Falconets battle hosts Ghana for African Games Gold

Defending champions the Falconets of Nigeria will do battle with hosts Ghana for the African Games Gold Thursday night.

Thursday’s Gold medal final will kick off at 8 pm Ghana time (9 pm Nigeria time).

In the semifinal, Nigeria saw off Uganda 2-0, while Ghana outscored Senegal 3-1.

Falconets coach Chris Musa Danjuma said his team are on course to retain the Gold they won at the previous African Games in Morocco.

“We should have put away some of the chances we created in the first half, but we are happy to get two second-half goals and reach the final. It is an opportunity to retain our gold medal from the last edition in Morocco and we will do everything to win and make Nigerians happy,” he vowed.

“In as much as we are not thinking about revenge, we know that we have unfinished business with Ghana. Our primary objective is to retain our gold medal in the African Games and by doing that, we would have sorted out the unfinished business.”

The ‘unfinished business’ that Danjuma referred to was the WAFU B U20 Championship hosted by Ghana last year, in which the host nation edged out the Falconets in the final in Kumasi to win the sub-regional title.

Danjuma’s girls have been imperial in Cape Coast, scoring eight goals in three matches without conceding any, and looking quite settled in several departments as they countenance this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia, for which they have already qualified.

The veteran coach made use of three different goalkeepers in the home-and-away World Cup qualifying duels against Tanzania and Burundi but appears to have finally settled for World Cup bronze medallist Faith Omilana, who has kept a goal in all matches in Cape Coast.

Shukurat Oladipo, Jumoke Alani and captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem are keeping things very tight at the back, while the experienced Yina Adoo and Chioma Olise have been boosted by Loveth Edeh and Bunmi Oladeji in the middle.

In the attack, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu and Chinyere Kalu now have to contend with Olushola Shobowale and Adaobi Okah.