President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau has expressed optimism that the Super Falcons’ impressive run at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand will continue with a win over the Three Lionesses of England in their Round of 16 match at the Brisbane Stadium in Queensland Australia on Monday August 7.
Gusau exclusively told Completesports.com that the Super Falcons are in high spirits and ready to shock the fourth-best women’s national football team in the world and reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time after 24 years. The only time Nigeria reached the quarterfinals was in 1999 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup held in the USA.
“The Super Falcons ranked number 40 in the world, emerged from Group B ahead of better-ranked teams. Though, not many believed that we would emerge from the ‘group of death’ we at the NFF were confident that the team would progress because of the kind of long-term preparations we gave them,” Gusau told Completesports.com.
“England is beatable like the Australians, but Falcons must take advantage of any opportunity that comes their way on Monday in Brisbane. Against Ireland, the girls were conservative because they needed just a draw to qualify. But against England, the game plan will be different. They will play to win and reach the last eight.
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“On our part, we shall motivate and give the team all the support they need to beat England. The Super Falcons’ journey at the World Cup will not end with the match against England. I spoke to the team handlers and their optimism of victory will, hopefully, rub off on the girls.”
Super Falcons qualified for the Round of 16 after finishing second in Group B behind co-hosts Australia with an unbeaten record in the group that has the Olympic champions Canada, and Ireland.
By Richard Jideaka Abuja
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COMMENTS
Boastful NFF as usual without paying them their dues. As far as am concerned, the girls are just Playing their all for the Country and for the badge and not necessarily all this empty promises and abstract wishful thinking from the NFF. I urge the NFF President not to distract the Ladies so that they can concentrate and do the unthinkable.
England ladies can play long shot from outside the box . They can dribble to space and cross into the box .. they can move the ball in and out to create chance to enter the box and they can exploit the penalty options in the box by diving to get assist from the referee .. and they hold the ball to their advantage.and also talk to one another during play .
Falcon plays 5 3 2 and 4 4 2 this time they wil need to play 5 5 0 to hold the English from scoring at will and 5 4 1. To score 2 goals wen the English make mistake and stop passing to opponent wen in front of their box because a wild shot can be struck into the net by the English ladies..
Those tactics of yours are too obdurate 4-1-4-1 should do cos it easily switch to a 5-4-1 & 3-4-3 whatever.
super falcons should work on their passing and inter play. i watched the south african players game vs italy yesterday and i was really impressed with how they moved, passed the ball and their link up play was excellent. if the falcons are to move further, they have to improve their game and be more forceful and determined. i have seen in this womens world cup that determination can make a team be victorious and cause an upset.
All these “I-love-my-country-no-matter-what” attitude should stop and lets us be realistic. England has a working women League in place buying players from the globe. Almost all the primier league clubs have women clubs- Arsenal’s women, Chelsea, Everton, Manu, ManCity etc. Our league is hiccup-ing. Stop and start league. Have they improved since it’s decades I follow them. It will be the upset of the tournament if Nigeria wins.
The upset will, Germany was beatable, Brasil was beatable even Italy with uch league like England were beaten. Stopp being pessimistic. I football anything is possible. Forget their last score
Gusau, you are an ‘agba’ya’…..You and your NFF team did everything to frustrate their preparation for the championship and now you are crying hossanna. Thank God for mental strenght. Is it now that you want to support the team?…. Shame on you and your team…Shame on Eguavoen with his double speak.
The devil is in the details. He said “I spoke to the team’s handlers…” which means the team did not allow him into their camp. This is the most audacious move of any of our national teams. I hope it works out for Falcons. Aisha Falode is already saying their bonuses from FIFA will come through NFF to the players. I don’t know what to believe but I hope the ladies are not distracted.
Oga Gusau pay our girls and Nuga coach dia money no be 2 dey wear suit upandan dey Waka with no aspirations 4 our nashional teams dey tok lyk parrot wey drink salted kunu oga pay up.
Tactless NFF! When a “shock” is announced in advance, it loses surprise effect and impact. Gusau should please shut up!
Abi o….They just want to be seen talking… They must say something to be seen as supporting the team after they have stolen all the money….This is the time to kick people like this out. Fifa knows the reality on ground so now is the time. We need better management of our football affair….
Sorry I want to digress a little from the current topic and I will like people like Dr Drey, Sly, Pompei and Deo ba mi da si oro yi…..I feel and I think the Super Eagles need to start preparing for the World world cup proper now by first of all making sure that we have a better technical team in place. Jose Peseiro heading that department will not cut it. Better to do away with him now before it is too late. Yes he can take us to AFCON but I think the earlier the better. We can then hire a coach who knows his onions and the terrain in the current French women’s coach in Havre Rennard. He is a coach that we need right now if he is available. He knows we have the materials that can make him to succeed. He will re-organise the team for the better if we can get him , he needs time to do it. Peseiro is too soft a coach and we need a coach with strong character. We do not need a ‘diedie’ coach like Peseiro at this time. Then the NFF needs to change their attitude about money but I am not sure they will. Corruption is killing the nation. Imagine FIFA agreeing to pay the players their bonuses directly..what does FIFA need to say again? Is that not a direct indictment on this NFF? A football federation that keeps a coach indicted for taking bribe and suspended for that act, so what kind of story can we tell about that football federation?
Oh na. I no wan hear that name Super Eagles. As long as Ndidi is 25, and Peserio even said it will be hard to invite new players before Afcon, it will be largely the same team that bottled last Afcon R16 and failed to reach Qatar that will still get the nod to CIV next year.
I refer regularly to Ndidi because he looks like one of the mafia in the team and we know our midfield is a perennial problem. He has the age which means radical surgery in the squad should not be expected. As far as Eagles is concerned, we are stuck.
Hmmmmmm…and who will carry out the radical surgery?… This NFF or Peseiro?…We are really stuck
You want to hire a coach who currently earns $400k per month, when you have not finished paying Rohr’s $45k per month arrears nor ‘shishi’ from Peserio’s $70k.
Mr man wake up from your slumber…!
Yeepa, $400K/Month? Am up from my sleep now….mi o mo o… I knew the moment Saudi Arabia employed him, he would be pricey but to what extent was what I did not know….He’s out of reach for us. Amo sha there are other better coaches than Peseiro out there who are still affordable. This one is not it at all…..
The change we all need has to start at the Glass House. Fortunately, FIFA now sees the NFF as “unique”.
A unique problem that requires a radical solution.
Clueless NFF as usual. They just open their mouths and boast at every slight opportunity. Goat.
Can NFF please shock us by paying the coaches and players what they’re owed?
Yes, they can!
NFF can shock everybody by doing their jobs right. The question is – WILL THEY?