Five Things Thomas Dennerby, NFF Need To Do To Make Nigeria Have A Good WWC

The draw for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was held Saturday evening with African champions, Nigeria's Super Falcons in Group A with France (hosts), Korea Republic and Norway.

Izuchukwu Okosi takes a look at five things the head coach Thomas Dennerby and the chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation need to address to have a decent outing in France next summer.

1. Monitor Group, Potential Knockout opponents

The Nigerian group opponents would expectedly play friendlies and also set up camp sites before the World Cup. The Super Falcons coaches and scouts need to be at match venues where their foes will prepare - not just read up the preparations on the pages of newspapers or believe wholly in their own preparations.

The activities of their potential opponents in the knockout stages can also be monitored.


2. Psychological Work, Social Media Impact On The Players

The World Cup is a different ball game. It is not the 'comfort zone' of the Africa Women Cup of Nations where the Super Falcons' dominance is almost a given.

So with that fact established the coaches and/or perhaps psychologists need to remind the players of the tasks before them and not be overly worried about the not too good remarks in the press of  how they conquer Africa but falter at the world stage.

The players may have to be stopped from using their phones in order to check negative vibes coming from the social media.

Instead of attending the World Cup with hangers on and unnecessary guests, it will be nice to have on board Nigeria's legends in women's football in France to psyche up the girls.

Perpetua Nkwocha, Mercy Akide Udoh, Nkiru Okosieme, Precious Dede, Eucharia Uche, Florence Omagbemi, Kikelomo Ajayi etc should have interactive sessions with the girls in France - even before then.


3. Set Pieces And Dead Ball Situations

One key area Dennerby, Maureen Madu and the other Falcons coaches need to step up is how the team execute and defend set pieces.

That has been the undoing of African teams at FIFA competitions when they face European and South American teams.

Defending set pieces especially is not just happenstance or a phase in the course of a game. The Falcons coaches must ensure they instil discipline at the back, work out various systems that will be best deployed when defending corners and free-kicks depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.

Another vital area is having some regular starters in the team work on taking free-kicks. A team with free-kick experts stand the chance of winning games.


4. Team's Bonuses, Welfare Packages

Gender inequality has become a common theme in all spheres of life with sports, and football in particular being no exceptions.

The Super Falcons are Africa's most decorated team (in both men and women football).

The Nigeria Football Federation must work out an acceptable bonus package and make the team have a sense of belonging and self worth.

The Super Eagles have been regarded as the golden egg of Nigerian football but that disparity must be  narrowed if not completely nipped in the bud. The travelling arrangements etc must also be top notch.

The Falcons must be sufficiently motivated to go one better than their quarterfinals finish at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.


5. Invitations Of New Players For Friendlies Likely To Make Final World Cup Squad

The popular cliché that a winning team is not changed is not always correct.

The current Super Falcons squad will need injection of pace in the attack and at least two new defenders to act as back ups to the regular starters.  

Players like Ini Umotong, Courtney Dike, Esther Sunday and Peace Efih are great talents that ought to be part of the coaches' plans when (hopefully) the tune up friendlies are played.

Izuchukwu Okosi