Super Falcons to face France in April

Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the country’s national female team, the Super Falcons will be busy in 2018. Falcons The NFF boss has already confirmed that the reigning African Queens will play France in an international friendly on April 4, 2018. Pinnick who refuted claims that the Federation has chosen to neglect the women team also disclosed that efforts are currently being intensified to get the Falcons another credible opponent during the FIFA free window when they are playing France.

“The France friendly billed for April is already confirmed, we have signed so everything is in place, we are also working to see if we can get another team so they can have something like a double-header.” The NFF boss disclosed. The Super Falcons, after their conquest at the last AWCON in 2016 were rendered inactive all through the outgoing 2017 year.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/12/super-falcons-face-france-april/

Some key Qualification dates:

The Falconets will be away to South Africa on January 13th, and host the same South Africans on January 26th. The winner of this tie advances to the U-20 world cup to be hosted by France from August 5th - 24th.

The Flamingoes will tackle Cameroon in the last round of qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA U-17, on February 2nd and February 16th. The winners qualify for the world cup in Uruguay which runs from November 13 - December 1.

The Super Falcons will face either Burkina Faso or Gambia in the 2nd and last round of qualifiers for the 2018 CAF AWCON, in April.

Official: Super Falcons Dazzler Joins United On One-Year Deal



Swedish Damallsvenskan outfit Eskilstuna United have announced that they have completed the signing of skillful Nigeria international Ngozi Okobi.

The 24-year-old Super Falcon star has penned a one-year deal that will keep her at United for the whole of the 2018 season.
Okobi joins United from Vittsjö where she played for two seasons and had 38 appearances to her name in the Swedish top division.
''I look forward to coming to Eskilstuna, which is a top club. The team wants to play good football and keep the ball within the team,'' Okobi told Eskilstuna United's official website.
''My goal is, of course, to be an even better player and to help the team to finish in a good position in the league.

''I've also played in Washington Spirit and Damallsvenskan is very classy.''

The former Delta Queens wonderkid has represented Nigeria at the Fifa U17, U20 and Women's World Cups, scoring 7 goals in total from 16 appearances.


**Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit : fifa.com

Source: http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=26133

Falconets 1-0 up. Ajibade with the goal. 30 mins played.

Any links for this game?

What is the scores now

it's now 2-0

Where are you guys watching it?!!!!

Neo2011:
Where are you guys watching it?!!!!

I'm not watching, just checking it up from time to time on twitter.

NIce....Thanks. Twitter here we go!!! lol

Still 2-0 in favor of the Falconets.
7 mins left in the game.

FT 0-2 Nigeria Wins!!!

It’s now four wins in five games for the Falconets in the 2018 qualifying series.
Rasheedat Ajibade has scored 8 goals so far, and is the joint highest goal scorer. She has also scored in every qualifying match.
And the Falconets have now outscored their opponents 17-2.

PDPGuy:
It’s now five wins in a row for the Falconets in the 2018 qualifying series.
Rasheedat Ajibade has scored 8 goals so far, and is the joint highest goal scorer. She has also scored in every qualifying match.
And the Falconets have now outscored their opponents 17-2.

Nigeria drew 1-1 with Morocco though.

Daejoyoung:

Nigeria drew 1-1 with Morocco though.

Thanks. Corrected it

Good results but i am still not impresed with the team,the falconet coach need to scout for more quality attackers

the attackers hads not impress me,ajibade can't do it all alone

We currently have a generation of very talented super falcons players but the nff is not helping matters

For me, coaching is what is now holding our girls back. Get more experienced coaches to handle these girls and not coaches who are just finding their way into coaching. Right now, NFA should get a foreign coach for falcons. Falconets and flamingos should be coached by experienced Nigerian coaches.

Which coach should the NFF get for the falcons? I would suggest a foreign coach that allows players to express themselves while also keeping organisation. Defensive organisation is what the falcons lack for now. Midfield and attacking is coordinated because we have individually talented players there.

olapluto:
Which coach should the NFF get for the falcons? I would suggest a foreign coach that allows players to express themselves while also keeping organisation. Defensive organisation is what the falcons lack for now. Midfield and attacking is coordinated because we have individually talented players there.

Yes. Your key words were "individually talented players". On the evidence from the last AWCON, the new coach would have to get the players to improve on their midfield to attack transitions. On a lot of occasions, the midfielders had difficulty in creating chances, or were too selfish in their play.

Maureen Madu or Oliseh can do the job. Madu already has experience in coaching teams in Norway, and has a UEFA coaching license.

Swede Thomas Dennerby to coach Nigeria's women's team
By Oluwashina Okeleji, BBC Sport, Lagos

Dennerby's contract to lead Nigeria's Super Falcons is set to expire after the Olympics in August 2020

Nigeria's Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed Swede Thomas Dennerby as head coach of the country's women's team.

The 58-year-old has signed a deal until 2020 and replaces Florence Omagbemi, whose contract expired in 2016.

The experienced Dennerby managed Sweden's women's team from 2005-2012, guiding the side to third place at the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany.

His appointment comes after the NFF appointed Randy Waldrum in October only for the American to turn down the role.
Waldrum failed to agree terms with the NFF, who had announced his appointment in October.

"The NFF decided to go for a coach of the calibre of Thomas Dennerby for three reasons," said Shehu Dikko, the NFF vice-president.
"To sustain and enhance the Super Falcons' dominance on the African scene.
"To take the Falcons and other women's teams to the next level of challenging for laurels at global competitions like the Olympics and the World Cup.

"To generally lay the foundation for the real development of women's football in our country."

During his extended spell with his national team, Dennerby made up for a group-stage exit at the 2007 Women's World Cup by finishing third in 2011, only the third time Sweden had ever reached the last four.

He also took the European side to the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, when Sweden were knocked out in the quarter-finals on both occasions.

He will be assisted for his new role by compatriot Jorgen Petersson, 42.

"Dennerby will live in Nigeria most of the time and support the other women teams whenever he has the time," added Dikko.

"The contract is until the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo in the initial (phase), with the right for automatic renewal subject to meeting performance milestones as agreed."

The Super Falcons have not played or trained since lifting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for an eighth time in 2016, when Omagbemi became the first woman to win the competition as both player and coach.
The lack of action prompted criticism from strikers Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala - the latter surprisingly named African Women's Player of the Year this month despite Nigeria not playing a single game in 2017.

Her performances for her new Chinese club, Dalian Quanjian, saw her triumph ahead of Chrestina Kgatlana and Gabrielle Onguene.

The first challenge for Dennerby will be the West African championship, the Wafu Women's Cup, in Ivory Coast scheduled for 10-24 February.

The team will then travel to Europe to play France in a friendly in April, following which the focus will be on securing a qualifying spot at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana.

This year's Women's Nations Cup takes on extra significance as it will also decide the continent's teams for the 2019 Women's World Cup.

Nigeria are the only African team to have played in all of the Women's seven World Cup tournaments since 1991 but they have failed to translate their continental dominance on the world stage.

Their best performance came when reaching the quarter-finals in 1999.



Source: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42826422

Basetsana arrive as Falconets countenance France 2018 ticket



South Africa’s delegation to Saturday’s 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying clash with Nigeria’s Falconets has landed in Benin City ahead of the encounter.

The Basetsana crashed 0-2 to the two –time World Cup silver medallists in the first leg in Polokwane penultimate weekend and know they have a mountain to climb against Chris Danjuma’s maidens at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Dependable finisher Rasheedat Ajibade set Nigeria on their way in South Africa on the half –hour mark and Anam Imo increased the tally six minutes later, giving Nigeria a massive advantage going into Saturday’s final round, final leg encounter.

Basetsana will no way be comforted by the record of the Falconets at the Ogbemudia Stadium, where the Nigerian girls bumped Tanzania 3-0 and then hammered Morocco 5-1 in earlier rounds.

Yet, Chris Danjuma says his girls will not under –rate the South Africans when the whistle goes for kick –off on Saturday.

“The Basetsana are a good side and we have to be careful against them. We will not rest on our oars. Our approach would be to win and make sure of a ticket to the World Cup finals.”

The 9th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals will hold in France 7th – 26th August 2018.


Source: http://www.thenff.com/2018/01/basetsana-arrive-as-falconets-countenance-france-2018-ticket/

Maybe that was before Cameroun took on Ghana on the other encounter.

Priscilla Adubea of Ghana now has 9goals as she score d in Ghana's 1-1 away draw to Cameroun in the first leg.

Top scorers so far in the African Qualifiers for France 2018 Fifa U-20 WC:

Priscilla Adubea (Ghana)- 9goals.

Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria)- 8 goals.

Linda Motlhalo (South Africa) - 6 goals.

PDPGuy:
It’s now four wins in five games for the Falconets in the 2018 qualifying series.
Rasheedat Ajibade has scored 8 goals so far, and is the joint highest goal scorer. She has also scored in every qualifying match.
And the Falconets have now outscored their opponents 17-2.

New Coach Dennerby Banks On His Experience To Lift Super Falcons
By James Agberebi



New Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby has expressed hope that his experience in women’s football will take the team to the next level, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

Dennerby was announced as the new coach of the Falcons by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday. His deal that will run till 2020.

Speaking in a 38 seconds short video published on the NFF’s Twitter account, Dennerby expressed delight at being appointed to coach the African champions.

“Hi, Thomas Dennerby here. I am extremely proud, happy and honoured to be the new head coach for the Super Falcons. It is really an exciting and responsible work,” Dennerby said.

“Of course, I hope that my experience from many years in women’s international football can contribute to the development and improvement of the team.

“Super Falcons is a team with real potential and they always live with high expectations. I can’t wait to get started and I hope to see you very soon in Nigeria.”

Dennerby, who once coached Sweden’s women’s national team, succeeds ex-Super Falcons captain Florence Omagbemi who left the post after coaching the team to the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations title in December 2016.

Source: https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/new-coach-dennerby-banks-experience-lift-super-falcons/

Esin Lauds NFF Over Falcons’ New Swedish Coach But Fears For Local Coaches
By James Agberebi




Former Nigeria international Etim Esin has hailed the appointment of Swedish coach,Thomas Dennerby, as the new head coach of the Super Falcons.
The NFF on Thursday announced Dennerby, 58, as the new coach of the reigning African champions who have been without a coach since former handler Florence Omagbemi was relieved of her position.

Dennerby, whose contract with the NFF will run until 2020, will be assisted by Jorgen Petersson, another highly experienced Swedish coach nominated by Dennerby himself.

Aside from Petersson, Dennerby will work with three Nigerian whose names will be announced soon.

Reacting to the appointment of Dennerby, Esin however expressed fears that this could serve as an obstacle to Nigerian coaches.

“It is a good development for the Super Falcons because being an experienced coach, this will surely rub off positively on the team,” Esin, who represented Nigeria at the 1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, told completesportsnigeria. com.

“My only fear is that our local coaches will not have the opportunity to show what they can do.”

Source: https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/esin-lauds-nff-falcons-new-swedish-coach-fears-local-coaches/

The NFF have got a very good coach in Thomas Dennerby. He seems to have been in Women's football for very very long time. A former police officer, he has coached (assistant coach) at 2 olympic games, UEFA U19 champs, and 2 world cups. We can expect him to bring some organisation to our womens' football. Hopefully, he will also open the door for our ladies to play in Scandinavian leagues, which will be very good for them.

lt's 3-0 to the falconets, why the silence here?

Falconets 5-0 South Africa. 2nd half.

Full time: Nigeria 6-0 South Africa
Rasheedat Ajibade got a brace, making her the temporary top scorer in the qualifying series.

And the Falconets are through to the U-20 World Cup in France.

Another promise fulfilled as NFF unveils Dennerby






The record –breaking feats of the Amaju Pinnick –led Nigeria Football Federation continued in sleek fashion on Tuesday with the unveiling in Abuja of Mr. Thomas Dennerby, a former Coach of the Women’s National Team of Sweden, as Head Coach of the Super Falcons.

Tuesday’s public presentation of the renowned tactician sits comfortably with the pledge by the Pinnick administration to put in place machinery for very robust and meaningful development of women football in Nigeria, and for the Falcons to challenge for laurels at global championships.

Dennerby won 34 caps for Swedish junior teams between 1975 and 1981 and coached the Swedish Women’s Senior Team between 2005 and 2012, during which the team played at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the 2007 and 2011 FIFA World Cup finals, winning bronze at the latter tournament.
More recently, he did scouting and analyses for the Swedish FA at the 2013 and 2017 European Championships, the 2016 Olympics and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

In announcing Dennerby’s appointment last week, NFF 2nd Vice President/Chairman of Strategy, Shehu Dikko, said: “The NFF decided to go for a coach of the calibre of Thomas Dennerby for three reasons: to sustain and enhance the Super Falcons’ dominance on the African scene; to take the Falcons and the other women teams to the next level of challenging for laurels at global competitions like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup and; to generally lay the foundation for the real development of women’s football in our country.”

On Tuesday, at a ceremony inside the Conference Centre of the National Stadium Complex, Abuja, the NFF confirmed that Dennerby’s contract wll last till after the 2020 Olympics in the initial, with the right for automatic renewal subject to meeting of performance milestones. Before then, the Swede will have the opportunity to prove himself at the 2018 and 2020 Women Africa Cup of Nations competitions, the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals and the Women’s Football Tournament of the Tokyo Olympics.

“We believe we have the right man to take the Super Falcons and women’s football in Nigeria to the next level. Undoubtedly, we have been doing very well on the African continent, with eight titles out of 10 AFCON competitions so far. However, we went all out for a man of Dennerby’s pedigree and capacity because we want the Falcons and the other teams to win laurels at global championships.

“As a Federation, we will give Mr. Dennerby and his assistant Petersson, as well as his Nigerian assistants all they require to succeed,” Dikko said at the unveiling.

Dennerby said: “I am ready for the opportunity and the challenge of working with an amazing team like the Super Falcons. I believe we can all work together to close the gap between them and the big women football –playing nations of the world.

“I believe in hard work. I am happy to be here and we are going to work together for the success of the team. Every individual player of the team is important, but the cohesion of the team is paramount. I will be placing a serious demand on the players to give their best in training, physical fitness and in every competition. My philosophy is to develop the players and to work with the backroom staff."


Dennerby and Petersson will be working with the following Nigerian assistants: Oni Olanrewaju Wemimo (Assistant Coach); Maureen Mmadu (Assistant Coach); Taiwo Omobolanle Tundun (Goalkeepers' Trainer 1) and; Precious Dede (Goalkeepers' Trainer 2).

Dennerby’s assistant, Petersson, has worked with several top Swedish clubs and was assistant coach of the Swedish U23 women team between 2006-2012.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said that Dennerby has already been assigned with a personal car and a driver.

On her part, Chairman of NFF Women’s Football Committee, Honourable Ayo Omidiran expressed belief that the appointment of Dennerby was well –thought –out and she expects a turn –around in the fortunes of the Super Falcons at major championships.

Work begins immediately for the new crew as the Falcons will compete in the 8 –Nation WAFU Women Cup of Nations taking place in Cote d’Ivoire 10th -24th February 2018.

Also present at the ceremony were NFF Assistant Director (Technical), Abdulrafiu Yusuf, NFF Head of Women’s Football Ruth David, Head of Marketing Alizor Chuks and Super Falcons’ stars Asisat Oshoala and Onome Ebi.



SOURCE: http://www.thenff.com/2018/01/another-promise-fulfilled-as-nff-unveils-dennerby/

I’m most happy that Maureen Mmadu and Precious Dede are amongst the assistants. It will be a good learning curve for them. And they can take over from Dennerby in the future.

For the WAFU Cup, the NFF should use most of the Falconets team (say 14-15 players) and a few of the older league players.

PDPGuy:
For the WAFU Cup, the NFF should use most of the Falconets team (say 14-15 players) and a few of the older league players.

this is a nice suggestion. Making it a blend of youth and experience which if maximized will not only bring the trophy home but will also give the falconets enough blending together time that'll be aid them in the upcoming world cup later in the year