Falcons win battle of Accra The first leg in Ibadan ended 1-1 and with the Black Queens recalling skipper, Alberta Sackey who pulled out of the squad after the Women World cup in USA, it was always going to be a difficult game for the African Champions. After a goaless first half, Nkechi Egbe, scorer in the first leg, put the Nigerians ahead but skipper, Alberta Sackey drew level for the Black Queens five minute later to send the game into extra time. Psychological warfare Nigeria’s Falcons had to play in a packed Accra sports stadium that was witnessing the largest turn of spectators in a long time as there was not a single empty seat in the stadium. During the penalty shootouts, chants like, "Inside the net" "Send your power, Holy Ghost power" when the Queens were about to take their penalty kicks and "Away, Away" when it was the turn of the Falcons, reverberated at a deafening pitch around the stadium as it appeared the Falcons’ dominance of female football in Africa was about to come to and end. Ajumai Ameh lost her kick to keeper Memunatu Suleimanu and when the Ghanaian keeper saved the next Nigerian kick it was almost obvious that the Queens would win having taken a two goal lead. But in a twist of fate, the Black Queens Elizabeth Baidoo, Florence Okoe and Alberta Sackey threw away their kicks leaving the Nigerians emerging victors and the Ghanaians’ shame faced and wondering what might have been. The Falcons were then treated to a lavish dinner at the Nigerian Embassy and are scheduled to return to Lagos on Sunday night. Face Banyana Banyana By the victory, the Falcons will now meet the Banyana Banyana of South Africa who qualified on 8-5 aggregate win over Angola. The South Africans won their home tie 6-2 and lost in Luanda on Saturday 3-2. The games are fixed for 12th and 16th March. Nigeria’s Falcons have lost only once game on African soil since organized female football started on the continent in 1991. Incidentally that loss was to the Black Queens at the African Women Championships that Nigeria hosted in 2002.
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