Sanusi wants Falconets to nick World Cup ticket

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has called on the country’s U-20 Women’s Team, Falconets, to fight hard for the World Cup ticket when taking on South Africa’s Basetsana in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The African qualifying final round fixture between both countries is delicately poised after the Falconets won the first leg 2-1 in Abuja, meaning Sunday’s clash at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, on the suburbs of South Africa’s commercial and industrial capital, will be explosive.

Sanusi, who is with the Falconets in South Africa, said on Saturday that the reigning world vice champions must fight hard from the first blast of the whistle till the end.

“You must go out there on Sunday to prove that Nigeria’s pedigree in women’s football is no fluke. South Africa also invests big in women’s football and recently qualified for next year’s Olympics. But the truth is no African country has achieved what Nigeria has achieved in the women’s game.

“As reigning world vice champions, we must go out and prove out superiority on the field tomorrow. The ticket to Papua New Guinea is a must, because Nigerians back home are expecting you to book your flight to that country for the final tournament.”

The Falconets take on the Basetsana from 3pm South African time (2pm Nigeria time) on Sunday, and Coach Peter Dedevbo says his girls will approach it like a ‘Cup final.’

Falconets

“The result from the first leg is in the past, and we don’t dwell in the past. On Sunday, our objective is to go all out and grab the World Cup ticket.”

NFF President Amaju Pinnick, who is with the U-17 boys that are seeking a fifth FIFA World Cup title in Chile (against Mali also on Sunday), has also called on phone to ginger the Falconets to do Nigeria proud in South Africa.

The Falconets have never failed to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since it was launched in Canada 13 years ago, with two runner –up positions (2010 and 2014), fourth –place finish in 2012 and quarter –final berths in Thailand (2004), Russia (2006) and Chile (2008).

Falconets now to play Basetsana on Sunday

The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup African final qualifying match between Nigeria’s Falconets and the Basetsana of South Africa will now take place in South Africa on Sunday.

Earlier slated for Saturday, the match has been moved at the instance of the South African Football Association, but the venue still remains the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa (outside Johannesburg), and the match will still kick off at 3pm.

NFF Executive Committee member Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who is also Chairman of Chairmen, will lead the delegation that will be made up of 18 players and 10 technical/backroom staff.

Falconets’ Head Coach, Peter Dedevbo, said on Wednesday that his girls are ready for the big battle, with the fixture delicately poised at 2-1 in favour of Nigeria.

“We wanted to win big in the first leg, but it didn’t happen. Sunday is another day to look for a big win. The fact that we are playing away from home matters little to us.

Falconets

“Papua New Guinea is a destination for the Falconets next year. Nigeria has never missed any FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and we will not start now.”

Chinwendu Ihezuo scored after the half –hour to put Nigeria ahead and the Falconets then benefitted from an own goal by a Basetsana defender in the first leg. However, a late penalty handed Basetsana a crucial away goal.

Dedevbo added: “We will play with our hearts, with confidence and discipline. We have forgotten entirely about the first leg result, because we know we have to win in South Africa.”