FIFA U-20: Falconets must be fully prepared, says Mabo

Former Super Falcons coach, Ismaila Mabo has warned the national under-20 female national team, Falconets that they must brace up for tougher challenges  in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in Canada later in the year. Mabo, who spoke against Nigeria’s qualification for the finals after recording resounding victories over Tunisia and South Africa in the last African qualifiers to set a record as having been at every edition of the championships since it’s inception in 2002 in same Canada. But Mabo made it clear the Falconets must expect a rough ground out their in Canada be as he puts “it has always been easy in Africa picking the ticket but we do also admit that the likes of Ghana, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea have closed the gap on us,” he said adding,  “so, the onus is on the NFF to ensure team is given every assistance and support to be ready to face greater challenges against the South Americans like Brazil, Germany, Brazil, Korea and any possible opponents we are likely to meet. It need not be said that competition level is higher and tougher at the world level. Falconets just must up their game put being serious with training and preparations for Canada.  Out there, we have never won the cup though I admit in most cases gave a good account of ourselves.

Mabo, who predicted that the Falconets will not find the outing easy except there is serious preparation, enjoined NFF to set machinery in motion for the team to play friendly games against local sides and against some foreign sides also to fine tune their strategies for the event.

 “I was impressed with the team’s performance in the qualifiers.” However, he noted, Nigeria can surpass past performance only that it would requires serious planning on the part of the NFF by way of providing full support to the team upon which to thrive, commitment from players and coaches. In addition, he enjoined the coaches to pick the best players for the Mundiale

Just Like Mabo has envisaged, the 16 finalist foe Canada 2014 is a roll call of the best spanning Nigeria Ghana, Peoples Republic of China, North and South Korea USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Finland, Germany, France, England, Brazil, Paraguay and host Canada.

Mabo has coached the national team to both Fifa world cup and Olympic Games.

File:juniorwomen,27 Feb.2014