By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist
The 12th edition of the competition which started in 1998 in Nigeria as Africa Women’s Championship (AWC) will take place in the North African Kingdom of Morocco from July 2 to 23, 2022.
Nigeria, who have won nine of the 11 Women Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) championships held so far won the 11th edition in 2018 in Ghana to bring her total haul to nine with Equatorial Guinea winning twice, excluding the 1991and 1995 when Nigeria was the sole representative of Africa in the first two FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in China and Sweden.
However, the West Africans are still hungry for more trophies as no fewer than 19 players out of the 35 invited by Head Coach Randy Waldrum have reported to camp on Friday just as more players are being expected as the time of this report.
Super Falcons
Sportsrevelation reports that those already in camp include skipper Onome Ebi and co- defenders Osinachi Ohale, Glory Ogbonna and Akudo Ogbonna; midfielders Rita Chikwelu and Rasheedat Ajibade, and forwards Asisat Oshoala and Gift Monday as well as goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tochukwu Oluehi and Rita Akarekor.
Others already at the Bolton White Hotels and Suites camp are Opeyemi Sunday, Charity Adule, Christy Ucheibe, Suliat Abideen, Chinonyerem Macleans, Peace Efih and Ugochi Emenayo.
United States-based invitees: goalkeeper Yewande Balogun, defender Michelle Alozie and midfielders Amanda Mbadi and Toni Payne were expected to arrive camp on Friday evening.
Also, forwards Desire Oparanozie and Uchenna Kanu, as well as midfielder Regina Otu and another US-based defender Nicole Payne will arrive Abuja this weekend.
On Duty. ..Super Falcons Head Coach Randy Waldrum
But England-based dependable defender, Ashleigh Plumptre; midfielder Halimatu Ayinde and forwards Francisca Ordega, Vivian Ikechukwu and Ifeoma Onumonu have been granted permission by the gaffer to join the squad in Morocco next week.
According to the Super Falcons itinerary obtained by this reporter, the
team will have another one week pre-tournament camp in Rabat before kicking off the competition with a clash against old foes, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in their first match at the Prince Heritier Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Monday, July 4 before matches against Botswana on Thursday, July 7 and Burundi on Sunday, July 10 at the same venue in the group stages.
Back togetherness again. ..Super Falcons forwards Charity Adule (far left) and Asisat Oshoala (middle) pose for photograph after a training session in Abuja.
All four semi finalists at the tournament in Morocco will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand in the summer of 2023 even as Nigeria has never missed any FIFA Women’s World Cup final since the competition started in 1991.
Related
Sports Revelation Online ..breaking authenic sports reports