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.