All Africa Games Women's soccer 2nd Leg

Super Falcons Vow To Stomp Ghana

the grudge match-up

Nigeria's Super Falcons are hoping for a big win  against their Ghanaian counterparts in the All Africa Games second leg qualifiers billed for the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Coach Uche was all smiles upon the relesase of her foreign based players namely, Onyie Ukaonu, Faith Ikidi, Ulumma Jerome, Rita Chikwelu, Ogonna Chikwudi and Sarah Michael, who were all held back by their respective clubs in Europe in the first leg.

Ghana however are leaving no stones unturned and are even said to be bubbling with confidence with an early prediction of the out come of the game. Coach Kuuku Dadzie said in a press conference "I trust in the abilities of my team to get a result. We respect our opponents but we can get one past them(Falcons)." Eucharia Uche,ever so confident and full of optimism said "I don't know why people are pessimistic about our chances. We still have a full 90 minutes of football to play and It is not yet over for we do not fear the Ghanaians," said Uche.

She argued that the Falcons were superior in the first leg. "It was just that we didn't convert the many chances that we created. I'm just confident we can score goals and qualify."

Ghana  against Nigeria will surely live to it's billing as a grudge match against fiercest rivals.



Matlou ready to help Banyana beat Cinderella Botswana

Banyana Banyana goalscoring star Noko Matlou will throw the statistics book out the window and help her team-mates beat Botswana in their second-leg All-Afica Games qualifier in Gaborone on Sunday.

Having netted 41 goals in 55 national appearances, the 25-year-old goal-getter believes that her combination with fellow strikers in team captain Amanda Dlamini and Martha Mokoma could pose problems for the hosts.

If Banyana wins, they will qualify for the Games due to be staged in Mozambique in September.

"Statistics are great, but at the end of the day it's more important to focus on laying on the perfect pass to create a goal than it is to worry about who scores it," said Matlou.

"We are expecting Botswana to play a defensive game to try and hang on to the 1-0 lead over us from their first leg win in Polokwane last month."

Banyana were without regulars in goalkeeper Thoko Mndaweni, defenders Janine van Wyk and Yola Jafta, midfielder Mamello Makhabane because of injury in that match.

Also back in the squad is teenage striker Jermaine Seopesenwe, who has taken time away from her matric schoolwork to help her national team-mates.

Seopesenwe and 16-year-old midfielder Robyn Moodaly were playing for the national Under-17 side eight months ago, and are becoming accustomed to senior level football.

"If the match goes to penalties to decide the qualifying team I will put up my hand to take the first spot kick for South Africa like I did when we beat Tunisia 6-5 in an Olympic qualifier last month," Matlou said.

"Our girls have confidence in their spot kicks and we believe in our keeper Mndaweni who saved one spot kick in Tunis."

The side's caretaker coach Joseph Mkhonza is likely to opt for Simphiwe Masina, Amanda Sister, Van Wyk and Gabisile Hlumbane in his defensive four.

In midfield the race for places is on between Nomathemba Nsibande, Moodaly, Makhabane, Mary Ntsweng, with central defender Jafta also able to play a holding midfield role if needed.

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