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Naija Ratels Boss Wants Younger Players Integrated Into Super Falcons
Paul Edeh, Proprietor, Naija Ratels FC of Abuja, has called for the integration of more young players into the Super Falcons to make the team more robust and competitive.
Edeh said that with the FIFA Women’s World Cup slated for 2023, a blend of experienced and young players would make the team more formidable for the task ahead.
The football administrator, who commended the Falconets for booking a place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, said the future of Nigeria women football was bright.
NAN reports that the Falconets on Thursday defeated Canada 3-1 to top Group C and cement qualification for the quarter-finals where they will clash with Netherlands on Sunday.
“I want to commend the Falconets for qualifying in grand style for the quarter-finals of the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
“I have always believed that if we have players from the grassroots playing in our various national teams, we would excel and that is what the Falconets have shown,” he said.
Edeh who’s Naija Ratels FC of Abuja team made an impressive debut in the just concluded Nigeria Women Football League Premiership (NWFL) season stressed the need for more attention for female football.
He advised the technical crew of the Super Falcons to explore the possibility of gradually drafting outstanding players from the Falconets to the senior team ahead of the mundial.
“I believe the gradual integration of some of these young players (Falconets) into the senior national team will make our team more robust,” he added.
Edeh said he would continue to work with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and other relevant stakeholders to organise, nurture and promote grassroot women football in Nigeria.
NAN reports that the Super Falcons in July at the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup slated for Australia and New Zealand.
The nine-time African champions were however criticized for needing more zest, after finishing fourth in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and failing to retain their title.
Following are the results of Match Day 1 fixtures in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), played on Sunday and dates of the remaining fixtures:
Akwa United FC 1-1 Abia Warriors FC
Bayelsa United FC 1-1 Kano Pillars FC
Katsina United FC 1-1 Bendel Insurance FC
Niger Tornadoes FC 0-0 Nasarawa United FC
Shooting Stars FC 1-1 Plateau United FC
El Kanemi Warriors Vs Kwara United FC (postponed )
The following Match Day two fixtures
Would be played on Sept.
25:Ikorodu City FC Vs Enugu Rangers international FC
Enyimba international FC Vs Lobi stars FC .
(NAN)
Following are the results of remaining Match Day one fixtures played on Sunday in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)Heartland FC 1-3 Enyimba international FCKwara United FC 1-2 Niger Tornadoes FCBendel Insurance FC 0-0 Rivers United FCPlateau United FC 1-0 Katsina United FCKano Pillars FC 3-0 Ikorodu City FCSunshine Stars FC 3-0 Bayelsa United FCAbia Warriors FC 0-2 Remo Stars FCNasarawa United FC 1-1 Shooting Stars FC.
(NAN)
The interim coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, said his team can beat any team with the quality of players in the team.
Eguavoen stated this after his team spanked the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-0 in the 2025 African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Saturday.
“We have quality players to beat any team but we respect team anyway.
Any coach can come in and do the same job with the Super Eagles.“It is a mindset, we have the potential and how you perceived your opponent, given the information about them and then go out and do the job,“he said.
Equavoen attributed the victory to the formation adopted by the technical crew, adding that any formation could be used to ensure that the team was successful.
“We can decide to use any system. It is something we discussed and I slept over it. I know with the caliber of players that we have, we can decide to play any formation.
“Football is about you win, lose and draw, I don’t believe we have a poor result,” he said.
He, however, said that the former Super Eagles coach didn’t do a good job but it has to do with believe, what is at stake and what you want to achieve.
“Psychologically as a group, we are agreed, where we are and where we are going to be. We will definitely achieve it,” Equavoen said.
He commended the performance of the defence , describing it as superb, adding that the team had been training together for one week.
The coach said that asking six players to warm up for the second half was to buy time, adding that there was no need to rush to change.
He said the Cheetahs of Benin Republic were a good team, adding that they came with a good game plan.
Report says that Eguavoen was appointed interim coach after the deal between the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and coach Bruno Labbadia failed.
NFF explained in a statement that it failed due to the stringent regulations of German tax authorities.(NAN)
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