Still in the spirit of building up to Friday's second round encounter against Japan, let’s appreciate good work from NFF when data supports it and accord them the respect and recognition that this effort deserves.
You see, since the conclusion of the last U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2022 and the commencement of the current tournament, the NFF registered the Falconets for 2 tournaments (when they could have withdrawn): the WAFU Cup and the All Africa Games under the tutelage of the same Danjuma.
Add to that the fact that Danjuma has now being in the post since 2017, a massive 7 years. If that is not continuity from the NFF, what is? Despite that, he blows team away with ruthlessness and reckless abandonment and bucket load of goals in qualifiers and group stages only to give you silver or quarter final achievements in 7 years.
Another useful accoutrement is the fact that (like Randy Waldrum), Danjuma has retained is employment in club football all the while with the benefit of constantly experimenting, honing and reviewing his methods to bring refinement to his national team assignments.
His current Falconets squad has an quite an impressive curb appeal, being a mouthwatering amalgam of recent U-17 Flamingos, previous U-20 Falconets, club players with continental competition experience and European club exposure, and a few assortment of players exposed to full senior national team football (like Jumoke Alani who has incidentally played against the senior Japan national team).
So like I said, Coach Chris Danjuma has no choice, nowhere to run, no place to hide. It is win or burst!
Comments