The Nigerian contingent, comprising players, coaches, and officials, has touched down in Praia, Cape Verde, gearing up for the second leg of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against Cape Verde. The team’s arrival was confirmed through a post on the official X handle of the Super Falcons on Sunday, MySportDab reports.
“We safely landed in Praia, Cape Verde this evening, ahead of our second leg tie on December 5,” the handle’s post stated, signaling the team’s readiness for the crucial encounter.
The Falcons go into Tuesday’s match with a substantial five-goal advantage, having secured a convincing 5-0 victory in the first leg against Cape Verde at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. Uchenna Kanu and Esther Okoronkwo’s braces, along with a goal from Monday Gift, showcased the dominance of the nine-time African champions.
While Nigeria breezed through São Tomé and Príncipe in the first round, Cape Verde exhibited strength with an impressive 6-3 aggregate win over Liberia to set the stage for their clash with the Falcons.
With the WAFCON scheduled to be held in Morocco next year, Nigeria aims to assert its superiority in the return leg at the 15,000-capacity Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia on Tuesday.
Ranked 40th globally, the Falcons remain the favorites against Cape Verde, positioned at 134th in the world rankings.
To snatch the WAFCON ticket from the Falcons, Cape Verde faces the daunting task of scoring six goals against a Nigerian side that has never succumbed to a three-goal margin defeat against any African opponent in its competitive history.
Nigeria, a consistent contender in every edition of the WAFCON, has an illustrious record, having been crowned champions nine out of the 12 times the competition has been held.
As the Falcons aim to maintain their historic qualification streak, the upcoming clash against Cape Verde holds paramount significance in the journey towards the continental championship.
