The Super Falcons of Nigeria will take on the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon if they finish second in Group C at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nationa in Morocco.
Cameroon qualified for the quarter-finals after defeating Tunisia 2-0 in their final Group B game on Saturday.
After drawing their opening two games against Togo (1-1) and Zambia (0-0), the Cameroonians recorded their first win of the tournament to seal qualification into the last eight.
The Falcons are currently in second place in Group C and need to beat Burundi today (Sunday) to be guaranteed qualification.
The team bounced back from their 2-1 defeat to South Africa with a dominating 2-0 win against Botswana.
South Africa, who have already secured passage into the quarter-finals, will face Botswana on Sunday also and need just a point to finish top in Group C.
Meanwhile, Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre could make a return for today’s crucial clash with Burundi.
Also Read: Exclusive: 2022 WAFCON: Super Falcons Must Attack Burundi From Start To Finish –Babangida
Plumptre missed the Falcons 2-0 victory against the Mares of Botswana on Thursday due to injury.
The Leicester City star sustained the injury in the defeat to South Africa.
And speaking in his pre-match press conference on Saturday, Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum, said:“We trained earlier, so we have an idea of where she is in her recovery.
“But there’s a possibility that we will hold her again just to make sure she gets ready for the quarterfinals.
“Still, we would consider giving her some game time to get some minutes under her belt before the quarterfinal match. However, it all depends on the doctor.
“Nonetheless, if the game against Burundi were the quarterfinal, she would be playing.
“She’s capable of playing, but we also want to be smart.”
14 Comments
Unless the head to head rule is applicable, I don’t even see South Africa topping the group as they might fall to Botswana, narrowly or heavily while we might also record a heavy win against Burundi. Having said this,it does not mean that I am afraid of meeting Cameroun. Just not comfortable that either Nigeria or Cameroun will miss out on automatic qualification for the world cup
Nice comment! The Cameroon I watched last night deserves to be at that world cup than some of the teams that have qualified for the qfinal. I also think Super falcons will beat them.
It’s quite surprising that Motsepe is using all the influence he has as the president of CAF to ensure a lot of teams from his region participate in continental competitions. West Africa still remains the power House of African football. That’s for sure! Cutting out fantastic teams like CIV and Ghana from WAFCON is at best appalling. From what I have seen so far, Cameroon and Nigeria deserve to be at the WC. But Afruca may end up sending Zanmbia, South Africa one of Nigeria/Cameroon and a North African team there. This arrangement is a poor engagement of our capabilities as a continent. Something should be done, otherwise, we will be sending teams just to attend FIFA Cups and not to make impacts.
Cameroon hasn’t really be impressive or let me say the women nations are now on their toes, lots of improvement in this nations cup compare to there former ones.
It’s going to be a great man for them against cameroon
Great comment Chudynak. I am loving the competitive nature of this tournament. Tunisia pushed Cameroon all the way yesterday while Morocco emerged blemishless from their group.
The North Americans are coming!
To be honest, I am not happy that we are, mutatis mutandis, playing Cameroon in the quarter final. I think such a brobdingnagian encounter should be reserved either for the semi final or final. It was as a result of us losing to South Africa in our inaugural group match: a more favourable outcome in that match would have seen of trade shots with Tunisia in the quarter final which would have been a less intense prospect.
If it does play out that way, Waldrum will definitely have his work cut out because the Lady Lionesses have now undoubtedly kicked into gear after their slumbering start to the tournament.
It will be excruciating for Nigeria to crash out in the quarter final stages of 2 Afcons in the same year following the loss to Tunisia in January.
Correction:
* The North Africans are coming *
Against cameroon in the qfinals which is most likely going to be the outcome after today’s match, my only worry is the pace of our 2 centerbacks (ebi and ohale) who are a lil on the old side against the cameroonian forwards (#3 and the lady who scored dia 1st goal against tunisia). This is where i expect the experience of ebi and ohale to show. Their positioning has to be top notch and dia reading of the game has to be flawless. The cameroonian team i have watched isnt impressive at all, they are just physical and dats it. If we can play d way we played against bostwana by putting the ball on the ground and taking our chances when they prpresent themselves then we will be victorious. I like our chances in this tournamen but having said dat this cameroonian team reminds me of senegal in the last mens afcon where they kept scrapping for results until they ended up winning the title. I believe however that we have the players to defeat them come thursday but we 1st need to overcome burundi and when the cameroonian bridge comes we will cross it. My advise for Waldrum tho is to play okobi ayinde and ajibade in the midfield while deploying ordega and monday gift on the wings with alozie and payne operating as left and right backs. Kanu can come in for ordega to add pace while ucheibe can come in for okobi to add hunger and fight to d team.
I wish them all the best in dia game today and in subsequent matches.
SuperFalcons will surely beat this Cameroon team if we meet in the QF. Anything can still happen after the last group games. Botswana stopped SA from qualifying for the Olympics so they may not be able to beat them today. One team I won’t like us meet in the QF is Zambia if we miraculously came third in the group which can not happen. We should beat Burundi convincingly. From the QF we will see the true colors of the Falcons. Bring on Cameroon.
Alarm bell ringing!
On a more serious note I think Ashleigh should be excluded from the rest of the matches. To me, I think it was her sluggishness that resulted in the first goal scored by SA Looking at the teams going into Q.F. I don’t think she will be able to cope with the speed of those players. Its better for her to remain on the bench.
You spoke my mind, Ashley plumptre should be groomed to play in her natural position I mean the central defence.
We could see the difference when Payne played there,she covered a lot of ground with her speed and energy.I have never been impressed by Ashley in a super falcons colour,she passes the ball so quick she can’t manoeuvre,she lacks natural skills which makes it difficult for her adapting to the Nigerian style,though she get used in an unfamiliar role,I would like to see her in her natural position to assess her better.
Meanwhile,if she can’t display either of Ebi and Ohale then she should deputise for them from the bench.
Personally I think Waldrum is missing a trick. Plumptre could easily emerge as one of the best centre backs in this tournament. She does play the fullback role well offensively with her neat touches, prescient passes and purposeful overlapping runs. But defensively, opponents will target her because of her limited pace. Although Alozie and Payne aren’t natural fullbacks as well, their blistering pace limits their shortcomings in 1v1 situations.
Playing Plumptre as a full back is accident waiting to happen. She was twisted inside out before the through pass for South Africa’s first goal. But she was excellent offensively in tbat match.
When we go three at the back, Ebi, Plumptre and Glory Ogbonna are our best centre back pairing.
To win a trophy you are expected to meet the strongest opponent from QF to the Final. Falcons must take every opportunity to emerge victorious as they face stronger oppositions. God bless Super Falcons.
God bless Nigeria.
Sorry o but it seems you watch the back of TV during the first match, Ashley was the only person who did well in that match.