6th November, 2012
Former Super Falcons assistant coach, Rolandson Odey has tipped the Super Falcons to beat South-Africa’s Bayana Bayana when they meet tomorrow in the semi final of the ongoing Africa Women Championship, AWC, in Equatorial Guinea.
The Coach Kadiri Ikhana-tutored Falcons on Sunday qualified for the semi-finals of the AWC after thrashing Ivory Coast 3-1 in the final Group B match.
The victory guaranteed the Super Falcons a top place finish in the group to face South Africa, who finished second in Group A.
Speaking on the chances of the Nigerian team against South Africa, Odey said: “We have no reason to worry about our girls playing against South Africa. We have been defeating them anytime we play against them in competitive championships, and I have no doubt we will beat them again when we play on Wednesday (tomorrow).”
Nigeria have won all but one of the seven editions of the biennial championship, and despite the threat posed by the hosts, who are the only other winners of the competition, Odey believes the Falcons still remain the favourites to win the ongoing tournament.
“We have an edge over other countries. We have the best team as far as this championship is concerned, and this makes our team the favourites to win again after the last edition held in South Africa,” he said.
Nigeria edged Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in the final of the last edition to reclaim the title they lost to Equatorial Guinea when they hosted the event four years ago.
—Bamidele Olowosagba