Nigerian sports officials picked Warri and Oghara as the towns that will host the eight-team women's tournament from 7-21 December.

The two towns are located in Delta State, about 500 kilometres from Lagos, which is regarded as Nigeria's football capital.

Akide, the current African Player of the Year, said she expected the matches to be played in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Group A, comprising of Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mali and Ghana will play in Warri, while South Africa, Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Angola slug it out in Oghara.

"I heard it was going to be in Port Harcourt and Lagos.

"But the venues are still okay because I was born in Port Harcourt and I'll still be close to home," Akide told BBC Sport Online from the United States.

Akide, who plays professional football for San Diego Spirit, is looking forward to playing for the Super Falcons at the Nations Cup.

"I'm so excited to be going home... it's the third time we have played this tournament and I have been the highest goal scorer twice," Akide added.

There had been doubts over Nigeria's commitment to hosting the competition, as the Federal Goverment had refused to commit funds for the event.

The Delta State goverment subsequently stepped in and offered to foot the hosting bill.

Nigeria are the current holders of the African title and are going for a third consecutive championship.

They won the maiden edition, which it also hosted, in 1998 and the subsequent tournament in 2000.

You can listen to our interview with Mercy Akide on next Monday's Fastrack at 1630gmt on the BBC World Service for Africa.