Wafcon 2024: Some first-timers wey fit help Nigeria Super Falcons sustain dia legacy
Di opening match na host Morocco vs Zambia.
But for di Super Falcons of Nigeria, na less dan one day to dia opening match.
Di Super Falcons na one of di strongest sides for dis tournament. In fact, dem be di most decorated sake of say dem bin don win di trophy nine times. Now dem dey compete to win dia 10th title.
No women's team for Africa don come near dis achievement, na why Head Coach of di team Justin Madugu tell Nigerians say dem dey do evritin to make sure say di team maintain di confidence wey dem get ova di years.
"We dey do evritin on our part to make sure say we sustain di confidence wey Nigerians don give us, we go try as much as possible to meet una expectations, make una kontinu to trust and support di team."
Join Pidgin WhatsApp Channel for more tori on Wafcon 2024.
Coach Justin Madugu take ova from American Coach Randy Waldrum wey bin dey lead di team from 2020 till September 2024.
As Madugu don come now, im fit help Super Falcons overcome dia shortcomings?
Wetin be di shortcomings of di Super Falcons?
Some pipo go still ask wetin be di shortcomings of a team wey dey always represent for women's football for Africa and nobody don beat dia record till now.
Di answer be say even though dis team dey shine well-well according to history, dem neva too perform well in recent years.
Di last time wey dem win dis Wafcon trophy na six years ago, 2018 wen dem beat South Africa [4-3] on penalties for Accra Ghana.
Wen former Coach Randy Waldrum bin take over for 2020, expectations bin no too high sake of say di man na University student coach and im bin dey do di Super Falcons job side by side wit im oda work.
Randy Waldrum bin no to dey steady wit di team and some women's football pundits bin tok say na one of dis distractions wey di team bin get.
Randy Waldrum manage carry dem finish fourth for di 2022 edition, na Zambia beat dem 1-0 for di third place match for Morocco.
Now wey Justin Madugu don take charge of di team, Nigerians believe say im go do well.
Nigeria dey Group B wit Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana, Nigerians believe say di kontri go qualify from dis group.
Some oda pipo dey argue say host kontri Morocco fit win sake of di way dia women football dey grow and di kain players wey dem get.
See di complete Wafcon 2024 squad and di ogbonge players wey dey dis tournament.
Who be di first timers and wetin dem fit do
Di Nigeria squad list for di 2024 Wafcon get a combination of both old and young players.
And on Friday, di players get dia official jersey numbers for di tournament.
Some of di Wafcon first-timers na homebased players from di Nigeria Women Premier League [NWPL].
Miracle Usani - She be defender wit Edo Queens. For 2022 she bin win bronze medal for di U17 Women's World Cup.
Di Confederation of African Football [Caf] bin also name her for di Women's Champions League Best XI [Eleven]
She win di West Africa Football Union [Wafu B] Women Champions League qualifier last season for Ivory Coast.
Miracle wey dey 18 years na one of di most promising defensive talents for Nigeria.
Dem fit add value to di team and dem go try to show say dem no come dis tournament to play, some of dem na:
Racheal Onachukwu - Na Goalkeeper wey dey play for Nasarawa Amazons. She be dia number one goalkeeper and Sikiratu Isah of Nasarawa Amazons too go play dia first Wafcon.
Oda players to watch na Shikurat Oladipo wey come from FC Robo Queens for Nigeria move to AS Roma Ladies.
Experienced hands
Di Wafcon team get plenti players wey don win di title bifor, dis players don play for di higest level of international footballl.
Di likes of Francesca Ordega wey dey currently play for Ittihad Ladies Club, Saudi Arabia.
Osinachi Ohale don dey play for di national team for ova 10 years, she bin start wit U – 20 for 2010.
She be part of di team wey bin win in di title 4 times back to back.
Tochukwu Oluehi na di former number one goalkeeper for Super Falcon bifor Chiamaka take ova. Di former Rivers Angels goalkeeper still dey play professional football. She aslo get Wafcon titles to her name.
Asisat Oshoala na di most decorated Women's Footballer for Africa. She don win multiple Wafcon titles and also Caf Women's Player of di Year a record six times.
Di question na if di experience wey dis players get go pay-off dis time.
Na only time go tell if dia experiences fit help Nigeria win dia 10th title.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Nigeria vs Morocco: Wafcon final match preview
Nigeria go face Morocco for di final of di 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations wey go happun on Saturday, 26 July for di Olympic stadium, Rabat, Morocco. Di nine-time champions and host kontri Morocco go put leg for one trouser as di two kontris go play for di trophy, prize money and pride. Football fans and pundits dey tok bout dis ogbonge clash, while some say Nigeria na favourites odas say Morocco too na favourites sake of home advantage and na dem dey lead di goal scorers chat. Dis na Morocco second final and first one back to back while na Nigeria first final since 2018. Match facts Both Nigeria and Morocco show class for di group stage, dem kontinue beta form for di quarter-finals and finish work for di semi-finals. Di two teams cruise to di final of di 2024 Wafcon wit style Wit dia back to back final di Atlas Lionesses don confam say dem no be small team for women's football for di continent. Morocco get beta brilliant talents like captain Ghizlane Chebbak wey be di leading top scorer. Ibtissam Jraidi wey fit change di game at any moment. difference at any moment. For Morocco , if dem win dis final e go show say dia football women's football don develop. For Nigeria dem still be di powerhouse for women's football for Africa and dem get dia nine titles to show as evidence. Dis final na opportunity for dem to make anoda history. Wit ogbonge players like Captain Rasheedat Ajibade wey don win three Women's Player of di Match award and Chinwendu Ihezuo wey be di top scorer for Nigeria wit three goals, di team dey determined to win. Dis final go determine weda e go be di first time for Morocco or 10th for Nigeria - who go win Wafcon final? Wetin di coaches tok Di 21,000-seater Olympic Stadium for Rabat go host dis ogbonge final and di Head coach of Morocco Vilda, wey originally come from Spain Morocco's Spanish say "to play for front of our home crowd na beta source of energy. Dis stadium na more dan a pitch, na arena wia our dreams fit come to life." Nigeria Head Coach, Justin Madugu, say dem need to beat di pressure from di host kontri. "We know di stakes and how stong di Moroccan crowd be. But our players bin don experience am for major finals and know how to handle dis type of match." Di two coaches end wit battle of words bifor di final. Vilda say "Di match go dey intense, and evri detail go count... we need to dey ready to counter dia strengths, as we go impose our own pace." . Madugu say "We know say Morocco na strong team, but we get our own game plan." Kick-off na 9pm and we go do live updates
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
First time for Morocco or 10th for Nigeria - who go win Wafcon final?
Nigeria bid for a record to extend dia 10th continental title wen dey face host nationa Morocco in di final of di 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on Saturday. Both sides dey unbeaten and di West Africans don only concede one goal in five matches on dia journey to di 21,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Runners-up in dat same stadium in 2022, Morocco dey look for redemption. If di Atlas Lionesses lift di trophy for di first time e go offer some return on di vast investment wey di kingdom don pour into di women game in recent years. To pick favourite no easy, wit neither side making any compelling case in di semi-finals. Di North Africans, wey be Spain Women World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda in di dugout, wey need penalty kicks to beat Ghana, while Nigeria, di continent' top-ranked side, score a stoppage-time winner to knock out defending champions South Africa. Confidence, however, dey high in di Super Falcons camp, wit dia campaign branded as 'Mission X'. "Mission X - na wetin dis entire tournament dey about," defender Michelle Alozie bin tell BBC Sport Africa. "E dey go all di way to di final and win am. We dey grow as a team and I think say dat dey show for evri game." Di winners go pick up $1m (£743,000) in prize money as well as di new-look Wafcon trophy. Listeners to di BBC World Service in Africa fit hear live radio commentary (kick-off 20:00 GMT), while di match go dey be streamed for viewerinin di UK on iPlayer and di BBC Sport website and app. Atlas Lionesses one win from history Morocco return to Wafcon for di first time since 2000 wen di kontri bin host di 2022 edition, but di hosts, wey go also stage di 2026 finals in March, now don firmly establish themselves as one of di continent elite sides. However, dia performances dis month no dey as convincing as three years ago, becos dem bin fall behind twice against Zambia in di opening game and den trail Ghana at half-time in di last four. Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi don look shaky on several occasions, 34-year-old star player and captain Ghizlane Chebbak don fade in di knockout stage and winger Sanaa Mssoudy never display di level of trickery and impact wey bin see her named as di best player for last year Women African Champions League and in di 2024-25 Moroccan league campaign. Yet Chebbak, di joint-top scorer in di tournament wit four goals, still dey capable to produce in crucial moments and striker Ibtissam Jraidi provides a cutting edge up front. "I don see one Moroccan team wey no really give up even wen dem dey trailing," Desire Oparanozie, a four-time Wafcon winner wit Nigeria, bin tell BBC Sport Africa. "Dem don dey very impressive. Dey keep coming at you and dat na really positive tin." Vilda appointment dey controversial, sake of say e bin leave di Spain job for middle of di fallout from one incidentfor di 2023 Women World Cup final wen den-federation president Luis Rubiales bin kiss player Jenni Hermoso without her consent. Rubiales dey found guilty of sexual assault and fined, while Vilda was cleared of allegations of coercion. Yet im presence in di Morocco dugout don divide supporters - even if e fit create history by helping a North African side win Wafcon for di first time while also achieve unique personal double. "Morocco go need a coach to make dem more dan di sum of dia parts to win dis final," Algerian journalist Maher Mezahi bin tell di BBC World Service. "I don see arguments to say dat Morocco to hire Vilda, if e get dem to win di Wafcon, fit worth am sake of say to do so much more for di women game - even if dat dey little bit tainted wit am as di coach." Super Falcons fit complete Mission X? Meanwhile, Nigeria, wey don for long be di dominant force in African women football, never dey shy to express dia intentions to reclaim di title wey dey last win in 2018. Di kontri football federation bin announce Mission X bifor di finals and don be hot topic during media engagements wit players. Coach Justin Madugu don find balance to im side wey don display physicality for di back, dominance in midfield and a potent front three wey dey spearheaded by Esther Okoronkwo intelligent build-up play. Di Super Falcons threat from across di pitch dey underlined wit nine different goalscorers, and di side ground out victory against South Africa wen right-back Alozie na di unlikely match-winner. "We dey born wit di zeal to fight and want to win every game," forward Okoronkwo tell BBC Sport Africa. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, wey don signed for Women Super League side Brighton, don rarely dey tested and di only time she don dey beaten thus far na from di penalty spot. Oparanozie think say di Super Falcons go dey out for "revenge" after dia semi-final exit at the hands of the Moroccans in 2022 - game wey bin see dem get two players sent off by di 72nd minute and eventually beaten on penalties. Managing a partisan stadium A capacity crowd dey expected in di Moroccan capital yet Oparanozie no anticipate say overwhelming support for di hosts go affect her compatriots. "Nigeria dey known for big moments like dis," di 31-year-old tok. "In 2016 we bin play against di host nation Cameroon [in di final]. Di stadium dey filled to 40,000 capacity and dat no stop Nigeria from winning." Di 2024 tournament, dey delayed for a year sake of scheduling issues, don see di continent lowest ranked sides cause issues for those above dem, but di final still be one many predicted. If Morocco fit bridge a gap of 24 places in di world rankings - and hand Nigeria dia first ever final defeat - e go put a new name on di Wafcon trophy. Victory for di hosts fit potentially tilt di balance of power in Africa, as well as putting pressure on Morocco men ahead of di 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, wey kick off in di kingdom in December.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
A first for Morocco or 10th for Nigeria - who will win Wafcon final?
Nigeria bid for a record-extending 10th continental title when they face hosts Morocco in the final of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on sides are unbeaten and the West Africans have only conceded one goal in five matches on their journey to the 21,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in in that same stadium in 2022, Morocco are looking for the Atlas Lionesses lift the trophy for the first time it would offer some return on the vast investment the kingdom has poured into the women's game in recent a favourite is not easy, with neither side making a compelling case in the North Africans, who have Spain's Women's World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda in the dugout, needed penalty kicks to get past Ghana, while Nigeria, the continent's top-ranked side, scored a stoppage-time winner to knock out defending champions South however, is high in the Super Falcons camp, with their campaign branded as 'Mission X'."Mission X - that's what this entire tournament was about," defender Michelle Alozie told BBC Sport Africa."It's going all the way to the final and winning it. We're growing as a team and I think that shows every game."The winners will pick up $1m (£743,000) in prize money as well as the new-look Wafcon to the BBC World Service in Africa can hear live radio commentary (kick-off 20:00 GMT), while the match will be streamed for viewers in the UK on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. Atlas Lionesses one win from history Morocco returned to Wafcon for the first time since 2000 when the country hosted the 2022 edition, but the hosts, who will also stage the 2026 finals in March, have now firmly established themselves as one of the continent's elite their performances this month have not been as convincing as three years ago, given they fell behind twice against Zambia in the opening game and then trailed Ghana at half-time in the last Khadija Er-Rmichi has looked shaky on several occasions, 34-year-old star player and captain Ghizlane Chebbak has faded in the knockout stage and winger Sanaa Mssoudy has not displayed the level of trickery and impact which saw her named as the best player at last year's Women's African Champions League and in the 2024-25 Moroccan league Chebbak, the joint-top scorer in the tournament with four goals, is still capable of producing in crucial moments and striker Ibtissam Jraidi provides a cutting edge up front."I've seen a Moroccan team that doesn't really give up even when they are trailing," Desire Oparanozie, a four-time Wafcon winner with Nigeria, told BBC Sport Africa."They've been very impressive. They keep coming at you and that's really a positive thing."Vilda's appointment was controversial, given he left the Spain job amid the fallout from an incident at the 2023 Women's World Cup final when then-federation president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her was found guilty of sexual assault and fined, while Vilda was cleared of allegations of his presence in the Morocco dugout has divided supporters - even if he could create history by helping a North African side win Wafcon for the first time while also achieving a unique personal double."Morocco are going to need a coach to make them more than the sum of their parts to win this final," Algerian journalist Maher Mezahi told the BBC World Service."I've even seen arguments to say that Morocco hiring Vilda, if he gets them to win the Wafcon, would be worth it because it's going to do so much more for the women's game - even if that is a little bit tainted with him being the coach." Can Super Falcons complete Mission X? Meanwhile, Nigeria, who have long been the dominant force in African women's football, have not been shy in expressing their intentions of reclaiming the title they last won in country's football federation announced Mission X before the finals and it has been a hot topic during media engagements with Justin Madugu has found a balance to his side which has displayed physicality at the back, dominance in midfield and a potent front three spearheaded by Esther Okoronkwo's intelligent build-up Super Falcons' threat from across the pitch is underlined by having nine different goalscorers, and the side ground out a victory against South Africa when right-back Alozie was the unlikely match-winner."We're born with the zeal to fight and want to win every game," forward Okoronkwo told BBC Sport Chiamaka Nnadozie, who has signed for Women's Super League side Brighton, has rarely been tested and the only time she has been beaten thus far was from the penalty thinks the Super Falcons will be out for "revenge" after their semi-final exit at the hands of the Moroccans in 2022 - a game which saw them have two players sent off by the 72nd minute and eventually beaten on penalties. Managing a partisan stadium A capacity crowd is expected in the Moroccan capital yet Oparanozie does not anticipate that overwhelming support for the hosts will affect her compatriots."Nigeria is known for big moments like this," the 31-year-old said."In 2016 we played against the host nation Cameroon [in the final]. The stadium was filled to 40,000 capacity and that didn't stop Nigeria from winning."The 2024 tournament, delayed for a year because of scheduling issues, has seen the continent's lowest ranked sides cause issues for those above them, but the final is still the one many Morocco can bridge a gap of 24 places in the world rankings - and hand Nigeria their first ever final defeat - it will put a new name on the Wafcon for the hosts could potentially tilt the balance of power in Africa, as well as putting pressure on Morocco's men ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in the kingdom in December.
