Nigerians In Cameroun Converge On Yaounde For FalconsThe Super Falcons of Nigeria have pledged to beat Cameroun in Yaounde when both teams meet to decide who qualifies for the women football event of the London 2012 All Africa Games.Nigeria defeated Cameroun 2-1 in the first leg of the tie in Abuja and the Uche Eucharia-led team acknowledges the fact that it must win or draw the game to make the Olympics.According to a Nigerian journalist, who traveled with the team to Cameroun, Uche says 'this game is of great significance to Nigerians because we have suffered some unexpected losses in recent times.The reporter, who pleads anonymity, quotes Uche as saying, 'We could not qualify for the All Africa Games, and just recently our male counterparts failed to make the 2012 Nations Cup list so we want to use this game to assuage Nigerians' feelings.'This game will by no means be easy because there are spiritual dimensions to it, but I believe that God being on our side the hard work we have put in will lead us to success.'The team arrived in Yaounde on Thursday from Douala, which is a 30-minute flight from the capital city, and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) say they are satisfied by the reception accorded the contingent. But the federation had to move the team from the 'substandard' Mundi Hotel to Yaounde Hilton following complaints from the girls.The Super Falcons trained twice on Thursday and yesterday morning, with the emphasis on shooting and running off the ball, suggesting that the Nigerians are not in Yaounde to defend the 2-1 lead.Uche is banking on 11 players from the 20 she took to Cameroun to defend the slim victory from the first leg.Among the players in the team in Cameroun are Skipper Precious Dede, Tochi Oluehi, Helen Ukaonu, Rita Chikwelu, Perpetua Nkwocha, Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale, Francisca Ordega, Uchechi Sunday, Desire Oparanozie and Ebere Orji.Others are Rose Umeh, Amenze Aighewi, Gloria Ofoegbu, Asisat Oshoala, Augusta Egwim, Glory Iroka, Cecilia Nku and Martina Ohadugha.Although not much information is coming from the Camerounian, a situation hinged on the elections in the country, sources close to the Lionesses say they are not taking the game lightly.Cameroun, like Nigeria, failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup and the football federation sees picking the Olympics ticket as a weapon to keep the critics at arms length. But they acknowledge that the game would not be easy.Meanwhile, Nigerians in Douala, Bamenda and other parts of Cameroun have pledged to converge on Yaounde today to cheer the Super Falcons to success in the Olympics qualifier.The Nigerian community, led by Orji Nkama, has reportedly mobilized to storm Yaounde in their thousands to ensure that the Falcons did not lack support today.Nkama, a fabrics merchant, says Nigeria cannot afford to lose to Cameroun 'because we will not know peace after the game.'There is great deal of rivalry between our countries and if this defeat us on Saturday, they will rub it in at every given opportunity. They cannot beat us in men football and then eliminate us also in women football. It will be disastrous.
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