The stakes are high in Thursday’s quarter-final match between Nigeria and Cameroon, as the Super Falcons chase their ninth consecutive World Cup qualifier.
The Indomitable Lionesses are chasing a pound of flesh after the Falcons denied them the WAFCON title four times.
After both teams have finished second in their respective groups, the two continental football powers will be engaged in a battle for supremacy to determine not only who will face host country Morocco in the semi-finals, but also who will receive the third automatic ticket to the ‘Africa for the World Cup. While the Super Falcons have clearly triumphed in previous encounters with their Cameroon neighbors, many believe keeping the indomitable lionesses in cages this time around could be a mammoth task.
This is because Nigerian women no longer look and play like their past was on fire as they easily wiped out all the opposition on the road for nine titles. Cameroon’s motivation to participate in the FIFA World Cup for the third consecutive time will be compelling enough to see them throw everything they have against the Super
Falcons. Cameroon started slowly in Morocco, drawing against Zambia, but improved and impressive performances took them all the way to the quarter-finals against perennial champions Nigeria.
Interestingly, the Super Falcons also started on a shaky note; 1-2 against Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the opening match of Group C.
But the team, led by coach Randy Waldrum, has now buckled up; win their next two games without conceding a goal. “We are ready to face Cameroon,” Waldrum said after the Super Falcons arrived in Casablanca on Monday.
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The Falcons will be inspired by their impressive record against the Indomitable Lionesses. Cameroon suffered a 6-0 defeat against the Falcons in the semi-finals of the 1998 African Women’s Cup of Nations (hosted by Nigeria and which was the inaugural edition), but things improved a bit for the Lionesses ever since.
In the 2010 South Africa semi-finals, the Falcons beat them 5-1. The two countries played in the women’s AFCON final in 2014 and 2016.
In 2014, the Falcons celebrated a 2-0 victory in Windhoek, Namibia, and lifted the trophy for the seventh time. In Yaoundé in 2016, despite playing in front of cheering fans, the Lionesses were heartbroken when Desire Oparanozie scored a late goal to hand the trophy to Nigeria for the eighth time.
Four years ago, in Accra, the two teams also faced each other in the semifinals. It was a tough game that ended 0-0 after regulations and extra time, but the Falcons once again won 4-2 on penalties to take their ninth title.
While Super Falcons captain Onome Ebi admits taking on Cameroon will be difficult, the 39-year-old was quick to make sure the team is ready to give their all for a positive result.
“Of course, we know what to expect. The Cameroonians also want to go to the World Cup. But we have never lost the World Cup and we will not start now. Our eyes are completely on Australia and New Zealand and so we can start talking about the trophy. ”Ebi explained.
Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Burundi is Morocco’s biggest win to date and the Super Falcons boast the deadliest attack since the group stage with their seven goals.
While we expect manager Waldrum to remain loyal to attacking duo Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu, who have scored two goals each, the American may have other tricks up his sleeve to upset the Cameroonians.
