By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s Senior female national team, the Super Falcons will today begin their quest to win a record-setting 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON trophy as they square up against now perennial foes, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana

Overall victory in the 2022 Morocco WAFCON will hand the Randy Waldrum’s ladies a $500, 000 reward after the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF announced increase in the 9rize money from $300, 000 2018 edition last week.

Nigeria and South Africa have another day in the sun as the Super Falcons and Banyana Banyana go to war for three points, in the opening game of Group C of the 12th WAFCON
which began in Morocco on Saturday.

Nine-time champions and FIFA World Cup ever-present Nigeria have not forgotten how, 10 months ago and on home soil, the youthful Banyana squad ran away spectacular 4-2 winners in the final match of the first edition of Aisha Buhari Women’s Tournament. Venue was the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.

Since then, however, the Falcons have flown with formidable wings, eliminating West African arch-rivals Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in the qualifying series for the WAFCON and coming close to stripping the ‘A’ Women Team of Canada in the second of a two-match tour in that country three months ago.

Monday’s spectacle will see Coach Randy Waldrum send out his best legs against a team considered Nigeria’s strongest opposition on the African continent at the moment, and Coach Desiree Ellis is expected to do likewise as both teams of titanesses battle for crucial three points at the Moulay Hassan Stadium.

Nigeria will be without first choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who is suspended for receiving yellow cards in different matches of the qualifying series (against Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire), meaning Israel –based Tochukwu Oluehi could be between the sticks for the Super Falcons against the Banyana on Monday night.

In Saturday’s opening match, Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses pipped Burkina Faso 1-0 in Group A while Senegal defeated Uganda 2-0 in the second match of the group.

Cameroon and Zambia class recorded barren draw while Tunisia took charge of Group B with 4-1 thrashing of Togo

There are four teams in each of the three groups of the 12-team finals, with the top two teams in each of the groups and two best third-placed teams proceeding to the quarter finals.

All the four semi-finalists will represent Africa at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, with the fifth-placed team to be eligible for a Playoff Tournament that will hold next year.