Falconets Coach Christopher Danjuma has released a 25-woman provisional list to represent Nigeria in the All African games that is scheduled to hold in Rabat, Morocco later in August.
Danjuma, who led the Under-20 Falconets to the just concluded FIFA World Cup in France noted that women’s football in the Africa continent cannot be compared to other continents.
The veteran tactician has identified late starting in our approach to learning & teaching as the biggest impediment bedeviling African women’s football.
In a chat with brila.net’s Pius Idoko, Danjuma affirmed that Africa’s late approach to preparation for Mundials is almost the most deadly challenge facing women football in the continent.
According to Danjuma, Africans cannot compare ourselves with the European’s as they’re always miles ahead before the start of any major competition.
Danjuma led Falconets to the last 8 of the recently concluded Under-20 Women’S FIFA World Cup in France before falling flat to Spain in the Quarterfinals.
Super Falconets Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has rued the falconets 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal loss to Spain as pure lack of luck on the side of the Danjuma-led side.
Chiamaka spoke briefly to brila.net’s Pius Idoko after the defeat which sent the Nigerian ladies out of the tournament lamented that her side was just unlucky to have gotten an equalizer.
According to the lanky goalkeeper, she believes that their elimination from the competition is, however, not the end of the world, as there’s still more to achieve in the days ahead.
The Nigerian side were knocked out of the quarterfinals by the current European Champions as two first-half goals were enough to put them through into the semis.
Spain controlled the game in the early exchanges of the match as they settled quickly into the match.
In the 57th minute, Peace Efih brought the Falconets back into the match scoring into an empty net to make it 2-1.
Efih started and finished the move after making a beautiful run from the middle as she found Rasheedat Ajibade whose initial shot was saved by Catalina Coll before the Nigerian attacker pounced on the rebound.
The Falconets threw all they can but the Spanish held on to claim victory and secure their passage into the semi-finals.
Super Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie has lauded the Super Falconets despite crashing out of the World Cup after losing 2-1 to their European counterparts, Spain.
The Falconets progressed to the quarterfinal after a draw, loss and win in their three group stage games while Spain finished comfortably of their group after two wins and a draw.
The game started at a high pace with both sides creating chances until the Spanish side seized control of the encounter with their consistent penetrative passing of the ball from side to side working the Falconets up and down the pitch.
Oparanozie took to her social media page to send her message across to the ladies she has been supporting since the first day of the tournament.
Her message on Instagram/Twitter reads:
“Unfortunately, it’s the end of the road for us in this year’s tourney.
“Apparently, the team gave their best… I won’t entirely say it was good enough, but I think that’s probably all that they’ve got to offer. Well done to the entire team, better days ahead.
Former Goalkeeper of the Super Falcons, Ann Chiejine has applauded the efforts of the U20 National team and the handlers after bowing out of the 2018 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Speaking via Sports Radio Brila FM, the legendary goalkeeper insisted that the young ladies have done their best and should be appreciated for making the country proud.
According to her, No one in the team, either the Coaches or the players should be subjected to blames as a result of the elimination.
Chiejine believes Nigeria as a footballing nation could learn one or more things from their Spanish counterparts.
“You can see the Spaniards, their technicalties, their ball control, their confidence and all”
“They are far better than our girls, I’m not talking from the tactical angle now” The former Coach stated.
Chiejine, 44, further stressed the importance of catching female players at their younger age and giving them the proper technical know-how of the game.
Meanwhile, France-based Super Falcons striker, Desire Oparanozie has also hailed the Falconets efforts after their loss against Spain.
Oparanozie took to her social media page to send her message across to the ladies she has been supporting since the first day of the tournament.
Her message on Instagram/Twitter reads:
Unfortunately, it’s the end of the road for us in this year’s tourney.
Apparently, the team gave their best… I won’t entirely say it was good enough, but I think that’s probably all that they’ve got to offer. Well done to the entire team, better days ahead.
Nigeria Super Falconets have been eliminated from the ongoing Under-20 Women’s World Cup after losing 2-1 to Spain on Thursday.
Spain took the lead after 13 minutes when skipper Aitana Bonmati curled a left-footed shot from the edge of the box beyond goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
The Europeans were then unlucky not to be awarded a second goal when an effort crashed against the underside of the bar with the goalkeeper beaten.
Nigeria pulled a goal back in the 57th minute through a strike by Peace Efih to make it a keener contest.
Super Falconets Chief Coach Chris Danjuma has insisted that his team’s ambition is to remain in the U20 Women W/Cup till the final match of the tournament.
Danjuma disclosed this in a brief chat with brila.net that now is the time to strive in order to make a mark ahead of today’s FIFA U20 women world cup quarter-final against Spain.
The Veteran tactician is very confident of the Falconets abilities to overcome their European counterpart in Thursday’s quarterfinal clash.
“We don’t intend to lose against Spain” Danjuma stated
“The aim we have as a team is to reach the final of the competition”
The Danjuma-led Falconets team had lost their Group D opening game against another European powerhouse, Germany which is making bookers tag them, underdogs, ahead of Spain’s encounter.
The Nigeria Under-20 ladies fought to get the last minute equalizer against China on Monday that saw them advance into the quarterfinals.
Falconets Coach Chris Danjuma has stated that the team’ is preparing to play beyond the quarter-final stages at the ongoing U20 Women’s World Cup in France.
Speaking with brila.net’s Pius Idoko, Coach Danjuma said he is preparing the team to overcome their Spanish counterparts on Thursday.
According to Coach Danjuma, he said that the Super Falconets who have played in two previous finals are poised to once again play in this year’s finals.
Apparently, from the Manager’s words, He is preparing the team for the World Cup Finals.
The Falconets qualified for the Quarterfinals after a last-minute equalizer by Skipper Rasheedat Ajibade gave Nigeria some hopes moving forward in the tournament.
The Danjuma-led team will take on the Spanish Under-20 Women’s team on Thursday in a bid to advance into the Semifinals of the FIFA Mundial.
The Falconets took it late to advance into the quarterfinals of the ongoing U-20 Women’s World Cup with a last minute equalizer against China on Monday.
A last-gasp strike from forward Rasheedat Ajibade was all Nigeria needed to draw 1-1 with China and seal their place in the quarter-final of the 2018 U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Falconets needed a draw or win in the final group match.
Coach Christopher Danjuma made one change to the team that started the 1-0 win over Haiti, with Igboamalu Grace taking the place of Anam Imo.
