Super Falcons will not underrate AWCON 2016 opponents – Omagbemi

Head coach of Nigeria’s senior women national team,
Florence Omagbemi, has warned his players not to
underrate any opponent at this year’s Africa Women Cup
of Nations in Cameroon.

Omagbemi said: “We have been playing against Ghana’s
Black Queens for years.
“I remember when the Falcons were newly formed, our
first game in the qualification series for the 1991
Women’s World Cup was against Ghana.
“We have played against Mali before, and we know they
are no pushovers. Now, Kenya are coming to the
African championship for the first time, but from the
way they qualified, after beating Algeria, they must be
respected.
“Surely, we will take the games against all three
countries as seriously as we have been doing in the
past. You know, we are the cup holders and every team
would want to beat the Falcons.”
Nigeria, who are the defending champions, will begin
their tournament against Mali on November 20. Their
next game will be against the Black Queens three days
later, before they take on debutants Kenya on November
26.
“This is year 2016. A number of teams on the African
continent have improved and we cannot afford to look
down on any team,” Omagbemi added.

“For instance, South Africa and Zimbabwe qualified for
and played at the Olympics in Brazil, at which we were
absent. They gained valuable experience.
“Coming back to our group, we just have to keep a
level head. The Black Queens of Ghana are very good
and we must be ready for them. But we have no reason
to fear any team. We are the champions of Africa. All we
need to do is to prepare hard and go to Cameroon to
defend our title.”