Super Falcons head Justine Madugu says his team is mentally,psychologically, and tactically ready for the clash with the Copper Queens of Zambia,reports Completesports.com.
The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final fixture will hold at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca on Friday.
The Copper Queens are expected to give the Super Falcons a run for their money having impressed at the group stage.
Captain Barbara Banda, and Rachel Kundananji have scored three goals apiece in the competition.
The Super Falcons however failed to impress despite winning their group.
Read Also:WAFCON 2024: Super Falcons’ Ihezuo In Golden Boot Chase
Madugu recognised the enormous task ahead for his side, but claimed they are fully ready for battle.
“We are working on our strategies offensively and defensively, having watched Zambia play and having taken note of their strengths and weaknesses individually and collectively,” Madugu was quoted by thenff.com.
“We know the key players of Zambia that are being mentioned and the threats they can pose if they are given opportunities, so we have spoken to the players that they must be fully-ready.
“There will be no room for errors. We must be alert at all times and have self-belief and confidence, and be motivated to achieve victory as we get close to the accomplishment of Mission X. “
Victory in Friday’s encounter will steer the Super Falcons closer to a 10th continental title since the Women Africa Cup of Nations was launched as the African Women Championship in 1998, and re-establish the Nigerian girls as the team to beat anytime women national team football is mentioned on the continent.
The winner of the match between Nigeria and Zambia will progress to the semi finals to confront the winner of the encounter between Cup holders South Africa and Senegal.
By Adeboye Amosu
2 Comments
The NFF are trying to cut corners here and the question Is why? Or better still, how did it ever come to this?
Which way, Nigeria?
Whereas most countries in this Wafcon arrived with credible coaches, a whole Nigeria went with a stopgap coach. And they want us fans to buy into their mission X agenda? It looks more like mission iceberg to me.
Little wonder very few fans are tuned into the competition. If NFF are not serious, how would they expect fans to take them seriously?
For a stopgap coach, I think Madugu is trying his best. Against Zambia tomorrow, I think his approach will find far greater success.
For the most part, the 3 teams we faced in the group stages were overly defensive. Madugu’s direction, formation and instructions did create scoring chances.
But Tunisia packed the bus, Botswana crowded their zone while Algeria crowded out our strikes.
My guess is that Zambia will come out and play football. They are confident, bordering on arrogance , that they can impose themselves on Nigeria. This is where I think Zambia will make the mistake of their lives.
The players have bought into Madugu’s philosophy. So, the likes of Echegini, Babajide, Ordega, and Ajibade will relish the opportunity to decimate Zambia’s defence.
I think Oshoala will be reinstated into the starting 11 where she will be looking to make a point.
And Madugu’s 4-3-3 set up allows the aforementioned to shine.
Halimat Ayinde will look to reprise her role of spoiler from the world cup 2 years ago. To support her, I think Madugu will recall Abiodun to argument the midfield’s defensive gestalt.
The back 4 and safe hands Nnadozie should be more than capable of holding their own.
With football, you can never really tell. If NFF had done the needful in hiring a coach who represents a “steady hand of the tiller’, perhaps I would have been more confident. As it is, I think it’s a 50-50 chance of success.
Not to put too fine a point on it, Madugu is not a tactical genius, he is a coach with basic instincts who issues standard instructions.
At this stage of the competition, the team needs more because tactical trickery helps a team overcome stubborn foes. But from what we saw from the group stages, Madugu doesn’t possess this attribute, unless of course he has picked up a few tricks from the outcome of the group stage matches.
If the players play to his instructions and improvise when required, and they enjoy the rub of the green on the night, then all should be well.
This is true.