In five days, the ninth edition of the African Women's Championship (AWC) will kickoff in Windhoek, Namibia to select new champions, following the dethroning of 2012 champions, Equatorial Guinea, who could not qualify for this competition.
More than that, there are three tickets to the 2015 Women's World Cup (WWC) at stake which will be picked by the champions, the runners-up and the third-placed team at the end of Namibia 2014.
The AWC is the only continental championship for women's football and held every two years.
All seems set for the big kickoff as the eight competing teams have all arrived and rounding up their preparations for the opening games.
By previous performances, it is easy to pencil out six times champions, Nigeria, regular participants, Ghana, South Africa and Cameroun as the favourites for the final four, though the other teams, Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, as well as debutants, Zambia and hosts, Namibia could also spring up some surprises.
As has been the tradition, Graphic Sports' Rosalind K. Amoh, brings to cherished readers, the profiles of the participating teams.
Namibia
Having tried but without success to qualify for the African Women's Championship (AWC), Namibia, will finally make it as the 2014 hosts of the competition.
It is their first participation in the competition and they are also the first southern African nation, apart from South Africa, to host the event since the inaugural event in 1998.
Drawn in a strong Group A which has record champions, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Zambia, the Namibians are happy to be hosts, but will also relish the chance of a semi-final slot if the chance avails itself.
Ranked 106th in the world, the Brave Gladiators, are also banking their hopes on home support to have a successful campaign at this competition, particularly, when they set it off with their opening game on October 11, against neighbours, Zambia.
Coach Jacqueline Shipanga, who will be one of three female coaches to lead their teams to the competition, says they are eyeing their first three points against Zambia, adding, winning the three points will give the team the necessary confidence boost as they seek to go past the group stage at the tournament they will be making their debut appearance.
“It is not about defeating Zambia but it is about wining our first game even it was against Ghana or Nigeria. Playing at home and in the first game, we need to give our fans and sponsors and of course ourselves the momentum.
“It is not negotiable at all. We must win our first game, very crucial,” she told cafonline.
Qualification:
As hosts, Namibia have been deprived of playing in the qualifiers and have prepared for this competition playing some international friendlies against Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
They, however, had something to smile about as they beat Algeria 3-1 in their final preparation match last Saturday.
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lydia Eixas, Agnes Kauzuu and Susanna Eises
Defenders: Uerikondjera Kasaona, Iina Katuta, Twelikondjela Amukoto, Stacey Naris, Lorraine Jossob, Ester Amukwaya and Veweziwa Kotjipati,
Midfielders: Lena Noreses, Annouscka Kordom, Juliana Skrywer, Thomalina Adams, Zenatha Coleman, Memory Ngonda, Shirley Cloete and Lovisa Mulunga,
Strikers: Vistoria Shangula, Rita Williams and Elmarie Fredericks.
Nigeria
Even with eyes closed, the pundits will not get it wrong to pick Nigeria's Super Falcons, not just as favourites to top Group A, but also one of the favourites to make it all the way to the finals, unless the rare illogical happenings in football, as it happened to Spain at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, again occurs in Namibia.
The Super Falcons have won the AWC six times, participated in all eight previous events and expect in 2008 and 2012 have played in every final.
From hosting and winning the maiden edition in Abeokuta in 1998 till being controversially beaten by Equatorial Guinea at the last event in 2012, the Falcons set the pace and everyone else plays catch up. They have produced some of the best of players in all departments of the game, from the likes of their towering captain, Florence Omabgemi in the late 1990s, Mercy Akide and goalkeeper Ann Chijiende, who in 2002, surprised many by being in the post even at four months pregnant.
With a ticket to the 2015 WWC also to play for, the Falcons will storm Namibia hungry as usual and the final team named by Coach Edwin Okon further demonstrates their intention to reclaim the AWC title.
The 21-player list has no place for inexperience as all the players named have played either in the Under-20 Women's World Cup or have at least two AWC cap.
The return of striker and former African Female Footballer of the Year, Pepertua Nkowcha when the likes of Desiree Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala, who won the top striker's award at the 2014 Under-20 WWC, is ample proof that Coach Okon is leaving nothing to chance.
There is also a list of experienced defence, led by goalkeeper Precious Dede who has been to every AWC since 2002 when she made her debut.
As the Falcons head for Namibia, there is also an emtional mission, to win the title to honour the memory of their former coach, the late Effiom Ntiero, who led them to their 2006 AWC title and also to the 2007 WWC in China.
Ntiero died last month after suffering a stroke.
Coach Okon is not new to the job as he led the Falconnets to the 2012 FIFA U-20 where they reached the semi-finals.
Given the job as a stop-gap coach, Okon has been handed the job on full time basis and looks eager to excel in Namibia to at least save his job till Canada 2015.
How they qualified:
Qualifying for such tournaments is never a problem for Nigeria. Rather, the question most people ask, is how they would qualify.
This year, they began with a walkover against Sierra Leone in the first round, having drawn a bye in the preliminary stage.
In the second round, they were ruthless against Rwanda, beating them 4-1 in Kigali and completed the maul with a 8-0 win in the second leg in Abuja.
Final squad:
Goalkeepers: Precious Dede (Ibom Queens), Ibubeleye White (Rivers Angels), Christy Ohieriaku ( Oshogbo Queens)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash,United States), Josephine Chukwunonye (Rivers Angels), Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels), Onome Ebi ( FK Minsk,Belarus), Ngozi Ebere (Rivers Angels, Ugochi Njoku ( Rivers Angels)
Midfielders: Evelyn Nwabuokn (Rivers Angels), Onyinyechi Ohadugha (Rivers Angels, Gloria Iroka (Rivers Angels), Cecilia Nku (Rivers Angels), Ayinde Halimat (Delta Queens), Ngozi Okobi (Delta Queens)
Strikers: Desire Oparanozie (En Avent Guingamp,France , Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunana SK,Sweden), Esther Sunday (FK Minsk,Belarus), Asisat Oshoala (Rivers Angels), Stella Mbachu (Rivers Angels), Francisca Ordega (Pitea IFF,Sweden)
