NIGERIA Coach, Peter Dedevbo, has expressed optimism that despite the 0-6 loss suffered by the Falconets at the hands of The Young Nadeshiko of Japan in the group opener of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea last Sunday, his players remain focused.
Dedevbo, who acknowledged the superiority of the Japanese side, insisted that the Sunday’s result will not mark the end of the road for Nigeria in the tournament.
He is optimistic that his players will bounce back to pick maximum points from the remaining two group matches, and charged the players to put behind them the horror of the first game and focus on the Canada and Spain challenge.
“We are down but not out, and this is the time for us to fight till the end of the competition. It would be fool–hardy for us to start feeling sorry for ourselves because it will affect our focus for the remaining games in the tournament.
“I must acknowledge the fact that the Japanese side was good, even though I didn’t envisage the goal margin. The outcome means that we will return to the trenches and re-strategize,” Dedevbo said according to thenff.com.
Meanwhile, Falconets central defender, Glory Ogbonna, has vowed that the team will fight on and revive their World Cup trophy hopes as well as redeem Nigeria’s image in Papua New Guinea.
Ogbonna, who plays for Ibom Angels, noted that the loss to Japan serves as a wake up call to the Falconets to gird their loins for the challenge against Canada.
“Collectively as a team we have accepted the fact that we started badly against Japan, but it doesn’t mean that we have given up because all hope is not lost. I believe that the reason for Sunday’s defeat was a clarion call for us as a team to wake up to the harsh realities on ground. If we had won or drawn that game, apparently, the whole team would feel that we have arrived.
“Canada is a must-win for us and it is not negotiable.
We have learnt our lessons in a bitter and humiliating way. I want to promise all Nigerians that we must redeem our image and march on in this tournament,” Ogbonna, who is fondly called ‘Dependable’ by her team-mates said.
Nigeria will face Canada also with no point in their second group B match tomorrow at the Bava Park Stadium in Port Moresby.
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