Super Falcons draws Sierra Leone
By Akinyemi Akinrujomu / Lagos
•Falls 0-2 to Japan
Super Falcons has been drawn against Sierra Leone in the Africa Women Championship (AWC) qualifiers fixtures released by Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday.
According to the fixtures, Africa's number one female team, Falcons will take on its counterparts from Sierra Leone in the first round of the qualifiers between February 13 and 15, 2014 in the first leg. The second leg will be between February 28 and March 2, 2014.
Falcons will host the first leg before heading to Sierra Leone for the second leg.
Other fixtures will see Algeria taking on Morocco, Egypt facing Tunisia and Ethiopia trying Sudan out for size.
Burkina Faso will also face Ghana while Cote d'Ivoire will play Mali. Rwanda will take on Kenya, Guinea Bissau will play Senegal while Mozambique will tackle Comoros Island.
In other fixtures, Bostwana will play Zimbabwe while Zambia will take on Tanzania.
The first leg of the second round will take place between May 23 and 25, 2014 while the second leg will be between June 6 and 8, 2014.
Falcons will play the winner of the first round tie between Rwanda and Kenya.
Meanwhile, the Falcons was beaten 2-0 by Japan's Nadeshiko in the first of a two-game friendly series in Nagasaki on Sunday.
Playing before a crowd of 15,206 at the Track and Field Stadium in Nagasaki Prefectural Sports and Recreational Park, Japan coach, Sasaki Norio welcomed back veteran forward Homare Sawa for the first time in seven matches.
But the coach also threw two debutants in the centre back against a Nigerian team that looked rather uncomfortable after a long trip.
Sawa teamed up with Miyama Aya in midfield and helped dictate the pace.
In the early part of the game, the new-look backline was tested by the visitors as the Nigerians went on the attack. Nigeria came close three minutes into the game when Esther Sunday hit from the edge of the box. In the 17th minute, the 21-year-old attacker hit the bar from mid-range.
The Nadeshiko ladies responded well to enjoy the greater possession, and with Nakajima Emi coming off the bench midway through the half, the home players found a better rhythm in attack.
Forward Takase Megumi came close with a back-heeled attempt in the 29th minute, while Nakajima hit a shot in the 35th minute that was kept out by Nigeria goalkeeper Ibubeleye Whyte.
But Japan's efforts paid off a minute later as Ogimi took a Miyama pass and slotted home.
Japan went on to attack after the break, with Maruyama Karina coming off the bench for Ogimi at halftime. Sawa, Maruyama and Kamionobe made good attempts before Kawasumi reacted well to a Maruyama rebound in the area to make it 2-0 for Japan in the 53rd minute.
Falcons lost its momentum but gave the home side a scare in the 68th minute when tall forward Uchechi Sunday attacked on a counter and cut into the area. But 17-year-old Nadeshiko newcomer Miyake came to the rescue with a good interception.
Falcons tried to rally late in the second half and Blessing Edoho dribbled inside to hit from the edge of the box three minutes from time, but Kaihiro Ayumi made no mistake in goal.
The second game of the series will be held on Thursday night at Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba.
