Nigeria Coach Dennerby: AWCON Group B Will Be Tough, Nigeria Will Reach Semi-Finals

Head coach of Nigeria's senior women national football team, the Super  Falcons, Thomas Dennerby, is confident that despite the presence of South Africa, Zambia and Kenya in Group B of the Africa Women's Nations Cup in Ghana, Nigeria will come unscathed from the pool and reach the semi finals of the tournament.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have conducted the draws for the tournament which holds between 17 November and 1 December with the three countries as Nigeria's group opponents.

Dennerby spoke to Channels Television on Monday on his thoughts about his team's chances from Group B.

"Its an interesting group. I have seen South Africa play so I have a good picture of that team. They are in great shape. I don't know much about Zambia and Kenya honestly but they are good teams.

"We'll find out and analyze them very soon but of course we have a good chance to qualify from our group," Dennerby assured.

Responding to a question on why he invited as much as 48 players to camp ahead of the Women's AWCON, Dennerby stated:

"If you say 21 players to make the final squad, that will be too much but we have two different camps with the domestic players first, then the professionals (foreign based) who will start camping on the 29th (on Monday) in Lagos.

"We'll have 28 domestic players who will have the opportunities to show what they can offer the national team before the professionals start on the 29th. We hope to get the best team before the squad list is released in November," Dennerby concluded.

Hosts Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Algeria make up Group A and three teams will represent Africa at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

The African flag bearers at the Women's World Cup will emerge from the CAF AWCON next month.  

Izuchukwu Okosi