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Super Falcons head coach, Justin Madugu, has highlighted the crucial role that players based in France will play in his team’s upcoming friendly match.
According to Madugu, these players possess valuable knowledge of their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, which could give Nigeria a tactical edge.
Such players include goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who plays for Paris FC, Jennifer Echegini who plays for Paris Saint-German Women and Ifeoma Onumonu who plays for Montpellier.
Speaking to reporters, Madugu explained how the insights from his France-based players will help shape the team’s strategy for the match.
He stated that knowing the playing style and tendencies of opponents, particularly those who also compete in the French league, could provide a huge advantage.
“When you have a colleague or a teammate that is also playing for their own national team, it also gives you the advantage of getting to know a lot of the strength and weaknesses of such a player just as they will also know yours and to know yours, because they’ll also be analysing your own team,” Madugu said.
Coach Madugu added that the key details gathered from these players would help the coaching staff formulate a tactical plan to neutralize the opposition’s strengths.
“Those little, little information and details will also help in ensuring that we come up with a plan that can help to neutralise whatever strength that we know of such players, because we know they too will be doing the same.”
Madugu also noted that having players familiar with the French league will provide additional insights into the tactics and tendencies of their opponents, particularly those they play against regularly.
“So it is good that we have some of our players that are playing in France, that are offering some little tips concerning some of the players. Those that are their colleagues and those they play against week in, week out in the league,” he said.
Head Coach Justine Madugu invited a 20-player squad for Nigeria’s upcoming international friendly against France, with the match scheduled for Saturday, 30th of November at the Stade Raymond Kopa in Angers. The match will kick off at 9:30 PM local time.
This is meant to serve as a key test for the Super Falcons as they continue preparations for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
