President of the female football interest group (FFIG) Henrietta Ukaigwe has call for caution as Super Falcons tackle perennial rivals the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the Thursday’s second semifinal of the 7th African Women’s Championship (AWC) in South Africa.

Title holder Equatorial Guinea will face host South Africa the same day.

Cameroon edged out the weeping child of group B Algeria 2-1 to finish second behind title holders Equatorial Guinea who defeated Black Queens of Ghana 3-1; the results ensured both teams booked their passage to the last four of the biennial football event.

Ukaigwe told SuperSport.com on Monday that Cameroon are hungry for the World Cup show piece and will be tough even as she tips Falcons to come out of the encounter unscratched.

“Cameroon know us in and out, it will be tough. They have not been to the World Cup; it has always been Nigeria and Ghana. They are hungry and would want to play in the final that will give them the World Cup ticket.

“Many of their ex-internationals are products of Nigeria’s National Institute for Sports (NIS); some of their players also played in the women football league in Nigeria and the rivalry between Nigeria and Cameroon has been there so expect a tough game.

“However, Nigeria have always had the upper hands, so I still expect Falcons to triumph.”

The seasoned journalist who hailed the first class form of former Caf women footballer of the year Perpetua Nkwocha and coach Eucharia Uche expressed optimism that the five-time African champion will not only pick one of the World Cup tickets but will win the trophy also.

“Perpetua is on fire right now, it is like the older the wiser. She said this AWC will be her last, I think she is withdrawing in a grand style.

“Eucharia is not disappointing too. I gave her chance, she has proved that women can do it and I think she is making ways for other women coaches to come on board.

“Falcons will qualify for the World Cup, I see them also winning the trophy,” she enthused.

http://www.nigeriasoccernews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2206:ukaigwe-predicts-tough-duel-for-falcons&catid=42:features&Itemid=185

Question: Coach, please tell us about women football in Cameroon.

Coach: We operate a premier football league back home. The league consists of 8 teams and it is played at the national level. As I speak with you, we have our players spread all over the world and I can count nothing less than 20 Cameroon players playing in Europe, America and Latin America.

Question: How has that rubbed on the development of the Indomitable Lioness?

Coach: We have progressed and we have gained a lot of experience. We have really improved if you compare the Cameroon of today with that of 2004; we have improved in the way we play and now, I think we can rival with any team in the world.

Question: What do you think needs to be done to further raise the standard of the game in Africa?

Answer: I believe strongly that the time has come for CAF to also introduce theCAF champion’s league and the CONFEDERATION’s cup to women club football in Africa. Such tourneys will only help strengthen the women football culture and further boost its popularity and standard.

Question: How do you see the semi-final pairing between your team and Nigeria?

Answer: The match will be just like any other match. We are not under pressure although we have lots of respect for Nigeria. In fact, we all know that when a dog bites a human being, it is not news. It will be news if human being bites a dog. We are used to losing to Nigeria but tomorrow, we will cause an upset. The pressure is not on us, but come tomorrow, Cameroon will be proud of us.

Question: At what level will you see your participation in the competition as being worthwhile?

Answer: Our aim here is to qualify for the world cup. It will be a massive disappointment if we fail in that ambition of ours but it will also serve as a
lesson for us.

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.

Former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde has added his voice to the growing list of apprehensive Nigerians over Thursday’s semifinal clash between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroun at the 7th Africa Women Championship (AWC) in South Africa.

Onigbinde who commended Falcons for their flawless run in the biennial football show piece told SuperSport.com on Tuesday that it will be too risky for Nigerian campaigners to lower their guard for ambitious Camerounians.

“It will be suicidal for Falcons to underrate the Camerounians, women football has come of age in Africa and every country wants to be winner, so Falcons will be in for shock if they underrate them.

“AWC is football in its totality, Falcons have done very well winning all their matches so far, I advice them to maintain their winning streak, keep to their cool-headedness and see every opponent as foe.”

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee member expressed confidence in the five-time African champions to qualify for the World Cup as well as re-claim the title they lost to Equatorial Guinea two years ago. “I have not changed nor intend to change nationality, every Nigerian expects them to lift the trophy and that is my sincerest expectation, qualify for the World Cup and win the trophy,” he said.

Nigeria will engaged perennial rivals Cameroun in the second semifinal while host South Africa tackle title holder Equatorial Guinea in an epic duel that will see the finalists qualify to represent Africa at next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup billed for Germany.