Sports
2019 FIFA WWC: Falcons Have Eight Build-Up Matches – Pinnick
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick has affirmed that the Super Falcons will play at least eight matches in their build-up to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Pinnick acknowledged that the Falcons have only two international breaks before France 2019, which would have left them with only two build-up friendlies, but says the NFF enrolled the team for two competitions in order to accord them more match opportunities before the Mundial.
Tidesports source gathered that the Falcons might end up playing up to 12 matches en route to France 2019, as the second competition the team will feature in has group and knock out format.
Pinnick added that the Falcons will start their preparation as early as January, when they go for a four-nation competition in China, then go for the major build-up outing at a 16-nation invitational in Cyprus.
The NFF boss stressed that they ensured the Falcons were quickly registered for both competitions, because they are focused on giving the nine-time African Women Cup of Nations champions a strong chance of doing well at the World Cup.
It would be recalled that Nigeria are drawn in Group A alongside hosts France, Norway and the Korea Republic, ahead of which Pinnick says the Falcons need the best kind of preparations to stand any chance of doing well next year.
Pinnick added: “We aren’t going to France to make up the numbers of participating nations, but to play and make a respectable impact. “As you know, there are only two free windows before the World Cup, but we decided that instead of playing friendly matches the team will embark on an invitational tournament to boost their preparations.
“I can confirm to you that come January 14 next year the team will be heading to Asia.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.