Lagos — This evening at the port city of Bata, the Super Falcons of Nigeria will launch the defence of their title when they face age-long rivals Ghana in a Group B clash of the African Women's Championship taking place in Equatorial Guinea.

The Falcons have lost once to the Black Queens at this stage in 2002 and will be hoping to cement their superiority over their West African neighbours.

But Ghana coach, Mumuni Gamel is confident his charges are up to the task and will deliver.

"We have prepared very well for the tournament, and we are ready for any form of opposition. The Falcons are favourites, but an upset is not above us," said Gamel who will be missing the services of petit striker Anita Amankwah.

However, Coach Jossy Lad, who survived the axe following the failure of his wards to progress from the group stage at the Beijing Olympics, will be out to make sure that Gamel eats his words.

Although the Falcons failed to fly in the Far East, only last year Lad was able to successfully guide his wards to the gold medal of the All Africa Games, which held in Algiers a clear indication that while they may not be able to do well beyond the continent in Africa they are still the team to fear.

With another formidable foe, the Banyana Banyana of South Africa, in the same group, Lad knows that his side cannot afford any complacency against the Black Queens if they are to top the group.

In the second match of Group B, the South Africans face debutants Tunisia.

The competition kicked off yesterday with the hosts taking on another powerhouse Cameroon, while Mali tangled with Congo in the second Group A match.