RandaFooty: Everything Nigerian football, home and abroad

                            Another day! Another series! As we wind down to the closing phase of the 2018 AWCON series.... It's not easy ooo....Ah! Anyways, Victor Modo made our "free rest day" worthwhile, offering free photo session (at the black star square and the beach behind it) to every Nigerian journalist in Accra for the tournament.

                                     The morning after a very significant victory for the Super Falcons and I feel so light. Picking the  France 2019 World Cup ticket has been the highlight of my Ghana waka. Not easy penning down this series because there are loads of work to be done and delivered to your employers/sponsors after such games....hehehe...but the show must go on. But sweet victory has a way of giving you unexplainable strength... Anyways...Accra , hmmm...no wonder it's the capital city...Way too expensive, more strict and stern rules while working in the stadium...How I miss Cape Coast but we have to work through thick and thin though.

                         Steely Nigeria battled their way into the Final of the 11 th  Women Africa Cup of Nations after a 4-2 penalty shoot –out defeat of Cameroon following a scoreless 120 –minute attrition in Accra on Tuesday. The feat also guaranteed that Nigeria will maintain her record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, when the world’s best teams gather in France next year summer. The Indomitable Lionesses played a clever, controlled game at the Accra Sports Stadium and certainly looked quite skilful against the Cup holders, but the experienced Super Falcons held them at bay, and when the defence got breached, goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi was there to keep things tidy.

                                           Thank God it's Monday. Crazy Sunday it was. From tourist visitation to change of location then getting the work done  before thinking of where to lay our heads is one hell of a task. Yes, Nigeria thrashed Zambia 6-0. Dem get mouth Sha but Las Las na we we enter semi finals. My heart almost fell out when they were playing out 1-1 up till the second half against South Africa. Truly it was a COSAFA debut. Respect to Rachael Kundananji and Mary Mwakapila. Anyways Ghana police are really zealous in their duties... if you know,you know. With the Super Falcons finishing second in Group B, that meant they play their semis in Accra so we had to move to Accra from Cape Coast which is like 3-4 hours(traffic jam inclusive).

Ghana bugging with my gang Sola and Ekikere.                           What is that thing they say about traveling again... Ah! I found it. It is a quote by Gustav Flaubert which says "Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” That pretty much sums up my stay so far in Ghana. Most times, it isn't about what they say, you have to go there and see for yourself. Believe me, I have been blown away by what I have experienced so far. Yeah, some might say it's just Ghana, no "biggie". No biggie really but I'll leave here with memories and experiences I'll remember for a long time.

It would be a repeat of the 2016 Final in Yaounde as Nigeria and Cameroon face off in the first semi final of the 11 th  Women Africa Cup of Nations in Accra on Tuesday, after the Cup holders lashed Equatorial Guinea 6-0 in Cape Coast on Saturday. Desire Oparanozie signaled it would be another day of several misses when she poorly hit the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat after two minutes. Asisat Oshoala’s sky –high, long range free –kick followed four minutes later, but all –action forward Francisca Ordega, Player of the Match in the 4-0 defeat of Zambia on Wednesday, shot Nigeria into the lead after 10 minutes with a poacher’s strike from a Rita Chikwelu pass.

Ghana jollof So I finally get a day to relax a bit , not like I didn't work though. Insert cuttings , stories and reports have been the order of my day here ooo...No be only enjoyment. Man must work to chop and keep fit pocket wise and stomach infrastructure wise sef. If I no pay my bills,who will? The morning after the falcons victory, the squad (Sola, Blizz and I)  lazied around with our only interest in meeting our organization's daily task of reports. No one was interested in food. Faith finally made Indomie and egg for us after all "everyone dey press phone" in her words. She alone went out for the Falcons presser.

Favour Sola Blessing and yours truly: Blue and Black Gang I lack introductory words on this 'edition' of my diary. Why? I kinda feel like Christmas came early for us as the Super Falcons defeated the "mouth-making"  Zambians 4-0. The snow came down on Wednesday in the Cape Coast if you catch my drift. In fact the squad termed it BEATEN BLUE BLACK cos accidentally we all wore navy blue on black(not that we planned it anyway).

It's another match day for the champions on the continent (Falcons are still the champions forget what you heard) but a lot has happened between the day we fell and this day where we hope to rise again against Zambia. Yes, "we" apologized for the defeat on Sunday but that's not all. I thought that Ghana is a different world sha till rain beat me then I remembered that na planet Earth we dey....lolzzzzzz. Market hopping Nduom Sports Stadium compared to the Cape Coast stadium isn't far from our quiet, beautiful full apartment inn. The Falcons trained there and we had to be there to do our jobs.

Greetings from Cape Coast Hello fam!  A long Sunday it was indeed. Started swiftly and ended "sheepishly". Joined the gang to witness the Super Falcons morning walk at the El Mina Beach Resort. The current state of  that beach sha na craze. Nothing like swimming,   try it na OYO case. As usual Ghana  P olice bin wan show their self to block us under the guise of "CAF  instruction " beht las las if we no dey with our own N aija team,   na who go dey ? ...lol.

As I promised, here is rundown of how Day 2 at the AWCON went for me. Didn't read read Part 1? Click here and knock yourself out. Arriving Cape Coast at 11:30 pm Ghana time, sleeping on an empty stomach at 1 am and waking up at 5 am in preparation for an 8:30 am conference barely five hours after an 18 hour journey really can take everything away from you.  "It can only be God". Our cab driver Mr Emmanuel was so kind as he took us to the Cape Coast stadium, waited for us, took us to the market and back to our inn. Great guy. Market, yes!! Big and small fish for 20 cedis - 1500....15 big pieces...croaker ....No much difference in market price with Nigeria. Could have been better.  Forgive me for always thinking of the naira anytime I buy something. Story for another day. Came back to catch up with Nigeria's AFCON  qualifying game against South Africa (we drew 1-1 and qualified for the tournament), before attention shifted to steaming the fresh fi

18 hours road journey at a stretch in West Africa isn't a joke. I repeat. 18 hours road journey at a stretch in West Africa isn't a joke. My journey to cover the 2019 Africa Women's Nations Cup started with a trip to Lagos where I passed the night as  prepared to embark on a mini West African tour to get to Cape Coast, Ghana which is where the Falcons will play their group games. Passing through the borders of Benin,Togo and then Ghana in that order is entertaining to say the least. The most beautiful of them all and more organized is that of Togo. Though the back bush track without having to face immigration still dey. Yes you read that right -back bush.

Former Nigeria junior international Simon Zenke has signed a two year deal with Romanian top flight side Dinamo Bucharest. Zenke who has been a free agent since leaving Belgian side FC Tubize has already joined up with his new teammates in training after passing his medicals. The 29-year-old has previously played for Strasbourg Nancy (France) Samsunspor Sanliufaspor Samsunspor and Istanbul B among other teams. Zenke told 9jafooty's Andrew Randa that he is delighted to get back into action after being on the sidelines since the start of the new European season. "Every footballer wants to be out there playing and I'm no different but it is also important to make the right choice when it comes to career moves' he said. "I had a few offers when I left Tubize but at this stage of my career, I need to make choices that suit me and my family best. " I believe going to Dinamo Bucharest is the best thing for now.  I want to help my new team win thing

AWCON 2018: Ugochi, Ogonna dropped as Sanusi clarifies kit issues With ten days to the start of the 11th edition of the Total Women African cup of nations, Head Coach of the Super Falcons of Nigeria Thomas Dennerby have released a list of 21 players who will fly Nigeria’s flag at the Mundial in Ghana. Nasarawa Amazons defender Ugochi Emenayo and midfielder Ogonna Chukwudi who plies her trade in Kristiansand DFF, Sweden are the two players dropped from the squad. The championship which starts next week will be used as a 2019 FIFA Women World Cup qualifier with the top three nations in Ghana representing the continent at the World Cup next year in France.