LIVE - Nigeria vs. Morocco: Super Falcons set to kick the host team out of the competition

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The semi-final battle between the Super Falcon, who are gunning for their 10th African title, and the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco is set for Monday night. 

The Nigerian ladies will be hoping to progress to the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as the interface with Morocco.

The Falcons have improved in every game since the lost opener against South Africa. 

The Lionesses of Atlas are meeting the Falcons for the first time ever, and one outcome is imminent - only a win would settle the face-off. Also, the Lionesses are going into the match hoping to reach their first final at the nation’s cup, and they have the Super Falcons standing between them and the finals.

In addition, the Lionesses have not lost any in the last 12 matches in all competitions, and at Wafcon 2022, they won all their four matches.

Game Nigeria vs. Morocco

Date Monday, July 18

Time 21:00 (WAT) 

Squads & Team News

Nigeria squad

Goalkeepers

Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Yewande Balogun (Coppermine United, USA)

Defenders

Glory Ogbonna (Santa Teresa FC, Spain); Onome Ebi (En Avant Guingamp, France); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)

Midfielders

Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden)

Forwards

Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Vivian Ikechukwu (WFC Gintra, Lithuania); Chinonyerem Macleans (GSK Gornik Leczna, Poland); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Gift Monday (Bayelsa Queens) 

Potential Nigeria XI: Nnadozie, Alozie, Ebi, Ohale, Plumptre, Ayinde, Chikwelu, Ajibade, Onumonu, Kanu, Payne

Morocco squad

Goalkeepers

Khadija Er-Rmici, Hind Hasnaoui (both AS FAR), Assia Zouhair (SCC Mohammedia), Imane Abdelahad (Sporting Casablanca).

Defenders

Zineb Redouani, Fatima Zahra Dahmos, Siham Boukhami, Aziza Rabbah, Ghizlane Chhiri (all AS FAR), Elchad Nesryne (Saint-Etienne, France), Sabah Seghir (Sampdoria, Italy), Eva Allice (FC Montauban, France).

Midfielders

Nahla Elodie Nakkach (Servette, Switzerland), Salma Amani (US Saint-Malo, France), Najat Badri, Fatima Tagnaout, Sofia Bouftini (all AS FAR), Imane Saoud (FC Basel, Switzerland), Yasmin Katie Mrabet (Levante Las Planas, Spain).

Forwards

Ghizlane Chebbak, Ibtissam Jraidi, Hanane Ait El Haj, Sanaa Mssoudy (all AS FAR), Samya Hassani (KRC Genk, Belgium), Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Chaymaa Mourtaji (Sporting Casablanca).

Potential Morocco XI: Er-Rmichi, El Chad, Seghir, Redouani, Nakkach, Mrabet, Ait El Haj, Tagnaout, Ayane, Chebbak, Mssoudy

Match Preview

On Fifa rankings, the Super Falcons occupy Number 1 in Africa and 39th in the world, while the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco are eighth in Africa and 77th in the world.

By that standing, Nigeria is the favourite to beat Morocco in today’s match. Despite all that and their current success, coach Waldrum expressed his worries:

“I saw them for the first time in September and I was very impressed by the quality of their team and by the football they play,” he told the media.

“I said as soon as I arrived in Morocco that they are the team that can surprise. I know how this team has developed for three years now.

“They are one of the best teams in the competition and are capable of beating any other team.

“We have respect for Morocco and the way they have played in this tournament. It’s a big challenge for us. Certainly, we have a lot of experience and a lot see us as favourites, but in football everything is possible and we have to be ready for this game.”

Rasheedat Ajibade and Ghizlane Chebbak are the competition’s joint topscorers. She is the player to watch today, as she might seriously threaten Nigeria’s defense.

Watch the match preview here:

   

You can watch the match via online streaming or TV through SuperSport and various local broadcasters; see below:

SuperSport  - TV

NFF TV      - Online Streaming 

Others         -    Streaming Live

Source

#WAFCON

#AWCON

#Nigeria vs Morocco

#Falcons

#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 

#TeamNigeria 

#TeamMorocco