Female national team, Super Falcons coach, Thomas Dennerby has admitted that his side are in a very tough group for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, especially as they will play Norway, Korea and the host country, France.
However, footballive.ng can report that, while admitting that facing the hosts would be an uphill task, Dennerby says he and his players will all enter the competition with a target of reaching the next stage.
Dennerby stated as much is his immediate reaction to Saturday’s historic draw in Paris, to which he confidently affirmed that the Falcons will advance to the next round at France 2019. The opening match of the tournament is between France and Korea Republic, and will hold at the Parc des Princes in Paris on 7th June 2019.
Nigeria’s first match will be against Norway in Reims on June 8, before they play Korea Republic in Grenoble on June 12, and their last match of the group phase is against the hosts, France in Rennes on 17th June.
Nigeria start against Norway, finalists in 1991 and winners in 1995, who are backed by strong history, but will be without Women’s Ballon d’Or maiden winner, Ada Hegerberg, who retired from the team last year.
Dennerby took a closer look at the schedule and, though he admitted it looks tough on paper, the Swedish gaffer insists his side will pick one of the group’s two tickets, despite top teams they will come up against.
He posited: “I am looking ahead to an interesting tournament in France in the summer of next year.
“If you have to make real impact at the FIFA World Cup, you have to beat the strong teams.
“Playing the hosts will be tough, but that is what we have to prepare for, and I believe we will reach the next stage.”
