Dedevbo Not Under-Rating DR Congo U-20 Girls

Head Coach of the U-20 Women National Team, Peter Dedevbo, insisted on Wednesday that his Falconets will not under–rate their counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Saturday’s 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier in Abuja.

The Falconets, who have played at every edition of the FIFA tournament since it was launched in Canada in 2002, won the first leg played in Kinshasa 2-1 and looks destined for the final round of the African series.

The Nigeria U-20 team are also the reigning world vice champions.

Yet, Dedevbo will not allow his girls to think the fixture is over and that all they need do to reach the final round (where either of South Africa and Zambia awaits) is turn up at the National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday.

“I have a philosophy, which is to respect every team and not to fear any, and also that it is never over until it is over. We have won the first leg 2-1; there is still a second leg to play to determine the winner on aggregate.

Peter Dedevbo, Coach Nigeria Womens Under 20 team. photo credit FIFA

“We have 90 precious minutes to go in this fixture. There will be no heaving of any sigh of relief until after the final whistle on Saturday. We will approach the match as if we lost the first leg.”

Early goals by Chinaza Uchendu and Chinwendu Ihezuo gave the Falconets a 2-1 win in Kinshasa, and the Congolese believe there is still much to play for at the National Stadium on Saturday.

The DR Congo delegation will fly into Abuja aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight on Thursday afternoon and will be accommodated at the Chida Hotel.

Falconets Off To Kinshasa On Thursday

The U-20 Women national Team, Falconets, will fly out of Abuja on Thursday for the first leg of a 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Coach Peter Dedevbo has selected 18 players to fly Nigeria’s flag in Sunday’s match at the Tata Raphael Stadium in Kinshasa. The team will travel aboard an Ethiopia Airline flight.

Chinaza Uchendu, who scored for the Super Falcons at the recently –concluded women’s football tournament of the 11th All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, headlines a list that also includes goalkeeper Sandra Chiichii, defenders Olubunmi Elijah and Ugochi Emenayo, midfielders Joy Bokiri and Tessy Biahwo and forwards Chinwendu Ihezuo, Uchenna Kanu and Yetunde Adeboyejo.

In their second round qualifying fixture, the Falconets, runner-up at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, whipped their Liberian counterparts 14-1 on aggregate, winning 7-0 in Monrovia and 7-1 in Abuja.

The Nigeria delegation will be led by Member of the NFF Executive Committee and Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma.

THE FULL LIST: Sandra Chiichii, Aminat Yakubu, Oluwakemi Famuditi, Patience Kalu, Amarachi Ojinma, Joy Bokiri, Olubunmi Elijah, Ugochi Emenayo, Chinaza Uchendu, Yetunde Adeboyejo, Tessy Biahwo, Christy Ohiaeriaku, Glory Ogbonna, Ogechi Ukwuoma, Uchenna Kanu, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Ihuoma Onyebuchi, Omotola Omidiji