Former Super Falcons head coach, Khadiri Ikana, says the team must take Friday’s (today) Women’s Olympic Qualifying CAF first leg against Banyana Banyana of South Africa with the level of seriousness required for a cup final.
Sharing his thoughts with The PUNCH on the crucial tie, which begins at 5pm at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the 72-year-old ex-international, who coached the team briefly in 2012, reckoned that Randy Waldrum’s team had the upper hand.
“Our ladies should take this match as seriously as a cup final because of the rivalry between both teams. Though we have the upper hand in going through, like I said, we must take it seriously,” the former Enyimba and Kano Pillars coach, who guided the former to a 2003 CAF Champions League triumph, the first by a Nigerian club and coach, said.
The Falcons have made three appearances at the Olympic Games since their debut at the 2000 edition in Sydney, with their best result being a quarter-final finish at the 2004 edition in Greece.
After the nine-time African champions failed to qualify for the last three editions in London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, Waldrum and his charges are condemned to seal a spot in Paris 2024 by getting a desirable result in Abuja to lessen their task in the corresponding tie at the Loftus Versfield Stadium, Pretoria on Tuesday, April 9.
The winners over two legs join Brazil, Japan, and Spain in Group C of the Women’s Football Tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in July and August as one of Africa’s two representatives.
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