“We have come this far and I don’t see the Cameroonians stopping us from retaining our trophy, which we are going 
to present as ChristmasGIFT
to Nigerians.”
Those were the words of Super Falcons team captain, Rita Chikwelu, yesterday ahead of today’s final of the 10th African Women’s Nations Cup clash between Nigeria and host Cameroon.
The Falcons, who have won the title seven times, are aiming for another historic moment, and Chikwelu says it is a mission possible. Speaking with The Guardian at their Djeuga PalaceHOTEL base in Yaounde yesterday, the team captain said another victory over the Camerounians is possible. She said they would have to tread with caution, considering the fact that the Lionesses are playing in front of their home crowd.
“If you look at the history of our past matches in recent years, you will agree with me that the two teams have a lot in common,” Chikwelu said. “But we will find a way to overcome them, no matter their home support. I know it won’t be an easy game, but like I said, we will tame them once again.”
If results of past matches are what a team needs to win the championship, then the people of Cameroon should forget the title.
The two teams have met 12 times, with Nigeria winning seven of those matches. The Lionesses recorded three famous victories against the Super Falcons. First, in the AWC third-place encounter in 2012, the Lionesses stood between the Falcons and victory at the last All African Games in Congo Brazzaville, as well as the qualifier for the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Two other fixtures between the two teams ended in draws.
Outside those three defeats, the Falcons have always tamed the Lionesses, including the 2-0 win Nigerian had over Cameroon in the final of the Nations Cup two years ago in Windhoek, Namibia.
The story of the fixtures between the two teams dates back to 1998 when Nigeria hosted the first edition of the championship in Abeokuta and Kaduna. Then, the Lionesses were mere upstarts, with just two international games under their belt. A 3-2 spanking of Banyana Banyana of South Africa before bowing 3-2 to the Black Queens of Ghana.
In the semi-final, the Lionesses went down 0-6 to the Florence Omagbemi-led Falcons at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, their biggest defeat in the hands of Nigeria.
South Africa hosted the second edition of the championship in 2000, and again, the Falcons walloped the Lionesses 3-0 with goals from gangling Mercy Akide, Maureen Mmadu and Yusuf Olaitan. Both teams did not meet in the 2002 edition, which Nigeria hosted in Warri and Oghara, as the Lionesses were eliminated during the group stage.
However, in 2004, South Africa hosted the Nations Cup for the second time, and the Lionesses battled the Falcons to a 2-2 draw, despite the fact that Nigeria opened score early in the game through Perpetua Nkwocha in the ninth minute, and Vera Okolo later in the game. That was in the group stage.
Both teams qualified for the final, but this time, the Falcons were ruthless, beating the Lionesses 5-0 with Nkwocha, who is now an assistant coach of the Super Falcons, accounting for four goals, as Okolo scored one to give Nigeria her third title.
Nigeria hosted the 2006 edition of the championship again in Delta State, where the two teamsRENEWED their rivalry. Like they did in 2004 in South Africa, the Falcons led by late coach Effong Ntiero overpowered the Lionesses 5-0 in the semifinal, with Cynthia Uwak opening the floodgate of goals in the 33rd minute before Nkwocha netted a treble. Effioanwan Ekpo’s strike sealed the victory for the Falcons.
The Falcons led by the former striker, Uche Eucharia, lost in the semifinal to host, Equatorial Guinea, in the 2008 edition of the championship. It was the first time Nigeria missed out of a place in the final. Their opponent in the third place match was the Lionesses of Cameroon, who had grown in confidence.