Women's World Cup: NFF set to give Super Falcons all the supports they need- Dilichukwu Onyedinma

Babalola Tomiwa

The chairperson of the Nigeria's Women League Board, Dilichukwu Onyedinma has assured that the Super Falcons of Nigeria will get adequate preparations for the 2015 Fifa Women's World Cup in Canada.

Onyedinma, who is also an executive member of the Nigeria Football Federation revealed that the 8-0 spanking of the Malians show that the Edwin Okon-led side are already getting geared up to take the world by surprise when the world championship starts in June.

The former former FCT Queens boss while praising the efforts of the seven-time AWC champions, she further stated that there's a whole lot of work to be done but insisted that the few Olympic games qualifiers will give both the home and foreign based players a platform to bond before the world cup.

"You can see the margin the girls won against Mali. That's to say they are preparing for the World Cup. The first leg we played was with our second team and at the same time we are preparing for the World Cup," Onyedinma told Goal.

"We looked at it and agreed it's not the best not having our World Cup team during these qualifiers because it will form part of the preparation. So we tried to bring the first team together so that they start playing together in preparation for the World Cup. Yet we are playing qualifiers, but we are also using it to prepare for the World Cup.

"Because by the time we finish the last Olympic qualifying leg - we will have just two weeks to the World Cup. So there is no time to prepare except this time - that's why we are doing this and i can see it is giving us results.

Onyedinma expressed hope that the team would be able to overcome all its shortcomings and mistakes during the game against Mali.

"I'm satisfied but then I still feel there is much required. I won't say what they are doing is okay. I feel this is just the beginning because they've just started playing together. They've started seeing their lapses and the technical crew will be able to see where they need to put finishing touches.

"Because at the World Cup we are not going to meet African countries, we are going to meet international teams that have been playing football for a very long time. Some have been playing before us. We know we are going to meet stronger teams and we are going to prepare adequately for it.

"So, I think this is just the beginning and by the time we are going to the World Cup we will be prepared well than we have done now. We have already arranged international friendlies outside the qualifying matches with World Cup teams - New Zealand and Canada.

"Immediately we finish with the Olympic qualifiers, we are going into international friendlies and probably they are going to play it outside. We plan to have the girls go on training tour and play these friendlies in preparation for the World Cup proper.

While not accepting blame for late preparation of the team for the World Cup, Onyedinma said the NFF had been contrained by the timing of the two qualifying series.

"We don't have time, what can you do? That's the only time we have and the only thing we feel we can do now. What can you do in two weeks? All the qualifiers to All African Games and Olympics are very important because we have to play them and we have to play the World Cup. 

"I think the qualifying matches and friendly matches are the most we can do for now. I know with that the girls will do their best to make Nigerians proud.

"It's women's football. We are all women, you don't underrate anybody. You might think other girls are better than Nigeria, but you may be surprised to see a turn around. We will keep our fingers crossed," she concluded. Goal