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Falcons’ coach, Randy Waldrum says Nigeria will be prepared to win

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Randy Waldrum says Nigeria will be ‘prepared to win’ all its group stage matches at the upcoming TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The draw for the 2022 WAFCON group stage took place in Rabat on Friday night, with the Super Falcons renewing their rivalry with South Africa, having been drawn together in Group C alongside Botswana and Burundi.

The Nigerians suffered a 1-0 defeat to Banyana Banyana at the group stage but bounce back to win the WAFCON for the ninth time in their history in 2018.

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Despite bowing to South Africa in the Aisha Buhari Cup final last September, Waldrum will hope his side can go all the way again this time around, and he is looking forward to coming up against three teams with very distinctive qualities.

“Draws are always interesting and unpredictable. So we will focus on preparing for them all,” Waldrum told CAFOnline.com after the draw.

“With this particular draw, our approach will be that of respecting our opponents and understanding that any opponent can win if we aren’t prepared to play.”

The defending champions subdued West African giants Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 and 3-0 on aggregate respectively to qualify for the finals and keep alive their dream of a record 10th and fourth consecutive African crown.

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While showing empathy to the Ghanaians and Ivorians, the American tactican admitted the qualification dates with the two teams offered good preparation for team ahead of the new 12-nation continental showpiece.

“It was unfortunate the way teams were matched up prior to WAFCON. Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire both are worthy of being in the World Cup. Seems to me, CAF would want it’s best teams representing Africa,” the 64-year-old sympathised.

“Having said that, those games certainly helps our players in knowing what we are capable of, and re-emphasizing the strength of our team and the possibilities ahead.”

The nine-time African champions began their preparations with a doubleheader against reigning Olympic winners Canada in April, with the Falcons suffering a 2-0 first leg loss before twice surrending the lead to draw 2-2 in the second tie.

Waldrum’s side is looking a different set up from the team that lost to South Africa at the 2021 ABC tournament but he will be eager to face the 2018 finalists as he knows his side will enter the opening tie with a point to prove.

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“We respect South Africa but we also know the situation the last time we played them.” said the former Trinidad and Tobago coach.

“We will be ready and prepared to win just as we will be with all the teams in our group. Playing teams like the Olympic gold medalists Canada and playing well shows us the heights we are capable of achieving.

“We must remain focused and continue improving in some areas in order to become a world power which we are capable of achieving.”

Nigeria won the a third in a row and record ninth title in Ghana 2018 and Waldrum will aim to guide the country to another title and a ninth berth to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

“The first priority is obviously to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. That has always been the objective for us.” he added.

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“This means we must have success in the group stage. We always want and expect to win whenever we step on the field, so our goal also will be to win the women’s AFCON.”

Nigeria will open their campaign against South Africa on July 4 at Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat and take on Botswana three days later. They will then wrap up the group phase against debutants Burundi on July 10.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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AWCON

TP Mazembe reign as Queens of African women’s club football

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Democratic Republic of Congo side, TP Mazembe are officially the champions of the CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024.

A highly tactical and hard fought 1-0 victory in the final played in El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi against former champions and hosts, AS FAR saw the DR Congo side crowned the new champions of Africa for the first time – wiping away tears of their 2022 group stage exit. 

With the crowd backing the hosts, Mazembe showed great resilience and courage in taking the match to the former champions who remain in search for what has been an elusive second title for them.

The deciding goal of the fourth edition of the tournament came courtesy of a converted spot kick by Marlene Kasaj in the opening 10 minutes, which Mazembe protected throughout the match to seal the historic victory.  

Despite the early concession, AS FAR kept believing and surged forward in search of the leveller, but a resolute Mazembe defense kept the clean sheet throughout the opening half. 

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Coming back from the break, it was surprisingly Mazembe who looked more dangerous as they came out strong in an attempt to kill off the game. 

The hosts eventually found their rhythm but again were met by a disciplined Mazembe defense, who kept the former champions at bay to secure Africa’s most sought-after women’s club football crown.

In addition to the coveted CAF Women’s Champions League trophy, TP Mazembe also take home $600 000 in prize money, while runners-up AS FAR take home $400 000.

-CAF

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WAFCON draw is a fair one for Super Falcons, says football supporters’ boss Ikpea

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BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU

The National Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) Samuel Ikpea has tipped the Super Falcons of Nigeria to claim their 10th African Women’s Cup of Nations title in Morocco when they begin their campaign next year.

Ikpea’  remarks came after the Friday night draw that put Algeria, Tunisia and Botswana in the same group with the Super Falcons.

“Our girls are going to play in a group with two North African countries (Tunisia and Algeria). “It is going to be interesting, and I am optimistic that our girls will scale from our group”.

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AWCON

Super Falcons to face Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana at Women’s Africa Cup of Nations

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Super Falcons set to face Algeria again

Nigeria will tackle two North African teams – Tunisia and Algeria – as well as Botswana, in Group B of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Morocco next summer. 

The Falcons will surely relish another meeting with Algeria’s Green Ladies, whom they defeated 2-0 and 4-1 respectively in two friendly matches in Nigeria last month. 

Botswana eliminated Gabon in the qualifying series and Tunisia were the quarter-finalists at the last edition also hosted by Morocco. 

At the draw conducted on Friday evening at the Technical Centre of the Mohamed VI Football Complex in Sale, outside Rabat, host nation Morocco, earlier slotted into Group A, learnt they will have to cope with Zambia, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Cup holders South Africa are in Group C and will square up to Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in the three-week, 12-nation final tournament taking place 5th – 26th July 2025. 

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Hosts Morocco finished as runners-up in the last edition in July 2022, with Zambia taking the bronze after a 1-0 defeat of Nigeria in the third-place match.

GROUP A: Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, DR Congo

GROUP B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana

GROUP C: South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania

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