2018 AWCON: Onome Ebi Not Scared of South Africa, Others As African Champions Eye World Cup Place

Super Falcons defender Onome Ebi has defiantly declared that the Nigeria's senior women national team are unperturbed by the threat of South Africa or any other country  in the Group B of the 2019 Africa Women Nations Cup in  Ghana as they seek to defend the title won in Cameroon two years ago.

The Falcons coached by Thomas Dennerby are poised to clinch a record 11th African title having been unable to lift the trophy only twice since the competition began in 1998.

The Falcons are grouped alongside South Africa, Zambia and Kenya after Sunday night's draw conducted by CAF's football development director and former Black Stars of Ghana defender Anthony Baffoe.

"Facing South Africa is not different from facing any other team, as all teams are good to have qualified for the AWCON," Ebi exclusively told allnigeriasoccer.com on Tuesday.

The Henan Huishang FC of China defender went on to insist that the Falcons are not just aiming to defend their title but have a good outing at the FIFA Women's World Cup in France next year.

"This is not about being cocky. We respect other teams going to the Nations Cup but the motivation to defend this title is clear; it is serving as qualification to the next World Cup.

"We are ready. Surely other countries are trying to catch up but this team (Nigeria) is strong and nobody scares us. We want to go to the World Cup and do very well this time," Ebi reiterated.

Nigeria's best finish at the FIFA Women's World Cup was a quarter finals berth in 1999 when the Falcons lost 4-3 to the USA.

Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Algeria make up Group A  of the CAF Africa  Women Cup of Nations holding between 17 November and 1 December in Accra and Cape Coast.

The three top teams  (winners, runners up and bronze winners) will represent Africa at the FIFA Women's World Cup in France in 2019.

Super Falcons Group Stage Matches Schedule

Nigeria vs South Africa (November 18th) 3:30 pm Cape Coast Stadium

Nigeria vs Zambia (November 21st) 3:30pm Cape Coast Stadium

Kenya vs Nigeria (November 24th) 4:00 pm Cape Coast Stadium

Izuchukwu Okosi