‘Super Falcons Can Defend AWC Title’

The Director, Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football
Association (NFA), Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme said that Nigeria’s Super Falcons could
retain the African Women Championship (AWC) trophy.

He said in an interview with newsmen in Abuja that in spite
of the teams the Falcons were drawn with, as defending champions, the team
would emerge victorious.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons are drawn in Group B of the 2012 AWC
with Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia and Cameroon.

The competition is scheduled to hold in Equatorial Guinea
from October 28 to November 11.

Ikpeme said that though sections of the public had expressed
anxieties over the perceived strength of some of the teams the Falcons would be
up against, his optimism was borne out of the resilience exhibited by the
coaching crew and the team.

“ I don’t share that opinion. The Super Falcons are a good
side; the fact that they’ve been grouped with Cameroon and Cote‘d voire does
not mean that we should be having sleepless nights.

“They’ve been doing well; the coach has started well, he has
brought in new fresh legs – those of them that have played before at that
level, whom he thinks are still good.

“The fact that Super Falcons were eliminated by Cameroon in
the last 2012 Olympics qualifier does not mean that we should write them off.

“The truth also is that we are developing in Africa with
regard to women football; so there are no small teams these days.

“Of course the coaching crew is quite conscious of this fact
unlike before where you see a wide goal margin.’’

The Director said the team’s coach, Kadiri Ikhana had made
submissions to the NFA on the need to put together a more formidable women’s squad.

He said: “It’s even good that the coach has submitted his
programme so that the technical committee would look into it and give its
approval so that we can start as early as possible.’’

He said the federation would give the team all the necessary
support to enable them to retain the trophy.

Ikpeme also said that the football association was making
plans to enhance players’ remuneration package, saying it had been considered
but would be implemented when the funds were available.

“These issues have already been discussed; it’s contingent
on the availability of funds.

“You don’t just promise because it’s not good for you to
promise only for you to renege.

“In principle I can say that the NFA has accepted the fact
that the remuneration in fact across all the national teams should be improved.

“And at the appropriate time it would be implemented, the
Super Falcons inclusive.’’

Nigeria has won the AWC eight times, with victories on home
soil in 1998, 2002 and 2006, and in South Africa in 2000, 2004 and 2010.