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Former Tremendous Falcons worldwide Present Okunwa-Igunbor has criticised the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) for failing to organise pleasant matches for the nationwide ladies’s crew through the latest worldwide window — a choice she described as wasteful, damaging, and fully unacceptable for reigning African champions.
Talking passionately, Okunwa-Igunbor mentioned the Tremendous Falcons can not anticipate to compete with the world’s greatest when they don’t seem to be being correctly ready.
“We’re African champions — how can we undergo a complete window with out even one pleasant?” she requested in disbelief.
She argued that pleasant matches should not simply routine fixtures; they’re important instruments for squad analysis, tactical enchancment, and chemistry constructing, particularly when new and home-based gamers want integration.
“That is the right time to mix new gamers, check methods, and construct rhythm. Coaching alone can by no means exchange the worth of actual match conditions,” she defined.
Okunwa-Igunbor, who performed throughout an period when the Falcons dominated Africa, expressed concern that Nigeria is slipping behind different nations who take preparation critically. She pointed to Morocco, South Africa, Zambia, and Senegal — nations that persistently line up high quality friendlies to sharpen their groups.
“Take a look at different African groups — they’re enjoying matches, bettering, testing formations. We’re sitting idle. That’s not how champions put together,” she mentioned.
She additional warned that failing to organize correctly might backfire at main tournaments, particularly as international ladies’s soccer continues to evolve quickly.
“Yearly the sport is getting more durable. If we don’t adapt, we will probably be left behind,” she mentioned.
Okunwa-Igunbor urged the NFF to take its duty critically by organizing high quality fixtures throughout each obtainable window, guaranteeing the crew stays aggressive and linked.
“The gamers want rhythm, they want confidence, they want understanding — and all that comes from matches, not simply tenting,” she added.
