Cameroon - Nigeria: Indomitable Lionesses battle Super Falcons for World Cup ticket

Samuel Ahmadu

Cameroon - Nigeria: Indomitable Lionesses battle Super Falcons for World Cup ticket image

Cameroon and Nigeria go head-to-head on Tuesday in the Africa Women's Cup of Nations semi-final which will send the winning team to the 2019 Fifa Women's World Cup in France.

Having progressed to the knockout stages of the competition, both teams will be looking to confirm their place in their third successive final at the Accra Sports Stadium.

With a 1-1 draw against hosts in their final group A encounter, a last four ticket was guaranteed for the Indomitable Lionesses that finished with seven points.

Nigeria, on the other hand, thrashed already eliminated Equatorial Guinea 6-0 to finish as runners-up in Group B behind South Africa.

Coach Joseph Brain is unlikely to change his Cameroon's set-up following their 1-1 draw with eventually ousted Black Queens on Saturday.

Strikers Gabrielle Onguene, Gaelle Enganamouit, and Raissa Feudjio are the super regulars in the team and are guaranteed to retain their starting place.

Onguene, who was named in the CAF XI for the group stage, is likely to be the star of the match as she would be eager to help her side stop the Super Falcons, who defeated them in the last two finals of the competition.

For Nigeria, reigning Africa Women Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala will be hoping to come to the party alongside Desire Oparanozie, who lately shrugged off an injury as well as Francisca Ordega.

Nigeria coach Thomas Dennerby could likely give Josephine Chukwunonye the starting nod ahead of recovering Faith Ikidi for the Lionesses showdown as he hopes to ensure a tight defensive set-up, which has only conceded one goal so far.

With nine of 11 previous meetings between the two sides at Awcon ending in victory for the west Africans, the Cameroonians would be aiming to halt the dominance of the holders this time.

The Lionesses registered their first win against the defending champions at Equatorial Guinea 2012, eight years after securing their first point in a 2-2 draw in the group stage in South Africa. A 1-0 win courtesy of a striker from 2015 Africa Women Player of the Year Gaelle Enganamouit.

 

Samuel Ahmadu