Norway vs Nigeria: History beckons for Super Falcons Class of 2019

By Harry Awurumibe, Women’s Football Expert

For the Super Falcons of Nigeria, especially the veterans of the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in particular and the Class of 2019 in particular, ‘thunder’ will not strike at the same place the second time.

This means that the present squad of the Super Falcons will today in Reims not only face their opponents, Norway  in the Group A opening match with revenge on their minds but the determination to surpass the Quarter final stage the Class of 1999 reached in the United States of America (USA). In that competition the Super Falcons played four games, defeated Group opponents Denmark and North Korea to rake up six points before losing to Team USA and Brazil to finish 7th overall.

Brazil’s superstar Sisi’s Golden Goal after both country’s were tied 3-3 in the full and extra-time strike by Sisi denied Nigeria the chance to play in the semi final which should be the target for the Captain,Desire Ugochi Oparanozie led Super Falcons.

But for the reigning African Champions to achieve this set goal, they must have to negotiate the way out of  this tough Group A comprising of Norway, South Korea and France that humiliated South Korea 4-0 in the first game of the group on Friday. Again, the result of the France versus South Korea tie has a strong message to others in the group.

The Super Falcons will therefore up their ante in today’s match by ensuring that the worst result they will get against Norway will be a draw because a loss and a heavy one for that matter will make qualification for the Round of 16 very tricky. They must learn a big lesson from the misadventure of Coach Paul Aignogun led Flying Eagles in the on-going Poland 2019 FIFA Youth World Cup where the Nigerian team played badly and paid dearly for it.

The Nigerian ladies must fight to avoid another heavy defeat in the hands of Norway like the Sweden 1995 Class. Another 8-0 is unacceptable in 2019 and one will imagine that veteran players like Rita Chikwelu, Faith Ikhidi-Michel, Ngozi Okobi, Osinachi Ohale and Onome Ebi who will be playing in her last FIFA Women’s World Cup, this will be the best chance to leave a lasting impression in the minds of Nigerians especially women’s football followers.

At 36 years, the Nigerian defence marshal, Ebi becomes the first Africa player male or female to feature in 5 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals and this fifth time should be her lucky number to add to her profile of even captaining the Super Falcons to win the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) trophy. Ebi’s first World Cup appearance was at the age of 20 in 2003 in USA and had also featured in 2007 China, 2011 in Germany, and in 2015 Canada.

These veterans and those with more than one World Cup experiences like Skipper-Oparanozie; pacy striker, Asisat Lamina Oshoala; winger, Francisca Ordega; midfieder, Halimatu Ayinde should be able to inspire the Rockies like Chinwendu Ihezuo, Anam Imo, Chinaza Uchendu, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu  and Chidinma Okeke to achieve great things in France 2019.

After all, the Super Falcons have come of age robbing shoulders as one of the seven nations that have qualified for every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals and this eight time should be used to announce the arrival of Nigeria at the big stage instead of being just African Champions alone.

With the team now under the tutelage of an experienced World Cup coach in Thomas Dennerby ably assisted by 1st Assistant Coach and Women’s Football tactician in his right, Jorgen Petersson and a handful of expatriate Physical Trainer, Video Analyst working in harmony with Nigerian assistants, the Super Falcons are expected to churn out better performances in France.

Finally, for the first time in the history of women’s football in Nigeria, no regime of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has prepared the Super Falcons like the Amaju Melvin Pinnick led NFF Executive Board anchored by hardworking General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has done. This year alone the Super Falcons have participated in the China 4-Nation Invitational, Cyprus Cup 2019, Tour of  Spain where they played two matches including a game against Canada.

On return from the above competitions, Super Falcons Team B still under Dennerby used the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) tournament in Cote d’Ivoire to select about 9 players he has brought to France. The Swedish coach led his team to win the WAFU Cup before taking the players to two-week close camping at world renowned Aivta Resort Sports Resort in Austria ahead of today’s confrontation with Norway in Reims.

This is why the Super Falcons are condemned to beat Norway today or get a draw to compensate for the heavy investment the federation on behalf Nigeria has made on the team even as the era of taking the players from the back waters of Ajegunle in Lagos or Okohia in Isiiala Mbano, Imo state strraight to the venue of the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals have gone. This Super Falcons Class of 2019 have the international exposure and quality technical crew to break the Glass Ceiling, at least for Africa in France. This is the way to go.   Go Girls, Go Super Falcons, Go Nigeria our fatherland.

HARRY Awurumibe is Africa’s foremost Women’s Football journalist and currently Special Assistant to NFF President on Women’s Football Affairs