknamed Afonja Warriors, the progress of Kwara United, coached by Tunde Sanni to this year’s final has attracted the keen interest of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and indeed persons in high and low places in the entire Kwara State.

“I was once an official of Shooting Stars (another top-tier club based in Ibadan) and the Nigeria Football Federation. I know what is at stake in a crucial match like this. Prepare well, remain focused and stay united. We will continue to pray for your success,” were the words of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari to the team before the contingent departed for Lagos.