The Atlas Lionesses are drawn against Mali and Nigeria in Group A of the six-nation competition and the former Zaragoza star is excited about her team’s chance to test themselves against women’s football powerhouses in Africa.

“For us, it’s a good opportunity to know first, our level, what we should improve on and also the level of the teams that we may likely play at the Women Africa Cup of Nations,” El Haj, who recently helped ASFAR win the UNIAF Women’s Champions League title, told ABC Media.

“We play against Mali a lot of times, so we know each other. But it will be our first game with Nigeria and we know they are a big and strong team that always fight for titles.”

On their ultimate goal at the competition, the 26-year-old said: “Our ambition is to win this tournament and improve ourselves. 

“It will be a very exciting competition with big teams competing in it, thanks to everyone who organised this tournament.”

El Haj will aim to inspire the 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations hosts to success in Nigeria, who are the Cup holders and nine-time African champions.

The president of the Nigeria’ football federation Amaju Pinnick has assured Nigerians that every effort has been made to advance the Super Falcons for future engagements.
He spoke on the team recently in Abuja when he paid a visit to the Glass house, the new abode of the Nigerian women football league.

” We have gotten a new Coach for the senior women national team and there are new foreign based Nigerian players who have declared their interest to play for the country. Young and enterprising players for us to prove women AWCON is our birth right”.

He further explained that the NFF is working towards getting two friendly matches for the team to get them ready for the engagements.
The NFF recently contracted Coach Randy Waldrum to tinker the team to the next level after Dennerby had unceremoniously walked out on his job poaching Precious Dede alongside to head the India U17 women’ team.
Randy will be assisted by Ann Chiejine former Super falcons goal keeper and captain with Wemimo Matthew.