SWAN hails Super Falcons ninth AWCON win
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria Lagos State has hailed the Super Falcons for conquering Africa for the ninth time at the Africa Women Cup of Nations 2018.
The Chairman of SWAN, Lagos State, Debo Oshundun, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday, congratulated the female national team for their doggedness at the 2018 AWCON.
NAN reports that the Coach Denneby-Tutored team emerged African Champions again on Saturday in Ghana when they defeated Banyana Banyana of South Africa 4-3 on penalties.
It was a sweet revenge for the Falcons to have defeated the Banyana Banyana side after they suffered the first match defeat from the same team.
In a congratulatory message to the team, Oshundun praised the team’s resilience which eventually paid off.
It said: “We need to appreciate the team for their efforts at winning the tournament. At first, people were skeptical about their chances of winning the tournament after they lost the first match.
“We saw their determination and doggedness in subsequent matches and this tells a lot about the team.
“The lesson I want them to learn from this tournament is that other countries are picking up and there are no more minnows in female football.
“For Africa they have done well but what should be paramount now is how we can improve our ratings in the world and I will advise that preparations start now.”
Immediate Past Chairman, Lagos SWAN, Fred Edoreh, said that though the competition was tough for the female team, they showed class by winning it.
Edoreh said: “It is a competition that was tough for the team. At a time we have been leading in Africa and defending the cup, this competition is quite different.
“Now, we have been able to reclaim our place as the leader in women football in Africa. We should have it at the back of our minds that other countries are growing.
“We should now expect tough challenges from other countries in Africa. So it is time for us to wake up and know that we do not have that monopoly anymore.
“We need to up our game and also prepare well for the World Cup.”