AWCON
WAFCON: ‘We are looking beyond South Africa’ says Oshoala
Nigeria striker Asisat Oshoala says her side is looking beyond facing title rivals South Africa at this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The record nine-time African champions will open their 2022 WAFCON campaign just as they ended the last edition against 2018 runners-up Banyana Banyana, having been pitted in Group C, alongside Botswana, and Burundi.
The Super Falcons bowed twice in last three meetings with South African since 2018 but the Barcelona star insists her side is underestimating no side, including Desiree Ellis’ team in their quest for another record-extending 10th continental crown.
“I don’t think the opening game is a decider of the tournament, and by the way, its not only South Africa we will be facing. It’s a whole tournament,” Oshoala told CAFOnline.com.
“We are not going to be seated talking tough about just one team [South Africa]. Obviously, they are a very strong team, a very competitive one as well. Maybe the mindset of our team and theirs may not be the same, but we have the likes of Cameroon, Morroco, and other great teams in Africa to face.
“We are just basically focused on working on ourselves and we are not so bothered about playing South Africa. When we get to the phase of playing them, we will cross it.”
Despite an injury-hit season, Oshoala won Spain’s Pichichi prize with 20 goals, becoming the first African woman to do so and second African after Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o with Barcelona.
Ahead of her fifth WAFCON appearance, the four-time African Women’s Player of the Year is upbeat about replicating her Barcelona’s goalscoring impact for Nigeria in Morocco, while opening up on her personal and Super Falcons’ ambitions.
“I think its been a rollercoaster of different emotions, i’ve had good times and bad times, with injuries and all of that. It is just a mixed feeling for me this season,” the 2014 WAFCON best player and 2016 topscorer, continued.
“As usual, i’m in the competition mode, i’m excited, working hard for the tournament, after couple of years and after being cancelled the last time [2020], we are set for the big one again
“First of all, I think we need to understand football, talking about shifting focus and replicating the same performances, I am always ready to give 100 per cent whenever I am given the opportunity to play. I am in a positive mood going into the tournament.
“For me personally, the main goal is to qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, because, at the end of the day, that is all that matters and every other thing coming after or with it is just secondary. The primary aim is to qualify, of course, we want to win [WAFCON] but the main goal is to qualify for the World Cup.”
The Super Falcons began final preparation in Abuja on Wednesday, June 15 and are scheduled to face South Africa in their tournament’s opening match at Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on July 4.
-cafonline
Democratic Republic of Congo side, TP Mazembe are officially the champions of the CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024.
A highly tactical and hard fought 1-0 victory in the final played in El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi against former champions and hosts, AS FAR saw the DR Congo side crowned the new champions of Africa for the first time – wiping away tears of their 2022 group stage exit.
With the crowd backing the hosts, Mazembe showed great resilience and courage in taking the match to the former champions who remain in search for what has been an elusive second title for them.
The deciding goal of the fourth edition of the tournament came courtesy of a converted spot kick by Marlene Kasaj in the opening 10 minutes, which Mazembe protected throughout the match to seal the historic victory.
Despite the early concession, AS FAR kept believing and surged forward in search of the leveller, but a resolute Mazembe defense kept the clean sheet throughout the opening half.
Coming back from the break, it was surprisingly Mazembe who looked more dangerous as they came out strong in an attempt to kill off the game.
The hosts eventually found their rhythm but again were met by a disciplined Mazembe defense, who kept the former champions at bay to secure Africa’s most sought-after women’s club football crown.
In addition to the coveted CAF Women’s Champions League trophy, TP Mazembe also take home $600 000 in prize money, while runners-up AS FAR take home $400 000.
-CAF
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The National Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) Samuel Ikpea has tipped the Super Falcons of Nigeria to claim their 10th African Women’s Cup of Nations title in Morocco when they begin their campaign next year.
Ikpea’ remarks came after the Friday night draw that put Algeria, Tunisia and Botswana in the same group with the Super Falcons.
“Our girls are going to play in a group with two North African countries (Tunisia and Algeria). “It is going to be interesting, and I am optimistic that our girls will scale from our group”.
Nigeria will tackle two North African teams – Tunisia and Algeria – as well as Botswana, in Group B of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Morocco next summer.
The Falcons will surely relish another meeting with Algeria’s Green Ladies, whom they defeated 2-0 and 4-1 respectively in two friendly matches in Nigeria last month.
Botswana eliminated Gabon in the qualifying series and Tunisia were the quarter-finalists at the last edition also hosted by Morocco.
At the draw conducted on Friday evening at the Technical Centre of the Mohamed VI Football Complex in Sale, outside Rabat, host nation Morocco, earlier slotted into Group A, learnt they will have to cope with Zambia, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cup holders South Africa are in Group C and will square up to Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in the three-week, 12-nation final tournament taking place 5th – 26th July 2025.
Hosts Morocco finished as runners-up in the last edition in July 2022, with Zambia taking the bronze after a 1-0 defeat of Nigeria in the third-place match.
GROUP A: Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, DR Congo
GROUP B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana
GROUP C: South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania
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