The Super Falcons' quest to reclaim the African title relinquished two years ago in Equatorial Guinea will be put to test on Thursday when the team confronts the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroun in the first semi final match of the ongoing Africa Women's Championships in South Africa.
While the Falcons secured their semi-final ticket by topping Group A - having won their three group matches, Cameroun got their berth yesterday after defeating Algeria 2-1 to finish as the second best team from Group B. The Cameroonians will be hoping to break the jinx of having never beaten the Falcons in the four times they met at the African Women Championships since 1998.
The other semi final fixture also billed for Thursday will see host, South Africa play defending champion, Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria and Cameroun were both ousted at this stage of the tournament in the last edition; while Nigeria was edged out by Equatorial 1-0; Cameroun was pummelled 3-0 by South Africa.
The losers' final for both teams was keenly contested ending 1-1 in regulation time before Nigeria nicked the third place spot after winning the ensuing penalty kicks 4-3.
Only four members of the team that played against Cameroun last time out are in the current Super Falcons team. Perpetua Nkwocha, who is one of the quartet has hit superb form in South Africa netting seven goals in three matches.
She scored a brace during the first half of the Super Falcon's last game against Tanzania's Twiga Stars on Sunday to consolidate her position as the tournament's top goal scorer "I am looking forward to being the top scorer at the end of this tournament." Nkwocha who has set a target of 15 goals for herself said.
Nkwocha was the tournament's top scorer when South Africa hosted the championship in 2004 with nine goals.
Falcons will get better
Bala Nikya, the Super Falcons' assistant coach said the team will put in a better performance than in their previous matches when they face Cameroun in the semi-final on Thursday.
"I think the team is getting better going by the way the team has been improving with every game", Nikya said in a post-match interview with reporters on Sunday after the Falcons dimmed Tanzania's Twiga Stars 3-0 at the Makhulong Stadium.
He said every member of the team had been improving and that there was no cause for alarm no matter who they meet in the final stages of the competition.
"The players have been improving and I can say the team overall has been doing well, not minding today's performance and result.
"We have been assessing them vis-à-vis what we have ahead of us, and I can assure you that the players will get better and the team will do better than this in the semi-finals."
Apart from moving closer to winning the African crown, the prize awaiting the finalists of this year's championships will be the chance to represent Africa at the 2011 FIFA women's World Cup in Germany next year.
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