Reigning African women champions Nigeria have withdrawn from a 12-nation tournament which kicks off in Turkey this week, citing visa issues.
The Super Falcons were scheduled to lock horns with Group B rivals France, Kosovo and Kazakhstan from 26 February to 7 March as preparation for this year's Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers. But the West Africans, who finished third at the regional Wafu Cup on Saturday, have withdrawn from the competition for logistical reasons.
"It was impossible for the team to sort visas and make it to the tournament in Turkey, so they had to pull out," Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport. They only just finished playing the Wafu Cup on Saturday and had a short time-frame to sort out visas and other important logistics for the trip to Turkey.
Importantly, attention and preparations will shift towards the big friendly against France in April."
The news comes as a real setback for the country and newly appointed coach, Swede Thomas Dennerby.
The team will now travel to Europe to play France in a friendly in April, after which the focus will be on securing a qualifying spot at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana. This year's Women's Nations Cup takes on extra significance as it will also decide the continent's teams for the 2019 Women's World Cup.
Nigeria are the only African team to have played in all of the Women's seven World Cup tournaments since 1991 but they have failed to translate their continental dominance on the world stage.
From bbc sports
What a shame
ReplyDeleteNice one.
ReplyDeleteHow's it nice? Read properly again and tell me how this is nice to the ears😕😕😕
DeleteOmase...Oh! Our dear Super Falcons
ReplyDeleteThe Officials should have planned for them earlier now...
What a shame
ReplyDeleteIt's just very pathetic that we always like to disgrace this our nation...
ReplyDeleteToo bad.
ReplyDeleteNawaooo..
ReplyDeleteUseless country, I really hate this country called Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteNigeria a place where you steal billions meant for the people and you get rewarded for it.
Nigeria a place where their men are raised to be thieves, polygamous and liars.
Nigeria a place where the women work full time and look after children full time.
Nigeria a place where the begging begins at the airport.
Nigeria a place where the youths are so stupid they will rather their great grand father leads them.
Nigeria a place full of confusion and commotion.
Nigeria a place where 90 percent of their actors, actresses and artist are prostitutes.
Nigeria a place full with gold diggers both male and female, a country where you trust nobody.
Nigeria a country where criminals are celebrated. A country when stupid youths think they are successful because of their parents stolen funds.
I really hate this country called Nigeria
oya carry your bag go ghana
DeleteToo bad, this is shameful
ReplyDelete