Omagbemi to join team this week
Assistant coach of Nigeria’s Under 20 women’s team, Florence Omagbemi is expected back in the country this week as the team intensify preparations ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in August.
Spokesperson of the team, Ejiro Babafemi told futaa.com that Omagbemi must have been having problems with flight, and should join the team this week.
-I think she is having problems with flight schedule, considering the present weather condition across the world.
Ultimatum
The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday reportedly issued an ultimatum to the former Super Falcons captain, with Friday, July 13 as the deadline.
Omagbemi who is based in the United States of America was asked to report on or before the said date or face a penalty of losing out of the team that will head to Japan for the tournament.
Falconets coach drops five Players
Five players of the U-20 Women National Team who have been in camp sweating it out ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup have been dropped.
They were dropped by Chief Coach, Edwin Okon for not measuring up to standard
Rosemary Okoro, Juliana Osuji, Grace Eyebhoria, Ayeniberun Opeyemi and Elibor Charity were the unlucky players. They have returned to their various clubs.
Serious Business
-Only players that are good for the World Cup will be in the final squad. Like l said, we are not in camp for frivolities but for serious business. Our focus is to get the best that would do the nation proud. said Okon.
-As it is, no player no matter how good she has been guaranteed a place in the team. Every player must prove herself to be worthy of donning the shirt. He added.
With the players decamped, 32 players will continue to battle for shirts at the team’s Abuja camp.
The team has spent 10 days since resuming on July 1 for the last phase of training.
ssistant coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, Samson Unuanel is full of hope that the Super Falcons will ride over all opposition to retain the African Women Championship trophy when the event gets underway in Equatorial Guinea later in the year.
Speaking to futaa.com on Monday, Unuanel said the team is aware of the development of other African countries in football, but are battle ready.
Defending Champions
-We are the defending champions, and we know the Super Falcons is the team to beat. But we are also ready to keep the trophy over and over again.
The coach Kadiri Ikhana tutored side defeated Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors 4-0 to qualify for the 2012 African Women Championship in Equatorial Guinea in November.
The African champions qualified on 6-0 aggregate having won the first leg 2-0 in Harare.
Finalists
Equatorial Guinea (hosts), DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Senegal, Cameroon and Nigeria are the teams that have qualified.
NAMIBIA
Following the Brave Gladiators’ two narrow defeats against the experienced German Students team, coach Jacqueline Shipanga reckons the future of Namibian women’s football is promising.
The Brave Gladiators team that blended youth and seasoned players faced off against the German Students last Thursday in Windhoek and lost 1-0 before they once again lost by the same score in Swakopmund on Sunday.
According to Shipanga, the team showed great determination and willingness to compete against some top class opponents.
“This German side have some big name players, who are professionals, but for our ladies, it was about giving them a chance to play against some of the best in the world and it has done them a lot of good going forward,” she said.
Shipanga added that the youthfulness of the Namibian team bears testimony to the “huge talent” that the NFA Women’s Desk has discovered in Namibia.
“I believe that the youth structures since they were developed and introduced about four years ago, have really produced good players. Lovisa Mulunga is the captain of the national Under 17 team and Lena Noreses is the captain of the national Under 20 team, while many other talented youngsters have come through,” she said.
“They have all shown that they can play and thanks to the Gals and Goals projects that were supported by UNICEF and implemented four years ago, these girls have come through the Under 13 and Under 15 ranks,” she added.
Shipanga said the players had learnt a lot from football over the last few years on and off the field.
“It is not just about playing the game, but the discipline on and off the field that these ladies are showing is very commendable and thanks to our development partners, we can praise them for a job well done,” she said.
Shipanga said the Brave Gladiators will have another international game before the end of the year.
“The Women Super League will end on the first week of August and after that we have school exams. But we will still aim to play another international before the end of the year and will still decide on whom and when we will play again,” she said.
by Israel OjokoThe Brave Gladiators team that blended youth and seasoned players faced off against the German Students last Thursday in Windhoek and lost 1-0 before they once again lost by the same score in Swakopmund on Sunday.
According to Shipanga, the team showed great determination and willingness to compete against some top class opponents.
“This German side have some big name players, who are professionals, but for our ladies, it was about giving them a chance to play against some of the best in the world and it has done them a lot of good going forward,” she said.
Shipanga added that the youthfulness of the Namibian team bears testimony to the “huge talent” that the NFA Women’s Desk has discovered in Namibia.
“I believe that the youth structures since they were developed and introduced about four years ago, have really produced good players. Lovisa Mulunga is the captain of the national Under 17 team and Lena Noreses is the captain of the national Under 20 team, while many other talented youngsters have come through,” she said.
“They have all shown that they can play and thanks to the Gals and Goals projects that were supported by UNICEF and implemented four years ago, these girls have come through the Under 13 and Under 15 ranks,” she added.
Shipanga said the players had learnt a lot from football over the last few years on and off the field.
“It is not just about playing the game, but the discipline on and off the field that these ladies are showing is very commendable and thanks to our development partners, we can praise them for a job well done,” she said.
Shipanga said the Brave Gladiators will have another international game before the end of the year.
“The Women Super League will end on the first week of August and after that we have school exams. But we will still aim to play another international before the end of the year and will still decide on whom and when we will play again,” she said.
GHANA
Mas-Ud Didi Dramani is savouring the 'special moment' of getting to know the teams that Ghana have drawn for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2012.
The official draw last Friday for the 16 qualified nations placed Dramani’s Black Maidens in Group D alongside Uruguay, China PR and Germany.
Ghana, who will be making their third straight appearance at the World Cup are keen to go past the group stages after two failed attempts.
“This is a very special moment,” said Ghana coach,Mas-Ud Didi Dramani after the draw placed his team in Group D.
“We have to go away and prepare ourselves now.”
The tournament will take place between 22 September and 13 October in Baku and Lankaran. The top two finishers from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
For Dramani, the stage is now set for the Black Maidens to challenge their group opponents.
“Our fate has been decided and what lies ahead of us will not be easy,” he said.
The teams were drawn into the following groups:
Group A: Azerbaijan, Colombia, Nigeria, Canada
Group B: France, USA, Korea DPR, Gambia
Group C: Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, China PR, Ghana, Germany
Ghanafa.org
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