Adekunle Salami 
Nigeria’s senior national women football team, the Super Falcons have been fantastic with results on the continent. For many years, the Falcons were unbeaten in Africa and not only that, they dispatch their opponents with results reflecting complete dominance. Winning the Women African Nations Cup eight times back-to-back was a testimony to the prowess of Falcons in Africa. In 11 editions of the WAFCON, Nigeria has only failed to win twice, having emerged champions in nine editions. Equatorial Guinea and South Africa are other winners of the competition. But things have changed tremendously in the game.
There are teams on the continent now standing at the same level with Nigeria on current form. The only edge of the Falcons is the amazing run recorded over the years. South Africa, the current African Champions are very good just as Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco and Zambia have developed massively in women football. Only on Tuesday, Zambia shocked Morocco 2-0 away from home in the final qualifying match for the football event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Zambians lost 2-1 at home in the first leg but recorded an amazing result in the return leg. Zambia are now going to their 2nd straight Olympic Games.
The same team defeated Nigeria in the Third Place match of the last WAFCON and now, they snatched the Olympics ticket from the silver winning team at the last WAFCON. No doubt, Morocco are also getting better and stronger in women’s football. Their coach led Spain to the title at the Women’s World Cup last year and that is instructive. Also during the week, Super Falcons recorded a goalless draw against the Banyana Banyana in Pretoria to clinch the country’s first Olympic Games tick in 16 years. Nigeria qualified courtesy of the 1-0 win recorded in the first leg. Captain, Rashidat Ajibade scored the only goal via a penalty.
It was indeed a very tight encounter. It must be stressed that Nigeria’s preparation for this crucial fixture was very bad but somehow, the girls rose to the occasion to get the job done through their experience and determination. Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum said the team clinched the ticket because of their defensive organisation. “We were much more organised than the previous times we played them.
South Africa talked a lot before these two matches, we just kept quiet. I believe in our team and I knew we will be hard team to break down even with their talent.” Nigeria will slot into Group C at Paris 2024, joining Spain, Japan and Brazil. It will be the fourth Olympics for the Super Falcons, the most of any African nation, and their first appearance since Beijing 2008. And so women’s football in Africa is getting more competitive. Nigeria must wake up to this reality and continue to develop its women football structure accordingly. Morocco and South Africa parade very young players who are likely to be in the team for about a decade.
They defeated Nigeria at the last WAFCON because of their youthfulness, mobility and overall cohesion. I congratulate the Falcons for winning the Olympics ticket but there is so much work to be done. The Nigeria Football Federation will have to assist in the development of the country’s women league. Young talents are needed to join the national women team. Some academy have great players who can be nurtured to stardom just as Waldrum should look at the Falconets and Flamingoes for more players. Experience is important but modern football requires so much energy which the youths can offer effortlessly.
Gradually, Waldrum should rebuild the Falcons with young players to enable Nigeria regain its pride on the continent. Nigeria can win the next WAFCON if this is done. Since about five countries are standing almost at the same level with Nigeria in the game for now, the country must step up to remain number one in Africa not only with past results but on current form. Young players injected into the team are doing well and so more should be identified and brought in. Deborah Abiodun has been a massive addition. At the last World Cup, the Falcons exhibited a good display to demonstrate readiness to challenge top teams in the world. This has to continue at the Olympic Games. The NFF should organize top friendly games for the team to further expose the players and give them confidence to face future challenges.
