Eulogizing the Super Falcons team Hon. Dare said, “your resilience, character, and management of the game must be commended. I salute your doggedness, commitment and fighting spirit. For holding the Moroccans in front of over 45,000 capacity crowd you have once again displayed the never say die attitude of true Nigerians.

“Even when down to nine players after those red cards, you held your own. You are our champions. Nigeria is proud of you.”

“It was a match I followed very keenly and I am so proud you displayed the Nigerian spirit. I am proud of this team, even in defeat”.

The nine times champions bowed out gallantly with pride, losing 4-5 on penalties to hosts Morocco, after playing majority of the game with nine players as midfielder Halimatu Ayinde and striker Rasheedat Ajibade were given the marching order for dangerous play.

The Super Falcons will square up with the She-polopolo of Zambia on Friday, July 22nd in the third place match of the tournament.

Ever-present Nigeria believe they will celebrate another FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket on Thursday night after a quarter-final clash with neighbours Cameroon in Casablanca that will determine who is guaranteed a place in Australia & New Zealand next year.

All four teams that make the semi finals at the ongoing continental championship in Morocco would have picked automatic tickets for the Women’s World Cup, with the team adjudged to have finished fifth presented with another chance for a shot at a Playoff Tournament next year.

Cameroon will come into Thursday’s encounter with the mentality of the yam pounder, knowing they have always been second best to Nigeria at this level, and a third consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup will certainly appeal to the Indomitable Lionesses.

A 1-2 defeat at the hands of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in their opening match of Group C last week Monday somewhat dimmed the shine of the Super Falcons, but they rose stoutly to the occasion and won their other two matches with six points and six goals advantage shooting them to the last eight.

Cameroon also started somewhat slowly, drawing with Zambia, but they picked up impressively and their reward is what is actually the most anticipated quarter-final tie at this tournament.

Both countries flew Africa’s flag at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada and at the last edition in France three years ago, but Nigeria are the untouchables, being one of only six countries on the planet to have participated in all eight editions of the quadrennial global showpiece.

“We are ready to face Cameroon,” said Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum, after his Super Falcons arrived in Morocco’s commercial and economic capital, Casablanca on Monday ahead of Thursday’s encounter.

Cameroon suffered a 6-0 spanking from the Falcons in the semi finals of the 1998 Women Africa Cup of Nations (which Nigeria hosted and which was the first edition) but things have improved a bit for the Lionesses since then. In the semi finals of the 2010 edition in South Africa, they were thumped 5-1 by the Falcons.

Both countries contested the Final matches of the 2014 and 2016 Women AFCON. In 2014 in Windhoek, Namibia, the Falcons ran away 2-0 winners to lift the trophy for the seventh time. In 2016 in Yaounde, the Lionesses suffered a heartbreak in front of their cheering fans when Desire Oparanozie scored a late goal to hand the trophy to Nigeria for the eighth time.

Four years ago, in Accra, both teams also met in the semi final stage. It was a tough duel that ended 0-0 after regulation and extra time, but the Falcons again prevailed 4-2 after penalty shoot-out on the way to their ninth title.

Thursday’s spectacle in Casablanca is expected to be explosive, but Nigeria captain Onome Ebi says the Falcons are up for the challenge.

“Of course, we know what to expect. The Cameroonians also want to go to the World Cup. But we have never missed the World Cup and we won’t start now. Our eyes are fully focused on Australia & New Zealand, and then we can start talking about the trophy.”

Forwards Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu, on two goals each, are expected to start against Cameroon, with Coach Waldrum also expected to keep faith with most of the crew that decimated Burundi in Rabat on Sunday night.

Nigeria Pillar of Sports Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has charged the Super Falcons of Nigeria to sustain their greatness as Africa Women soccer giant even as they seek more glorious outing in the AWCON 2022 championship in Morocco.

Chief Ejidike who described the prowess of the Super Falcons in Africa as an invincible leadership said the Nigeria Football followers have great Hopes in them to make the country proud.

The Pillar of sports in a statement released on Thursday and made available to newsmen expressed joy over the preparation ahead of the championship and praised the Nigeria Football Federation for the encouragement given the the Ladies ahead of the games.

Chief Ejidike admonished them not to be complacent as no country is a push over in global Football of nowadays.

He particularly commended the discipline and commitment by the Technical crew and players in the build up to the championship and charged them to keep their heads high as Africa number in women Football.

Nigeria Super Falcons will lock horns with other African counterparts as the AWCON championship kicks off in Rabark Morocco.

Titled ‘Beauty And Brains’, is an afro fusion highlife and was produced by Dr. Bigmoney Beats who is with Afro Jam records.

Vera Chukwu is a Nigerian Singer and songwriter. Born in Edo State and currently resides in Lagos State Nigeria.

She hails from Enugu State. With an Igbo Dad and Edo mother.

The songwriter, when asked for the reason behind ‘Beauty and Brains, she said: “Coming from this part of the World, our women are often times looked at just being beautiful, which is not true.”

Over the past few years, the Super Falcons have been successful with 9 African titles and have made it to every World Cup since it’s inception.

“It is beyond our ladies being beautiful, but they show it on the pitch hence the brain aspect, they have got skills, finesse and strength, I want to use this song to spur them towards getting the La Decima,” Vera said.

It will be recalled Vera Chukwu in 2019, did a song for the Super Eagles “Helelema” ahead of the Nations Cup in Egypt which gained global acceptance.

The Super Falcons are already in Morroco and will begin their campaign against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Rabat on Monday, 4th July.

The Falcons will also play Botswana (Thursday, 7th July) and Burundi (Sunday, 10th July) in the group phase.

Click the below link to listen and download

Head Coach Randy Waldrum has picked Captain Onome Ebi and 24 other players to represent Nigeria at the 12^th Women Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco, 2^nd – 23^rd July.

The list of the nine-time champions is an interesting mix of the old guard and new blood, with veterans Tochukwu Oluehi, Ebi, Rita Chikwelu, Osinachi Ohale, Francisca Ordega and Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene on board, as well as defenders Ashleigh Plumptre, Nicole Payne and Michelle Alozie, midfielder Regina Otu and forwards Vivian Ikechukwu, Gift Monday and Ifeoma Onumonu.

Dropped from the contingent that made the camp in Abuja were goalkeeper Rita Akarekor, defenders Chidinma Okeke, Ngozi Emenayo and Opeyemi Sunday, midfielders Suliat Abideen, Amanda Uju Mbadi and Charity Adule, and forward Anam Imo.

The Super Falcons will confront South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in their first match of the tournament on Monday, 4^th July before other games against Botswana (7^th July) and Burundi (10^th July).

All four semi finalists at the championship in Morocco will qualify to represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The Falcons’ contingent will depart Nigeria for Morocco on Monday, 27^th June.

SUPER FALCONS FOR 12^TH WOMEN AFCON MOROCCO 2022:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Yewande Balogun (Coppermine United, USA)

Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Santa Teresa FC, Spain); Onome Ebi (En Avant Guingamp, France); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)

Midfielders: Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden)

Forwards: Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Vivian Ikechukwu (WFC Gintra, Lithuania); Chinonyerem Macleans (GSK Gornik Leczna, Poland); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Gift Monday (Bayelsa Queens)