It is already a foregone conclusion in many quarters that both Ghana and Nigeria will do the business and qualify from their respective groups to setup an epic final in the inaugural WAFU (West Africa) women’s cup of nations set to take place in Ivory Coast from 14 to 24 of February 2018.
Ghana are to lock horns in group A against Ivory Coast, Niger and Burkina Faso while the Super Falcons of Nigeria will do battle against Togo, Benin and Senegal in group B.
It must be recalled that in the men's WAFU cup of nations final played in Cape Coast, Ghana on the 24th of September 2017, The Black Stars of Ghana obliterated the Super Eagles of Nigeria 4:1 to lift the trophy to the horror of Nigerian fans at home and abroad.
Hoping to lift the female version, perhaps at the expense of bitter rivals Nigeria, Ghana women’s striker Priscilla Adubea, who has set her sights on helping her country clinch the Cup, said: “Our target is to go and win the competition; so all we asking is for Ghanaians to support us and pray for us too."
So, is a repeat of what happened to the Nigerian men in the WAFU final on the cards (should both teams meet)?
The Super Falcons of Nigeria are the undisputed queens of African female football having won the African Cup of Nations for their gender a total of 10 times compared to Ghana who are yet to taste success at that level having come runners-up 3 times – Nigeria are the current African women champions after overcoming another bitter rival Cameroon in a feisty final 1:0 in 2016 in Cameroon.
This upcoming WAFU tournament is eagerly anticipated as it will further aid the development of women’s football in the sub region.
Should Nigeria face Ghana, as widely expected, in the final, it will no doubt be a fascinating encounter but history will be on the side of the Super Falcons of Nigeria.