Cameroon, a big threat, but beatable - Nkwocha, Ordega

If there is one team the Super Falcons will want to avoid at the on-going Namibia 2014 African Women Championship (AWC), it is the Lionesses of Cameroon.

After the Falcons defeated the Banyana Banyana of South Africa 2-1 to book a place in the final of the championship on Wednesday, some of the players prayed silently for mother luck to shine on the Les Elephantes of Cote d'Ivoire in their semifinal tie with the Cameroonians.

To them, a clash with the Lionesses in the final tomorrow will be more difficult than playing against the Ivoirians, who the Falcons defeated 4-2 in their first group match.

One of such players was veteran striker, Perpetua Nkwocha. The four-time African Footballer of the Year Award winner did not hide her feelings about the Cameroonians. "They are always difficult and I will prefer a situation we face Cote d'Ivoire in the final than meeting the Lionesses."

Nkwocha's prayer could not save the Les Elephantes, who went down 1-2 to the Lionesses in a game that went into extra time, after both teams played 1-1 in full time.

The Cameroonians, who played more of physical game, scored first in the second half through Sweden-based Enganamouit.

Deborah with a powerful grounder, which the Ivorian goalie, Ange Thiamale, found too difficult to control. The Les Elephantes got their equaliser some minutes later through Tia N'rehy to take the game to extra time.

They had three opportunities to wrap up the game in the second half of the extra time, but poor finishing was their undoing. It was the Cameroonians, who smiled last, thanks to a dying minute strike by the team captain, Manie Patience.

Nkwocha told The Guardian while the game was still going on that though she was not afraid of the Cameroonians, meeting them would be tougher than their game against the Banyana Banyana. "I prefer meeting Cote d'Ivoire in the final than facing Cameroon. That is the simple truth," she said.

However, Sweden-based Francisca Ordega is of the view that the Falcons will fly past the Lionesses in the final, no matter the situation. "It is the last hurdle to cross and I am sure we will come out victorious. It will be a tough game against Cameroon," she admitted.