12th August, 2014
Adebobola Alawode
As Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s team, Falconets, get set to confront their opponents, England, at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, Chief Coach of the team, Peter Dedevbo, has expressed strong optimism in the ability of his wards to come out victorious when both teams clash Wednesday night.
Speaking from Canada on a radio programme monitored in Lagos early today, Dedevbo hinged his optimism on the spirit in their camp, stressing that his ladies are raring to go.
Though the England girls are good, Dedevdo believes the Nigerian team are better and have what it takes to win the crucial match which Nigeria need only a draw to advance to the next stage of the competition, as the Falconets sit atop Group B with four points from two matches.
England and Mexico are placed second and third respectively with two points from the same number of matches, while Korea Republic occupy the bottom.
Nigeria coach said that he and his technical crew are leaving nothing to chance to ensure that the team take their opponents to the cleaners.
Dedevbo said: ‘‘We have watched the English ladies play, we have monitored their style critically and I strongly believe that we are going to defeat them and remain where we started our campaign.’’
Corroborating Dedevbo’s stand, Falconets’ only foreign player and the young woman who scored the fastest goal in the history of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, Courtney Dike, declares that the Falconets will win the match.
In her words: ‘‘The win against South Korea was crucial, because everything was very tight after the draws on the opening match day, in our next game against England, I’m expecting the team to fight just as hard. I’m convinced that, if we play very well, we’ll win again.’’
Dike, who is ecstatic after the ‘wonder goal’ went on to declare her optimism of doing more at the tournament, ‘‘This gives me loads of confidence,” said the forward. “Now I’m just hoping to keep playing and keep improving alongside the rest of the team. I’m very happy to be here and I hope we can go a long way.’’