Defending champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, have received a boost with the arrival of 2004 best women footballer Perpetual Nkwocha for Wednesday's semifinal clash with hosts Algeria at the ninth All-Africa Games.
Nkwocha has been missing from the set up of the Falcons due to club commitments with a proposed move to Sweden and her inclusion is expected to aid the continent's premier team to an unprecedented second final at the expense of the hosts.
The Super Falcons, which cruised into the semifinal in the first place in Group A, are favored to beat Algeria, considering their pedigree in women's football and the possibility of the latter standing in their way to the last two looks a tall order.
For the Falcons, it will be another platform to confirm their status against the Algerians, who surprisingly pipped them by a lone goal in the first leg of the Beijing Olympic qualifier about two months ago.
In the other semifinal match, Ghana's Black Princesses squares off their South African counterparts as both teams battle each other for a place in the last grand final.
Coach Mumuni Gamel, head coach of the Ghana's U-19 squad, said he was very optimistic that his youthful side could scale over the experienced South Africa, who had star player Portia Modise in the squad.
The young Ghanaian side led by Diana Ankomah has been in fantastic form at the ninth All-Africa Games and looks set to hand South Africa their toughest opposition so far.
South Africa coach, Augustine Makalakalane, reckoned a tough battle against the Black Princess who were making its debut at the competition, but was still optimistic of a repeat of final clash against Nigeria in 2003 at the eighth All-Africa Games.
Wednesday's semi-finals:
Nigeria vs Algeria
Ghana vs South Africa
Source: Xinhua
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