By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
In the years past, an encounter between the Super Falcons of Nigeria and Burundi senior women’s football team would not cause the former any sleepless night but times have changed.
Also, football is full of unpredictability hence anything can happen within the 90 minutes of action, a situation which will make the final group match between Nigeria and Burundi very interesting to watch at Complexe Moulay Hassan in Rabat on Sunday night.
After losing the opening match to South Africa, Nigeria bounced back to beat high-flying Mares of Botswana 2-0 courtesy of goals from forward Ifeoma Onumonu and rising midfielder Christy Ucheibe in each half of the game.
The victory took the Super Falcons from third to second position while South Africa that also thrashed Burundi 3-1 in the second match seats comfortably in the first position in Group C at the moment, leaving Botswana in the third place and a chance of making it to the next round if it ends this way.
But the table may change after Sunday’s matches with South Africa, Nigeria and Botswana still not sure of top position just as the second in this group will face Cameroon in the quarter final showdown.
This is why the Super Falcons should come out stronger against Burundi, the whipping child of the group, to impose their superiority over their opponents if they want to avoid the Indomitable Lionesses at this stage of the competition.
The WAFCON defending champions showed a glimpse of what they are capable of doing last time out against Botswana especially in the second half when energetic younger players were introduced.
There is no doubt that Super Falcons have strong bench but it depends on the tactics the Head Coach Randy Waldrum wants to adopt in each match, although his tactics in the first game against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana failed woefully.
With all action players like Gift Monday, Uchenna Kanu, Vivian Ikechukwu and Chinonyerem Macleans in the team, no country in the competition this year can boast of more attackers.
Also, defenders Glory Ogbonnaya and Ashleigh Plumptre have potentials to compliment captain Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale while the problem of goalkeeping has been solved with the return of save-hands Chiamaka Cynthia Nnadozie after serving out a card offence.
In all, the match against Burundi on Sunday is for Nigeria to lose even as the Super Falcons are expected to score more goals than they did against Botswana.
Elsewhere, South Africa and their neighbours, Botswana will rekindle their COSAFA region rivalry in Morocco on Sunday when they take to the field.
South Africa with six points after two victories over Nigeria and Burundi will like to maintain their 100% record by beating Botswana by wide margin to top Group C to avoid Cameroon in the quarter final match.
Head Coach Desiree Ellis whose target is to win the WAFCON trophy in second attempt, will unleash her first team against Botswana if only to test the ability of the players to go all the way as the tournament is entering the business end next week.
The second placed team in Group C will play against the second-best team in Group B which is Cameroon as Zambia finished top while Tunisia placed third with Togo crashing out of the competition.
