Ghana 2018: Dennerby Commends Superb Falcons’ Camp Facility
Super Falcons’ Coach, Thomas Dennerby has praised the camp facility provided by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF for the team in preparation for the Africa Women’s Nations Cup to be held in Ghana, AOIFootball.com reports.
Dennerby, who was a spectator at the finals of the 2018 Women Aiteo Cup also commended the champions, Rivers Angel for their tactical display.
Speaking on his rating of the quality of the game, Dennerby said: “It was a good final and both teams could have won it. I think in open play, Ibom were a bit quicker, a bit more attacking players with more passes. Rivers Angel were playing more straight and of course they were playing their fourth so very tough to compete with, very tough with set pieces. They created a lot of chances from that and of course they scored”.
Dennerby said he was also impressed with the Rivers Angels goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie’s development, stating that after she conceded goals against France in a friendly, she has shown much improvement.
“I told everybody involved in women football in February that she is one for the future. I think she has improved well. Now the next step is not to have it long, the next step is to have it exactly where you want it. But she is an extremely good goalkeeper for her age,” said Dennerby.
Responding to question on the Super Falcons group in the upcoming Women AFCON, the gaffer, whilst acknowledging that it is a very tough group, said he believes the team will progress to the semifinals.
First of all, I think we have a good chance to reach the semifinal. It’s a tough game, the first one against South Africa. I know and you probably also know that they have played a lot of games to prepare the team. We know that it will be a tough game.
“But if we can have that feeling in the team to just focus on our own performance all the time and, I think we can have a good success,” Dennerby added.
While giving a hint of the team’s preparation for defending her tenth Women AFCON, Dennerby said the team has a slim chance of playing international friendlies.
“We have an opportunity to play Zambia but honestly I don’t think that’s a good thing to do because we will play them at the group stage. So we try to see different opportunities to handle that otherwise we play a club side or a boys team. But of course, we need to prepare with a game. That will be good”.
On the camping site, he said: “The accommodation is good, the food is good and our host at the Atlantic Hall where we have the training session are wonderful people. They try to help us as much as they can and the pitch is okay.
The manager further explained the rationale behind inviting a total of 48 players in camp, stating that the target is to have 26 players by the time the international based professionals join them on October 29.
“I think it’s some kind of mistake. Of course you can’t camp 48 players at the same time, everybody in football understands that. It’s different camps but they sent all the names at the same time but of course 48 is not good if you have them at the same time.
“Now, we have the first camp with domestic players and then we have to see who from the domestic players will enter camp the 17 professional players that will start coming in from Monday, October 29 and then we have like 26-28 players until November 4 when we will have to pick the final squad and then everybody else will have to leave,” Dennerby explained.
Adding that, “I know it’s a tough situation but of course our aim is to win. All teams that are hunting us have really developed. South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana. Of course our hope is to win”.
Super Falcons will flag off their title defence against South Africa in Cape Coast, Ghana.
