Africa’s women’s football legend Perpetua Nkwocha has tipped Nigeria’s Super Falcons for a successful defence of their Total Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON18) title when the 2018 tournament gets underway in Ghana this weekend.
Nkwocha who won the tournament numerous times as a player and was an assistant coach with the Nigerians when they won it in Cameroon two years ago told www.aclsports.com that the team’s array of stars will see them excel in Ghana.
“It is true that countries like Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa are capable of fighting the Falcons for their title but I believe Nigeria will overcome them because they still remain the champions,” Nkwocha told www.aclsports.com
“If you look at the calibre of players that Nigeria listed for the tournament, we have like fourteen foreign based professionals, I believe they will conquer.”
Eight times African Women Cup of Nations winners Nigeria are drawn in Group B – alongside South Africa, Zambia and Equatorial Guinea -and will play all their group games at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, in Southern Ghana.
Nigeria will face South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in their opening group game on Sunday starting from 4:30pm Nigerian time. Nkwocha, who holds the record of the highest number of goals by an individual in a single Nations Cup tournament believes the Falcons’ group is perhaps the best they could hope for.
“I think Nigeria are in a better group, compared to Group A, for me, because the only threat I’m seeing there is South Africa.
“Although you can’t predict what will happen in football with the way the game changes and the so called small countries can give Nigeria tough times. For me, I believe it’s only South Africa can give them tough time,” added the record Women’s Footballer of the Year title winner.
Nigeria wrapped up their less-than-desired preparations for the Championship with a 4-0 win over Ivorien Women League champions Onze Soeurs de Gagnoa in Abidjan on Monday evening. Attackers Desire Oparanozie, Francesca Ordega and reigning Women Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshola were on target for Thomas Dennerby’s side.
