Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) first vice-president, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has promised that the soccer governing body will accord the female national team, Super Falcons adequate preparations for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Footballlive.ng can report that, while joining in celebrating the Falcons’ semi-final victory against Cameroon at the Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, Akinwunmi admitted that the NFF must start thinking of how to make the team ready in the best way for the Mundial.
Akinwunmi noted that the AWCON 2018 semi-final victory and resultant qualification for the FIFA World Cup are justification of the NFF’s role of support and continued confidence in the team.
Incidentally, Akinwunmi had gingered the Falcons with inspiring words at lunch before the team departed for the game at Accra Sports Stadium.
The players admitted after the game that his charge to them to go and conquer, and expression of faith in them to retain the trophy for Nigeria, kept ringing in their ears when the going got tough.
On the preparation for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in France, the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association and Member, CAF Youth Competitions Committee said there will be no half measures.
He added that the NFF are proud that the Falcons have made Nigeria one of only seven countries that have qualified for all editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the championship started in China in 1991.
Akinwunmi said: “I feel elated, and I am sure that my colleagues on the Board of the NFF will feel the same way anywhere they are presently.
“The NFF has always had confidence in the Super Falcons and we are happy we got this World Cup ticket.
“It was not easy and it could not have been easy, as that was a semi final match. The Cameroonians were the hosts in 2016 when we beat them in front of a capacity crowd to retain the trophy.
“So, they came with every ounce of strength and tactical knowledge to try and gain revenge. But champions would always be champions and we overpowered them.
“The FIFA World Cup is the FIFA World Cup, and we must put in place a proper and comprehensive preparatory programme for the Falcons.
“We must utilize all the available FIFA windows for the team to play friendlies.
“After the final match on Saturday, the NFF will ask Coach Thomas Dennerby to submit his program and we will take it from there.”
