The 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Morocco in the summer of next year –which will also serve as the qualifying tournament for the 32-team 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand– will kick-off its first qualifying rounds tomorrow, Wednesday 20th October, as Super Falcons welcome Ghana.
Nigeria and Ghana were two of the six participating teams at the last month’s maiden edition of Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament. Despite the two sides not meeting at the tournament, both fierce continental rivals will slug it out in a battle which will rendered the losing side inactive for the next two-and-half years, until the qualifiers for the 2024 AWCON are activated.
The Coach of the Nigerian side, Randy Waldrum has fired up his side to go all out to secure the slot for the 2022 AWCON.
“It is important for us to get a good win at home and then go to Accra and play like warriors. These are two battles that we must be ready for. The Super Falcons just have to be at the AWCON and the World Cup and they are ready to give these two matches their all.”
Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi who holds the record for most FIFA world Cup appearances (five) by any African player also added that it’s a must win battle for her side.
“These are two battles that we must win. We know that we have to start by winning well in Lagos on Wednesday and then go to Ghana and put up another big performance. We are not looking at this as home-and-away matches. We are looking at two matches that we must win.”
MOLATsportgist 