…Falcons set to pick up ticket in Atlantic-Ocean nation

ByAmaechi Agbo

Nine-time Africa champions, the Super Falcons of will, baring complacency, pick up their 2023 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON ticket as they battle Cape Verde today in Praia
Cape Verde is a country situated inside the Atlantic Ocean, some way off the extreme wing of West Africa, but categorised as West Africa. That is where the Super Falcons will, on Tuesday, pick up their ticket to the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
The Nigeria contingent arrived in Cape Verde’s capital, Praia on Sunday morning, and after a training session same day, had their official training at the match venue (Santiago-Estádio Nacional Cabo Verde) at 4pm Cape Verde time (6pm Nigeria time) on Monday.
Nigeria whitewashed the 5-0 in the first leg on Thursday and the Cape Verdeans will need to score six goals without conceded to prevent the Falcons from qualifying for the tournament fot eh first time since 1991.
The return leg encounter will begin at 4pm Cape Verde time (6pm Nigeria time) on Tuesday, with Liberian official Sylvina Welma Garnett as referee. CAF has also appointed Hannah Moses (Liberian) as assistant referee 1, while Sierra Leoneans Precious Amara and Humu Marah will serve as assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively
Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will serve as commissioner while Fadouma Dia from Senegal will be the referee assessor.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has described as ‘admirable’ the mental toughness displayed by midfielder Peace Efih in helping the Super Falcons to a five-goal spanking of the senior women national team of Cape Verde in Abuja on Thursday.
Efih’s biological mother breathed her last 48 hours before the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final round, first leg encounter, but the player was her hard-as-nails self in defensive midfield as she paired captain Rasheedat Ajibade and petite Deborah Abiodun to supply the ammunition that dismantled the visitors at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau said: “We must commend, specially, the mental strength and fortitude of Peace Efih, who lost her mother two days ago but opted to remain in camp and help the team to win well today. Hers is an example of a super patriot who will give everything for the good of the motherland.
“The loss of a parent is a calamity, a thing of sadness and sorrow. Many other persons would have cracked and packed bags to leave the camp to go and mourn, but Peace decided it was better to honour her mother’s memory with a great performance that has taken the team closer to another appearance at the Women AFCON. She deserves our praise.”
Efih’s toughness and productivity earned the Falcons a 5-0 win in Abuja, making Tuesday’s return leg in the island nation all but a mere formality for the nine-time champions.