Adedokun Waliyu 
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has hailed the heroic outing of the Super Falcons at the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations after their semifinal loss to host Morocco just as the federation has also secured top friendly matches for the team in readiness for the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
Also, the team is scheduled to play the United States Women’s National Team in Kansas City and Washington D. C in September, and also to fly to Japan to take on the Asian team in Kobe in October.
“Of course, we would have been happy to be in the Final and chase a 10th title but I am happy with the performance of the team and the way and manner they approached the game despite all sorts of setbacks and intimidation,” President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Melvin Pinnick said yesterday.“To play 50 minutes of a game with only nine players is not an easy task.
“The Super Falcons gave their all and were truly fabulous. They had the ‘Nigeria spirit’ in them and showed a sense of patriotism, were dogged and refused to give up. Penalties are forever a lottery, so it could have gone either way. I commend the team for the outing.”
The expulsion of midfielder Halimat Ayinde in the 49th minute reduced Nigeria to 10 players, before referee Maria Rivet from Mauritius handed forward Rasheedat Ajibade a red card in the 70th minute, which cut Nigeria’s playing strength by two for the remaining 50 minutes (20 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time) of the thrilling encounter.
