WAFCON Glory In Sight: Super Falcons Keeper Focused

Super Falcons and Paris FC goalkeeper, Chiamaka Cynthia Nnadozie, has revealed Nigeria are hungry to reclaim the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco when the tournament kicks off.

Nigeria have won the competition a record eleven times, but missed out on victory in the last edition in 2022. South Africa won that edition, defeating Morocco in the final.

The Super Falcons have been drawn alongside Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana, and with the tournament set to run from July 5 to July 26, Nnadozie wants her side to give their all.

“This 2024 AFCON isn’t just another tournament. It’s a mission to reclaim what’s ours. People might think it’s a manageable group, but the reality is very different. Women’s football has made huge strides in recent years. Every team is improving, working hard, and investing in development.

“We saw it in the last AFCON, where many of the favourites were shaken. No one can be underestimated anymore. This group is tricky, and we have to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. Qualification won’t be handed to us, we’ll need to earn it through hard work and discipline.

“The last edition was incredibly tough to accept. We really wanted to defend our crown, but football can be like that. On some days, things just don’t go your way. That match against Morocco, we lost partly because the opposition had a well-executed strategy. It’s not that Nigeria is weaker; it’s that other nations now see us as the team to beat. They prepare accordingly. That forces us to stay humble and to keep raising our level,” the 24-year-old said in an interview with CAF Online.

Quizzed about what it means to play for the Super Falcons on the big stage, the ex-Rivers Angels goalkeeper described it as a legacy.

“Wearing the Super Falcons jersey means carrying a legacy. It means playing for the generations before us who won everything. The spotlight is always on us. When another team loses, it’s not a big deal. When Nigeria loses, it feels like a national crisis! But we must keep calm. We’re athletes, we make mistakes too.

“The key is to turn that pressure into positive energy and motivation. Our goal is clear: to go all the way, but with focus and intelligence. It’s a huge honour.

“To me, AFCON holds the same weight as the World Cup. The atmosphere, the stakes, the intensity, it’s all there. I remember the 2022 edition in Morocco: packed stadiums, incredible supporters. You feel lifted by an entire continent, and personally, I’ve never been the starting goalkeeper when we’ve won a title. This time, I want to lift that trophy from the pitch to play a real part in the victory.

Lastly, Nnadozie reveals her role in the team away from the pitch, highlighting how she tries to help the youngsters settle in.

“I try to be there for them. I talk to them, explain that age doesn’t define your place in the team. Recently, one of them called me ahead of a tournament to ask for advice. That touched me.

“I remembered how the senior players welcomed me when I started. Now it’s my turn to pass that on. I want them to feel confident, to express themselves freely within the team,” Nnadozie concluded.

Nigeria kicks off their WAFCON preparations with a friendly against Cameroon on the 31st of May.

Soccernet.ng