25 November 2008
Lagos — Nigeria yesterday won the psychological war ahead of today's African Women Championship semi final clash with hosts Equatorial Guinea at the National Stadium, Malabo .
Local organizers had slated the Super Falcons to train at the match venue at 9am yesterday but NFF's Assistant General Secretary (Competitions), Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed, who is also head of administration for the Nigeria team, rejected the time -table and insisted that the Falcons would train at 2pm.
International football regulations allow visiting teams to train at match venue at the time of the match on the eve of the game.
"We had a tough battle with the LOC people who initially denied us entry into the Stadium, but we took up the matter, with the NFF 1st Vice President, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, and we succeeded in training there", Mohammed said.
However, as at press time last night, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was yet to respond to a protest by Nigeria that two players of the Equatorial Guinea team be gender -checked.
Super Falcons' head coach, Joseph Ladipo however yesterday insisted that his girls were fired up for battle: "We are unshaken despite all their antics. Their attitude will bring the very best out of my team.
"We remain focused. Whatever they do will not distract us".
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