FIFA Women W/Cup: Bring the trophy home, NFF charges Falcons

The Nigeria Football Federation has charged the Super Falcons to surpass the records of their predecessors in 1999 when they crashed out of the FIFA World Cup in the quarter finals.

The women’s senior national team arrived Canada yesterday for the final phase of their preparations for the 2015 FIFA World Cup.

The Edwin Okon side are grouped alongside USA, Sweden and Australia – the group many believe to be the tightest in the tournament.

In a farewell speech delivered on his behalf by Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League and Chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Pinnick said the present Super Falcons have the ability and capacity to go all the way.

“I know you girls are rearing to go, having conquered Mali in a big way in your last competitive match. You have always done the nation proud and I see you doing even better in Canada.

“As African champions, I want you to go to the World Cup this time with a clear determination to do better than any of your predecessors have ever done. Our record in the World Cup is quarter -final berth, set by the Class of 1999. The NFF wants you to do much better in Canada, and we believe you can.”

Nigeria will play their first group game against Sweden on June 8- a re-match of their 1-1 draw they played in 2007 edition in China.

The Edwin Okon side, who are the African champions performed well at the last Women’s World Cup in Germany, losing by the odd goal to the host nation and France, and beating Canada by the odd goal.

Four years earlier, the Falcons drew 1-1 with Sweden and lost 0-2 and 0-1 to North Korea and USA respectively, no doubt distracted by ill-advised agitation for increment in match bonus before the final group game against the Americans in Shanghai.

In truth, results from the last two final tournaments were an improvement on three straight losses in 1991 and 2003, and buoy the spirit of the Nigerian girls as they head to Canada.

Stand –in captain Osinachi Ohale said: “We respect the teams in our group, but we do not fear any team. As African champions, we go in there with a lot of confidence. Last year, our U-20 team did very well at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, reaching the final. We are motivated by that, as well as all the efforts of the NFF on the team and the incentives by the NFF President.”