Nigeria, Cameroon renew rivalry in essential Olympic qualifier in Douala

Fierce rivals and giants of African ladies soccer, Nigeria and Cameroon will likely be going all out for the perfect outcome attainable once they confront one another within the penultimate spherical of the African qualifying sequence for this yr’s Girls’s Olympic Soccer Match.

Friday’s first leg tie is billed for Douala earlier than the second leg takes place 72 hours later within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The Super Falcons nonetheless receiving rave opinions for his or her gallant outing on the final FIFA Girls’s World Cup the place they bowed out within the Spherical of 16 with out shedding a match in regulation time, are eager to return to the worldwide stage to show their mettle as soon as extra.

Since that includes on the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the Tremendous Falcons have failed in all their subsequent efforts to play in successive editions of the Olympic Video games.

Absolutely conscious it was the Indomitable Lionesses that stopped their march to the London 2012 Olympics, the Tremendous Falcons will likely be cautious of a repeat as they search to make it to Paris 2024.

On their half, the Lionesses have grouses of their very own, having been bumped by Nigeria in a number of main occasions together with being denied the Girls Africa Cup of Nations title in entrance of their very own followers in 2016, and being shoved out on the quarter-finals of the final Girls AFCON event in Morocco.

Proficient squad

Coach Randy Waldrum has fastidiously chosen 21 gamers to execute this Olympic qualification mission.

The American gaffer has recalled fabulous defender Ashley Plumptre, now based mostly in Saudi Arabia, and Halimatu Ayinde, Toni Payne and Christy Ucheibe will get to play collectively within the center once more after a stirring outing on the World Cup in Australia.

There’s additionally the proficient teen, Deborah Abiodun.

Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is likely one of the most revered protected fingers globally, and in forwards Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Present Monday and Esther Okoronkwo, the Tremendous Falcons boast of a entrance line able to wrecking any defence.

Captain Ajibade scored two of the 5 objectives that eradicated Ethiopia within the second spherical of the qualifiers, with Oshoala additionally scoring.

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Okoronkwo and Kanu delivered the objectives as Cape Verde have been put to the sword within the closing spherical of qualifiers for this yr’s Girls AFCON championship.

Nigeria’s backline, marshaled by the veteran defender Osinachi Ohale and the youthful Tosin Demehin and Rofiat Imuran, has remained rock strong and prepared for any opposition.

Although Cameroon, who edged Uganda 3-2 on mixture within the second spherical, will likely be lacking star participant Ajara Njoya Nchout, it will likely be harmful to underestimate what the Lionesses can give you proper in their very own den.

Each groups will be part of the identical flight to Nigeria’s administrative capital, Abuja for Monday’s return leg on the MKO Abiola Nationwide Stadium.

Different pairings

Within the different pairings, reigning African ladies’s champions, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana will tackle Tanzania the identical weekend, with the winner clashing with the winner of Nigeria/Cameroon for one of many African tickets to Paris in July.

Tunisia conflict with Morocco in an all-North African affair whereas Ghana hosts Zambia in Kumasi. Winners will face off for the second African ticket to Paris.