Nigeria’s senior women team coach, Edwin Okon, has admitted that the African Women Championship (AWC) draws appears good for the Super Falcons to qualify but insists that it won’t be easy.
Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon
According to the draws, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia, on July 19, Nigeria was drawn in Group A with hosts Namibia, Zambia and Cote d’ Ivoire, while Group B has South Africa, Cameroun, Ghana and Algeria.
On paper, Okon said, the draws look easy for the Super Falcons. He was, however, quick to warn that the Ivoiriens who eliminated 2012 champions, Equatorial Guinea, and the hosts should not be taken for granted.
He said: “All the eight teams that qualified for the competition are good and determined to win the AWC title, and that is why we won’t underrate any team. There are no push-overs in women football any longer.
“With Cote d’Ivoire sending defending champions, Equatorial Guinea, out and a Namibian side that will be well motivated by home fans in our group, it will be foolhardy for the Super Falcons to be complacent.
“They might look at Group B and say that it is the group of death, but the reality is that Group A that has the host and a team that beat the Cup holders cannot be written off.
“It is not going to be easy, but we won’t disappoint Nigerians,” he said.
He assured that the Super Falcons would do everything possible to qualify from the group and try to win back the trophy they lost in 2012 to Equatorial Guinea.