Nigeria head coach Justin Madugu says the Super Falcons are far from the finished article but insists the team is laser-focused on securing a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title next month in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports.
The coach was speaking after Nigeria sealed an impressive 2-0 win over Cameroon in a friendly match played at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Tuesday evening. Star midfielder and captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored both goals in a commanding first-half performance.
Ajibade, who plies her trade with Atletico Madrid in Spain, opened the scoring in the 26th minute from the penalty spot after being brought down in the box. She calmly slotted the ball past the Cameroonian goalkeeper, sending her the wrong way.
Just before the break, Ajibade doubled the advantage with a composed finish after a neat assist from Omorinsola Babajide.
The win was Nigeria’s 15th in 21 meetings with Cameroon and served as a significant confidence booster ahead of next month’s continental showdown.
After the game, Coach Madugu praised the squad’s effort and mentality, noting the significance of the victory even though it was only a friendly.
“I want to appreciate the players for their performance this evening. For us, it is still a work in progress, we are still trying to put our preparations together but we must commend the girls for the gallant effort they put in as far as today’s game is concerned,” Madugu said.
“We all know games between Nigeria and Cameroon, on paper they look friendly, but we all know there is always the prestige at stake and everybody tries as much as possible not to disappoint your fellow countrymen.”
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The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, are aiming to maintain their dominant legacy.
However, Madugu admitted the team would have benefited from more preparatory matches.
“I must confess we would have appreciated the opportunity of playing more games so we can test our philosophies and the strategies we intend to adopt in the Nations Cup,” he added.
“It could also have given us the opportunity of giving a lot of other players the chance to show what they can also do, which we can use to determine who we will take to the Nations Cup.”
Still, the coach remains determined and optimistic.
“We have to make do with what we have and try as much as possible to maximise these opportunities and ensure we do our best and get the girls very prepared before the WAFCON,” Madugu said.
“This is where we are, we cannot begin to look back and make excuses, we must keep working and ensure that we put the team together that will make Nigerians very happy.
“There are high expectations each time we go out to play… We must ensure the standard is sustained and then we try to improve on what the team has achieved so far.
“We have an objective and we will try as much as possible to do what will make Nigerians happy, which is winning the trophy.”
Nigeria open their WAFCON campaign in Group C on Sunday, 6 July, against Tunisia in Casablanca.
Matches against Botswana (10 July) and Algeria (13 July) follow — all to be played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium.
