Danjuma to continue as Falconets’ coach

Taofeek Lawal

Christopher Musa Danjuma has returned to his job as head coach of the U-20 Women’s national team, Falconets, following a screening and interview process by the NFF Technical Committee.

The committee submitted its recommendation and the same has been approved by the NFF executive committee.

The process began with a one-week public notice that requested applications from suitably qualified persons, after which short-listed candidates were contacted and interviewed by a panel of the Technical Committee.

Danjuma, who has taken temporary charge of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, on a couple of occasions, led the Falconets to the quarter-finals of last year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Costa Rica.

Danjuma will be assisted by former U20 and U17 girls’ assistant coach Mansur Abdullahi, and former Super Falcons’ midfielder Effioanwan Ekpo.

Ekpo, who represented Nigeria for 10 years between 2000 and 2010, featured at the 2003 and 2007 FIFA World Cup finals in the USA and China respectively, at the 2004 and 2008 Women Olympic Football Tournaments in Athens and Beijing respectively, and was a Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) gold medallist on three occasions. She also featured at the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers. Yahaya Audu, who has been the goalkeeper trainer of the team, also returns to his position.

The Falconets will commence their 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign with a second-round, first-leg encounter against their counterparts from Mauritius in Saint Pierre on Sunday, 8th October, with the return leg scheduled for the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 14th October 2023.

South American country, Colombia, will stage the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals.

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