28th October, 2010
Ex-international Gift Okunwa believes that Nigeria’s Super Falcons are the team to beat at this year’s Afican Women Championship, AWC which kicks off on Sunday in South Africa.
Satisfied with Falcons’ 21-man list for the biennial football fiesta, Okunwa told SuperSport.com in Lagos that the mixture of old and young players is a wise choice that will see the five-time African champion excel.
“The 21-man list is good, it is a combination of the Under-17, Under-20, a few of them that were at the recent Fifa World Cup and the Super Falcons players.
“Of course, when you talk of AWC age and experience come into play, you cannot take it away from the older players who are more experienced and exposed.â€
The former U-20 player said over confidence robbed the Falcons of victory in Equatorial Guinea two years ago. She explained to SuperSport.com that the incumbent coach being the first women coach to lead Falcons to AWC will correct that mistake and bring the trophy back home.
“I am sure it was over confidence that caused Falcons’ the title and it will not repeat itself again. They underrated their opponents and before they knew it, Equatorial Guinea have won the title.
“Eucharia will never want a repeat; she is a wonderful thing happening to women football in Nigeria, the first women coach to lead Falcons to AWC. I am confident she will come back home victorious.
“There is unity among the players and the coaching crew that is the tonic to excel.â€
On the impact of the absentee professionals on the team’s title quest and countries that will pose hard nuts to crack, Okunwa said time of minnows in African football has gone, and however predicted a final clash between the Falcons and Black Queens of Ghana.
“African women football has grown, it is almost impossible to make accurate prediction because every country now is eager to come out victorious but I am sure Nigeria will play in the final possibly against Ghana.
“Ikidi, Uwak and Sarah Michael would be missed but not much because the young ones in the team are equal to the task. You cannot remove experience though but they will cope,†she said.
Super Falcons were expected to arrive South Africa for their first match against Mali on 1 November before they play rivals South Africa and new comers Tanzania on 7 November.
The other group has title holders Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Cameroun and Algeria.
Top two teams in each group will qualify for the semifinal, while the finalists qualify automatically for the Fifa World Cup in Germany next year.
