Sunday, December 5, 2010

Nigeria's Cynthia Uwak seeks German scalp

Former African footballer of the year Cynthia Uwak is confident Nigeria could spring a major surprise despite a tough draw at the 2011 Women's World Cup.

The African champions are in a tricky Group A with hosts and reigning champions Germany, a vastly improved France and Canada.

There were gasps back home when the West Africans were put together with the hosts.

Meanwhile the local media swiftly tagged it as a 'suicide mission'.

But Uwak says although they have been handed the toughest draw, they would "prepare to create an upset".

"I think we have a good chance," she told BBC Sport.

The Nigerians will open their campaign against France on 26 June 2011, before meeting a Germany side that thrashed them 8-0 in a friendly just days before the draw.

"The team wasn't ready mentally for the friendly, we lost 8-0 after the African Womens Championship and the weather played its own part as well in Germany," Uwak, who plays for FC Saarbrücken in the Women's Bundesliga in Germany, explained.

"If the team is given adequate preparation like grade one friendlies, we can go beyond the group stage and make ourselves proud.

After meeting Germany on 30 June, Nigeria finish their Group A campaign against Canada on 5 July.

With a relatively successful professional career that has taken her to Finland, Sweden and France, Uwak is well aware of how much the women game has developed across the globe.

"France are becoming stronger while Canada are highly unpredictable," added Uwak, who was part of the Nigeria squad at the 2007 World Cup and 2008 Olympics.

"Apart from Germany, both teams will be difficult opponents."

The Super Falcons won their record sixth African title after beating Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in the final of the African Women's Championship in November.

Yet the Nigerians have failed to translate their continental dominance on the world stage despite qualifying for every edition of the World Cup since 1991.

With a quarter-final finish at the 1999 edition their best performance so far on the big stage, the petite forward is optimistic next year could be the springboard to major success.

"It'll be a pretty intense group, but I'm happy we can handle the challenges." said the 2006 African footballer of the year.

"If we come out of that group and make the quarter-finals then anything can happen.

"We need to remain disciplined, compact and show that we deserve to be at the World Cup, not just to make up the numbers."

Africa's second representative, Equatorial Guinea have an equally daunting task.

They face Brazil as well as Norway and Australia in Group D.

Source: BBC Sports

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