Falcons kick off AWCON campaign against Mali

Nigeria’s Women’s senior national team will this afternoon take on Mali in their first game of the 2016 African Women Championship currently taking place in Cameroun.

The Nigerians are not only the defending champions of the tournament but also the most dominant of all the participating countries in the history of the tournament having seven out of the nine editions staged so far.

As captain of the Super Falcons, Coach Florence Omagbemi won the African title four times but this is her first tournament as coach.

“Yes, it’s my first tournament as a coach but my experience as a player has prepared me for this. Teams want to beat Nigeria, we will work extra hard to retain the title,” Omagbemi told BBC Sport on the eve of the 10th edition of the continental championship.

Apart from Nigeria, only South Africa and Cameroon have appeared at every tournament since the event began in 1998 as the African Women’s Championship.

After finishing third in 2012 and runners-up in 2014, the hosts have set their sights on winning the big prize on home soil.

They have been boosted by the return from injury of the reigning African Women’s Player of the Year, Gaelle Enganamouit.

It remained to be seen whether the Nigeria Football Federation was able to clear backlog of owed salaries to Coach Omagbemi who recently complained of nonpayment after eight months at the helm as there has been no confirmation from the Glass House to that effect before their departure.

Some pundits believe the issue could derail the team as the coaches will lack the required concentration needed to give their optimal best at the competition.