Former Nigerian Defender and the National Men’s U17 coach, Nduka Ugbade believes Women’s football in the Country is well overdue for a significant achievement.
Ugbade’s commets come on he heels of Nigeria’s poor campaign at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.
The Falconets, led by seasoned Women’s football coach Christopher Danjuma, were eliminated in the round of 16 by Japan.
Players of Nigeria pose for a team photo prior to the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2024 match against Venezuela at Estadio Pascual Guerrero. (Photo by Gabriel Aponte – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
However, Ugbade insists the team could have done better and went further to argue that with the vast potential across all levels of women’s football, Nigeria can reach new heights in the game.
“Our girls, they don’t think they will be safe in this country we call Nigeria, so suppose if they don’t achieve one big thing, what then happens with them?”
“The first, then there’s the under 17, the second will be the under 20, then the third will be the senior national team, the Super Falcons. You’ll see these girls have great potential -in as much as money hasn’t actually become the motivation.”
Ajibade Rasheedat during the Women’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games match between Nigeria and Brazil at Stade Matmut Atlantique on July 25, 2024 in Bordeaux. (Photo by Loic Cousin/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
“Do so many things, you know, as they will do for Super Falcons, but they think they improve much more. But now is the time where we supposed to fix; get all hands on deck, to say in the next maybe four years, let me try to see what we will do to fix and achieve something with the senior national team.”
