Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons’ coach, Justin Madugu has denied speculation in various sections of the country’s football audience that the squad will be content only with picking a ticket to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, not in winning the ongoing championship.
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Sports247 gathered that many Nigerians are apprehensive of what will happen next should the Falcons defeat Cameroon on Sunday in the quarter-finals, as all four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the World Cup, which means the defending champions might relax once they pick the ticket.
Incidentally, the Falcons would be heading for another battle with hosts Morocco in the semi-finals, should both sides win their quarter-finals’ fixtures, as is largely expected, but the Nigerians might then take their feet off the throttle and allow the North fricans win it this time.
However, Madugu has reiterated that his squad is determined not only to qualify for the World Cup but also give everything they have to pick an 11th African title as well, thereby infering that they will keep waxing strong even after overcoming Cameroon during Sunday’s quarter-final in Casablanca.
Madugu, who will welcome back Tosin Demehin in defence and midfielder Jennifer Echegini, after they were both suspended for the win over Egypt, declared: “Our objective remains picking the World Cup ticket and then going ahead to retain the trophy. Nothing has changed.”
Sports247 gathered that Sunday’s game comes four years after the Falcons pipped The Lionesses 1-0 to book their ticket to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, courtesy of a second-half goal by skipper of the side, Rasheedat Ajibade.
Nigeria also efeated Cameroon in the 2014 and 2016 WAFCON finals, but the Falcons lost a friendly early this year in Yaounde, then won their second game at the same venue 3-1, with goals by Chinwendu Ihezuo, Rinsola Babajide and Michelle Alozie.
Sunday’s encounter is scheduled to commence at 6pm at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, the same venue where the Falcons played on the way to their highly successful Mission X campaign a year ago, and Madugu stressed that they are gunning for number 11 this time out.
