AWC 2014: Pinnick charges Falcons to seal semi final ticket

By Taofeek Lawal

As the high riding Super Falcons set for their second match of the 9th African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia, after earning three maximum points in their first match against Cote d’Ivoire, President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has charged the players to go for a comfortable win that will seal their place in the semi finals of the competition.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is using the tournament in the Southern Africa country to pick the continent’s representatives to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada, with the top three teams at the end of the championship due to fly Africa’s flag at the global event.

“Our ever-brilliant and courageous ladies have started on a good note by whipping the Les Elephantes of Cote d’Ivoire. Now, the three points against the Zambians are important in order to take us to the semi finals and closer to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

 The girls have the maximum support of the NFF and the ever -present support of the Government and other Nigerians and I believe they will not fail the nation,” Pinnick said.

The Falcons, coached by Edwin Okon, lashed the Les Elephantes 4-2 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday night and sit atop Group A on goal difference from the Brave Gladiators of Namibia. The Gladiators defeated the Chipopolo Queens 2-0 in the tournament opening match and take on the nifty Ivorians also on today. Victory against the Chipolopolo Queens will take the Falcons to the semi finals and with a ticket to their seventh consecutive World Cup finals almost guaranteed.

“The Falcons are good to go. Losing the crown in 2012 was a mistake that the players themselves want to correct. The mission of the girls in Namibia is to reclaim their African title,” Pinnick added.