LET THE SHOW BEGIN

Falcons begin title defence against Cameroun

Nigeria's Super Falcons will begin the chase for their title defence against Indomitable Lionesses on Monday, a day after the 2012 African Women Championship kicks off in  Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria won the title in South Africa in 2010 after defeating 2012 host Equatorial Guinea  in the final to retain the trophy lost in 2008.
The Indomitable Lioness concluded their preparations for the tourney with a 1-1 draw with Banyana Banyana of South Africa on thursday and will aim to stop Nigeria's dominance in the African Women Championship.

Other Opponents in the group are  Ethiopia and Cote D’Ivoire. Group A has hosts Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Congo DR and Senegal.
African women's football powerhouse, Ghana, failed to qualify as they were eliminated by Cameroun. It would be recalled that Super Falcons' striker, Perpetua Nkwocha has set a target of 15 goals for the upcoming African Women's Championship in Equatorial Guinea.

INSPIRATION!
S/Africa High Commissioner tasks Banyana Banyana

Banyana Banyana wrapped up their 5-day training camp in Yaounde, Cameroun and landed in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Thursday, 25 October 2012, to put the finishing touches to their preparations for the eight-nation CAF African Women Championship 2012.
The African women's football showpiece event starts on October 28, with the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana in Group A action against hosts Equatorial Guinea.

Banyana Banyana received further words of motivation from the South African High Commissioner to Cameroun, Ms Ntshadi M Tsheole, who paid a surprise visit to the national team's training session.
"As a commission, we are so excited to have Banyana Banyana training here in Cameroun and wish them the best of luck for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea," said Tsheole.
"We are politicians, but Banyana Banyana are ambassadors for South Africa in their own right. Everywhere they go, so do the media and these young football players are a real credit to our country."
Meanwhile, national head coach Joseph Mkhonza looked also a bit more relaxed as the team's technical staff joined the players in a small size field practice match.

"The spirit in the camp is high, particularly after the effort put in during the 1-1 all draw against Cameroon in an international friendly match played in Yaoundé on Monday," said Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza.
"Having a national training camp in the humid conditions here in Cameroun was crucial to our build up to the CAF African Women Championship 2012 as we are likely to find similar conditions in Equatorial Guinea. Safa and Sasol, our team sponsor, need to be commended for allowing our team the opportunity to prepare here in Cameroon.".
The national coaching staff has been impressed with the way in which Durban Ladies (KwaZulu Natal) striker Silindile Ngubane and club-mate and defender Charlotte Mshengu have fitted into the Banyana Banyana set up.


Ikhana not missing Ordega, Oparanozie

Coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons  Kadiri Ikhana has said he is not missing the absence of Super Falconets duo of Francesca Ordega and Desire Oparanozie who were not released by their new Russian club Rossiyanka.
The Super Falcons are currently training in Ghana ahead of the 2012 Africa Women’s Championship scheduled for Equatorial Guinea from the 28 of October.
Ikhana said there are other good players who can replace the absentees.

We are not going to miss them much. Because there are other players who can stand in their position and perform well.
Their absence is not going to have any negative effect on the team. Ikhana said.
 The Super Falcons are expected to leave for Equatorial Guinea on Thursday ahead of their first game against Cameroun.

Warning Signal
Falcons send warning signals, wallop Hasaacas

Super Falcons on Wednesday defeated Sekondi Hasaacas 6-1 in their second build-up match to the 8th AWC in Equatorial Guinea at the Lizzy Sports Centre in Accra, Ghana.
The team had on Sunday defeated a first division side, Immigration 3-0 to the delight of manager, Kadiri Ikhana.
"This was a better performance than the first friendly we played here. I'm happy with the performance of my players especially in the first 45 minutes. All the players used in that half were fantastic.

CALL TO DUTY
Two Ghanaian referees for 2012 AWC

Two Ghanaian referees have been selected to officiate at the 2012 African Women’s Championship (AWC) scheduled for October 28 to November 11 in Equatorial Guinea.
The duo, Christine Ziga Enyoman and Emmanuella Aglagoh will be the only Ghanaian representation at the tournament the Black Queens will be sitting out for the first time.
Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that the two referees made it into the list of 26 selected officials based on their performance in recent times.

Ziga, 30, a centre referee will be making a second appearance at a major continental championship since receiving her international badge in 2010.
For 32-year old assistant referee Aglagoh, the tourney will be her third major international competition after the recent FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan and her role at the All African Games in Maputo,  Mozambique in 2011 where she officiated alongside Ziga.
Ghanaian referees have performed creditably at the flagship continental women’s football  championship, with retired Mercy Quarcoo Tagoe going all the way to officiate the final match of the 2008 edition also staged in Equatorial Guinea.



Team     Pld     W     D     L     GF     GA     Pts
 E. Guinea     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
 South Africa     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
 Senegal     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
 Congo DR     0     0     0     0     0     0     0

FIXTURES

VENUE: MALABO
28 October 2012    14:30
Equatorial Guinea      v      South Africa
28 October 2012    17:30
Senegal      v      Congo DR
31 October 2012    14:30
South Africa      v      Senegal
31 October 2012    17:30
Equatorial Guinea      v      Congo DR
3 November 2012    17:30
Equatorial Guinea      v      Senegal
3 November 2012    17:30
South Africa      v      Congo DR

Group B
Team     Pld     W     D     L     GF     GA Pts
 Nigeria     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
 Ethiopia     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
 Cameroun     0     0     0     0     0     0     0
 Côte d'Ivoire     0     0     0     0     0     0     0

FIXTURES: BATA
29 October 2012    14:30
Nigeria      v      Cameroun
29 October 2012    17:30
Côte d'Ivoire      v      Ethiopia
1 November 2012    14:30
Cameroun      v      Côte d'Ivoire
1 November 2012    17:30
Ethiopia      v      Nigeria
4 November 2012    17:30
Nigeria      v      Côte d'Ivoire
4 November 2012    17:30
Cameroun      v      Ethiopia