Falcons Vow To Bury Queens

OACH of the Super Falcons, Joseph Ladipo, has declared "war" against Ghana's Black Queens ahead of tomorrow's first group match of the sixth edition of the African Women Championship (AWC), Equatorial Guinea 2008.

The Nigerian girls started serious training in the country's commercial town of Bata on Thursday.

The Falcons, who left Lagos for Malabo on Tuesday, have won all five past editions of the competition and are favourites to take the title for the sixth time.

"We have started training here and everything is fine in the camp," an official of the team said.

"I understand that Ghana is boasting that they will shock the Falcons. They are dreamers. I won't say much until the match on Sunday. I have a team that can stop everybody in this competition, including Ghana."

Special Assistant to the NFF President, Tunde Aderibigbe, who is on ground in Equatorial Guinea, said yesterday that everything was set for Sunday's game. According to him, "the team arrived on Tuesday and did some light workout on Wednesday, but serious training started this morning (Thursday)."

Nigeria will square up against rivals Ghana in the opening match of Group B. It will also play Tunisia (19th) and South Africa (22nd) in the group phase. Host - Equatorial Guinea, Cameroun, Mali and Congo play in Group A in Malabo.

The Falcons dominate African football but a school of thought believes it is time they do away with the comfort of being "local champions" and really impress on the big stage. Participation at the recent Beijing Olympic Games women football ended at the group stage. Captained by experienced defender Christie George, the squad also includes goalkeepers Precious Dede and Tochukwu Oluchi; Efioanwan Ekpo, Chima Nwosu, Perpetua Nkwocha, Onome Ebi, Kikelomo Ajayi, Chichi Igbo, Ifeanyi Chiejine, Gift Otuwe, Loretta Sadoh, Maureen Eke, Cynthia Uwak, Faith Ikidi, Lilian Cole, Evelyn Nwabuoku and Edith Eduviere.