2016 Olympic Games: Falcons, Dream Team depart for crucial away games Thursday

Players and officials of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, and the U-23 National Team, will depart Nigeria on Thursday for their crucial second leg away matches.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the matches are in pursuit of the 2016 Olympic Games tickets.

A statement on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website on Wednesday said FIFA has already appointed Angola referee, Bernard Marximina, for the Equatorial Guinea- Falcons match.

Marximina, the Centre Referee, would be assisted by three of his compatriots, for the second leg match in Bata.

“Fellow Angolans Massanga Luhaco, Andalia Bimbi and Tania Marisa Duarte will be the Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Fourth Official respectively.

“However, Agathe Athacou from Cote d’Ivoire will be the referee assessor and Nomsa Mahlangu, from South Africa , the Match Commissioner,’’ it said

The statement stated that Egyptian Mohamed Marouf would be the Centre Referee for the return leg match slated for Aug. 2 in Pointe Noire, Congo.

“His fellow Egyptians Mahmoud Abo, Samir Saad and Mahmoud El Banna will be Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Fourth Official respectively.

“Bernard Mfubusa from Burundi will be the Match Commissioner,’’ it said.

The statement also stated that Falcons will have an official training at the Stadium Nkoatoma de Bata on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s clash between the two strongest women’s football playing nations in Africa.

NAN recalls that Dream Team VI defeated Congo’s Red Devils 2-1 in Port Harcourt while Falcons drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea at the National Stadium in Abuja in their first encounter.