Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons will have to be on their toes to win this year’s Africa Women Cup of Nations, as the hosts, Ghana are blowing hot and determined to upstage the record winners.
Footballllive.ng can report that the Ghanaian charge is being carried high by the national team, Black Queens’ coach, Bashir Hayford, who declared that his side will brave all odds in their tough group to go all the way and emerge champions at the end of the competition.
Hayford admitted he wants to make history by clinching the continental title on home soil, as he prepares to ruffle many feathers at the contest from November 17 to December 1.
The host country are in Accra, where Group A teams will be based, while Nigeria are in Cape Coast, for Group B matches, after the eight teams were pooled during the draw ceremony on Sunday.
The top three finishers at the end of the healthy hostilities will secure qualification to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Ghana and Nigeria were seeded for the draw, meaning they could end up meeting in the semi-finals, but Hayford said, though the Falcons are a team none want to meet early in the tournament, his side will be ready for the Nigerians later on.
Hayford said: “Everybody’s wish was to stay away from Nigeria for now and progress in the tournament until meeting them becomes inevitable.
“However, we in Ghana, we believe we have prepared adequately for the competition and that we can face anybody even Nigeria. It’s better to get a strong test earlier than later.
“Group B is the group of death, don’t be deceived. Cameroon are a very good team and very technical and have experience.
“Mali have strength while Algeria’s got pace. We have to bring out strategies to counter all that.
“Our objective is to win the title here and make history. Ghana have never won this, while Nigeria are hoping for an eight title. We have to hold the trophy down here.”
