WAFCON qualifier: NFF confirms Sao Tome withdrawal

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that Sao Tome and Principe have pulled out of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) first-round match against Nigeria. The nine-time African champions were scheduled to host the Sao Tome and Principe women in the first leg of the qualifying match at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, on Friday, with the return leg set for Tuesday, September 26.

The reason cited for their withdrawal is logistical. According to the NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, Sao Tome and Principe stated that they don’t have a stadium in their country, which has increased their costs of participating in international competitions. This decision has been communicated to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

An official from the Falcons (Nigeria’s women’s team) speculated that the recent dominant performance of the Super Eagles (Nigeria’s men’s team) against Sao Tome’s men’s side may have influenced the women’s team’s withdrawal. The Eagles defeated the Selecao 6-0 in their last game of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after previously humiliating them 10-0 on matchday 3 of the qualifying series.

Due to this withdrawal, the Super Falcons have automatically advanced to the second round without having to play a game. They will now await the winners of the tie between Cape Verde and Liberia in the second round of qualifiers. The second round of the WAFCON qualifiers is scheduled for November 27 to December 5, with the victorious team earning a spot in the 2024 WAFCON hosted by Morocco, the hosts of the previous edition where the Falcons finished in fourth place.

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