Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons have received a psychological boost in statistics ahead of next month’s Aisha Buhari International Invitational Tournament, as they remain Africa’s top team in the monthly rankings by world soccer governing body, FIFA.
The latest figures come barely three weeks before the Falcons host five other countries at the maiden competition in Lagos, for which the draws held just two days before FIFA announced that Nigeria had retained 38th position in the women’s world rankings.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, while the reigning African champions remain the continent’s number one team, Zambia shot back into the top 100 and to their highest ever position thanks to their 4-4 draw against China in the group phase of the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
World champions, United States of America remain number one on the global scale, ahead of Sweden, who took silver at Tokyo 2020 and beat the USA 3-0 in their opening group match, and the Scandinavians climbed to their highest point ever in the ranking.
Nigeria will now aim for gold at the upcoming competition in Lagos, in order to get more points and climb higher on the next FIFA Women’s World Ranking, which will be published on December 10, with the international value of Aisha Buhari Cup sure to come into reckoning.
At the draw ceremony on Wednesday, the organizers announced that Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly known as Onikan Stadium, would serve as Venue A of the tournament, while Agege Stadium will be Venue B.
Nigeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa and Mali will battle for honours during the historic tournament that will see 10 matches in all played at two venues in The Centre of Excellence, with the opening match between Nigeria and Morocco billed to hold on Monday, 13th September and the final on the 21st of same month.
On Friday, the LOC members, led by the chairman, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, as well as Ms Aisha Falode (director of organization) and Honorable Ayo Omidiran, with technical committee members, Bola Oyeyode and Dotun Coker, were at the arena to check the state of things.
The competition, which will hold under the theme ‘Playing for Good,’ will be a nine-day, six-nation tournament in honour of Nigeria’s First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari.
Falcons’ assistant coach and Edo Queens FC of Benin City handler, Wemimo Matthew posited that the competition will change the mindset of parents over girl-child participation in sports.
Wemimo concluded that the upcoming showpiece will go a long way to fast-track the growth and improvement of the game in the continent and added: “It’s a very good idea.
“I give kudos to the initiators of the competition. I believe the tournament is going to add to the development of women football in Nigeria and Africa in general.
“Bringing the competition right here will have its positive impact on the way parents view girl-child participation in sports.
“Most parents in the rural areas will have the opportunity to see and watch the game for the first time.”
