We can’t afford to lose to Falcons again – Cameroon

Super Falcons

Festus Abu

Cameroon coach Enow Ngachu  has written off the chances of Nigeria winning the 2016 African Women’s Cup of Nations  at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Saturday.

Hosts  Indomitable Lionesses defeated Ghana’s Black Queens 1-0 in the first semifinal of the tournament in Yaounde on Tuesday to set up a final showdown with the Super Falcons, who also  beat South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0 in the second semifinal in Limbe  on the same day.

Seven-time African champions Nigeria have won the tournament twice  at Cameroon’s expense.

The Falcons humiliated the Lionesses 5-0 to claim their  fourth title in the final of the championship hosted by South Africa in 2004. Nigeria returned 10 years later to win their seventh title after beating  their bitter rivals  2-0 in the Namibia 2014  final at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in  Windhoek.

France-based striker Desire Oparanozie and Arsenal Ladies forward Asisat Oshoala scored a goal apiece to hand Nigeria the title.

But Ngachu, who watched helplessly  from the dugout as  his team suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Falcons in their second final in the tournament, which began in Abeokuta in 1998,  has vowed the Lionesses will win the title this time round.

He says the Lionesses cannot afford to lose to the Falcons for the third time in the final of the elite competition, saying they will give everything in Saturday’s clash.

“I’ve already lost two finals and I hope to win this time,” Ngachu was quoted as  saying by Cafonline after guiding  Cameroon to a 1-0 triumph over Ghana.

“We know how to handle pressure. We will continue to work so that our players manage this situation at best.”

Nigeria coach  Florence Omagbemi  said the Falcons would correct their mistakes in the clash against South Africa ahead of the final.