Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu said Nigeria is still improving even after beating Senegal twice. The team won 3-0 against the Teranga Lionesses on Monday in Ikenne.
This victory marked a successful international window for Nigeria, the ten-time African champions. They are getting ready for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where they want to defend their title successfully.
Goals from rising star Omewa Joy, who scored her first two international goals, and a late goal from six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala secured an easy win for the Super Falcons in their second friendly match.
After the match, Madugu told PREMIUM TIMES he was happy with how the players performed but noted there is still much work to do before the tournament.
“Yes, we are impressed by the performance of the girls because we are assessing them individually and collectively as a group,” Madugu said.
“It’s still a work in progress. Just because we have won does not mean the team is fully ready. We still have to continue working on areas that we feel need improvement.
“We have to identify those areas and keep working on them. Generally, it was a good performance and we are happy with the way the girls are responding.”
The coach shared that the technical team used the games against Senegal to test different tactics and formations.
“We are trying to add some strategies. You can see that the formation we used in the last game was different, while today’s formation was totally different.
“We are trying many things to see how the girls respond to these changes.”
Madugu also stood by the return of experienced players like Ngozi Okobi and Francisca Ordega. He said experience is very important in women’s football.
“Women’s football is different from men’s football. Many people have the wrong perception that the younger you are, the better. In women’s football, experience matters greatly.
“When you look at the top countries in women’s football, you will find players above 30 and even close to 40 who are still important members of their national teams.
“You need a blend of experienced players and younger ones so they can pass on knowledge and help guide the next generation both on and off the pitch.”
Madugu admitted he would have liked more practice matches before WAFCON. Still, he said the coaching staff will make the most of the chances they have.
“We would have loved to have more games, but we have to make the best of the opportunities available to us. We are hoping to have at least one or two more matches before the competition begins.”
He also talked about the tactical changes made at half-time after Nigeria struggled to score in the first half.
“We noticed some lapses, especially our positioning around the box and our finishing. We were too hasty and wasted several opportunities.
“We encouraged the players to remain calm and exploit the space between the defence and the goalkeeper. Thankfully, they responded well in the second half.”
Madugu revealed the introduction of Rofiat Imuran, who played well in the game, was both tactical and developmental.
“We needed to give her an opportunity and assess her. At the same time, she is a more offensive full-back than the player who featured in the previous game.”
With two wins, five goals scored, and growing tactical flexibility, the Super Falcons seem to be gaining momentum as they prepare for WAFCON.
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