Paris 2024: Falcons, Lionesses in fierce battle in Douala
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Giants of African women’s football, Nigeria and Cameroon, will take no prisoners when they clash in Douala on Friday for a place in the final round of the African qualifying series for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
The Super Falcons, rated top in Africa and still walking with springs in their steps after reaching the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Down Under, exiting the finals without losing a match in regulation time, will remember at kick-off that the Indomitable Lionesses stopped their march to the London 2012 Olympics.
On their part, the Lionesses have grouses of their own, having been bumped by Nigeria in several significant events, including being denied the Women Africa Cup of Nations title in front of their fans in 2016 and being shoved out at the quarter-finals of the last Women AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Coach Randy Waldrum has recalled fabulous defender Ashley Plumptre, now based in Saudi Arabia, and Halimatu Ayinde, Toni Payne, and Christy Ucheibe will get to play together in the middle again after a stirring outing at the World Cup in Australia. There’s also the talented youngster Deborah Abiodun.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, is among the most respected safe hands globally. In forwards, Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday, and Esther Okoronkwo, the Super Falcons boast one of the most stellar attacking ensembles in women’s football.
Captain Ajibade scored two of the five goals that eliminated Ethiopia in the second round of the qualifiers, with Oshoala also scoring, and Okoronkwo and Kanu were on fire as Cape Verde were put to the sword in the final round of qualifiers for this year’s Women AFCON championship.
Veteran defender Osinachi Ohale is peerless in her day, and younger stallions Tosin Demehin and Rofiat Imuran have grown to become actual fighters whenever the occasion calls for such.
Cameroon, who edged Uganda 3-2 on aggregate in the second round, will be missing star player Ajara Njoya Nchout. Yet, it will be dangerous to underestimate what the Lionesses can come up with right in their den.
Both teams will join the same flight to Nigeria’s administrative capital, Abuja, for Monday’s return leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana will take on Tanzania the same weekend, with the winner over two legs to clash with the winner of Nigeria/Cameroon for one of the African tickets to Paris in July.
Tunisia clashes with Morocco in an all-North African affair, while Ghana hosts Zambia in Kumasi. Winners will face off for the second African ticket to Paris.
