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The Nigerians arrived in the country yesterday.
“Our preparations have been going on well and this week we have been working more on the attack and defensive aspect of the game. If the girls play to instructions and keep possession, then I am sure we will prevail,” said Mugadza,in an interview from the capital yesterday.
She said the presence of international stars in the Nigerian team was not a cause for concern as they have played against them before.
“We have played against them before and I believe age is also catching up with them. With our pace and speed I am sure we will be on the right track,” she said.
She reported a clean bill of health and declared the girls tactically and psychologically ready for the battle on Sunday.
“Our two friendly matches against Zambia and Tanzania helped us identify our weaknesses and strengths which we have been working on this past week,” said the former New Orleans of Bulawayo player and coach who also led the Bulawayo provincial girls team to gold during the Zimbabwe National Youth Games in Mutare.
Nigerian coach Kadiri Ikhana told the Nigerian media that he had 21 players for the match, with the return leg scheduled for Nigeria on 16 June.
So serious have been the Nigerians that they have been in camp for weeks preparing for the match. He said they looked forward to knocking out the Mighty Warriors before qualifying for the finals set for Equatorial Guinea.
The Super Falcons have won every edition of the African Women’s Championship bar one, since the inaugural event that Nigeria staged in 1998.
The only edition where the trophy went a different way was the 2008 finals in Equatorial Guinea.
Super Falcons Squad
Goalkeepers: Precious Dede (Bayelsa Queens, Captain), Tochukwu Oluehi (Sunshine Queens)
Defenders: Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels), Ngozi Ebere (Rivers Angels), Chidimma Okoro (Rivers Angels), Onyinyechi Ohadugha (Rivers Angels), Evelyn Nwabuiku (Rivers Angels), Onome Ebi (Atasehir Belediyesi, Turkey), Joy Jegede (Delta Queens), Gladys Akpa (Sunshine Queens), Regina McFancy (Rivers Angels),
Midfielders: Stella Mbachu (Rivers Angels, Assistant Captain), Rita Chikwelu (Umea IK, Sweden), Gloria Iroka (Rivers Angels), Akudo Iwuagwu (Delta Queens), Esther Sunday (Sunshine Queens)
Attackers: Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnana SK, Sweden), Amenze Aighewi (Rivers Angels), Abosede Olukayode (Serezo Queens, Ilorin), Desire Oparanozie (Delta Queens), Shola Oyewusi (Sunshine Queens)
Online Reporter