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Daily Independent (Lagos)

Africa: AWC - Dawn of a New Era

Julius Okorie

5 December 2008

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Lagos — By winning the sixth Africa Women Championship (AWC), Equitorial Guinea not only became the second country in history to do so, but also destroyed the old order.

Before now, the old order belonged to Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and South Africa, perhaps in that order. When the draw was made and the host avoided Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, the country breathed a sigh of relief, but was quick not to forget that Cameroon was a threat in the Malabo-based Group A.

Very first match of the group, and Equitorial Guinea was against a Cameroonian team that had appeared in all the semi-finals since 1998, a country that was once in the final in 2004. Cameroon was humbled 1-0. Mali and DR Congo were the other opponents. Not to forget that these were also regulars in a competition, which the new champion had qualified for only once before.

While Mali and DR Congo were there in 2006, Mali was present in 2002 and 2004 and Congo Kinshasha played in 1998. They both fell to the new order. Then came the match of matches, the supposed final before the final and the defending, five-time champions against the champion in waiting. Of course, the result is now history, as Equitorial Guinea marched into the final via a lone goal victory.

While all this was going on, Group B based in Bata and expected to be the 'Group of Death' because of the presence of Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana did not produce the expected sparks and fire. Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana had all been to the five finals (except South Africa in 1998).

Nigeria had won all the finals, Ghana had been to all the semi finals and played the final matches in 1998, 2002 and 2006 while South Africa had three semi-finals and one final match in 2000 under her kitty. In the first match of the group, Ghana and Nigeria cancelled themselves out (1-1) while South Africa expectedly piped Tunisia 1-0.

The formbook was thrown overboard when South Africa beat Ghana on a day Tunisia held Nigeria to a goalless draw. The last match of the group saw a reawakening for Ghana against Tunisia (too late) while Nigeria that scrapped on against a weakened South Africa team finally crashed out against Equitorial Guinea.

South Africa, winners of Group B came face to face with Camerooun and many thought the old order now had a chance to redeem itself, but it was not to be. An emphatic 3-0 hammering threw the 2004 finalist overboard for a virgin final involving Equitorial Guinea and South Africa.

The records, the old order, pointed to a South Africa's edge over the hosts, but again the old order was trampled underfoot, as the host established its supremacy, not losing any match on its way to an historic crown. The unofficial team of the competition was also a study in disbelief, as the defending champion could not boast of one player in the starting eleven.

An unofficial poll of journalists voted goalkeeper Precious Dede only second to Yao Houa of Equitorial Guinea. The right and left full back positions went to Parente Adriana and Nke Noah Salome, both of Equitorial Guinea. The central defender is Bou Ndjou Cathy of Camerooun, three midfield positions went to skipper of the Africa Eleven Anonma Genoveva of Equitorial Guinea, Nyandeni Nompilmelelo of South Africa and Ghanaian skipper Bayor Adwoa.

In South Africa's Phewa Veronica and Congo's Mabonzo Dedina could be found the wingers while the attacking jerseys went to Mattou Alice of South Africa and Ngo Ndoumbouk of Camerooun.

Change is the only constant thing in life, the only thing is that change has a way of coming when you least expected.

If not for change and its tendency to occur at its own time, who would have told almighty Super Falcons that it will one day relinquish its Olympian height as the ultimate in female football in Africa?

Although most changes in life seldom ring a bell, others go to the rooftop to announce what they are about to do.

The change that saw Falcons take the back seat or better still relinquish gold to settle for bronze did not come like a thief in the dead of the night. It went with a bell in hand. After the poor outing in Beijing, it was glaring that only a new approach could present the Falcons that can make teams shiver when it sneezes, but alas nothing was done as if the flop in Beijing was not enough pain in the neck.

Now that the baton has changed hands, perhaps pride and over confidence can be put aside for good.

When next the competition takes the centre stage, Falcons will be mentioned as five-time winners no doubt, but it will equally be on record that it can be beaten and indeed has been beaten not just once, but twice.

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