By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
After a bitter loss in the bruising semi final match to hosts Morocco, Nigeria will aim to salvage what remains of her image in African football when the Super Falcons clash with the Copper Queens of Zambia in the third placed match Friday night at Complexe Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco.
The dethroned champions are not used to playing classification matches but they will return to the unfamiliar territory for the third time in 12 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).when they file out today in Casablanca.
Since the tournament started in Nigeria in 1998, this is only the third time Nigeria will play in a third-place match, winning one and losing the other to arch-rivals Cameroon. The Nigeria defeated Cameroon 5-4 on penalties in 2008 but lost 1-0 to the same opponents at the 2012 edition.
The nine-time winners will be heavy favourites when they face a Zambian team making it past the group stages for the first time in three attempts but the odds are against the Super Falcons in today’s winner takes all match.
Firstly, the Super Falcons are hit hard by injuries and card offenses which have seen the team missing key players in the match against Zambia. Team captain Onome Ebi was injured in the semi final loss to Morocco.
Also, ex-skipper and newly crowned Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year, Asisat Lamina Oshoala was ruled out of the competition after she was injured in the first match of the tournament against South Africa while the duo of Halimat Ayinde and Rasheedat Ajibade were red carded in the match against Morocco.
Secondly, the Super Falcons are still reeling in No Pay- No Work incident which reared its ugly head again in Casablanca 48 hours to the crucial match as the players embarked on strike action over unpaid backlogs of match entitlements.
The Randy Waldrum-tutored Super Falcons, known for their hard stands when it comes to their match bonuses and allowance boycotted training in Casablanca on Wednesday. They also threatened not to play the third- place match against Zambia if their demands are not met by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Recall Prompt News exclusively reported yesterday that Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has decided to save Nigeria from global embarrassment by accepting to intervene by paying the backlogs of entitlement owed the players by NFF, it is not certain if the players have agreed to file out on Friday against Zambia as at the time of this report.
The above on and off the field incidents have conspired to pose a big trouble for the Super Falcons going into the crucial match on Friday, Coach Waldrum is upbeat his team has what it takes to edge Zambia.
He said he is optimistic that the Super Falcons will give their all despite a rash of injuries and suspensions in the camp of the nine-time champions.
“We have two players suspended as a result of red cards in the last game, and we also have some players down with injury. So, there will be changes but we will go for the best legs that would give us victory on Friday”, he said in pre-match interview.
Indeed, Nigeria has players who can carry the flag high in youth players like rising goalscorer, Gift Monday, strong defender Glory Ogbonna, impressive midfielders
Peace Efih and Christy Ucheibe as well as good players like Vivian Ikechukwu and Regina Otu.
But Head Coach of Copper Queens, Bruce Mwape said on Thursday that his girls have put behind them the controversial defeat to South Africa, through an added-time penalty that is still a talking point at these finals.
Said he: “We gave our all and created chances but we failed to take them and that was a mistake that we paid dearly for in the end. We have put that behind us and now, we want to win the bronze medals for our people.”
Coach Mwape who tinkered the team to qualify Zambia for their first Olympic Games participation in Tokyo last year and helped his country to qualify for her maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup, is not taking any prisoners.
He has the team to give Nigeria a run for the big prize hence he will unleash the fleetfooted Grace Chanda who finished second in the 2022 CAF Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year final three.
However, like it happened in Falcons’ opening group C match against South Africa and in the semi final loss to Morocco, Coach Waldrum’s technical and tactical prowess will once again be under scrutiny when he comes face to face in Casablanca with Mwape who finished second in 2022 CAF Africa Best Women’s Football Coach Award.
The coach with superior tactics will carry the day as the match will be won from the bench.
